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The Mysterious Lady Law
In a time of grand airships and steam-powered cars, the death of a penniless young maid will hardly make the front page. But part-time airship waitress and music hall dancer Julia Bairstow is shattered by her sister's murder. When Lady Law, the most notorious private detective in Britain, offers to investigate the case pro bono, Julia jumps at the chance—even against the advice of Constable Al Grant, who takes her protection surprisingly to heart. Lady Law puts Scotland Yard to shame. She's apprehended Jack the Ripper and solved countless other cold-case crimes. No one knows how she does it, but it's brought her fortune, renown and even a title. But is she really what she claims to be—a genius at deducting? Or is Al right and she is not be trusted? Julia is determined to find out the truth, even if it means turning sleuth herself—and turning the tables on Lady Law... 31,600 words
127 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2010
4 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
Robert Appleton
62 books66 followersRobert Appleton is a British science fiction and adventure author partial to tales of survival in far-flung locations. Many of his sci-fi books share the same universe as his popular Alien Safari series, though tend to feature standalone storylines. His rebellious characters range from an orphaned grifter on Mars to a lone woman gate-crashing the war in her biotech suit. His sci-fi readers regularly earn enough frequent flyer miles to qualify for a cross-galaxy voyage of their choosing. His publishers include Harlequin Carina Press, and he also ghost-writes novels in other genres. In his free time he hikes, plays soccer, and kayaks whenever he can. The night sky is his inspiration.
His work has been nominated for several awards, and in 2011 he won the EPIC Award for Best Historical Fiction.
Be sure to follow Robert on BookBub for the latest on sales: https://bit.ly/3qLWVHu
His work has been nominated for several awards, and in 2011 he won the EPIC Award for Best Historical Fiction.
Be sure to follow Robert on BookBub for the latest on sales: https://bit.ly/3qLWVHu
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
October 11, 2013
2.5
It would have been better if the title had been different. You are constantly reminded of Lady Law while you should forget her so the certain things that happen in the story take you by surprise.
Julia Bairstow is a dancer who finds her sister murdered one night. Her numbness while the police officers were asking questions is completely believable. One of them, Constable Al Grant, would play a larger role in the following days.
Lady Law is a famous, or rather infamous, investigator who solves every case she takes. She refuses many cases without any explanation. Now she wants to solve the murder of Julia's sister. Grant doesn't trust her and Julia is determined to find out why her sister died. These two get help from an unexpected source.
There are just a few things I didn't like. The characters could have been fleshed out more, but it is still a fun story. Julia dances for fun seven days after her sister died. Seven. For fun.
Another thing was Lady Law herself. Every scene with her screamed that there is something seriously wrong or different about her, so there weren't many surprises.
It would have been better if the title had been different. You are constantly reminded of Lady Law while you should forget her so the certain things that happen in the story take you by surprise.
Julia Bairstow is a dancer who finds her sister murdered one night. Her numbness while the police officers were asking questions is completely believable. One of them, Constable Al Grant, would play a larger role in the following days.
Lady Law is a famous, or rather infamous, investigator who solves every case she takes. She refuses many cases without any explanation. Now she wants to solve the murder of Julia's sister. Grant doesn't trust her and Julia is determined to find out why her sister died. These two get help from an unexpected source.
There are just a few things I didn't like. The characters could have been fleshed out more, but it is still a fun story. Julia dances for fun seven days after her sister died. Seven. For fun.
Another thing was Lady Law herself. Every scene with her screamed that there is something seriously wrong or different about her, so there weren't many surprises.
January 24, 2011
Quick Take: I really enjoyed this tale! It's short (would it count as novella?), but packed with mystery and intrigue. A throwback to the stylings of Wilkie Collins and Arthur Conan Doyle.
What is it about 19th- (and early 20th) century Britain that makes for such fun, memorable detective tales? The adventures of Holmes, Poirot, Hartwright… when you think of old-school sleuthing, you often think of that time and place. Or at least I do! ^_^ The notion of ferreting out details on heinous crimes amongst staid and "polite" society is amusing, sitting here a century later.
Add to that a layer of steampunk, with wild possibilities and accompanying societal optimism (masking private pessimism, of course). That's what is at the heart of this tale, set in London. At one point in the story a character makes passing reference to Wilkie Collins…and it's an apt acknowledgement for the author to have included. In Lady Law, there's the mysterious crime. There's what's assumed and accepted to have happened, and there's what really occurred. Of course, there's also the tenacious individual who will anything to get to the truth.
I loved how the author instilled a sense of potential shadiness in just about everyone and everything. One feels they must question everything that occurs…seemingly innocuous comments; curious coincidences. There are many red herrings tucked away all over the place, but they are plausible and thus serve their indented purpose: to produce doubt, for both the characters and the reader.
This story is fairly short…I'd say it's novella length. As such, character exploration remained mostly superficial. The progression of the mystery itself remains front-and-center, which I appreciated. But there was just enough development of the main cast to elicit some concern for their well-being. Due to the length, I also chose to overlook a couple of expository loose-ends.
The steampunk element was indeed a necessity to the plot, though that is perhaps not immediately evident. Descriptions were full enough to paint a strong visual picture, and one can make guesses at everything else; I must admit I had no clue what a psammeticum lens or a Leviacrum telescope would look like, but I managed just fine. ^_^
I hear-tell that this story is Robert Appleton's first go at steampunk. I think he wove a fun little tale, and hope he has plans to write in the genre again.
What is it about 19th- (and early 20th) century Britain that makes for such fun, memorable detective tales? The adventures of Holmes, Poirot, Hartwright… when you think of old-school sleuthing, you often think of that time and place. Or at least I do! ^_^ The notion of ferreting out details on heinous crimes amongst staid and "polite" society is amusing, sitting here a century later.
Add to that a layer of steampunk, with wild possibilities and accompanying societal optimism (masking private pessimism, of course). That's what is at the heart of this tale, set in London. At one point in the story a character makes passing reference to Wilkie Collins…and it's an apt acknowledgement for the author to have included. In Lady Law, there's the mysterious crime. There's what's assumed and accepted to have happened, and there's what really occurred. Of course, there's also the tenacious individual who will anything to get to the truth.
I loved how the author instilled a sense of potential shadiness in just about everyone and everything. One feels they must question everything that occurs…seemingly innocuous comments; curious coincidences. There are many red herrings tucked away all over the place, but they are plausible and thus serve their indented purpose: to produce doubt, for both the characters and the reader.
This story is fairly short…I'd say it's novella length. As such, character exploration remained mostly superficial. The progression of the mystery itself remains front-and-center, which I appreciated. But there was just enough development of the main cast to elicit some concern for their well-being. Due to the length, I also chose to overlook a couple of expository loose-ends.
