The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry

This excerpt introduces Jedediah Berry's novel, "The Manual of Detection," a work of fiction first published in 2009. The narrative follows Agency clerk Charles Unwin, who becomes entangled in a complex mystery after discovering a corpse in a superior's office and being promoted to detective. Unwin, often feeling out of his depth, investigates the disappearance of Detective Travis T. Sivart, his mentor, and grapples with the surreal influence of Enoch Hoffmann and his "Travels-No-More" carnival, which utilizes dream surveillance and manipulation. Throughout his journey, Unwin uncovers layers of deception within the Agency and the city itself, ultimately embracing his role as a detective while confronting the pervasive, dream-like reality orchestrated by Hoffmann and a mysterious "overseer." The story concludes with Unwin, Miss Greenwood, and Sivart at Sivart's cottage, suggesting a resolution to Hoffmann's grand scheme and the broader conflict within the Agency, as the carnival departs the city.