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Dexter & Sinister: Detecting Agents (A STEAMPUNK MURDER MYSTERY)
John Sinister is not having a good week.
Hired to look into some shady goings on at the airship factory, his investigation has barely begun before people start dying. Soon he's on the wrong side of some fairly unpleasant people, and that's before he meets Dexter, the world's only walking, talking, mechanical cat. That's when things get complicated.
With secret societies, arrogant aristocrats, and criminal chocolatiers to contend with, John and Dexter will have to keep their wits about them if they're going to come out of this alive. And if John happens to fall in love with his employer's daughter along the way, well nobody said catching a killer was going to be easy now did they?
Hired to look into some shady goings on at the airship factory, his investigation has barely begun before people start dying. Soon he's on the wrong side of some fairly unpleasant people, and that's before he meets Dexter, the world's only walking, talking, mechanical cat. That's when things get complicated.
With secret societies, arrogant aristocrats, and criminal chocolatiers to contend with, John and Dexter will have to keep their wits about them if they're going to come out of this alive. And if John happens to fall in love with his employer's daughter along the way, well nobody said catching a killer was going to be easy now did they?
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 8, 2022
22 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 18, 2020
John Sinister is a clever and rather well-educated young man who barely makes a living even though he attended an upper-crust school in Hammersymth. His luck changes when he's called upon by his very rich old school friend, Henry Chaud. Henry has just returned home from abroad and believes he's found some peculiarities in his family's business and wants John's help in figuring out what it is. And he's willing to pay. John leaps at the chance, but when Henry is found dead in a local river John discovers he's left behind a mechanical cat named Dexter who is convinced that his previous owner was murdered. Was Henry murdered? And what about all those other dead bodies that keep popping up?
This is a delightful and well-written mystery story. Unlike many steampunk books, this one focuses on the characters, but never fear, there are enough cool gadgets to make even the most die-harder steampunker happy. Dexter, the mechanical cat, was a nice addition to the genre, but I felt his partnership with John came a bit late and then they were separated for a number of chapters which seemed odd structurally, though it was well-explained. Then there was Agnes, the bouncer. I loved Agnes and I thought she and John had a terrific partnership that was organic. John Sinister, our lead, was a hoot and fun to read.
If you are a steampunk fan or just enjoy lighthearted mysteries, this is the book for you.
I received this book from the author for a fair and honest review.
This is a delightful and well-written mystery story. Unlike many steampunk books, this one focuses on the characters, but never fear, there are enough cool gadgets to make even the most die-harder steampunker happy. Dexter, the mechanical cat, was a nice addition to the genre, but I felt his partnership with John came a bit late and then they were separated for a number of chapters which seemed odd structurally, though it was well-explained. Then there was Agnes, the bouncer. I loved Agnes and I thought she and John had a terrific partnership that was organic. John Sinister, our lead, was a hoot and fun to read.
If you are a steampunk fan or just enjoy lighthearted mysteries, this is the book for you.
I received this book from the author for a fair and honest review.
August 31, 2022
This was a delightfully quirky and cosy read! Quickly drawing the reader in with a strong narrational presence, Dexter and Sinister reveals its unique steampunk setting and a mystery that needs solving. For a murder mystery, this is also a pretty comforting book; sure, everything feels a bit grey and smoggy, and there’s a killer on the loose, but it felt quintessentially cosy. Although there are some strong human characters in this novel, particular highlights for me were Dexter the mechanical cat and the robo-butler! The mystery itself was satisfying and complicated enough that I didn’t guess anything before the reveal.
A really fun read into which one can escape from the world for a few days!
A really fun read into which one can escape from the world for a few days!
October 12, 2020
My first reading of a steampunk book was eventful! Keith Dickinson crafts a vivid world with strong characters.
I am a huge fan of crime fiction so this mystery was a perfect way for me to segue into a new setting. Dexter and Sinister is an unlikely partner story that has a strong sense of setting and a large, but manageable, cast of characters. Dexter, a smart aleck, robot cat, and Sinister, a less than accomplished gentleman with full potential are paired up, mostly against their will.
Despite how excellent the main characters were written, my favorite character had a smaller part: Agnes Goodenough. Described as six-foot-tall and built like a brick outhouse, Agnes is tough, and rough on the exterior but her motives are pure. She came through in a pinch for our main characters and she was vital to the story. Loved her! Hope she is in the series going forward.
The crime in question was simple, at first, THEN everything started to ramp up. The list of suspects was ever-changing. What I really like about this crime and the way Dickinson writes it is that he really does take simple crimes, motives, and happenings and twist them into an interesting cacophony with the finale. I was able to figure out who the killer was at the end, my deduction skills are high, BUT there was a twist! You’ll have to read and find out.
For a novice reader of anything featuring Steampunk, this was a good start for me. I like the idea of the technology mixing with the commonality of the time period and how the inventions help or hurt our characters.
Highly recommended!
I am a huge fan of crime fiction so this mystery was a perfect way for me to segue into a new setting. Dexter and Sinister is an unlikely partner story that has a strong sense of setting and a large, but manageable, cast of characters. Dexter, a smart aleck, robot cat, and Sinister, a less than accomplished gentleman with full potential are paired up, mostly against their will.
Despite how excellent the main characters were written, my favorite character had a smaller part: Agnes Goodenough. Described as six-foot-tall and built like a brick outhouse, Agnes is tough, and rough on the exterior but her motives are pure. She came through in a pinch for our main characters and she was vital to the story. Loved her! Hope she is in the series going forward.
The crime in question was simple, at first, THEN everything started to ramp up. The list of suspects was ever-changing. What I really like about this crime and the way Dickinson writes it is that he really does take simple crimes, motives, and happenings and twist them into an interesting cacophony with the finale. I was able to figure out who the killer was at the end, my deduction skills are high, BUT there was a twist! You’ll have to read and find out.
For a novice reader of anything featuring Steampunk, this was a good start for me. I like the idea of the technology mixing with the commonality of the time period and how the inventions help or hurt our characters.
Highly recommended!
August 15, 2022
I bought this book on a whim, lured in by the notion of a steam-powered, talking cat as sidekick (or possibly main character) in this Victorian (?) gaslamp detective story. Keith Dickinson has scored a win (and a new fan) with this opening novel in his Hammersmythe Tales. A nicely done mystery, engaging characters, an extremely logical (and polite) giant, and of course Dexter, the aforementioned cat, who pretty much steals the show. Well done, and I look forward to the next installment.
June 27, 2022
Dexter and Sinister Detecting Agents by Keith W Dickinson
BLURB
John Sinister is not having a good week.
Hired to look into some shady goings on at the airship factory, his investigation has barely begun before people start dying. Soon he's on the wrong side of some fairly unpleasant people, and that's before he meets Dexter, the world's only walking, talking, mechanical cat. That's when things get complicated.
With secret societies, arrogant aristocrats, and criminal chocolatiers to contend with, John and Dexter will have to keep their wits about them if they're going to come out of this alive. And if John happens to fall in love with his employer's daughter along the way, well nobody said catching a killer was going to be easy now did they?
Review
This book is a little different from the books I usually review here. It is a crime story, but it’s also a steampunk / urban fantasy story. It has airships, a whirlygig, mechanical horses that blow up, and a steam-driven self-regulating automaton running an experimental analytical engine, that just happens to be in the shape of a cat.
John Sinister is the scholarship boy who’s not doing so well. Then his one real friend from school, the wealthy Henry Chard, turns up and tells him that there’s ‘trouble at mill.’ In this case, the trouble is at Chard Mechanical, just about the largest engineering firm in the Empire, and seems to be a threat to the business. The next day, Henry is dead, and John is thrust into a world of intrigues he hadn’t expected.
Henry’s father is Donald Chard, an industrialist famed across the Britannic Empire, wealthy, powerful, and a touch strange. Paid by Donald, John starts investigating Henry’s death. With the assistance of a letter of authority from Donald Chard, and the reluctant assistance of the police, notably Detective Hardigan. Only to have the rug pulled from under his feet by Donald’s death. Then Dexter asks him to investigate, claiming John should finish the job he’s already been paid for. And so, together, that’s what they do.
Between the covers of this book, the reader finds the strange inventions of Nomko; the memory and repercussions of John beating the Chess Club (seven games in one); Strange goings on at Caesar’s Coffee and Chocolate club; Agnes Goodenough—who is way more than good enough; and the various other characters who are all well drawn for their purpose on the page.
It's a romp. It’s an investigation. It’s life and death, loyalty and betrayal. But mostly, it’s the story of a man who doesn’t quite fit getting used to a talking mechanical cat.
The cat, Dexter, has almost all the best lines. Not to mention typical cat superiority and sarcasm.
Loved it. Highly recommend.
BLURB
John Sinister is not having a good week.
Hired to look into some shady goings on at the airship factory, his investigation has barely begun before people start dying. Soon he's on the wrong side of some fairly unpleasant people, and that's before he meets Dexter, the world's only walking, talking, mechanical cat. That's when things get complicated.
With secret societies, arrogant aristocrats, and criminal chocolatiers to contend with, John and Dexter will have to keep their wits about them if they're going to come out of this alive. And if John happens to fall in love with his employer's daughter along the way, well nobody said catching a killer was going to be easy now did they?
Review
This book is a little different from the books I usually review here. It is a crime story, but it’s also a steampunk / urban fantasy story. It has airships, a whirlygig, mechanical horses that blow up, and a steam-driven self-regulating automaton running an experimental analytical engine, that just happens to be in the shape of a cat.
John Sinister is the scholarship boy who’s not doing so well. Then his one real friend from school, the wealthy Henry Chard, turns up and tells him that there’s ‘trouble at mill.’ In this case, the trouble is at Chard Mechanical, just about the largest engineering firm in the Empire, and seems to be a threat to the business. The next day, Henry is dead, and John is thrust into a world of intrigues he hadn’t expected.
Henry’s father is Donald Chard, an industrialist famed across the Britannic Empire, wealthy, powerful, and a touch strange. Paid by Donald, John starts investigating Henry’s death. With the assistance of a letter of authority from Donald Chard, and the reluctant assistance of the police, notably Detective Hardigan. Only to have the rug pulled from under his feet by Donald’s death. Then Dexter asks him to investigate, claiming John should finish the job he’s already been paid for. And so, together, that’s what they do.
Between the covers of this book, the reader finds the strange inventions of Nomko; the memory and repercussions of John beating the Chess Club (seven games in one); Strange goings on at Caesar’s Coffee and Chocolate club; Agnes Goodenough—who is way more than good enough; and the various other characters who are all well drawn for their purpose on the page.
It's a romp. It’s an investigation. It’s life and death, loyalty and betrayal. But mostly, it’s the story of a man who doesn’t quite fit getting used to a talking mechanical cat.
The cat, Dexter, has almost all the best lines. Not to mention typical cat superiority and sarcasm.
Loved it. Highly recommend.
June 28, 2022
John Sinister is hired to investigate why a former friend/classmate died, followed by that of his employer at the behest of the man's automaton cat (Dexter). Murder, intrigue, the title says it all.
The book didn't exactly gel with me. It was sort of funny, but for me the murder-to-hire employer was obvious. And the hi-jinx that involved a wax museum of replica of Her Majesty being pantsed was chuckle worthy, but I got hung up on three things throughout. One was the cat, which while it is an automaton, is the most advanced AI ever constructed by fluke to the point I'd be more content if say someone shoved a magical amulet up its behind to give it sentience than the actual in the story (his maker can construct a helicopter as his second most advanced contraption, but also fluked something that passes the Turing Test). That, and Dexter doesn't do really any work other than a touch in the last act. The "we're teammates" cohesion could have been more, when it wasn't. The other thing that got me badly throughout the book, is that this maybe 90k novel has only six chapters. You read that right. Six. The author doesn't know how to mark scene breaks, nor chapter breaks, and one chapter took 2 1/2 hours to read. While it didn't hurt the quality of the writing, it was odd. That stuck with me more than anything else.
Dickinson's strong writing trait is sussing info with his dialogue. John's forward questions are thoughtful and he writes a clever character. He knows where his characters are at all times (as does the reader) and builds a collective case against the perpetrators at a clip that is investigative, probing, but not so blind-siding as is common in a lot of mystery books where the author doesn't really know how to make the connection from A to B. The author wraps the plot holes up nicely in a little bow and presents it in perfect packaging. It is smart work. The author wields their knowledgeable clout effectively but without doing the thing of either dumbing down the work or holding their intellect so aloft that the reader is lost from the get-go. And while I dunk on the Dexter and John Sinister lacking the buddy cop duo that the title implies, there is still a character in Dexter. He wants validation and to be cared for, but is too proud to acknowledge it outright; whereas, John clearly sees right through that act and is patient with Dexter. So, there is a lot of great merit in this read.
The book didn't exactly gel with me. It was sort of funny, but for me the murder-to-hire employer was obvious. And the hi-jinx that involved a wax museum of replica of Her Majesty being pantsed was chuckle worthy, but I got hung up on three things throughout. One was the cat, which while it is an automaton, is the most advanced AI ever constructed by fluke to the point I'd be more content if say someone shoved a magical amulet up its behind to give it sentience than the actual in the story (his maker can construct a helicopter as his second most advanced contraption, but also fluked something that passes the Turing Test). That, and Dexter doesn't do really any work other than a touch in the last act. The "we're teammates" cohesion could have been more, when it wasn't. The other thing that got me badly throughout the book, is that this maybe 90k novel has only six chapters. You read that right. Six. The author doesn't know how to mark scene breaks, nor chapter breaks, and one chapter took 2 1/2 hours to read. While it didn't hurt the quality of the writing, it was odd. That stuck with me more than anything else.
Dickinson's strong writing trait is sussing info with his dialogue. John's forward questions are thoughtful and he writes a clever character. He knows where his characters are at all times (as does the reader) and builds a collective case against the perpetrators at a clip that is investigative, probing, but not so blind-siding as is common in a lot of mystery books where the author doesn't really know how to make the connection from A to B. The author wraps the plot holes up nicely in a little bow and presents it in perfect packaging. It is smart work. The author wields their knowledgeable clout effectively but without doing the thing of either dumbing down the work or holding their intellect so aloft that the reader is lost from the get-go. And while I dunk on the Dexter and John Sinister lacking the buddy cop duo that the title implies, there is still a character in Dexter. He wants validation and to be cared for, but is too proud to acknowledge it outright; whereas, John clearly sees right through that act and is patient with Dexter. So, there is a lot of great merit in this read.
May 16, 2024
Fun True Fact: When looking at a coat of arms, the right side is the Dexter, and the left side is the Sinister. The Dexter side is considered to be more honorable than the Sinister side. Keeping that in mind, it's no surprise that while John Sinister may be our protagonist, Dexter, a mechanical cat, steals the show at every turn.
The action pivots on the wealthy Chard family, and the source of their fortune, Chard Mechanical, an engineering company that builds airships and dabbles in wacky inventions. As John tries to learn the factory's secrets in order to solve the murder of the owner's son, he gets more and more tangled up with the Chard's circle of family and business associates.
What brings this all to life is the author's gleeful use of quaint, period-acceptable language, John's gawking astonishment at new technology, and genuinely engaging and fun side characters.
And then there's the cat. Dexter is 90% steam-powered mechanical and 10% sarcasm. He's smart as a whip and sarcastic to the max. But he's also got heart (it's probably clockwork). Don't waste too much time wondering how Dexter works, just roll with it and enjoy his antics.
I love steampunk. I've been into it for a very long time now. Many books in the genre these days have leaned away from the frippery and gadgetry to focus on romance, horror, apocalypse aftermath, supernatural.. the darker the better. That's not a bad thing if the story is good, but for me, Dexter and Sinister was a breath of fresh (albeit sooty) air. It reminded me of that childlike joy so many of us felt the first time we saw a computer keyboard steampunked, or tried on our first pair of goggles. It's a new-ish book that feels wonderfully old school. I enjoyed it immensely.
The action pivots on the wealthy Chard family, and the source of their fortune, Chard Mechanical, an engineering company that builds airships and dabbles in wacky inventions. As John tries to learn the factory's secrets in order to solve the murder of the owner's son, he gets more and more tangled up with the Chard's circle of family and business associates.
What brings this all to life is the author's gleeful use of quaint, period-acceptable language, John's gawking astonishment at new technology, and genuinely engaging and fun side characters.
And then there's the cat. Dexter is 90% steam-powered mechanical and 10% sarcasm. He's smart as a whip and sarcastic to the max. But he's also got heart (it's probably clockwork). Don't waste too much time wondering how Dexter works, just roll with it and enjoy his antics.
I love steampunk. I've been into it for a very long time now. Many books in the genre these days have leaned away from the frippery and gadgetry to focus on romance, horror, apocalypse aftermath, supernatural.. the darker the better. That's not a bad thing if the story is good, but for me, Dexter and Sinister was a breath of fresh (albeit sooty) air. It reminded me of that childlike joy so many of us felt the first time we saw a computer keyboard steampunked, or tried on our first pair of goggles. It's a new-ish book that feels wonderfully old school. I enjoyed it immensely.
June 30, 2025
As advertised, this is a steampunk murder mystery that shows promise as a series by setting up a world and characters that are interesting and well-drawn. John Sinister fits the archetype of the down-on-his-luck protagonist who falls into a new role as private investigator when his best friend is found dead. Unfortunately his investigation brings him into the paths of some of the wealthiest and most important citizens in town, and much of the fun of the story is watching him try to outmaneuver people with infinitely more power, influence, and resources than he possesses.
What he does have is a mechanical cat named Dexter, who appears to be the world's earliest invention of a sentient AI, but unlike in real life, this one is actually helpful (when he isn't busy being sarcastic and critical of John's sometimes bumbling detective work). Their chemistry and a cast of distinctive supporting characters made this a worthwhile read for me. Like many first in series, much of the story is taken up with setting up the premise of a partnership between Dexter and Sinister which I assume will figure even more heavily in future adventures than it does here. I picked out the mystery's villain early on (but then I have read a LOT of mysteries, so I may have an advantage there), and the author assigned two of the side characters dialect characteristics that I found distracting, but overall, if you are into cozy mysteries and enjoy a steampunk setting, I think it will be worth keeping an eye on how this series develops.
What he does have is a mechanical cat named Dexter, who appears to be the world's earliest invention of a sentient AI, but unlike in real life, this one is actually helpful (when he isn't busy being sarcastic and critical of John's sometimes bumbling detective work). Their chemistry and a cast of distinctive supporting characters made this a worthwhile read for me. Like many first in series, much of the story is taken up with setting up the premise of a partnership between Dexter and Sinister which I assume will figure even more heavily in future adventures than it does here. I picked out the mystery's villain early on (but then I have read a LOT of mysteries, so I may have an advantage there), and the author assigned two of the side characters dialect characteristics that I found distracting, but overall, if you are into cozy mysteries and enjoy a steampunk setting, I think it will be worth keeping an eye on how this series develops.
September 4, 2022
This book rambled a bit, but once the reader caught on, it picked up speed. The main characters are a mismatched pair, a friend of the family and an automaton cat, but the plot worked and it was easily followed. The story was fun and the ending sound, with the main pair working themselves out. I can definitely recommend this book.
December 27, 2022
far better than I’d hoped
Decent story and unusual background. Unfortunately, I knew the identity of the culprit long before I wanted to. I hope the author’s next books will do better at hiding the culprit until they’re due to be unmasked. Also, loose ends were clumsily tied up at the end. Otherwise, a very good story overall.
Decent story and unusual background. Unfortunately, I knew the identity of the culprit long before I wanted to. I hope the author’s next books will do better at hiding the culprit until they’re due to be unmasked. Also, loose ends were clumsily tied up at the end. Otherwise, a very good story overall.
August 7, 2022
Entertaining
The premises got me interested, the story drew me in. I will be looking forward to more adventures with Dexter and John in crime, mystery, steam and marvelous inventions.
The premises got me interested, the story drew me in. I will be looking forward to more adventures with Dexter and John in crime, mystery, steam and marvelous inventions.
February 10, 2023
Great Read
Sinister and Dexter brilliant partnership in a humorous steampunk world. If you like mystery, adventure with a little slight of hand, this is a book you'll enjoy. Well worth the time. Really hope this is the first of a long series.
Sinister and Dexter brilliant partnership in a humorous steampunk world. If you like mystery, adventure with a little slight of hand, this is a book you'll enjoy. Well worth the time. Really hope this is the first of a long series.
July 12, 2024
Laugh out loud funny. A real page-turner. Clever world-building and premise. Off to buy the next one.
And easy 5-stars.
And easy 5-stars.
November 15, 2020
A reasonable first effort
Leaving a second review as have had a chance to consider
Didn’t discuss plot which was quite fun as a “whodunnit”, and it would be nice to see some of the characters re appear later (The Inventor)
The world would benefit from filling out a little as it is a good premise in need of bigger horizons
Leaving a second review as have had a chance to consider
Didn’t discuss plot which was quite fun as a “whodunnit”, and it would be nice to see some of the characters re appear later (The Inventor)
The world would benefit from filling out a little as it is a good premise in need of bigger horizons
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews