The Oversight

By: Charlie Fletcher

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

"The end always happens faster than you think."

Once there were hundreds of members of the Oversight, the brave souls who guard the borders between the mundane and the magic. Now there are only five.

When a vagabond brings a screaming girl to the Oversight's London headquarters, she could answer their hopes for new recruit, or she could be the instrument of their downfall.

©2014 Charlie Fletcher (P)2014 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Fletcher's Victorian London is juicily vivid, and laced with macabre wit. There's a real sense of grim danger, both natural and unnatural, hungrily awaiting the slightest mis-step." ( Frances Hardinge on The Oversight)

The Oversight offers a fascinating and complex wo

Any additional comments?

The tale is set in a Dickenson type London, and the writing is mesmerizing. Fletcher brings the world and characters to life using multiple perspectives. The story is rich in details, laced in magic and dark uncertainty.
The Oversight stands for the Free Company for the Regulation and Oversight of Recondite Exigency and Supernatural Lore. At one time, the Oversight was a powerful group numbering in the hundreds whose sole purpose was to keep the streets of London safe. A secret order that regulates and contains magic. Now, the membership has been reduced to five. These five make up the Hand, and without them, the Oversight would cease to exist allowing things to go unchecked. They are Sarah, Cook, Mr. Sharp, Hodge and the Smith. Sounds exciting right? I love the set up and secret agency.
Fletcher brilliantly takes us from the dangerous streets of London to a traveling Carney. Danger, fate, unknown factors and unique characters quickly draw us into each scene and I found myself caught up in everything from the sights to battling their enemies. While the pacing was slow in the beginning, the twists and unknown factor of Lucy Harbor, a girl who could end them or strengthen them kept me listening into the wee hours.
Each of the characters is unique, quirky and thoroughly fleshed out with just enough mystery to ensnare the reader. When Lucy is first introduced to the Oversight she realizes something is amiss. When Lucy touches things, she has visions, but until she meets Sarah, she believed herself to be crazy. Sarah who heads the Oversight believes that Lucy is a Glint, like herself. Lucy’s arrival sets of a series of events and raises questions as we are thrust into a tale. I found the premise utterly riveting.
There is a threat that exists in the shadows, one that can tip the scales spilling havoc into the world around us. It is this knowledge that gives the tale a suspenseful, dark feel even as the pace meanders. Despite intense spurts and than slower pacing I loved all of the details, suspense and unknowing of it all. The imagery was so impressive.

Interesting.

For those who enjoyed A Discovery of Witches, you might likely enjoy this read. The narrator was excellent!! Although there are some sluggish parts, I found the need to continue on so I would know what happened to several of the characters. Looking forward to reading the sequel(s).

Adult not Juvenile

Love this author and his children/juvenile literature. Did not realize this was for adults. Will not continue the series. (Story is good just not right age group for us. )

Perfect blend of Narrator and Story

A disclaimer - I am a huge Simon Prebble fan... When searching for my next book, I always start with books narrated by Simon.. So I am more than a little prejudice towards this novel.

However, if you are a fan of historic fiction, victorian fantasy, or even steam punk fiction, you will love Charlie Fletcher's new series. I can't get enough of the period detail in clothes, modes of travel, and the advent of the 'natural sciences'.

I also love a good story - and Charlie Fletcher has written a very good story. The heroes all shine brightly, the villains create their own inky darkness. There is also a very confused young lady caught between.

This is one of those reads that you must revisit. There will be fresh details uncovered each time you do. Enjoy!

Not for young kids!

Took a while to get through this book as it wasn’t as engaging as the 1st in the series. It is also MUCH darker! I wouldn’t want kids younger than 7th grade to partake of this.

Sinister peril on the brink of modernity

The failing Oversight exists to protect England from dark forces intent on rolling back modernity.

Cool New Universe

was looking for a new series and stumbled onto this while perusing through titles read by Simon Prebble. very good first book!!

Excellent story and performance

I really enjoyed this story. It is very visual , with lots of twists and turns. Great characters.
I also enjoyed Jim Dale’s reading of the author’s other trilogy : Stoneheart.

satisfying, scary and fascinating

every moment I had to listen closely. fascinating to hear every twist & turn. inventive and yet familiar. gorgeous detail, never boring!

Unusual! Definitely entertaining & unique

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! A little creepy, not knowing what to expect, for a time wasn't sure I'd like the resolution but at the end I totally loved it and am immediately downloading book 2. (Audible ) By the way, the reader is absolutely excellent!!!!

Also, careful with the reviews on Goodreads ...I read a review that did not assert spoilers but implied an event was going to happen that ruined a good chunk of the book for me as I kept "waiting for the other shoe to drop".

I previously read Fletcher's YA series The Stoneheart Trilogy, which I highly recommend! There are a few threads/ character types that were introduced in that series and it just lent a nice background, but it wasn't a necessary pre-read to The Oversight.
For me, though they were well written well-developed stories that brought me to find this one and I am very glad I did!