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Newbury and Hobbes #4
The Executioner's Heart
A serial killer is loose on the streets of London, murdering apparently random members of the gentry with violent abandon. The corpses are each found with their chest cavities cracked open and their hearts removed. Charles Bainbridge, Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard, suspects an occult significance to the crimes and brings Newbury and Veronica in to investigate.
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2013
About the author
George Mann
341 books649 followersGeorge Mann is an author and editor, primarily in genre fiction. He was born in Darlington, County Durham in 1978.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella "The Severed Man", and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella "The Severed Man", and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
January 30, 2019
Do you know those books you love so much you cannot help but give a 5* rating, even though they have their flaws? This is one of those books for me...
We once again find ourselves in the company of Sir Newbury and Miss Hobbes, as well as their friend inspector Bainbridge in a steampunk, Victorian London. Mann has done a very good job in the previous books in the series to naturally build the relationship between these three characters, making it very enjoyable to read about their adventures and banter. This makes the questions that are raised in this story about who can be trusted all the more effective.
What I also find a very strong point in this book are the chapters from the point of view of the Executioner. It doesn't necessarily make the reader compassionate, but it helps to create a form of understanding as to the why. It is also very interesting to see certain scenes from the point of view of both the good and the bad guys. All of this leads to a very satisfying ending.
As one can imagine, a killer who steals their victims' heart makes for some not very pretty crime scenes. I adore George Mann's books because he manages to put in just the right amount of gore for my tastes. He doesn't shy away from describing all the blood and mutilated bodies, but it never feels overdone just to impress and disgust the reader.
The action scenes are another thing that are very well put together in this series of books. They are excellently written, gripping, not unbelievably over the top, and well spaced throughout the story.
So what are these flaws I mentioned at the start? First of all, there are a lot of references to cases that do not feature in the main books of the series, but rather (I think, for I have not read these) the in between novellas (like book 1.5 and 1.6). One was still able to follow the story, and I believe if these references were used a few times it could have added something. But in here it was done so often it became fairly annoying. Another thing that wasn't handled well in this book was that it was incredibly obvious, to me at least, who was behind it all. Even without the very in your face foreshadowing, it was very clear who was the bad guy.
Overall, this was yet another great addition to this series of books. If you have not yet done so, I highly recommend picking up this series which is one of the betters in its genre. I guess I should give this a 4.5* rating, which I will than round up to a 5*.
We once again find ourselves in the company of Sir Newbury and Miss Hobbes, as well as their friend inspector Bainbridge in a steampunk, Victorian London. Mann has done a very good job in the previous books in the series to naturally build the relationship between these three characters, making it very enjoyable to read about their adventures and banter. This makes the questions that are raised in this story about who can be trusted all the more effective.
What I also find a very strong point in this book are the chapters from the point of view of the Executioner. It doesn't necessarily make the reader compassionate, but it helps to create a form of understanding as to the why. It is also very interesting to see certain scenes from the point of view of both the good and the bad guys. All of this leads to a very satisfying ending.
As one can imagine, a killer who steals their victims' heart makes for some not very pretty crime scenes. I adore George Mann's books because he manages to put in just the right amount of gore for my tastes. He doesn't shy away from describing all the blood and mutilated bodies, but it never feels overdone just to impress and disgust the reader.
The action scenes are another thing that are very well put together in this series of books. They are excellently written, gripping, not unbelievably over the top, and well spaced throughout the story.
So what are these flaws I mentioned at the start? First of all, there are a lot of references to cases that do not feature in the main books of the series, but rather (I think, for I have not read these) the in between novellas (like book 1.5 and 1.6). One was still able to follow the story, and I believe if these references were used a few times it could have added something. But in here it was done so often it became fairly annoying. Another thing that wasn't handled well in this book was that it was incredibly obvious, to me at least, who was behind it all. Even without the very in your face foreshadowing, it was very clear who was the bad guy.
Overall, this was yet another great addition to this series of books. If you have not yet done so, I highly recommend picking up this series which is one of the betters in its genre. I guess I should give this a 4.5* rating, which I will than round up to a 5*.
December 13, 2013
This review was first published by the Historical Novel Society. I received a free copy of the book.
This novel is the fourth in a series of fantasy/steampunk adventures featuring detectives Sir Maurice Newbury and Veronica Hobbes. For the purposes of this review it is considered on its individual merits, but it draws heavily on events and world-building from the previous novels in the series, and the final chapter sets up the action for the next installment.
Overall I found this novel to be fast-paced and elegantly written. Some oddities of word choice (“…the hours drifting by in a warm, opium-inspired fugue…” “I hope you will forgive me for capitalising so much of Sir Charles’s time…”) and a tendency to paint rather imprecise details such as “strangely coloured liquids,” “occult symbols,” etc., detract somewhat from the flow of the action but are not completely out of place in a story with touches of the fairy tale and of 19th-century popular detective fiction.
I particularly relish the idea of Queen Victoria living past her due date as a villainess on artificial life support, and the repercussions for the Prince of Wales. A fun read for those looking for adventure on the fringes of historical fiction.
This novel is the fourth in a series of fantasy/steampunk adventures featuring detectives Sir Maurice Newbury and Veronica Hobbes. For the purposes of this review it is considered on its individual merits, but it draws heavily on events and world-building from the previous novels in the series, and the final chapter sets up the action for the next installment.
Overall I found this novel to be fast-paced and elegantly written. Some oddities of word choice (“…the hours drifting by in a warm, opium-inspired fugue…” “I hope you will forgive me for capitalising so much of Sir Charles’s time…”) and a tendency to paint rather imprecise details such as “strangely coloured liquids,” “occult symbols,” etc., detract somewhat from the flow of the action but are not completely out of place in a story with touches of the fairy tale and of 19th-century popular detective fiction.
I particularly relish the idea of Queen Victoria living past her due date as a villainess on artificial life support, and the repercussions for the Prince of Wales. A fun read for those looking for adventure on the fringes of historical fiction.
September 10, 2013
Though the main story ends, this book has the worst possible cliffhanger ever. So I suggest you wait for The Revenant Express before you start reading this book. You're welcome. I am so mad. I
hate
cliffhangers!
Short summary: Newbury and Hobbes are helping Charles Bainbridge with a serial killer case. The victims are all left without heart. That's the main story. There is a threat of conspiracy among the agents of the Crown and nobody knows who or what the murderer is.
