The Irregular by H. B. Lyle - Wiggins is the former head of Sherlock Holme's Baker Street Irregulars. Now it's 1909 and Holmes is retired, Wiggins is out of the army and finding it hard to make ends meet, and England is full of uneasy political undercurrents. Wiggins is approached by Vernon Kell to join his new undercover intelligence network but is uninterested. Until his best friend, a policeman, is killed by possible political agitators. There are quite a few subplots, sometimes confusing. And the author jumps from present to past with little warning. Holmes and Watson make cameo appearances. Could be the start of a promising series.
3 stars
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The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange - a children's book set in 1919, I thought this had a pretty dark theme. Henry (short for Henrietta) and her family have moved to Hope House after a family tragedy. Her mother is ill and her father has to leave on business, leaving her mother in the care of a somewhat dubious doctor. A strange firelight from Nightingale Wood leads Henry to discoveries.
3 stars
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Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch - in the 4th Peter Grant book he has several cases going at once. A murder, a suicide, and a stolen book. Then he and his partner, Leslie, go undercover at a high rise estate and things really get strange. Someone seems to be using the building to collect magic. Actually, not a lot happens until the very end and then there's a shocking betrayal that will of course make me read the next book. And that's what's keeping me going. The relationships, not the mysteries. Although I would like to know what the faceless man is up to.
3 stars
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Dying to Live by Michael Stanley - Assistant Superintendent Kubu is baffled by the findings of his pathologist. An old Bushman found dead near a tourist attraction has the internal organs of a much younger man. And when his body disappears from the morgue, Kubu is even more baffled. The trail leads to witch doctors, smugglers, and more murder. This is book 6 in a new to me series set in Botswana. This book is fine as a stand alone but I'm going to play catch up on this series.
3 stars
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The Mechanical Devil by Kate Ellis - Wesley Peterson is already dealing with the missing daughter of a local politician when there's a double murder near Dartmoor. The victims aren't related in any way and it also looks like there was no reason for their murder. On top of this, a woman who was assaulted during a break-in a few months prior believes the attacker is after her again and only Wesley can handle things. In the meantime, Neil, Wesley's archeological friend, has uncovered an automaton from the 1500's that's causing quite a stir. There's quite a lot going on in the 22nd book of the series, almost too much. Still enjoyable.
3 stars
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Hellbent by Greg Hurwitz - Evan Smoak, aka Orphan X aka the Nowhere Man, answers his phone to hear an unexpected voice - his handler and only father figure. He's on the run from and is eventually killed by Orphan Y. Now Evan is out for revenge and tagging along is an unexpected hindrance, another orphaned teen kicked out of the Orphan program. Lots of action but Evan is gaining a little more humanity along the way.
3.5 stars
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