Book Review: The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason

The Clockwork Scarab
Stoker & Holmes #1
Author: Colleen Gleason
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Steampunk/Mystery
Released: September 17th 2013
Review Source: Chronicle Books

Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes never meant to get into the family business. But when you're the sister of Bram and the niece of Sherlock, vampire hunting and mystery solving are in your blood. And when two society girls go missing, there's no one more qualified to investigate. Now fierce Evaline and logical Mina must resolve their rivalry, navigate the advances of not just one but three mysterious gentlemen, and solve murder with only one clue: a strange Egyptian scarab. The stakes are high. If Stoker and Holmes don't unravel why the belles of London society are in such danger, they'll become the next victims.

Stoker and Holmes caught my attention in this novel titled The Clockwork Scarab. With a full mixture of mystery and steampunk London, the author has created a unique experience of reading. The reader is quickly introduced to the two main characters in the opening chapters, along with their first mystery to solve. Teenage girls are going missing and being murdered and it is up to the relatives of the famous Bram Stoker and Sherlock Holmes to crack the cases before it is too late, maybe even for them. Evaline and Mina each have talents of their own. Utilizing them when the moment is right. Because of their talents and famous bloodline, they are approached with the ultimate task. A special request that comes straight from royalty herself. There appears to be some love interest sprinkled within, but nothing that overpowers the storyline.

The novel is presented through the eyes of each main character chapter by chapter. This approach to writing has become very popular. Long gone are the days where novels are only written in 1st or 3rd person. My overall feelings for this novel are mixed. I was hooked with the first few chapters. However, the pace of the novel appeared to slow up causing my interest level in the characters to drift a bit. Knowing that this book is first of the series, I expected to be left hanging near the end. Gleason does a pleasant job of tying up loose ends, just enough to get the reader ready for the next installment.