Aldo Moon and the Ghost at Gravewood Hall by Alex Woolf

‘It was a dark and stormy night I began. The skies were racked with thunder that rolled in waves across the valley. Lightning forked through the dismal clouds and lit up the trees in brief, angry flashes.’

Actually, it was a beautiful evening. The only celestial illumination was provided by the moon, which shone through wisps of London fog, falling silkily on our rug. But that didn’t seem right for my story, which was to be in the gothic tradition and so required a more violent kind of weather.

Published by Scribo February 2013

240 pages

Summary from Hive.co.uk

Introducing Aldo Moon: abandoned at birth, raised at the Foundlings Hospital in London, then adopted by the well-to-do Carter family at the age of seven. The young psychic detective is always on the outside. Flamboyant, eccentric and a touch wild, Aldo has the ability to pick up 'ripples in the ether', which he uses to investigate intrigue and mystery in Victorian England. He is accompanied on his many adventures by the intrepid Nathan Carter, the story's narrator, and the prim arch-sceptic Lily Morelle. In this, their first case, the trio investigate the mysterious nightly noises at a rotting country house in the dead of winter. With the help of his companions, Aldo gradually uncovers a gripping, sinister secret at Gravewood Hall.

Reviewed by K. M. Lockwood

The story is told by Nathan Carter about the crime -solving exploits of his adopted brother, Aldo Moon - in the manner of Dr Watson writing about Sherlock Holmes. The narrator directly addresses the reader and uses deliberately old-fashioned vocabulary to match the Victorian era in which it is set. 

Along with uncovering the central mystery, the reader will learn about 19th century servants, divorce law and inheritance. The author clearly knows a great deal about the Victorian era and he contrasts scientific attitudes with more spiritual ideas through the different characters and events. The conflict between rationalist and psychic points of view is as relevant now as it was in the 19th century - and in this story, there is both deductive reasoning and apparently supernatural activity.

Alex Woolf has made an interesting mash-up of a traditional crime thriller and something more eerie. The result will suit the reader who seeks something like Wilkie Collins or Dickens. It is full of gruesome revelations set in a richly detailed, claustrophobic world. 

I should warn buyers that the title and the publisher’s summary suggest a relatively young readership. The cover, by David Proctor, which is very attractive with its unusual scrawly typeface and striking Gothic artwork, also looks suitable for the 9+ market .But some of the themes and scenes are definitely YA and could upset a more sensitive reader.

You will enjoy this if you are a confident reader fond of complex historical mysteries with a touch of the macabre.

Maisie Hitchins-The Case of the Stolen Sixpence by Holly Webb

Maisie Hitchins watched, open-mouthed, as the famous detective Gilbert Carrington came haring down the front steps of his lodging house, hauling on his coat as he ran. His faithful assistant Major Edward Lamb galloped after him, clutching both their hats, and they sprang into a cab and rattled away.

Pages - 170

Published by Stripes  Publishing in May 2013

Amazon Summary

Holly Webb fans will be thrilled to pieces to discover the adventures of Maisie Hitchins, the pluckiest little detective in Victorian London. Maisie Hitchins lives in her grandmother's boarding house, longing for adventure. She idolizes the famous detective, Gilbert Carrington, and follows his every case. But Maisie is about to be given the opportunity of a lifetime: her own mystery to solve! In the first book in this fantastic new series, Maisie rescues a puppy in peril whilst running an errand, and adopts him. She decides to investigate the puppy's original cruel owner, but instead gets tangled up in an intriguing plot involving stolen sausages, pilfered halfpennies and a fast-paced bicycle chase. The streets of Victorian London are never safe, but Maisie's on the case!

*********

What a gorgeous book this was! This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I really wish I had bought more of her books for my girls when they were younger.

Maisie Hitchins is a strong willed young lady for that time period and I love her for it. She really is a gutsy little girl full of curiosity and strong morals. She isn’t frightened to stand up for what she believes in during a time period where children were seen and not heard. She desperately wants to be a detective like Gilbert Carrington and convinces herself that she can solve crimes too. With the help of her newly rescued puppy, Eddie, she takes it upon herself to solve the mystery behind the missing coins which led to George, the butcher’s assistant being sacked. She will stop at nothing to find out the truth and with the help of the  lodgers in her grandmother’s house she finds her own methods for sleuthing.

