Colleen Gleason

In 1889 London young women are turning up dead, and Evaline Stoker, relative of Bram, and Mina Holmes, niece of Sherlock, are summoned to investigate the clue of the not-so-ancient Egyptian scarabs--but where does a time traveler fit in?

The Clockwork Scarab: A Stoker & Holmes Novel

Melissa Palmer

Book #10 Read in 2014
The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason (YA)

This is a novel where the main characters are Mina Holmes, niece of Sherlock, and Evaline Stoker, sister of Bram. In this steampunk young adult novel, the two are pressed into service to find out why young socialites are turning up dead. Both girls bring a set of skills to the investigation--Mina, her brains and Evaline, her vampire slayer strength and speed. The two try to figure out how to work together, in order to save other socialites from being killed. 

I enjoyed this novel a lot and hope that there is more in this series. The two main characters were well written and interesting. The steampunk element was subtle and well-connected to the plot. Secondary characters such as Dylan and Pix were engaging. I recommend it.

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Alexa M

Okay I really enjoyed this book!!! It wasn't slow at all (though it did take my awhile, my own fault) and kept me on the edge of my seat at times. One of the best parts was the female heroines! Great mystery read, also really good if you like Sherlock.

Connor 

I'd really prefer to give this a 3.5 for the ending alone; which I found to be a bit too short and not quite enough resolution. Still, the narrative was fun and the characters if Mina and Evaline (and a smattering of favorites in cameo) kept matters lively enough to makes this steampunk novel a witty enough matter of crime solving to keep me interested.

Skye

I thought this would be a fun mystery and I loved the idea of using family members of famous literary characters. Sadly, I was distracted by the horrible writing. The writing felt amateur, to say the least. Each obstacle or problem is overcome within a couple of paragraphs and with such ease that it doesn't provide excitement or anticipation. 

The depiction of the characters is a bummer. One character in particular is given a cockney accent that makes reading it quite a pain. 

I have to also mention my desire to roll my eyes every time one of the main characters encounters a male character. She practically clams up and can no longer focus on the task at hand. For example, after meeting a young man only one time, the character says: "There was something in his gaze that tugged at me. At that moment, I realized I'd walk across a bed of nails for this young man."
The novel seemed to want to take a tone of pro-women but it does itself a disservice by presenting such wishy-washy and swoonful personalities of Miss Stoker and Miss Holmes. 

I'm reading the second one but only because it's already loaded on my kindle.

Jade DeArmond

OHMYGOSH. SO good! A combination of the two greatest legends: vamps and Sherlock Holmes.

laura

SO GOOD! GREAT IMPUSE READ! CAN'T WAIT UNTILL OCTOBER!

Marissa Scudlo

A great book playing with famous characters but I love it and I think another should read this mainly girls sorry boys.

 Bruna Acioly Leão

This book was really cool and fun. It had time travel, steampunk elements and awesome main characters.

The mystery and the plot itself weren't the best in my opinion - the villain's motives and actions were too convoluted and there were a lot of really obvious clues that the villain would leave on purpose (?). 
At the same time, as a reader you don't get to solve the mystery because a) a lot of the clues aren't available to you and b) because in the end I'm not sure what we were trying to solve. 

I also didn't like the romances in this - one of them I might warm up to, but... no.

That's why I can't give this more than 3 stars.

I did like the interactions between the two girls the best and really appreciated their friendship.

I would like to continue on with this series, just because I like the two female leads and the concept for this (niece of Sherlock Holmes and sister of Bram Stoker) is just really cool.

Mia Jones

This concept could have so easily gone wrong or gone off into Mary-Sue territory with the characters being so closely related to canon (the niece of Sherlock Holmes and the younger sister of Bram Stoker), but I thought it was really fantastic and definitely an enjoyable read. Also, big fan of all of the steampunk elements and the Egyptian Mythology.

The Clockwork Scarab: A Stoker & Holmes Novel

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