The Lazarus Machine: A Tweed & Nightingale Adventure

Gr 9 Up—This steampunk novel, set in an alternate version of 1895, features characters from the classic Sherlock Holmes tales. Sebastian Tweed and his con-man dad live on the fringes of society until his father is abducted. Sebastian realizes that the rumors are true; Professor Moriarty and his gang are back in London. Octavia Nightingale also suspects that Moriarty is linked to her mother's disappearance and has dedicated herself to gathering information ever since. The two form a partnership after Tweed is referred to Nightingale in his search for answers. The protagonists escape assassination attempts and look for clues while utilizing Tesla-powered computers and automatons powered by the souls of deceased humans. What they uncover is aFrankenstein-inspired plot to take over parliament and incite a world war. With Nightingale's mother still missing and the queen putting the pair on retainer, a Tweed & Nightingale series is clearly in the works. While the setting and themes of this book will be well recognized, interesting characters, well-written dialogue, and a fast-paced plot keep it from feeling like a predictable collection of clichés. Some classic mystery fans may be put off by the prevalence of steampunk terminology, but sci-fi and fantasy readers will likely be drawn to this fun, genre-bending novel.—Sunnie Sette, New Haven Public Library, CT