The lodgers staying at 31 Albion Street are a colourful bunch. In this story we get to meet the new lodger, Professor Tobin, who comes up with an ingenious idea to help save Eddie from the streets. We also spend time with the actress Miss Lane, who is a master of disguises, helping to turn Maisie into all sorts of characters who can fool the public, to find out the truth. I’m pretty sure we’ll get to meet all the residents and spend more time with them as the series progresses.

This book was an utter delight. I loved the idea of a  such a strong, female detective during Victorian times. She could give Sherlock Holmes a run for his money.  The chapters are short, yet well paced. The writing easy to read and the inner child in me was happy to step back in time to Holly Webb’s Victorian London.

You can’t talk about this book without mentioning the  gorgeous illustrations by Marion Lindsay. At the front of the book there is a  picture of the grandmother’s house as if it were cut in half. It is so detailed and pretty, I had to fight the urge to get my colouring pens out and colour it! I wouldn’t be surprised if children will want to give them colour as they are absolutely stunning.

This is the first book in the series and I’m sure there will be many more to follow. An ideal series for the 7 to 9 year old market who enjoy a good mystery.

The Hanged Man Rises by Sarah Naughton

Pages - 235

Published by Simon and Schuster in February 2013

The boy sat on the end of the jetty, skimming oyster shells across the water. It was too choppy to get many bounces but occasionally a shell would strike the dredger, moored further out, with a satisfying clang.  He didn't even bother to prise open the next one before he threw it. The thought of slurping out its slick grey innards, still quivering, made him queasy. A person could get heartily sick of oysters, and Sammy often wishes his father had been a cattle drover or a cheesemonger. Anything but an oyster farmer.

Goodreads Summary

When their parents are killed in a fire, Titus Adams and his little sister Hannah are left to fend for themselves in the cruel and squalid slums of Victorian London. Taking shelter with his friend and saviour, Inspector Pilbury, Titus should feel safe. But though the inspector has just caught and hung a notorious child-murderer, the murders haven't stopped. Now everyone is a suspect, even the inspector himself, and unless Titus can find a way to end the killings, he will lose all that is dear to him.
For this evil cannot be contained, even by death.

******

The Hanged Man Rises is a rather dark tale that drags you into the rough and dangerous parts of Victorian London. A child killer is on the loose and everyone is scared. The first chapter was really rather scary. I struggled reading it as any mother would do. You feel chilled to the bone, by the events that unfold.

Titus and Hannah are brilliant characters. Titus is such a strong and brave boy and deal with the death of his parents and his new position as his sister’s guardian. He will do anything to protect her, even if it means hurting her.

The story continues in it dark tone all the way through, with the arrival of some rather sinister characters that will make your skin crawl. I enjoyed reading the parts with Lilly in, who is a young girl with the power to speak to ghosts. It was brilliant to see a medium represented as having real skills instead of a charlatan, which is often the case with Victorian novels.  The story is quite fast paced all the way through, culminating in a rather dramatic ending. Sometimes I got a little lost in the narrative and found myself rereading passages, as I didn’t always understand what was going on. On reading it at a slower pace, this probably wouldn’t be an issue.

This book is recommended for 11 years +. Personally I would suggest it to older readers or young ones with excellent reading skills as the writing is quite mature at times and the content is often quite dark.

On the whole, this is a very promising debut, representing the darker side of Victorian London.

 

Inspire Me with Sarah Naughton

Today, I am happy to welcome debut author Sarah Naughton onto the blog, to discuss what inspired her to write her historical teen book, The Hanged Man Rises.

Living in the country is pretty boring once you get past the age of nine.  Especially for a girl with zero interest in sport or other outdoor activities.  

With nothing better to do me and my friend Ellen would go on interminable walks down country lanes and on these walks, when the conversation ran out about Andrew Stowford (the only boy in the village not intimately-related to everyone else), we played a game called What If.  I probably don’t need to explain this game.  It went along the lines of: what if your best friend’s boyfriend told you he loved you: would you tell your best friend?  Or, what if your mum and Andrew Stowford were trapped in a burning building and you only had time to save one?

