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Markhat #5
The Banshee's Walk
No secret stays buried forever.
A Markhat novel.
When patron of the arts Lady Erlorne Werewilk hires Markhat to identify the parties who are stealthily mapping out the Lady’s estate by moonlight, Markhat anticipates the usual—greedy relatives or rapacious neighbors plotting a land grab. After all, muses Rannit’s most feckless Finder, the Lady runs a colony filled with young artists. Aside from snits over color and perspective, how dangerous could a squabble over a backwoods house possibly be?
With new partner Gertriss in tow, Markhat takes the Lady’s case. Before the first night is done, the house is visited by murder, mayhem, and the haunting wail of what may be a genuine banshee, come to herald not just one death, but the deaths of all within. Trapped in a house under siege, Markhat must make a desperate gamble with an old enemy to win the race to unlock the secret that lies beneath the Lady’s lands. And find a way to turn that secret against the powerful forces converging on House Werewilk.
Product This Markhat adventure involves suggestions of impending matrimony, full-scale gluttony, and misuse of fermented beverages. Persons with weak constitutions or persons currently at the halfway mark of a thousand-meter tightrope walk above a crocodile-infested river should refrain from reading this work of fiction in dimly-lit drawing rooms, which should never be constructed above crocodile-infested rivers in the first place.
A Markhat novel.
When patron of the arts Lady Erlorne Werewilk hires Markhat to identify the parties who are stealthily mapping out the Lady’s estate by moonlight, Markhat anticipates the usual—greedy relatives or rapacious neighbors plotting a land grab. After all, muses Rannit’s most feckless Finder, the Lady runs a colony filled with young artists. Aside from snits over color and perspective, how dangerous could a squabble over a backwoods house possibly be?
With new partner Gertriss in tow, Markhat takes the Lady’s case. Before the first night is done, the house is visited by murder, mayhem, and the haunting wail of what may be a genuine banshee, come to herald not just one death, but the deaths of all within. Trapped in a house under siege, Markhat must make a desperate gamble with an old enemy to win the race to unlock the secret that lies beneath the Lady’s lands. And find a way to turn that secret against the powerful forces converging on House Werewilk.
Product This Markhat adventure involves suggestions of impending matrimony, full-scale gluttony, and misuse of fermented beverages. Persons with weak constitutions or persons currently at the halfway mark of a thousand-meter tightrope walk above a crocodile-infested river should refrain from reading this work of fiction in dimly-lit drawing rooms, which should never be constructed above crocodile-infested rivers in the first place.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2010
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83 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 9, 2013
Seriously, ridiculously enjoyable--I've found my new favorite MUF (Carly's phrase for male urban fantasy). I've been buried in the Markhat series for the last couple of days, pulled away when required to do those annoying biological things (and the economic things to support them) and have finally come up for air to jot a few thoughts down.
Markhat is a Finder, a private detective who lives on the slum side of the Brown River. Missus Hog is his nearby neighbor, a fortune-telling witch with a habit of waving dead birds around. Markhat displays my own finely tuned relationship with authority, namely, it's fun to poke with a stick right up until it pokes back; this time Mama pokes back by dumping an apprentice on him, a great niece straight from the farm. The day Gertriss starts her new job, an eccentric client appears, a noblewoman who runs an artist's colony on her estate. Someone's been leaving surveying rods around her estate, and she's concerned it may be a plot to take her House or her land. Before long, Markhat and Gertriss are headed out to the rural estate, foiling an assassination attempt and experiencing an unlikely supernatural event on the way.
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The setting feels roughly similar to Glen Cook's Garrett Files, a fantasy world populated with a variety of intelligent species and hinting at a war between the races in the not-too-distant past. Like Garrett, Markhat fought in the war, and his memories often provide insight into his current troubles. As in the best MUFs, Markhat is quick with a quip but thankfully avoids snark in a true crisis. Despite his vast experience, he's a skeptic, looking for the more human explanation instead of the magical one. While somewhat of a wit, this books allows his compassion and determination to shine, making him more identifiable than ever and certainly easier to connect with than Garrett.
