annieb123's review
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Revenant Express is the 5th book in theNewbury and Hobbes mystery series by George Mann. This series reminds me a lot of The Avengers (the Steed & Peel Avengers, that is), set in an alternate Victorian steampunk world. There are steam trains (with a central train subplot set on an intercontinental steam train reminiscent of the Orient express), magic, secret societies, a clockwork heart (<3 the author's nod to Fabergè), spies, counterintelligence, skullduggery, creepy science, zombies (zombies!), trains, and more.
Released 12th Feb 2019 by Tor books, it's 256 pages and available in hardcover, audio-, and ebook formats.
This is a surprisingly intricate book with multiple intertwining subplots and a large number of returning characters; as such, it doesn't work well at all as a standalone. I was unfamiliar with the series before I started reading, and I was forced to go back to read the first book to have a clue what was going on.
Whilst I am a fan of steampunk fantasy, I'm not much of a horror fan, and this series is a lot more in the horror vein than I prefer, honestly. That being said, however, this is a well crafted book with taut plotting and pacing, good and believable dialogue, and well written characters who follow internal motivations. I enjoyed it enough that I believe I will pick up the next book in the series at least.
Four stars, well written and extremely creepy.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
The Revenant Express is the 5th book in theNewbury and Hobbes mystery series by George Mann. This series reminds me a lot of The Avengers (the Steed & Peel Avengers, that is), set in an alternate Victorian steampunk world. There are steam trains (with a central train subplot set on an intercontinental steam train reminiscent of the Orient express), magic, secret societies, a clockwork heart (<3 the author's nod to Fabergè), spies, counterintelligence, skullduggery, creepy science, zombies (zombies!), trains, and more.
Released 12th Feb 2019 by Tor books, it's 256 pages and available in hardcover, audio-, and ebook formats.
This is a surprisingly intricate book with multiple intertwining subplots and a large number of returning characters; as such, it doesn't work well at all as a standalone. I was unfamiliar with the series before I started reading, and I was forced to go back to read the first book to have a clue what was going on.
Whilst I am a fan of steampunk fantasy, I'm not much of a horror fan, and this series is a lot more in the horror vein than I prefer, honestly. That being said, however, this is a well crafted book with taut plotting and pacing, good and believable dialogue, and well written characters who follow internal motivations. I enjoyed it enough that I believe I will pick up the next book in the series at least.
Four stars, well written and extremely creepy.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
iam_griff's review
3.0
An enjoyable continuation to the Newbury & Hobbs saga. The pace of the story was a total adrenaline rush & it seemed that something was continuing going on. I'd been waiting for this book (like so many other fans) for several years. Murder on the Orient Express is one of my favourite mysteries with Hercule Poirot & can see where Mann had gotten his inspiration for this book.
typewriter's review against another edition
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
This was the first book I read in this series and I am not inclined to continue or start from the beginning. The characters were unintriguing, the plot was just ok, and I felt misled by the synopsis.
churchbob's review
5.0
Perfect follow-up to The Executioner's Heart. The action splits early heats up fast, resolves in typically fantastic fashion and twists superbly to tie everything together. A most satisfying end with enough intrigue to leave us eagerly awaiting the next installment. Maybe the best of the series?
maggpiebymoonlight's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
krash9924's review
3.0
Closer to 3.5, just a filler type of novel to get us from point A to B. Some good stuff but overall just misses the high-marks set by the rest of the series.
kilgorewolfe's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ellanasan's review against another edition
1.0
Unpopular opinion probably but the more time passes the less I'm liking this series. To be expected I guess but not enough Veronica in this book, I want to read about Newburry AND Hobbes and for several books now they haven't been doing much investigating together. Newburry has turned into a cliché James Bond complete with the large amount of women around him. The plots are cheap, don't get me started on that deus ex machina regarding Amelia... We didn't get much farther on the general arc either...
I guess I'm done with this series, unfortunately.
I guess I'm done with this series, unfortunately.
michaelrswanson's review
4.0
Another fast-paced adventure, George Mann does not disappoint. Hopefully the next installment will arrive sooner than its Aug. 2021 release date.
debrasbookcafe's review
4.0
George Mann is a relatively new author to me who is fast becoming a favourite. In 2018 I read and loved his Wychwood duology (duology at the moment but I hope there may be more...…) and I was really excited to pick up another one of his books.
I will start by saying that I have not read the previous books in this series and, to be honest, I wish I had and that is something I am certainly going to remedy when I get my hands on the previous books. Although this is one of those books that you absolutely can pick up as a stand alone away from the series, I had the feeling that there was something I was missing in the background of the characters, which I would pick up easily had I read the previous books.
The above said, I enjoyed the mystery in this novel, the whodoneit element is an element in a novel that I particularly enjoy so that was a huge part of why I thoroughly enjoyed this. For it, it also had an element of comedy in parts, especially nearer the beginning of the novel where Sir Maurice is on a train with a lady (who I won't identify as I am not sure whether that is a spoiler for previous books or not) and there is someone at the door wanting to come in thinking there is a serious problem but the problem Sir Maurice has is that there is a dead body in his room. The way that scene was handled and what they did made me giggle.
A really enjoyable whodoneit mystery that I am looking forward to picking up more and learning more about this world.
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
I will start by saying that I have not read the previous books in this series and, to be honest, I wish I had and that is something I am certainly going to remedy when I get my hands on the previous books. Although this is one of those books that you absolutely can pick up as a stand alone away from the series, I had the feeling that there was something I was missing in the background of the characters, which I would pick up easily had I read the previous books.
The above said, I enjoyed the mystery in this novel, the whodoneit element is an element in a novel that I particularly enjoy so that was a huge part of why I thoroughly enjoyed this. For it, it also had an element of comedy in parts, especially nearer the beginning of the novel where Sir Maurice is on a train with a lady (who I won't identify as I am not sure whether that is a spoiler for previous books or not) and there is someone at the door wanting to come in thinking there is a serious problem but the problem Sir Maurice has is that there is a dead body in his room. The way that scene was handled and what they did made me giggle.
A really enjoyable whodoneit mystery that I am looking forward to picking up more and learning more about this world.
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)