Margins
Garrett Files book cover 1
Garrett Files book cover 2
Garrett Files book cover 3
Garrett Files
Series · 16
books · 1987-2023

Books in series

Sweet Silver Blues book cover
#1

Sweet Silver Blues

1987

It should have been a simple job. But for Garrett, a human detective in a world of gnomes, tracking down the woman to whom his dead pal Danny left a fortune in silver is no slight task. Even with the aid of Morley, the toughest half-elf around, Garrett isn't sure he'll make it out alive from a land where magic can be murder, the dead still talk, and vampires are always hungry for human blood.
Bitter Gold Hearts book cover
#2

Bitter Gold Hearts

1988

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.
Cold Copper Tears book cover
#3

Cold Copper Tears

1988

Slaying beauty She was tall, blonde, and offering Garrett a fee that was irresistible to take a case that seemed open and shut. But in a town of elves and humans, thugs and swindlers—a place where magic and religion could prove an all-too-potent mix—Garrett had learned to take a long, hard look before nodding yes. And when, soon after this damsel in distress had departed, the Grand Inquisitor came looking for Garrett’s help, he knew it was time to throw some business his competitors’ way. But even for a hard-boiled detective like Garrett, who had the Dead Man for an ally and the toughest half-elf in town guarding his back, it was already too late to say no. For Garrett had been fingered as the latest sacrifice to a long-dead god, and his only chance to save his neck was to solve his newest cases right now!
Old Tin Sorrows book cover
#4

Old Tin Sorrows

1989

When his old friend Blake Peters calls in some overdue favors. Garrett feels like he’s committed himself to a corps of corpses. Someone is trying to kill Blake’s wealthy, retired General Stantnor, in a most lingering, painful, and maybe poisonous way. Can Garrett keep the general above ground? But Stantnor’s mansion holds a host of surprises for a human detective who thought he’d seen it all. For while the general is dying slowly, his employees are losing their lives at a far speedier rate. And when some of the not-long-departed try to enlist their comrades in the growing legions of the dead, Garrett knows it’s time to call in his own troops—in the person of Morley Dotes, the toughest half-elf around. With Morley guarding his back, Garrett’s got to handle—or gets his hands on—both the killer and the mansion’s two elusive beauties, who seem invisible to everyone but Garrett!
Dread Brass Shadows book cover
#5

Dread Brass Shadows

1990

A treasure trove of sorcery is hidden somewhere in the city of TunFaire, and everyone wants to find it—a prize so rich it makes even a hard-boiled detective like Garrett nervous, especially when his beautiful red-haired girlfriend is attacked because of it. Garrett's thirst for revenge is quenched when two other redheads turn up at his front door—and he finds himself the center of unwelcome attention from every thug and would-be sorcerer in town. Now, Garrett has to find what everyone is after—the legendary Book of Shadows, made of brass and holding secrets no mortal was ever meant to master—and make sure no one ever has the chance to work its spells on his unsuspecting and unprotected world.
Red Iron Nights book cover
#6

Red Iron Nights

1991

Determined to stop a series of brutal murders of women, Garrett enters the sleazy underside of a medievalesque bazaar of sex, getting into one mess after another
Deadly Quicksilver Lies book cover
#7

Deadly Quicksilver Lies

1994

When the former mistress of the now-defunct king hires Garrett to find her missing teenaged daughter, the human detective gets more than he bargained for in a world full of suspects, sex, and corpses.
Petty Pewter Gods book cover
#8

Petty Pewter Gods

1995

Garrett, P. I., is on the case There are some new gods in the town of TunFaire, but temple real estate on the Street of Dreams is at a premium. So the big gods on the block issued a challenge-find the "key" to the one temple still available. When two rival pantheons try to hire Garrett, he knows he is in for it...
Faded Steel Heat book cover
#9

Faded Steel Heat

1999

Riots between humans and trolls, elves, and other non-humans have plunged Tunfaire into near chaos. Garrett finds himself pulled into the game when a powerful gang of human rightists tries to shake down his employer and ends up caught in a conspiracy of hate that pits man against—everybody!
Angry Lead Skies book cover
#10

