Ruse: Enter the Detective (Ruse Traveler)

Rating:
Summary: Good story at a convenient size and price
Review: I bought this on a whim and was very happy with the purchase. Both for storage and portability, I really do like these compact collections. Beyond that, the story and art were both very strong. I still have two stories to go, but my favorite part of the collection is the interaction between the characters. For the money, I strongly recommend this purchase if you enjoy mysteries and banter.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome Victorian Pastiche
Review: The first volume of Ruse follows the adventures of Simon Archard, a cold but brilliant detective, in a world constructed like a twisted version of Victorian England (complete with mobile, bat-eating gargoyles leering from the rooftops). Archard's superhuman displays of logic and observation (and his subhuman empathy levels) are wryly observed by his assistant/partner Emma Bishop, who resents Archard's secretive nature while simultaneously keeping an enormous secret from him. With the addition of a devilish baroness with designs on world denomination and the re-appearance of Archard's old partner, Simon and Emma find their trust in one another being stretched to the limits.

The world of Arcadia is rendered with magnificent attention to detail, and the tight plotting and snappy dialogue (with the banter between Simon and Emma always bringing a smile) elevate this title above the rest of the pack. Combined with the incredible price of the Traveler's Editions, this is a deal much too good to pass up.