I’ve been playing it ever since.

Lots of things trigger the questions: documentaries, conversations, news stories.  What if that asteroid that just missed earth actually hit us?  What if they found fossilised human bones in a dinosaur’s stomach?  

I’m sure it’s where most writers begin.

The medical advances in the 18th century, particularly in anatomy, probably inspired Mary Shelley to write Frankenstein.  Genetic engineering provided the chilling but wholly believable premise for Kazuo Ishiguro’s ‘Never Let Me Go’.  A planet running out of resources: Independence Day, reality TV gone mad: The Hunger Games.

Ok, I suppose I should admit that I’m a big fan of dystopian fiction.  But it works equally well with other genres: what if you lived in Elizabethan/Roman/Neolithic times?  What if a man got killed in a completely sealed room?  What if a billionaire sheik disguised as a doctor came to work at the hospital of a pretty young nurse?

They’re all good starting points (apart from possibly the billionaire sheik doctor in disguise).  Where you take them is the hard part.  There’s a dusty old folder lurking in the depths of my computer containing a stack of these premises which I haven’t managed to turn into stories.  I’ll go back to them one day.  What if the sheik met the dinosaur on the way to the hospital and the pretty nurse had to clone him using the DNA from a scrap of his half-digested flesh? (now that’s an idea…)

Though it didn’t feel like it when I was a kid, having an active imagination is a far more exciting and rewarding skill than being a hot shot at BMX stunts (unless you’re Andrew Stowford, in which case it’s just the Best Thing Ever).

So if you want to write, just be curious.  Ask yourself questions.  Chances are lots of people will have asked themselves the same questions before and written brilliant books exploring the answers, but one day you’ll hit upon something no-one has asked yet.  But you’d better be quick - what if I get there first?

The Hanged Man by Sarah Naughton is published on the 28th February by Simon and Schuster.

To find out more about Sarah:

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The Quietness by Alison Rattle

Pages - 278

Published in March by Hot Key Books

It was  a wet day. The rain had turned the roads to sludge. Everyone unlucky enough to be out on the streets hurried past Queenie, without glancing at the heap of fruit she'd polished to gleaming on her skirts. No matter how hard she shouted, 'PENNY A LOT, FINE RUSSETS!' or, 'EIGHT A PENNY, STUNNING PEARS!'

Goodreads Summary

When fifteen-year-old Queenie escapes from the squalid slums of nineteenth-century London, she has no idea about the dangers of the dark world she is about to become embroiled in. Initially thrilled at being taken on as a maid for the seemingly respectable Waters sisters, Queenie comes to realise that something is very wrong with the dozens of strangely silent babies being 'adopted' into the household.
Meanwhile, lonely and unloved sixteen-year-old Ellen is delighted when her handsome and charming young cousin Jacob is sent to live with her family. She thinks she has finally found a man to fall in love with and rely on, but when Jacob cruelly betrays her she finds herself once again at the mercy of her cold-hearted father. Soon the girls' lives become irrevocably entwined in this tension-filled drama.

********

Told from two perspectives in first and third person, this book portrays a very dark and realistic image of Victorian London. The two main characters, Queenie and Ellen’s are the complete opposite of each other and yet each suffers in their own way. The author takes both extremes and skilfully blends them together.

Queenie’s life is extremely hard. To have to fight for every morsel of food on a daily basis must have been indescribable. Yet she was loved. She came from a family that cared, even if they sometimes went off the rail. However, Queenie is oblivious to the love that surrounds her; she is too consumed by her need to escape poverty to see it.

On the other hand, Ellen has everything money could buy; however money can’t buy the thing you need most in life - love. The clinical coldness of her father sent shivers down my spine. He really was a boneless creature. His unhealthy interest in the workings of his daughter’s body was extremely weird. Ellen’s life was cold and lonely and I just wanted to hug her.

Queenie and Ellen are such wonderful characters, with strong convictions and lots of emotion. Through every sadness they suffered, you felt every bit of it through the author’s narrative. During the birth scene, I felt the strong emotions that bound the mother and child, an excellent example of the writer’s ability to portray realistic emotions through her words.

