Book Review: The Markhat Files by Frank Tuttle

Markhat, the witty, sarcastic, and dedicated "finder" gripped my attention from the very beginning. The story takes place in a world that feels much like our own - then, as you begin to settle into the "surroundings" BOOM, Tuttle throws a curveball into the mix and you quickly become immersed in a rich fantasy filled with ogres, trolls, and vampires. I really enjoyed how the story is so well written that it feels like incredibly realistic situations. By this, I don't mean that we actually live among trolls or the such, but that the setting is much like a world of our own, yet with fantastic beings dwelling among the same soil. It was a great blend and came off very natural. This aspect took the story to a whole new level and set it apart from your average "detective" tale.

I found myself thinking of the book even when I wasn't reading it, and constantly looking forward to when I would have time to sit down and read more. I was fully immersed and gripped with anticipation until the last page. I wanted to know how each case would turn out - I needed to know!

The book consists of 3 short stories, each equally thrilling. The main character, Markhat, is someone you can easily grow attached to throughout each tale. There were moments when I even -literally- laughed out loud! His sarcasm was incredibly amusing.

I don't have anything on the negative side to say other than that I think there could have been a little more "punch" to the ending of the first short story The Cadaver Client. I don't want to elaborate much more on that due to the fact that it would require revealing spoilers, which I always try to avoid.

In conclusion, I would love to read further tales of Markhat and definitely recommend it to those who love detective cases, fantasy, and supernatural beings. This book takes a combination of the three and wraps it into one unique trio of stories. I'm putting my vote in for The Markhat Files to become a TV series! This book deserves a lot more recognition, and I truly hope in time it receives just that. Worth checking out!