The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason

Pages: 350
Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens
Genre: Steampunk / Murder Mystery
Notes for Parents: There are some scenes with violence

The Inside Cover

Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes never meant to get into the family business. But when you're the sister of Bram and the niece of Sherlock, vampire hunting and mystery solving are in your blood, so to speak. And when two young society girls disappear--one dead, one missing--there's no one more qualified to investigate. Now fierce Evaline and logical Mina must resolve their rivalry, navigate the advances of not just one but three mysterious gentlemen, and solve a murder with only one clue: a strange Egyptian scarab. The pressure on and the stakes are high--if Stoker and Holmes don't figure out why London's finest sixteen-year-old women are in danger, they'll become the next victims.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a series.

What’s good?

The intricate world of an alternate London, 1889, where electricity is banned (too dangerous), and everything is powered by steam, is the backdrop for this entertaining supernatural murder mystery. Visually sophisticated and with challenging vocabulary, this even-paced adventure includes a secret society of upper class ladies, cryptic Egyptian artifacts, and a couple of mysterious young men. There’s an enjoyable dynamic between the two main characters. Mina is scholarly and practical, but socially awkward, while Evaline is strong and socially graceful, but rarely has a plan. They each prefer to work alone, but must learn to work together as each of their strengths are necessary to solve the mystery.
Best Part: All the nifty gadgets.

What isn’t good?

Occasionally scenes gets a bit wordy, especially Mina’s because she tends to ramble on about things. The complicated gadgets aren’t always explained, but are cool nonetheless. I grew tired of hearing about the size and shape of Mina’s nose, and the overuse of the phrase, “blooming fish.” The end was not wholly satisfying, though I imagine it’s meant to lead into the next book. I suppose the story of the Ankh will continue into the next book.
Worst part: I’m confused: On page 242, Mina guesses the poison is cyanide (based on the almond smell), and Grayling says, "Yes, I suspect it was arsenic." Arsenic and cyanide are two different things. Did I misread that?

Recommendation þþþþo

Although the pace wasn’t quick, and the characters didn’t have a whole lot of depth, the story was nevertheless highly entertaining. The steampunk world was intriguing and the mystery of the dead society girls was compelling. There were some fun characters, including Mina, Evaline, Inspector Grayling, and Dylan the time traveler who I want to know more about. I look forward to the next book (though I hope it’s a new mystery and not just a continuation of this one). Definitely recommended.

Gleason, Colleen. The Clockwork Scarab. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2013.