There's an urban feel to the series, a type of Ankh-Morpork where generally earth-rules govern, with a magic system that is present but not ubiquitous. Tuttle explains it in pieces, which works well for those who like to put the puzzle together, but if you like your world-building spelled out (ha-ha), this may prove frustrating. Tuttle focuses more on fantasy people, such as vampires (usually called 'the halfdead'), ogres and trolls, than the magic system, although in this installment we learn more about sorcerers, sanctioned and otherwise. I don't know that I'd call any elements unique, but to borrow his art analogies, he is arranging them in a satisfying composition.
Writing is smooth, occasionally providing evocative description but more usually focused on action. In this it reminds me of Jim Butcher's Dresden files. Occasionally, the description is very earth-like, but still amuses me:
"And if her crowd was selling their paintings like deep-fried money, that had to be putting a crimp in the coffers of every gallery on the street."
One of the longer Markhart stories, this moved well, striking a nice balance between emotional development, investigation and action in a semi-standard siege setting. Characters were well done, especially the women, which is more rare than one would hope in the modern urban fantasy. Honestly, I'm surprised Tuttle isn't more widely known given the popularity of the genre. A further note for those that prefer their fantasy non-dark--while Tuttle likes to evoke the occasionally scary scene, he's essentially an optimistic writer with emotionally satisfying resolutions.
You can find a number of the Markhat shorts cheaply on Kindle, but some have been collected into paperback as well. Now that I've got them in e-form, I'll probably have to hunt a physical copy down for my library. Yes, that good.
Four-and-a-half stars.
Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/0...
Markhat is a Finder, a private detective who lives on the slum side of the Brown River. Missus Hog is his nearby neighbor, a fortune-telling witch with a habit of waving dead birds around. Markhat displays my own finely tuned relationship with authority, namely, it's fun to poke with a stick right up until it pokes back; this time Mama pokes back by dumping an apprentice on him, a great niece straight from the farm. The day Gertriss starts her new job, an eccentric client appears, a noblewoman who runs an artist's colony on her estate. Someone's been leaving surveying rods around her estate, and she's concerned it may be a plot to take her House or her land. Before long, Markhat and Gertriss are headed out to the rural estate, foiling an assassination attempt and experiencing an unlikely supernatural event on the way.
[image error] The setting feels roughly similar to Glen Cook's Garrett Files, a fantasy world populated with a variety of intelligent species and hinting at a war between the races in the not-too-distant past. Like Garrett, Markhat fought in the war, and his memories often provide insight into his current troubles. As in the best MUFs, Markhat is quick with a quip but thankfully avoids snark in a true crisis. Despite his vast experience, he's a skeptic, looking for the more human explanation instead of the magical one. While somewhat of a wit, this books allows his compassion and determination to shine, making him more identifiable than ever and certainly easier to connect with than Garrett.
There's an urban feel to the series, a type of Ankh-Morpork where generally earth-rules govern, with a magic system that is present but not ubiquitous. Tuttle explains it in pieces, which works well for those who like to put the puzzle together, but if you like your world-building spelled out (ha-ha), this may prove frustrating. Tuttle focuses more on fantasy people, such as vampires (usually called 'the halfdead'), ogres and trolls, than the magic system, although in this installment we learn more about sorcerers, sanctioned and otherwise. I don't know that I'd call any elements unique, but to borrow his art analogies, he is arranging them in a satisfying composition.
Writing is smooth, occasionally providing evocative description but more usually focused on action. In this it reminds me of Jim Butcher's Dresden files. Occasionally, the description is very earth-like, but still amuses me:
"And if her crowd was selling their paintings like deep-fried money, that had to be putting a crimp in the coffers of every gallery on the street."
