The Hanged Man

February 9, 2015
In this solid genre-mixing mystery from Elrod (the Vampire Files series), Alex Pendlebury serves Queen Victoria as a member of the Psychic Service, using her talent for reading emotional traces to aid in solving crimes. A chance placement on a suspicious suicide case with personal connections for Alex places her squarely in the center of a conspiracy to remake England forever. The alternate Victorian era is full of suffragists and seers, and Alex’s independence drives the action almost as much as her magical powers do. The struggle between traditional class and gender roles comes out in scene after scene. Meanwhile, demon summoning coexists comfortably with typewriting in this original and believable setting. Alex and her bodyguard (and love interest), Brook, are enjoyably headstrong protagonists surrounded by supporting characters who entertain while complicating the plot. This well-constructed novel will please fans of alternate history, fantasy, and mystery. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency.

March 15, 2015
Seers and psychics rule Victorian London in this sharp-witted gaslamp fantasy novel from veteran writer Elrod (The Vampire Files, Volume 5, 2012, etc.). Alex Pendlebury saw the world with her adored adventurer father, receiving psychic empathy training as he schemed on behalf of the British Empire. Sent back home at 15 to her stuffy, aristocratic Pendlebury relatives, Alex found purpose as a Reader in the queen's newly organized Psychic Service but never heard from her father again. As the novel opens, Alex is called to investigate a suspicious death in Harley Street, only to discover the dead body is all that remains of her long-lost father. Moments later, as the head of the Psychic Service, Lord Richard Desmond, escorts Alex from the scene, he is killed by assassins wielding the newest in deadly 19th-century technology: silent yet powerful air guns. Alex throws herself into pursuing the truth behind these two murders with help from her effervescent and slightly unhinged cousin (on her mother's side), James, and her new driver, the stalwart Lt. Brook, who always appears right where he's about to be needed. The emotional charge of these relationships adds resonance to a thrilling tale. As she penetrates the darkness at the heart of England's ruling class-her class-Alex also learns how many secrets the Psychic Service is keeping, even from its own agents. Despite some predictable villainous speechifying at the climax, the story grips. With gasp-inducing twists and turns, Alex's adventures in alt-London artfully combine the mysteries of Arthur Conan Doyle with the strange delights of H.G. Wells. A robust and clever breakout novel.

Starred review from March 15, 2015

Alexandrina Victoria Pendlebury enjoys her job as a Reader, helping the police in their investigations by identifying the emotions of a crime scene. When Alex is called to the site of an apparent suicide, she determines that it was actually murder. The shocking revelation for Alex is that the victim was her father, whom she has not seen in years. With help (and hindrance) from various members of her family as well as fellow members of Her Majesty's Psychic Service, Alex will have to find her way through a shadowy conspiracy. VERDICT With enough steampunk touches to satisfy, the real appeal here is the unconventional heroine, who defies propriety when needed but still likes a good cup of tea. Elrod, author of the "Vampire Files" series of supernatural mysteries (most recently visited in 2009's Dark Road Rising) returns with what one hopes will be a long-running series.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2015
Popular paranormal and urban-fantasy author Elrod launches a new series set in an alternate Victorian London, where Her Majesty's Psychic Service investigates crimes of supernatural nature and employs agents with psychic gifts. Agent Alexandrina (Alex) Victoria Pendlebury is a Readershe can feel people's emotions and also detect emotional residue left at crime scenes. The story commences as Alex enters a crime scene that is both personally startling and free of emotional clues. Along with an eccentric cast of characters, Alex discovers that there is more going on with this case than the fate of one hanged man. Elrod creates a rich atmosphere by layering violent action sequences and all manner of supernatural creatures with proper London society. Chatty dialogue propels plot, and there are some good twists to the story. Elrod's steampunk world is a bit light on technology there are airships but not much else. Still, the fast-paced narrative, extremely likable characters, and spot-on British humorcomplete with teawill draw readers who like fantasy set in Victorian times.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)