Darrell Pitt

I enjoy steampunk as a genre. Such a fun way to escape day-to-day realities! In The Firebird Mystery, Pitt pays homage to the Sherlock Holmes novels I enjoyed reading in my youth, and in true steampunk fashion, spins the concept on its head by creating a fun mashup character in the rather eccentric Ignatius Doyle. Even Doyle's lodgings on the top floor of 221 Bee Street excite imagination, filled to the rafters with curiosities, including a tarantula named Bertha and a personal steamship show more parked on the roof. Filled with Nazies, MI5, a secret society, and a nefarious character in Professor M, Pitt keeps the plot moving forward at a good clip. The historical fiction reader that I am enjoyed all the references to Leonardo Da Vinci's works and seeing General Winston Churchill as a character, strutting across the pages. I like that Pitt has created in Scarlet a feisty young suffragette to match wits with Jack. The world build is also pretty good. I really liked the idea of the metrotowers and all the various methods of travel. A possible downside of the book for me was that the characters came across to my adult reading mind as rather flat and flimsy, lacking complexity or development. As the first book in a planned series, it is hoped that the characters will further develop in future books. The story also takes on a 'telling' rather than 'showing' approach that made it come across less vividly to me, but that probably does not matter for a younger reading audience.

Overall, this is a fun bit of YA adventure reading and may appeal to readers who enjoy Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan trilogy.

A copy of this novel was provided courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less

This was a fun, zany book that reminded me of the noir detective type films but set way in the future in an almost unrecognizable earth. It was also reminiscent of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in the world setting. A thoroughly fun read and I hope there are more to come! Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review.

14 year old Jack Mason was a circus acrobat until his parents were killed in a freak accident. Now he lives in an orphanage until he is released into the care of a famous detective called Ignatius Doyle. Ignatius is always testing Jack's powers of observation by placing strange objects around him but then a real-life case presents itself when Scarlett Bell comes to say that her father has disappeared and she needs their help to find him. This is an alternative 1800s detective mystery where show more people travel by air ship and there is perhaps real magic afoot. Fast paced and well-written. show less

A good steampunk inspired detective story. Obviously drawing heavily from Sherlock Holmes but liked the twist instead of a traditional Watson.
Quick paced with humor added in-