Bitter Gold Hearts

Garrett Files #2

by Glen Cook

The Stormwarden's children have been kidnapped and Garrett, P.I. is on the case. But caught between the bewitching beauty of a half-elf and the fearsome power of a horde of ogres, Garrett has to think twice before sacrificing all for a fortune in gold-after all, even in this enchanted land, he's only human.

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Detective, Noir, Humor

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Glen Cook was born in New York City, lived in southern Indiana as a small child, then grew up in Northern California. After high school he served in the U.S. Navy and attended the University of Missouri. He worked for General Motors for 33 years, retiring some years ago. He started writing short stories in 7th grade, had several published in a high school literary magazine. He began writing with malicious intent to publish in 1968, eventually producing 51 books and a number of short fiction pieces.
He met his wife of 43 years while attending the Clarion Writer's Workshop in 1970. He has three sons (army officer, architect, orchestral musician) and numerous grandchildren, all of whom but one are female. He is best known for his Black Company series, which has appeared in 20+ languages worldwide. His other series include Dread Empire and and the Garrett, P.I. series. His latest work is Working God’s Mischief, fourth in the Instrumentalities of the Night series.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/glencook

Reviews

[Choko · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** 4.65 ***

Just as book one, the second in the series was a pleasure to read. An old time feel fantasy-noir, Garrett P. I. is everything we have ben taught a grizzled, jaded, alcoholic womanizer private detective should be, from the genre of the beginning of last century. If you put those detectives in a world fool of Magical creatures, add some magic practitioners, set it while the world is at a major war, and populate it with plenty of everything we deal with in every day life, you will have this set up Glen Cook has created for us. I happen to be a big fan of this author no matter what genre he is working with, and I am not disappointed by this lighter than usual fair. The only thing I am surprised by is that the series is not more popular. Almost all of his other work can be found on audio, but not this series, which is kind of a shame - it could reach a larger audience.

In this book Garrett is involved in a big rich family drama and he, being a sucker for a pretty face, gets more involved than he should have. His roommate and somewhat of an assistant when it comes to bouncing around ideas with, The Dead Men is a big, dead creature who communicates with him telepathically, is a misogynistic ass, but he is a wonderful sidekick and often forgets his place... They have a new housekeeper, who constantly tries to set up Garrett with one of his numerous ugly nieces, but is an excellent cook and a busybody. Of course, his friend the half dark elf is back, and he has obviously given up on trying to convert Garrett to a vegan... Which I kind of miss... Of course, there is the current crop of damsels in distress, needing him to help them in their direst need... A perfect mystery for a story full of fun characters 😉. I loved it 👍❤️

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 4 out of 5]

🕵️ Sleuthing Mercenaries R Us Buddy Read (SMRUBR™) with the Overlord Himself, my Dearest of Wives and quite possibly maybe one day my Twin Sister the MacHalos and stuff 🕵️

Actual rating: 4.5 stars.

⚠️ Painfully craptastic non-review coming right up. Thou hast been warned and stuff.

So. Here’s nearly not quite but almost everything you might or might not have thought you didn’t need to know about this instalment:

① Glen cook plays with Noir tropes and it’s both Slightly Very Glorious (SVG™) and Slightly Very Good (SVG™). (And it’s a scientifically proven fact SVG™ + SVG™ = SVG².)

② The mysterious mystery is spoiler spoiler spoiler. And also SVG². Just so you know.

③ Garrett got himself the two mostest awesomest roommates anyone could ever dream of: a psychic, hilariously misogynistic Dead Man (yes, he really is dead) who reenacts famous war battles with bugs (such brilliant strategic minds, these cockroaches) and a sort-of-butler/matchmaker who keeps trying to ambush hook Garrett up with one of his many super hot trollish relatives. Such a lucky guy Garrett is.



And he’s super extra grateful for it, too. So much so that his sexey mustache curls up in appreciation.

④ For those who missed the previous 5,124.23 episodes: Glen Cook is a god. You’re welcome.

⑤ Garrett is a sucker for damsels in distress. Well damsels he thinks are in distress, anyway. This being Glen Cook and stuff, it’s the knight in tarnished armor who’s usually in distress. As for the damsels, spoiler spoiler spoiler.

⑥ This is Glen Cook, ergo there are no good guys or gals, yay! Everyone's a regular bastard/villain/liar/piece of crap/traitor/not good person/choose all that apply, yay!

⑦ Garrett’s eyebrow trick is strangely reminiscent of Kate Daniel’s infamous knockout smile. Especially in the way it keeps misfiring. Oh, and Garrett’s undying love for members of the equine family (and vice versa) is weirdly reminiscent of His Furriness’. Which makes me think he must be one of Kate and Curran’s great-grandkids’ great-grand-nephew thrice removed. Or something.



What is it? What’s that constipated sceptical look on your handsome face? You don’t find my lineage theory very convincing, you say? Goes to show how clueless you are. That’s because you don’t know the Daniels-Lennart family as well as I do. Oh, and by the way, love what you did with your hair. I think.

⑧ This is Glen Cook, ergo all the secondary characters are Slightly Very Scrumptious (SVS™). I have therefore (and quite logically) kidnapped adopted them all and locked them up offered them room and board in my High Security Harem. Such a generous soul I am.

⑩ Sorcerers and kingpins and trolls and grolls and ogres and 💕 scheming vegetarian dark elves 💕, oh my yum!

⑪ This is Glen Cook, ergo short sentences, short chapters, no BS or unnecessary crap. Which is Quite Very Glorious (QVG™), if you ask me.

⑫ Hahahahahahahahaha. Just so you know.

⑬ This is Glen Cook, ergo there is a slight possibility that any or all characters might probably perhaps drop slightly very dead at one point or another. Maybe. Which is also QVG™, if you ask me.

⑭ That ending. Such titillating deliciousness (and delicious titillatingness), much wow.



➽ Nefarious Last Words (NLW™): I think there’s a slight chance I might quite possibly not give up on this series just yet. Maybe.

👋 To be continued and stuff.

· Book 1: Sweet Silver Blues ★★★★
· Book 3: Cold Copper Tears ★★★★
· Book 4: Old Tin Sorrows ★★★★★
· Book 5: Dread Brass Shadows ★★★★
· Book 6: Red Iron Nights ★★★★★
· Book 7: Deadly Quicksilver Lies ★★★★★
· Book 8: Petty Pewter Gods ★★★
· Book 9: Faded Steel Heat ★★★
· Book 10: Angry Lead Skies ★★★★
· Book 11: Whispering Nickel Idols ★★★★
· Book 12: Cruel Zinc Melodies ★★★★
· Book 13: Gilded Latten Bones ★★★★
· Book 14: Wicked Bronze Ambition ★★★





[Pre-review nonsense]

Now THIS is how you write Noir fiction. Well Noir fiction with trolls, anyway. And with grolls (don't ask). And with ugly as fish ogres, too. And with wizards/sorcerers/whatever. And with misogynistic Dead Men (I told you not to ask). And with exquisitely luscious assholes and liars and bastards, oh my!

Glen Cook, I 💕lurves💕 thee so much my black, withered heart might implode with fluffiness any second now. It is quite revoltingly disgusting, really.



➽ Full review to come and stuff.

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I liked Garrett, the moment I met him and, having just checked, I still like him. The purpose of this review is more to acquaint you with him than it is to discuss this “case file.”

I have seen this called “fantasy noir” but it could also be called fantasy detective fiction for reasons I will shortly describe. If you like Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin series or have recently dug into Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files, you don’t need to be a talented shamus to draw a line between those two and discover that Cook was likely inspired by one and inspired the other.
Garrett and the “Dead Man” are quite possibly the best extrapolation of Archie and Nero…. Though Garrett gets fewer girls than Archie and Nero moves around slightly more than the Dead Man.

Here are some quotes that should “flesh out” the P.I. and his venue.


On Garrett: " I’m what the guys who don’t like me call a peeper. An investigator and confidential agent, the way I put it. Pay me—up front—and I’ll find out things. More often than not, things you didn’t really want to know. I don’t dig up much good news. That’s the nature of the racket…All six feet two and two hundred pounds, poetry in motion. In a few weeks I’d be back to the old lean and mean I’d been when I was twenty and a crack Marine….Thirty isn’t old to somebody who is fifty, but when you’ve spent a few years making a career out of being lazy and the belly gets a little less washboard and the knees start creaking and you start puffing and wheezing halfway up a flight of stairs, you feel like maybe you’ve skipped the twenty in between."

On the town in which he lives: "TunFaire is a human city, but just about every other species has an area of its own staked out. Some are a quarter unto themselves, like Ogre Town or Ratman Creek. Some occupy only one tenement. Even though some individuals may live anywhere in town, somewhere there’s a home turf that is fiercely defended…TunFaire is overcrowded and hagridden by poverty and hardly a day passes when somebody doesn’t whittle on somebody with a hatchet or do cosmetic surgery with a hammer…Macunado Street was belly button to elbow with dwarves and gnomes, ogres and imps, elves and whatever have you else, not to mention every human in the neighborhood. There wasn’t room for pigeons to fly because the pixies and fairies were zipping swooping overhead. Nobody in TunFaire was staying inside… "

There is some character development over the course of these novels, but it is secondary to the action and mystery. Butcher does a much better job with the fantastic powers of non-humans, but that isn’t Cook’s focus. If you enjoy the crackling dialogue of a Sam Spade-like P.I. and the spot-on observations of human nature provided, then you should give this book/series a try.


Here is something for those who want to go a bit further. http://wikivisually.com/wiki/Garrett_P.I.

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is second in a series, but the first is a real outlier as it has a different tone and structure and even location from the rest of the series. So I always start rereads with this book. I don't recommend that for first-time readers, however, because a huge amount of establishing goes on in that first book as well. Like the whole relationship with Morley Dotes and Garrett's attitude with regards to the Cantard among other things.

This is one of my favorite serieses and I reread it every now and then when I want some great semi-noir detective stories set in a fully-realized, and quite complex, fantasy setting. This series is a bit of an overt homage to Nero Wolfe with Garrett's tenant the Dead Man playing the part of "sedentary genius who helps analyze clues and brainstorm solutions" but without the orchid obsession.

I almost want to just leave my review there. I mean, if that doesn't entice you to try it out, you're unlikely to be a fan anyway. This particular story is a fantastic mystery with lots of twists and turns for Garrett to stumble over. And the core of the mystery is heart rending and devastating and the eventual falling-out ends with all the right jagged edges. Plus, we get a lot more setting establishment with elements that play significant roles in future books as well.

I think I'll leave it there. This is an easy five stars and I loved it every bit as much this time as I did every previous reread.

A note about Chaste: Garrett is a bit of a hound, in the tradition of noir detectives everywhere. Although come to think of it, he gets a bit more play then some of those old-timey fellows. Garrett does have sex a couple of times in the course of his investigation. Cook draws the curtain very fast, however, and there is nothing prurient on-page. So this is fairly chaste by my measure. If you dislike any mention of casual(ish) sex, then you'll likely differ on that.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 to 4.5 stars. The return of Garrett P.I. in the second installment of the "Garrett Files" series. While very similar in tone and plotting to the Harry Dresden books by Jim Butcher, I actually enjoy these books more as a result of the world that Glen Cook as created. It is basically a more noir version of Harry Dresden in a medieval fantasy world filled with ogres, elves, vampires, witches, giants, centaurs, etc.. A fun, fast read with a couple of good laughs along the way. Recommended!!

[Bookwraiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book much more than the first one; Garrett is beginning to grow on me I suppose. Plus the actual "job" Garrett works on in this case just was more interesting to me: kidnapping which turns into multiple murders with numerous suspects. The ending was a bit hoo-hum, but other than that a good time killer.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

**edited 01/29/14

After his last disastrous adventure (Sweet Silver Blues), Garrett, a human detective in a creative and chaotic city chock-full of sorcerers, elves, centaurs, ratmen, and more, is back to just back to trying to make a living in the big city. However, when a beautiful and mysterious half-fey girl turns up in his office, he has a premonition things are about to get complicated. The girl offers him an enormous amount of money to consult on the kidnapping of the son of one of the most powerful sorceresses in the city. But as he plunges more and more deeply into the corrupt politics of the upper-class, Garrett begins to realize that everything is not as it seems....

...
Due to my disapproval of GR's new and highly subjective review deletion policy, I am no longer posting full reviews here.

The rest of this review can be found on Booklikes.

[C.T. Phipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

BITTER GOLD HEARTS is the sequel to SWEET SILVER BLUES and the second volume of the GARRETT PI series by Glen Cook. I had mixed feelings about the first book due to its sudden genre shift between private investigation story to fantasy action vampire hunt. I think this is a major improvement because it sticks throughout the complicated kidnapping plot from beginning to end.

