Steam, Smoke & Mirrors cover art

Steam, Smoke & Mirrors

Steam, Smoke and Mirrors, Book 1

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Steam, Smoke & Mirrors

By: Colin Edmonds
Narrated by: Karl Jenkinson
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About this listen

When a Music Hall hypnotist escapes from the London County Asylum she leaves a single word on the wall of her cell - scrawled in blood: Magister. Terror then stalks the capital’s streets as the killing spree begins. But why does Superintendent William Melville of the Special Branch call upon the skills of brilliant stage magician Michael Magister and his glamorous assistant Phoebe Le Breton to help capture the murderer? Especially as Michael is one of those named on the death list.

From the recently discovered journals of Professor Artemus More, secrets are laid bare, mysteries revealed, illusions exposed, and conspiracies uncovered, all in a steampunk vision of Victorian Britain. But is anything truly what it seems? Or is it all just Steam, Smoke & Mirrors?

©2017 Colin Edmonds (P)2019 Caffeine Nights Publishing Fiction Genre Fiction Magical Realism Science Fiction Steampunk Fantasy

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All stars
Most relevant  
A mixed start to this book,no clear direction for the reader to follow,but worth sticking with . And as it seems some of the story lines opened ,who is the black bishop and what's his game Would like to hear book two

Not all done by mirrors

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Listener received this title free

This was so much fun and boy the narration really suited. Both the narrator and author are new to me but it wont be the last time that I listen to something by them.

Do love a good steampunk

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Wasn't entirely sure what to expect to be honest...but within the first few pages I was absolutely hooked.

Colin Edmonds conjures up a marvelous world - a vision of Steampunk Victorian London. A great story, peppered with wonderful characters adeptly narrated by Karl Jenkinson. I confess to 'binge listening' on the train and had to contain the odd laugh to avoid odder looks from my fellow travelers...certainly made the journey whizz by.

Highly recommended.

Hooked from the 'get go'....

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Michael, an American magician, stage name of Magister, and his beautiful assistant, Phoebe, Queen of Steam and Goddess of Ether, are together engaged by the British Special Branch to stop a serial killing mesmerist who had recently escaped from a mental asylum in this steam punk vision of Victorian London.

Steam, Smoke and Mirrors is a superb presentation of music hall made murder mystery thriller. The whole glorious story confection is told as if by a third (of four) member of the theatre from which Michael Magister performs his amazing act (including the audience astonishing Throne of Dusintegration), namely the Professor, a theoretical scientist and one time Oxford lecturer, who, tired of working turned to a form of industrial espionage, improving stolen ideas and inventing the clever machinery required for the magic shows. Whilst mostly concentrating on relating the story, he occasionally breaks in with his personal monologue. The writing is vividly visual, the language delicious and the characters eccentric and colourful, and includes with the fictionals, historical well known names such as Queen Victoria, Lily Langtry, Arthur Conan Doyle, Tesla, Salisbury and Melville.
It's a thriller with murder and spills, chases and magical trickery, and oodles of humour.
It takes a talented narrator to bring this a!l together, and Karl Jenkiinson performs superbly. Each protagonist has a separate and individual voicing with assorted accents for every one. The text is read with a clean English voice: an easy and appropriate listen, resonant with warmth, sometimes sinister, always filled with understanding. Outstanding.

My profound thanks to the rights holder of Steam, Smoke and Mirrors, who, at my request via Audiobook Boom, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. It surpassed my expectations and I loved being immersed in the excitement, colour and crankiness of the story, so ably performed by the narrator and with introductory brass music by John Orchard. One for pure fun and enjoyment, and recommended.

Please tell me, what is going on?

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I really enjoyed listening to this book. A great murder mystery plot, unexpected twists and turns. I was totally engrossed. Lots of lively and humorous characters. Without doubt the skill of the narrator is a massive asset to the story - his rich tone, great accents and clear diction which was fluent and silky made me just want to keep on listening.

Thoroughly recommended

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very enjoyable, great characters, well read, listening time well spent, looking forward to the next installment.

smoke and mirrors!

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Listener received this title free

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but I really enjoyed it. Plenty of mystery and adventure, all wrapped up in a steam-punky/magician and side kick setting that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Really well narrated too with some great character voices.
Looking forward to starting the next in the series.
This is my honest opinion on a free review copy.

“Tall, bloody of face, apparently female and nursing her testicles”

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The story kept me gripped from the first page until the end , lots of twist and turns with an unexpected finale . The narration was excellent with lots of additional sound effects.

Well written, well narrated

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A gripping story from start to finish with many laugh out loud moments.
You almost feel like you are there in this Victorian London with all its wonders
I ws given a free copy of this title and leave this review freely

Simply Wonderful

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I have followed a few titles read by Karl Jenkinson in the past, having stumbled across "Essex Boys" a while ago. I decided to give "Steam, Smoke and Mirrors" a go, knowing that Karl's narration is of a superb standard.

The story is vivid and gripping, both in its prose and narrative delivery. This is a novel that requires an eccentric and demanding performance; Karl brings the many characters to life with his engaging and distinctive performances, truly I felt like I was walking the streets of Victorian London, soot-covered and ragged, following the mystery unfold.

Colin Edmonds' prose is fast-paced and well-written and this comes across in the performance from start to finish.

I am waiting patiently for a sequel and am checking out Karl's other titles in the meantime!

A gripping summer read!

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