A Study in Silks

De: Emma Jane Holloway

Narrado por: Angele Masters

Evelina Cooper, the niece of the great Sherlock Holmes, is poised to enjoy her first Season in London Society. But there's a murderer to deal with - not to mention missing automatons, a sorcerer, and a talking mouse.

In a Victorian era ruled by a council of ruthless steam barons, mechanical power is the real monarch and sorcery the demon enemy of the Empire. Nevertheless, the most coveted weapon is magic that can run machines - something Evelina has secretly mastered. But rather than making her fortune, her special talents could mean death or an eternity as a guest of Her Majesty's secret laboratories. What's a polite young lady to do but mind her manners and pray she's never found out?

But then there's that murder. As Sherlock Holmes' niece, Evelina should be able to find the answers, but she has a lot to learn. And the first decision she has to make is whether to trust the handsome, clever rake who makes her breath come faster, or the dashing trick rider who would dare anything for her if she would only just ask.

©2013 Naomi Lester (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

A Credit to the Steampunk Genre!

I have read a few books in the steampunk genre and have enjoyed most of them. This is DEFINITELY one of the best! It combines fantasy, mystery and fun! I can't wait to read the next two installments! Angele Masters does an excellent job bringing this fun story to life. Although it is a long story, I just couldn't get enough! Emma Jane Holloway is now a MUST READ for me!

Too much of a bad thing

Is there anything you would change about this book?

First of all, the story had zero humor. I liked the core storyline, but the author spent far too much time on the whole love triangle, with zero humor between any of the characters. I am used to some of the other steampunk authors like Pip Ballantine, and Gail Carriger who add a lot of humor along with a good story. This book was like listening to a teen girl whining about two boys she liked. The book could have been great with about fifty percent of the love triangle junk removed, and some humor added.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I doubt I'll listen to the rest of the series, since it was just to drab and slow moving. As a man, I don't think I can listen to all the confused love triangle stuff either. I need to listen to one of the other steam punk authors to get back to sanity.

What does Angele Masters bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Angele is a great reader, which was one of the only reasons I continued to listen, since the story seemed to drag on and on throughout. Her change of voice for characters is good, and she keeps you hooked well enough to keep the play button going.

Did A Study in Silks inspire you to do anything?

Yes, make sure a book isn't mostly a love story, instead of an adventurous steam punk story I was expecting.

Any additional comments?

Don't bother if you are expecting a fun adventure with steam punk. The story just drags and drags, with zero humor, and far too much "oh I love him, or no i love that guy, oh wait I love this guy again." At the end of the story the main character ends up looking like a foolish girl, while the guys are all jerks.Now I don't mind a love triangle, but it seemed as though the book was saturated with confusing little girl thoughts of who she liked or disliked.

Very Good!

There's a little more romance than I would enjoy. Sometimes it jars you out of the mystery. But the plot is good, it sets up the sequel very well, and I enjoyed the relationship between Holmes and his niece. She isn't an investigator, and all she can do is hold the clues until Uncle Holmes comes to town. The world doesn't need another female Holmes. Adler is bad enough.

Good listen

I enjoyed this book very much, enough to get the next in the series. The narrator was excellent I will be looking for more books she has done. At first so many characters where introduced I felt overwhelmed but everything smooths out and a good mystery takes over.

A well narrated and we'll written

A masterful combination of the mind of Sherlock Holmes, a younger narrative and a touch of magic.

If you have 21 hours this is doable

For 21 hours of listening you have a love triangle in a Victorian setting. That means it is not a 50 shades of Grey romance. Her choice of a husband is a dichotomy of wealth vs pauper, titled aristocratic vs merchant class, genteel vs horse trainer.
For 21 hours you have 2 lovely young woman. Both intelligent and best friends. One very fragile with a high rank in society. The other dominate and strong will with the disadvantage of her mother who married for ... of course love and died living with her husband’s circus family.

For 21 hours you have both ladies who lives will change after having the Queen kiss their hand and taking a dance on the floor. God I wish it was a simple as that to choose a person to marry. While the ladies are in the mist of making a life choice there is the issue of a little murder. How unique is a murder of a house maid who is in the (sotto voce) family way and who could possibly be the father?

For 21 hours the best method to keep the niece of Sherlock Holmes too busy to solve a case is to try to besmirch her character.

For a steampunk novel there is not enough gadgetry. That is my main pet peeve. The most interesting ones are created by Evelina, the niece of Sherlock Holmes. As the niece of Sherlock she was conducting her detecting from a negative premises. She want to control the information so her friend’s family honor is upheld. You cannot be impartial that way!

I was disappointed with the portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. His is presented as a man who has no standing and can be blackmailed. A one point Holmes has agreed to think about taking a case. To help nudge Homles make that decision a man threaten Holmes’ family. Really? .

After 14 hours I did wonder when was all this going to be wrapped up. Then I was disappointed with a cliff hanger for one of the characters and what was so evil about the woman automaton. So not cool. I did buy the next book. I want to find out of the story of the dismissed suitor.

Oh for 21 hours, a woman hair will get mussed, gloves will get dirty, cloths will get purchased and the ladies do a little snooping.

Pure Fun!!!

Would you listen to A Study in Silks again? Why?

I thought this was going to be a simple read, but it really took me by surprise! Great story, great characters & I find I can't wait to read the next one!

Spoiler

Idk man. Dude shoots her uncle and she's STILL all on his D. Huh???

well written steampunk with a real plot

Where does A Study in Silks rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Certainly not among the very best, but really worth a listen for steampunk fans. Holloway does lean on the world building of previous steampunk novels, which makes it useful to have read in the genre already. (She also includes a magical component to her world, which isn't the general rule.) Many steampunk novels so far are so taken up with the technology that the story itself is sometimes rather thin and often short. Holloway instead has a complex plot and real character development; there are real villains, but the heros/heroines are flawed and do evolve over the course of the book. Evelina Cooper, the heroine of the book is the niece of Sherlock Holmes, not a terribly original concept but which gave her a (fairly absent) mentor of a sort and a grounding in the times. She has a mixed background, raised in a circus family, but also the daughter of a society woman of good enough standing that she is able to be on the edges of the aristocracy. There are two romantic threads in the story, but they are not the focus of the story, and it is not at all a typical romance. There are two more books following up on this story line; the book itself is long enough that it doesn't feel like an arbitrary way to sell more books. A Study in Silks is truly finished, but I do want to read more about these characters. (Neither sequel is available in audio yet.)

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Study in Silks?

Pretty well the whole book; a few slow moments but mostly the book moved forward consistently quickly. A few repetitions in scenes that could have been helped by better editing.

Which character – as performed by Angele Masters – was your favorite?

She did well with all of them.

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

Not really that kind of book. More of a thriller/adventure.

Any additional comments?

I'm giving this book 5 stars because I think it is a really good addition to the steampunk genre. I don't think it's a book that I will reread, at least not soon.a

First time reader of this type of book

This book was fantastical and had a sense of reality all at the same time it was a great distraction from the every day stresses and a wonderful book to listen to during long commute I am surprised to say that I will look forward to reading more in this series