The story unravels delicately as we gradually learn more about the two girls. Surprises will occur naturally within the plot as you lose yourself in the story. The chapters are quite short and you find yourself reading the book very quickly, eager to find out what happens next to each character.

The descriptions of Victorian London are vivid, yet brutal and honest. The author has taken the historical information and breathed life into it, make it real and easy to imagine. I could easily see this book being televised.

I really loved this book, even though it did make me cry at the end. A stunning portrayal of hidden history that needs to be told.

Why Alison Rattle chose to write about baby farming.

During the Hot Key Books/ Templar Fiction blogger event, I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to talk to Alison Rattle, debut author of The Quietness, which is published by Hot Key Books in March. When I discovered the topic of her novel, I was completely fascinated and asked Alison if she would be interested in writing a post about it. Alison kindly agreed and her is the resulting post telling us why she decided to write about baby farming.

A few years ago I was writing a proposal for a non-fiction book on amazing women - that is amazingly great or amazingly awful! I stumbled upon a character called Amelia Dyer who was hanged in 1896 for the murder of an infant. She was described as a baby farmer. I had never heard this term before and was immediately intrigued. What was a baby farmer? Someone who grew babies for a living?

As I read on I realised the truth was much worse than I ever could have imagined.

 I discovered that in Victorian England, women who fell pregnant outside of wedlock were judged extremely harshly. They were seen as having commited an offence against the sanctity of marriage and were viewed as an affront to morality.  Single mothers often faced destitution and starvation after being kicked out of the family home for fear of scandal. They were unable to find employment and even the workhouses would only accept single mothers at the discretion of the workhouse Guardians, and even then they were separated from other inmates and categorised as ‘fallen women.’ Orphanages would only accept ‘respectable’ children, those who were born within wedlock and whose fathers had died

To make matters worse, the Bastardy Clause of the Poor Law Ammendment Act 1834, made illegitimate children the sole responsibility of the mother until the child reached the age of sixteen. Fathers were effectively freed from any legal responsibility.

As you can imagine, a woman with an illegitimate child was left with very few options. Starvation was one option, prostitution another. A third option was to turn to the services of a baby farmer.

A baby farmer was in the business of fostering or adopting unwanted illegitimate children for a one-off fee or a weekly fee. The idea being that the mother could go back to work and visit her child with the hopes of one day being in a position to reclaim that child. The harsh reality was that most single mothers knew they would never see their child again.

Baby farmers often subjected the children in their care to slow starvation; dosing them with laudanum (known amongst other things as The Quietness) to supress their appetites and feeding them the bare

minimum. Medical science was such that it was hard to prove the deaths of these babies had been brought on deliberately. And with the high rate of infant mortality that was prevalent in Victorian England, often theses deaths were not even viewed with suspicion. 

Some baby farmers took things a step further and murdered the babies in their care the moment they got them home. The bodies would be disposed of around the streets of cities or dumped in rivers, leaving the baby farmer free to take in more babies and earn more money.

Incredibly, there were laws in place to govern the mistreatment of animals, but no laws existed until 1872 to supervise or regulate the care of children. Reforms moved slowly for fear of violating the Victorian ideal of the sanctity of the family. 

Digging around in various records offices and archives, I came across many distressing documents relating to baby farming and infanticide in Victorian England. One I will never forget was a police document listing the number of dead babies found in every district of London during the course of one year. The bodies were found dumped on railway sidings, under bridges, on waste ground or just on the streets. Many were abandoned by desperate mothers, others were killed by the hands of baby farmers.

I was curious as to how such a horrific practice had escaped my notice, and more astonised to find out that hardly anyone I knew I had heard of the practice of baby farming either. When I read the Old Bailey transcript of the trial of baby farmer Margaret Waters in 1870, I was drawn to the voice of a fourteen year old girl who gave evidence at the trial. She had been a maid in the Waters' household and therefore witness to the starvation of dozens of babies. I began to wonder about this girl; about what she saw and heard. What did she think was happening to all the babies that came and went? This maid became the inspiration for Queenie, one of the two main characters in The Quietness. 

The title of the book not only describes the laudanum mixture that was commonly used to quieten babies, but I hope also describes the quietness that seems to surround the whole subject of baby farming: a horrible part of our social history that has been swept under the carpet. I hope that The Quietness helps, in some small way, to redress this ignorance.