One of the longer Markhart stories, this moved well, striking a nice balance between emotional development, investigation and action in a semi-standard siege setting. Characters were well done, especially the women, which is more rare than one would hope in the modern urban fantasy. Honestly, I'm surprised Tuttle isn't more widely known given the popularity of the genre. A further note for those that prefer their fantasy non-dark--while Tuttle likes to evoke the occasionally scary scene, he's essentially an optimistic writer with emotionally satisfying resolutions.
You can find a number of the Markhat shorts cheaply on Kindle, but some have been collected into paperback as well. Now that I've got them in e-form, I'll probably have to hunt a physical copy down for my library. Yes, that good.
Four-and-a-half stars.
Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/0...
December 22, 2015
“Every sword needs a name,” I said aloud, as I walked. I heard boots scrape somewhere behind me, heard a furtive whisper. I yanked out the sword, held it high, let it glitter. Boots and whispers withdrew. Rolling Curfew-breaking drunks is one thing, I suppose, but tackling a gleaming sword is something else entirely.
“I dub thee Toadsticker,” I said. “Slayer of miscreants, opener of packages, occasional carver of baked turkeys. Let all men hear, and know mild caution.”
I swear the steel flickered.
====
:D
“I dub thee Toadsticker,” I said. “Slayer of miscreants, opener of packages, occasional carver of baked turkeys. Let all men hear, and know mild caution.”
I swear the steel flickered.
====
:D
July 1, 2013
Another great Markhat story; one that somehow made me think of gothic horror, Indiana Jones and the X-files at one time or another. But this story marks a shift from the other, earlier volumes, and I’m not sure if I will like this shift in the long run.
The Banshee's Walk begins innocently enough. Markhat is hired to discover who is surveying the Lady Werewilk’s estate – an estate where the Lady runs an artists commune. It looks as if someone plotting to steal her land. Of course, with Markhat nothing is so simple. Markhat and his new assistant, Gertriss, find themselves fighting for their lives against an unexpected foe.
So far so good. I love the way that the author spins out the story. I knew that something deeper was going on, but I just couldn’t figure it out – although the author put in plenty of hints to foreshadow events. And I like not being able to piece together the mystery as I read. (I knew that there was something going on with all those artists, I just couldn't figure it out!) This is where the Markhat files shine. I am always left guessing and trying to connect the dots. It’s what makes them so much fun.
Now the downside. Where the earlier books were very ‘small’ in their focus (Markhat is solving one run of the mill supernatural case) this story edged towards ‘big.’ The fate of the world was potentially on the line and it was up to Markhat to save the day. I had enough of ‘The One’ with Harry Dresden and I really hope Markhat doesn’t go down the same road. Some days I just want it to be about one person or one household.
Another observation or two. Although I like Gertriss and think she makes a good addition to Markhat’s world, I thought her transformation from country bumpkin to urbanista was stretching it a bit. It was the book equivalent of that scene in that movie where the nerdy girl takes off her glasses and lets down her hair and suddenly everyone notices that she is drop dead gorgeous. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t work like that. Finally, is it just me, or are there a load of women in Markhat’s life - Mama Hog, Darla, Gertriss, Buttercup, the Corpsemaker, and even the ancient power? I’m fine with it, but with the exception of Evis, all the significant characters are women.
A solid four stars.
The Banshee's Walk begins innocently enough. Markhat is hired to discover who is surveying the Lady Werewilk’s estate – an estate where the Lady runs an artists commune. It looks as if someone plotting to steal her land. Of course, with Markhat nothing is so simple. Markhat and his new assistant, Gertriss, find themselves fighting for their lives against an unexpected foe.
So far so good. I love the way that the author spins out the story. I knew that something deeper was going on, but I just couldn’t figure it out – although the author put in plenty of hints to foreshadow events. And I like not being able to piece together the mystery as I read. (I knew that there was something going on with all those artists, I just couldn't figure it out!) This is where the Markhat files shine. I am always left guessing and trying to connect the dots. It’s what makes them so much fun.
Now the downside. Where the earlier books were very ‘small’ in their focus (Markhat is solving one run of the mill supernatural case) this story edged towards ‘big.’ The fate of the world was potentially on the line and it was up to Markhat to save the day. I had enough of ‘The One’ with Harry Dresden and I really hope Markhat doesn’t go down the same road. Some days I just want it to be about one person or one household.
