The Firebird Mystery: A Jack Mason Adventure by Darrell Pitt
Penguin, 2014. ISBN 9781922147752.
Highly recommended for readers from 11 years of age. Themes:
Steampunk Fiction, Detectives, Orphans, London - England - History,
Adventure stories, Detectives, Technology - fiction, Mysteries.
Darrell Pitt's exciting new Steampunk series introduces young orphan
Jack Mason to the reader. Filled with derring-do deeds, determined
detective work and dastardly villains this exciting fast-paced
adventure is set in an alternative London world.After the
unfortunate death of Jack's acrobat parents, he's sent to live at
Sunnyside Orphanage a dismal place where he's taunted by bullies.
Jack's life changes dramatically when he is rescued and taken to
live with an eccentric detective Ignatius Doyle. The next week of
his life is filled with danger as they take on the case of finding
Scarlet Bell's missing father and saving the world from the evil
clutches of Professor M.
The novel is rich in imagery with familiar London sights, historical
events and figures interwoven with futuristic technological
inventions. Huge steam airships fill the skies, metrotowers stretch
skyward and giant megastructures covered with terrafirma two hundred
times stronger than steel fill the landscape.
Jack and Scarlet show real emotions and their skills are much needed
by the eccentric Mr. Doyle to help solve these mysteries. Darryl
Pitt has drawn from Arthur Conan Doyle's character Sherlock Holmes,
Jules Verne and added villains from history to make this a rich and
rewarding novel. Scarlet Bell is a strong relatable character, an
advocate of women's rights and the Suffragette movement. Detective
Doyle's character adds to humour especially when he reminisces about
previous cases involving three bizarre elements - a spanner, rubber
plant and exploding nun!
This is a wonderful introductory novel, there are seven more to
come! Highly recommended for readers from 11 years of age. Great
class novel with links to History, Geography, Technology and
Science.
Rhyllis Bignell