In the world of the Stillreal, a place where Ideas like imaginary friends or abandoned novels that are too Real to disappear when their creators give up on them, there are always mysteries small and big to solve. And every Friend in the Stillreal knows your best call is to reach out to Detective Tippy, a bright yellow stuffed triceratops with a brain for investigation. But when a new arrival in the Stillreal is permanently killed by a man no one has ever seen before, Tippy isn't sure all his detective skills will be able to prevent more crimes from happening.

The premise of this one is utterly wacky and I utterly adored it. A very noir-ish mystery with a yellow stuffed triceratops who likes to drown his sorrows in root beer is exactly my kind of book. The world-building is creative, the characters are smart and interesting takes on various narrative tropes, and the central mystery is really well done. While there are a few writing style wobbles early on in the book (symptoms of it being a first novel), overall it's a solid read and one I'd recommend if the premise intrigues you. ( )

Honestly didn’t even know what to expect from this book but I ended up having a good time ( )

Detective Tippy and his friends live in the Stillreal, where ideas go when they’re no longer needed. While solving a case about screaming corn, Tippy meets a new arrival — and soon finds himself sucked into a case big enough to change life in the Stillreal forever.

Part cosy mystery, part urban fantasy, part trippy-cheese-dream. But I feel like that sells this wonderful, unique story short.

I read another review that described this as the Dresden Files if Dresden were a stuffed triceratops. Which is fairly apt — except without the the sexism that underpins Butcher’s writing style.

Highly recommended. ( )

To read more reviews like this, check out my blog at keikii Eats Books!

96 points, 5 STARS!

Quote:

"The worst part? A part of me feels good. I'm on a case, and that means I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. And maybe this time.. maybe this time I can make it make sense. Real healthy there, me."

Review:
I have never read anything at all before like this adorable, mushy, perfect mystery novel. I need you to read this, because you need to read this. On the surface, this sounds like a trippy, really weird mystery in a really novel location. But below? Below that surface is everything awesome and wholesome that exists in this world.

Tippy is a stuffed yellow dinosaur who is a private investigator, because that is what his Person needed from him when she created him. Tippy specializes in cases about people new to the Stillreal, the world where imaginary friends go when their Person no longer needs them. He has magic stuff(ing), which helps him on his cases. And Tippy is one of the most kind hearted, genuine people I've ever met. (And so is the author, Tyler Hayes.)

Through Tippy, we the entire Stillreal is filled with some of the most kind, amazing people. Unless it is contrary to who they are as Friends, that is. Everyone wants to make everyone else happy and make them feel like they belong. Even if they are nightmares. Because everyone in the Stillreal is broken, just by virtue of being in the Stillreal in the first place. Because in order to become a Friend in the Stillreal, you have to have lost your Person. Which is traumatizing for an imaginary friend!

The Imaginary Corpse features a murder case, in a place where, by definition, there can be no murder. Not because they are not real, but because they cannot die. Yet, Friends are dying. And everyone is scared. But because Tippy is on the case, everyone feels like it will all work out.

And really this is just adorable.

While reading The Imaginary Corpse, I wished dearly that this was a book that you could read to your children. Don't get me wrong, this is definitely a book for adults. But the themes and qualities The Imaginary Corpse covers is perfect for children as well as adults. It talks about the consequences of actions, and learning to work with others. It is about how you treat your friends and family, as well as perfect strangers. It is about morals. It is about how not everything always goes the way you want it to, and sometimes bad things happen, and it is okay to feel bad about it. It has everything you want a child to learn, while still being an amazing story for adults. And it is a completely wholesome story you rarely get to see. Unfortunately, I think this just has a few too many adult themes for children.

The Imaginary Corpse, at the core, makes you feel. It makes you feel happy when it can, and accepted always. It makes you feel love for those you know. It lets you make friends with those you don't know yet. It makes you feel fear in the face of death, and anger when you cannot stop it from happening. And you feel the heartbreak of being ripped away from people you love, whoever it may have been. But always, always, it is about belonging and acceptance.

I received this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Tyler Harris, Angry Robot, and Edelweiss for providing the opportunity to review this copy!

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