Every now and then, you just need a little more. That’s the beauty of short stories and novellas, in that they give authors room to flesh out interesting ideas that exist in tandem to the main story. So when I heard that authors Geoff Habiger and Coy Kissee were expanding the Saul Imbierowicz Trilogy, I got more than a little excited.
Unbelievable is a tale that takes place immediately after the events of Unremarkable (book one). Untouchable (book two) launches into the subsequent action with Al Capone on the run and Eliot Ness in pursuit. However, given that the main character has been turned into a vampire, there is precious little time to explore the impact. The reader knows there was an adjustment, but all of the backstory is inferred by Saul’s actions in book two.
Unbelievable is the tale of that adjustment.
Before the hunt begins, we see Saul recruited by Ness to aid in the pursuit. During this time, Saul is dealing with the new reality of being an undead creature. And to make matters worse, Ness sees Saul as a ghoulish asset, but only has a vague idea of how to leverage the accord. It creates an interesting dynamic where one presumes the other via Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It’s awkward, amusing, and altogether absorbing to watch it all play out.
Anyone who has read the books will enjoy this story as a prologue to book two. We see Saul come to grips with losing his old life and how he psychologically adapts to the new one (which plays a large role in the sequels). There are several interesting ideas at work here, all of which add some welcome depth to the lore.
Thus, it is easy to recommend Unbelievable to any fan of the series. It’s a satisfying answer to a peripheral question. I see it as a cherry on top of a bloody-good sundae (pun intended).
Learn more at HabigerKissee.com
Zeedub Bezzies: Planning, Puns, and Lizard People with Geoff Habiger
Zeedub Reviews: Unremarkable by Geoff Habiger and Coy Kissee
