Books like Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick deWitt

Lucien Minor, known locally as Lucy, lives alone in the quiet town of Bury, a place famous for producing strong, awkward giants. Misshapen and isolated, Lucy has a propensity for lying and an upbringing that leaves him unmoored. When he accepts a new position assisting the Majordomo of the remote Castle Von Aux, Lucy is thrust into a life of strange routines and unsettling secrets. As Undermajordomo, he discovers that the castle’s master, Baron Von Aux, has vanished and that the estate holds hidden dangers. Throughout his tenure, Lucy encounters a colorful cast of villagers—thieves, eccentric residents, and aristocrats—alongside a fragile beauty, Klara, who draws his affection. He also faces competition from the dashing soldier, Adolphus, as he navigates theft, heartbreak, and the darker undercurrents of the castle and its community.

First publish date: 2015