And, as if that weren't enough, Newbury has been hunted by a cult, his health is deteriorating because he is helping Veronica's sister and Veronica seems to distrust pretty much everyone which is one of the things that move the story forward. Near the end she and Newbury keep coming to places at different times, they keep delaying their conversation about very important issues. They leave it all for later.
It doesn't matter what I type here because I am still under the impression of that damn cliffhanger. Why didn't I read the reviews?
Short summary: Newbury and Hobbes are helping Charles Bainbridge with a serial killer case. The victims are all left without heart. That's the main story. There is a threat of conspiracy among the agents of the Crown and nobody knows who or what the murderer is.
And, as if that weren't enough, Newbury has been hunted by a cult, his health is deteriorating because he is helping Veronica's sister and Veronica seems to distrust pretty much everyone which is one of the things that move the story forward. Near the end she and Newbury keep coming to places at different times, they keep delaying their conversation about very important issues. They leave it all for later.
It doesn't matter what I type here because I am still under the impression of that damn cliffhanger. Why didn't I read the reviews?
August 16, 2019
A good entry into the Hobbes and Newbury series.
Excellent world building and really evoked the sense of Victorian England. It seems very similar to the London we know but then so different with the steampunk elements. It's very enthralling.
The characters are really developing and it's certainly worts and all. They all have their flaws but it does make it more realistic in that aspect when so much of what is going on is fantastical. Veronica is really developing but it's Amelia I'd like to see more of. She is fascinating.
The villain in this one is clearly the best one by far.
The plot is solid and is really starting to fit the characters and their journeys. Plenty of action and suspense in this one too. And that ending. Wow.
So it's really starting to become what I hoped it would and I'm glad I've persisted. Part Sherlock Holmes Part James Bond Part Indiana Jones .
I'm keen to read the next one.
Excellent world building and really evoked the sense of Victorian England. It seems very similar to the London we know but then so different with the steampunk elements. It's very enthralling.
The characters are really developing and it's certainly worts and all. They all have their flaws but it does make it more realistic in that aspect when so much of what is going on is fantastical. Veronica is really developing but it's Amelia I'd like to see more of. She is fascinating.
The villain in this one is clearly the best one by far.
The plot is solid and is really starting to fit the characters and their journeys. Plenty of action and suspense in this one too. And that ending. Wow.
So it's really starting to become what I hoped it would and I'm glad I've persisted. Part Sherlock Holmes Part James Bond Part Indiana Jones .
I'm keen to read the next one.
April 27, 2020
Another fine entry in the Newbury and Hobbes series. The author has proven adept at combining the world building of Victorian era London with well-rounded (yet flawed) characters, an intriguing mystery plot, and a deadly villain. Adventure at every turn.
I've not had good luck in my steampunk selections lately, except for this series, which has grown into a wonderful set. I always look forward to the next one. Especially this time around due to a massive cliffhanger at the end.
I've not had good luck in my steampunk selections lately, except for this series, which has grown into a wonderful set. I always look forward to the next one. Especially this time around due to a massive cliffhanger at the end.
June 27, 2013
Following hot on the heels of the events in 'The Immorality Engine', George Mann brings us the fourth installment in his highly entertaining Newbury & Hobbes series of novels.
Thrusting us right back into a steampunk London of machines, monsters and madmen, we once again find ourselves in the company of Queen's Agents Sir Maurice Newbury, his assistant Miss Veronica Hobbes and Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard, Sir Charles Bainbridge as they investigate a series of brutal murders. The victims savagely mutilated, their chests ripped open, and subsequently deprived of their still-beating hearts. The perpetrator, a fabled assassin known only as 'The Executioner', seemingly able to act with utter impunity as they leave a trail of blood-soaked crime scenes across the city.
Beneath these events is a backdrop of political intrigue, the potential interference of insidious foreign agents, a demonic cult, the founding of the Secret Service and the ever-present Queen Victoria as she clutches at the tenuous threads of power, and her own life. Other ideas, established in previous novels are also given attention, much to the joy of established fans. Though, to elaborate on such things would certainly deprive the reader of discovering such things for themselves.
Thankfully, Mann's easy, flowing style is once again in full force, but there are also some changes in store as well. Changes that seem to indicate an ever-increasing confidence as a writer. He now appears far more comfortable with the world he has created, letting the story summon the steampunk London to mind, no longer having to stress the numerous facets that make it such. Additionally, there has been a shift in the pacing that has typically been apparent in the series thus far. However, this is not a detrimental change. Mann has always shown a flair for energetic scenes of action, and they do still indeed make an appearance this time around. But, they are now more concentrated to the latter parts of the story. More space has been given over to the characters, and their furthering strengths, gifted the responsibility of holding the story. Which they do, admirably so. We are given the chance to see more of what drives them, what makes them who they are, building further on the progress made in the pages of 'The Immorality Engine'.
In another break with the established format, there are also chapters given over exclusively to the villain of the story, to their past, their actions and motivations. It's another welcome change, showing how Mann can comfortably present us with different viewpoints without changing the narrative in a jarring manner. Each chapter flows effortlessly into one another. You never find yourself becoming aware of the outside world, knocked out from the scene the story has created. It's an immersively experience that grabs you tightly and doesn't want to let go.
I adore every moment I spend with these characters and 'The Executioner's Heart' is no exception. They have become stronger, more intriguing, more real, and, as a result, the novel benefits massively from this. I simply couldn't put this book down. It's the best in the series so far. Mann should be commended once again for having the bravery to try new ideas whilst skilfully keeping important elements that we know and love.
In conclusion, I only have one real complaint: The book's ending. It knocked me so damn hard, I felt exhausted for a whole weekend. Whilst some threads are resolved, the events in the closing scenes raise new and exciting prospects, and will leave you utterly desperate for the next book. I once again find myself consumed with anticipation for more adventures with Newbury & Hobbes.
Thrusting us right back into a steampunk London of machines, monsters and madmen, we once again find ourselves in the company of Queen's Agents Sir Maurice Newbury, his assistant Miss Veronica Hobbes and Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard, Sir Charles Bainbridge as they investigate a series of brutal murders. The victims savagely mutilated, their chests ripped open, and subsequently deprived of their still-beating hearts. The perpetrator, a fabled assassin known only as 'The Executioner', seemingly able to act with utter impunity as they leave a trail of blood-soaked crime scenes across the city.
