Finally. Proof.

In the Mexico City night, the cops freed the prisoners and locked up their torturers. Nearby, the reporter picked up a torn scrap of fabric.

What looks like plain black silk turns out to be covered in subtle yet intricate patterns.

The very tongue of life, rendered in thread.

Something small. Torn from something larger. World-renowned roving journalist BS Trotter knows that little clues add up to big revelations.

And she knows the scrap in her hand could be the first piece in a puzzle unsolved for thousands of years.

Such a shame she has to give it up.

Could anything be more fantastical than a reporter of impeccable character and unlimited resources? If you like sharp-tongued women heroes and short stories with a smooth twist, get ready to bundle up with "To Find the Man in Black, First Find His Tailor."

The Rucksack Universe series combines alternate history, speculative fiction, myth, adventure, globetrotting, and intrigue—all with well-poured pints of beer. Library Journal says Anthony St. Clair's storytelling has "universe building reminiscent of Terry Pratchett," and readers say they love the Rucksack Universe's unique combination of "quirk, wit, travel, and magic."