A review by styxx
The Immorality Engine by George Mann
3.0
Disclaimer: I was fortunate to win a copy of 'The Immorality Engine' in a Goodreads giveaway. However, any opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. There may be potential spoilers.
This is the third book in the Newbury & Hobbes series. Set in an alternate steampunk Victorian era, the story begins with Newbury being dragged out of an opium den (shades of Sherlock Holmes) by his trusty sidekick, in this case Veronica Hobbes rather than Dr Watson. Her reason for doing so is because Newbury's detective skills are required for an unusual case: a dead man who has apparently managed to nonetheless commit a burglary even after his body is in the morgue.
Their investigation will lead them to a powerful secret society, as well as raise serious questions about the actions of the doctor treating Veronica's sister, Amelia.
I enjoyed this story. The world is well realised by the author and I liked the fact that the morality was not black and white. The question of right and wrong gets decidedly murky and characters start to question what really is the right thing to do. Is anything justified if it is with the aim of keeping the Victorian Empire intact and is the alternative being presented really any better?
This is the third book in the Newbury & Hobbes series. Set in an alternate steampunk Victorian era, the story begins with Newbury being dragged out of an opium den (shades of Sherlock Holmes) by his trusty sidekick, in this case Veronica Hobbes rather than Dr Watson. Her reason for doing so is because Newbury's detective skills are required for an unusual case: a dead man who has apparently managed to nonetheless commit a burglary even after his body is in the morgue.
Their investigation will lead them to a powerful secret society, as well as raise serious questions about the actions of the doctor treating Veronica's sister, Amelia.
I enjoyed this story. The world is well realised by the author and I liked the fact that the morality was not black and white. The question of right and wrong gets decidedly murky and characters start to question what really is the right thing to do. Is anything justified if it is with the aim of keeping the Victorian Empire intact and is the alternative being presented really any better?