Steam, Smoke & Mirrors

Steam, Smoke and Mirrors, Book 1

By: Colin Edmonds

Narrated by: Karl Jenkinson

Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's Summary

When a Music Hall hypnotist escapes from the London County Asylum she leaves a single word on the wall of her cell - scrawled in blood: Magister. Terror then stalks the capital’s streets as the killing spree begins. But why does Superintendent William Melville of the Special Branch call upon the skills of brilliant stage magician Michael Magister and his glamorous assistant Phoebe Le Breton to help capture the murderer? Especially as Michael is one of those named on the death list. 

From the recently discovered journals of Professor Artemus More, secrets are laid bare, mysteries revealed, illusions exposed, and conspiracies uncovered, all in a steampunk vision of Victorian Britain. But is anything truly what it seems? Or is it all just Steam, Smoke & Mirrors?

©2017 Colin Edmonds (P)2019 Caffeine Nights Publishing

Better Than Sherlock Holmes!

Set in Victorian London Colin Edmonds, author, entertains his listeners with a unique, entertaining and fast-paced steampunk mystery. A Music Hall Hypnotists escapes from the Asylum leaving behind, written in blood, one word – Magister. Unable to solve the killing spree or capture the escaped woman, Scotland Yard’s Special Branch brings in master illusionist Michael Magister and his side-kick. Together they try to see through the Steam, Smoke & Mirrors to solve the case and save themselves!

Edmonds does a magnificent job of providing detailed imagery and creating a dialog that flows smoothly as well as providing depth to the story and characters. Just when you think you know something, Edmonds throws in a twist, then a sharp turn leaving the listener stunned.

The narrator, Karl Jenkinson, performs the book expertly. His voice is smooth and flexible providing calmness or excitement at the drop of a hat. I cannot imagine anyone else narrating this exciting book.

Overall a book I enjoyed and I would highly recommend this book to those who have a passion for mystery and especially for those who enjoy the steampunk genre.

Steam,smoke and mirrors

A really great story!The visuals are fantastic.Karl Jenkinson was a terrific narrator. I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.

Sherlock Holmes meets Steampunk

Classic Victorian detective style story with a steampunk twist.
it's a fun book with interesting characters.
The narrator does a great job engaging the listener with unique voices for each character and a dramatic flair in the suspenseful scenes.

Fun and occasionally funny

I love Steampunk, at least in theory. So often it's like reading 1950's sci-fi though: the author both reveling in and struggling with the mechanics of world-building that the characters struggle to take center stage. That doesn't happen in this text. Like the best sci-fi and fantasy, the author demands that his audience simply accept the technology or magic, and moves on with the story, which is much better than it would have been if the nuts and bolts were belabored.

Slow to start, but worth it!

I struggled just a wee bit to get into this at the start, but after the first two chapters or so, I am glad I kept with it. This was a fun steampunk mystery romp that revealed tantalizing hints about the growth of the characters to come.

Karl Jenkinson did a good job narrating this story. My only comment is that at times his delivery is a bit fast, leading me to back up a few times to relisten. But I really enjoyed his storytelling otherwise.

I am looking forward to continuing the adventures of Magister, Phoebe and the professor.

I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review, but my opinion was not influenced by this.

fun steampunk mystery

lots of humor
great performance
the Victorian backdrop and premise is a fun twist.
I can't wait to hear the next one.

I recieved a copy of this audiobook for free in exchange for an unbiased review.

MAGIC/MYSTERY AND LAUGHS!

STEAM,SMOKE AND MIRRORS BY COLIN EDMONDS.
What can I say but ENCORE! MORE!

Michael Magister, magician extraordinaire,(or so he thinks) and his assistant, Phoebe Le Breton, who is much more than an ordinary assistant, are asked by the Special Branch to help find a very dangerous insane escapee and former friend of Michael's .

As I listened to the audio of STEAM SMOKE AND MIRRORS I wondered how this would go over as a TV series. The craziness of these two characters along with their "helpers"/ friends" Professor Artemus More, a drunk priest who swears to name a couple make STEAM SMOKE AND MIRRORS what it is: a completely hilarious, laugh out loud,mystery/steampunk adventure . You really dont want to miss these two . STEAM,SMOKE AND MIRRORS BY COLIN EDWARDS is well worth the time.

I received this audiobook free in exchange for an honest review

Pretty good steampunk

This is a light-hearted mystery/steampunk adventure. I have listened to quite a few "steampunk" titles, but they usually miss by a wide margin, by either having steampunk as a bolt-on feature with obligatory mentions or by having a plot too convoluted to enjoy, or by sexing or romancing it up unnecessarily. This hits a pretty good sweet spot since the magician's angle gives a really good backdrop against which to present the steampunk elements. It sometimes reads a bit like a Saturday morning serial, but that's part of the light-hearted part.

Steam Punk Fun!

So this was new for me and I know very little about this genre but I loved it! Michael is charismatic, and a bit of an oaf..but Phoebe makes him look good. Lol..this authors descriptions are so detailed its easy to visualize places and people. I think Phoebe must be grand! I also love the character of Connie Dill...how refreshing for someone to take responsibility of themselves. Fun at every turn...I highly recommend!

Great Book!

I really enjoyed this audiobook as it was funny and full of mystery. The characters are so real and the narrator is wonderful!

Good story, great concept

I really enjoyed the whole story and the characters were well written. Overall a good book

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

“Tall, bloody of face, apparently female and nursing her testicles”

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but I really enjoyed it. Plenty of mystery and adventure, all wrapped up in a steam-punky/magician and side kick setting that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Really well narrated too with some great character voices.
Looking forward to starting the next in the series.
This is my honest opinion on a free review copy.

smoke and mirrors!

very enjoyable, great characters, well read, listening time well spent, looking forward to the next installment.

Great storyline

I Enjoyed this audio book very much from start to finish great story line too

Thoroughly recommended

I really enjoyed listening to this book. A great murder mystery plot, unexpected twists and turns. I was totally engrossed. Lots of lively and humorous characters. Without doubt the skill of the narrator is a massive asset to the story - his rich tone, great accents and clear diction which was fluent and silky made me just want to keep on listening.

Please tell me, what is going on?

Michael, an American magician, stage name of Magister, and his beautiful assistant, Phoebe, Queen of Steam and Goddess of Ether, are together engaged by the British Special Branch to stop a serial killing mesmerist who had recently escaped from a mental asylum in this steam punk vision of Victorian London.

Steam, Smoke and Mirrors is a superb presentation of music hall made murder mystery thriller. The whole glorious story confection is told as if by a third (of four) member of the theatre from which Michael Magister performs his amazing act (including the audience astonishing Throne of Dusintegration), namely the Professor, a theoretical scientist and one time Oxford lecturer, who, tired of working turned to a form of industrial espionage, improving stolen ideas and inventing the clever machinery required for the magic shows. Whilst mostly concentrating on relating the story, he occasionally breaks in with his personal monologue. The writing is vividly visual, the language delicious and the characters eccentric and colourful, and includes with the fictionals, historical well known names such as Queen Victoria, Lily Langtry, Arthur Conan Doyle, Tesla, Salisbury and Melville.
It's a thriller with murder and spills, chases and magical trickery, and oodles of humour.
It takes a talented narrator to bring this a!l together, and Karl Jenkiinson performs superbly. Each protagonist has a separate and individual voicing with assorted accents for every one. The text is read with a clean English voice: an easy and appropriate listen, resonant with warmth, sometimes sinister, always filled with understanding. Outstanding.

My profound thanks to the rights holder of Steam, Smoke and Mirrors, who, at my request via Audiobook Boom, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. It surpassed my expectations and I loved being immersed in the excitement, colour and crankiness of the story, so ably performed by the narrator and with introductory brass music by John Orchard. One for pure fun and enjoyment, and recommended.

Simply Wonderful

A gripping story from start to finish with many laugh out loud moments.
You almost feel like you are there in this Victorian London with all its wonders
I ws given a free copy of this title and leave this review freely

A gripping summer read!

I have followed a few titles read by Karl Jenkinson in the past, having stumbled across "Essex Boys" a while ago. I decided to give "Steam, Smoke and Mirrors" a go, knowing that Karl's narration is of a superb standard.

The story is vivid and gripping, both in its prose and narrative delivery. This is a novel that requires an eccentric and demanding performance; Karl brings the many characters to life with his engaging and distinctive performances, truly I felt like I was walking the streets of Victorian London, soot-covered and ragged, following the mystery unfold.

Colin Edmonds' prose is fast-paced and well-written and this comes across in the performance from start to finish.

I am waiting patiently for a sequel and am checking out Karl's other titles in the meantime!

Well written, well narrated

The story kept me gripped from the first page until the end , lots of twist and turns with an unexpected finale . The narration was excellent with lots of additional sound effects.

Hooked from the 'get go'....

Wasn't entirely sure what to expect to be honest...but within the first few pages I was absolutely hooked.

Colin Edmonds conjures up a marvelous world - a vision of Steampunk Victorian London. A great story, peppered with wonderful characters adeptly narrated by Karl Jenkinson. I confess to 'binge listening' on the train and had to contain the odd laugh to avoid odder looks from my fellow travelers...certainly made the journey whizz by.

Highly recommended.