Garrett P.I.

Garrett P.I. is a fantasy novel series by American author Glen Cook, following Garrett, a freelance private eye working out of the city of TunFaire. The books combine hard-boiled detective storytelling with traditional mystery and humor driven by dialogue. In his cases across TunFaire, the kingdom of Karenta, and the Cantard region, Garrett encounters elves, vampires, centaurs, trolls, countless mixed-breed beings, as well as gods, wizards, and witches. Unlike many fantasy series, these novels emphasize the detective work over the magical elements.

TunFaire is a sprawling city in Karenta, populated by an uneasy mix of humans, dwarves, elves, ogres, pixies, ratmen, and many hybrid races, with humans making up the majority. Corruption, poverty, crime, and lawlessness are widespread. Karenta has been locked in a generations-long war with Venageta over control of the Cantard, which holds most of the world’s silver mines—silver being essential for magic. Human males must serve five years in the military, a duty that often proves fatal (Garrett’s father and brother died this way). Anyone who can prove at least one-quarter non-human ancestry is exempt, fueling resentment and racial tensions.

The series includes fifteen novels, beginning with *Sweet Silver Blues* (1987) and ending with *Wicked Bronze Ambition* (2013). There is also one short story, "Shadow Thieves," published in the 2011 anthology *Down These Strange Streets*. Several omnibus editions collect the novels, including the Science Fiction Book Club’s *The Garrett Files*, *Garrett, P.I.*, *Garrett Investigates*, and *Garrett On The Case*, as well as Roc Trade’s *Introducing Garrett, P.I.*, *Garrett Takes the Case*, and *Garrett For Hire*.

Garrett, the protagonist, is an ex-marine in his early thirties, standing six-foot-two with blond or dirty-blond hair and blue eyes. He struggles to stay fit due to laziness and a fondness for beer. After surviving his mandatory five-year marine service in the war, he returned to TunFaire and started his own investigative business. He avoids work when possible, doing just enough to get by early on. A large fee at the end of *Sweet Silver Blues* lets him buy a house, including a room for his partner the Dead Man, and hire Dean as a cook and housekeeper.