Angry Lead Skies

2002

Alternate cover for this ISBN can be found here A series far ahead of its time, now back in print Anyone else would have learned by now: when trouble comes knocking, don't open the door. But there's a reason why Garrett's still in the P.I. business after all these years-he's not one to learn his lessons. Maybe that's why he lets himself get roped into being a bodyguard for Kip Prose, an obnoxious kid being threatened by creatures that can't quite be described. But before Kip Prose has a chance to explain what he's done to get on the hit list of some nameless nasties, the precocious Prose is abducted, and the chase begins...
Whispering Nickel Idols book cover
#11

Whispering Nickel Idols

2005

When Garrett, a P.I. in the land of unFaire, is hired to investigate how an underworld boss ended up in a coma, he must go up against the boss' criminally insane daughter who wants Garrett dead—and she is not the only one who is obsessed with his demise. Original.
Cruel Zinc Melodies book cover
#12

Cruel Zinc Melodies

2008

Garrett uncovers the dark side of the fantasy city TunFaire, where no-one is to be trusted especially beautiful woman. When a pack of gorgeous woman knock on his door, Garrett knows it’s too good to be true. The leader of the group is Alyx Weider, the daughter of the largest brewer in town. Her father and friends are opening a new theater in TunFaire and the lovely ladies are there to persuade Garrett to help get rid of the paranormal parasites living in the new construction. Garrett agrees because after all, it means free beer and the company of these beautiful girls. What else could a man want? But Garrett doesn’t realize the drama he’s stepping into.
Gilded Latten Bones book cover
#13

Gilded Latten Bones

2010

For Garrett, P.I., loyalty and love come a close second to survival... Garrett's attempt at domestic bliss with the fiery Tinnie Tate is sidetracked when he waylays a pair of home intruders and learns they've been paid by an unknown source to kidnap Tinnie. But as Garrett rushes to find out who is trying to push his buttons, his best friend is attacked. Now, Garrett has to track down both malefactors. Unless they're really one and the same-in which case Garrett might be next...
The Best of Glen Cook book cover
#13.5

The Best of Glen Cook

2019

The best short fiction of legendary author Glen Cook (The Black Company, the Dread Empire) is collected into a new hardcover volume. For over forty years, Glen Cook has been among the most well-known, influential, and widely respected authors in science fiction and fantasy. Through classic series such as The Black Company, Garrett P.I., the Dread Empire, Starfishers, Darkwar, and more, his gritty, down-to-earth style left an indelible impression on his readers around the world, forever shifting the genre landscape and carving out his place as a pioneering icon. The Best of Glen Cook collects eighteen of his greatest stories—as chosen and introduced by the author himself—including a new, never-before-published Black Company novelette. With works set in all of his most famous series, these tales of science fiction and fantasy offer both the perfect way for longtime fans to trace Cook’s history and for new readers to become familiar with one of the finest genre authors of the twentieth century.
Shadow Thieves book cover
#13.5

Shadow Thieves

2023

Read in anthology Down These Strange Streets ed. George R R Martin and Garder Dozois, also collected in the short story collection Best of Glen Cook
Wicked Bronze Ambition book cover
#14

Wicked Bronze Ambition

2013

Garrett is a human detective in the fantastical city of TunFaire. And now he’s getting tangled up in the worst sort of laws... In-laws. Garrett is set to stow his wandering heart with his fiancée, Strafa Algarda. But for Garrett, even true love comes with its share of headaches—namely, the Algarda family. Strafa’s family needs Garrett’s unique skills in the worst way. Rumors are spreading that someone is organizing a Tournament of Swords—a brutal contest that magically compels the children of sorcerers to battle until only one is left alive. The winner will absorb the power from those he has killed and thus become a demigod. Strafa and her family want to protect her daughter, Kevans, from being forced to take part in the lethal contest...and they’ve asked Garrett to find out who is organizing the tournament and nip it in the bud. The only problem is that finding the culprit is most likely impossible. But the Algardas are used to getting what they want....

Author

Glen Cook
Glen Cook
Author · 63 books

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

548 Market St PMB 65688, San Francisco California 94104-5401 USA
© 2025 Paratext Inc. All rights reserved