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.