Well that was interesting. One of the things I enjoy in books is being introduced to another world. It's why I like SF, and it's why I fell in love with Patrick O'Brian's novels even though I have no interest in sailing. This one has a lot of that going on. The language - all that slang! - and the historical detail, it's just packed with Victorian railway lore. A really good sense of place and I had no problems being immersed in the locations. But unlike O'Brian, I struggled to make sense of what the other characters were doing, how their jobs worked, what the heirarchy was like. Jim Stringer is a fun character, innocent but ambitious, and so wrapped up in railways that he can talk of nothing else. I enjoyed his first-person POV and I liked how he grew during the book. The puzzle was interesting as well, with a lot of twists, although it seemed a bit drawn out toward the end. I was debating about continuing with the series - I'm reading so many series - but after reading the descriptions of a few later ones I do think I'll go on, they look like fun.
Ron K. (WhidbeyIslander) -
This is certainly a success in evoking a time and place (London's Waterloo Station area in 1903.) It paints it as grimy, gloomy, dirty, but also bustling -- mostly with trains chugging along interminable viaducts. The inclusion of background on the Necropolis Railway was also pretty interesting, although some trips to Wikipedia helps fill in a lot of detail (too bad the book doesn't include maps of the area.)
That said, I thought the mystery was a little too convoluted, and the inclusion of jargon and slang of the period was, while accurate, jarring. Too bad the book doesn't include a glossary of terms, too.)
The hero is likeable and just a straight story of his adventures starting out on his journey with the railroad would have been entertaining.
That said, I thought the mystery was a little too convoluted, and the inclusion of jargon and slang of the period was, while accurate, jarring. Too bad the book doesn't include a glossary of terms, too.)
The hero is likeable and just a straight story of his adventures starting out on his journey with the railroad would have been entertaining.
This is a period piece that will appeal to lovers of steam railroads , Edwardian London and tricky mysteries. The young man who is the protagonist , Jim Stringer, comes to London to work for the great railway. He is idealistic and is soon shocked at life in the big city.
