The Executioners Heart by George Mann

Mann seems to improve with each book.  The Hobbes and Newbury series keeps improving.   An assassin is hired to wreak havoc on the Queen’s network of spies.  Hobbes and Newbury find themselves searching for the assassin with the assistance of Bainbridge and the new Secret Service.  There are questions as to the loyalty of the Secret Service and possibly Bainbridge as well.

The sidebar of Veronica’s sister adds to the tension between Hobbes and Newbury.   I have to think that the steampunk Victorian setting is the cause of the unrequited love as any other setting the romance would have been consummated at this point in time.

There is plenty of action and very cool cogs and wheels involved.   BTW I read the Wonderful Electric Elephant by Frances Trego Montgomery as a boy.   The elephant in this book reminded me of that book.  A Google search found a 2017 reprint of the 1927 printing.  My copy was the original 1903 printing.   You can see my review at Amazon.

As far as Mann’s book, I recommend it and the series.   I do love his cover illustrator. 

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