Another observation or two. Although I like Gertriss and think she makes a good addition to Markhat’s world, I thought her transformation from country bumpkin to urbanista was stretching it a bit. It was the book equivalent of that scene in that movie where the nerdy girl takes off her glasses and lets down her hair and suddenly everyone notices that she is drop dead gorgeous. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t work like that. Finally, is it just me, or are there a load of women in Markhat’s life - Mama Hog, Darla, Gertriss, Buttercup, the Corpsemaker, and even the ancient power? I’m fine with it, but with the exception of Evis, all the significant characters are women.
A solid four stars.
June 25, 2025
Stars: 4.5 out of 5
This series continues to be excellent. I love how events from previous books continue to have consequences in next stories. Like the huldra or the secret war between different sorcerers.
Markhat continues amassing his own dysfunctional little family. First it was Three-Leg cat and Mamma, then came Darla and Evis, now they added Mamma's niece and Buttercup. I swear, they need a dog in the next book, and I will be happy.
Longer review to come.
This series continues to be excellent. I love how events from previous books continue to have consequences in next stories. Like the huldra or the secret war between different sorcerers.
Markhat continues amassing his own dysfunctional little family. First it was Three-Leg cat and Mamma, then came Darla and Evis, now they added Mamma's niece and Buttercup. I swear, they need a dog in the next book, and I will be happy.
Longer review to come.
June 21, 2011
This most recent Markhat installment is definitely my favorite (so far). Markhat has always shown ingenuity and brains and compassion, but with this story he went just a little further and opened himself up more. I always found him interesting and wanted to see what would happen with him next; this story made me start to CARE about him, and trust that he will do right for more than just his clients. I hope there are more Markhat stories in my future, and soon!
February 12, 2020
Very enjoyable. Period Urban Fantasy, with just a smidgen of Great Old Ones. And a very entertaining resolution.
March 14, 2024
Golly this book transcends.
What shenanigans, what aplombs and what bashful glee I had with all the going- ons and how the yarn spins. Everyone should read this book, it has endless of surprises.
What shenanigans, what aplombs and what bashful glee I had with all the going- ons and how the yarn spins. Everyone should read this book, it has endless of surprises.
October 1, 2010
Yes! This book is what I've been hoping to get from the Markhat Files from the start! Darla, from "Hold the Dark," is back, and her relationship with Markhat is just...adorable. I love it. It's warm and squishy and just right. I found the storyline about the banshee interesting, I enjoyed the addition of Mama Hog's niece, Gertriss, as a junior partner to Markhat, and I just all around found myself enjoying this book a lot.
I admit that I was worried when Gertriss was introduced. At first I thought she was going to be another attractive lady to drool over Markhat and be a potential love interest (which...no thank you), but when it became clear she was NOT a love interest, just a colleague and friend, I let myself like her as a character. In fact, I'd love to read more about her back story and read more about her in the future, so long as there is no Darla/Markhat/Gertriss love triangle coming up. I like Gertriss as a junior Finder and a friend, but I don't see her as a match for Markhat.
What I can't tell is if I would have enjoyed this book as much had I not read the other Markhat Files before reading this, because there's not much more world building in this book than in previous books, but I guess I've picked up enough bits and pieces from the other books that I feel like I have some sense of this world.
Technical note: I'm still a bit confused about the order these books are supposed to be read in. The previous book, "The Cadaver Client," is listed as book 4, but this book is also listed as book 4, so...I don't know what's going on with that.
I admit that I was worried when Gertriss was introduced. At first I thought she was going to be another attractive lady to drool over Markhat and be a potential love interest (which...no thank you), but when it became clear she was NOT a love interest, just a colleague and friend, I let myself like her as a character. In fact, I'd love to read more about her back story and read more about her in the future, so long as there is no Darla/Markhat/Gertriss love triangle coming up. I like Gertriss as a junior Finder and a friend, but I don't see her as a match for Markhat.
