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Inspector Ambrose Mysteries #2
The Vanishing Villa
If you enjoyed Mrs Milliard's Mech, you'll love The Vanishing Villa!
Inspector Ambrose returns in his second detective story. And this time, he may not survive to solve the case.
Francis Finney arrives home from holiday to find his house has vanished, and Inspector Ambrose must find the cause of the villa's sudden disappearance. The neighbours aren't talking, and Ambrose can't believe that things are as they seem. His search for answers will lead him deep underground to a place forgotten by time, and haunted by danger.
Join Inspector Ambrose as he faces his most dangerous case yet!
Inspector Ambrose returns in his second detective story. And this time, he may not survive to solve the case.
Francis Finney arrives home from holiday to find his house has vanished, and Inspector Ambrose must find the cause of the villa's sudden disappearance. The neighbours aren't talking, and Ambrose can't believe that things are as they seem. His search for answers will lead him deep underground to a place forgotten by time, and haunted by danger.
Join Inspector Ambrose as he faces his most dangerous case yet!
67 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
About the author
I.H. Laking
5 books246 followersI.H. Laking is a Kiwi author who lives in Melbourne, where he writes steampunk fantasy stories for young adults, including the Inspector Ambrose mystery series. Ian is passionate about inspiring youth writers to take their first steps into the wider world of literature.
I.H. Laking draws inspiration for his writing from music, games, and literature: his influences include C. S. Lewis, Philip Pullman, the Final Fantasy series, and the music of Coldplay, Falling Up, and Lorde. He is currently working on the sequel to his Inspector Ambrose series, as well as the upcoming Victorian Speculative Writers Festival.
I.H. Laking draws inspiration for his writing from music, games, and literature: his influences include C. S. Lewis, Philip Pullman, the Final Fantasy series, and the music of Coldplay, Falling Up, and Lorde. He is currently working on the sequel to his Inspector Ambrose series, as well as the upcoming Victorian Speculative Writers Festival.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 19, 2015
4.5 stars
Following on from What Went Wrong With Mrs Milliard's Mech?, Inspector Ambrose and Detective Percy have another mysterious case that needs urgent attention.
Each Inspector Ambrose novel can be read as a stand alone as each story involves a different case and it is solved by the end of the book. (Inspector Ambrose is that clever!)
This is a fast paced story full of mystery, suspense and a touch of humour set in a futuristic steampunk world and is suitable for readers aged 7 – 12 years.
Following on from What Went Wrong With Mrs Milliard's Mech?, Inspector Ambrose and Detective Percy have another mysterious case that needs urgent attention.
Each Inspector Ambrose novel can be read as a stand alone as each story involves a different case and it is solved by the end of the book. (Inspector Ambrose is that clever!)
This is a fast paced story full of mystery, suspense and a touch of humour set in a futuristic steampunk world and is suitable for readers aged 7 – 12 years.
November 20, 2017
I am truly loving this series... the world is so imaginative and I love Ambrose & Percy. This story kept me guessing till the very end and I can't wait to see what will happen in part 3. An awesome fun read!
April 23, 2018
The enterprising builder/excavator Francis Finney returns home from vacation to find... his home has disappeared! Finney's brash personality has left him few friends in the neighborhood, his home is made entirely of rare & valuable material, and there have been some suspicious mechs around that no one can explain. Fortunately Inspector Ambrose and his trusty sidekick Percy are on the case.
This second novella does a good job of continuing to drip feed us larger worldbuilding details while staying focused on the microcosm of the mystery at hand. I definitely enjoy this world a lot and can't wait to learn more.
For me this time around it took away from the story that Percy is so over the top stereotyped into a foil for Ambrose, as a fat slob, that message just kept being pushed without any real reason apparent and was a big turn off. Other than that it did maintain the same sense of whimsy and fun mystery, so I'll be keeping on with the series.
This second novella does a good job of continuing to drip feed us larger worldbuilding details while staying focused on the microcosm of the mystery at hand. I definitely enjoy this world a lot and can't wait to learn more.
For me this time around it took away from the story that Percy is so over the top stereotyped into a foil for Ambrose, as a fat slob, that message just kept being pushed without any real reason apparent and was a big turn off. Other than that it did maintain the same sense of whimsy and fun mystery, so I'll be keeping on with the series.
July 26, 2023
Youth fiction
The storyline is probably appropriate for younger age groups. However the editing is horrendous. It seems like it was not proofread and fixed. These glaring issues probably 5 or 6 in a 67 page book detracts from the storytelling.
The storyline is probably appropriate for younger age groups. However the editing is horrendous. It seems like it was not proofread and fixed. These glaring issues probably 5 or 6 in a 67 page book detracts from the storytelling.
June 29, 2018
My children love these little books. They thoroughly enjoy each and every story, as if they are all unique and individual without any cause for similarity among them. Even though sometimes, they might seem tedious and repetitive to me as a parent, I do enjoy being able to read short-stories to my children that are clean and respective.
June 13, 2017
Fun little mystery
The major plot points are resolved, yet there's still questions beckoning you to follow into the next book. Everything seems to have its own personality, which lifts it above other works, with their simply utilitarian descriptions.
The major plot points are resolved, yet there's still questions beckoning you to follow into the next book. Everything seems to have its own personality, which lifts it above other works, with their simply utilitarian descriptions.
January 15, 2018
Easy fun story
I read the first Inspector Ambrose story and found it an easy read, a little like an old stage farce. Like the first book the title was intriguing and the characters were unusual. It was a fun read sadly, I wish it were longer. Still there's always the next one.
I read the first Inspector Ambrose story and found it an easy read, a little like an old stage farce. Like the first book the title was intriguing and the characters were unusual. It was a fun read sadly, I wish it were longer. Still there's always the next one.
August 16, 2020
Very original idea
I like light detective stories and this is a new idea with great case stories. The stories are short but fun reads. Sometimes having something light and quick is just what you want. There are other stories as well.
I like light detective stories and this is a new idea with great case stories. The stories are short but fun reads. Sometimes having something light and quick is just what you want. There are other stories as well.
October 26, 2024
I'm really enjoying these stories. Lots of detail without extraneous junk packed into so few pages. I can thing of a few other authors who could learn a thing or two from these!
November 7, 2015
Love the book and I can't wait to read the next book :D
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews