Folk-Spelled (Immortal Holmes Book 1)

Detective Varti Weller finds himself trapped between truth and deception when an ancient curse forces him to speak only lies, effectively ending his promising law enforcement career. Relegated to the evidence archives beneath the city's Bastion, he expects his days of active investigation to be over. When a series of brutal murders surfaces, however, Varti encounters both a legendary figure and an impossible opportunity: the chance to become assistant to the immortal Sherlock Holmes himself. The position comes with a deadly caveat—he must prove Holmes innocent of the very crimes plaguing the city while competing against fellow detectives and a dangerous foreign rival who seeks the same role.

Travis Baldree brings remarkable depth to this steampunk-infused mystery, masterfully navigating the complex challenge of voicing a protagonist cursed to speak only falsehoods. His performance captures both Varti's frustration with his predicament and the dry wit that emerges from such an unusual limitation. Baldree's interpretation of the iconic Holmes feels fresh yet respectful, grounding the detective's immortal nature in believable weariness and sharp intellect. The narrator's pacing allows listeners to piece together clues alongside the characters while maintaining the story's atmospheric tension throughout its ten-hour runtime.