The Imaginary Corpse

Starred review from October 21, 2019
Hayes puts a fanciful spin on classic mysteries, inviting readers to the Stillreal, a land where imaginary Friends, Nightmares, and cast-off Ideas go when their creators no longer need them. The Man in the Coat, a terrifying Nightmare, murders Friends—something thought impossible until now—and Tippy, a plush triceratops with a knack for solving mysteries, is on the case. As Tippy and his allies—including superhero Miss Mighty, an octopus named Breaker, and information broker Big Business—pursue their enemy, they discover the truth about the Man in the Coat’s origin. To end the killings, they’ll have to risk their own existences. Hayes’s debut is an affectionate, lightly mocking homage to noir tales. Tippy is an unexpected hardboiled detective, one who asks new acquaintances for their pronouns and resolves matters with hugs as often as with violence. A strong psychological thread weaves through the story as characters confront the trauma of being imaginary and forgotten, adding depth to what at first may seem a silly concept. Readers will revel in this strange, fully realized world. Agent: Lisa Abellera, Kimberly Cameron & Assoc.