September 24, 2007

The Scientist Just Gets Better

Last year, I was amused to discover The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle, by UK author Catherine Webb. Webb's unusual imagination began early in her career, as her first book was accepted for publication when she was only fourteen. She's written a number of books which I'm hoping will be easier to find, now that I am in the UK.

The Obsidian Dagger, Being the Further Extraordinary Adventures of Horatio Lyle, is another novel of twists and turns. Horatio just wants a break. There was that whole thing with the cathedral roof blowing off last time, people with unearthly pale skin and glowing green eyes, and a whole lot of running away. With his cohorts, the larcenous Tess, the overly serious Thomas, and his prosaic hound, Tate, Horatio just wants to explore scientific happenings and dabble along in his workshop. He's got a flying machine (which Thomas privately calls Icarus), and he's got more things to do than run around trying to solve bizarre happenings the police are too silly to figure out.

But His Grace, Lord Lincoln is ...scary. And somehow disturbingly persuasive, and Horatio, Tess and Thomas find themselves hock deep in another adventure. Something -- huge and heavy -- has killed two of Lord Lincoln's agents. Something,which has previously been kept on board a ship in a stone casket. Something... which is, in fact, left handed. Or maybe right handed. Or --?

People are dying, evidence is going missing, and Lord Lincoln wants answers.

And while it's exciting to get to use the flying machine -- it would be better to use it while the whole of London stone wasn't after you, trying to kill you...

It's another day in the life of Horatio Lyle. Pick it up - you'll be well entertained for a foggy afternoon!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It's so funny to me that you looked this up. I'm finally working on my review of the first one (I know, I'm horrible). I haven't been able to shake it out of my head, and I'm a little curious to read the second.