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Markhat #6
The Broken Bell
Ask not for whom the wedding bells toll…
The Markhat Files, Book 6
There’s no way Markhat can turn away his newest client. Who is he to refuse the woman he loves—especially when she bribes him with breakfast?
This time it’s Darla’s friend Tamar Fields, whose fiancé vanished days before the wedding. His wealthy family insists Carris Lethway is simply away on urgent business. Tamar smells a lie, and she needs Rannit’s most famous finder to figure out if the source of the suspicious aroma is a conspiracy, or the groom’s cold, sweaty feet.
As if his plate isn’t piled high enough, Mama Hog’s slip of the tongue has landed him in the middle of a good old-fashioned Pot Lockery clan feud. Plus, Rannit’s streets are abuzz with rumors of war—and Tamar’s case has his own lady love hearing wedding bells of her own.
As Rannit arms for battle, Markhat finds himself torn between old alliances and new commitments, and a growing, awful fear that no matter which way he turns, all he loves is about to go up in flames.
This work of fiction is known to contain dangerous vowels and at least two instances of provocative folk dancing. Readers should be prepared to produce fresh emus for inspection at any time while reading pages 78 or 134. Neither the Publisher nor the Author condones the formation of covalent hydrogen bonds, although the Author does wink at them when his attorney isn't looking.
The Markhat Files, Book 6
There’s no way Markhat can turn away his newest client. Who is he to refuse the woman he loves—especially when she bribes him with breakfast?
This time it’s Darla’s friend Tamar Fields, whose fiancé vanished days before the wedding. His wealthy family insists Carris Lethway is simply away on urgent business. Tamar smells a lie, and she needs Rannit’s most famous finder to figure out if the source of the suspicious aroma is a conspiracy, or the groom’s cold, sweaty feet.
As if his plate isn’t piled high enough, Mama Hog’s slip of the tongue has landed him in the middle of a good old-fashioned Pot Lockery clan feud. Plus, Rannit’s streets are abuzz with rumors of war—and Tamar’s case has his own lady love hearing wedding bells of her own.
As Rannit arms for battle, Markhat finds himself torn between old alliances and new commitments, and a growing, awful fear that no matter which way he turns, all he loves is about to go up in flames.
This work of fiction is known to contain dangerous vowels and at least two instances of provocative folk dancing. Readers should be prepared to produce fresh emus for inspection at any time while reading pages 78 or 134. Neither the Publisher nor the Author condones the formation of covalent hydrogen bonds, although the Author does wink at them when his attorney isn't looking.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 27, 2011
6 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 2, 2025
Stars: 4.5 out of 5
This series gets better with each subsequent book. I love how it builds on the events of the previous books and integrates everything that happened before. And Markhat is still such a good guy and a pleasure to read about.
As I said, it gives me the same vibes as the Garrett PI series by Glenn Cook, but the early books, when that series was still fresh and fun. I have a suspicion that the author was inspired by that series when he started writing Markat, but thankfully, he made it his own.
Markat is nothing like Garrett - he is not a womanizer. Even though he can appreciate a beautiful woman when he sees one, he adheres to the rule of "look, don't touch." This is very refreshing, to say the truth. I like Markat because he is a badass fighter and detective, I'm sorry, finder, but also because he is genuinely a good man. He loves his fiancée, he cares about his friends, heck, he even cares about his smelly three-legged cat. He has a moral code that he isn't willing to compromise on. And let's be honest, he is funny, even if his jokes don't always land with the audience.
I also like the world he inhabits. The more I learn about it, the more I want to know. And the whole attack was truly terrifying in the way it was described - a city on the brink of destruction, cut off from the rest of the world, and with no information on how big a force was descending upon them. Markat not knowing if his friends have succeeded or even survived the suicide mission they went on. People are rioting in the streets or running for the hills. It was a tense situation.
But of course, everything is concluded with a happy ending for our characters... well, except for one, which is sad, because I really grew to like him during the little time we got to know him.
My only small issue with this is that it seems like Markat is relying more and more on his friend Evis and his vampire house to solve his problems, yet he doesn't really know where the vampire elders of that house stand when it comes to the Regency and survival of the city. I'm a big proponent of not putting all your eggs in the same basket, so I worry.
All in all, I'm loving this series so far, and will happily jump into the next book.
This series gets better with each subsequent book. I love how it builds on the events of the previous books and integrates everything that happened before. And Markhat is still such a good guy and a pleasure to read about.
As I said, it gives me the same vibes as the Garrett PI series by Glenn Cook, but the early books, when that series was still fresh and fun. I have a suspicion that the author was inspired by that series when he started writing Markat, but thankfully, he made it his own.
Markat is nothing like Garrett - he is not a womanizer. Even though he can appreciate a beautiful woman when he sees one, he adheres to the rule of "look, don't touch." This is very refreshing, to say the truth. I like Markat because he is a badass fighter and detective, I'm sorry, finder, but also because he is genuinely a good man. He loves his fiancée, he cares about his friends, heck, he even cares about his smelly three-legged cat. He has a moral code that he isn't willing to compromise on. And let's be honest, he is funny, even if his jokes don't always land with the audience.
I also like the world he inhabits. The more I learn about it, the more I want to know. And the whole attack was truly terrifying in the way it was described - a city on the brink of destruction, cut off from the rest of the world, and with no information on how big a force was descending upon them. Markat not knowing if his friends have succeeded or even survived the suicide mission they went on. People are rioting in the streets or running for the hills. It was a tense situation.
But of course, everything is concluded with a happy ending for our characters... well, except for one, which is sad, because I really grew to like him during the little time we got to know him.
My only small issue with this is that it seems like Markat is relying more and more on his friend Evis and his vampire house to solve his problems, yet he doesn't really know where the vampire elders of that house stand when it comes to the Regency and survival of the city. I'm a big proponent of not putting all your eggs in the same basket, so I worry.
All in all, I'm loving this series so far, and will happily jump into the next book.
January 2, 2016
3.5 *
I'm not sure what to think of such a fast technological progress. Other than that - it's another fast'n'fun book in the series that I thoroughly enjoyed. Lovely ending.
I'm not sure what to think of such a fast technological progress. Other than that - it's another fast'n'fun book in the series that I thoroughly enjoyed. Lovely ending.
July 7, 2013
Markhat is back for another adventure. Dark forces are gathering to bring Rannit down to its knees, and it's up to Markhat, Evis, Gertriss, Mama Hogg and the Corpsemaster to save the day. Of course, it's also up to Markhat to see to it that a young woman, Tamar, successfully weds her intended. It turns out he is missing and trouble follows Markhat as he tries to unravel the case.
This book has everything that the other Markhat books have to offer - great characters, amusing writing and a mystery that you struggle to unravel even as the story advances. Despite this, I felt this was the weakest of the Markhat books. Part of it is my own preference. I much prefer the 'smaller' focus of the earlier books - books where Markhat isn't literally saving the world as we know it. The other thing that made me pause was the exponential growth of technology in the series. A few volumes ago no one had heard of gunpowder and cannons, now, suddenly, an enemy army is threatening to besiege Rannit with a thousand or so cannons. Oh, and the Corpsemaster is busy making hundreds of her own for the Regent. And Evis gives Markhat a 'hand cannon' (a.k.a., six shooter revolver) complete with holster belt and brass cartridges. In a story with magic and sorcerers, this stretched my willingness to buy into the author's world.
That aside, the book was still a great deal of fun. Three and a half stars rounded down to three.
This book has everything that the other Markhat books have to offer - great characters, amusing writing and a mystery that you struggle to unravel even as the story advances. Despite this, I felt this was the weakest of the Markhat books. Part of it is my own preference. I much prefer the 'smaller' focus of the earlier books - books where Markhat isn't literally saving the world as we know it. The other thing that made me pause was the exponential growth of technology in the series. A few volumes ago no one had heard of gunpowder and cannons, now, suddenly, an enemy army is threatening to besiege Rannit with a thousand or so cannons. Oh, and the Corpsemaster is busy making hundreds of her own for the Regent. And Evis gives Markhat a 'hand cannon' (a.k.a., six shooter revolver) complete with holster belt and brass cartridges. In a story with magic and sorcerers, this stretched my willingness to buy into the author's world.
That aside, the book was still a great deal of fun. Three and a half stars rounded down to three.
June 15, 2013
Loved it. Markhat is an excellent character - he's got his flaws and he makes his mistakes but he's got his head on straight and he aims himself at his goals and gets there no matter what. With some chuckles and head shaking for the reader along the way. Good twisty mystery with a satisfying ending. And of course Mama Hog had her little part. Good stuff. I'm reading out of order on these now as I can get them so how he got to this point is a bit of a mystery to me but that is ok, it doesn't matter to the central story.
March 6, 2018
Ahhh, the Romeo and Juliet trope with just enough changed to turn it in to a detective story and what a story Frank Tuttle weaves around a lost fiance, a business mogul, a baker, and the war!
Gertriss is permanent part of Markhat's business, he's proposed to Darla, Mamma Hog is still shaking taxidermied birds at everything, and Buttercup keeps walking through walls. It'd almost be just as satisfying if Tuttle turned this in to a comedy series with Markhat and Darla setting up house and wrote it like a sitcom but luckily for us that's not the direction he chose.
With less supernatural goings on and much more mundane reasons behind the case at hand, Markhat gets to showcase his talents as a finder and does so with his usual tactic of pointing himself at goal and rushing towards it at full clip. Nevermind that along with a missing fiance there also seems to a war scheduled and a feud come to visit Markhat all the way from Pot Lockney. The case mightn't involve any magic but there's strange things afoot for sure.
This is the most complex plot and set of subplots that Tuttle has attempted and he's pulled it off admirably. While I'm hesitant about the speed at which technology is advancing I'm giving Tuttle the benefit of the doubt and not knocking a start off because I think it's obvious the Corpsemaster is guiding the development even though it's never really stated clearly. The progression is logical even if the speed is not. But when you have vampires and a necromancer at the helm I expect that you end up not needing to play it as safe with the test subjects.
Gertriss is permanent part of Markhat's business, he's proposed to Darla, Mamma Hog is still shaking taxidermied birds at everything, and Buttercup keeps walking through walls. It'd almost be just as satisfying if Tuttle turned this in to a comedy series with Markhat and Darla setting up house and wrote it like a sitcom but luckily for us that's not the direction he chose.
With less supernatural goings on and much more mundane reasons behind the case at hand, Markhat gets to showcase his talents as a finder and does so with his usual tactic of pointing himself at goal and rushing towards it at full clip. Nevermind that along with a missing fiance there also seems to a war scheduled and a feud come to visit Markhat all the way from Pot Lockney. The case mightn't involve any magic but there's strange things afoot for sure.
This is the most complex plot and set of subplots that Tuttle has attempted and he's pulled it off admirably. While I'm hesitant about the speed at which technology is advancing I'm giving Tuttle the benefit of the doubt and not knocking a start off because I think it's obvious the Corpsemaster is guiding the development even though it's never really stated clearly. The progression is logical even if the speed is not. But when you have vampires and a necromancer at the helm I expect that you end up not needing to play it as safe with the test subjects.
October 18, 2017
A doozy of a tale. The Corpsemaster, impending war, a feud involving Mama Hog, a wedding and just maybe a blooming romance. Just another day for Markhat. I love these stories, they're fun, lighthearted - even through the horrors Markhat faces, there's always humor with a lot of sass! Another fun escape. I look forward to reading more.
April 2, 2020
I'm loving these. The characters are unique, interesting, and continue to develop. The threats feel very real, and the responses are satisfying. An excellent series, even more so because each book stands alone. Better, of course, to read them in sequence, but Tuttle gives you the info you need to enjoy each book on its own if you haven't.
October 10, 2012
From the moment I read the first line, I was hooked. What a bunch of wonderful characters Mr. Tuttle has created! Markhat is smart-mouthed, brash, a tough-guy but very likable...and the people of Rannit ? The “good guys’ are equally odd and likable , and the villains are black-hearted and thoroughly unredeemable. Mama Hog is a hoot, Darla is level-headed but lovable, and Evis is a good friend to have around, even if it is only when the sun isn’t shining too brightly. There’s even a little pooch named Mr. Tibbles who’s endearing in an obnoxious sort of way.
The threat of the coming war brings some reality to the story, through Markhat’s reminiscences of previous combat as well as his dealings with the Corpsemaster and his investigations into various involved individual’s backgrounds. There’s also enough mayhem and bloodshed to go around, even if most of it is wrought through magical means.
With tinges of the grim and gritty a la Raymond Chandler sprinkled with the irreverence of a Terry Pratchett tale and a sampling of the supernatural seen in Jim Butcher’s novels, The Broken Bell is entertaining, exciting, funny, and satirical. Plays on words, tongue-in-cheek satire, and a city and citizens who are real, but still magical, mingle with Markat’s touching narrative of a man and his love facing the devastation of war. The ending is definitely an unexpected one.
Of course, I’m going to have to go back and find Book 1, and Book 2, and Book 3, and ...well, you get the idea!
The Broken Bell is available from Samhain Publishing .
This novel was supplied by the author and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
NOTE: Pdfs of novels are not given away or loaned after review and after a specific time will be deleted from the website.
The threat of the coming war brings some reality to the story, through Markhat’s reminiscences of previous combat as well as his dealings with the Corpsemaster and his investigations into various involved individual’s backgrounds. There’s also enough mayhem and bloodshed to go around, even if most of it is wrought through magical means.
With tinges of the grim and gritty a la Raymond Chandler sprinkled with the irreverence of a Terry Pratchett tale and a sampling of the supernatural seen in Jim Butcher’s novels, The Broken Bell is entertaining, exciting, funny, and satirical. Plays on words, tongue-in-cheek satire, and a city and citizens who are real, but still magical, mingle with Markat’s touching narrative of a man and his love facing the devastation of war. The ending is definitely an unexpected one.
Of course, I’m going to have to go back and find Book 1, and Book 2, and Book 3, and ...well, you get the idea!
The Broken Bell is available from Samhain Publishing .
This novel was supplied by the author and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
NOTE: Pdfs of novels are not given away or loaned after review and after a specific time will be deleted from the website.
October 18, 2012
I love the Markhat series, Frank's fantasy-noir about a finder. The Broken Bell has it all mystery, espionage, curses, war, destruction, turmoil, death and a bit of steampunk added in!
The multiple plots are twisted, dark and intriguingly wonderful. We learn a lot more about several of the characters and Markhat himself. Lives are changed forever in this book and Rannit will never be the same.
I was very happy with the length of this book; it is a much longer more complex story than the other installments. These stories must be read in order.
I recommend starting with The Mister Trophy, The Cadaver Client: The Markhat Files, Book 3, Dead Man's Rain: The Markhat Files, book 2, Hold The Dark: A Markhat story, The Banshee's Walk: A Markhat Novel, and then The Broken Bell: The Markhat Files, Book 6.
The reason I put The Cadaver Client second is because once you read Dead Mans Rain you will want to read more about Darla immediately, and you won't find her in The Cadaver Client. Just sayin . . .
Frank Tuttle has outdone himself with this installment. I can't wait to see where the next story leads, I was very happy with the ending. The Markhat series are a must buy for me.
The multiple plots are twisted, dark and intriguingly wonderful. We learn a lot more about several of the characters and Markhat himself. Lives are changed forever in this book and Rannit will never be the same.
I was very happy with the length of this book; it is a much longer more complex story than the other installments. These stories must be read in order.
I recommend starting with The Mister Trophy, The Cadaver Client: The Markhat Files, Book 3, Dead Man's Rain: The Markhat Files, book 2, Hold The Dark: A Markhat story, The Banshee's Walk: A Markhat Novel, and then The Broken Bell: The Markhat Files, Book 6.
The reason I put The Cadaver Client second is because once you read Dead Mans Rain you will want to read more about Darla immediately, and you won't find her in The Cadaver Client. Just sayin . . .
Frank Tuttle has outdone himself with this installment. I can't wait to see where the next story leads, I was very happy with the ending. The Markhat series are a must buy for me.
May 24, 2015
Awesome story
I am a new fan of Frank's. I started with his All paths of Shadows and was directed to his Markhat series. I am reminded of Glen Cook's Garret files series but as I quite enjoy them, it's not an issue. My only complaint is that Frank here has started this series with short stories instead of real novels. This would be better if they were all complied into one book. Better yet,given out free. I hate that 79 or so pages are marketed as the first and second in a series......grrr. So I started this series at book 3......sigh. That said, it's a wonderful series and I'm wasting time writing this when I could be reading book 7, which is what I am now gonna do. I suggest you all hop to it and read the Markhat series too. Or the Path of Shadows. I enjoyed them all. Happy Reading,folks.
I am a new fan of Frank's. I started with his All paths of Shadows and was directed to his Markhat series. I am reminded of Glen Cook's Garret files series but as I quite enjoy them, it's not an issue. My only complaint is that Frank here has started this series with short stories instead of real novels. This would be better if they were all complied into one book. Better yet,given out free. I hate that 79 or so pages are marketed as the first and second in a series......grrr. So I started this series at book 3......sigh. That said, it's a wonderful series and I'm wasting time writing this when I could be reading book 7, which is what I am now gonna do. I suggest you all hop to it and read the Markhat series too. Or the Path of Shadows. I enjoyed them all. Happy Reading,folks.
May 30, 2013
I really wanted to give this 5 stars, and for a long time i was determined that i would.
I've been so thrilled to find a series of this caliber, in this particular genre, that i've been rooting for it all the way.
It's enjoyable, it's fun, and detective noir-ish urban fantasy is just my thing..
However! And this is a general trend in the series - Markhat is just too much of a boyscout, never selfish, always puts the case first, have no ambitions of his own, and if he earns money he search for grieving widows to give it to.
Give me some edge god-damn-it, some snark, stop only using the flat side of that nice new sword you have.. Siigh!!
I've been so thrilled to find a series of this caliber, in this particular genre, that i've been rooting for it all the way.
It's enjoyable, it's fun, and detective noir-ish urban fantasy is just my thing..
However! And this is a general trend in the series - Markhat is just too much of a boyscout, never selfish, always puts the case first, have no ambitions of his own, and if he earns money he search for grieving widows to give it to.
Give me some edge god-damn-it, some snark, stop only using the flat side of that nice new sword you have.. Siigh!!
January 30, 2012
I am just about to start this book. Very excited to have another Markhat book to read!
May 6, 2012
Another Markhat--Loved it!
February 23, 2016
Love this group of characters. Great dialogue/narrative. Looking forward to many more in the series.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews