Weblit Review: Sam Swift: Occult investigator

Told in the style of classic pulp fiction and film noir, each week you can catch up on the latest in the adventures of none other than Samuel Swift, a private eye with a penchant for cases that are dark, dreary, and fraught with more than a touch of the supernatural.

Sam Swift: Occult Investigator by Deklan Green stands at just six parts as I write this review, but it’s off to an interesting start. As the synopsis says it’s really supernatural pulp fiction. There’s no great depth here but it’s fun and it isn’t trying to be anything else, so that’s okay.

At first blush a Paranormal Private Investigator might sound a bit like a clone of the Dresden Files, but that wouldn’t be fair. It really is it what it says on the tin, a pulp serial about a Private Eye with supernatural elements as well.

So far the first case is developing well, if predictably and reminds me of those Saturday Morning Cinema club serials they had when I was a kid. You know the ones which had a cliffhanger at the end of every installment to make sure you came back to find out how the hero escapes even though you know he will.

The biggest problems I have with it so far are the layout and colour choices. It’s another thematically appropriate but hard on the eyes white text black background site. The newer and and older links are below the ads which is a little annoying. And there isn’t a consistant line of whitespace between paragraphs. At times this lack of space leads to wall of text. Once again hard on the eyes.

Verdict: Pulpy Urban Fantasy of no great depth so far, but entertaining enough to pass muster. The presentation on the site needs work, but it’s worth a look for urban fantasy fans.

One final thing – I think I caught some Lovecraftian hints so Lovecraft haters may want to avoid it.