Synopsis: Third in the series about Victorian inventor and special constable Horatio Lyle, ably supported by Tess, Tom and Tate the dog.

Review: This story is less about Lyle's detecting role, more about his skills as an inventor being tested to rebuild a generator for the odious Augustus Havelock. Lyle discovers that Havelock intends to destroy the race of Tseiqin (described elsewhere as a kind of Tibetan demon angel) who have human attributes but green eyes, white blood and an aversion to metal. Lyle has no desire to destroy this race despite his misgivings about their intentions towards humanity. Ultimately he triumphs, partly due to his own initiative, partly the skills of his brave supporters, unlikely duo Tess and Tom, and the mongrel Tate.

Unusually for a third book in a sequence, I liked this novel much better than The Obsidian Dagger (q.v.). The writing was much more fluent, the plot less convoluted and the characterisation more detailed. Catherine Webb continues to display her superb grasp of technology and history, but in a more approachable, dare I say mature, way. It is not essential to have read the earlier books, but most will want to start at the beginning. If they find the earlier ones too complicated, stick with this one!

2008-03-28