The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man

Burton & Swinburne, Book 2

By: Mark Hodder

Narrated by: Gerard Doyle

Length: 14 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

It is 1862, though not the 1862 it should be....

Time has been altered, and Sir Richard Francis Burton, the king's agent, is one of the few people who know that the world is now careening along a very different course from that which Destiny intended.

When a clockwork-powered man of brass is found abandoned in Trafalgar Square, Burton and his assistant, the wayward poet Algernon Swinburne, find themselves on the trail of the stolen Garnier Collection - black diamonds rumored to be fragments of the Lemurian Eye of Naga, a meteorite that fell to Earth in prehistoric times. His investigation leads to involvement with the media sensation of the age: the Tichborne Claimant, a man who insists that he's the long lost heir to the cursed Tichborne estate. Monstrous, bloated, and monosyllabic, he's not the aristocratic Sir Roger Tichborne known to everyone, yet the working classes come out in force to support him. They are soon rioting through the streets of London, as mysterious steam wraiths incite all-out class warfare.

From a haunted mansion to the Bedlam madhouse, from South America to Australia, from seances to a secret labyrinth, Burton struggles with shadowy opponents and his own inner demons, meeting along the way the philosopher Herbert Spencer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Florence Nightingale, and Charles Doyle (father of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). Can the king's agent expose a plot that threatens to rip the British Empire apart, leading to an international conflict the like of which the world has never seen? And what part does the clockwork man have to play?

Burton and Swinburne's second adventure, The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man, is filled with eccentric steam-driven technology, grotesque characters, and a deepening mystery that pushes forward the three-volume story arc begun in The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack.

Listen to more in the Burton & Swinburne series.

©2011 Mark Hodder (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

the more things change the more they stay the same

i love this series. what happens when the course of history changes? you get to meet extraordinary characters.

great series - on to the 3rd book

Would you consider the audio edition of The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man to be better than the print version?

Not necessarily. If I like a book on tape I will often also read it as a novel. Listening first makes the novel easier to visualize and to move through the story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Burton of course - The author makes him a real person albeit one with extraordinary capabilities but very vulnerable and human emotions. His blatant character flaws balance out so some of the incredible (maybe even hard to believe) physical accomplishments .

What about Gerard Doyle’s performance did you like?

He is pretty good at reading different characters. Not the best but he definitley adds to helping keep the story clear. I haven't had any problem with following the story and the characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Just about.

Any additional comments?

Creative book with clever weaving of ideas and staying true to the story. This type of SciFi literature could quickly get away and become ridiculous but Hodder keeps his characters and story grounded.

Steampunk Sherlock.

The first book was a bit slow getting started, but picked up quickly. This book starts strong, and keeps up the steam. Good action, and well written story. I look forward to reading the reat of the series.

I enjoyed another of Mark Hodder's creations

Liked it, though found this one dragged a bit. Still like the twists and turns.

Another good one.

A good second book. Ties in with the first well and the twists and turns are exciting. Give a listen.

Why isn’t this a movie yet?

Why this series isn’t a hit Hollywood movie trilogy is beyond me! I can’t wait to listen to the third and concluding book! Onward and Tally Ho!

Just as Good as the First!

See my review on his first book for my overall thoughts on the series.

But, this book was also another great addition to the steampunk genre. Genius use of Characters and Dialogue. And the Narrator is officially another favorite of mine!

Mark Hodder, one incredible writer.

Where does The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Oh up in top 10...his other books are in same top 10.

What did you like best about this story?

Seemless alternative world. Characters with muliple levels.

Which scene was your favorite?

Anything to do Swinburne.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The increasing tension as story arc builds.

Any additional comments?

Great narrator, good pacing.

Weakest of the Series

I've now listened to all three books in the Burton and Swinburne series. To me, this was the weakest story of the three. The narration was the same excellent quality as the others, and the author did smooth out some of his "first novel" rough spots. But the overall story was not as interesting as the other two. The storyline was necessary to transition from the first book to the third, but that doesn't necessarily make it interesting.

Unevenly passed

It was a good story, if a bit weird, but it could have used a good editor. Hodder tends to beat somethings that are already dead until they are beyond recognition. Chapter 13 could have been cut to about 10 minutes and the story would not have suffered. When you listen to it you will know when you can use the jump ahead button on your device. Doyle is a good narrator who does not over do the accents or tries to be overly clever. Overall I had fun with this book