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New Amsterdam #5
Garrett Investigates
Five stories that comprise some of the matter surrounding the life of Lady Abigail Irene Garrett, Th.D., sometime Crown Investigator. They are previously uncollected. One is new; the others were only previously available as bonus chapbooks with the limited editions of various novellas.
Table of Contents:
The Tricks of London: London, April 1879
The Body of the Nation: New Netherlands, April 1897
Almost True: New Netherlands, 1900
Underground: Paris, April 1941
Twilight: London, 1941
Table of Contents:
The Tricks of London: London, April 1879
The Body of the Nation: New Netherlands, April 1897
Almost True: New Netherlands, 1900
Underground: Paris, April 1941
Twilight: London, 1941
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
8 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Bear
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 24, 2017
As can be seen in the title above, this is the fifth book published in the New Amsterdam series. However, it was placed first in the recently released Kindle collections, so I read it first.
Its five short stories are a decent introduction to the series, but there is a lot of background that's either missing or that's dropped into the stories in such large quantity that it's hard to parse. By the time you've sorted it all out, the story's over and it's time to move on to the next one.
The stories are arranged in chronological order rather than order of publication, following sorcerer Abby Irene over several decades. The first couple are mysteries, each with a supernatural solution. The third and fourth are adventure stories, and the fifth is a meditative look back from characters who are well into old age.
After my indifferent response to the first three stories, I was pleasantly surprised at how engaging the fourth and fifth were. They made me genuinely interested in seeing the characters in a less constrained format where I could get to know them, and the history of this alternate Earth, better. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the New Amsterdam series in these collections.
Its five short stories are a decent introduction to the series, but there is a lot of background that's either missing or that's dropped into the stories in such large quantity that it's hard to parse. By the time you've sorted it all out, the story's over and it's time to move on to the next one.
The stories are arranged in chronological order rather than order of publication, following sorcerer Abby Irene over several decades. The first couple are mysteries, each with a supernatural solution. The third and fourth are adventure stories, and the fifth is a meditative look back from characters who are well into old age.
After my indifferent response to the first three stories, I was pleasantly surprised at how engaging the fourth and fifth were. They made me genuinely interested in seeing the characters in a less constrained format where I could get to know them, and the history of this alternate Earth, better. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the New Amsterdam series in these collections.
December 29, 2018
This is a good book to read after Seven for a Secret as it contains two short stories that count as sequels to it.
April 23, 2021
A collection of five short stories about Lady Abigail Irene Garrett, sometimes Crown Detective Investigator, from her youth to her elder years. I find myself with a sense of nostalgia now that the stories are over. Very well done!
December 18, 2016
5 or 6 last stories collected from the world of New Amsterdam. Most of them centered on Abigail Irene. It was nice to see her one last time.
July 15, 2016
Five more stories from Bear’s New Amsterdam sequence. I actually read this straight after New Amsterdam as I wanted more of Abby Irene
The Tricks of London: London, April 1879
Told from the PoV of a young detective sergeant, London faces the return of an old threat, and a young Lady Abigail Irene is the Detective Crown Investigator charged with hunting it down
The Body of the Nation: New Netherlands, April 1897
A locked room mystery, on a river steamer, with a dead Bavarian princess, and bonus Sam Clemens.
Almost True: New Netherlands, 1900
The first Abby Irene story written, this sees her caught up by an attempt to assassinate her lover, the Duke of New Amsterdam. She’s a rather more physical force in this than in the other stories.
Underground: Paris, April 1941
Despite the collection’s title, this one doesn’t actually involve Abby Irene, nor is it an investigation; the focus here is her former housekeeper, Mary Ballard, now working for the Resistance against Paris’ Prussian occupiers, and charged with getting someone hunted by every side out of the city.
Twilight: London, 1941
The last Abby Irene story. She’s an old woman now, but preserved by her sorcery, and she and Sebastien have not sat out the Prussian occupation. But now the Prussians are fled, the King is back, and the intention seems to be to pension off not just her, but the entire Crown Investigator service. But not before one final case that draws in all Sebastien’s surviving court
The collection is a little varied, but well worth reading if New Amsterdam left you wanting more of Abigail Irene.
The Tricks of London: London, April 1879
Told from the PoV of a young detective sergeant, London faces the return of an old threat, and a young Lady Abigail Irene is the Detective Crown Investigator charged with hunting it down
The Body of the Nation: New Netherlands, April 1897
A locked room mystery, on a river steamer, with a dead Bavarian princess, and bonus Sam Clemens.
Almost True: New Netherlands, 1900
The first Abby Irene story written, this sees her caught up by an attempt to assassinate her lover, the Duke of New Amsterdam. She’s a rather more physical force in this than in the other stories.
Underground: Paris, April 1941
Despite the collection’s title, this one doesn’t actually involve Abby Irene, nor is it an investigation; the focus here is her former housekeeper, Mary Ballard, now working for the Resistance against Paris’ Prussian occupiers, and charged with getting someone hunted by every side out of the city.
Twilight: London, 1941
The last Abby Irene story. She’s an old woman now, but preserved by her sorcery, and she and Sebastien have not sat out the Prussian occupation. But now the Prussians are fled, the King is back, and the intention seems to be to pension off not just her, but the entire Crown Investigator service. But not before one final case that draws in all Sebastien’s surviving court
The collection is a little varied, but well worth reading if New Amsterdam left you wanting more of Abigail Irene.
April 2, 2016
I really like these. They're so well crafted--novelette length seems just right for the amount of plot in each--and the episodes fill in some subplots from previous stories with gusto and imagination. Garrett is very old and very fragile (physically, anyway) at the end--hope that wasn't her swan song but Bear trots in a lot of characters from previous exploits and seems intent on wrapping things up, so it has that feeling.
