Chainbreaker

Narrator Gary Furlong's soft voice and lightly rhythmic cadence bring out the best in this second entry in the Timekeeper trilogy, a mash-up of steampunk and speculative fiction. The story takes Danny, a master clock mechanic, to colonial India, where he is tasked with solving the mystery of why the relationship between time and clock towers works differently on the subcontinent from how it works in England. A complex interweaving of time, technology, religion, and mythology are at the heart of this alternate Victorian world, and the story contains themes of colonialism, gay relationships, and feminism. Highlights of Furlong's performance are his respectful, matter-of-fact portrayal of Danny's sexuality, his stereotype-free rendition of Indian English accents, and his wide range of believable characterizations. C.B.L. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine