The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man

The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man by Mark Hodder is an interesting book. Richard Burton the explorer as a Sherlock Holmes-style private detective is an great idea, giving the character a reason to be an action hero. What genre to put this book is curious steam-punk or alternative history (a time-traveller had previously changed history), with well-known scientific heroes revealing a darker side or alternative side.


Little touches are good here like good like the foul-mouthed parakeets who pass on messages but add their own insults to the message.I really enjoyed this book, but it is hard (so perhaps best not) to pigeon-hole this book. There are elements of steam-punk, detective story (I keep thinking Sherlock Holmes as this not helped by one of the characters being a Doyle); but also areas traditionally associated with fantasy such as jewels with power.


Well worth a look. I would be interest to know what others think.#