My Name is MarkhamThis short story is very different from anything else in the Chronicles of St. Mary’s series specifically for what is says on the tin: The narrator of this story is security officer Markham rather than historian Max. Now, this isn’t the first time this has happened (see “The Very First Damned Thing”, narrated by none other than the esteemed Dr. Bairstow). But while a glimpse into the history of St. Mary’s was a special trip into legend, Markham’s story is very much in the present. 

I’m not sure that it worked for me. As much as I love the character of Markham, and as much as I laughed out loud at viewing a trip back in time through the perspective of security rather than an historian (especially as it focused much more realistically on what the characters viscerally experience rather than through the filtered awe of “Does this match what I believe to be true?”), the author has set up so many questions about the character of Markham that I was disappointed when a key one wasn’t answered. We were in the guy’s head, and I’m still not satisfied.

That being said, I still love the character of Markham, I would still love more adventures from his perspective, and I’m still laughing about the reindeer.

Rating: 5 (out of 5) stars. Cross-posted to Amazon and Goodreads.

Currently reading: Bite Somebody by Sara Dobie Bauer