Thank you Alison for such a wonderful and informative post.

The Quietness by Alison Rattle will be published by Hot Key Books on March 7th 2013

You can find Alison here:

Twitter:@alisonrattle

I will be reviewing The Quietness on the blog this afternoon, so do pop back to hear my thoughts.

The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling

Pages - 276

Published by Curious Fox on the 14th February 2013

Book sent by publisher for review.

Remy took a deep breath as she stood on the edge of the narrow plunge board. Above her, the old material of the big top's roof was close enough to touch. Below her was nothing at all but air dirtied by dust and tobacco smoke, and then, sixty feet below, arranged around the sawdust of the circus ring, there was the crowd.

Book Summary

No one performs on the circus trapeze like sixteen-year-old Remy Brunel. But Remy also leads another life, as a cat burglar and jewel thief. Forced by the evil circus owner Gustave to attempt the theft of one of the world's most valuable diamonds, Remy thinks it will be just another heist, but when she meets determined young detective Thaddeus Rec, her life changes forever.
Will Thaddeus manage to rescue the jewel? Or is it really Remy that he needs to save?

**********

I was lucky enough to get my hands a copy of The Diamond Thief, which is the first publication from Curious Fox. I remember the story originally coming out in an online chapter format through Fiction Express  and I missed the opportunity to read it then. I‘m so glad I waited for the final publication through Curious Fox who eagerly picked it up.

From the first few paragraphs you are instantly transported to the circus, set in a dirty Victorian London. Remy literally flies into the scene, stealing the hearts of the audience and instantly grabbing the reader’s attention. One member of the audience is quite entranced by her, however it does appear that Remy isn’t what she seems.

As the book progresses you see her regularly coming up against Thaddeus Rec, the complete opposite of Remy. By night she is a jewel thief, while he pounds the streets as a very honest policeman. He is determined to capture her for a crime, not once ever thinking that she would capture a part of him.

The characters are enigmatic and some are slightly bigger than life. The Professor has glimpses of Doc from the Back To the Future films. Desai reminded me of The Indian In The Cupboard. Remy, is a gutsy girl who thinks nothing of risking her life to get what she wants. Only Thaddeus is going out of his way to stop her putting herself at risk.

The book quickly embarks on an Indiana Jones style adventure as the thrown together group rush to find the diamond and stop the evil, loathsome Lord Abernathy, a master of disguise.

I loved the version of Victorian London created by the author. The thrill of running with the characters in the tunnels underground and discovering the inventions lurking to be discovered put me in the mind of Jules Verne. It had a steam punk feel to it, but I wouldn’t say it necessarily fitted into that category.

This is a very promising start for Sharon Gosling, a book filled with wonder and adventure, thrilling  and exciting, with a delicate love story blossoming at the heart of the story. I really enjoyed it and read it in two sittings. Well done Curious Fox and Sharon Gosling for bursting onto the publishing scene with such a magnificent debut!

The Big Break with Sharon Gosling

To celebrate the publication of the first book from the new publisher Curious Fox, I am really pleased to welcome debut author Sharon Gosling onto the blog to discuss her writing journey to publication of The Diamond Thief which is published today! *throws glitter at Sharon to celebrate*

I would love to know a little about your writing journey. What did you do before writing books?

I’m really lucky in that I’ve always made my living from writing in some form. I always knew I wanted to be an author, but I also knew I had to be able to support myself while I tried to make that happen. So while I was still at school I started doing interviews and articles for a local magazine. Then I started writing book and TV reviews for a national magazine. I did that all through university and when I left, the same company took me on as a staff writer. A couple of years later they gave me a couple of magazines to edit, and then I started writing non-fiction books about TV shows for them. About seven years ago I went freelance to try and pursue my fiction properly, and for a while I worked as a producer, writer and director on some audio drama series, which taught me a lot about dialogue and structure, and I was lucky enough to work on a couple of things for Random House that also gave me valuable experience. Now, in between writing, I also work as a sub-editor on various magazines like heat, Closer, Look and more!. 

Your debut book, The Diamond Thief, is about to be published. How are you feeling right now? 

It’s both exciting and nerve-wracking, to be honest. I’m far more excited about seeing this on shelves than any of the other books I’ve written, because it’s actually ‘mine’, but I’m also nervous. This is

what I’ve wanted to do for so long… but what if it turns out I’m no good at it and people don’t like the book? Terrifying!

Can you tell us a little bit about the book for my readers who have yet to set eyes on it?

It’s set in Victorian London and tells the story of Rémy Brunel, a French circus performer who also happens to be the world’s best gem thief. She’s brought to London by her evil master to steal a huge diamond, but runs up against a determined young detective called Thaddeus Rec. Together they discover dastardly deeds going in the city’s East End.

Where did you get your inspiration from for it?

I actually first began working on the idea as a plot of an adult science fiction novel that was different in almost every respect apart from the fact that it was set in London’s East End. Rémy slowly morphed into a younger character, and the setting became Victorian London. The key came when I realised that a circus would be the perfect place for Rémy to have learned and developed her skills. And I loved the idea of a gem thief and a young detective having to find some way to help each other despite their natural antipathy. Opposites, as they say, attract.

How long did it take you to write?

It took 11 weeks. I know that, because it was originally written as a choose-your-own adventure ebook for a great company called Fiction Express. The idea was that each week, I would write a chapter which would be posted on line for people to read. At the end of each chapter, there would be three choices of where the plot could go in the next chapter for readers could vote on. Then I’d go away and write the next chapter according to what they had chosen. For me, it was hard work but brilliant, because it meant that I had deadlines. I’ve worked to deadlines my whole life, but without them I struggle to ever finish anything. This way I didn’t have a choice! Were there times when you felt that it would never get published? If so, how did you work your way through them? To be honest, I never really expected the book to be picked up for print. For me, the writing of the book for Fiction Express was a massive learning curve, and a personal boost in itself because I actually had achieved what I’d always wanted to do, albeit in ebook form. So I kind of forgot about the possibility that it might somehow turn into a physical book until I got an email telling me that Curious Fox were interested in taking it on.

Were you given any good writing advice that you would like to share with my readers?

“Write tight” is always a good thing to remember. Less is always more. Also, I always say that you must write every day. It doesn’t matter what it is or even how much - some days you’ll only manage a sentence. But make it a habit, and don’t break it. It’s also good to remember that even if you only have time to write 200 words a day, if you do that every day for a year, you’ll have a pretty chunky manuscript at the end of it. Easier said than done, I know! 

What was your first reaction when you found out your book was to be published?

I think it was probably an email to my husband with the words ‘Squee!’ included in it somewhere!

Did you find it easy to get an agent?

I actually don’t have an agent, and never have done. I really should actively try to get one. I find the idea of the approaches daunting, though. It’s been said before that it’s harder to get an agent than it is to get a publisher, and I guess I’m proof of that.

How long did was it between the initial deal and publishing day?

Between Curious Fox taking an interest and publishing day was I guess about a year, perhaps a little more. 

What are you working on at the moment?

Curious Fox are interested in a sequel to The Diamond Thief, so I’m working on a synopsis for that at the moment. Fingers crossed I can come up with something they like! I’m also working on two graphic novels, which is a bit of a departure for me, but I’m really enjoying it. 

Who is the one person that cheered you on and supported you through your writing?

My husband, Adam. He encourages me to write every day - he even told me I should when we were on honeymoon. About four years ago, he found a novel I’d written online, formatted it and got it printed, to prove to me that I could do (and indeed had already done) it. He’s also the person who told me I should pitch Rémy to Fiction Express in the first place. He’s brilliant, and I don’t deserve him.

What advice would you give to aspiring and unpublished authors?

Perseverance is the key. It’s hard to retain faith in your ability when writing is an essentially lonely occupation, but just keep going. Every writer in the world hits the writer’s equivalent of the runner’s ‘wall’ at some point - that moment when you stare at what you’ve written and become disheartened and demoralised and wonder why you’re bothering. Published writers are generally the ones with enough experience to recognise that it’s just part of the process. You can write through it. Remember that if you’ve got something finished, it’s always going to be there. You can always go back and rework it. Just keep going!

The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling goes on sale today! I will be reviewing it in the next few days.

Book Summary

No one performs on the circus trapeze like sixteen-year-old Remy Brunel. But Remy also leads another life, prowling through the back streets of Victorian London as a jewel thief. Forced by the evil circus owner Gustave to attempt the theft of one of the world's most valuable diamonds, she discovers an underworld of treachery and fiendish plots.

Meanwhile, young detective Thaddeus Rec is determined to find the jewel and clear his name. Will Thaddeus manage to rescue the jewel? Or is it really Remy that he needs to save?

 

To find out more about Sharon Gosling:

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The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Graphic novel artwork & adaptation by HyeKyung Baek

Yen Press 2012

240 pages 

 Summary from GoodReads

The Infernal Devices is the story of Tessa Gray, a sixteen-year-old American girl travelling alone to Victorian London who runs afoul of the city's sordid supernatural underworld. Rescued by the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, Tessa quickly finds herself caught up in an intrigue that may very well destroy her new friends - including the two enigmatic young men, Jem and Will, who have taken her under their wing...

Reviewed by K. M. Lockwood

This manga adaptation of a prequel to Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series is both stylish and popular in appeal. There are a few full colour images but it is largely presented in dramatic black and white. South Korean artist HyeKyung Baek’s combination of stylised Victoriana and distinctly Asiatic drawings make an intriguing Steampunk effect.

The bare essence of the plot is briskly conveyed through dialogue and action. There are supernatural creatures and science fiction elements as well as deceit and secrets. All good stuff for this genre.

From to time, the artist uses chibis. These are diminutive, almost childlike, versions of the main characters which show heightened emotions. Anime and manga fans will already know this technique -it was only because I had a little book on how to draw anime style that I knew! Occasionally, I found the order of scenes hard to follow - but then, she didn’t really design it for me. 

Nonetheless, the layout of some pages is striking and artistic, and I suspect many girls will find two of the male characters cool and appealing, as well as rooting for our brave heroine. Younger children could be frightened by some of the creatures and events but the use of monochrome does make it less gory than it might otherwise be. My one criticism of the production values is that the soft back cover is prone to curling and wouldn’t last long in a teenager’s bag.

This book would be ideal for teenage fans of Steampunk who like a fast-paced adventure in an alternative 19th century London but who would be put off by large amounts of text.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Pages - 370
Published by HarperCollins in September 2011
Book kindly sent by publisher for a honest review.

The eyes of London were watching Claire Jenkins. She didn't notice them, of course. No one paid attention to the cameras. It was an accepted fact that London ha one of the most extensive CCTV systems in the world. The conservative estimate wast that there were a million cameras around the city, but the actual number was probably much higher and growing all the time. The feed went to the police, security firms, MI5, and thousands of private individuals - forming a loose and all encompassing net. It was impossible to do anything in London without the CCTV catching you at some point. 

Goodreads Summary

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

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As soon as I was introduced to Rory, I knew I was going to love her. Her sense of humour fitted perfectly with mine and her dry wit had me reaching for a hankie to stop the tears of laughter. I loved the way Maureen Johnson made a serious and often rather chilling novel, extremely funny too. Amongst the dark and disturbing scenes, you would find a hint of humour, to get you through the scene.

I loved viewing London through the eyes of an American. It was fascinating to experience things first hand with Rory, and I just loved the way she described things. This following scene had me cracking up, when Rory realised that it was normal for children to take part in daily P.E. lessons.

'I am not a very sporty person. Where I come from, it's too hot to run, and it's generally not encouraged. The joke is, if you see someone running in Benouville, you run in the same direction, because there's probably something really terrible right behind them.'

I know I am dwelling on the funnier aspects of this book, but I can't help it. I love the way Maureen Johnson writes. Although this book does have a huge creepiness to it. A lot of the scenes take place late at night where Rory can often be found out and about alone and doing something she isn't supposed to, putting herself in danger rather a lot. On many occasion I found myself a little nervous to turn the page. 

Jack the Ripper is highlighted through out the story and I found myself fascinated by the events that occurred around him. I learnt so much about his terrifying reign on London and found myself wanting to research more.  

The book discusses old underground tube stations that are now defunct and I adored this. I am desperate to visit one, even though I know they are not open to the public. Perhaps that is what lures me to them the most - the forbidden!

I have only one niggle with this book. I felt that we could have been made aware of Rory's rather special abilities a little earlier in the book. I couldn't help but feel they appeared rather too late in the story and they didn't come as a surprise to me, as I had guessed quite early what she was capable of.

As I came to the last couple of pages of the book, I was not a happy girl. I kept telling myself that surely the author wouldn't end the book that way. I should have known that the author was about to rugby tackle me to the floor and completely twist the story  to make the ending believable and make way for the next book in the series. 

I truly love the way this author writes. I can't wait to get my hands on more of her books.  I want to write like Maureen Johnson; I want to be able to scare the hell out of my readers, and yet tickle them under the ribs too. 

If you are like paranormal YA with a touch of humour, then this book is for you. 

Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper

Pages 308

Published by Bloomsbury in 2010, paperback version published in 2011
Book kindly sent by publisher for an honest review.

Grace, holding on tightly to her precious burden, found the station entrance without much difficulty. The Necropolis Railway ran, just as Mrs Smith the midwife had said, on its own special line from Waterloo to Brookwood Cemetery in the county of Surrey, and it was at the London station, just before eleven o'clock, that the newly bereaved gathered, all dressed in the first stage of deep mourning.


The year is 1861 and we find ourselves accompanying Grace as she sets out on a journey that every woman fears, let alone a young teenage girl. She commits herself to doing what she sees as write as she heads towards  Brookwood Cemetery with her precious bundle. From then on, life seems to become harder each day as Grace struggles to make enough money to pay the rent and provide food for her and her sister, Lily, to eat. When things reach an all time low, Grace takes up an offer she can no longer refused and goes to work for the Unwins, a rather dangerous family, who will stop at nothing to get as much as they can. Even if it means defrauding Grace....

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This book is one of those that targets all your senses with it rich descriptions that bring Victorian London to life. From the very first chapter, you discover the unexpected and find yourself wanting more. The book is written in third person and you get to see the story from a range of characters viewpoints, with Grace being the most dominant character in the story. 

Poor Grace has suffered for most of her life. She is strong and courageous,even when her life can't get any worse. Her mind is always jumping one step ahead, as she tries to calculate how she can improve their situation. She may be the younger of the two sisters, but she takes control of their lives, as poor Lily is not strong in her mind. In fact, Lily reminded me of Lenny from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, with her simple views on life. 

Deceit plays a huge part of this story. You begin to be thankful that you didn't live during the Victorian era, where everyone appears to be on the make. The Unwins are the most devious and unscrupulous family I have ever come across. The lengths they will go to ensure their wealth expands are extreme. They basically conned many grieving families to purchase a funeral, far outside of their financial limits, by making them feel guilty. 

I was fascinated by the descriptions of the full mourning period. It had never occurred to me that grieving families would go to such great lengths after a beloved family member had passed. I understood the need for mourning clothes, but to be worn for such a long time, seems absurd now. 

I had never heard of mutes being part of a funeral before. I was fascinated by their roles in the proceedings. The following sentences piqued my interest and had me searching for more information. 

'Mutes are very much in demand at society funerals,' Mrs Unwin said. They can come with hooded cloaks, or appear as Grace is now: with black bonnets and trailing ribbons. 'Weepers', we call the ribbons- they symbolize the tears shed.'

'They usually come in pairs,' Mr Unwin went on smoothly, ' and spaced each side of a front door can look very tragic.'

I love the way the author has intertwined so many facts within the story. I had no idea that Marble Arch had been moved from its original home. I was also surprised to discover that the Necropolis Railway actually existed. You can tell that this book was thoroughly researched, especially with the inclusion of extra historical information at the back, which I found fascinating.

At the beginning of each chapter, there were informative boxes which added to the story and showed examples of life in Victorian England. I was extremely pleased to discover the inclusion of Victoria and Albert in the story, which gave it an air of authenticity. 

I really really loved this story. It was just so rich in description and atmosphere that I found myself lost in the Victorian streets of London. The story was well paced and developed with twists that I had not been aware of. 

If you like historical fiction, especially books set in Victorian London, then I would highly recommend this book, which is full of Victorian flavour.  A book that will find you researching to discover more. I honestly can't wait to read more of Mary Hooper's books.