Long Past Dues

The Unorthodox Chronicles, Book 2

By: James J. Butcher

Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin

Grimsby, the newest Auditor in the magical Department of Unorthodox Affairs, finds himself in hot water when he intercepts a friend’s case in this fast-paced and thrilling urban fantasy.

Against all odds, Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby has become an Auditor, enforcing laws about magic for Boston’s Department of Unorthodox Affairs. But Grimsby soon realizes the daily grind of his job is far removed from the glamour he imagined. Overlooked for every exciting case, Grimsby tires of being told to handle mundane magical troubles, and appropriates a case file intended for a friend.

Alongside Leslie Mayflower, the temporarily unretired Huntsman, Grimsby aims to crack the case and discover the origin of a strange, unfinished ritual—one that seems to imitate the handiwork of a foe Mayflower put down twenty years ago.

Together, they’ll have to deal with escaped werewolves, a cursed artifact, and a perilous journey to the mysterious subterranean city below Boston, all to uncover the shocking truth. At any cost, Grimsby must stop this ritual from finally being completed. Yet the cost may be paid not by himself but by his friends. . . .

©2023 James J. Butcher (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Butcher’s deft dialogue continues with tongue-in-cheek humor, wry commentary, and snark, while this magical Boston setting is both familiar and fantastical. . . . This well-paced urban fantasy is a delightful addition to the subgenre.”—Library Journal

weak pseudo hero

so I listened to the 1st book. thought I would try number2. hoping the m.c would get stronger...nooo he crys about hurting monsters he crys at the drop of a hat.. he's a weak whinging crybaby...can't stand a m.c. so weak

If you love Butcher listen to it.

I love Dresden and this series is growing on me as well. I recommend it.

A good second book

The book can be a little slow but it still holds your attention and you don’t want to put it down.

Long Past Dues

Interesting book series. I enjoyed the characters and the story! Lots of action. Good narration but a few words like rune annoyed me how it was pronounced.

Getting better with every book 👍

I like the pace of the book, and the thought that went into the magic system. I hope the series continues to evolve away from YA and into a more classical heroic adventure.

Series coming into its own!

love the book and really enjoying the series. it's good to see the characters evolving a bit and getting more interesting.

Bette than the first book

I enjoyed this one more than the first. It felt smoother and it had a nice pace. Keep up the good work to all involved!

Can't wait for more

We are so spoiled by Butcher talent, that it has been impossible to find a series to satisfy us while we wait. We have hundreds of audible books, but Butcher is becoming the one to anticipate most .

Feels like Dresden Files

This is a good story and the protagonist’s general defiance/wit is very similar to Dresden. While his general weakness and insecurity is boring at times, I am hopeful he will blossom into something more akin to a character like Waldo Butters.

Don’t go into it expecting Dresden

It’s a buddy cop story staring the devils that sit on your shoulders. A nice rich world with a good magic system. There are no Gary Stew’s here either. The author is finding his voice nicely. It reminds me of Harry Connolly’s 20 palaces novels more than Dresden files. I see this series getting very good as it goes along, and this novel is good and very worth the read.