The Stranger — Max Frei

The Russian author's international-bestselling series begins with this “well-written, well-paced grown-up fantasy with a strong dose of reality” (Kirkus Reviews).
 
Fandomania.com's #1 Book of 2009
 
To put it bluntly, Max Frei is a loser. He spends his day sleeping and at night he smokes, eats, and loafs around because he can't catch a wink. But then he gets lucky. Through his dreams, he begins to contact a parallel world where magic is a daily practice -- and, strangely, Max seems to fit right in.
 
Once a social outcast, he's now known in this new world of Echo as the “unequalled Sir Max.” He's a member of the Department of Absolute Order, formed by a species of enchanted secret agents; his job is to solve cases involving illegal magic. And he's about to embark on a journey down the winding paths of this strange and unhinged universe.
 
“Fans of Jasper Fforde and Susanna Clark will happily jump into Frei's world.” -- USA Today
 
“If Harry Potter smoked cigarettes and took a certain matter-of-fact pleasure in administering tough justice, he might like Max Frei, the protagonist of this fantasy novel.” -- Kirkus Reviews