is a series of fantasy novels by American writer Glen Cook about Garrett, a freelance private investigator.
Garrett, during his adventures in his home city of TunFaire and across Karenta and the Cantard, has to deal with elves, vampires, centaurs, trolls, and numerous mixed breeds, along with gods, wizards, witches and more.
Karenta has been involved in a generations-long war with the kingdom of Venageta over control of the Cantard, a region that houses most of the world's silver mines.
Male humans are subject to a mandatory five years of military service, which many do not survive (including Garrett's father and brother).
However, he comes into a substantial fee at the end of Sweet Silver Blues, which allows him to buy a house (with a room for his associate the Dead Man) and hire Dean as cook and housekeeper.
He initially has one steady source of income, a retainer from Max Weider to keep the insider theft at the latter's breweries in check.
He eventually ends up in a romantic relationship with Belinda Contague, the head of the underworld (and Garrett's former girlfriend), violating his rule not to get involved with a woman crazier than him.
Morley Dotes first appears in Sweet Silver Blues, where his debts from his gambling addiction provide an extra motive for joining Garrett's expedition.
He is a friend of Garrett and Morley, and his line of work lies somewhere between theirs—he will beat people up for money, but will not kill for hire.
Though these qualities may imply a bit of ogre or giant blood in his background, Tharpe claims to be of pure human stock.
Although he is typically attracted to small, feisty women, late in the series he falls for Garrett's large friend Winger.
However, a Loghyr's spirit can persist long after death, so his multiple minds are still functional, as are his formidable mental powers.
Dean cooks and cleans, and snipes and grumbles about how much Garrett is or is not working, how he is eating, who he consorts with, or how late he sleeps in the morning.
She is a short, fiery redhead in her mid 20s with long, straight hair, green eyes, a few freckles, and a very attractive body.
He acquires the position following the assassination of the previous kingpin, which is orchestrated by Morley Dotes at the end of Sweet Silver Blues.
Although he is about 60 years old and uses a wheelchair due to an unspecified condition, Chodo is still a very menacing figure; there is a ruthlessness about him that makes even his henchmen seem kind by comparison.
They are cold, ruthless killers who follow Chodo's directions to the letter, and both are vicious fighters on a par with Saucerhead Tharpe and Morley Dotes.
In Dread Brass Shadows, Crask and Sadler turn against Chodo Contague and, with the aid of Garrett and Winger, they attempt to assassinate him.
At the end of Red Iron Nights, Belinda Contague snatches power back from Crask and Sadler, and the two flee TunFaire.
By Faded Steel Heat, she has secured control over the Outfit in her stroke-incapacitated father's stead, and remains its queenpin from that point onward.
Block is often willing to overlook some of Garrett's more unseemly actions in exchange for his help in solving difficult crime cases plaguing TunFaire.
By the later novels in the series, Garrett fears that Relway's influence is starting to approach that of Chodo Contague's, just on a different side of the law.
She is incredibly smart for her species (making her a little smarter than the average human), speaking Karentine (though she has a problem with sibilants) and learning how to read and write.
The Tates, who tend to be short and claim a hint of elvish in their blood, are master craftsmen who have worked hard to become one of the wealthier families in TunFaire.
Some of the areas of TunFaire include: The Joy House is a bar and restaurant in the Safety Zone, owned and operated by Morley Dotes.
Morley lives in an apartment suite on the second floor, reached by a set of stairs near the bar; a speaking tube allows the bartender to communicate with him.
In Petty Pewter Gods, Morley decides to renovate the Joy House, turning it into The Palms, a more upscale establishment that caters to TunFaire's elite.
Later in the series, the Watch undergoes a major overhaul as Westman Block and Deal Relway take over, turning it into a well-oiled machine for law and order over the course of a few novels.
Block and Relway are supported in their efforts by Prince Rupert, bringing further legitimacy to the unit, which is renamed the Civil Guard by the time of Gilded Latten Bones.
"[1] As with many other stories of this type, the main character is a bit of a ladies man, and frequently loves the women he interacts with on his cases.