The premise is that a wealthy sorceress' son has been kidnapped and it's possible he may have done it himself but it also may not have been. Garrett is hired less to actually involve himself in the case but to simply make a showing so the kidnappers take them seriously. Things then proceed to go completely pear shaped and result in the death of one of Garrett's lover.

Overall, I strongly recommend this book.

[Aine · Rating 2 out of 5]

"I don't play with little girls, but I know the feeling a man can get looking at a ripening fifteen-year-old."

EW EW EW!!!

[AoC · Rating 3 out of 5]

In comparison to the first novel, Bitter Gold Hearts is more grounded in both scale and story itself. Adventures of fantasy private investigator Garrett in a magical city of TunFaire continue...

Free from pulling double-duty of introducing a brand new world alongside story proper, we now see Garrett get involved in a kidnapping case of a prominent family from the Hill. Those guys are rich and closest to nobility TunFaire has, you see. It doesn't help the missing person is the son of (in)famous Stormwarden Raver Styx who, known for holding an iron-grip over her family, is now conveniently out of city on war business that's been brewing in the background for some decades. Even more so our PI and his apparent reputation for solving kidnapping cases aren't actually requested to do anything. Garrett is just there so his name and presence can lend gravitas to what's going on and to assure the kidnappers everyone's taking them very seriously. Strange. Amidst all that our protagonist catches the eye of missing lad's sisters who seemingly have agendas of their own as sheltered teenagers are want to.

This time around we're working with mostly pre-established cast of characters, from Dead Man Loghyr and his state leaving him with freedom to do little but engage in mental arithmetic to sort out how exactly has Glory Mooncalled continued to whoop the opposing army, to Morley Dotes who, well, just might be the deadliest individual in the city when he's not running a local dive. Thankfully both are on our protagonist's side with history aplenty between them. Beyond those we have the customary roster of brigands, sellswords and even an odd witch thrown in there. Like or hate Cook's terse writing style but he manages to make each of them a rough draft of a person that works. Amiranda and Amber, two aforementioned sisters who end up personally involved in the case, get sympathy pushed a bit too heavily on the nose for my liking. I do like how characters overall are cutthroat in their own ways. Some quite literally while others play a deadlier, higher-class game where drawing blood is not the only way to do harm.

Novel being under 300 pages I'd say the pacing is generally alright, but there's couple of too many instances of "Garrett went back to Dead Man, annoyed him somewhat to get couple of misogynistic comments, and then the two brainstormed what to do next" putting a stop on current events. I also found Garrett and company to be too much in control of what's going on considering A) what they're going up against and B) time frame they're working with. Which could be ascribed to them simply being that good, though.

Would I recommend Bitter Gold Hearts? If you liked the previous novel there's a good chance you'll enjoy this one as well. Fantasy noir stories aren't exactly dime a dozen, and this one goes into murderous territory quickly with perhaps one angle too many when you tally everyone involved. I wasn't exactly sold on the ending, but you have to keep in mind despite what they do and how they act these are not bad people who will still try to do what's right. Hell, getting revenge for a helpless girl becomes a big motivator early on.

[Elena Linville-Abdo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot just how awesome this series was. No wonder I was so in love with it when I was a teenager.

Unlike a lot of more recent urban fantasy series about private detectives, this one has a lot of meat on its bones. By meat I mean story, intrigue, stakes, everything. What starts as a straight kidnapping job quickly morphs into something much more sinister, at least for everybody involved.

I like the fact that even though Garret lives in a magical world, the problems he encounters are very human indeed. It's not a magical creature behind the botched kidnapping. It's human greed and desperation of an oppressed kid to flee an abusive household.

The second favorite thing I like about these series is that Garret is not your typical down on his luck private eye like they are often portrayed in other books/movies: he isn't broke, he isn't a drunk though he enjoys his beer, he isn't a loner. 

No, Garret is efficient and good at what he does. One of the reasons he is contacted about the kidnapping case is because he is known as the TunFair expert on those cases. He has a reputation of playing it by the book with both parties and of improving the victim's chances of coming home alive and in one piece. And while he works alone, he has associates he can turn to if he needs help. I would even go as far as call some of those associates friends, even if Garret never would.

He also keeps up with the shady side of TunFair and knows other professionals in his line of business well enough to understand who is shadowing him the moment he picks up a trail. All this shows us a protagonist who is well integrated into the world he lives in, which I a breath of fresh air. He is part of the story that's unfolding. The reader fully believes that he knows this city, he walked its streets, he lived there. There is history there.

Another aspect I like about these books is that even though we mostly stay in TunFair, the city doesn't exist in a vacuum. The author does a great job painting a complex world outside the city walls. Heck we even visit part of it in book one when we go to Cantard, but that war is always present in our characters minds because it drives the economical and social live in TunFair. It feels like a complex world out there, and a world that is lived in, that Garret is fully part of.

Another aspect that separates this book from other private eyes series is how effortlessly dark it can be. Glen Cook is a master of grim dark. In fact, he might even have invented the genre with its Black Company series. This series isn't grim dark by any means, but it's not sunshine and daisies either. It has humor and an overall positive message, but bad things happen to good people. Fights draw blood and have often fatal consequences for everyone involved. The gore and horror isn't accentuated like in other dark fantasy books, but it isn't glossed over either. This is a cruel world where death is very real. 

The only gripe I have with this series is the portrayal of female characters. They are either tiny and pretty (or at least cute) and fall for Garret left and right, or they are old and ugly, or just ugly, man-like and unpleasant, and those are usually the villains. That's a pretty sexist depiction of the fairer sex, wouldn't you agree? That's where I have to give the author some grace, because this series was written in the late 80s early 90s for the most part.

But I must admit that this is the only part where the age shows. All in all, TunFair is still wonderfully fresh and alive even thirty-something years after its creation.

I highly recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who likes smart detective stories.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Garrett Series and this 2nd volume much more then the first, because almost all of the action takes place in TunFaire Garrett's hometown. Lots of the interesting characters from book 1 are back and a few new ones added. My favorite character has to be The Dead Man, while being the smartest guy in the room, it's a room he can not leave. :)

Dead Man in this book uses live insects to wargame the on going war that TunFaire has long been involved in. Cook uses this to make some pointed comments about war and the military.

If you like mysteries or fantasies this is the series for you especially if you're a Nero Wolfe fan, and may point at the reason that Cook made the Dead Man misogynist

[Udayan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chandler's noir meets fairies, ogres, elves and trolls. Much mayhem ensues.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems unfair that Glen Cook should be the master of both the fantasy warfare genre (The Black Company) and the fantasy detective novel (the Garrett Files) but he undeniably is. Of the two genres, I suspect that the fantasy detective series is the most difficult. Not only does he have to have memorable characters whom the readers can both love to cheer for (and against), exciting action scenes, magic that enhances the story without overwhelming it, and a believable fantasy back drop, he has to come up with a credible, multi-layered mystery. Cook does this in the Garrett Files by starting with the Nero Wolfe template with the Dead Man (four centuries in the grave but not ready to move on yet) acting as Wolfe and Garrett filling the shoes of Archie Goodwin (drinking beer instead of milk, but otherwise pretty much the same). Garrett is a hardboiled detective in a very tough city and Bitter Gold Hearts gives us a look at the personal problems of the ruling class. Someone has dared to kidnap the only son of Stormwarden Raver Styx and Garrett is hired to make it look like he is helping to get the missing young man back. He’s pulled in just deep enough to see that the Stormwarden’s family is a mess and to discover he likes her ward, a sweet half-faerie woman who is one of many scions of the family locked in misery and wanting to get out before mama Stormwarden returns from the war in the Cantard. When the young woman dies Garrett throws common sense to the wind and decides to bring a measure of justice to her killers no matter who in the Stormwarden’s family wants to get in his way. This is a good one.

If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.

[Gintautas Ivanickas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kažkelintas ten Niutono dėsnis skelbia: „Apžvelgei vieną Glen Cook Garretto ciklo romaną – apžvelgei visus“. Na, bet mokslas nestovi vietoj, Niutonas gyveno seniai, ir aš turiu atsakingai pareikšti, kad dėsnis puikiai veikia iki kažkurios ten ciklo knygos, kai viskas jau ima ristis blogyn. Bet čia tik antra, tai viskas dar ok.
Tai fiksuojam trumpai žanrą – fantastinis detektyvas, savotiškas noir ir fantasy miksas.
Ir kažkiek apie siužetą.
Į Garrettą kreipiasi konsultacijos dėl garsios burtininkės sūnaus pagrobimo ir išpirkos reikalavimo. Kreipiasi labiau dėl reputacijos, mat nusikaltėliai, žinodami, kad reikalo ėmėsi pats Garrettas, tikėtina, žais sąžiningai. Konsultacija viskas ir apsiriboja, o pačiam Garrettui duodama suprasti, kad toliau geriau savo nosies nekaišioti. Tačiau viskas pasisuka taip, kad atsiranda asmeninis interesas. O kai reikalas jį liečia asmeniškai, Garrettas nenurims, kol neištrauks visų nenaudėlių į dienos šviesą.
Ir toliau tvirti keturi iš penkių.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is not for everybody. There is a bittersweet undertone that makes them worth reading - and re-reading - but you have to have a certain amount of... life experience, I guess, to really get it.

The cynical take on war, immigration, and the economics thereof could have been written yesterday. Yet, the series began in 1987.

Very prescient, but then Glen Cook has an almost depressingly accurate understanding of human nature.

Also, although the dead Loghyr is supposed to be the center of the stories, Garrett quickly becomes the main character, and the star, of the series. The fact that he gets through the day without losing his humanity keeps you waiting to see what he'll live through next.

[Antonis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 / 5

Bitter Gold Hearts is the 2nd novel in the Garrett PI series by Glen Cook. In many respects, it follows the path taken by the first novel in the series and thus it is quite similar. We still have our protagonist, Garrett the detective who is a typical witty hard-boiled crime-noir type character. He is as cliched as you can imagine but this is exactly what one expects and wants from such a story. The cast in this novel is big and varied and the plot threads keep tangling almost until the very end.
I enjoyed reading this book quite a lot but still I have some minor gripes that I should mentioned to justify the grade. The writing style was similar to the first but something was off. I can't quite put my finger exactly on what that is but the best way I can describe it is that it was a bit uneven in style and mood. Sometimes if felt uninspired, other times it felt forced. Still, there was quite a load of quote-worthy passages!
Another minor gripe is that the plot felt unnecessary complicated at times.
And finally, something that made me cut another half-point and I'm worried that it might be something of a trend in this series, is the way women are presented and contextualized throughout the book. It's like they are either bad, mean, capable of every evil thing or incapable of anything and always with some sexual tension surrounding them. And mark my words, if in his next book he keeps describing, mentioning or presenting teenage girls as the peak of sexual desire, I'm gonna drop that book that instant.
But, apart from these little complains this book is a lot of fun, especially for someone wanting an interesting detective crime-noir novel with a fantasy sprinkling. Recommended!

3.5 / 5

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder, mayhem, betrayal. Garrett is up to his eyeballs in troubles. The folks 'off the Hill' the richest section of town have been killing themselves off and someone, our man Garrett, is tasked to find out the how and why. Another great detective story with a big dose of fantasy.

[Zheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bitter Gold Hearts is the second installment in the Garrett Files by Glen Cook and I have to admit it was a smidgen better then the first. This one felt more like a noir and the mystery only kept getting bigger and bigger, without getting too heavy on the fantasy.
Many of the characters from the first novel have returned (some with bigger roles to play then others) and a few new names were brought into this tale. Most of the returning characters had some character progression or a little bit of backstory that we weren't given in the first one. I always find it refreshing to learn something new about old characters. I have to say I did enjoy the times when Garrett would remind us of old events in the first book with Morley and Saucerhead. Out of the new characters, Dean was my favorite and out of the old Saucerhead wins the gold! lol Read the book, all pun intended here.
My only real complaint was the ending and it's not much of a complaint really, it just felt too easy. Not every story needs a happily ever after type ending nor does the hero always have to win for it to be a good story but with the way this one did end I felt like there should have been more to it. It was good don't get me wrong but it's also why I can't give this story a 5 star rating.

[Michael Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing on with the Garrett series and I'm enjoying every page along the way. This book certainly improved upon the formula of the first one. Garrett is back at it with his whimsical cynicism and mystery within mystery adventures that leave you guessing till the very end. The only complaint here is the very end was a bit anti-climatic with too much dialogue about things hidden from the reader. Hopefully that's not a gimmick the author will use regularly, because I'm really liking this character and his odd assortment of associates. Two books in and even I can see that the poor guy needs a vacation -- I can't wait to see what gets thrown at him in the next book.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in a long-running series that is one of my all-time favorites. The twisty plots and interesting characters make each book a great read. It focuses on a former Marine, Garrett, who now works as a private investigator in a fantasy-styled city named TunFaire. This one has Garrett tied up with the inner problems of one of the rich and powerful of the city, who also happens to be a sorceress. This dysfunctional family drives our hero to distraction and to disastrous consequences.