The steampunk element was indeed a necessity to the plot, though that is perhaps not immediately evident. Descriptions were full enough to paint a strong visual picture, and one can make guesses at everything else; I must admit I had no clue what a psammeticum lens or a Leviacrum telescope would look like, but I managed just fine. ^_^
I hear-tell that this story is Robert Appleton's first go at steampunk. I think he wove a fun little tale, and hope he has plans to write in the genre again.
December 22, 2010
This was okay, but a bit confusing at times. I have never read a steampunk novel before, but the title and the strong woman thing appealed to me so I gave it a go. I don't regret it, but I'm not recommending it to 5000 people.
Lady Law has solved over 600 some cases. Her methods are a bit suspect. When Julia's sister is murdered and Lady Law offers her services, Julia is psyched despite a handsome constable's (and her beau now) misgivings. The constable and herself and an old scientist with a missing partner get together to connect the dots and find out what the real deal is with Lady Law.
There's action, chase scenes, steam powered weapons, giant planets, steam powered automobiles, and lots of other technical gadgets made of brass that I couldn't quite figure out. The action scenes, though exciting, were hard to visualize with all the technical things thrown in. Trying to picture it all grew a bit complicated for me. I don't know if this is normal with a steampunk novel or not as I have never read one before. The story line was intriguing, however, but I would have liked to have seen more character developement.
Laugh out loud moment: (In a room full of fake planets rolling around) "the sphere rolled to one side, clattered into Neptune, then continued on to DOUBLE KISS URANUS." LMAO I couldn't help it. That's funny. :)
Lady Law has solved over 600 some cases. Her methods are a bit suspect. When Julia's sister is murdered and Lady Law offers her services, Julia is psyched despite a handsome constable's (and her beau now) misgivings. The constable and herself and an old scientist with a missing partner get together to connect the dots and find out what the real deal is with Lady Law.
There's action, chase scenes, steam powered weapons, giant planets, steam powered automobiles, and lots of other technical gadgets made of brass that I couldn't quite figure out. The action scenes, though exciting, were hard to visualize with all the technical things thrown in. Trying to picture it all grew a bit complicated for me. I don't know if this is normal with a steampunk novel or not as I have never read one before. The story line was intriguing, however, but I would have liked to have seen more character developement.
Laugh out loud moment: (In a room full of fake planets rolling around) "the sphere rolled to one side, clattered into Neptune, then continued on to DOUBLE KISS URANUS." LMAO I couldn't help it. That's funny. :)
March 5, 2015
The Mysterious Lady Law is a light, entertaining mystery with a steampunk flavour and one that I think could've easily made a good full-length novel. In fact, it may even have benefited from the different format; as typical of novellas, there wasn't enough time to develop the characters to their full potential.
I did like the characters, though. The mysterious "Lady Law" of the title (and I assume on the cover as well) is surprisingly not the protagonist. She is crucial to the plot, but we follow most of the story from the point of view of Jane Bairstow, a dancer who returns home one night to find her sister murdered. Jane is likeable, if a little inconsistent; she seems to switch between a spunky, intelligent version who's gifted at deduction and an alternate self who is the image of a proper damsel in distress. Constable Grant was also a decent romantic interest for Jane, despite fading into the woodwork a little in the latter half.
The mystery was quite entertaining. It's largely a good ol' traditional whodunnit with a murdered victim, an ineffective Scotland Yard, various interested parties and a sympathetic protagonist who defies life-threatening situations in order to stay on the trail of the killer. The culprit was frankly obvious, but the why component kept me interested and there were one or two twists towards the end that I didn't expect.
It was the final stretch and particularly the ending that I felt suffered most from the short novella format, though. Jane goes remarkably quickly from trusting Lady Law entirely to deciding there's something fishy going on and the big face-off at the Law residence was nothing short of unbelievable. The ending, too, felt contrived and I wasn't sure what the author was aiming for - I enjoyed the early parts of their burgeoning romance, but honestly wish the latter half was better developed. It's certainly another instance of where the story might have benefited without the format restriction.
Despite these issues, it's a quick and enjoyable read. The blend of whodunnit with a steampunk flavour is also surprisingly rarely done (or done well), so I'd love to see more of what the author has in store.
I did like the characters, though. The mysterious "Lady Law" of the title (and I assume on the cover as well) is surprisingly not the protagonist. She is crucial to the plot, but we follow most of the story from the point of view of Jane Bairstow, a dancer who returns home one night to find her sister murdered. Jane is likeable, if a little inconsistent; she seems to switch between a spunky, intelligent version who's gifted at deduction and an alternate self who is the image of a proper damsel in distress. Constable Grant was also a decent romantic interest for Jane, despite fading into the woodwork a little in the latter half.
The mystery was quite entertaining. It's largely a good ol' traditional whodunnit with a murdered victim, an ineffective Scotland Yard, various interested parties and a sympathetic protagonist who defies life-threatening situations in order to stay on the trail of the killer. The culprit was frankly obvious, but the why component kept me interested and there were one or two twists towards the end that I didn't expect.
It was the final stretch and particularly the ending that I felt suffered most from the short novella format, though. Jane goes remarkably quickly from trusting Lady Law entirely to deciding there's something fishy going on and the big face-off at the Law residence was nothing short of unbelievable. The ending, too, felt contrived and I wasn't sure what the author was aiming for - I enjoyed the early parts of their burgeoning romance, but honestly wish the latter half was better developed. It's certainly another instance of where the story might have benefited without the format restriction.
Despite these issues, it's a quick and enjoyable read. The blend of whodunnit with a steampunk flavour is also surprisingly rarely done (or done well), so I'd love to see more of what the author has in store.
January 9, 2011
The Mysterious Lady Law by Robert Appleton
Carina Press, 2011
104 pages
Steampunk; Romance
3.5/5 stars
Source: Netgalley
Summary: Lady Harriet Law has solved over 600 cases so when she offers her services pro bono to Julia to investigate the murder of her sister, Julia eagerly accepts. But the solution offered is suspiciously pat and Julia with the aid of new beau constable Al Grant will investigate for herself the mysterious Lady Law in this steampunk novella.
Thoughts: I have been very interested in steampunk after seeing loads of reviews of awesome books so I hoped this would serve as another step into the world of steampunk. I enjoyed what I read but felt that something was lacking. I'm not sure if it was the length or the mystery but I was not completely satisfied.
I did love Julia, a dancer and waitress trying to make do with her sister in London and hoping for love who is terrified when she arrives home to discover her sister murdered. She is pleased to make the acquaintance of Al Grant of the police who seems interested and might finally fulfill that hope of hers but she also wants to know why her sister died. Lady Law's offer seems too good to be true. When Julia is attacked later, she becomes even more frightened. The action in the scene where she was attacked was a bit confusing; there was various machinery that was beyond my ability to picture.
The other part of the puzzle is Horace Holly whose protege was friendly with Julia's sister and who was also murdered. As his path and Julia's intersect, they begin to figure out Lady Law and her (I feel) nefarious movements. She has a very steampunk answer behind her ability to solve all of those mysteries. However I was hoping for a different ending so perhaps therein lies my dissatisfication.
Regardless I would still recommend this for people looking for a quick steampunk read although perhaps not as an introduction.
Cover: I really like the cover-I think it's very beautiful with the airships and what I believe is Big Ben.
Carina Press, 2011
104 pages
Steampunk; Romance
3.5/5 stars
Source: Netgalley
Summary: Lady Harriet Law has solved over 600 cases so when she offers her services pro bono to Julia to investigate the murder of her sister, Julia eagerly accepts. But the solution offered is suspiciously pat and Julia with the aid of new beau constable Al Grant will investigate for herself the mysterious Lady Law in this steampunk novella.
Thoughts: I have been very interested in steampunk after seeing loads of reviews of awesome books so I hoped this would serve as another step into the world of steampunk. I enjoyed what I read but felt that something was lacking. I'm not sure if it was the length or the mystery but I was not completely satisfied.
I did love Julia, a dancer and waitress trying to make do with her sister in London and hoping for love who is terrified when she arrives home to discover her sister murdered. She is pleased to make the acquaintance of Al Grant of the police who seems interested and might finally fulfill that hope of hers but she also wants to know why her sister died. Lady Law's offer seems too good to be true. When Julia is attacked later, she becomes even more frightened. The action in the scene where she was attacked was a bit confusing; there was various machinery that was beyond my ability to picture.
The other part of the puzzle is Horace Holly whose protege was friendly with Julia's sister and who was also murdered. As his path and Julia's intersect, they begin to figure out Lady Law and her (I feel) nefarious movements. She has a very steampunk answer behind her ability to solve all of those mysteries. However I was hoping for a different ending so perhaps therein lies my dissatisfication.
Regardless I would still recommend this for people looking for a quick steampunk read although perhaps not as an introduction.
Cover: I really like the cover-I think it's very beautiful with the airships and what I believe is Big Ben.
February 1, 2011
A light and easy whodunnit read combining steampunk, Victorian setting, a sprinkle of science fiction with the heart of a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Since it is available in ebook format, I'm not certain of the page count, but it is not terribly lengthy and a reader can whiz through the adventure. Might be the perfect companion while traveling to pass the time. It will hold your interest without giving you an involved head throb. It reads like a television episode and can be satisfied rather quickly. There is a clear beginning where the problem is presented, the chase or investigation and then conclusion. If you enjoy this type of formula, you'll likely find The Mysterious Lady Law a pleasant cozy, steampunk light mystery. I liked it. I wasn't greatly moved, but then again, I also wasn't put off.
A touch formulaic for my particular taste. Some awkward dialogue and phrasing had me questioning if this was truly taking place in Victorian England. At times, the interaction, language, behaviors of characters had a more roaring 1920's feel than Victorian. Felt like an attempt to jump on the steampunk popularity crazy and was produced quickly in a true and tested plot formula that produced a solid story, but was not deeply original or overwhelmingly intriguing. In addition, there were some strange interactions that weren't explained and introductions that never became relevant leaving me wondering what the point of including the detail was in the first place. Perhaps, it was an attempt to throw the reader off the whodunnit part, but that developed quickly and became obvious.
A touch formulaic for my particular taste. Some awkward dialogue and phrasing had me questioning if this was truly taking place in Victorian England. At times, the interaction, language, behaviors of characters had a more roaring 1920's feel than Victorian. Felt like an attempt to jump on the steampunk popularity crazy and was produced quickly in a true and tested plot formula that produced a solid story, but was not deeply original or overwhelmingly intriguing. In addition, there were some strange interactions that weren't explained and introductions that never became relevant leaving me wondering what the point of including the detail was in the first place. Perhaps, it was an attempt to throw the reader off the whodunnit part, but that developed quickly and became obvious.
February 24, 2011
The Mysterious Lady Law is a quick and entertaining read, placing a traditional mystery in a steampunk setting. As fair warning, it clocks in around 31,000 words, making it a novella as opposed to a full-length novel, so if you're reading it expecting a novel, you'll run into problems that really aren't problems considering that this book is not a novel. Everything about it is speedy, from the introduction to the mystery set up to the conclusion. I finished it in a couple of hours, and keeping in mind that I was reading a novella, I enjoyed it.
The mystery itself is fairly simple, but the steampunk setting adds a nice twist to what could have been a fairly typical Sherlock Holmesian whodunit. After her sister's brutal murder, Julia Bairstow finds herself the surprised recipient of the services of Lady Law, even though her new friend (and possible beau) Constable Grant doesn't trust the famous detective. I especially like that the sleuthing wasn't left up to Lady Law, and we actually rarely see her. It's an unusual choice for the title character to not be the point of view character, but I liked it. It made her more mysterious, and it gave Julia more of a platform to shine.
The mystery is pretty lightweight, and I figured out the "who" pretty well beforehand. What surprised me was the "how." As I mentioned, the steampunk setting plays heavily into the mystery's solution, and it was nice to see steampunk tech as more than set dressing.
If you're looking for an easy, fun read with some nice steampunk elements, give The Mysterious Lady Law a try.
(Review originally published at The Discriminating Fangirl.)
The mystery itself is fairly simple, but the steampunk setting adds a nice twist to what could have been a fairly typical Sherlock Holmesian whodunit. After her sister's brutal murder, Julia Bairstow finds herself the surprised recipient of the services of Lady Law, even though her new friend (and possible beau) Constable Grant doesn't trust the famous detective. I especially like that the sleuthing wasn't left up to Lady Law, and we actually rarely see her. It's an unusual choice for the title character to not be the point of view character, but I liked it. It made her more mysterious, and it gave Julia more of a platform to shine.
The mystery is pretty lightweight, and I figured out the "who" pretty well beforehand. What surprised me was the "how." As I mentioned, the steampunk setting plays heavily into the mystery's solution, and it was nice to see steampunk tech as more than set dressing.
If you're looking for an easy, fun read with some nice steampunk elements, give The Mysterious Lady Law a try.
(Review originally published at The Discriminating Fangirl.)
January 27, 2011
I'm a big fan of steampunk. A well-built world can blossom and gain a life of its own as it translates from the author's head to the reader's imagination. Robert Appleton does an excellent job of realizing this world and building the bits and baubles up a piece at a time.
Now, normally the steampunk books I read tend to weigh in on the steamier side. Err. Steamier as in sexy, not more steam in my steampunk. Oh, I make myself laugh sometimes. The point is that while this book has romantic elements, it's all about the mystery here. Who is Lady Law and how does she do what she does?
Julia is a young lady who laments her single status. Her sister's brutal murder shatters her world and makes her see how fragile life is. When Constable Grant begins to worm his way into her heart she has to decide whether he's being overly critical of Harriet Law because of her ability to solve crimes that the police can't or if there really is something sinister beneath her perfect exterior.
Overall, I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the mystery. I was kept guessing on what was coming right up to the end and I was left satisfied with the story we were given.
