Dead Iron

Starred review from July 18, 2011
A complex and extraordinary world is brought to life as bestselling author Monk's dips into the steampunk genre in this series debut. In the small town of Hallelujah, Ore., Cedar Hunt earns his way by tracking down beasts and lost items. When a small boy goes missing, Cedar is determined to find him. He enlists the help of the Madder brothers, crazy mountain-men devisers who invent amazing contraptions. In return for their help, Cedar must find the Holder, a mysterious machine that can open the door between this world and that of the Strange, where unearthly creatures roam. The Holder is in the hands of railroad big-wig and all-round evil doer, Shard LeFel, who needs the device to end his earthly torment. Powerful and action packed, Monk's pacing is hypnotic, sending the reader into a Wild West that is as wired as it is weird. Keenly crafted characters and a deftly depicted landscape make this an absolute must read for fans of either Monk or steampunk.