Review
• 'Boisterous comedy and hairpin plot twists' - The Times
Book Description
A fantastic Victorian adventure inspired by the penny dreadfuls and newspaper serials of the times.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of the worst books I have ever read. It is very badly written. In addition to the errors pointed out by the other one star reviewers, the author seems to think 'sporadically' means 'coincidentally', apparently imagines that there was no real rule of law in Victorian England, what with the police having the right to hang people, and police stations being staffed by a Police Commissioner with a sergeant as his second in command, and has a very strange view of the sphere of influence and likely activities of bishops in the Church of England at the time. The plot is full of coincidences and 'with one bound he was free' style escapes. In short, I only finished it because I was wide-eyed with wonder at its sheer awfulness. The author thanks himself in his acknowledgements. It's hard to see why.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Unfortunately this book just didn't live up to the premise. From reading the description one envisages the circus, sleight of hand, daring-do with thrills and chills, but I found myself bored to tears. The only thing that kept me reading was the knowledge that if I didn't at least finish it then I had REALLY wasted my money (and I bought the Kindle version). The characters were one note and read like pale imitations of pulp novels from yesteryear, and unfortunately the plot was unoriginal and tepid. The twists and turns I'd been promised were more tortuous than interesting, and I was only on the edge of my seat because I wanted to put it down.
Sorry, Mr. Craske.
Sorry, Mr. Craske.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I would quite comfortably say that this is the worst book I have read in about five years.
The writing is laboured and heavy-handed; the characters are two-dimensional, and the dialogue is almost physically painful to read. The author has chosen to make his lead character a magician, and yet has clearly done no research whatsoever into the history of magic (for instance: the story is set quite clearly in 1853, and a reference is made to a magic trick first performed in the 1920s). The sub-editing is dismal (at one point there is a reference to saltwater, which switches some ten pages later to rainwater), and at one point a paragraph is repeated verbatim on two consecutive pages, interrupting a sentence half-way at one point (though this may be a printer's error).
Add to this unappetising mix a couple of plot points lifted directly from Boris Akunin (to whom the publishers had the audacity to compare this doggerel favourably), woeful anachronisms, contradictory character motivation, an apparent inability to read a map of London, a singularly unlikeable hero, a macguffin that makes absolutely no sense, and you have a thoroughly disappointing reading experience. Save yourselves! Read virtually anything else instead!
The writing is laboured and heavy-handed; the characters are two-dimensional, and the dialogue is almost physically painful to read. The author has chosen to make his lead character a magician, and yet has clearly done no research whatsoever into the history of magic (for instance: the story is set quite clearly in 1853, and a reference is made to a magic trick first performed in the 1920s). The sub-editing is dismal (at one point there is a reference to saltwater, which switches some ten pages later to rainwater), and at one point a paragraph is repeated verbatim on two consecutive pages, interrupting a sentence half-way at one point (though this may be a printer's error).
Add to this unappetising mix a couple of plot points lifted directly from Boris Akunin (to whom the publishers had the audacity to compare this doggerel favourably), woeful anachronisms, contradictory character motivation, an apparent inability to read a map of London, a singularly unlikeable hero, a macguffin that makes absolutely no sense, and you have a thoroughly disappointing reading experience. Save yourselves! Read virtually anything else instead!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A parson's egg
If you analyse this too much you will find any number of wrong things, many mentioned by other reviewers like the anachronisms, the bizarre police heirarchy, the way the circus... Read more
Published 19 days ago by A. Skudder
great read
was recommended this book by my sister in law when we were on holiday in egypt, not being my usual type of reading but as we were on holiday i thought i,d give it a go, well i,m so... Read more
Published 3 months ago by rosebudjay
In need of a good editor
Cornelius Quaint has arrived with his circus in Victorian London. The mysterious Mr Reynolds appears to be working for the evil Bishop, setting up a series of murders to rid an... Read more
Published 3 months ago by eppingstrider
It's not THAT bad!
Must admit that I picked this book up from somewhere else having not read the reviews and had I done I might not have bought it! Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mister Spong
Thoroughly enjoyable
I was I must say quite surprised to see negative reviews for this book. I found this debut from Darren Craske to be an enjoyable read, I found the main characters were defined very... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. G. P. Skinner
Great first book by Darren
Thoroughly enjoyed this first outing by Darren Craske. It is full of excitement, humour and twists and kept me glued to the finish. Read more
Published 12 months ago by sniffer24601
A Romp
I enjoyed this book a great deal, although it may not be considered a contender for 'great literature' it's very fast-paced and fun. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Free Agent Zero
The easy-read principle
I've had this book on my 'to read' shelf for quite some time, awaiting the moment when I needed a break from the modern rash of serial killers. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Michael Watson
Great read that is hard to put down
Was recommended this by a friend and what a great recommendation. Loved this book from start to finish, from the excellent plot twist to the in-depth characters of whom I now feel... Read more
Published on 11 May 2010 by Devon book lover
A very good debut
I was recommended this book by a friend and I am glad I bought it. This is a solid story from beginning to end. Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2010 by Alistair Duncan
Popular Highlights
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Grief has the ability to erase a mans soul, and empty his heart until only pain remains.
Highlighted by 11 Kindle users
It is not gravity that binds mens feet to the earth, Prometheusit is Fateand she will not be bargained with. She is like the wind, the sea, the rain. Fate is ever-presentand we are all at her mercy.
Highlighted by 4 Kindle users
I am here on the Lords business, Mr Reynolds, not by choice, said the Bishop dryly, a thin grin spread across his corpulent face. I have need of a man of your talents.
Highlighted by 3 Kindle users
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