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Newbury and Hobbes #5
The Revenant Express
The grand adventure continues in George Mann's Newbury & Hobbes steampunk mystery series, as a Victorian special agent races across a continent to save his beloved's life on board The Revenant Express .
Sir Maurice Newbury is bereft as his trusty assistant Veronica Hobbes lies dying with a wounded heart. Newbury and Veronica's sister Amelia must take a sleeper train across Europe to St. Petersberg to claim a clockwork heart that Newbury has commissioned from Faberge to save Veronica from a life trapped in limbo.
No sooner do they take off then sinister goings-on start to plague the train, and it is discovered that an old villain, thought dead, is also on board and seeking revenge. Can Newbury and Amelia defeat him and get the clockwork organ back to the Fixer in time to save Veronica? And can they do so without Newbury going so far into the dark side of occult magic that he can never return?
Meanwhile, Sir Charles Bainbridge is the only one of their team left in London to struggle with a case involving a series of horrific crimes. Someone is kidnapping prominent men and infecting them with the Revenant plague, leaving them chained in various locations around the city. But why?
It's a rousing chase to save both London and Veronica. Will these brave detectives be up to the task?
Newbury & Hobbes Investigations
#1: The Affinity Bridge
#2: The Osirus Ritual
#3: The Immortality Engine
#4: The Executioner's Heart
#5: The Revenant Express
Sir Maurice Newbury is bereft as his trusty assistant Veronica Hobbes lies dying with a wounded heart. Newbury and Veronica's sister Amelia must take a sleeper train across Europe to St. Petersberg to claim a clockwork heart that Newbury has commissioned from Faberge to save Veronica from a life trapped in limbo.
No sooner do they take off then sinister goings-on start to plague the train, and it is discovered that an old villain, thought dead, is also on board and seeking revenge. Can Newbury and Amelia defeat him and get the clockwork organ back to the Fixer in time to save Veronica? And can they do so without Newbury going so far into the dark side of occult magic that he can never return?
Meanwhile, Sir Charles Bainbridge is the only one of their team left in London to struggle with a case involving a series of horrific crimes. Someone is kidnapping prominent men and infecting them with the Revenant plague, leaving them chained in various locations around the city. But why?
It's a rousing chase to save both London and Veronica. Will these brave detectives be up to the task?
Newbury & Hobbes Investigations
#1: The Affinity Bridge
#2: The Osirus Ritual
#3: The Immortality Engine
#4: The Executioner's Heart
#5: The Revenant Express
240 pages, Hardcover
First published February 12, 2019
37 people are currently reading
1035 people want to read
About the author
George Mann
365 books676 followersGeorge Mann is an author and editor, primarily in genre fiction. He was born in Darlington, County Durham in 1978.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella "The Severed Man", and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella "The Severed Man", and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
February 20, 2019
Agatha Christie’s exciting detective novel “Murder on the Orient Express”, published in 1934, undoubtedly contributed to the legendary status of the train service. The story of detective Hercule Poirot solving a mysterious murder on the train never gets old.
Now George Mann creates his own version of the tale and titles the journey “The Revenant Express” staring Sir Maurice Newbury and Veronica Hobbes, published on the 10th anniversary of the first Newbury and Hobbs story written. In Christie's book the train traveled from London to Istanbul (then: Constantinople) through Paris. Mann changes the destination to St. Petersburg, where, in a desperate attempt to get access to “the intricate mechanisms” needed to replace Veronica’s failing heart. Newbury makes the journey with Amelia, Veronica’s sister.
If you do not know who Newbury and Hobbes are, Sir Maurice Newbury, is a gentleman ‘investigator for the Crown (reminiscent of Mycroft Holmes). He is a museum researcher by day, along with his feisty yet capable assistant Miss Veronica Hobbes who, unbeknownst to him, is an agent of Queen Victoria as well. Think of John Steed and Mrs. Peel in a steampunk setting.
Meanwhile, back in London, a deadly and highly contagious parasitic fungus has been destroying people’s bodies from the inside.
The mission of Newbury and Amelia in “The Revenant Express” is imperiled by a member of the Cabal of the Horned Beast, a society dedicated to remaking humanity ‘in the Devil’s image’, as well as bloodthirsty revenants (a kind of zombie / vampire amalgam).
If all this sounds rather complicated, it’s really not. It’s quite a rousing chase to save both London and Veronica with Steampunk elements. The book is a rip roaring adventure that at times leaves one gasping for breath. There is lots of action and brilliant descriptions of a steampunk alternate London.
Please note: an added short story, ‘The World of Menamhotep” (A Newbury and Hobbes story) is available in the British paperback edition of this book published by Titan Books and is not included in this hardcover. If you don’t want to buy the book twice the story is also included in the book “Clockwork Cairo : Steampunk Tales of Egypt”.
Now George Mann creates his own version of the tale and titles the journey “The Revenant Express” staring Sir Maurice Newbury and Veronica Hobbes, published on the 10th anniversary of the first Newbury and Hobbs story written. In Christie's book the train traveled from London to Istanbul (then: Constantinople) through Paris. Mann changes the destination to St. Petersburg, where, in a desperate attempt to get access to “the intricate mechanisms” needed to replace Veronica’s failing heart. Newbury makes the journey with Amelia, Veronica’s sister.
If you do not know who Newbury and Hobbes are, Sir Maurice Newbury, is a gentleman ‘investigator for the Crown (reminiscent of Mycroft Holmes). He is a museum researcher by day, along with his feisty yet capable assistant Miss Veronica Hobbes who, unbeknownst to him, is an agent of Queen Victoria as well. Think of John Steed and Mrs. Peel in a steampunk setting.
Meanwhile, back in London, a deadly and highly contagious parasitic fungus has been destroying people’s bodies from the inside.
The mission of Newbury and Amelia in “The Revenant Express” is imperiled by a member of the Cabal of the Horned Beast, a society dedicated to remaking humanity ‘in the Devil’s image’, as well as bloodthirsty revenants (a kind of zombie / vampire amalgam).
If all this sounds rather complicated, it’s really not. It’s quite a rousing chase to save both London and Veronica with Steampunk elements. The book is a rip roaring adventure that at times leaves one gasping for breath. There is lots of action and brilliant descriptions of a steampunk alternate London.
Please note: an added short story, ‘The World of Menamhotep” (A Newbury and Hobbes story) is available in the British paperback edition of this book published by Titan Books and is not included in this hardcover. If you don’t want to buy the book twice the story is also included in the book “Clockwork Cairo : Steampunk Tales of Egypt”.
November 22, 2020
An enjoyable addition to the continuing adventures of Sir Maurice Newbury and Veronica Hobbes, the 5th novel of the series is a bit shorter than others. But it’s a welcome volume, due mainly to the resolution for the rather extreme cliffhanger from The Executioner's Heart. The book may be shorter, but it is jam packed with action.
There are actually two stories unfolding here; the main plot revolves around a journey being undertaken by Newbury and Veronica’s sister, Amelia. They are traveling from Paris to St Petersburg, Russia aboard a steampunk-style train in order to obtain a clockwork heart for Veronica from famed artist/engineer, Karl Faberge. While aboard, the duo encounters a member of the Cabal of the Horned Beast and must fight him off as well as an infestation of “revenants” with their rapidly growing plant-like appendages, spores, and gruesome thirst for fresh blood. Meanwhile a story of Veronica and Bainbridge from the previous year is juxtaposed with this one, wherein she investigates the disappearance of two nurses and the discovery of a highly contagious parasitic fungus that has been destroying people’s bodies from the inside. Her actions in this case affects what happens to Newbury’s plotline so it’s a nicely intricate connection.
This is a novel that perks along at high octane with a lot of perilous encounters and fighting action. This comes at the expense of the more calculating approach I’ve been used to in previous books in the series. Very little of the mystery and whodunnit aspects remain. The ending also seemed rushed as if the author were trying to ensure it was finished in time for the 10th anniversary of book one, which may, indeed, have been the case. I would have liked it to have been a bit longer in order to have the two coinciding plot lines more thoroughly developed. But I was happy to see the character of Amelia finally come into her own and prove she has much the same curiosity and feistiness of her sister. It’s possible that I like these characters so much that I am a bit more forgiving of this novel than some other reviewers but that’s OK. The next book, The Albion Initiative: A Newbury & Hobbes Investigation has now been set up well and promises to be an important, even climactic novel in the series. I’m hoping for a humdinger.
There are actually two stories unfolding here; the main plot revolves around a journey being undertaken by Newbury and Veronica’s sister, Amelia. They are traveling from Paris to St Petersburg, Russia aboard a steampunk-style train in order to obtain a clockwork heart for Veronica from famed artist/engineer, Karl Faberge. While aboard, the duo encounters a member of the Cabal of the Horned Beast and must fight him off as well as an infestation of “revenants” with their rapidly growing plant-like appendages, spores, and gruesome thirst for fresh blood. Meanwhile a story of Veronica and Bainbridge from the previous year is juxtaposed with this one, wherein she investigates the disappearance of two nurses and the discovery of a highly contagious parasitic fungus that has been destroying people’s bodies from the inside. Her actions in this case affects what happens to Newbury’s plotline so it’s a nicely intricate connection.
This is a novel that perks along at high octane with a lot of perilous encounters and fighting action. This comes at the expense of the more calculating approach I’ve been used to in previous books in the series. Very little of the mystery and whodunnit aspects remain. The ending also seemed rushed as if the author were trying to ensure it was finished in time for the 10th anniversary of book one, which may, indeed, have been the case. I would have liked it to have been a bit longer in order to have the two coinciding plot lines more thoroughly developed. But I was happy to see the character of Amelia finally come into her own and prove she has much the same curiosity and feistiness of her sister. It’s possible that I like these characters so much that I am a bit more forgiving of this novel than some other reviewers but that’s OK. The next book, The Albion Initiative: A Newbury & Hobbes Investigation has now been set up well and promises to be an important, even climactic novel in the series. I’m hoping for a humdinger.
February 14, 2019
Finally the time has come I get to write a review for this book. The wait has been long, so so long - especially considering the situation in which we left Miss Hobbes at the end of the fourth book. Sadly it didn't quite deliver.
Don't get me wrong, this is still a great read. Newbury is a wonderful protagonist to read from, and this time he is joined by Amelia. She really gets to shine in this novel. She clearly is the sister of Veronica, they share some feisty characteristics. Yet she is very much her own character and I thought she was great. And there is no need to worry, Veronica gets to go on her own adventure together with Bainbridge back in London (set several months before the events of The Executioner's Heart).
So characterwise this book is as great as all the previous ones. It is the plot and pacing that kind of bugged me. Like I said, we follow the story of Newbury as well as that of Veronica. The result of this is that neither of these get enough page time to tell the stories in a satisfactory manner. Veronica looks into the disappearance of two nurses, connected to a corpse that has been found with plants growing out of the body. Though interesting, there is hardly any mystery to this case. There are a few very simple steps leading Veronica from A to B and the resolving of the case, and the puzzle is lacking. At the same time we read about Newbury and Amelia on their way to St. Petersburg in a train, where they have to deal with a Revenant infestation as well as a murderous cultist. And then part of Veronica's case also shows up. A lot is going on, and the clever connections between the different elements we have seen in the previous books is lacking in this one. The idea is there, it is just missing that final step bringing it all together.
I would have liked to have seen more of St. Petersburg. We have gotten used to a very believable and extensive London setting so far in the series, and I was looking forward to see what George Mann would do with this other great city. Sadly the characters get to spent very little time here and then rush themselves back to London again (understandably, they have to save Veronica). I cannot help but think though that the book would have been stronger if less of the action was focused on the train and more in the Russian city.
Now I sound really whiney. I don't mean to be. This was a very fun read I raced through in a single sitting and enjoyed immensely. It just didn't quite live up to the massive expectations I had set up in my head after having waited for this book for years. It is still a great addition to the series and I already cannot wait for the sixth book again...
Don't get me wrong, this is still a great read. Newbury is a wonderful protagonist to read from, and this time he is joined by Amelia. She really gets to shine in this novel. She clearly is the sister of Veronica, they share some feisty characteristics. Yet she is very much her own character and I thought she was great. And there is no need to worry, Veronica gets to go on her own adventure together with Bainbridge back in London (set several months before the events of The Executioner's Heart).
So characterwise this book is as great as all the previous ones. It is the plot and pacing that kind of bugged me. Like I said, we follow the story of Newbury as well as that of Veronica. The result of this is that neither of these get enough page time to tell the stories in a satisfactory manner. Veronica looks into the disappearance of two nurses, connected to a corpse that has been found with plants growing out of the body. Though interesting, there is hardly any mystery to this case. There are a few very simple steps leading Veronica from A to B and the resolving of the case, and the puzzle is lacking. At the same time we read about Newbury and Amelia on their way to St. Petersburg in a train, where they have to deal with a Revenant infestation as well as a murderous cultist. And then part of Veronica's case also shows up. A lot is going on, and the clever connections between the different elements we have seen in the previous books is lacking in this one. The idea is there, it is just missing that final step bringing it all together.
I would have liked to have seen more of St. Petersburg. We have gotten used to a very believable and extensive London setting so far in the series, and I was looking forward to see what George Mann would do with this other great city. Sadly the characters get to spent very little time here and then rush themselves back to London again (understandably, they have to save Veronica). I cannot help but think though that the book would have been stronger if less of the action was focused on the train and more in the Russian city.
Now I sound really whiney. I don't mean to be. This was a very fun read I raced through in a single sitting and enjoyed immensely. It just didn't quite live up to the massive expectations I had set up in my head after having waited for this book for years. It is still a great addition to the series and I already cannot wait for the sixth book again...
March 29, 2019
Feels a bit like filler, going from cliffhanger to cliffhanger. The actual goal is achieved anticlimactically, with the travel to it taking up all the pages, tossing crisis after crisis at the protagonists. Not bad, but not good, either.
February 13, 2019
This is an action-packed read, given that it is only just over 250 pages long. Mann certainly manages to keep the tempo fast and furious as both Veronica Hobbes and Maurice Newbury are both attempting to tackle a terrible threat. Although I enjoyed the excellent action scenes, particularly on the train – I am a tad concerned about a major anomaly. We are told in the blurb that Veronica is close to death – so I actually reread the opening chapter in which she features, and at no time do we get a sense in her viewpoint that she’s anything other than a tad cold and miserable while standing in the pouring rain. While close to death, she happily goes off to get involved in a demanding case with Sir Charles Bainbridge and doesn’t mention feeling slightly unwell at any stage.
While in the ordinary run of things, this issues would be a dealbreaker, they aren’t this time around, simply because I like the world and the characters so much. It doesn’t hurt that this particular adventure is largely set on a train travelling across Europe, so a lot of the action doesn’t impact the wider story arc. The gruesome nature of the infection causing all sorts of havoc presents a real danger to our trusty protagonists – and has Mann has already demonstrated that he isn’t shy of killing off some main characters, I found myself paying real attention to the very dramatic fights.
That said, something clearly occurred that threw a major spanner in the works regarding Mann’s writing. I hope he is able to get back on track to write the next exciting instalment, but if he can’t or doesn’t – that’s okay, too. I do wince sometimes at the angry impatience of some readers while waiting for the next book. Everyone experiences major upsets in their lives – including authors in the middle of writing a popular series. In the meantime this series is recommended for fans of steampunk adventure with a gothic feel.
While I obtained an arc of The Revenant Express from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10
While in the ordinary run of things, this issues would be a dealbreaker, they aren’t this time around, simply because I like the world and the characters so much. It doesn’t hurt that this particular adventure is largely set on a train travelling across Europe, so a lot of the action doesn’t impact the wider story arc. The gruesome nature of the infection causing all sorts of havoc presents a real danger to our trusty protagonists – and has Mann has already demonstrated that he isn’t shy of killing off some main characters, I found myself paying real attention to the very dramatic fights.
That said, something clearly occurred that threw a major spanner in the works regarding Mann’s writing. I hope he is able to get back on track to write the next exciting instalment, but if he can’t or doesn’t – that’s okay, too. I do wince sometimes at the angry impatience of some readers while waiting for the next book. Everyone experiences major upsets in their lives – including authors in the middle of writing a popular series. In the meantime this series is recommended for fans of steampunk adventure with a gothic feel.
While I obtained an arc of The Revenant Express from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10
May 31, 2022
The Revenant Express by George Mann
Once again I laud Mann for his steampunk descriptions and how his illustrator puts those into his cover work. The train to Russia was both the setting of 50% of the book and wonderous prose on its fittings. Sir Maurice and Amelia travel to St.Petersburg to procure a heart for Veronica. Sir Charles and Veronica in a parallel plot strive to find the cause of a weedy outbreak.
The story seemed a bit fractured with the dual plots that did eventually bind themselves together. The power of prose is demonstrated with artistry on the steampunk hardware and the gruesomeness of the infected.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
Once again I laud Mann for his steampunk descriptions and how his illustrator puts those into his cover work. The train to Russia was both the setting of 50% of the book and wonderous prose on its fittings. Sir Maurice and Amelia travel to St.Petersburg to procure a heart for Veronica. Sir Charles and Veronica in a parallel plot strive to find the cause of a weedy outbreak.
The story seemed a bit fractured with the dual plots that did eventually bind themselves together. The power of prose is demonstrated with artistry on the steampunk hardware and the gruesomeness of the infected.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
August 13, 2022
This felt a bit different to the other books - the setting, the dynamics between the characters, the mysteries. I enjoyed it although I was slightly confused by the timeline at the beginning.
June 27, 2019
An enjoyable continuation to the Newbury & Hobbs saga. The pace of the story was a total adrenaline rush & it seemed that something was continuing going on. I'd been waiting for this book (like so many other fans) for several years. Murder on the Orient Express is one of my favourite mysteries with Hercule Poirot & can see where Mann had gotten his inspiration for this book.
February 6, 2019
“Progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved, perfect what can be perfected and prune practices that ought to be prohibited.”
While I am loathe to quote one of modern literature’s most heinous villains, George Mann’s latest instalment of the Newbury and Hobbes saga, The Revenant Express, is close to proving Um****ge correct. After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Cause change isn’t always a good thing. Having ploughed through the first four (excellent) instalments of the series in the three weeks preceding my reading of The Revenant Express, I had come to expect certain things from each Newbury and Hobbes book. However, with the cliffhanger that The Executioner’s Heart left us with, it was easy to sense the winds of change blowing towards the series.
The entirety of the series so far has taken place in a steampunk-styled Victorian London, a character in its own right with well realised locales full of mystery. Despite this, I think Mann���s decision to take the series from London to Paris to St. Petersburg via his own warped version of the Orient Express was the right one. Unlike previous instalments, where Newbury and Hobbes bandied around the city at will from location to location with a sense of freedom, the train had a claustrophobic feel that had characters trapped and unable to avoid whatever destiny lay before them. Furthermore, the nature of Newbury’s main problem in this story (clue in the title) only serves to exacerbate the sense of foreboding brought on from being trapped on a high-speed moving train.
The Revenant Express also brings about big changes in character dynamics. While previous cases saw Newbury driven by his curiosity, intrigue, and duty, his motivations here are far more intense and personal, which comes through in how he is written. The cheerful and spirited side of Newbury was largely absent, instead replaced by a more morose intensity and seriousness, which I felt was detrimental to the character. We also have Newbury joined by Veronica Hobbes’ sister Amelia for this continental train journey from hell. A minor character in the series so far, I enjoyed the extra page time given to the more naïve and unsuspecting of the Hobbes sisters. Indeed these character traits juxtaposed the paranoia and jaded Newbury quite well. However, I felt that the relationship between the two was much too similar to that of Newbury and Veronica in the previous books. There were moments during their interactions where I felt that you could substitute Amelia for Veronica and it wouldn’t really change anything…
The other major change between The Revenant Express and its predecessors is with the story itself. The level of mystery and ‘whodunnit’ within the plot felt greatly reduced from the previous instalments, instead replaced by more action scenes, and the ‘surprise’ element was entirely predictable. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the secondary element of the story involving Bainbridge and Veronica back in London. Indeed, this brings me back to my initial point about change not always being for the better. What worked for me with regards to the story were the mystery elements that involved, in this case, Bainbridge and Veronica Hobbes following the trail of the fungal infection around the streets of London. That is, the elements of the story that reminded me of why I enjoyed the Newbury and Hobbes series in the first place.
Now, all of this isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy the book. I did. It just felt like filler that could have been a short novella between the series’ main instalments. Indeed, it effectively acted as a conclusion to the cliff hanger that we were left with and a bridge to whatever the next instalment may be. I’ve no doubt that a lot of people will love this one as much as those that came before it, but for me the changes just didn’t quite work. Hopefully, with Newbury back in London and Hobbes back on her feet, episode 6 will see the return of the series to previously excellent self.
https://theunseenlibrary.com/2019/02/...
While I am loathe to quote one of modern literature’s most heinous villains, George Mann’s latest instalment of the Newbury and Hobbes saga, The Revenant Express, is close to proving Um****ge correct. After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Cause change isn’t always a good thing. Having ploughed through the first four (excellent) instalments of the series in the three weeks preceding my reading of The Revenant Express, I had come to expect certain things from each Newbury and Hobbes book. However, with the cliffhanger that The Executioner’s Heart left us with, it was easy to sense the winds of change blowing towards the series.
The entirety of the series so far has taken place in a steampunk-styled Victorian London, a character in its own right with well realised locales full of mystery. Despite this, I think Mann���s decision to take the series from London to Paris to St. Petersburg via his own warped version of the Orient Express was the right one. Unlike previous instalments, where Newbury and Hobbes bandied around the city at will from location to location with a sense of freedom, the train had a claustrophobic feel that had characters trapped and unable to avoid whatever destiny lay before them. Furthermore, the nature of Newbury’s main problem in this story (clue in the title) only serves to exacerbate the sense of foreboding brought on from being trapped on a high-speed moving train.
The Revenant Express also brings about big changes in character dynamics. While previous cases saw Newbury driven by his curiosity, intrigue, and duty, his motivations here are far more intense and personal, which comes through in how he is written. The cheerful and spirited side of Newbury was largely absent, instead replaced by a more morose intensity and seriousness, which I felt was detrimental to the character. We also have Newbury joined by Veronica Hobbes’ sister Amelia for this continental train journey from hell. A minor character in the series so far, I enjoyed the extra page time given to the more naïve and unsuspecting of the Hobbes sisters. Indeed these character traits juxtaposed the paranoia and jaded Newbury quite well. However, I felt that the relationship between the two was much too similar to that of Newbury and Veronica in the previous books. There were moments during their interactions where I felt that you could substitute Amelia for Veronica and it wouldn’t really change anything…
The other major change between The Revenant Express and its predecessors is with the story itself. The level of mystery and ‘whodunnit’ within the plot felt greatly reduced from the previous instalments, instead replaced by more action scenes, and the ‘surprise’ element was entirely predictable. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the secondary element of the story involving Bainbridge and Veronica back in London. Indeed, this brings me back to my initial point about change not always being for the better. What worked for me with regards to the story were the mystery elements that involved, in this case, Bainbridge and Veronica Hobbes following the trail of the fungal infection around the streets of London. That is, the elements of the story that reminded me of why I enjoyed the Newbury and Hobbes series in the first place.
Now, all of this isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy the book. I did. It just felt like filler that could have been a short novella between the series’ main instalments. Indeed, it effectively acted as a conclusion to the cliff hanger that we were left with and a bridge to whatever the next instalment may be. I’ve no doubt that a lot of people will love this one as much as those that came before it, but for me the changes just didn’t quite work. Hopefully, with Newbury back in London and Hobbes back on her feet, episode 6 will see the return of the series to previously excellent self.
https://theunseenlibrary.com/2019/02/...
November 9, 2020
in a steampunk zombie apocalypse, someone is infecting the zombies with the spores of a plant that seem to be going some way toward healing their infection -- but also destroying them as well as healthy bodies, in a horrible new way. Meanwhile, another pair of heroes races toward the location of a life-saving clockwork heart on a train that's about to get some uninvited guests.
Something about this book just didn't work very well for me.
Something about this book just didn't work very well for me.
February 16, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the free review copy. In this installment Newbury is off on a train trip to Russia in order to get a mechanical heart for Hobbes. Meanwhile she is trying to help Bainbridge with some disturbing dead bodies. The revenant express itself is a bit like the Orient express but with murdering plague victims. Not a problem for Newbury but some of the other travellers are tricky.
I really like Newbury and Hobbes they're a great duo. I think that's partly why I wasn't completely in love with this book in the series. For nearly all of it the detecting duo are apart, for me Veronica's sister Amelia is a poor substitute. It's been a very long wait for this installment and it is a relatively short tale with a short story at the end possibly teasing a future plot.
I really like Newbury and Hobbes they're a great duo. I think that's partly why I wasn't completely in love with this book in the series. For nearly all of it the detecting duo are apart, for me Veronica's sister Amelia is a poor substitute. It's been a very long wait for this installment and it is a relatively short tale with a short story at the end possibly teasing a future plot.
March 31, 2019
So oddly I was waiting for this book for several years. I'm not a huge fan of the series, but it's readable and I was expecting this book years ago. I think the wait was part of the problem that I had. If it's going to take so long, there is more pressure for it to be great. Instead, this was, if possible, lower stakes than the previous books and felt shorter. I was also looking forward to no Veronica, but unluckily for me, there is half the book concerned with flashbacks to her pointless investigation beforehand. Sure the investigation is related, but at the time didn't seem to draw so much attention so how about turn it into a single chapter and don't waste my time.
Overall, there were a few decent parts and the book was too short to be too tedious. It was an okay read but likely to be very forgettable.
Overall, there were a few decent parts and the book was too short to be too tedious. It was an okay read but likely to be very forgettable.
March 29, 2019
Sir Maurice Newbury is bound for Russia with Amelia, Veronica's sister on a Revenant (Zombie) infested train to collect a clockwork heart for Veronica Hobbes who is dying. But also on the train is a member of the evil Cabal that want Newbury dead.
Will Newbury and Amelia survive the journey? Is time running out for Veronica?
I've been waiting for this ages but didn't realise it has been five years... Hope the next one doesn't take as long.
Will Newbury and Amelia survive the journey? Is time running out for Veronica?
I've been waiting for this ages but didn't realise it has been five years... Hope the next one doesn't take as long.
August 22, 2023
I rated this one a bit lower because it was basically a vehicle to get to the next book. Newbury and Hobbes were split this time around, in a manner of speaking. The revenants were back in full force plus an interesting villain from Veronica's past. Interesting, yes. Best of the series? No. Needed to further the plot? Yes. Exciting ending to set up the final chapter of the Newbury and Hobbes saga? Absolutely!
March 9, 2019
George Mann delivers another great steampunk detective story.
A continuation of the Executioner's Heart it closes that story line amongst a great adventure on a train and we get to meet the famous Fabrege in Russia.
Lost of enemies and lost of action as you would expect.
A great adventure from a great author
A continuation of the Executioner's Heart it closes that story line amongst a great adventure on a train and we get to meet the famous Fabrege in Russia.
Lost of enemies and lost of action as you would expect.
A great adventure from a great author
November 4, 2023
Well, it fulfilled the brief: a train ride with steampunk elements. I didn't realize it was horror and zombies ... I haven't read a zombie novel for a long time, and now I remember why I stopped. Too gory for me. It did make me want to read more steampunk novels, though. And more train novels!
February 22, 2019
Enjoyed it but I'm disappointed that we did not learn why Veronica needs a heart. Do I need to go back and read The Executioner's Heart again?
March 4, 2019
I have been looking forward to reading this book for literally years, so perhaps my expectations were unfair, but as much as I love the characters, I can't give this more than 3 stars.
For nearly all of the book the two main characters are apart, the timelines are confused and picking up the threads from the previous novels is tricky unless you've recently re-read them. Overall I am disappointed, but still glad that's I've been able to read it.
For nearly all of the book the two main characters are apart, the timelines are confused and picking up the threads from the previous novels is tricky unless you've recently re-read them. Overall I am disappointed, but still glad that's I've been able to read it.
April 13, 2020
Eh. Such a long wait for this book and it was... middling. Thus far, Mr. George Mann has done an incredible job making each book better than the last. I had high hopes for “The Revenant Express,” but it just didn’t come together for me.
Veronica wasn’t part of the main cast this book, of course, due to the events of the last book. Though she did take part in a flashback subplot that quite honestly could have been a whole book of its own. Interesting villain and machinations. That was concluded too quickly without no clear motivation behind the crime. And there wasn’t a lot of detective work in that, either. It was really Point A to Point B and over again.
What we didn’t see here was a nice murder mystery and plot like the previous books. Instead, it was really just set piece to set piece. Action. Action. Action.
It’s almost like Mann waited so long to write this book because he wasn’t sure what he wanted. Maybe he needed a break. In the end, this shows. The book is nearly 200 pages shorter than its predecessor and clocks in around 240 pages or so. Don’t get me wrong. I love a short book. In fact, I think most books are overwrought. I just don’t think the passion was in this one.
I’m very much looking forward to the next one. Maybe this was meant to set up a grand finale. I sure hope so. This could have been George Mann’s “Murder on the Orient Express.” I would have loved a steampunk riff of that!
Veronica wasn’t part of the main cast this book, of course, due to the events of the last book. Though she did take part in a flashback subplot that quite honestly could have been a whole book of its own. Interesting villain and machinations. That was concluded too quickly without no clear motivation behind the crime. And there wasn’t a lot of detective work in that, either. It was really Point A to Point B and over again.
What we didn’t see here was a nice murder mystery and plot like the previous books. Instead, it was really just set piece to set piece. Action. Action. Action.
It’s almost like Mann waited so long to write this book because he wasn’t sure what he wanted. Maybe he needed a break. In the end, this shows. The book is nearly 200 pages shorter than its predecessor and clocks in around 240 pages or so. Don’t get me wrong. I love a short book. In fact, I think most books are overwrought. I just don’t think the passion was in this one.
I’m very much looking forward to the next one. Maybe this was meant to set up a grand finale. I sure hope so. This could have been George Mann’s “Murder on the Orient Express.” I would have loved a steampunk riff of that!
November 27, 2022
CAWPILE 7.43
Re-Read for the Final Book Support Group November 2022.
Really enjoyed this part of Newbury and Hobbes, Seeing Amelia in the real world and the train setting were fantastic. It's left off and I can't wait to go straight into the sequel which was sadly delayed until 2022.
Really clever, I love the mix of timelines and the characters that are being followed. Loved seeing more of Veronica's sister Amelia and her journey on the train to St Petersberg with Sir Maurice. It's set up perfectly for the last in the series and I can't wait until it comes out in 2021.
The Bonus short story at the end was really fun too.
Re-Read for the Final Book Support Group November 2022.
Really enjoyed this part of Newbury and Hobbes, Seeing Amelia in the real world and the train setting were fantastic. It's left off and I can't wait to go straight into the sequel which was sadly delayed until 2022.
Really clever, I love the mix of timelines and the characters that are being followed. Loved seeing more of Veronica's sister Amelia and her journey on the train to St Petersberg with Sir Maurice. It's set up perfectly for the last in the series and I can't wait until it comes out in 2021.
The Bonus short story at the end was really fun too.
March 25, 2019
Welp. Some of you may or may not know but I recently upped my Affinity Bridge rating from 3 stars to 4 stars. This one actually should be 2 stars but I’m in a particularly good mood.
Things that I liked:
Mann’s writing has improved immensely. His dialogue always felt really campy and well... stupid. But this time around I felt natural progression and interesting exchanges.
Nothing felt unnecessary. Something else I’ve noticed is that Mann is much better at writing short stories, and when it comes to novels it feels drawn out. This one everything was straight to the point, but also not fleshed out enough. The story is only 250 pages and it went way too fast.
That being said I really can’t get over how much better his writing has gotten. Like it’s amazing.
Things I thought were okay:
Characters. It’s no secret that Mann doesn’t have the best characters, but they did improve. I never liked Newbury, I thought he was pathetic, but here he was so determined and actually useful that I was impressed.
I actually liked Bainbridge for the first time as well. I sort of considered him a bit useless but he actually had something to do. And he actually had a fleshed out personality
Amelia is a boring character. I’m sorry but I don’t like her. Her only purpose is to be a soft spot for Veronica and when she’s given an actual role well, it falls apart. I liked it when she only had like two or three lines. She was always a plot device to me rather than a fully realized character. And here it shows.
Now onto the character I always said was my favorite: Veronica. Forgettable. She didn’t do much in her parts, barely said anything. Disappointing because it always felt like Mann had something for her to do. Also, I want to know more about her. She still has no backstory or anything. She’s well... lame in this.
Things that I didn’t like:
The mystery I solved in two seconds. Mann isn’t the best mystery writer. If you want twists and turns then this isn’t the place to go. I hate whodunnits personally, so I normally don’t mind. But I was like come ON. There was literally only one suspect. He did try to add a red herring, but it was so obvious that it wasn’t them. And there was only one red herring. Aren’t there normally... more? On the Veronica side, it was the kind of mystery I prefer, where we solve the case along with the detectives. BUT they did not mix well. A closed circle mystery only works if there’s multiple suspects. More on this on down.
The setting. We were on a goddamn train the whole time. I know it was based off of Murder on the Orient Express, but I hate that book so I felt claustrophobic here. I will credit Christie, she used the closed circle mystery to her advantage. She gave everyone a motive, and had multiple suspects. That doesn’t happen here. But luckily we switched back and forth between the train and then London of the past. Which brings me to here.
The story is so disjointed this time around. We are constantly shifting perspectives with no real warning. I felt dizzy. Parallel mysteries only work if they’re actually parallel, they were not here.
THE FUCKING VILLAIN IS SO FUCKING STUPID OMG! Yes I’m talking about them again. They suck. Their motives were so stupid and when they died, and I read that sentence (you all know what I mean) I rolled my eyes so hard that I saw the Buddha himself. Easily my least favorite villain in this series, and that’s saying something because all of them save for maybe the executioner sucked.
Conflict was resolved through punching, which is the worst way to resolve conflict. Imo it should come down to characters and then fighting. Not just fighting. Everything was rushed at the end. Just why?
Overall:
It’s fun, but it’s like all the other N&H books. They’re fun but they lack something. The characters are lacking, the plots are thin, at the end there’s always some long over the top action sequence that I skip. But I know what Mann writes is punchy action, it’s not supposed to be some sort of character driven, plot heavy mystery. It’s fluff. He just wants you to have a good time, and I respect that. It’s better than pretentious drivel I’ve sat through before.
I am excited for the next one. Hopefully it doesn’t take another five years to release. Even if it does I hope that it’s longer. I feel a little bad for everyone who read Executioners Heart way back when and got reintroduced to the series like this. This book was weak and very short. I was hoping for a big comeback. This was very lukewarm.
3/5 I still did enjoy it and I am excited for the graphic novel next month. As for the books The Immorality Engine is still the best one in the series.
Things that I liked:
Mann’s writing has improved immensely. His dialogue always felt really campy and well... stupid. But this time around I felt natural progression and interesting exchanges.
Nothing felt unnecessary. Something else I’ve noticed is that Mann is much better at writing short stories, and when it comes to novels it feels drawn out. This one everything was straight to the point, but also not fleshed out enough. The story is only 250 pages and it went way too fast.
That being said I really can’t get over how much better his writing has gotten. Like it’s amazing.
Things I thought were okay:
Characters. It’s no secret that Mann doesn’t have the best characters, but they did improve. I never liked Newbury, I thought he was pathetic, but here he was so determined and actually useful that I was impressed.
I actually liked Bainbridge for the first time as well. I sort of considered him a bit useless but he actually had something to do. And he actually had a fleshed out personality
Amelia is a boring character. I’m sorry but I don’t like her. Her only purpose is to be a soft spot for Veronica and when she’s given an actual role well, it falls apart. I liked it when she only had like two or three lines. She was always a plot device to me rather than a fully realized character. And here it shows.
Now onto the character I always said was my favorite: Veronica. Forgettable. She didn’t do much in her parts, barely said anything. Disappointing because it always felt like Mann had something for her to do. Also, I want to know more about her. She still has no backstory or anything. She’s well... lame in this.
Things that I didn’t like:
The mystery I solved in two seconds. Mann isn’t the best mystery writer. If you want twists and turns then this isn’t the place to go. I hate whodunnits personally, so I normally don’t mind. But I was like come ON. There was literally only one suspect. He did try to add a red herring, but it was so obvious that it wasn’t them. And there was only one red herring. Aren’t there normally... more? On the Veronica side, it was the kind of mystery I prefer, where we solve the case along with the detectives. BUT they did not mix well. A closed circle mystery only works if there’s multiple suspects. More on this on down.
The setting. We were on a goddamn train the whole time. I know it was based off of Murder on the Orient Express, but I hate that book so I felt claustrophobic here. I will credit Christie, she used the closed circle mystery to her advantage. She gave everyone a motive, and had multiple suspects. That doesn’t happen here. But luckily we switched back and forth between the train and then London of the past. Which brings me to here.
The story is so disjointed this time around. We are constantly shifting perspectives with no real warning. I felt dizzy. Parallel mysteries only work if they’re actually parallel, they were not here.
THE FUCKING VILLAIN IS SO FUCKING STUPID OMG! Yes I’m talking about them again. They suck. Their motives were so stupid and when they died, and I read that sentence (you all know what I mean) I rolled my eyes so hard that I saw the Buddha himself. Easily my least favorite villain in this series, and that’s saying something because all of them save for maybe the executioner sucked.
Conflict was resolved through punching, which is the worst way to resolve conflict. Imo it should come down to characters and then fighting. Not just fighting. Everything was rushed at the end. Just why?
Overall:
It’s fun, but it’s like all the other N&H books. They’re fun but they lack something. The characters are lacking, the plots are thin, at the end there’s always some long over the top action sequence that I skip. But I know what Mann writes is punchy action, it’s not supposed to be some sort of character driven, plot heavy mystery. It’s fluff. He just wants you to have a good time, and I respect that. It’s better than pretentious drivel I’ve sat through before.
I am excited for the next one. Hopefully it doesn’t take another five years to release. Even if it does I hope that it’s longer. I feel a little bad for everyone who read Executioners Heart way back when and got reintroduced to the series like this. This book was weak and very short. I was hoping for a big comeback. This was very lukewarm.
3/5 I still did enjoy it and I am excited for the graphic novel next month. As for the books The Immorality Engine is still the best one in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2021
I've long enjoyed George Mann's Newbury & Hobbes series, but I don't know what the heck happened here. With a six-year gap between the previous title (THE EXECUTIONER'S HEART) and this book being ridiculously priced when it finally did come out ($35CDN for a slim 220-page hardcover) I ended up sleeping on THE REVENANT EXPRESS until now, and probably could've done with hitting the snooze button another time or three before cracking into it.
What we have here is two stories twined together. It's a formula that has worked well in the previous books, and is used to some success here. Newbury and Amelia Hobbes are on a quest to Russia aboard the titular train, while Bainbridge and Veronica Hobbes investigate a series of strange deaths in London. As is to be expected in these books, we follow alternating POV characters between chapters, but it turns out one of these plots is technically backstory to the other and it's not really made clear until late in the book that the two stories being told are not taking place concurrently. It doesn't help that the mystery plot Bainbridge and Veronica are chasing feels rather half-baked, either. One wonders if the twined plots might've been better served by splitting them off into separate novellas.
In the Newbury chapters, we're told Veronica is on her deathbed. In the Veronica chapters, we're told Newbury is pursuing a previous villain across the English countryside. Subterfuge and deception have long been hallmarks of these books, so it's not a stretch to assume either of these is a lie... but without knowing one of these plots is set months (if not years) before the other, the result is confusion. Most of the Newbury & Hobbes books to date can be picked up with no prior knowledge of the series, but not this one.
All that said, it's well-written with some lovely turns of phrase, the action is tight and exciting, and the characters remain enjoyable. The setting is still a fun steampunk world, and it was good to finally see the revenant plague (which, as I recall, is mentioned on the first page of the first book) as an active plot element, when it has rarely been factor prior to this. One also wonders how effective , too
Not the strongest in the series by any measure, THE REVENANT EXPRESS feels like a mid-season filler episode. It's also the slimmest volume in the series by a wide margin; the other books average 350pgs, so why did this one come in a full third shorter? Even the collection of Newbury & Hobbes short stories outweighs this book by nearly 100pgs. In the end, this one is only really worth your time if you've read the rest of the series, and plan to continue on to the next book (due out next year). There's only to be one more volume of the Newbury & Hobbes series, so I'll stick it out to the end.
What we have here is two stories twined together. It's a formula that has worked well in the previous books, and is used to some success here. Newbury and Amelia Hobbes are on a quest to Russia aboard the titular train, while Bainbridge and Veronica Hobbes investigate a series of strange deaths in London. As is to be expected in these books, we follow alternating POV characters between chapters, but it turns out one of these plots is technically backstory to the other and it's not really made clear until late in the book that the two stories being told are not taking place concurrently. It doesn't help that the mystery plot Bainbridge and Veronica are chasing feels rather half-baked, either. One wonders if the twined plots might've been better served by splitting them off into separate novellas.
In the Newbury chapters, we're told Veronica is on her deathbed. In the Veronica chapters, we're told Newbury is pursuing a previous villain across the English countryside. Subterfuge and deception have long been hallmarks of these books, so it's not a stretch to assume either of these is a lie... but without knowing one of these plots is set months (if not years) before the other, the result is confusion. Most of the Newbury & Hobbes books to date can be picked up with no prior knowledge of the series, but not this one.
All that said, it's well-written with some lovely turns of phrase, the action is tight and exciting, and the characters remain enjoyable. The setting is still a fun steampunk world, and it was good to finally see the revenant plague (which, as I recall, is mentioned on the first page of the first book) as an active plot element, when it has rarely been factor prior to this. One also wonders how effective , too
Not the strongest in the series by any measure, THE REVENANT EXPRESS feels like a mid-season filler episode. It's also the slimmest volume in the series by a wide margin; the other books average 350pgs, so why did this one come in a full third shorter? Even the collection of Newbury & Hobbes short stories outweighs this book by nearly 100pgs. In the end, this one is only really worth your time if you've read the rest of the series, and plan to continue on to the next book (due out next year). There's only to be one more volume of the Newbury & Hobbes series, so I'll stick it out to the end.
February 12, 2019
This is an action-packed read, given that it is only just over 250 pages long. Mann certainly manages to keep the tempo fast and furious as both Veronica Hobbes and Maurice Newbury are both attempting to tackle a terrible threat. Although I enjoyed the excellent action scenes, particularly on the train – I am a tad concerned about a major anomaly. We are told in the blurb that Veronica is close to death – so I actually reread the opening chapter in which she features, and at no time do we get a sense in her viewpoint that she’s anything other than a tad cold and miserable while standing in the pouring rain. While close to death, she happily goes off to get involved in a demanding case with Sir Charles Bainbridge and doesn’t mention feeling slightly unwell at any stage.
While in the ordinary run of things, this issues would be a dealbreaker, they aren’t this time around, simply because I like the world and the characters so much. It doesn’t hurt that this particular adventure is largely set on a train travelling across Europe, so a lot of the action doesn’t impact the wider story arc. The gruesome nature of the infection causing all sorts of havoc presents a real danger to our trusty protagonists – and has Mann has already demonstrated that he isn’t shy of killing off some main characters, I found myself paying real attention to the very dramatic fights.
That said, something clearly occurred that threw a major spanner in the works regarding Mann’s writing. I hope he is able to get back on track to write the next exciting instalment, but if he can’t or doesn’t – that’s okay, too. I do wince sometimes at the angry impatience of some readers while waiting for the next book. Everyone experiences major upsets in their lives – including authors in the middle of writing a popular series. In the meantime this series is recommended for fans of steampunk adventure with a gothic feel.
While I obtained an arc of The Revenant Express from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10
While in the ordinary run of things, this issues would be a dealbreaker, they aren’t this time around, simply because I like the world and the characters so much. It doesn’t hurt that this particular adventure is largely set on a train travelling across Europe, so a lot of the action doesn’t impact the wider story arc. The gruesome nature of the infection causing all sorts of havoc presents a real danger to our trusty protagonists – and has Mann has already demonstrated that he isn’t shy of killing off some main characters, I found myself paying real attention to the very dramatic fights.
That said, something clearly occurred that threw a major spanner in the works regarding Mann’s writing. I hope he is able to get back on track to write the next exciting instalment, but if he can’t or doesn’t – that’s okay, too. I do wince sometimes at the angry impatience of some readers while waiting for the next book. Everyone experiences major upsets in their lives – including authors in the middle of writing a popular series. In the meantime this series is recommended for fans of steampunk adventure with a gothic feel.
While I obtained an arc of The Revenant Express from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10
April 27, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Revenant Express is the 5th book in theNewbury and Hobbes mystery series by George Mann. This series reminds me a lot of The Avengers (the Steed & Peel Avengers, that is), set in an alternate Victorian steampunk world. There are steam trains (with a central train subplot set on an intercontinental steam train reminiscent of the Orient express), magic, secret societies, a clockwork heart (<3 the author's nod to Fabergè), spies, counterintelligence, skullduggery, creepy science, zombies (zombies!), trains, and more.
Released 12th Feb 2019 by Tor books, it's 256 pages and available in hardcover, audio-, and ebook formats.
This is a surprisingly intricate book with multiple intertwining subplots and a large number of returning characters; as such, it doesn't work well at all as a standalone. I was unfamiliar with the series before I started reading, and I was forced to go back to read the first book to have a clue what was going on.
Whilst I am a fan of steampunk fantasy, I'm not much of a horror fan, and this series is a lot more in the horror vein than I prefer, honestly. That being said, however, this is a well crafted book with taut plotting and pacing, good and believable dialogue, and well written characters who follow internal motivations. I enjoyed it enough that I believe I will pick up the next book in the series at least.
Four stars, well written and extremely creepy.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
The Revenant Express is the 5th book in theNewbury and Hobbes mystery series by George Mann. This series reminds me a lot of The Avengers (the Steed & Peel Avengers, that is), set in an alternate Victorian steampunk world. There are steam trains (with a central train subplot set on an intercontinental steam train reminiscent of the Orient express), magic, secret societies, a clockwork heart (<3 the author's nod to Fabergè), spies, counterintelligence, skullduggery, creepy science, zombies (zombies!), trains, and more.
Released 12th Feb 2019 by Tor books, it's 256 pages and available in hardcover, audio-, and ebook formats.
This is a surprisingly intricate book with multiple intertwining subplots and a large number of returning characters; as such, it doesn't work well at all as a standalone. I was unfamiliar with the series before I started reading, and I was forced to go back to read the first book to have a clue what was going on.
Whilst I am a fan of steampunk fantasy, I'm not much of a horror fan, and this series is a lot more in the horror vein than I prefer, honestly. That being said, however, this is a well crafted book with taut plotting and pacing, good and believable dialogue, and well written characters who follow internal motivations. I enjoyed it enough that I believe I will pick up the next book in the series at least.
Four stars, well written and extremely creepy.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
February 12, 2019
George Mann is a relatively new author to me who is fast becoming a favourite. In 2018 I read and loved his Wychwood duology (duology at the moment but I hope there may be more...…) and I was really excited to pick up another one of his books.
I will start by saying that I have not read the previous books in this series and, to be honest, I wish I had and that is something I am certainly going to remedy when I get my hands on the previous books. Although this is one of those books that you absolutely can pick up as a stand alone away from the series, I had the feeling that there was something I was missing in the background of the characters, which I would pick up easily had I read the previous books.
The above said, I enjoyed the mystery in this novel, the whodoneit element is an element in a novel that I particularly enjoy so that was a huge part of why I thoroughly enjoyed this. For it, it also had an element of comedy in parts, especially nearer the beginning of the novel where Sir Maurice is on a train with a lady (who I won't identify as I am not sure whether that is a spoiler for previous books or not) and there is someone at the door wanting to come in thinking there is a serious problem but the problem Sir Maurice has is that there is a dead body in his room. The way that scene was handled and what they did made me giggle.
A really enjoyable whodoneit mystery that I am looking forward to picking up more and learning more about this world.
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
I will start by saying that I have not read the previous books in this series and, to be honest, I wish I had and that is something I am certainly going to remedy when I get my hands on the previous books. Although this is one of those books that you absolutely can pick up as a stand alone away from the series, I had the feeling that there was something I was missing in the background of the characters, which I would pick up easily had I read the previous books.
The above said, I enjoyed the mystery in this novel, the whodoneit element is an element in a novel that I particularly enjoy so that was a huge part of why I thoroughly enjoyed this. For it, it also had an element of comedy in parts, especially nearer the beginning of the novel where Sir Maurice is on a train with a lady (who I won't identify as I am not sure whether that is a spoiler for previous books or not) and there is someone at the door wanting to come in thinking there is a serious problem but the problem Sir Maurice has is that there is a dead body in his room. The way that scene was handled and what they did made me giggle.
A really enjoyable whodoneit mystery that I am looking forward to picking up more and learning more about this world.
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
June 2, 2019
The Revenant Express brims with adventure and danger, creating an exciting race to get to the bottom of multiple mysteries. There’s never a loss for action as the reader is sent down two pathways that converge at the end. With so much to do, I was entranced by the story, flying between narratives and getting to know these well-established characters who are new to me. I haven’t read the previous four books, but that wasn’t an issue with this fifth book in the Newberry & Hobbes series. As far as genre, we have Victorian mystery-solving combined with steampunk influences, occult magic, zombies, and mysterious creatures. Needless to say, it’s a fascinating combination of genres and sub-genres.
The steampunk elements in The Revenant Express were pretty light. There were definite mentions, and an overarching goal involving a fascinating mechanical object but overall, it was more mystery than steampunk. The train itself is a marvel to imagine with its two-story train cars and epic steam engine. There are horrors hiding at the front, to be sure, but overall it’s extremely glamorous and quite Victorian. Coupled with an on-the-streets mystery narrative in early 1900’s London, the settings created an imaginative journey.
Overall, The Revenant Express is an impressive feat, combining a handful of genres to create a well-connected narrative that is sure to be a much-sought-after addition to this series. It was a great way to spend a Sunday morning, and I look forward to the future of the series.
NOTE: I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
The steampunk elements in The Revenant Express were pretty light. There were definite mentions, and an overarching goal involving a fascinating mechanical object but overall, it was more mystery than steampunk. The train itself is a marvel to imagine with its two-story train cars and epic steam engine. There are horrors hiding at the front, to be sure, but overall it’s extremely glamorous and quite Victorian. Coupled with an on-the-streets mystery narrative in early 1900’s London, the settings created an imaginative journey.
Overall, The Revenant Express is an impressive feat, combining a handful of genres to create a well-connected narrative that is sure to be a much-sought-after addition to this series. It was a great way to spend a Sunday morning, and I look forward to the future of the series.
NOTE: I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
August 21, 2019
"The Revenant Express: A Newbury & Hobbes Investigation" eBook was published in 2019 and was written by George Mann. Mr. Mann has published more than a dozen novels. This is the fifth in his "Newbury & Hobbes Investigations" series.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in a Victorian Europe, though not our own.
Sir Maurice Newbury is headed to Russia with Veronica's sister Amelia to pick up a mechanical heart. The heart has been made by Faberge. Meanwhile Veronica lies ill in London. Their other team member, Sir Charles Bainbridge, is also in London trying to determine who is infection prominent men with the Revenant plague.
I enjoyed the 5 hours I spent reading this 234-page steampunk mystery. This is not the ifirst novel in the series and this novel expected the reader to be familiar with the ongoing plot and characters. I recommend reading them in order. I do like the selected cover art. I give this novel a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in a Victorian Europe, though not our own.
Sir Maurice Newbury is headed to Russia with Veronica's sister Amelia to pick up a mechanical heart. The heart has been made by Faberge. Meanwhile Veronica lies ill in London. Their other team member, Sir Charles Bainbridge, is also in London trying to determine who is infection prominent men with the Revenant plague.
I enjoyed the 5 hours I spent reading this 234-page steampunk mystery. This is not the ifirst novel in the series and this novel expected the reader to be familiar with the ongoing plot and characters. I recommend reading them in order. I do like the selected cover art. I give this novel a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
July 26, 2021
George Mann’s entertainingly envisaged late Victorian cyberpunk-meets-zombies (revenants, here) world continues immediately on from The Executioner’s Heart with two interlinked asynchronous stories as Newberry and (Amelia) Hobbes race across Europe for a clockwork heart to collect a clockwork heart to save Veronica Hobbes. Despite the adventure, and the fairly non-stop pacing, however, it feels like a bit of placekeeper, although necessary to shift the series’ narrative introducing Amelia as something other than Veronica’s ailing sister and shifting the (now) trio’s relationship with the state, and especially the Queen.
The asynchronicity works fairly well, but is a difficult device to pull off and doesn’t bear too much thinking about given that on the one hand Veronica is dying, while on the other she is actively pursuing a case – but bear with it, it comes clear towards eventually and Mann works hard to keep a sense of mystique about what’s going on. But, all in all, this is primarily about the shift in the overarching narrative and in some ways the test will be in what Mann does with that. This volume also comes with a non-revenant short story that harks back to the pre-revenant-plague tales: it is promising, but I fear that time has passed.
The asynchronicity works fairly well, but is a difficult device to pull off and doesn’t bear too much thinking about given that on the one hand Veronica is dying, while on the other she is actively pursuing a case – but bear with it, it comes clear towards eventually and Mann works hard to keep a sense of mystique about what’s going on. But, all in all, this is primarily about the shift in the overarching narrative and in some ways the test will be in what Mann does with that. This volume also comes with a non-revenant short story that harks back to the pre-revenant-plague tales: it is promising, but I fear that time has passed.
April 10, 2019
Take this as a review from an interested but uninformed reader who picked this up based on its premise but with no exposure to the series prior.
This is a short, lightly steam-punkish take on Murder on the Orient Express. The narrative is split between an investigation in London (of a spore-based virus) and a train (where several bizarre and not-directly related events are hampering our protagonists).
I found the narrative engaging and the pace breezy but I think my lack of familiarity with the characters and the overall scenario leading into this book really hampered my enjoyment of it. I didn't realize the book was going to be so explicitly episodic, as it seemed to assume prior knowledge of a great deal of lore that I was, in fact, not. The central train story, and its multiple antagonist set-up, was particularly problematic in that regard, as it appeared that all of them had previous lore associated with them that I, as an unfamiliar reader, had to largely infer.
Based on this text, I may consider reading the first book in the series at some point, but based on this book I highly advise interested readers to only tackle this series in order.
This is a short, lightly steam-punkish take on Murder on the Orient Express. The narrative is split between an investigation in London (of a spore-based virus) and a train (where several bizarre and not-directly related events are hampering our protagonists).
I found the narrative engaging and the pace breezy but I think my lack of familiarity with the characters and the overall scenario leading into this book really hampered my enjoyment of it. I didn't realize the book was going to be so explicitly episodic, as it seemed to assume prior knowledge of a great deal of lore that I was, in fact, not. The central train story, and its multiple antagonist set-up, was particularly problematic in that regard, as it appeared that all of them had previous lore associated with them that I, as an unfamiliar reader, had to largely infer.
Based on this text, I may consider reading the first book in the series at some point, but based on this book I highly advise interested readers to only tackle this series in order.
November 20, 2021
Since this is the fifth book in a series, it is obvious I’ve missed a lot of background material/info. Snippets of info about previous adventures thrown in, bad guys from earlier stories, etc., made it herky-jerky. I was not familiar with ‘steam-punk’ sci-fI. (Don’t know if that is the correct terminology.)
It was an interesting combination of miraculous mechanical machines, robots, etc., and medical science running out of control - biological warfare meets locomotive power.
Not quite sure why the queen of England is a villainess, but there you go. I felt there were significant holes in the story. For example, I could not figure out how one of the heroines could be actively involved in the mystery in this chapter, and deathly ill in a hospital in the next. Nor how a ‘mad scientist’ could be working in a lab, and then dead in a coffin on a train in the very next chapter. Not sure how I missed the time jump. It was a short novel, and I don’t think I skipped pages. The action was pretty much non-stop. The ending was a cliff-hanger, so it felt the episode in this book was only half-told.
Will read another? Only if I get it for free.
It was an interesting combination of miraculous mechanical machines, robots, etc., and medical science running out of control - biological warfare meets locomotive power.
Not quite sure why the queen of England is a villainess, but there you go. I felt there were significant holes in the story. For example, I could not figure out how one of the heroines could be actively involved in the mystery in this chapter, and deathly ill in a hospital in the next. Nor how a ‘mad scientist’ could be working in a lab, and then dead in a coffin on a train in the very next chapter. Not sure how I missed the time jump. It was a short novel, and I don’t think I skipped pages. The action was pretty much non-stop. The ending was a cliff-hanger, so it felt the episode in this book was only half-told.
Will read another? Only if I get it for free.
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