{"product_id":"the-familiar-spirit-9781668072929","title":"The Familiar Spirit","description":"\u003cb\u003e A new novel in the Cunning Man series from Dragon Award-nominated author D.J. Butler and Aaron Michael Ritchey.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCunning man Hiram Woolley and his son Michael carry an itinerant preacher across the border into Mexico. Hiram is haunted by the specter of a bloody-faced man that stalks him in his dreams, but also by doubts about what lies ahead in the Mormon colonies around Nuevo Casas Grandes--this is the country Hiram's father fled to when he abandoned young Hiram and his mother. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In the colonies, Hiram and Michael are dragged into investigating an impossible murder. They track the killer across a land haunted by robbers, by its history of oppression and revolution, by ancient conflict and modern racial strife, and by the insanity that flows from loneliness and exile. They battle bandits and also an elusive ghostmaster who blights the land with the spirits of the uneasy dead. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e But before the killer can be brought to justice, Hiram will learn that the most haunting thing of all is family.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eD.J. (\"Dave\") Butler\u003c\/b\u003e grew up in swamps, deserts, and mountains. After messing around for years with the practice of law, he finally got serious and turned to his lifelong passion of storytelling. He now writes adventure stories for readers of all ages, plays guitar, and spends as much time as he can with his family. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eCity of the Saints, Rock Band Fights Evil, Space Eldritch, \u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eCrecheling\u003c\/i\u003e from Wordfire Press, and from Baen: \u003ci\u003e Witchy Eye, Witchy Winter, \u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eWitchy Kingdom\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eSerpent Daughter; The Cunning Man \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e The Jupiter Knife\u003c\/i\u003e with coauthor Aaron Michael Ritchey;\u003ci\u003e In the Palace of Shadow and Joy\u003c\/i\u003e as well as \u003ci\u003eBetween Princesses and Other Jobs\u003c\/i\u003e; \u003ci\u003eAbbott in Darkness;\u003c\/i\u003e and with M.A. Rothman, \u003ci\u003eTime Trials\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eAaron Michael Ritchey \u003c\/b\u003eis the author of a bunch of novels and his short fiction has appeared in various anthologies and online magazines. In 2019, \u003ci\u003eArmageddon Girls\u003c\/i\u003e (The Juniper Wars Book 1) was a Dragon Award Finalist. He's spoken at writing conferences and sci-fi\/fantasy conventions across the US, including the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, the RMFW Gold Conference, and the Colorado Teen Lit Conference. He lives in Colorado with his wife and two ancient goddesses posing as his daughters. For more about him, his books, and how to overcome artistic angst, visit www.aaronmritchey.com. He's on Facebook as Aaron Michael Ritchey.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Baen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51661420724498,"sku":"9781668072929","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_9aee63ed-f51c-4423-934d-dc2e110b8889.jpg?v=1760443162","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-familiar-spirit-9781668072929","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}