Beneath these events is a backdrop of political intrigue, the potential interference of insidious foreign agents, a demonic cult, the founding of the Secret Service and the ever-present Queen Victoria as she clutches at the tenuous threads of power, and her own life. Other ideas, established in previous novels are also given attention, much to the joy of established fans. Though, to elaborate on such things would certainly deprive the reader of discovering such things for themselves.
Thankfully, Mann's easy, flowing style is once again in full force, but there are also some changes in store as well. Changes that seem to indicate an ever-increasing confidence as a writer. He now appears far more comfortable with the world he has created, letting the story summon the steampunk London to mind, no longer having to stress the numerous facets that make it such. Additionally, there has been a shift in the pacing that has typically been apparent in the series thus far. However, this is not a detrimental change. Mann has always shown a flair for energetic scenes of action, and they do still indeed make an appearance this time around. But, they are now more concentrated to the latter parts of the story. More space has been given over to the characters, and their furthering strengths, gifted the responsibility of holding the story. Which they do, admirably so. We are given the chance to see more of what drives them, what makes them who they are, building further on the progress made in the pages of 'The Immorality Engine'.
In another break with the established format, there are also chapters given over exclusively to the villain of the story, to their past, their actions and motivations. It's another welcome change, showing how Mann can comfortably present us with different viewpoints without changing the narrative in a jarring manner. Each chapter flows effortlessly into one another. You never find yourself becoming aware of the outside world, knocked out from the scene the story has created. It's an immersively experience that grabs you tightly and doesn't want to let go.
I adore every moment I spend with these characters and 'The Executioner's Heart' is no exception. They have become stronger, more intriguing, more real, and, as a result, the novel benefits massively from this. I simply couldn't put this book down. It's the best in the series so far. Mann should be commended once again for having the bravery to try new ideas whilst skilfully keeping important elements that we know and love.
In conclusion, I only have one real complaint: The book's ending. It knocked me so damn hard, I felt exhausted for a whole weekend. Whilst some threads are resolved, the events in the closing scenes raise new and exciting prospects, and will leave you utterly desperate for the next book. I once again find myself consumed with anticipation for more adventures with Newbury & Hobbes.
June 10, 2015
First of all I did not like this book, then I thought maybe to many distractions, so I started again.
This is the kind of book like a hot drink you are offered, you hope it's a nice cup of tea only to find it's coffee and later someone takes it away and gives that nice cup of assam you truly wanted.
The first half is a Sherlock Holmes derivative, but every now and then there is a moment that shines that moment when you stop reading and you start to see the story. And then "sigh" he gets nervous and pulls back afraid of taking it further, then something, yes, something remarkable happens the fear goes and the words disappear.
The second half, rain soaked streets, late evening golden light, hansom cabs in the rain, you realise that that this writer can control the weather. There is no need for descriptions, the dampness is palpable you can see the light reflecting in the wet cobblestones from the drivers perpsctive.
The bookshop scene is delightful, once he makes mention of the "vanilla scent", you are there.
Four stars is fair, it would have been five if not for the first half. Definately worth a curious look...
This is the kind of book like a hot drink you are offered, you hope it's a nice cup of tea only to find it's coffee and later someone takes it away and gives that nice cup of assam you truly wanted.
The first half is a Sherlock Holmes derivative, but every now and then there is a moment that shines that moment when you stop reading and you start to see the story. And then "sigh" he gets nervous and pulls back afraid of taking it further, then something, yes, something remarkable happens the fear goes and the words disappear.
The second half, rain soaked streets, late evening golden light, hansom cabs in the rain, you realise that that this writer can control the weather. There is no need for descriptions, the dampness is palpable you can see the light reflecting in the wet cobblestones from the drivers perpsctive.
The bookshop scene is delightful, once he makes mention of the "vanilla scent", you are there.
Four stars is fair, it would have been five if not for the first half. Definately worth a curious look...
August 14, 2013
Newbury & Hobbes are into another mystery in this popular Steampunk series from George Mann. This is the fourth book in the “A Newbury & Hobbes Investigation” series with the other three books being “The Affinity Bridge” , “The Osiris Ritual”, and “The Immorality Engine” ALL ARE RECOMMENDED
In this book we run into Newbury & Hobbes’s being asked to investigate the murder of three apparently unrelated individuals. What is perplexing the police is that the murderer is opening up their victims chest cavity and removing their heart.
We are soon on the case and adding a little royalty into the mix and a definite danger to both Newbury and Hobbes. There is much focus on developing the plot and an introduction of the expected villain.
There are attempts by the palace and the police to link the murders to the Kaiser. The thinking being that it is meant to disrupt the Queen and during that disruption start a war. Newbury follows this line of reasoning for a bit.
Another rousing adventure and an enjoyable read from a master story teller. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
In this book we run into Newbury & Hobbes’s being asked to investigate the murder of three apparently unrelated individuals. What is perplexing the police is that the murderer is opening up their victims chest cavity and removing their heart.
We are soon on the case and adding a little royalty into the mix and a definite danger to both Newbury and Hobbes. There is much focus on developing the plot and an introduction of the expected villain.
There are attempts by the palace and the police to link the murders to the Kaiser. The thinking being that it is meant to disrupt the Queen and during that disruption start a war. Newbury follows this line of reasoning for a bit.
Another rousing adventure and an enjoyable read from a master story teller. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
August 14, 2017
Newbury and Hobbes embark on a fourth investigation in this novel. They are called upon when a series of bodies start being found with the chest cavities ripped open and the hearts removed. What's more, they are all agents of the Queen. Who is behind the gruesome murders and does it have anything to do with the Kaiser, as the Prince believes?
This book starts with the end if that makes sense. The first chapter sees Veronica exploring a building and being attacked and then we go back to the start of the investigation. I feel this method can work really well but I have to say I wasn't overly fond of it here- the ending would have been more dramatic if I didn't know it was going to happen.
Initially I thought the book was eschewing the steampunk world it lives in but as the Executioner is gradually revealed it became clear she was very much part of it. The Executioner is the perfect steampunk villain, truly sinister with a proper backstory. She's by far the best villain of the series so far. There's plenty of other great things from this world too including a wonderful chapter set in an exhibition of the mysterious in the Crystal Palace. George Mann's world is superb and I feel like we've barely scratched the surface of it so far.
The book has something of a cliffhanger ending which will lead into the next book, The Revenant Express. I'm desperate to read said book as soon as possible.
Another fun entry into the series which is more gruesome and more awesome than ever.