[Natalie aka Tannat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as bad as Sweet Silver Blues but still with many sigh-worthy moments. I think the titles are the best thing about this series.

[Sylvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garett égal à lui-même dans cet univers peuplés d'ogres, de trolls et autres créatures, pour démêler les histoires les plus embrouillées qui soient.

[Vasilii Borovkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

В Танфере похищают Карла да Пену, сына могущественной волшебницы Рейвер Стикс. Семейство да Пена обращается к частному детективу Гаррету. Причем от Гаррета им нужно не расследование, а только лишь «имя» — Гаррет считается одним из лучших специалистов по похищениям в Танфере и один только слух о том, что он занимается пропажей Карла, может повысить шансы на успешное разрешение дела.

Но Гаррет всё одно влезает в это дело — ведь после оплаты выкупа и возвращение Карла домой, число наследников Рейвер Стикс начинает стремительно сокращаться.

В первом романе о Гаррете, «Сладкоголосый серебряный блюз», Глен Кук придумал замечательную концепцию — частный детектив в фэнтезийном мире. Придумать придумал, но толком ей не воспользовался — отправил персонажей в путешествие и навертел там лихой боевик. То есть дальше концепции Кук в том романе не пошел. И вот, второй роман. В котором та самая концепция расцвела буйным цветом. «Золотые сердца» — это именно что расследование преступления частным детективом. В фэнтезийном мире.

Стиль романа лучше всего укладывается в три слова — юмористическое детективное фэнтези. Юмористическое — потому что Гаррет шутит к месту и не к месту. Фэнтези — потому что магия и гоблины. А «детективное» — потому сюжет в романе целиком и полностью детективный.

Замените в романе гоблинов на гангстеров, магический взрыв на взрыв гранаты, могущественного колдуна на олигарха, а Танфер на Лос-Анджелес. А остальной сюжет оставьте в неприкосновенности. И вы получите классический американский «крутой» детектив. В духе Раймонда Чандлера и прочих классиков этого жанра. Хотя, если учесть количество трупов, то роман больше походит на позднего Спиллейна. А умный толстый мертвый логхир — это чуть более неподвижный, чем обычно, Ниро Вульф из произведений Стаута.

Кук в романе еще много детективщиков «помянул». Не суть. Главное тут то, что Кук написал хороший «хард-бойлд». Очень хороший — поверьте человеку, который этих «хард-бойлдов» прочитал два воза. Кровавые разборки в благородном семействе — что может быть увлекательнее?

Самое главное в «Золотых сердцах» — это потрясающее лавирование Кука на стыках жанров. Роман будет интересен всем, кто интересуется хотя бы одной жанровой составляющей «Золотых сердец». Вам нравится фэнтези, но вы эстетски воротитесь от детективов — почитайте «Сердца». Там будет ваш любимый мир меча и магии, но с увлекательной детективной интригой. Читаете детективы, но считаете фэнтези детским жанром? Почитайте «Сердца». Там вас ждет увлекательный детектив со слегка непривычным антуражем.

Со стороны может и кажется, что написать «кроссовер» легко. Взять «стандарты» используемых жанров и намешать их вместе. Но написать «кроссовер» так, чтобы он понравился и тем, и этим — это уже мастерство. Кук хорош, а «Золотые сердца» остаются одним из лучших его романов.

10/10

Оригинал отзыва - https://cahier.ru/cook-garret-gold-1988/

[Elmer Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Garrett and the Dead Man (a la Jake and the Fatman 80's tv, google it) are at it again, mostly. The Loghyr seemed like a drawing/sounding board for the author to expound theories aloud, when not asleep/pretending to be asleep for a dead guy. Garrett did the lead guy posturing this outing.

I kept waiting for Morley to be bigger in his involvement, as a partner, not as hired vegan muscle with a gambling problem. Can't win them all.

Only the 2nd in the series, and nearly the entire Tunfaire phonebook appears in this one, seemingly. The plot was underwhelming before it started, then the bodies started dropping without really shaping the power structure beyond those on the Hill, and the rest of the village.

I enjoy the noir aspect, have no problem with the fantasy aspect bleeding over into mystery world, or vice versa, just kept waiting for Garrett to stop drinking his own Kool-aid. Hasn't been enough storyline to think this guy is the end-all, be-all of private detectives. And I thought Spenser liked himself a bit much.