"The room was awash in pale English faces--weak-chinned, snub-nosed, framed in fine waves of fair or auburn hair. They didn't really all look alike, Sebastien reminded himself. It just seemed that way when you took a lot of them together."
"The room was awash in pale English faces--weak-chinned, snub-nosed, framed in fine waves of fair or auburn hair. They didn't really all look alike, Sebastien reminded himself. It just seemed that way when you took a lot of them together."
November 3, 2017
This ebook is not available in Ireland. My sorrow is endless.
*edit*
With the aid of a transatlantic trip, a B&N gift card, and the book mercifully being without DRM I managed to legally purchase and read this!
Hurray!
Great collection of stories previously published as bonus chapbooks with limited edition hard cover releases, as well as one new story.
This collection is a great capper to the New Amsterdam series (though I, of course) hold out hope for mover stories in this universe).
*edit*
With the aid of a transatlantic trip, a B&N gift card, and the book mercifully being without DRM I managed to legally purchase and read this!
Hurray!
Great collection of stories previously published as bonus chapbooks with limited edition hard cover releases, as well as one new story.
This collection is a great capper to the New Amsterdam series (though I, of course) hold out hope for mover stories in this universe).
January 2, 2013
I was delighted to find a new collection of Bear's stories focusing on DCI Abigail Irene Garrett, and each of these five short works was a delight to read. I truly hope to see more stories set in this world, even if Bear has seemed to have closed the stories of DCI Garrett and Don Sebastien. Ruth Grell and Sean Cuan, among others, surely have some adventures to recount for future volumes.
January 21, 2013
Bear is a reliable, good author. This collection of shorter works set in the same universe as her "New Amsterdam" novels is well worth the time and effort.
I have a hard time describing short story collections without describing each work, which often spoils collections like this. Suffice to say it follows DCI Garrett's tortuous career.
I have a hard time describing short story collections without describing each work, which often spoils collections like this. Suffice to say it follows DCI Garrett's tortuous career.
April 20, 2013
Not my favorite set of novellas from the series.
I actually like Sebastian's character a bit better than Garrett's, though her magical investigations are interesting. Sadly, only one of the five novellas had Sebastian as a character, and that one was still focused on Garrett, not him.
The timeline of all the New Amsterdam series novellas will come in very handy,, though.
I actually like Sebastian's character a bit better than Garrett's, though her magical investigations are interesting. Sadly, only one of the five novellas had Sebastian as a character, and that one was still focused on Garrett, not him.
The timeline of all the New Amsterdam series novellas will come in very handy,, though.
November 22, 2013
This was a little more "short-story"-like than the New Amsterdam collection - the stories were less related to one another, and therefore less like the chapters in a single novel - but still really enjoyable. Love Garrett, even in the earliest incarnations where the author is still not totally sure who she wants to be. Great writing & world-building.
April 1, 2018
Excellent sequel
Even tho some of the alternative history was confusing at times this was a great follow-up to Garrett’s story. And a good opening for expanding on some old characters that were lightly introduced before. Bear is a beautiful writer and never fails to offer well-plotted fascinating stories.
Even tho some of the alternative history was confusing at times this was a great follow-up to Garrett’s story. And a good opening for expanding on some old characters that were lightly introduced before. Bear is a beautiful writer and never fails to offer well-plotted fascinating stories.
November 24, 2012
I finished this yesterday and promptly had to reread New Amsterdam to spend more time with Lady Abigail Irene.
I highly recommend the audiobook of "The Tricks of London" as read by Mary-Robinette Kowal: http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/jou...
I highly recommend the audiobook of "The Tricks of London" as read by Mary-Robinette Kowal: http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/jou...
February 23, 2013
I was so happy to find some more stories about DCI Garrett--she's a fascinating character and I love the alternate history Bear sets up in the earlier collection, "New Amsterdam." I'd love to read more about this character and her world!
July 19, 2013
Story stories that flesh out the character history from the first three books. Bear doesn't write the New Amsterdam series in chronological order and many alluded to events get explained in this collection. I particularly like her vampires, shades of Anne Rice.
August 26, 2013
I got this after reading New Amsterdam by the same author, and enjoyed it just as much. Excellent urban fantasy, a little less detective oriented this time, but still very good. I hope this author explores this world and characters more.
February 1, 2016
An entertaining set of alternate universe mysteries where vampires walk among us and magic is a regulated profession. I like the way Bear always manages to create variety in her universes and characters. While this isn't my favourite work of hers, it was a fun read nonetheless.
September 19, 2013
Impossible to give any book of Abby Irene stories a less than perfect rating.
November 13, 2014
Read as part of the Kindle collection.
Short stories filling in more of Abigail Irene's background--an excellent companion to the more solidly linked tales of New Amsterdam.
Short stories filling in more of Abigail Irene's background--an excellent companion to the more solidly linked tales of New Amsterdam.
October 10, 2015
Bundled with #1, so I read this first. Confusing!
February 7, 2016
A mixed bag, but worthwhile for fans of the series.
February 1, 2017
For me, this was a great place to leave this series of novellas - a lot of Abby Irene and her interactions with some compelling side characters.
November 8, 2020
Awesome stories!
Elizabeth Bear is a prodigious talent, create whole worlds even within the confines of a short story. Only wish I could keep DCI Garrett's timelines straight!
Elizabeth Bear is a prodigious talent, create whole worlds even within the confines of a short story. Only wish I could keep DCI Garrett's timelines straight!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews