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Clockwork Gypsy
A diabolical plot is afoot to kill thousands by connecting England’s railway lines to a deadly curse. The beautiful and mysterious Mingli Zhao, Special Inspector to Scotland Yard, enlists the help of Leopold Kazsmer, the Great Enchanter, who uses his skills with summoning Jewish daemons to perform true magic to help solve supernatural crimes. Meanwhile, a Hungarian Romani—part man, part clockwork—will stop at nothing to kill the man he believes is responsible for his hell of an existence that is slowly grinding his mind into the nothingness of gears and pistons. It’s a race against time for Leopold to stop the fiendish plot of the railway barons, fight off a plutocratic society of goblins, struggle to gain the romantic attentions of Miss Zhao…and discover the identity of the Clockwork Gypsy before he kills again.
- GenresParanormalFantasyMystery
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2020
3 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Jeri Westerson
50 books427 followersLos Angeles native JERI WESTERSON currently writes two new series: a Tudor mystery series, the King’s Fool Mysteries, with Henry VIII’s real court jester Will Somers as the sleuth and a Sherlockian pastiche series called An Irregular Detective Mystery, with one of Holmes’ former Baker Street Irregulars opening his own detective agency. She’s also written fifteen Crispin Guest Medieval Noir Mysteries, a series nominated for thirteen awards from the Agatha, to the Macavity, to the Shamus. She’s written several paranormal series (including a gaslamp-steampunk fantasy series), standalone historical novels, and had stories in several anthologies, the latest of which was included in SOUTH CENTRAL NOIR, an Akashic Noir anthology. She has served as president of the SoCal Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, president and vice president for two chapters of Sisters in Crime (Orange County and Los Angeles), and is also a founding member of the SoCal chapter of the Historical Novel Society. See JeriWesterson.com for discussion guides, book trailers, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 31, 2020
Picking up six months from the end of the The Daemon Device, Leopold Kazsmer is still trying to figure out what his new normal is. After his world was thrown upside down, he is off balance and uncertain where his future lies- as well as his confusing feelings for the absent investigator Mingli. When Mingli shows up out of the blue to get Leopold's help on a very complicated supernatural case, Leopold is jumps in with both feet. Hopefully he can figure out his feelings for Mingli, solve the case and stay one step ahead of the person stalking him.
The Enchanter Chronicles can best be described as a historical mystery with supernatural and steampunk elements. The mystery felt very methodical, with an almost Sherlock Holmes vibe, where every lead is followed and facts are discovered and the puzzle pieces are assembled. But then we add in the supernatural elements such as demons, magic, fae and scary goblins that want to eat people and the craziest kind of glamour. And sprinkle in a dash of steampunk with spectacles that allow other dimensions to be viewed, umbrellas that are more than meets the eye, men who are not made of flesh, inspectors who have inventions that are so intricate they are almost magic themselves.
My favorite part of the story is all characters and the dynamic between them. We have Leopold who is very naïve for a demon summoner/Romani thief/very public magician, always being prim and proper in every situation and having no idea how to act on his romantic feelings. He is the main character so we know him very well and I found him to be very real, full of doubts and uncertainty just like anyone else. But the side characters were just as detailed and interesting as Leopold, and I loved them all together. We have a demon best friend/parent-like figure, an automaton that gives tarot readings and has the most human emotions, a ghost detective who should never have been made into a ghost, and a mysterious no-nonsense female investigator who shows up out of the blue and mixes everything up in the best of ways.
This series is 100% unique and the perfect choice for anyone who likes a paranormal twists to their classic historical mystery. You will never see the surprises coming, but I strongly recommend picking up the first book and starting there!
The Enchanter Chronicles can best be described as a historical mystery with supernatural and steampunk elements. The mystery felt very methodical, with an almost Sherlock Holmes vibe, where every lead is followed and facts are discovered and the puzzle pieces are assembled. But then we add in the supernatural elements such as demons, magic, fae and scary goblins that want to eat people and the craziest kind of glamour. And sprinkle in a dash of steampunk with spectacles that allow other dimensions to be viewed, umbrellas that are more than meets the eye, men who are not made of flesh, inspectors who have inventions that are so intricate they are almost magic themselves.
My favorite part of the story is all characters and the dynamic between them. We have Leopold who is very naïve for a demon summoner/Romani thief/very public magician, always being prim and proper in every situation and having no idea how to act on his romantic feelings. He is the main character so we know him very well and I found him to be very real, full of doubts and uncertainty just like anyone else. But the side characters were just as detailed and interesting as Leopold, and I loved them all together. We have a demon best friend/parent-like figure, an automaton that gives tarot readings and has the most human emotions, a ghost detective who should never have been made into a ghost, and a mysterious no-nonsense female investigator who shows up out of the blue and mixes everything up in the best of ways.
This series is 100% unique and the perfect choice for anyone who likes a paranormal twists to their classic historical mystery. You will never see the surprises coming, but I strongly recommend picking up the first book and starting there!
November 11, 2020
Leopold Kazsmer is everything you could ask for in a stage magician, ambition, showmanship, drive, engaging and magic. One of the reasons I love Jeri Westerson's writing is her ability to create such complex characters that are never static or get stale. Each character will have continued character growth not only in the book, but as the series progresses. Here, Leopold finds himself in the middle of a mystery, and discovers that there is more to the world than just the magic that he has devoted his life to studying. Trying to discover the secrets behind a new and dangerous railroad, working once again with Inspector Zhao, Leopold is also being stalked by a Clockwork Gypsy, who has set out to kill him. The book has a great flow and the story is engaging. The cover itself is a striking representation of part of the book, and you will find illustrations that bring elements of the book to life here as well.
I don't want to give away plot points, because the discovery of these is part of the fun in reading it. This was a fun read and I am looking forward to the next in the series.
I don't want to give away plot points, because the discovery of these is part of the fun in reading it. This was a fun read and I am looking forward to the next in the series.
February 15, 2021
. . . Join magician-illusionist Leopold Kazsmer as he searches the dangerous streets of late nineteenth century London on a quest to rescue his long-missing father while redeeming misdeeds of his youth in Clockwork Gypsy, Book 2 of the Enchanter Chronicles, written by Jeri Westerman, a September 2020 release out of Dagua Press.
For fans of steampunk with a twist, this is the book for you. Magician—illusionist Leo enjoys the respect and loyalty of a host of human and not-quite-human pals who are there to help, no matter the nature of his quest. The reader is reintroduced to characters from Book 1 of this energetic series: two Scotland Yard inspectors, one an Asian woman, the other a spirit with a whippy sense of humor. Add a few more varied species to the mix in the form of goblins and fairies, demons and trolls in this fast moving, page turner of an adventure. The fun never ends with this one.
On a scale of 1-5, Clockwork Gypsy deserves a 5.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
For fans of steampunk with a twist, this is the book for you. Magician—illusionist Leo enjoys the respect and loyalty of a host of human and not-quite-human pals who are there to help, no matter the nature of his quest. The reader is reintroduced to characters from Book 1 of this energetic series: two Scotland Yard inspectors, one an Asian woman, the other a spirit with a whippy sense of humor. Add a few more varied species to the mix in the form of goblins and fairies, demons and trolls in this fast moving, page turner of an adventure. The fun never ends with this one.
On a scale of 1-5, Clockwork Gypsy deserves a 5.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
September 19, 2021
Can’t wait for next book
I enjoyed this book very much! Steampunk, magic, history, ethnicity are all in one story. The author then goes on to engage a troop of amazing friends for our protagonist.
I enjoyed this book very much! Steampunk, magic, history, ethnicity are all in one story. The author then goes on to engage a troop of amazing friends for our protagonist.
July 8, 2024
I really like her characters and the historical fiction setting but I am not that biga fan of the plot or demon/ghost fiction
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March 12, 2021Westerson masterfully conjures up a throng of gollums and goblins, a tarot-card-reading automaton, demons and daemons, ghosts, faeries, trolls, pixies, a clubroom of ensorcelled men, and the creepy “clockwork gypsy” himself. All mingle and clash in a pseudo-Victorian London replete with bionic body parts, magic goggles, dirigibles, stinky trains, Scotland Yard, dingy theaters, and smog and pea-soup fog.
More at Historical Novel Society
More at Historical Novel Society
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews