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Gideon Smith #3
Gideon Smith and the Mask of the Ripper
In an alternate nineteenth century where a technologically advanced Britain holds sway over most of the known world and the American Revolution never happened, young Gideon Smith is firmly established as the Hero of the Empire.
Back in London, Gideon and his journalist Aloysius Bent, airship pilot Rowena Fanshawe, and Maria, the mechanical girl to whom Gideon has lost his heart, are dragged into a case that is confounding the Metropolitan Police. For the city is on the edge of mass rioting due to the continuing reign of terror by the serial killer known only as Jack the Ripper, who is rampaging though London's less salubrious quarters.
While chasing the madman, a villain from their past strips Gideon Smith of his memory and is cast adrift in the seedy underbelly of London, where life is tough and death lurks in every shadowy alley.
With mob rule threatening to engulf London, the Empire has never needed its hero more...but where is Gideon Smith?
Gideon Smith and the Mask of the Ripper is the latest in David Barnett's riproaring steampunk adventures about a Britain that never was...but should have been.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Back in London, Gideon and his journalist Aloysius Bent, airship pilot Rowena Fanshawe, and Maria, the mechanical girl to whom Gideon has lost his heart, are dragged into a case that is confounding the Metropolitan Police. For the city is on the edge of mass rioting due to the continuing reign of terror by the serial killer known only as Jack the Ripper, who is rampaging though London's less salubrious quarters.
While chasing the madman, a villain from their past strips Gideon Smith of his memory and is cast adrift in the seedy underbelly of London, where life is tough and death lurks in every shadowy alley.
With mob rule threatening to engulf London, the Empire has never needed its hero more...but where is Gideon Smith?
Gideon Smith and the Mask of the Ripper is the latest in David Barnett's riproaring steampunk adventures about a Britain that never was...but should have been.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2015
9 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 30, 2017
All the old gang is back, well those that survived the Brass dragon that is! And they’re based in good ol’ London for this yarn, as I find myself back with jack the Ripper, (featured in The Yard recently) who skulks around in the background causing mayhem. Meant to be In London getting some well deserved R & R the beginnings of the story see our heroes taking separate avenues, not by choice perhaps its jus how their stories evolve, and it’s entertaining to see how they get on left to their own devices...... some succeed whilst others fail spectacularly! The characters of some of the players also open up more as they come to the fore, like Aloysius Bent & Maria, who feature a lot more than the adventurers of the group like Gideon Smith & Rowena Fanshaw.
There’re the usual twists & changes of real life characters, Tait & Lyall being one such pair, along with a certain surprise (A WHAT says I???....... goes by the name of Tiddles....) which takes the alligator’s are found in the sewers urban myth to another level! But this tale is for the most part a lot more grounded & non-spectacular than the first two outings which is ok by me & follows more along the lines of a mystery set in an alternate Victorian London than a rollicking steampunk romp.
A few morality issues cropped up within this book, which made it a bit more of a sober read, even Aloysius Bent having a “conscience” & being more aware of his foibles which i have to admit was a bit disappointing in a ways..... I kinda like the non-PC Mr Bent.
With it being more a mystery set in an alternate Victorian reality than the steampunk romp I signed up for I find myself grading it a 3.5 stars rounded down to 3 as the final verdict as despite it being good, it’s not quite as brilliant/spectacular as the first two in the series which scored fours for their originality.
There’re the usual twists & changes of real life characters, Tait & Lyall being one such pair, along with a certain surprise (A WHAT says I???....... goes by the name of Tiddles....) which takes the alligator’s are found in the sewers urban myth to another level! But this tale is for the most part a lot more grounded & non-spectacular than the first two outings which is ok by me & follows more along the lines of a mystery set in an alternate Victorian London than a rollicking steampunk romp.
A few morality issues cropped up within this book, which made it a bit more of a sober read, even Aloysius Bent having a “conscience” & being more aware of his foibles which i have to admit was a bit disappointing in a ways..... I kinda like the non-PC Mr Bent.
With it being more a mystery set in an alternate Victorian reality than the steampunk romp I signed up for I find myself grading it a 3.5 stars rounded down to 3 as the final verdict as despite it being good, it’s not quite as brilliant/spectacular as the first two in the series which scored fours for their originality.
February 19, 2017
This is the third appearance of Gideon Smith and his companions and friends.
Compared to the previous two books there is less steampunk.
Nevertheless I liked the twists and turns combined with a lot of revelations - some really surprised me- from the acting characters.
The book description give enough away about what to expect when it comes to the plot.
All in all I felt well entertained in the alternative Victorian London which has a lot in common with the original one when I comes to the living conditions in the East End.
Compared to the previous two books there is less steampunk.
Nevertheless I liked the twists and turns combined with a lot of revelations - some really surprised me- from the acting characters.
The book description give enough away about what to expect when it comes to the plot.
All in all I felt well entertained in the alternative Victorian London which has a lot in common with the original one when I comes to the living conditions in the East End.
December 15, 2020
Not sure how Mr Barnett does it but these books are an exceptional blend of SiFi/Steampunk and Pulp styles. Fantastic reads with well done characters in a alternate historical setting. You won't go wrong picking these up to try a new writer. My highest recommendation.
November 2, 2015
Originally posted at: http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2015...
If you haven't heard of David Barnett's stellar alternate history/steampunk series Gideon Smith then shame on you! About two years ago David Barnett started this series with Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl. I have always been a big fan of both of these themes so I was sold from the start. In the first two books David Barnett really covered a lot of ground all the way to Egypt. The title of this third book Mask of the Ripper should already say more of the location and historical event that he will tackle as well.
So after two very eventful trips it is time for Gideon and his friends to catch there breaths however that is far from what is about to happen. Mysterious deaths are happening all over London all pointing towards the same feared person who goes by the name of Jack the Ripper. We all know that guy don't we? Jack the Ripper works with the same signature, that of killing prostitutes around the Whitechapel area. But he has to be caught nonetheless. The presence of Jack the Ripper strikes fear in every inhabitant and thus strict rules are enforced. In the midst of these troubled times we Gideon Smith, Rowena Fanshawe, Aloysius Bent and Maria the Mechanical Girl all character whom we have already learned a lot about.
This time around the story is divided into more threads. Gideon Smith, the Hero of the Empire does what he learned to do best, saving the Empire. However, due to some miscalculation or bad planning he falls into the trap of a mad scientist he loses his mind. His memories get erased. He doesn't know who he is, where he is and what he is doing. Furthermore he is on his own and no one knows where Gideon went off to... He has to get his memories back and fast. Rowena Fanshawe is present at the wrong place at the wrong time and is arrested and send to prison. Facing a murder trial with all evidence pointing towards you can even break the most innocent person. And with Gideon Smith also not present it is hard to proof that Rowena didn't do it. Last and definitely not least is the story of Maria. She is the sentient automaton that Einstein created. She also has returned to England where she was hoping to live a normal life with Gideon, but now that he is lost, she starts to doubt herself. Her story is one of self discovery and confrontation.
The story of Mask of the Ripper is to be honest set differently together than the previous stories. Granted it once again is a non-stop roaring adventure, the difference for me lies in the fact that this time around the focus isn't necessarily on Gideon alone. David Barnett invests a lot of time to show off the other characters. Take for example Maria and Rowena, the highlight that David Barnett gives on their background and how they continue is just marvelous and does so much to for this book as well as for the whole of the series. Rowena's part reveals a lot of her background and I really liked how David Barnett added some CSI in the mix. Maria's part is actually very emotional. She is an automaton but fully capable of thought and memory. She has had to learn to live with herself and accepts herself for what she truly is. Here you learn to Maria has done the above and actually is the savior for a lot of people. She is far from a robot that carries out orders. The part of accepting herself, her flaws and her strengths was one of the best parts of the book, it is what makes her human. Some of her thoughts really reminded me of Pinocchio, the wooden boy who wanted to be a man.
But lets not remove Gideon out of the picture completely just yet. Though he has lost his memories and is left with no idea of who he is and where he is, he also has quite a journey to undertake. The great thing about being hypnotized to forget your memories is that sometimes by a glimpse or a confronting name/picture you can remember bit and pieces and this is precisely the thing that Gideon undergoes. Gideon befriends some shady new people, with a Tyrannosaur Rex (yes I know how cool is that!), but for the start Gideon has a hard time to tell wrong from right and I was saying multiple times. Don't, but you can't give him fault for it can you?
All in all for the thread leading characters, there is definitely a great transformation taking place. It was a very nice move of David Barnett to ground the story down in London and evolve some of the characters even more. Some people might think of such books as fillers but your wrong to think that, if you read the first two books you will definitely appreciate the time invested in Gideon and Rowena but above all Maria.
Eventhough there are multiple threads there is a singular element that resonates very strongly through the book. A dark and grim setting. Of course there is Jack the Ripper, which already casts a very dark shade over the story. But the other threads, the personal story of Maria and what Gideon undergoes are just as dark perhaps even dark. having to confront real demons and demons of there own.
From start to execution David Barnett once again writes a stellar addition to the Gideon Smith series. As I said, Mask of the Ripper is a book that gives a lot of information on the characters that you have come to love over the last two year. It is by far not a slow book, there is a very nice pacing, that accelerates and slows down where needed. Definitely a recommendation.
If you haven't heard of David Barnett's stellar alternate history/steampunk series Gideon Smith then shame on you! About two years ago David Barnett started this series with Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl. I have always been a big fan of both of these themes so I was sold from the start. In the first two books David Barnett really covered a lot of ground all the way to Egypt. The title of this third book Mask of the Ripper should already say more of the location and historical event that he will tackle as well.
So after two very eventful trips it is time for Gideon and his friends to catch there breaths however that is far from what is about to happen. Mysterious deaths are happening all over London all pointing towards the same feared person who goes by the name of Jack the Ripper. We all know that guy don't we? Jack the Ripper works with the same signature, that of killing prostitutes around the Whitechapel area. But he has to be caught nonetheless. The presence of Jack the Ripper strikes fear in every inhabitant and thus strict rules are enforced. In the midst of these troubled times we Gideon Smith, Rowena Fanshawe, Aloysius Bent and Maria the Mechanical Girl all character whom we have already learned a lot about.
This time around the story is divided into more threads. Gideon Smith, the Hero of the Empire does what he learned to do best, saving the Empire. However, due to some miscalculation or bad planning he falls into the trap of a mad scientist he loses his mind. His memories get erased. He doesn't know who he is, where he is and what he is doing. Furthermore he is on his own and no one knows where Gideon went off to... He has to get his memories back and fast. Rowena Fanshawe is present at the wrong place at the wrong time and is arrested and send to prison. Facing a murder trial with all evidence pointing towards you can even break the most innocent person. And with Gideon Smith also not present it is hard to proof that Rowena didn't do it. Last and definitely not least is the story of Maria. She is the sentient automaton that Einstein created. She also has returned to England where she was hoping to live a normal life with Gideon, but now that he is lost, she starts to doubt herself. Her story is one of self discovery and confrontation.
The story of Mask of the Ripper is to be honest set differently together than the previous stories. Granted it once again is a non-stop roaring adventure, the difference for me lies in the fact that this time around the focus isn't necessarily on Gideon alone. David Barnett invests a lot of time to show off the other characters. Take for example Maria and Rowena, the highlight that David Barnett gives on their background and how they continue is just marvelous and does so much to for this book as well as for the whole of the series. Rowena's part reveals a lot of her background and I really liked how David Barnett added some CSI in the mix. Maria's part is actually very emotional. She is an automaton but fully capable of thought and memory. She has had to learn to live with herself and accepts herself for what she truly is. Here you learn to Maria has done the above and actually is the savior for a lot of people. She is far from a robot that carries out orders. The part of accepting herself, her flaws and her strengths was one of the best parts of the book, it is what makes her human. Some of her thoughts really reminded me of Pinocchio, the wooden boy who wanted to be a man.
But lets not remove Gideon out of the picture completely just yet. Though he has lost his memories and is left with no idea of who he is and where he is, he also has quite a journey to undertake. The great thing about being hypnotized to forget your memories is that sometimes by a glimpse or a confronting name/picture you can remember bit and pieces and this is precisely the thing that Gideon undergoes. Gideon befriends some shady new people, with a Tyrannosaur Rex (yes I know how cool is that!), but for the start Gideon has a hard time to tell wrong from right and I was saying multiple times. Don't, but you can't give him fault for it can you?
All in all for the thread leading characters, there is definitely a great transformation taking place. It was a very nice move of David Barnett to ground the story down in London and evolve some of the characters even more. Some people might think of such books as fillers but your wrong to think that, if you read the first two books you will definitely appreciate the time invested in Gideon and Rowena but above all Maria.
Eventhough there are multiple threads there is a singular element that resonates very strongly through the book. A dark and grim setting. Of course there is Jack the Ripper, which already casts a very dark shade over the story. But the other threads, the personal story of Maria and what Gideon undergoes are just as dark perhaps even dark. having to confront real demons and demons of there own.
From start to execution David Barnett once again writes a stellar addition to the Gideon Smith series. As I said, Mask of the Ripper is a book that gives a lot of information on the characters that you have come to love over the last two year. It is by far not a slow book, there is a very nice pacing, that accelerates and slows down where needed. Definitely a recommendation.
February 8, 2018
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.
Steampunk. Alternate history. Victorian fantasy. David Barnett’s Gideon Smith series can easily fit into any of those sub-genre of speculative fiction. No matter the label, however, one thing holds true for Mask of the Ripper and its predecessors: They are each rousing tales of daring-do with memorable characters who will sweep you away into adventure after adventure.
As frequent readers already are aware, the first two books of the series took our young Gideon Smith from daydreaming about pulp adventures in his home town to living them in exotic locals such as Egypt. Amazing discovers were made; heroes were uncovered as fakes; vicious enemies revealed and vanquished, and through it all, small town dreamer Gideon Smith became the new “Hero of the Empire” — a position of importance and one which granted him instant celebrity status in jolly old England. Only one problem, whenever there is a crisis, Gideon can’t hide from the requests to fix it already.
As Mask of the Ripper begins, our weary hero has settled down in London, attempting to enjoy some well earned rest and relaxation from world spanning adventures – at least for a short time. Sadly, it is not to be though, for trouble seems to follow poor, old Gideon . . . or he follows it. (I’m not sure which, but you get the idea, anyway.)
The problem Gideon now finds himself confronted with is the mysterious murders taking place in London. These horrendous deaths have become a nightly occurrence. Prostitutes gruesomely slain. People near paralyzed with fear. And the name plastered across the headlines is Jack the Ripper!
Naturally, the masses turn to their “Hero of the Empire” and his friends (Rowena Fanshawe, Aloysius Bent, and Maria the Mechanical Girl) to save them from the nightmare. And though he is initially reluctant, Gideon eventually succumbs to the pleadings and sets off alone to uncover the true identity of this murder. A personal guest which very quickly goes awry.
When their friend takes this action, Rowena and Maria find themselves cast adrift; each walking their own path of inner discovery and gritty adventure. Tests of their own inner fortitude unexpectedly arise, forcing them to confront head-on their own demons and brave the most untenable situations.
And Aloysius . . . well, he does what he always does best: find a good angle to play and be around to help when absolutely necessary.
There is a lot to love about Gideon Smith and the Mask of the Ripper. Filled with non-stop action, steampunk fun, and a surprising amount of character development, Mr. Barnett begins the process of evolving this series beyond just Gideon Smith. Sure, our plucky hero is still the star of the show, but Rowena and Maria are now given very emotional and powerful story lines, narratives which transform them from near sidekicks (though I never viewed them as such) into co-stars. A decision which opens up infinite possibilities for the continued growth of the series into the future.
If I was forced to name a deficiency of the novel, the only one I see is that it is different, and while change is good, it is still change. Here the transition from the very straightforward adventure tale of Gideon to that of the “Hero of the Empire and Associates” is deftly handled, but without a doubt, Mask of the Ripper is different from its predecessors in tone and perspective. Not necessarily a bad thing, just a different thing, and frequent readers will have to decide if they enjoy the new recipe or not.
As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed this new and improved Gideon Smith. Fun, insightful, filled with humors comments and rollicking action, it was the perfect steampunk . . . err, alternate fiction . . . ahhh, Victorian fantasy novel to sit down and lose myself in.
Steampunk. Alternate history. Victorian fantasy. David Barnett’s Gideon Smith series can easily fit into any of those sub-genre of speculative fiction. No matter the label, however, one thing holds true for Mask of the Ripper and its predecessors: They are each rousing tales of daring-do with memorable characters who will sweep you away into adventure after adventure.
As frequent readers already are aware, the first two books of the series took our young Gideon Smith from daydreaming about pulp adventures in his home town to living them in exotic locals such as Egypt. Amazing discovers were made; heroes were uncovered as fakes; vicious enemies revealed and vanquished, and through it all, small town dreamer Gideon Smith became the new “Hero of the Empire” — a position of importance and one which granted him instant celebrity status in jolly old England. Only one problem, whenever there is a crisis, Gideon can’t hide from the requests to fix it already.
As Mask of the Ripper begins, our weary hero has settled down in London, attempting to enjoy some well earned rest and relaxation from world spanning adventures – at least for a short time. Sadly, it is not to be though, for trouble seems to follow poor, old Gideon . . . or he follows it. (I’m not sure which, but you get the idea, anyway.)
The problem Gideon now finds himself confronted with is the mysterious murders taking place in London. These horrendous deaths have become a nightly occurrence. Prostitutes gruesomely slain. People near paralyzed with fear. And the name plastered across the headlines is Jack the Ripper!