Dames everywhere and they are equal to their male counterparts in all aspects, notably a plus.

A hunch was posited somewhere along the plotline without due justification (outside the house, away from the Loghyr), and suddenly that is the semi-solution. And Garrett has equally as many dead bodies in his house as the local morgue, while no one has any gripes with this?

Decent action sequences, lame witchy flash-bangs are the main extent of magic, and not enough gold to go around. With so many characters to utilize, it feels Cook was forced into making pairs/teams to settle everything.

Casual readers may require a second read and a bingo card/scoresheet to keep up.

Read the first book and make your own decision on whether to pursue the series.
Thanks for reading.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bitter Gold Hearts is the second book in the Garrett P.I. series written by Glen Cook and centered on the adventures of private investigator Garrett.

Garrett is approached at his house by a young woman named Amiranda Crest. She explains that her employer is the Stormwarden Raver Styx, whose son Karl daPena has been kidnapped. They want Garrett to organize the exchange between them and the kidnappers. The Domina Willa Dount, in charge while the Stormwarden is away, explains to Garrett that they only need him as a decoy, and apparently, Garrett's work is over. However, when Garrett is attacked on his way home by a band of ogres, his interest in the matter is piqued.

Bitter Gold Hearts is written rather well. Cook continues to builds and describes the complicated world of TunFaire, a megalopolis of various mythical races, albeit dominated by humans, and further delves into Garrett and his companions. The narrative and mystery that Garrett has to solve is intriguing enough to initially pique your interest and the constant drip feeding of clues maintains that interest nicely.

All in all, Bitter Gold Hearts is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.

[Katja · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not at all like the first book

After liking Sweet Silver Blues so much, I'd decided to use the series as a palate cleanser between heavier books and as light entertainment for the tougher times in life. Alas, if the series continues in the vein of the second book, I'll have to pass on it.

There was just too much going on. Names were dropped at every corner, hints here and there, Garrett's thought process mainly took place behind the scenes and his jumps to conclusions were not always comprehensible.

Also, as already mentioned, there were too many people, too many plot threads for such a short book and I had stopped caring about any of the characters about a third in. Inclusion of such heavy duty themes like torture, grooming, and incest didn't make it any better.

I am most certainly biased, because I went in expecting something light and linear like the first book in the series had been. Nevertheless, since my reviews are just as subjective and biased as I am, I feel justified in giving a low rating at least as a warning to people who go in with similar expectations.

2/5

[Riq Hoelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty standard detective/noir fiction in the Raymond Chandler style, but set in a fantasy world. Moves right along. The only thing that troubles is that magic is supposed to exist in this world, but it never makes an appearance, at least not so far. I don't just mean that nobody is casting spells and the like, but also that a world in which magic exists ought to have effects. Are they using magic to build their houses? Create canals? Find lost objects? Simplify manufacturing. And so on.

Really liked the character of Stormwarden Raver Styx, whose arrival we await for most of the novel. Surprisingly well drawn Napoleonic character. Made me wonder who the author modeled her on. I didn't think though that her story turned out the way it should have, but maybe the way it should have would have been too predictable.

[Pye Josephus Joestar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book, I was honestly was expecting the writing to be the same as the last book but It really has progressed very well. Cook's story telling and world building is getting better in this volume and the characters are great too. Garrett does a lot more leg work in this book and has a better character progression as well. I can definetly say the same for Saucerhead who is more of a main character in this book than Morely, who was a main character in the first book. I really enjoyed the new character Chodo even though he didn't have much "screen time". The story was just fantastic this time as it was engaging and kept me guessing who dunnit all the way up to the end, which had a very noir feel to it.

[Ward G · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the start.
This one seems to be much better plotted out.
Than the first book in the series.

A wealthy kidnap victim or is he?
Many twists and turns. Including battling a gang of ogres.
Some red herring suspects.
Then again, is any one of them completely innocent?

Each move, seeming to uncover more secrets.
As bodies begin to pile up, along the way.

This was a decent, quick read.
Would have scored it higher.
Yet knocked down, a notch.
Simply for the fact. One of the villains behind the most wicked crime.
Gets to escape, unscathed.

Maybe planned for a future showdown, later novel.
Still, it just does not sit well.
That one character, seeming to deserve it.
Is not given justice, by stories end.