This book starts with the end if that makes sense. The first chapter sees Veronica exploring a building and being attacked and then we go back to the start of the investigation. I feel this method can work really well but I have to say I wasn't overly fond of it here- the ending would have been more dramatic if I didn't know it was going to happen.
Initially I thought the book was eschewing the steampunk world it lives in but as the Executioner is gradually revealed it became clear she was very much part of it. The Executioner is the perfect steampunk villain, truly sinister with a proper backstory. She's by far the best villain of the series so far. There's plenty of other great things from this world too including a wonderful chapter set in an exhibition of the mysterious in the Crystal Palace. George Mann's world is superb and I feel like we've barely scratched the surface of it so far.
The book has something of a cliffhanger ending which will lead into the next book, The Revenant Express. I'm desperate to read said book as soon as possible.
Another fun entry into the series which is more gruesome and more awesome than ever.
November 14, 2014
Newbury has been sinking further into the mire his friends had hoped to extricate him from. His days are made up of dark arts and drugs. Yet little do they know he is doing it for them. His and Amelia's visions of a darkness to come brought by the sinister Executioner need to be studied so that it can perhaps be avoided. Though with bodies turning up with their hearts ripped out, perhaps the darkness is nearer at hand then they had hoped. With motives being questioned and no one knowing who to trust, can Sir Maurice and Veronica survive the darkness to find a bright future?
The way George's books are written they lend themselves to be read at breakneck speed wherein you never set them down. Alas life almost never allows for such luxuries. Work, appointments, commitments, sleep, anything and everything can be thrown in your path of just wanting to read one more chapter. The more interruptions that happen the more the story loses it's immediacy and the more likely you are to forget salient details and the narrative to lose it's impact. As it happens I had been reading the previous volume during my downtime at a Steampunk convention (fun for the tie-in, but hard when you just had to leave for a panel during a fight scene.) After the close of the convention I had factored in a few days of rest and recuperation before transitioning back to real life. This time allowed me the luxury of getting to read The Executioner's Heart without interruption.
I have just finished the last page and I seriously don't know what to do. The book enveloped me completely and I was just mesmerized. The best stories compel you ever onward, waiting for the next twist, the next chapter, the next book. I gobbled this volume up and I am sated. I just hope it will last, because while I'm not saying that I've reached the point of searching for cheap airfare and just showing up on George's doorstep, each book has built on the previous volume creating a greater story as we watch the characters and George's writing develop, and I do want more. As soon as possible. I know where you live George.
George has a knack with his characters. They have depth and originality. You can view them all as real people that you could meet on the street, that is if you could get to the street where they live. But what really makes his books stand out, which I'm sure I've mentioned before in passing, is that not just the heroes and heroines are well rounded but so are the villains, more so in this volume. In the previous three volumes we have gotten an understanding of those who would thwart Newbury and Hobbes, but in The Executioner's Heart we get even more insight. By having chapters telling us the story of The Executioner, we get a glimpse into what makes her tick, literally. By having these little flashes of her past, while we can't condone her actions, we come to an understanding. We know why she is what she is, but even the why and the how bring up more questions.
The clockwork heart and other infernal devices that have been prolonging Queen Victoria's life have long been a theme in this series, but now they are literally the heart of the matter. With Queen Victoria and The Executioner we have two individuals living beyond their time on earth by clockwork hearts. Both these women are depicted as, well, excuse the pun, but heartless. They are cold and calculating. They do what needs to be done. This brings the idea of man versus machine into stark relief. What is it that makes us human? We talk about love and emotion as being a part of the heart, when really they are seated somewhere in our brain.
But is it the removal of this organ that makes us less then human? Is it just this that sets these two women apart? Or is it the end result of that procedure that makes them something else? Is it living beyond their time that is what breaks them? Seeing the world change and not being a part of that change eroding your humanity? Immortal creatures from Gods to vampires are all in some way monstrous in the stories we tell. Is this because they are unable to connect to what it is to be human? There are just so many questions posed and as the book comes to a close, well, the answer is more important then ever. Gaw George, I might not have the next volume but you have left me so much to ponder!
One fact though I never need to dwell on is that at the end of the day the true villain is the one who tries to justify their deeds as being for "The Greater Good." Every baddie ever from Voldemort to the Neighborhood Watch Alliance of Sandford has used this excuse for their actions. Personally if anyone started spouting this dogma in front of me I'd take to my heels immediately. Or you know, go all righteous on their asses like Newbury. The thing is evil deeds cannot be justified. There aren't gradations of evil or wrong. If you do something wrong it's wrong. Yes, you could do something more wrong, but that's just going more evil, you're already evil from the wrong act. Having some people die without their say to save more... just no. It might be a "tough decision" but committing evil is never for "the greater good." There will always be a taint. Always.
The way George's books are written they lend themselves to be read at breakneck speed wherein you never set them down. Alas life almost never allows for such luxuries. Work, appointments, commitments, sleep, anything and everything can be thrown in your path of just wanting to read one more chapter. The more interruptions that happen the more the story loses it's immediacy and the more likely you are to forget salient details and the narrative to lose it's impact. As it happens I had been reading the previous volume during my downtime at a Steampunk convention (fun for the tie-in, but hard when you just had to leave for a panel during a fight scene.) After the close of the convention I had factored in a few days of rest and recuperation before transitioning back to real life. This time allowed me the luxury of getting to read The Executioner's Heart without interruption.
I have just finished the last page and I seriously don't know what to do. The book enveloped me completely and I was just mesmerized. The best stories compel you ever onward, waiting for the next twist, the next chapter, the next book. I gobbled this volume up and I am sated. I just hope it will last, because while I'm not saying that I've reached the point of searching for cheap airfare and just showing up on George's doorstep, each book has built on the previous volume creating a greater story as we watch the characters and George's writing develop, and I do want more. As soon as possible. I know where you live George.
George has a knack with his characters. They have depth and originality. You can view them all as real people that you could meet on the street, that is if you could get to the street where they live. But what really makes his books stand out, which I'm sure I've mentioned before in passing, is that not just the heroes and heroines are well rounded but so are the villains, more so in this volume. In the previous three volumes we have gotten an understanding of those who would thwart Newbury and Hobbes, but in The Executioner's Heart we get even more insight. By having chapters telling us the story of The Executioner, we get a glimpse into what makes her tick, literally. By having these little flashes of her past, while we can't condone her actions, we come to an understanding. We know why she is what she is, but even the why and the how bring up more questions.
The clockwork heart and other infernal devices that have been prolonging Queen Victoria's life have long been a theme in this series, but now they are literally the heart of the matter. With Queen Victoria and The Executioner we have two individuals living beyond their time on earth by clockwork hearts. Both these women are depicted as, well, excuse the pun, but heartless. They are cold and calculating. They do what needs to be done. This brings the idea of man versus machine into stark relief. What is it that makes us human? We talk about love and emotion as being a part of the heart, when really they are seated somewhere in our brain.
But is it the removal of this organ that makes us less then human? Is it just this that sets these two women apart? Or is it the end result of that procedure that makes them something else? Is it living beyond their time that is what breaks them? Seeing the world change and not being a part of that change eroding your humanity? Immortal creatures from Gods to vampires are all in some way monstrous in the stories we tell. Is this because they are unable to connect to what it is to be human? There are just so many questions posed and as the book comes to a close, well, the answer is more important then ever. Gaw George, I might not have the next volume but you have left me so much to ponder!
One fact though I never need to dwell on is that at the end of the day the true villain is the one who tries to justify their deeds as being for "The Greater Good." Every baddie ever from Voldemort to the Neighborhood Watch Alliance of Sandford has used this excuse for their actions. Personally if anyone started spouting this dogma in front of me I'd take to my heels immediately. Or you know, go all righteous on their asses like Newbury. The thing is evil deeds cannot be justified. There aren't gradations of evil or wrong. If you do something wrong it's wrong. Yes, you could do something more wrong, but that's just going more evil, you're already evil from the wrong act. Having some people die without their say to save more... just no. It might be a "tough decision" but committing evil is never for "the greater good." There will always be a taint. Always.
August 18, 2023
The reign of the Queen continues. Newbury's addiction deepens. Veronica begins to be unsure of who to trust. And there's the mysterious Executioner, a tale of a woman with a mechanical heart who has lived centuries as an assassin. Newbury & Hobbes continue in their story of being agents for the Queen. Very much a cliff hanger so I'm looking forward to getting into the next installment!
November 25, 2022
CAWPILE 7.57
Re-reading for Final Book Support Group November 2022
Loving my re-read of this series, I adored the clockwork aspects of this mysterious female assassin.
I also adore the cliff hanger...especially as I don't have to wait for the next book!
Off to continue the series ASAP!
Re-reading for Final Book Support Group November 2022
Loving my re-read of this series, I adored the clockwork aspects of this mysterious female assassin.
I also adore the cliff hanger...especially as I don't have to wait for the next book!
Off to continue the series ASAP!
June 26, 2013
I do like the Newbery & Hobbes tales: steampunk is a favourite genre of mine.
This is the 4th in the series of Novels featuring Sir Maurice Newbery & his assistant, Miss Veronica Hobbes- (somewhat reluctant) agents of a Queen Victoria who's lifespan has been artificially extended by cybernetics. Newbery is a specialist in the occult & the arcane, who is called in to assist chief inspector Bainbridge in solving a series of particularly gruesome murders....
The background of the titular Executioner is well-explained, & she comes across as a particularly grotesque creation. Newbery is very much the flawed hero, whilst Miss Hobbes is a particularly independent Victorian young lady...
George Mann has an easily readable style, & is very good at ramping up the pace as the story moves toward its (quite shocking) denouement.
If you're new to steampunk, I can wholeheartedly recommend this series as a place to start.
Well worth your time.
This is the 4th in the series of Novels featuring Sir Maurice Newbery & his assistant, Miss Veronica Hobbes- (somewhat reluctant) agents of a Queen Victoria who's lifespan has been artificially extended by cybernetics. Newbery is a specialist in the occult & the arcane, who is called in to assist chief inspector Bainbridge in solving a series of particularly gruesome murders....
The background of the titular Executioner is well-explained, & she comes across as a particularly grotesque creation. Newbery is very much the flawed hero, whilst Miss Hobbes is a particularly independent Victorian young lady...
George Mann has an easily readable style, & is very good at ramping up the pace as the story moves toward its (quite shocking) denouement.
If you're new to steampunk, I can wholeheartedly recommend this series as a place to start.
Well worth your time.
July 24, 2013
Didn't realise this was coming out til I found it by chance, I'd enjoyed the first three and like the mix of steampunk, crime and the almost gothic aspect of Newbury and Hobbs.
It's best to read them in order, and there's short stories on Mann's website for free to keep you going in between.
Newbury and Hobbs begin to grow as partners, though they still seem to keep secrets from each other. Bainbridge also puts in an appearance,as they delve into the investigation into a series of murders. Each of the victims appear to be missing their hearts, the work of a killer at large in London.
It's best to read them in order, and there's short stories on Mann's website for free to keep you going in between.
Newbury and Hobbs begin to grow as partners, though they still seem to keep secrets from each other. Bainbridge also puts in an appearance,as they delve into the investigation into a series of murders. Each of the victims appear to be missing their hearts, the work of a killer at large in London.
September 1, 2013
To my mind, this is a perfect example of this type of novel. It's inventive, the characters are engaging, the writing is punchy, the plot is full of twists and turns, there's a healthy dose of the macabre and the supernatural, and the whole thing grabs you by the collar and doesn't let up from page one. Any issues you might've had with the series will be far-gone by the time you finish this book, I can assure you, readers - just give it the time and let the world be built before you. Then you can see just how talented and playful Mann can be: this is a novel fully-inhabited.
January 5, 2017
Outstanding.... as the pace of the storyline increases, you will find it difficult to stop until the last word is read. Alas, a huge cliff hanger awaits you at that point. Possibly the best installment in the series.
December 1, 2016
At the start of this book Newbury has been locked away in his home in a opiod stupor. I at first I was disappointed that we were going through this again, finding it to be to repetitive. But as I read on it made sense. Newbury is aware of the dangers but still he needs to keep doing this. The drug opens up his mind to things that he would not be able to comprehend otherwise. So he needs to walk this dangerous edge to safe the life of the sister of the woman he loves. I was disappointed to see the romantic relationship between our protagonist was put on hold. Veronica has also become a stronger character not always seeing eye to eye with Newbury and taking it upon herself to do investigating on her own without telling her partner. I also like the back story on the villain "The Executioner". Wondering if we've really seen the last of her. The ending of this novel has an "Empire Strikes Back" feel, in that it is very bleak, making me want to jump into the next book right away. Unfortunately it will not be out till January 2018. At least George Mann's "The Ghost" series has a new book out that will satisfy me till then.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2022
The Executioners Heart by George Mann
Mann seems to improve with each book. The Hobbes and Newbury series keeps improving. An assassin is hired to wreak havoc on the Queen’s network of spies. Hobbes and Newbury find themselves searching for the assassin with the assistance of Bainbridge and the new Secret Service. There are questions as to the loyalty of the Secret Service and possibly Bainbridge as well.
