Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Case of the Singing Sword | 2004 | Tee Morris | Buy |
| 2 | The Case of the Pitcher’s Pendant | 2008 | Tee Morris | Buy |
| 3 | The Case of the Pitcher’s Pendant: A Billibub Baddings Myster | 2008 | Tee Morris | N/A |
The Billibub Baddings series puts a fantasy spin on classic noir detective fiction. The premise is simple but fun: a dwarf from a typical fantasy realm somehow ends up in Prohibition-era Chicago and takes up work as a private eye. The Case of the Singing Sword, published in 2004, launched the concept, and The Case of the Pitcher’s Pendant followed in 2008.
Morris plays the setup mostly straight, letting the humor come from the contrast between Baddings’ fantasy background and the gritty reality of 1920s America. The books are lighthearted compared to traditional noir but keep enough mystery structure to satisfy genre fans.