Naturally, the masses turn to their “Hero of the Empire” and his friends (Rowena Fanshawe, Aloysius Bent, and Maria the Mechanical Girl) to save them from the nightmare. And though he is initially reluctant, Gideon eventually succumbs to the pleadings and sets off alone to uncover the true identity of this murder. A personal guest which very quickly goes awry.
When their friend takes this action, Rowena and Maria find themselves cast adrift; each walking their own path of inner discovery and gritty adventure. Tests of their own inner fortitude unexpectedly arise, forcing them to confront head-on their own demons and brave the most untenable situations.
And Aloysius . . . well, he does what he always does best: find a good angle to play and be around to help when absolutely necessary.
There is a lot to love about Gideon Smith and the Mask of the Ripper. Filled with non-stop action, steampunk fun, and a surprising amount of character development, Mr. Barnett begins the process of evolving this series beyond just Gideon Smith. Sure, our plucky hero is still the star of the show, but Rowena and Maria are now given very emotional and powerful story lines, narratives which transform them from near sidekicks (though I never viewed them as such) into co-stars. A decision which opens up infinite possibilities for the continued growth of the series into the future.
If I was forced to name a deficiency of the novel, the only one I see is that it is different, and while change is good, it is still change. Here the transition from the very straightforward adventure tale of Gideon to that of the “Hero of the Empire and Associates” is deftly handled, but without a doubt, Mask of the Ripper is different from its predecessors in tone and perspective. Not necessarily a bad thing, just a different thing, and frequent readers will have to decide if they enjoy the new recipe or not.
As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed this new and improved Gideon Smith. Fun, insightful, filled with humors comments and rollicking action, it was the perfect steampunk . . . err, alternate fiction . . . ahhh, Victorian fantasy novel to sit down and lose myself in.
February 1, 2021
Listened to this as an audiobook but it was a different kind of experience as it was "a movie in your mind" graphic audio. Which I never have listen to before. It was an good experience and it was a lot of fun but it wasn't a new favorite, it was decent but nothing I will remember for long.
December 12, 2015
Easily the best of the three Gideon Smith novels, although young Gideon himself was somewhat absent from this issue of the $15.99 dreadfuls.
Barnett had written himself into a corner in the second (Gideon Smith and the Brass Dragon) book, with our Hero in an awkward love triangle and saddled with a sidekick who was little more than a running fart joke -- with the humor fading and just the odor remaining.
In this one, Barnett resolved the love triangle, added deep back stories to the two love interests, ran one of them out of town and turned Old Farty into the lead, by writing Gideon and Rowena Fanshawe into fairly delightful dead ends, from whence to rescue them just in time for the Big Finish. And in classic serials fashion, he finished the story while setting up at least a couple of ongoing plots for the next episode ... so a lot going on, while still spinning the yarn that steampunk readers come for.
Definitely worth signing on for the long haul.
Barnett had written himself into a corner in the second (Gideon Smith and the Brass Dragon) book, with our Hero in an awkward love triangle and saddled with a sidekick who was little more than a running fart joke -- with the humor fading and just the odor remaining.
In this one, Barnett resolved the love triangle, added deep back stories to the two love interests, ran one of them out of town and turned Old Farty into the lead, by writing Gideon and Rowena Fanshawe into fairly delightful dead ends, from whence to rescue them just in time for the Big Finish. And in classic serials fashion, he finished the story while setting up at least a couple of ongoing plots for the next episode ... so a lot going on, while still spinning the yarn that steampunk readers come for.
Definitely worth signing on for the long haul.
August 28, 2019
Such a fun book, I hope we get another!
March 3, 2016
I loved the twists and turns in this book, especially the final twist. I was hoping to see Bram Stoker again, as we were back in London, but the new characters, especially The Great Detective and Tait and Lyall were great. Hope the adventure will continue, please.
November 26, 2015
A lighthearted steampunk read with a nod to Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere.
September 3, 2022
Despite relying on the tired old trope of the amnesiac hero, David Barnett manages to concoct an entirely satisfying and thoroughly entertaining third adventure for our titular hero with Gideon Smith and the Mask of the Ripper.
The legend of Jack the Ripper is something Barnett has been teasing since the first book, so it's nice to finally come back to it and find out what it's all about. It's not the identity of the Ripper that's most intriguing however, but how he fits into the lives of Gideon, Maria, Aloysius, Rowena, and the rest. There are layers upon layers of mystery here, with each revelation casting larger shadows on the others, and the final reveal a legitimately shocking twist.
Overall, this is a very different story than the first two books, almost more laid back and traditional - if any story featuring Jack the Ripper, an clockwork girl, and a T-rex in the sewers can be considered traditional. It's not nearly as over-the-top, doesn't add anything to the steampunk aspect, and remains firmly rooted in the streets of London. Having said all that, it's an incredibly tense tale, one that has Gideon Smith missing, Rowena Fanshawe on trial for murder, and Inspector Lestrade dealing with a prostitute strike on top of the Ripper's murders.
What we do get here is a great deal of character development, most of it revolving around questions of identity. Maria's search for humanity is a driving force of the story, fueled by her love for Gideon, and given surprising direction by Inspector Lestrade's secret love, who has identity issues of her own. Gideon's amnesia, of course, offers up another search for identity, both as a man and as Hero of the Empire, while the situation with Jack the Ripper forces Aloysius Bent to confront some aspects of his own identity. Most importantly, though, her arrest, trial, and resulting revelations about her past cause Rowena Fanshawe to completely redefine her identity, even if that's not necessarily good news for the empire.
As intriguing and mysterious as either of the first two adventures, what Gideon Smith and the Mask of the Ripper lacks in adventurous fun, it makes up for in its character development. We don't get a true cliffhanger this time around, but a wide open ending that leaves a lot of possibilities for Barnett to explore in future volumes.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
The legend of Jack the Ripper is something Barnett has been teasing since the first book, so it's nice to finally come back to it and find out what it's all about. It's not the identity of the Ripper that's most intriguing however, but how he fits into the lives of Gideon, Maria, Aloysius, Rowena, and the rest. There are layers upon layers of mystery here, with each revelation casting larger shadows on the others, and the final reveal a legitimately shocking twist.
Overall, this is a very different story than the first two books, almost more laid back and traditional - if any story featuring Jack the Ripper, an clockwork girl, and a T-rex in the sewers can be considered traditional. It's not nearly as over-the-top, doesn't add anything to the steampunk aspect, and remains firmly rooted in the streets of London. Having said all that, it's an incredibly tense tale, one that has Gideon Smith missing, Rowena Fanshawe on trial for murder, and Inspector Lestrade dealing with a prostitute strike on top of the Ripper's murders.
What we do get here is a great deal of character development, most of it revolving around questions of identity. Maria's search for humanity is a driving force of the story, fueled by her love for Gideon, and given surprising direction by Inspector Lestrade's secret love, who has identity issues of her own. Gideon's amnesia, of course, offers up another search for identity, both as a man and as Hero of the Empire, while the situation with Jack the Ripper forces Aloysius Bent to confront some aspects of his own identity. Most importantly, though, her arrest, trial, and resulting revelations about her past cause Rowena Fanshawe to completely redefine her identity, even if that's not necessarily good news for the empire.
As intriguing and mysterious as either of the first two adventures, what Gideon Smith and the Mask of the Ripper lacks in adventurous fun, it makes up for in its character development. We don't get a true cliffhanger this time around, but a wide open ending that leaves a lot of possibilities for Barnett to explore in future volumes.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher in exchange for review consideration.This does not in any way affect the honesty or sincerity of my honest review.
December 31, 2019
I want to forget everything about this book.
I bought this book from a blind date with a book, and it sounded great, but is not worth wasting time on. In addition, all the reviews on the back are from other books in the series, which makes sense as this is just one long, published rape-fantasy.
The plot was basic and the structure not very interesting. But the reason it gets one star is because it is a huge ode to rape culture. The so-called "strong female characters" barely have agency or influence on the plot. The author jokes about knitting needle abortions in order to devalue the prostitutes. Multiple of the female characters get sexually assaulted or harassed and it's shoved aside as nothing, or used as a setup for fake progressiveness. There's a scene where one character admits to being sexually assaulted, and rather than being supportive, the other character gives her a Karma Sutra and tells her that women are allowed to enjoy sex as well. In addition, almost all the bad guys follow racist and ableist stereptypes, with all the good guys (except Bent, the "comic relief") being attractive and presumably white. I felt physically naucious throughout reading this, and I honestly can't see how this is part of a series that actually got published.
I bought this book from a blind date with a book, and it sounded great, but is not worth wasting time on. In addition, all the reviews on the back are from other books in the series, which makes sense as this is just one long, published rape-fantasy.
The plot was basic and the structure not very interesting. But the reason it gets one star is because it is a huge ode to rape culture. The so-called "strong female characters" barely have agency or influence on the plot. The author jokes about knitting needle abortions in order to devalue the prostitutes. Multiple of the female characters get sexually assaulted or harassed and it's shoved aside as nothing, or used as a setup for fake progressiveness. There's a scene where one character admits to being sexually assaulted, and rather than being supportive, the other character gives her a Karma Sutra and tells her that women are allowed to enjoy sex as well. In addition, almost all the bad guys follow racist and ableist stereptypes, with all the good guys (except Bent, the "comic relief") being attractive and presumably white. I felt physically naucious throughout reading this, and I honestly can't see how this is part of a series that actually got published.
February 2, 2018
Such a great idea and concept. But, IMHO the plot died and was not up to the same level as the first book in the series. Best to pass on this one!
Too much raunch and distraction that totally detracted from what could have been an interesting continuation of the adventures of Gideon Smith.
Read the first book for a great romp, the second book for a continuation of Smith's adventures (not as good as the first, but still oka), and just pass on this one. Sorry folks. I tried to finish it, and just couldn't.
Too much raunch and distraction that totally detracted from what could have been an interesting continuation of the adventures of Gideon Smith.
Read the first book for a great romp, the second book for a continuation of Smith's adventures (not as good as the first, but still oka), and just pass on this one. Sorry folks. I tried to finish it, and just couldn't.
August 5, 2019
More fun with Gideon and the crew. Although there's always been some grey in the series, this one definitely loses any black & white that it had. Motives do matter, though they don't always justify the means. This also sets things up for a fourth installment, which has not materialized as far as I can tell.
June 4, 2017
A very satisfying 3rd and final book in the Gideon Smith series. I liked how various elements were drawn together(including the prior books) and really like Rowena's backstory. Each book in the series got a little better and thus was a great finish.
April 27, 2018
Ha! I knew the Jack the Ripper was a complex character. Anyway, I absolutely love the way many of these famous persons were generously built into the web of the plot of the 3 books. Well done, indeed!
September 18, 2018
This book is a nice end for the story, tying up lose ends and exploring something that we have been teased about since the first book. I, however, did not get into a reading flow with this book and I kept stopping after a chapter or two. Maybe I'll read it again later to see how I'll like it then.
May 15, 2019
Way too many plot lines in this story and yet I still found the first half dragged and had to force myself to finish it.
Maybe the next book could have Mr. Bent and Mrs. Cadwallader as the focus as I found them to be the most interesting characters in this story.
Maybe the next book could have Mr. Bent and Mrs. Cadwallader as the focus as I found them to be the most interesting characters in this story.
July 20, 2017
For what it is - in this book a robot has to stop a mind-controlling madman and a Tyrannosaurus Rex from killing the members of Parliament - this is about as good as it gets.
January 30, 2018
I enjoy these, but they consistently don't quite work for me in a lot of ways.
March 26, 2018
I LOOOOOOOOOOVED THIS BOOK!
December 5, 2019
Tried to make this book last forever. I don't want to say goodbye to Gideon Smith and his friends. Brilliant book. Can we have more please, Mr Barnett???
January 31, 2021
Not my thing. Couldn’t get into it.
September 8, 2021
This is the third book, and there's a fourth one coming. I don't think I'll bother.
April 18, 2024
Another awesome book and it's so sad that apparently it will be the last one from the series.
I tried to find any information for a 4th book, but couldn't... I will miss the Gideon Smith universe!
I tried to find any information for a 4th book, but couldn't... I will miss the Gideon Smith universe!
September 7, 2016
The third chapter for Gideon Smith delivers as much enjoyable adventure as the first two did. This time we get sword fighting, detective work, Sherlock and Watson, a great twist on Jack the Ripper, a T-Rex, family secrets, and Rowena the Belle of the Airways on trial for murder. And it's all enjoyable.
Gideon messes with the wrong villain who hypnotized him into forgetting himself. Maybe a bit overdone but it added some great stress, and it gave Bent much more page time to really shine as a hero.
I enjoyed the philosophical issues brought up about heroism, patriotism, and the evils of Empire. And of course, there's a madcap race through the sewer to stop a rampaging dinosaur. Who could hate that!
Who is Jack? How does he fit in to the plot(s) of the trilogy? Will there be another book? See my spoiler!
That was a fun spoiler to write and I bet I left things out.
It is a fun adventure with great storytelling and character development. I can't wait until book four.
Gideon messes with the wrong villain who hypnotized him into forgetting himself. Maybe a bit overdone but it added some great stress, and it gave Bent much more page time to really shine as a hero.
I enjoyed the philosophical issues brought up about heroism, patriotism, and the evils of Empire. And of course, there's a madcap race through the sewer to stop a rampaging dinosaur. Who could hate that!
Who is Jack? How does he fit in to the plot(s) of the trilogy? Will there be another book? See my spoiler!
That was a fun spoiler to write and I bet I left things out.
It is a fun adventure with great storytelling and character development. I can't wait until book four.
March 25, 2016
I won't deny I struggled with the first third of David Barnett's latest Gideon Smith book - there seemed to be a lot going on, almost too much at times, and threads seemed to be careering hither and yon.
What kept me going was the knowledge that Barnett has a proven track record of bringing seemingly disparate storylines together with aplomb.
And that's the case here.
Once the various characters and plot lines have been laid down, the action kicks in and you're whisked around Victorian London at high speed as Gideon's friends try and save the day and their hero friend.
Moving more away from the Penny Bloods of the first book, Barnett creates a high-tempo caper with gangs hell-bent on revenge, entertainers up to no good and a secret service proving to be more shady than even the hardiest cynic could imagine.
As ever, he has created his own world and he's clearly having fun with it. Perhaps less out-and-out funny than its predecessors, Mask Of The Ripper chimes well with the world we live in now, with satire being at the heart of everything.
The fact this guy isn't being lauded as one of the best young authors (in writing terms, he's actually older than me) is frankly criminal.
But he's one of the few authors around today whose next book is awaited impatiently.
What kept me going was the knowledge that Barnett has a proven track record of bringing seemingly disparate storylines together with aplomb.
And that's the case here.
Once the various characters and plot lines have been laid down, the action kicks in and you're whisked around Victorian London at high speed as Gideon's friends try and save the day and their hero friend.
Moving more away from the Penny Bloods of the first book, Barnett creates a high-tempo caper with gangs hell-bent on revenge, entertainers up to no good and a secret service proving to be more shady than even the hardiest cynic could imagine.
As ever, he has created his own world and he's clearly having fun with it. Perhaps less out-and-out funny than its predecessors, Mask Of The Ripper chimes well with the world we live in now, with satire being at the heart of everything.
The fact this guy isn't being lauded as one of the best young authors (in writing terms, he's actually older than me) is frankly criminal.
But he's one of the few authors around today whose next book is awaited impatiently.
March 8, 2016
I've read the previous books in this series, and each one got progressively worse. Despite my somewhat high hopes due to the narrative dealing with the mystery of Jack the Ripper, this book left me with a sour note.
It's difficult to point out exactly what was causing my complete boredom and apathy regarding this book. I found the characters to be very flat, and even Gideon's memory loss wasn't enough to spice things up. The writing mechanics themselves are fine, but despite this I found myself more inclined to stare out the window then keep turning the pages. I also found the big mystery far too easy to solve, and I figured out who was the Ripper (in this rendition anyway) very early on in the book.
Die hard fans of the series may enjoy this one, but I'm going to have to part ways with Mr. Smith and his motley crew here, and wish them luck on future adventures without me.
It's difficult to point out exactly what was causing my complete boredom and apathy regarding this book. I found the characters to be very flat, and even Gideon's memory loss wasn't enough to spice things up. The writing mechanics themselves are fine, but despite this I found myself more inclined to stare out the window then keep turning the pages. I also found the big mystery far too easy to solve, and I figured out who was the Ripper (in this rendition anyway) very early on in the book.
Die hard fans of the series may enjoy this one, but I'm going to have to part ways with Mr. Smith and his motley crew here, and wish them luck on future adventures without me.
July 22, 2016
I really don't understand why I put myself through the ludicrousness of this world. Like seriously! At least it didn't feel like a big mess of ideas like America was, though I couldn't help but exclaim out loud, "But of course Sherlock Holmes, Dr Watson, and Lestrade would pop up, why not?!"
I got to enjoy the story a lot more when I felt like the world stopped exploding in my face with slightly twisted versions of what we know (I'm still slight battered from book 2). I was so very grateful when things settled.
Surely the two gentlemen in the sewers was a nod to Gaiman's Croup and Vandemar? They threw off the really similar vibes.
Poor Rowena.
I got to enjoy the story a lot more when I felt like the world stopped exploding in my face with slightly twisted versions of what we know (I'm still slight battered from book 2). I was so very grateful when things settled.
Surely the two gentlemen in the sewers was a nod to Gaiman's Croup and Vandemar? They threw off the really similar vibes.
Poor Rowena.
July 6, 2016
Another absorbing page turner from Barnett as his thoroughly enjoyable alt-history steam punk trilogy comes to a gripping finale. The Gideon Smith stories centre around a cast of characters who you come to identify with and whose depth leaves you really caring about their fates. Fantastic escapism that's accessible to any reader. More please.
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