What I can't tell is if I would have enjoyed this book as much had I not read the other Markhat Files before reading this, because there's not much more world building in this book than in previous books, but I guess I've picked up enough bits and pieces from the other books that I feel like I have some sense of this world.
Technical note: I'm still a bit confused about the order these books are supposed to be read in. The previous book, "The Cadaver Client," is listed as book 4, but this book is also listed as book 4, so...I don't know what's going on with that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2018
There is a starting to be little doses of the Murdoch Mysteries sprinkled in the story in that Evis and his house provide a bit of Deus Ex Machina by way of invention. In my opinion this isn't a bad thing and provides another level of depth to the story that's not directly Markhat himself. I suspect some folks might not like it but the way it's presented provides some humorous asides that I really enjoy.
We've a good balance between snark and dark in this installment and the largest cast that we've seen thus far. Markhat is forced to use more than just his wits to solve the case and deal with the actual resolution of the problem. I really like the direction Tuttle is taking these books and the slowly expanding cast of recurring characters is increasing at just the right rate.
I've tried to veer away from talking about the plot in any of these books and I think I'm going to keep it that way. It's not that they are simple plots but talking about any of the threads could give away too much. Instead I'll settle for continuing to talk about the world building and character development. The plots are absolutely top notch but they are detective stories and as such far too easy to spoil.
We've a good balance between snark and dark in this installment and the largest cast that we've seen thus far. Markhat is forced to use more than just his wits to solve the case and deal with the actual resolution of the problem. I really like the direction Tuttle is taking these books and the slowly expanding cast of recurring characters is increasing at just the right rate.
I've tried to veer away from talking about the plot in any of these books and I think I'm going to keep it that way. It's not that they are simple plots but talking about any of the threads could give away too much. Instead I'll settle for continuing to talk about the world building and character development. The plots are absolutely top notch but they are detective stories and as such far too easy to spoil.
May 12, 2012
This series just keeps getting better! Tuttle has introduced a couple of wonderful new characters which I hope will be ongoing in the series, as well as including a few past favorites. This book has it all, adventure, mystery, suspense, magic, humor and even a touch of romance. There was a real sense of urgency toward the end, that left me with no idea how it would all come out. That lack of predictability is a rare gem in today's book market. Can't wait to read the next in the series!
October 18, 2016
Once again Markhat is in trouble with a capital T. These are my kind of "horror" tales, not that they're all that harrowing, well OK, they could be, but then there's just too much humor here to be all that scary! But still, there is a vampire, a banshee, sorcerer's, and the walking dead just to name a few of the frightening beings contained withing this story. All I can truly say - this was a pleasurable escape from the mundane. Also, an unusual twist about cannons! I look forward to the next story.
October 18, 2012
Frank Tuttle is my new favorite author! I just finished Hold the Dark and The Banshee's Walk. They were both wonderful and I can't wait for the next Markhat Novel. Frank has developed a fascinating fantasy world. Markhat is now my favorite finder (P.I.). I love Darla, Gertiss, and Mama Hogg. Markhat does have a way with women. And Evis is now one of my favorite vampires. Keep them coming Frank, I can hardly wait.
April 18, 2012
Review to come. But it's a Markhat tale. And possibly the best one yet. What more do you need to know??? I loved it.
May 31, 2013
This is a great series. I'm rationing myself and trying not to read them all at once.
August 4, 2013
I really enjoyed this installment, as it unexpectedly included all the usual suspects. I enjoy that the Markhats posse continues to grow, though I'm interested to see what the next step is.
July 27, 2014
Another excellent Markhat adventure. The only reason I gave this four instead of five stars is because of too much intervention by 'people' who aren't Markhat.
January 31, 2016
A very enjoyable adventure.
A bit out of his natural habitat but with death and destruction
threatening as usual.
A bit out of his natural habitat but with death and destruction
threatening as usual.
March 24, 2020
3.75*
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