Evocative line:
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Now, normally the steampunk books I read tend to weigh in on the steamier side. Err. Steamier as in sexy, not more steam in my steampunk. Oh, I make myself laugh sometimes. The point is that while this book has romantic elements, it's all about the mystery here. Who is Lady Law and how does she do what she does?
Julia is a young lady who laments her single status. Her sister's brutal murder shatters her world and makes her see how fragile life is. When Constable Grant begins to worm his way into her heart she has to decide whether he's being overly critical of Harriet Law because of her ability to solve crimes that the police can't or if there really is something sinister beneath her perfect exterior.
Overall, I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the mystery. I was kept guessing on what was coming right up to the end and I was left satisfied with the story we were given.
Evocative line:
She reminded Julia of a strict schoolmarm turned adventurer, trapped in the body of a teenaged princess, trying to convince the world she meant business.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
March 21, 2011
I was absolutely not prepared for this book as I get the title and the summary wrong. Take a touch of Wilkie Collins, blend it with a little pinch of Conan Doyle, Jules Vernes, Rider Haggard and steam elements and you get "The Mysterious Lady Law".
Despite the length of the story, a mere novella, Appleton created a rich setting for his plot (not an hazardous choice of his part in view of the twist at the end)in an undefined London where steam engines, airships and cars exist. You easily figure out the characters and their background of tragedies in a few lines, which seens to be their common point.
I expected Lady Law to be the heroine and was rather surprised when she did not appear that much or with a very strange behaviour. I was making excuses for her, thinking: "when will she reveal the progress of her investigation? She must be very busy resolving the case that's why it takes so long".
I noticed some strange coincidences and suspected characters in vain as I was very far from the truth.I must admit that I never saw it coming! Neither the culprit, nor the method. It leaves me stunned and feeling tricked, but full of respect for Appleton.
Despite the length of the story, a mere novella, Appleton created a rich setting for his plot (not an hazardous choice of his part in view of the twist at the end)in an undefined London where steam engines, airships and cars exist. You easily figure out the characters and their background of tragedies in a few lines, which seens to be their common point.
I expected Lady Law to be the heroine and was rather surprised when she did not appear that much or with a very strange behaviour. I was making excuses for her, thinking: "when will she reveal the progress of her investigation? She must be very busy resolving the case that's why it takes so long".
I noticed some strange coincidences and suspected characters in vain as I was very far from the truth.I must admit that I never saw it coming! Neither the culprit, nor the method. It leaves me stunned and feeling tricked, but full of respect for Appleton.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2011
"Eh." "S'Okay." Such were my considerably underwhelmed reactions at the conclusion of this little steam punk novella. Parts of the book I thought were totally random and downright weird (and not in a fun way, but in a huh? way) and the ending was just so so. But there were aspects I really enjoyed. I thought the main character (not the titular character Lady Law, she, I didn't care for) Julia, was interesting and her love interest, while nothing to write home about, was engaging. The whodunit mystery at the center of the book was not all that mysterious, but the means by which Lady Law solves mysterious (and whether or not she is a good guy) proves to be the far more interesting question...
To read the full review over at The Book Buff, click here: http://thebookbuff.blogspot.com/2011/...
-Kate the Book Buff
To read the full review over at The Book Buff, click here: http://thebookbuff.blogspot.com/2011/...
-Kate the Book Buff
March 16, 2013
Well... I liked this at first. The first half was interesting and I actually wanted to keep on reading. But then... When they actually started to go into their investigation who Lady Law was, I stopped liking it altogether. So, in the end, it was just too misogynistic to my taste. I debated on 1 or 2 stars, so I'm giving 2 for the beginning, which really showed promise. But I think it's more like 1.5. It was quick rad which made me finish it, otherwise I think I would not have bothered.
February 16, 2011
This ebook was provided to me at no cost by the publisher.
This was an enjoyable Steampunk mystery story. When Julia comes home from a hard day's work to find her beloved sister Georgy dead in their apartment, her world is sent into upheaval. When overly capable--and famous--Lady Law offers her aid in solving the crime, Julia is star struck, and jumps at the offer of help. Add to the mix adventurer Sir Holly and his partner in writing Al Grant, and it isn't long before the mystery is solved. A good thing, too, because at about 1300 Kindle locations this story isn't very long. It is, however a very entertaining way to spend an evening. The world is fun, the writing is sharp, and the characters are nicely engaging. All in all, a jolly good time.
This was an enjoyable Steampunk mystery story. When Julia comes home from a hard day's work to find her beloved sister Georgy dead in their apartment, her world is sent into upheaval. When overly capable--and famous--Lady Law offers her aid in solving the crime, Julia is star struck, and jumps at the offer of help. Add to the mix adventurer Sir Holly and his partner in writing Al Grant, and it isn't long before the mystery is solved. A good thing, too, because at about 1300 Kindle locations this story isn't very long. It is, however a very entertaining way to spend an evening. The world is fun, the writing is sharp, and the characters are nicely engaging. All in all, a jolly good time.
March 4, 2011
Featured at An Abundance of Books
Despite some very nice world building, and likable characters, this story just seemed to get away from me at times. Whether it got too wrapped up in gadget description, action that I couldn't keep up with, or plain ridiculousness that didn't seem to fit the story, it was all just too much. The Mysterious Lady Law had some really cool elements, but it never really delivered.
Read full review HERE
Despite some very nice world building, and likable characters, this story just seemed to get away from me at times. Whether it got too wrapped up in gadget description, action that I couldn't keep up with, or plain ridiculousness that didn't seem to fit the story, it was all just too much. The Mysterious Lady Law had some really cool elements, but it never really delivered.
Read full review HERE
June 5, 2018
I wanted to love this. But it is just terrible!
Lady Law may be the titular character but she is not our protagonist and instead pops in and out of the story, but adds nothing to it until the end of the story (and even then, I don't the ending is set up well or pays off the reader).
Julia, our main character, has no development and jumps from emotion to emotion without any build up or explanation.
The plot is also spotty, but not bad compared to the horrendous character work.
Lady Law may be the titular character but she is not our protagonist and instead pops in and out of the story, but adds nothing to it until the end of the story (and even then, I don't the ending is set up well or pays off the reader).
Julia, our main character, has no development and jumps from emotion to emotion without any build up or explanation.
The plot is also spotty, but not bad compared to the horrendous character work.
February 9, 2012
This review also appears at http://www.readingreality.net/2012/02...
The Mysterious Lady Law by Robert Appleton has been one of those books that's always looked interesting every time I've seen it mentioned. I've just never had an excuse to read it until now. As I started to read Mr. Appleton's latest steampunk story, Prehistoric Clock, I had this niggling thought that Clock and Lady Law might be set in the same universe. That was all the excuse I needed and it was a pretty good excuse. The Mysterious Lady Law turned out to be a pretty good story, too.
The story is about one woman's meteoric rise and catastrophic fall. It begins at the ceremony where Harriet Law receives her honors, and is made Lady Law. With the assistance of Mr. Horace Holly, Lady Law spectacularly foils an assassination attempt against Queen Victoria. But all is not as it seems.
In his younger years, Mr. Holly was an adventurer, just like the more celebrated Allan Quatermain. Even more interesting, Mr. Holly's assistant Josh is missing. And Josh has been studying the houses in Lady Law's neighborhood for emissions of a strange substance known as psammeticum. Whatever this energy is, some house on Lady Law's street is sending out a lot of it.
A girl named Georgina is brutally murdered the night of Lady Law's honors. Lady Law promises Georgy's sister, Julia, that she will personally find justice for Julia. What Lady Law doesn't say is that she knew Georgy herself because Georgy was her housecleaner. And Georgy saw too much.
Julia wants justice for her sister. The police want to know how Lady Law always manages to get one step ahead of them. The police sergeant who is handling Julia's case wants to know why Lady Law wouldn't help him find out who murdered his wife several years ago. But mostly, he wants to keep Julia safe. And Julia, she thinks Lady Law is a little too good to be true.
So when Horace Holly discovers that Lady Law is trying to throw all the suspicion for Georgy's murder onto his assistant Josh, Holly, Julia and Sergeant Al Grant set Lady Law up for a fall. Finding out what those psammeticum emissions were all about? Well that turned out to be the biggest surprise of all.
Escape Rating C+: I enjoyed this story, but I wanted to know more about this particular steampunk London. The problem I usually have with the very short novellas is that there just isn't enough space to explain how we got where we are. The good ones like Lady Law tease me too much.
Characters and agencies from Lady Law do appear in Prehistoric Clock. It's definitely the same world, so I'm glad I read Lady Law. I'm hoping that between the two stories I'll see enough of the underpinnings of Mr. Appleton's steampunk world to satisfy my cravings.
The Mysterious Lady Law by Robert Appleton has been one of those books that's always looked interesting every time I've seen it mentioned. I've just never had an excuse to read it until now. As I started to read Mr. Appleton's latest steampunk story, Prehistoric Clock, I had this niggling thought that Clock and Lady Law might be set in the same universe. That was all the excuse I needed and it was a pretty good excuse. The Mysterious Lady Law turned out to be a pretty good story, too.
The story is about one woman's meteoric rise and catastrophic fall. It begins at the ceremony where Harriet Law receives her honors, and is made Lady Law. With the assistance of Mr. Horace Holly, Lady Law spectacularly foils an assassination attempt against Queen Victoria. But all is not as it seems.
In his younger years, Mr. Holly was an adventurer, just like the more celebrated Allan Quatermain. Even more interesting, Mr. Holly's assistant Josh is missing. And Josh has been studying the houses in Lady Law's neighborhood for emissions of a strange substance known as psammeticum. Whatever this energy is, some house on Lady Law's street is sending out a lot of it.
A girl named Georgina is brutally murdered the night of Lady Law's honors. Lady Law promises Georgy's sister, Julia, that she will personally find justice for Julia. What Lady Law doesn't say is that she knew Georgy herself because Georgy was her housecleaner. And Georgy saw too much.
Julia wants justice for her sister. The police want to know how Lady Law always manages to get one step ahead of them. The police sergeant who is handling Julia's case wants to know why Lady Law wouldn't help him find out who murdered his wife several years ago. But mostly, he wants to keep Julia safe. And Julia, she thinks Lady Law is a little too good to be true.
So when Horace Holly discovers that Lady Law is trying to throw all the suspicion for Georgy's murder onto his assistant Josh, Holly, Julia and Sergeant Al Grant set Lady Law up for a fall. Finding out what those psammeticum emissions were all about? Well that turned out to be the biggest surprise of all.
Escape Rating C+: I enjoyed this story, but I wanted to know more about this particular steampunk London. The problem I usually have with the very short novellas is that there just isn't enough space to explain how we got where we are. The good ones like Lady Law tease me too much.
Characters and agencies from Lady Law do appear in Prehistoric Clock. It's definitely the same world, so I'm glad I read Lady Law. I'm hoping that between the two stories I'll see enough of the underpinnings of Mr. Appleton's steampunk world to satisfy my cravings.
October 31, 2011
Steampunk is a fascinating genre; a world where there is plenty of science but it is the science of a different universe with ether, steam, magnetic forces, or some other overriding scientific factor which only authors could imagine being the unifying force in science, much as the laws of physics are ours the theory of. It is the science of Jules Verne and his fantastic ships, submarines, and his worlds with worlds. It is a science that is almost our science, but which somehow went awry. For some reason the steam punk world seems entirely stuck in the UK during the Victorian or Edwardian era.
This novella tells an interesting story of of murder and plotting with a female Sherlockian type character, made a peer by the Queen for solving many crimes. Then we have a young woman, Julia, and her murdered sister Georgy, whose family was genteel but which had fallen on hard times and which resorted to domestic service, being a can-can dancer and air hostess to make a living. There is also a constable, and an appropriately Colonel Pickering-esque, avuncular, British explorer and adventurer.
The story proceeds predictably except for a few twists I did not expect. Lady Law is quite mysterious indeed as we only see her for a few chapters. The rest of the time it is Julia and the Constable. I wondered why it wasn’t called The Mystery of Julia’s Sister. There is a nice progression of the romantic relationship, but Julia’s light attitude after her sister’s death and after some of the other events is dubious. There is a climactic scene of what would have been termed “sexual depravity” which I felt was somewhat gratuitous, and I thought some bits were a bit glib. I did like that in the end Julia isn’t saved; she rescues herself more than once and understands the reality of the situation more quickly than others. She is not the dumb female, but also likes being treated like a lady.
This may sound terribly sexist, but I think during the past nine months I have only read three or four books written by men. Strangely they often seem to write from a women’s Point of View. Often I don’t feel they truly capture the female character, as variable as that character is. I think that Appleton misses his target with Julia’s emotions. No book is perfect.
But it is an enjoyable read, with nicely flowing prose and a couple of surprises. It isn’t high literary fiction, but who cares?!
originally reviewed at: http://fangswandsandfairydust.blogspo...
This novella tells an interesting story of of murder and plotting with a female Sherlockian type character, made a peer by the Queen for solving many crimes. Then we have a young woman, Julia, and her murdered sister Georgy, whose family was genteel but which had fallen on hard times and which resorted to domestic service, being a can-can dancer and air hostess to make a living. There is also a constable, and an appropriately Colonel Pickering-esque, avuncular, British explorer and adventurer.
The story proceeds predictably except for a few twists I did not expect. Lady Law is quite mysterious indeed as we only see her for a few chapters. The rest of the time it is Julia and the Constable. I wondered why it wasn’t called The Mystery of Julia’s Sister. There is a nice progression of the romantic relationship, but Julia’s light attitude after her sister’s death and after some of the other events is dubious. There is a climactic scene of what would have been termed “sexual depravity” which I felt was somewhat gratuitous, and I thought some bits were a bit glib. I did like that in the end Julia isn’t saved; she rescues herself more than once and understands the reality of the situation more quickly than others. She is not the dumb female, but also likes being treated like a lady.
This may sound terribly sexist, but I think during the past nine months I have only read three or four books written by men. Strangely they often seem to write from a women’s Point of View. Often I don’t feel they truly capture the female character, as variable as that character is. I think that Appleton misses his target with Julia’s emotions. No book is perfect.
But it is an enjoyable read, with nicely flowing prose and a couple of surprises. It isn’t high literary fiction, but who cares?!
originally reviewed at: http://fangswandsandfairydust.blogspo...
July 3, 2012
When she returns home to find her sister brutally murdered, Julia's life is shattered. The police have no real leads, despite the kindnesses offered by handsome Constable Grant, so when the most effective --albeit controversial-- private detective in England offers her services for free, Julia jumps at the chance to get some answers to this mystery.
Lady Harriet Law's record is perfect. Where the official channels fail, she can and does step in to solve the case for them, and not one of the cases she's taken on has gone unsolved. There are whispers about her methods, and how they may not be entirely proper or savoury, but there's no questioning her success.
It seems, though, the closer this case comes to being solved, the more questions Julia has, and more of them are about Lady Law than about her sister. With a little ingenuity and a bit of help, Julia just might be able to solve two cases: that of her sister's murder, and that of the mysterious Lady Law.
Julia is a smart and engaging heroine, a working-class girl who thinks well on her feet, which comes in handy when you're dealing with murderous thugs and surrounded by people who may or may not be deceiving you. While she's not the only viewpoint character, she's certainly the one the story centers around, and easily the most relatable person. Which is not to say the other characters are not likeable, but for a modern reader Julia is far more accessible than, say, an aged gentleman adventurer in the mould of Allan Quatermain.
The novella moves along at a good clip, with plenty of danger to keep the mystery sharp, and for 3/4 of the story I was right there. The plot twist, however, failed to take me with it, and while your mileage may vary, the late insertion of supernatural events made me feel like the author was "cheating" in order to resolve things. That being said, I do think Appleton knew where the story was going before bringing in the sci-fi, but the abrupt shift from something comfortably steampunk into something much more speculative took me right out of the story and left me with the dreaded "wait, what?" feeling. Could it have been handled another way? I honestly don't know. Certainly the main characters can't have had knowledge about events beyond their world, but the result is a twist that just doesn't make me feel like it's been earned.
Lady Harriet Law's record is perfect. Where the official channels fail, she can and does step in to solve the case for them, and not one of the cases she's taken on has gone unsolved. There are whispers about her methods, and how they may not be entirely proper or savoury, but there's no questioning her success.
It seems, though, the closer this case comes to being solved, the more questions Julia has, and more of them are about Lady Law than about her sister. With a little ingenuity and a bit of help, Julia just might be able to solve two cases: that of her sister's murder, and that of the mysterious Lady Law.
Julia is a smart and engaging heroine, a working-class girl who thinks well on her feet, which comes in handy when you're dealing with murderous thugs and surrounded by people who may or may not be deceiving you. While she's not the only viewpoint character, she's certainly the one the story centers around, and easily the most relatable person. Which is not to say the other characters are not likeable, but for a modern reader Julia is far more accessible than, say, an aged gentleman adventurer in the mould of Allan Quatermain.
The novella moves along at a good clip, with plenty of danger to keep the mystery sharp, and for 3/4 of the story I was right there. The plot twist, however, failed to take me with it, and while your mileage may vary, the late insertion of supernatural events made me feel like the author was "cheating" in order to resolve things. That being said, I do think Appleton knew where the story was going before bringing in the sci-fi, but the abrupt shift from something comfortably steampunk into something much more speculative took me right out of the story and left me with the dreaded "wait, what?" feeling. Could it have been handled another way? I honestly don't know. Certainly the main characters can't have had knowledge about events beyond their world, but the result is a twist that just doesn't make me feel like it's been earned.
March 10, 2011
I got a copy of this novella through NetGalley(dot)com. It looked like an insteresting read in the steampunk genre and I had read positive reviews of it on other blogs, so I decided to give a try. Overall is was an engaging read full of mystery and action; nothing spectacular but amusing all the same.
Julia is a dancer and when her sister is murdered the London police get involved. They are having trouble solving the case and one of the young constables takes a shining to Julia. Then the mysterious Lady Law gets involved. Lady Law has solved every case she has taken on for investigation and she wants to take on Julia's case pro bono. Ends up there is more mystery behind Julia's sister's death and behind Lady Law herself than anyone ever thought.
This story was decently written and easy to read. I enjoyed the reimagining of Victoria London to a place populated by dirigibles and steam-based contraptions. The descriptions of contraptions was interesting and unique. The characters don't have a ton of depth to them but they are all easy to relate to and fairly engaging. This book really shines in some of the descriptions of settings which really make the city come alive for the reader. I also enjoyed the strong and plucky female characters throughout.
The plot was okay. It takes some interesting twists and the book is tied up nicely. I thought the way things ended was a bit contrived and odd, but that's all I can really say without spoilers. This is definitely more of an adult read.
Overall I enjoyed this novella. While the writing style and plot are nothing spectacular, the book was still entertaining. I did enjoy the strong female characters, the world-building, and the description of steampunk contraptions. I am uncertain as to whether or not I will read future works by Appleton. As I said this book was a fun quick diversion, but it wasn't anything especially spectacular.
Julia is a dancer and when her sister is murdered the London police get involved. They are having trouble solving the case and one of the young constables takes a shining to Julia. Then the mysterious Lady Law gets involved. Lady Law has solved every case she has taken on for investigation and she wants to take on Julia's case pro bono. Ends up there is more mystery behind Julia's sister's death and behind Lady Law herself than anyone ever thought.
This story was decently written and easy to read. I enjoyed the reimagining of Victoria London to a place populated by dirigibles and steam-based contraptions. The descriptions of contraptions was interesting and unique. The characters don't have a ton of depth to them but they are all easy to relate to and fairly engaging. This book really shines in some of the descriptions of settings which really make the city come alive for the reader. I also enjoyed the strong and plucky female characters throughout.
The plot was okay. It takes some interesting twists and the book is tied up nicely. I thought the way things ended was a bit contrived and odd, but that's all I can really say without spoilers. This is definitely more of an adult read.
Overall I enjoyed this novella. While the writing style and plot are nothing spectacular, the book was still entertaining. I did enjoy the strong female characters, the world-building, and the description of steampunk contraptions. I am uncertain as to whether or not I will read future works by Appleton. As I said this book was a fun quick diversion, but it wasn't anything especially spectacular.
October 5, 2011
My review posted on Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/new-r...
