Wicked Gentleman is really two novellas combined into a continuous narrative. It’s a mix of police procedural, Victorian gothic fantasy, with the slightest shiver of romance. The fascinating world the author creates is an integral part of the story. It’s a kind of alternate Victorian gaslight city, with an intriguing religious history. In the distant past, the demons of Hell have converted to Christianity. Their descendants, the Prodigals, live among the populace, kept under an oppressive watch by the all powerful Inquisition, a church-run police state. Prodigals have demonic powers, though they are discouraged from using them in ‘proper’ society. Most of them live in slum called Hells Below and keep to themselves, not unlike Jewish ghettos in medieval towns.

Belimai Sykes, the narrator of the first part, is a Prodigal who lives a part from his people. He suffers from deep guilt, and an even deeper addiction to a pain killing drug. He’s in the depth of his isolation when he gets a visit from Inquisition Caption William Harper and his brother in law, who request his services in locating a missing woman, Joan. Joan, Harper’s sister, is at the center of a web of Prodigal murders. Sykes uncovers a horrible, complex plot, worthy of an Agatha Christie novel. His first person narrative is charmingly arch and honest. The author catches both his defensive sarcasm and his deep self-loathing well. The story moves quickly and the world Hale creates is believable. Hale finds the right balance between lyricism and action.

Captain William Harper is the protagonist of the second portion of the novel, told in third person. He is ambivalent about his nepotistic position as an Inquisitor, mostly due to the fact that he has entered into a relationship with Belimai. Here, the plot concerns a conspiracy surrounding the Inquisition, and Harper’s disillusionment and eventual revenge against a corrupt system. The go into the plot further would be to reveal spoilers.

Hale is a natural storyteller, and knows how to plot. It’s hard to believe that this is a first effort. I found both sections of the novel unputdownable. Her characters are three dimensional and she has a lovely turn of phrase here and there. The first novella is the stronger of the two, but the second is the more emotionally compelling. Nothing lasts longer in the book than it needs to, a godsend in these days of bloated fantasy epics. The same sex relationship at the center of the book avoids the overly sentimental aspects of ‘slash’ fiction. Hale’s queer characters rival Sarah Monette’s—romanticized but not glorified depictions of queer sexuality. Moreover, the author never sacrifices storytelling acumen to make a political (or erotic) point.

Wicked Gentlemen is an outstanding debut, and will remind readers of the works of Storm Constantine and Sarah Monette. It deserves a wider audience.