Patrick Samphire books

Patrick Samphire is a British author of fantasy fiction, known for the Mennik Thorn noir fantasy series and the middle grade Secrets of the Dragon Tomb series set on a steampunk Mars.

Mennik Thorn Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Word for Friend is Death TBD N/A
Shadow of a Dead God 2020 Buy
Nectar for the God 2021 Buy
Strange Cargo 2022 Buy
Legacy of a Hated God 2023 Buy
The Dead Man 2025 Buy

Secrets of the Dragon Tomb Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Secrets of the Dragon Tomb 2016 Buy
The Emperor of Mars 2017 Buy

Short Story Collections

Title Published Buy on Amazon
At the Gates and Other Stories: Sixteen Tales of Magic and Wonder 2020 Buy

The Casebook of Harriet George Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Dinosaur Hunters 2018 Buy
A Spy in the Deep 2018 Buy
The Underwater Ballroom Society 2018 N/A

Patrick Samphire writes fantasy that doesn’t fit neatly into one box. His Mennik Thorn series is noir fantasy set in a city full of gods, criminals, and magic that works like a protection racket. Shadow of a Dead God (2020) launched the series, and it has grown to six books that blend detective fiction with secondary-world fantasy. Mennik is broke, unlucky, and stuck solving problems that are way above his pay grade.

His earlier Secrets of the Dragon Tomb (2016-2017) is middle grade fiction set on a steampunk Mars where the British Empire has colonized the planet. The two books follow a family of eccentric inventors through adventures involving ancient Martian technology and imperial intrigue. It’s a completely different tone from Mennik Thorn but shows the same talent for worldbuilding and comic timing.

Samphire has also written The Casebook of Harriet George, a shorter series, and a collection of fantasy short stories. He’s a versatile writer whose work ranges from children’s adventure to adult noir, connected by sharp prose and inventive settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Patrick Samphire written?

Patrick Samphire has written 12 books across 4 series.

What was Patrick Samphire's first book?

Patrick Samphire’s first book is Secrets of the Dragon Tomb, published in 2016.

What kind of fantasy does Patrick Samphire write?

Samphire writes in two distinct modes. The Mennik Thorn series is noir fantasy for adults, combining a hardboiled detective sensibility with a magical city setting. The Secrets of the Dragon Tomb books are middle grade adventures set on a Victorian-era colonized Mars with steampunk technology. Both feature strong worldbuilding and dry humor.

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