Whispers abound about Harriet Law. Her one hundred percent success rate at solving crimes – even those Scotland Yard cannot find the shred of a clue on – has earned her fame, fortune, and a title. None of those matter to waitress Julia Bairstow. All she knows is that the infamous Lady Law has offered to solve the case of her sister’s murder for free. It’s an opportunity Julia can’t turn down, even though Constable Al Grant warns her that there’s something shady about Lady Law’s methods. As Lady Law delves into the case, Julia begins to suspect that Al might have been right to warn her away from the woman. Can the two of them unearth the mysterious Lady Law’s secrets? And what will happen if they do?
Journey into a steampunk reimagining of Victorian London in The Mysterious Lady Law. Robert Appleton has penned an entertaining mystery that starts off with a bang and ends in a mostly satisfying way. I liked Julia, Al, and Holly, the tale’s protagonists. They’re interesting characters with unique voices and their energy buoyed the story. The Mysterious Lady Law’s titular character overtakes the second half of the story, as befitting her character. This was only an issue because she didn’t come to life for me the way the other characters did. The climax of The Mysterious Lady Law is somewhat frenzied and tangled, so while I made sense of the ending, I wasn’t as satisfied with it as I would have liked. Still, the murder mystery and the touch of romance in The Mysterious Lady Law kept me engaged and overall I liked the story.
Whispers abound about Harriet Law. Her one hundred percent success rate at solving crimes – even those Scotland Yard cannot find the shred of a clue on – has earned her fame, fortune, and a title. None of those matter to waitress Julia Bairstow. All she knows is that the infamous Lady Law has offered to solve the case of her sister’s murder for free. It’s an opportunity Julia can’t turn down, even though Constable Al Grant warns her that there’s something shady about Lady Law’s methods. As Lady Law delves into the case, Julia begins to suspect that Al might have been right to warn her away from the woman. Can the two of them unearth the mysterious Lady Law’s secrets? And what will happen if they do?
Journey into a steampunk reimagining of Victorian London in The Mysterious Lady Law. Robert Appleton has penned an entertaining mystery that starts off with a bang and ends in a mostly satisfying way. I liked Julia, Al, and Holly, the tale’s protagonists. They’re interesting characters with unique voices and their energy buoyed the story. The Mysterious Lady Law’s titular character overtakes the second half of the story, as befitting her character. This was only an issue because she didn’t come to life for me the way the other characters did. The climax of The Mysterious Lady Law is somewhat frenzied and tangled, so while I made sense of the ending, I wasn’t as satisfied with it as I would have liked. Still, the murder mystery and the touch of romance in The Mysterious Lady Law kept me engaged and overall I liked the story.
January 27, 2011
In a time of grand airships and steam-powered cars, the death of a penniless young maid will hardly make the front page. But part-time airship waitress and music hall dancer Julia Bairstow is shattered by her sister's murder. When Lady Law, the most notorious private detective in Britain, offers to investigate the case pro bono, Julia jumps at the chance—even against the advice of Constable Al Grant, who takes her protection surprisingly to heart.
Lady Law puts Scotland Yard to shame. She's apprehended Jack the Ripper and solved countless other cold-case crimes. No one knows how she does it, but it's brought her fortune, renown and even a title. But is she really what she claims to be—a genius at deducing? Or is Al right and she is not be trusted?
Julia is determined to find out the truth, even if it means turning sleuth herself—and turning the tables on Lady Law...
31,600 words
My 2 Cents:
This was a surprising read I was not expecting time travel. This is the first "Steampunk" book I have read. Lady Law solves over 600 cases and make Scotland Yard look foolish, but the way she solves these cases are mysterious at best. I didn't like that she goes about solving the cases illegally. At least she will share her methods while in prison. It was a quick read.
Lady Law puts Scotland Yard to shame. She's apprehended Jack the Ripper and solved countless other cold-case crimes. No one knows how she does it, but it's brought her fortune, renown and even a title. But is she really what she claims to be—a genius at deducing? Or is Al right and she is not be trusted?
Julia is determined to find out the truth, even if it means turning sleuth herself—and turning the tables on Lady Law...
31,600 words
My 2 Cents:
This was a surprising read I was not expecting time travel. This is the first "Steampunk" book I have read. Lady Law solves over 600 cases and make Scotland Yard look foolish, but the way she solves these cases are mysterious at best. I didn't like that she goes about solving the cases illegally. At least she will share her methods while in prison. It was a quick read.
May 11, 2011
Set in Victorian England, The Mysterious Lady Law tells the story of Julia, a young dancer who returns home to find her beloved younger sister Georgina murdered.
Stepping in to solve the case is Lady Law, an investigator who has trodden on the toes of the police by solving every case she has taken on. When Lady Law says she will work for free, in spite of Inspector Slatham's reservations, Julia is only happy to agree.
Sir Horace Holly, a renowned scientist, finds that his young assistant Rupert was one of Georgina's beaus, and he, too, has gone missing. When he, Julia, and the inspector team up, they end up investigating a mystery that could solve the puzzle of who Lady Law actually is and how she solves her crimes so easily.
This is a short novella where quite a lot happens. It's a bit confusing at times, and there were some scenes that I could have done without which greatly took away from my enjoyment; however, up until those happened, I rather liked it. For me, there was no need for the sex scene depicted, and definitely not a need for the profanity that was used; it's Steampunk, not urban fantasy/paranormal. If I look past those, however, it was a decent, enjoyable read.
QUOTE:
"I find it best to set trends, not follow them."
Stepping in to solve the case is Lady Law, an investigator who has trodden on the toes of the police by solving every case she has taken on. When Lady Law says she will work for free, in spite of Inspector Slatham's reservations, Julia is only happy to agree.
Sir Horace Holly, a renowned scientist, finds that his young assistant Rupert was one of Georgina's beaus, and he, too, has gone missing. When he, Julia, and the inspector team up, they end up investigating a mystery that could solve the puzzle of who Lady Law actually is and how she solves her crimes so easily.
This is a short novella where quite a lot happens. It's a bit confusing at times, and there were some scenes that I could have done without which greatly took away from my enjoyment; however, up until those happened, I rather liked it. For me, there was no need for the sex scene depicted, and definitely not a need for the profanity that was used; it's Steampunk, not urban fantasy/paranormal. If I look past those, however, it was a decent, enjoyable read.
QUOTE:
"I find it best to set trends, not follow them."
January 24, 2011
The Mysterious Lady Law is a quick, easy read. It is short and I don’t think it quite novel length. Maybe a novella. It’s steampunk; there are airships and steam powered cars.
It begins with an award ceremony and an attempted assassination on Lady Law. It ends in Africa. In between, there are chases, murders and lots of odd gadgets. Also, there is a room with all the planets that go rolling around and hitting each other. That scene was really funny.
The book surprised me. In the beginning, I wasn’t expecting time travel. I thought there would be a different explanation for Lady Law. In some ways, she is the villain (she was imprisoned at the end). I expected she would be the heroine. Lady Law undoubtedly did catch the real criminals, but she did so by committing crimes herself. I didn’t like that.
But the real irony here is that while she is imprisoned, she will be teaching other cops her methods of investigation.
It begins with an award ceremony and an attempted assassination on Lady Law. It ends in Africa. In between, there are chases, murders and lots of odd gadgets. Also, there is a room with all the planets that go rolling around and hitting each other. That scene was really funny.
The book surprised me. In the beginning, I wasn’t expecting time travel. I thought there would be a different explanation for Lady Law. In some ways, she is the villain (she was imprisoned at the end). I expected she would be the heroine. Lady Law undoubtedly did catch the real criminals, but she did so by committing crimes herself. I didn’t like that.
But the real irony here is that while she is imprisoned, she will be teaching other cops her methods of investigation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2011
A steampunk version set in Victorian England.
This is a mystery of sorts. The question is: Who is really the detective?
Lady Law is a detective who has a 100% success rate and puts Scotland Yard to shame. She comes to the aid of Julia. Her sister has just been murdered and Scotland Yard has come up with nothing to go on. But, there is a cute detective who keeps Julia apprised of the investigation. So, Scotland Yard does have it's uses in this story. :)
Lady Law quickly comes to a conclusion and "solves" the case. But all is not as it should be. There is far more to the whodunnit.
This is not a very long book. I wasn't overly impressed with the writing. It seemed a bit confusing at times, but not overly confusing. Now am I confusing you? You can scan through the confusing parts and keep up with the story.
Recommended if you don't have a lot of time and want a quick read.
This is a mystery of sorts. The question is: Who is really the detective?
Lady Law is a detective who has a 100% success rate and puts Scotland Yard to shame. She comes to the aid of Julia. Her sister has just been murdered and Scotland Yard has come up with nothing to go on. But, there is a cute detective who keeps Julia apprised of the investigation. So, Scotland Yard does have it's uses in this story. :)
Lady Law quickly comes to a conclusion and "solves" the case. But all is not as it should be. There is far more to the whodunnit.
This is not a very long book. I wasn't overly impressed with the writing. It seemed a bit confusing at times, but not overly confusing. Now am I confusing you? You can scan through the confusing parts and keep up with the story.
Recommended if you don't have a lot of time and want a quick read.
October 26, 2011
The story opens with Horace Holly and Harriet Law receiving titles from Queen Victoria. Lady Law is notorious for many reasons. She has an uncanny knack for solving unsolvable crimes, and Holly, as he prefers to be called, is famous as an adventurer/explorer. Some in society suspect Lady Law is not all she seems, but Holly is a bit smitten.
Julia, a dancer, comes home to find her sister has been brutally murdered. She meets Constable Grant, who shows her a bit more consideration than necessary. When the London police come up empty handed in their search for a suspect, Lady law steps in and offers to solve the mystery free of charge. After all, she knew Julia's sister Georgina. Then things get interesting. Holly's intern turns up missing, and Julia, Holly and Grant discover there's a connection between his disappearance and Georgina's murder.
Without giving it away, suffice it to say this was a thoroughly entertaining read with engaging characters. Great read.
Julia, a dancer, comes home to find her sister has been brutally murdered. She meets Constable Grant, who shows her a bit more consideration than necessary. When the London police come up empty handed in their search for a suspect, Lady law steps in and offers to solve the mystery free of charge. After all, she knew Julia's sister Georgina. Then things get interesting. Holly's intern turns up missing, and Julia, Holly and Grant discover there's a connection between his disappearance and Georgina's murder.
Without giving it away, suffice it to say this was a thoroughly entertaining read with engaging characters. Great read.
February 22, 2011
It's a curious novella that has supporting characters with personalities so strong that I wish the story revolved more around them than our Heroine, Julia. With her sister tragically murdered Julia finds herself being assisted two heroes of the empire, Holly a retiree and the Lady Law a private detective with an impeccable record but suspicious methods.
There's a slow build up with the mystery and even a budding love story that helps to flesh out Julia's character while culminating in an ending so confusing that I only fully understood it thanks to a bit of exposition from out Heroine!
Despite the relatively short length the author has managed to create an entire world and write a group of rather fantastical but interesting characters.
Received as an ARC via NetGalley.
There's a slow build up with the mystery and even a budding love story that helps to flesh out Julia's character while culminating in an ending so confusing that I only fully understood it thanks to a bit of exposition from out Heroine!
Despite the relatively short length the author has managed to create an entire world and write a group of rather fantastical but interesting characters.
Received as an ARC via NetGalley.
January 9, 2011
This steampunk mystery novella tells about the famous detective - Lady Law - who routinely puts Scotland Yard to shame. It is also the story of Julia who is a dance hall performer who enlists Lady Law to find out who murdered her sister. Julia herself becomes a target of unknown attackers and flees through an alternate Victorian London and through various airships and mechanical museums. Julia is aided by police constable Al Grant and aging adventurer Horace Holly as she tries to unravel her sister's murder after Lady Law comes back with a solution that is just to pat. Lots of steampunk details in this one. Fun!
February 12, 2011
You may also read the entire review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2011/02/...
This was a cute, fast little steampunk mystery and a fun diversion between novels. Not much room for character development because of the length, but the mystery moved along nicely and I liked the steampunk and sci-fi elements of the story. Nothing fantastically unique here, and I wasn't dazzled by any means, but what was done was done fairly well, and I enjoyed the little twist at the end!
This was a cute, fast little steampunk mystery and a fun diversion between novels. Not much room for character development because of the length, but the mystery moved along nicely and I liked the steampunk and sci-fi elements of the story. Nothing fantastically unique here, and I wasn't dazzled by any means, but what was done was done fairly well, and I enjoyed the little twist at the end!
Read
March 19, 2011I’m loving the steampunk genre so when I saw this one on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read it. I hung in until I was 50% through, and decided to move on. I was not engaged in the story and did not care about the fate of the characters. There were a few cool scenes (when Julia was running from unknown killer) but otherwise, I was not entertained. Honestly, after reading The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook and The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, the author’s interpretation of the steampunk genre did not captivate me.
May 31, 2011
Overall, I enjoyed this steampunk mystery novella. It drew me in with the story, and I liked Julia, the main character. It had some problems - the answer to the mystery at the end sort of came out of the blue. There was a science fiction aspect that just came out of the blue. I think it sets up an interesting premise for a series of time travel mysteries though.
Note: Bought directly from Carina Press (pre-order)
Note: Bought directly from Carina Press (pre-order)
May 8, 2011
A novel crammed into a novella. The premise was good, the writing was quite decent, and I generally liked this story. I only wish it were longer. The pace just killed it. If only this were twice the size I think I would have rather enjoyed it even more. A quick and fanciful read but ultimately one that is not particularly memorable.
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