The sidebar of Veronica’s sister adds to the tension between Hobbes and Newbury. I have to think that the steampunk Victorian setting is the cause of the unrequited love as any other setting the romance would have been consummated at this point in time.
There is plenty of action and very cool cogs and wheels involved. BTW I read the Wonderful Electric Elephant by Frances Trego Montgomery as a boy. The elephant in this book reminded me of that book. A Google search found a 2017 reprint of the 1927 printing. My copy was the original 1903 printing. You can see my review at Amazon.
As far as Mann’s book, I recommend it and the series.
Mann seems to improve with each book. The Hobbes and Newbury series keeps improving. An assassin is hired to wreak havoc on the Queen’s network of spies. Hobbes and Newbury find themselves searching for the assassin with the assistance of Bainbridge and the new Secret Service. There are questions as to the loyalty of the Secret Service and possibly Bainbridge as well.
The sidebar of Veronica’s sister adds to the tension between Hobbes and Newbury. I have to think that the steampunk Victorian setting is the cause of the unrequited love as any other setting the romance would have been consummated at this point in time.
There is plenty of action and very cool cogs and wheels involved. BTW I read the Wonderful Electric Elephant by Frances Trego Montgomery as a boy. The elephant in this book reminded me of that book. A Google search found a 2017 reprint of the 1927 printing. My copy was the original 1903 printing. You can see my review at Amazon.
As far as Mann’s book, I recommend it and the series.
April 12, 2020
George Mann’s “Newbury and Hobbes” series is unique in that, literarily, it gets better with every book! “The Executioner’s Heart” is a fun read as the Queen’s machinations continue. Newbury, Hobbes, and Bainbridge continue to grow in their relationships.
We see multiple points of views in this text, including a few fun chapters from the villain. I must say she was written incredibly well. I felt her for plight and even thought to myself I would have loved to see a short story or novella following her exploits.
There was a particularly fun chapter at the Crystal Palace where Mann had the pleasure to lean into his steampunk influences and describe some fun contraptions. Usually, he’s quite reserved, which grounds the series. It was nice to see him letting loose just a little.
Overall, fun story. Great plot. Interesting villains. Cool esoteric ideas. Of course, the ending of this book hinted at the next novel in the series. I can’t wait to continue!
We see multiple points of views in this text, including a few fun chapters from the villain. I must say she was written incredibly well. I felt her for plight and even thought to myself I would have loved to see a short story or novella following her exploits.
There was a particularly fun chapter at the Crystal Palace where Mann had the pleasure to lean into his steampunk influences and describe some fun contraptions. Usually, he’s quite reserved, which grounds the series. It was nice to see him letting loose just a little.
Overall, fun story. Great plot. Interesting villains. Cool esoteric ideas. Of course, the ending of this book hinted at the next novel in the series. I can’t wait to continue!
February 23, 2014
I've been a fan of George Mann's Newbury & Hobbes series for some years now. The stories are often fast-paced and exciting, with a lot more going on in the series' steampunk universe than intricate clockwork automata and chuffing great engines. The central duo of Sir Maurice Newbury and Veronica Hobbes are often engaging and great fun (even if their mutual lusty restraint doesn't exactly chime). The books are blessed with a well-drawn cast of supporting characters, from Newbury's chum on the force, Charles Bainbridge, to the gross and cold-hearted Queen Victoria, for whom Newbury acts as agent.
I do find the series a little like the Indiana Jones movies, however, in that you get marvellous odd numbered books but wonky evens. "The Affinity Bridge" was a great start to the series. "The Osiris Ritual" was okay, but not as good as I'd hoped. "The Immorality Engine", on the other hand, was flat-out brilliant.
As "The Executioner's Heart" marks Newbury & Hobbes' fourth novel-length adventure, you don't need a crystal ball to get a gist of what's coming.
It's London, 1903, and we find an assassin at large; one whose calling card sees them ripping open the chests of their victims and removing their hearts. When Charles Bainbridge is called to the scene of a third victim he suspects a ritualistic edge to the crimes and so calls upon the expertise of a man he knows who lives and breathes the occult, Sir Maurice Newbury.
But all is not well with Newbury. When he's not receiving death threats from thwarted occultists, megalomaniacs and all-round loony-tunes from his previous escapades, he's being tasked by the Prince of Wales to root out rogue elements within the Empire that could spark a war. And when he's not got that hanging over him, he's using his considerable knowledge and willpower to root out the terrifying premonitions that have long afflicted Veronica's younger sister, Amelia: a girl the Crown believes (and would prefer) to be dead.
As Amelia's condition improves, so too does Sir Maurice's deteriorate. When a particularly gruelling ritual from an ultra-rare (and stolen) book yields the chilling word "Executioner" scrawled over and over again in Newbury's hand, Amelia has an awful feeling the message is a warning meant for Veronica.
Meanwhile Veronica is growing increasingly suspicious of Bainbridge's new ally, Professor Archibald Angelchrist. What interest could the Secret Service possibly have in all of this?
So unfolds "The Executioner's Heart". It is, for me, the weakest book of the series. It's still worth a read if you've already devoured the first three books, but don't expect it to reach the giddy heights of "The Immorality Engine".
The book takes a grave misstep right at the start when Veronica is killed. The story is then rewound to the start so we can follow the events leading up to her murder. Now, there is a device often used in TV shows called the "cold open", where the show opens with a real WTF curve-ball that leads into the titles. The idea is to hook the viewer into watching more in the hope they will discover just what the hell happened back there at the start. Think of virtually any episode of The X-Files and you're there. It is not a cold open, however, when you go on to repeat the same scene at the climax of the story and then make a small, yet significant difference to the outcome. What you have instead is a cheating, tenth-rate way of getting readers to the end of the book, and it really leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Then there's the "investigation" part of this particular Newbury & Hobbes investigation. Essentially there isn't one. If you take a step back from the story you soon realise the plot is flanneling along until Aldous Renwick, Newbury's friend and rare book dealer, pulls out a dossier on the assassin and says "That's the one." It's also fairly obvious who is hiring the assassin before reaching the half-way point.
