Not a nero wolfe homage as the Dead Man stays dead to the world until the final scenes, this one's all Garrett and Morely in a country manor like Christie's "And Then There Were None". Of course it's a fantasy so there is a lot more going on then would in a normal mystery.

This fourth volume in the series is where Cook really starts to shine, this is by far my favorite volume so far, I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

reread 8/1/17 Just as good as the first time I read it. ( )

A very good read. It can be revised so that it could be a modern or distant human tale, not remain simply a fantasy novel. Very well written. Would make a great movie, in any genre! No spoilers. You need to read, and just it by and for yourself. ( )

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Title: Old Tin Sorrows
Series: Garrett, PI #4
Author: Glen Cook
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 252
Format: Digital Edition

Synopsis:

Garrett is resting on his laurels. With enough money, why take on work and do more than you have to? Then his old army Sarge comes calling and Garrett makes the mistake of letting him in the door thinking it is a social visit. He is quickly disabused of that notion when his old Sarge hires him to find out who is trying to kill Sarge's employer, a retired general.

Garrett is ostensibly hired to find out if any of the General's staff are pilfering items and he is to use that as cover to find out who is slowly killing the General. Problem is, there is a very small pool of staff still around, as the General isn't well liked. Those still around are there because in the General's will he states that his estates will be divided half to his daughter and the rest divided up among the staff. Staff have been leaving for years though and Garrett suspects one of those who left has a grudge against the General.

Garrett also finds out the house is haunted by a ghost. A beautiful blond that no one seems to see or even know who she might be. Eventually Garrett rules out poison and calls in an exorcist for the General. But not before he has slept with the ghost (yeah, for real) AND the general's daughter. Turns out the ghost was the General's first wife who he had murdered and she's been haunting him. The disappearing staff members though are a different matter. They haven't been leaving, they've been murdered. By the daughter, who is a crazy psychopathic killer who wants to keep the failing estate all to herself.

Garrett reveals all, the ghost confronts her killer and crosses over and the daughter runs off a 4th story balcony while trying to kill Garrett. Garrett goes home and finds solace in the arms of the young woman he met in the previous book.

My Thoughts:

You know, from that synopsis, I would never read this book or this series. A womanizing, alcoholic private eye who is lazy? No thank you. However, Cook got his literary claws into me with his Black Company books and I have to say, I am glad.

Once again, I really enjoyed this book. While a bit drearier and less humorous than the previous 3, and my eyes definitely rolled when Garrett had a roll in the sack with a ghost and the general's daughter, I just found myself WANTING to read more. I seriously considered just ignoring my own rules of rotation and reading the next Garrett book. Thankfully, I didn't give in to temptation. I'm not Garrett after all. I didn't really try to analyze the “why” of my enjoyment but now that this has happened for 4 books, I think during my read of the next book I'll be taking a look at myself while reading to see if I can nail down just what I actually enjoy.

Part of my enjoyment springs from the fact that while these are part of a “series”, each book has been a standalone story. Something I can sink my teeth into for a day or two and then just let go. Also, these are not taxing books. I'm not desperately trying to keep track of a whole host of characters nor a slew of plot lines. While Cook likes to throw in some misdirection here and there, we as readers are still just moving in a straight line from Beginning to End. I really appreciate that.

★★★☆½ ( )

The best Garrett book so far. I think the previous ones suffered (to this reader at least) from jumping around too much; too many locations and characters popping in and out. Basically, too much stuff to keep track of. This book tried something new—well, for the Garrett books, anyway. 'Twas a classic "one dozen people stuck in a haunted mansion and one of them's the killer" story, with thievery, a slow poisoning, and a serial killer all mixed together; not to mention the ghosts and zombies. Garrett's humanity gets highlighted as well, further endearing him to readers as a very relatable protagonist. ( )

this one is a good example of throwaway pulp fantasy/sf from the 40s. we don't really need it, but it's a fun read the author had some fun with too. sharper quippage (and a more interesting central character) might have taken this one to a slightly more exalted level, but as it is it's a really good pastiche of a style that's pretty much gone now, and i always have a soft spot for fantasy/sf p.i. series, so i'll keep it as a bit of a curiosity, and even pick up the remainder should they come to hand, though it's not in say the Randall Garrett class, for instance.. ( )