The Kingdom of the Goblins is a myth now almost completely forgotten by the human species which inhabit the surface world. Or, perhaps more accurately, it is historically out of date. Kings and Queens have long since been dispensed with; these days, the Lower Realms are governed as a Federal Republic with numerous elected representatives and all the byzantine politics that such a structure encourages.

In today's Lower Realms, Goblins for all sexes and proclivities have the same needs and drives as people anywhere, above or below the surface. Inevitably, a small minority find themselves in the thrall of, at best, exploitive businessmen and, at worst, hardened criminals. Some thrive, some go under, some broadcast a cry for help.

One of the few who can actually help under these difficult circumstances is Findo Gask. He is a resourceful and experienced Private Investigator, licensed in many parts of the surface world and all of the Lower Realms, and one with many a private scar marked on his body or concealed in his psyche.

PI Gask is a difficult Goblin to find - but one worth the effort of locating, even so. For only twenty-five dollars a day - cheap at twice the price - plus a few modest but inevitable expenses, he will rid you of embarrassing histories or expensive encumbrances, protect you from public mistakes and private misjudgements. You will find his services to be a bargain whatever, and however, you pay.

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Findo Gask - Backstreet Magics is the second book in the Findo Gask sequence. The series currently comprises nine books, all in various stages of completion:

• Findo Gask - Goblin Detective: a revised and updated draft is available for download or to read online.
• Findo Gask - Backstreet Magics: five chapters are now ready for review.
• Findo Gask - Underworld Investigations: four chapters are now ready for review.
• Findo Gask - Graveyard Flatfoot: just a placeholder at present.
• Findo Gask - Gumshoe Glamours: a complete draft is available for download or to read online.
• Findo Gask - Dragon Sleuth: eight chapters are now ready for review.
• Findo Gask - Moonlight Shamus: just a placeholder at present.
• Findo Gask - Deadly Enchantment: a draft of nineteen chapters is now available for review.
• Findo Gask - Sherlock Eclipse: a draft of thirteen chapters are now available for review.

A chapter-by-chapter summary for Backstreet Magics is under construction. An index of characters for all books is available here.

Why not take a look at my Lyndesfarne Bridge series of novels: New Bridge to Lyndesfarne, Bridge at War, Death on the New Bridge and Bridge of Stone and Magic.

You may also like my collection of fifteen interlinked fantasy and science fiction short stories under the title Four Square Less One. Can you work out the connection between the stories?

I am now working on a second (and still growing) collection of short stories under the title ...Then a Miracle Occurs. An eclectic collection of science fiction, fantasy, horrow, romance and ghost stories - often more than one at a time. Includes my favourite short-short story Hearts and Flowers.

This book is currently free to download in PDF format for your personal enjoyment, or to read online in HTML format. Please feel free to read it yourself, or to link to these pages from your own website or blog. But, note that all material is copyright, so please do not reproduce them in other forms or distribute commercially without prior written permission.