Finally we come to typos. I have in the past dragged this book's publisher, Titan Books, over the coals for their shoddy work on David Wong's "This Book Is Full Of Spiders". It's therefore disappointing to also see some pretty calamitous typos in this book, including what appears to be one sentence pasted into the middle of another. Given the number of eyes cast over the manuscript, I'd dearly love to know how these things manage to slip by undetected. Seriously, Titan, I'm all ears.
So, yeah, I didn't really get along with "The Executioner's Heart". Being a fan of the series as a whole I really wanted to like it, particularly when I learned there was somehow more to come after the jaw-dropping conclusion of "The Immorality Engine". Maybe that's it. I'm only theorising, but I'm wondering if Mann wrote Book Three feeling there would be no more to come, and went hell for leather with the plot as a result. (The first three novels were put out through a different publisher, Snowbooks.) "The Executioner's Heart" also has the whiff of a reboot about it. Certain holy-shit moments from Book Three aren't necessarily ignored, but they are dialled down in their importance in ways that don't feel right, presumably to regain control over the plot. It's like re-boxing a mess of uncoiled springs.
While the plot and the structure of the novel were a let-down, the novel is partly saved by its characters. They are all as engaging as ever, and do help keep those pages turning. Those who enjoyed the bloodthirstiness of the previous books will also be well served here.
Should you read "The Executioner's Heart"? Yes, but only because it sets up "The Revenant Express", book five in the series - an odd number lest you forget. Pray that Mann pulls it off because the next one sounds like a belter.
3/5
I do find the series a little like the Indiana Jones movies, however, in that you get marvellous odd numbered books but wonky evens. "The Affinity Bridge" was a great start to the series. "The Osiris Ritual" was okay, but not as good as I'd hoped. "The Immorality Engine", on the other hand, was flat-out brilliant.
As "The Executioner's Heart" marks Newbury & Hobbes' fourth novel-length adventure, you don't need a crystal ball to get a gist of what's coming.
It's London, 1903, and we find an assassin at large; one whose calling card sees them ripping open the chests of their victims and removing their hearts. When Charles Bainbridge is called to the scene of a third victim he suspects a ritualistic edge to the crimes and so calls upon the expertise of a man he knows who lives and breathes the occult, Sir Maurice Newbury.
But all is not well with Newbury. When he's not receiving death threats from thwarted occultists, megalomaniacs and all-round loony-tunes from his previous escapades, he's being tasked by the Prince of Wales to root out rogue elements within the Empire that could spark a war. And when he's not got that hanging over him, he's using his considerable knowledge and willpower to root out the terrifying premonitions that have long afflicted Veronica's younger sister, Amelia: a girl the Crown believes (and would prefer) to be dead.
As Amelia's condition improves, so too does Sir Maurice's deteriorate. When a particularly gruelling ritual from an ultra-rare (and stolen) book yields the chilling word "Executioner" scrawled over and over again in Newbury's hand, Amelia has an awful feeling the message is a warning meant for Veronica.
Meanwhile Veronica is growing increasingly suspicious of Bainbridge's new ally, Professor Archibald Angelchrist. What interest could the Secret Service possibly have in all of this?
So unfolds "The Executioner's Heart". It is, for me, the weakest book of the series. It's still worth a read if you've already devoured the first three books, but don't expect it to reach the giddy heights of "The Immorality Engine".
The book takes a grave misstep right at the start when Veronica is killed. The story is then rewound to the start so we can follow the events leading up to her murder. Now, there is a device often used in TV shows called the "cold open", where the show opens with a real WTF curve-ball that leads into the titles. The idea is to hook the viewer into watching more in the hope they will discover just what the hell happened back there at the start. Think of virtually any episode of The X-Files and you're there. It is not a cold open, however, when you go on to repeat the same scene at the climax of the story and then make a small, yet significant difference to the outcome. What you have instead is a cheating, tenth-rate way of getting readers to the end of the book, and it really leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Then there's the "investigation" part of this particular Newbury & Hobbes investigation. Essentially there isn't one. If you take a step back from the story you soon realise the plot is flanneling along until Aldous Renwick, Newbury's friend and rare book dealer, pulls out a dossier on the assassin and says "That's the one." It's also fairly obvious who is hiring the assassin before reaching the half-way point.
Finally we come to typos. I have in the past dragged this book's publisher, Titan Books, over the coals for their shoddy work on David Wong's "This Book Is Full Of Spiders". It's therefore disappointing to also see some pretty calamitous typos in this book, including what appears to be one sentence pasted into the middle of another. Given the number of eyes cast over the manuscript, I'd dearly love to know how these things manage to slip by undetected. Seriously, Titan, I'm all ears.
So, yeah, I didn't really get along with "The Executioner's Heart". Being a fan of the series as a whole I really wanted to like it, particularly when I learned there was somehow more to come after the jaw-dropping conclusion of "The Immorality Engine". Maybe that's it. I'm only theorising, but I'm wondering if Mann wrote Book Three feeling there would be no more to come, and went hell for leather with the plot as a result. (The first three novels were put out through a different publisher, Snowbooks.) "The Executioner's Heart" also has the whiff of a reboot about it. Certain holy-shit moments from Book Three aren't necessarily ignored, but they are dialled down in their importance in ways that don't feel right, presumably to regain control over the plot. It's like re-boxing a mess of uncoiled springs.
While the plot and the structure of the novel were a let-down, the novel is partly saved by its characters. They are all as engaging as ever, and do help keep those pages turning. Those who enjoyed the bloodthirstiness of the previous books will also be well served here.
Should you read "The Executioner's Heart"? Yes, but only because it sets up "The Revenant Express", book five in the series - an odd number lest you forget. Pray that Mann pulls it off because the next one sounds like a belter.
3/5
August 10, 2021
I am in love with this.
I am obsessed with the settings. also the characters especially Victoria Hobbes, the independent partner for Newbury. I love the strong woman characters being feature.
This books follow Maurice Newbury and Victoria Hobbes, an agent for Queen investigating the murder where the victim's heart missing. Further investigation, the Executioner name appears and lots of twist an turn happen leading a tragedy happen to Miss Hobbes.
The style of writing giving me a vivid imagery and lots of the scene playing like a movies in my mind while reading this.
This is the fourth installment of the series. Now I get hooked with it. Maybe this is the sign that I should start the series from Book one?
I am obsessed with the settings. also the characters especially Victoria Hobbes, the independent partner for Newbury. I love the strong woman characters being feature.
This books follow Maurice Newbury and Victoria Hobbes, an agent for Queen investigating the murder where the victim's heart missing. Further investigation, the Executioner name appears and lots of twist an turn happen leading a tragedy happen to Miss Hobbes.
The style of writing giving me a vivid imagery and lots of the scene playing like a movies in my mind while reading this.
This is the fourth installment of the series. Now I get hooked with it. Maybe this is the sign that I should start the series from Book one?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2021
There is a perverse pleasure in reading these books. The sheer scale of nonsense is addictive.
In this novel, at one point the antagonist exclaims to Newbury: "You are just too damned clever, Newbury! You were getting too close to the truth!"
This line made me laugh out loud. Newbury was nowhere near the truth and had done absolutely bugger all in the way of investigation. In fact, much of the start of the book concerns itself with this opium addiction which he self-justifies as attempts to perceive the future through drug-induced visions. Actual investigative skills are nowhere to be seen.
However, the plot rattles along at a good pace and the steampunk London is vividly realised.
Onto book #5....
In this novel, at one point the antagonist exclaims to Newbury: "You are just too damned clever, Newbury! You were getting too close to the truth!"
This line made me laugh out loud. Newbury was nowhere near the truth and had done absolutely bugger all in the way of investigation. In fact, much of the start of the book concerns itself with this opium addiction which he self-justifies as attempts to perceive the future through drug-induced visions. Actual investigative skills are nowhere to be seen.
However, the plot rattles along at a good pace and the steampunk London is vividly realised.
Onto book #5....
March 11, 2023
The Executioner’s Heart starts another trilogy of steampunk adventures featuring Sir Maurice Newbury and his assistant Veronica Hobbes. George Mann has written some stylish and exciting adventures and these characters have great rapport-reminiscent of Steed and Peel. The action takes place in a transmogrified England in 1903. Victorian science has advanced and we have double-decker trains, horseless carriages, and esoteric life extending apparatus (all steam powered.) Magic also works, however-it makes for an interesting world. This time round Newbury and Hobbes face off against the Executioner, an assassin with a clockwork heart who never fails. Four stars. I do not own the remaining two books so it will be a while before I get to read and review the rest of this trilogy.
August 11, 2017
I thought this was another fun adventure, although the ending certainly wasn't very fun. This is another book where I felt like I've missed something though, and looking back there are several short stories that take place between books 2-4 so maybe I need to read some of those to figure out everything that is going on. I also definitely figured out who the bad guy was before Newbury, although he came to the answer not long after I did. I'm still a little confused about the Secret Service but maybe that will play out more in future books. The next one is out in January so I have a bit of a wait to see what happens next.
November 13, 2017
This series just keeps getting better!! This one ends with a monumental cliffhanger, leading into the next book, which isn't due out for 3 months, as of this writing. Oh, the torture of desperately waiting for the next book, before it's published.
My first experience with Mann was his "Ghost" series, which is also kind of "Steampunk", but set in the 1920's, in New York. That series is pure pulp fiction, stripped down, no frills writing, yet also a very good read. Newbury and Hobbes has more substance, yet still moves apace, with plenty of plot twists. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Mr. Mann's work, and highly recommend all I've read so far.
My first experience with Mann was his "Ghost" series, which is also kind of "Steampunk", but set in the 1920's, in New York. That series is pure pulp fiction, stripped down, no frills writing, yet also a very good read. Newbury and Hobbes has more substance, yet still moves apace, with plenty of plot twists. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Mr. Mann's work, and highly recommend all I've read so far.
April 4, 2019
A note to anyone reading this series: do NOT read The Casebook of Newbury and Hobbes first, you'll give yourself major spoilers. Regardless though, this book was really good. The opening chapter really catches you and you find yourself having to know how it could have possibly happened!
I pity those who have had to wait some 5 or 6 years for the next book in the series to come out. It must have been torture not knowing what happens.
I absolutely love this series! I'm finding George Mann's writing very addictive to the point where I don't ever want to put the book down and I feel at a loss when the book ends!
I pity those who have had to wait some 5 or 6 years for the next book in the series to come out. It must have been torture not knowing what happens.
I absolutely love this series! I'm finding George Mann's writing very addictive to the point where I don't ever want to put the book down and I feel at a loss when the book ends!
June 5, 2017
I almost abandoned this book, but I'm very glad I didn't. While it took me quite a while to get into it, once I did it provided to be George Mann at his best: imaginative, action-packed, and original. After the ending, I'm waiting on tenterhooks for the next installment.
One thing I'm curious about: are there any short stories that I should read before reading this? I've read all four books, but there were repeated mentions of groups and events that it sounded as if the reader should no about.
One thing I'm curious about: are there any short stories that I should read before reading this? I've read all four books, but there were repeated mentions of groups and events that it sounded as if the reader should no about.
July 25, 2017
It's getting more complicated
Continuing from the Immortality Engine, this is a well rounded, satisfying episode in the adventures of Newbury & Hobbes. I really enjoyed the twists in this book and even though there was a foreshadowing like in the previous book, this one had a different conclusion. The relationship between Maurice and Veronica is still lacking something, but the dangers are accumulating and my investment in the story has increased.
Continuing from the Immortality Engine, this is a well rounded, satisfying episode in the adventures of Newbury & Hobbes. I really enjoyed the twists in this book and even though there was a foreshadowing like in the previous book, this one had a different conclusion. The relationship between Maurice and Veronica is still lacking something, but the dangers are accumulating and my investment in the story has increased.
February 10, 2023
The only bad thing about the Newbury and Hobbes books is that Mann takes so long to write them! Now that he's done with the series, however, that's no longer a problem. This is the series that introduced me to steampunk and I owe Mann a huge debt for that. Think Sherlock Holmes with a female Watson seen through the eyes of HP Lovecraft (without the incipient racism) and you've got a good idea of what you're getting into here. Highly recommend.
May 17, 2018
I wasn't convinced by the Calvin and Hobbes - I mean, Newbury and Hobbes - series, until I read the first collection of short stories featuring them. Then I kind of got it. And this, the hunt for a serial killer, is quite engaging and fun, without being staid or formulaic.
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