Uncanny Times

June 13, 2022
Monster hunting siblings set out to solve a series of murders in this lush, atmospheric historical fantasy from Gilman (the Devil’s West series), the first in the Huntsmen series. News of a cousin’s death at the hands of an Uncanny—Gilman’s umbrella term for any malevolent creature from myth or folklore—summons Rosemary and Aaron Harker to Brunson, N.Y., to fulfill their duty as Huntsmen by killing the culprit. Gilman’s fluid prose effortlessly evokes the social and industrial upheaval of 1913: Rosemary professes conflicted feelings about the suffragette movement, and the Harkers’ investigation results in the police suspecting them of being union agitators. The deeper the Harkers dig into Brunson’s secrets, the more stumped they become, as the only Uncanny presence they encounter is a mere-creature who implores them to destroy the monster plaguing the town—a plea that goes against all they’ve been taught about Uncanny behavior. Another death provides a fresh trail for the Harkers’ specially bred hound, Botheration, and the hunt begins, leading the siblings to a dark truth about the being behind the murders. Gilman’s evocative descriptions blend history with rich supernatural lore, while finely interwoven intrigues promise great things to come from this gaslamp fantasy series. Readers will be eager for more. Agent: Barry Goldblatt, Barry Goldblatt Literary.

September 1, 2022

In the U.S. in 1913, siblings Rosemary and Aaron Harker know that being Huntsmen means leading untraditional lives to protect the unsuspecting world from the Uncanny. When a distant relative dies, they travel to central New York to see if there was really more to his death, as his widow suspects. The investigation is stymied by residents and visitors alike, along with additional deaths, but Rosemary, Aaron, and their hound Botheration (technically a Hell Hound, but the Harkers find that term too rude to use) discover that what is happening in this town could pose a danger to the rest of world. Smart and flawed protagonists take turns with points of view, as both deal with societal norms that neither really fit into for their own individual reasons. The novel's worldbuilding involves pre-World War I Fae, monsters, labor issues, and class conventions with a supernatural twist, while the plot hints at future troubles for the Harkers. VERDICT Fans of Supernatural, Sherlock Holmes, and smart canine companions will find Gilman's (The Cold Eye) new series to be an entertaining read.--Kristi Chadwick

Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2022
Blending the rabble-rousing union politics of the early 1900s with old world magic, Uncanny Times tells the story of siblings Rosemary and Aaron Harker, who, along with an oversized hound named Botheration, are summoned to the factory town of Brunson, New York, when a distant relative is killed in a most unexpected and gruesome way. The Harkers are Huntsmen, damned humans with an unholy lineage, who are able to recognize and combat the mythical and magical creatures that inhabit the earth. They arrive expecting to suss out a killer quickly, but Brunson presents a surprising mystery where men, both rich and poor, are inexplicably dying. Soon it's a race against time as the murders increase with alarming frequency, forcing Rosemary and Aaron to create uneasy alliances and dig deeper into local legends. Gilman's incredible skills as a world builder are on full display in this terrific start to her new Huntsmen series. Readers will particularly enjoy the realistic banter of the sibling protagonists within this cozy mystery that packs a punch when least expected.

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