Review: A Victorian Mystery with SciFi Twist
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 28, 2011
This was a very fast and fun read. Upon the death of her sister, Julia accepts the services of one Lady Law, recently granted a noble title, and who has a one hundred percent success rate with all the cases she takes on. Just how does she do it? I didn't expect the answer, but it made it all the more fun.I loved the atmosphere especially. Julia is a spunky heroine, without being at all kick-ass. Her gentleman friend, Aloysius Grant, could have been a bit more fleshed out, and I would have liked to seen some closure to his own mystery. In other words, I would have been happy if this short novella were even longer; always a good sign for me. The author takes some fun liberties with some literature of the period. I was able to identify plots from Jules Verne, (which showed up as "news" in the story, rather than fiction--a fun touch) and Allan Quartermain is a "historical" character in this story. Kind of like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but as atmospheric touches rather than major plot points.I recommend it for a quick, inexpensive read.