Review by Frank Plowright

A very welcome third visit to Grimwood and its pre-eminent paranormal investigator Mason Mooney arrives with Supernatural Sleuth. He’d not be quite so pre-eminent were it not for the help of his friend Iris, but Seaerra Miller ensures readers know that, even if Mason isn’t as appreciative as he ought to be.

Doppelgänger Detective ended with quite the cliffhanger as Mason’s other-dimensional double Nosam made off with Mason’s heart while the ambitious Talitha stole the ring that can activate the Hand of Glory. Even if you don’t know why all that’s important, it sounds dangerous, doesn’t it?

Differentiating this conclusion to Mason’s adventures from earlier volumes is that it’s almost entirely comics, with very few pages of text and illustration feeding in to what’s become quite a complex set of affairs. Miller’s plotting over all the series has been very tight, with no-one introduced only to be seen the once, and that continues here with further folk appearing for the first time. There’s even room for a contest of supernatural skills, and the upshot is that Mason, who’s been skating through circumstances via luck, finally comes a cropper and actually has a period of self-doubt prompting an important revelation.

There’s a lot of personality to Miller’s art, and instinctive knowledge of when something special is required. As much of Supernatural Sleuth concerns the journey, it’s appropriate that the passage through the tunnels shown on the sample art is such a treat, packed with spooky detail and funny moments.

Miller has a great sense of humour so often on display, whether it’s with visual detail, a perfect line of dialogue cutting Mason down to size or the contrived stupidity of some characters. When Iris and Mason first meet members of The Order of the Emerald Palm they’re only too keen to supply information, and no matter how many times TV sleuth Trent screws things up people still love him because he’s handsome.

Everyone who’s enjoyed Mason’s adventures from the start should find no fault with this conclusion. What a great series it’s been.