The Death of the Necromancer – Martha Wells (1998)

Before she wrote about sarcastic murderbots, Wells gave us this masterpiece of gaslamp intrigue. Think Sherlock Holmes meets necromancy noir. A criminal mastermind plots revenge against an aristocracy built on bones and secrets — and nothing goes according to plan.

It’s witty, moody, and deliciously clever — urban fantasy before “urban fantasy” became a buzzword. You’ll finish it and wonder why this isn’t a Netflix series yet.

Rating: 5 / 5