Review: Murder, Mayhem & Mystery in ‘The Revenant Express’

The Revenant Express brims with adventure and danger, creating an exciting race to get to the bottom of multiple mysteries. There’s never a loss for action as the reader is sent down two pathways that converge at the end. With so much to do, I was entranced by the story, flying between narratives and getting to know these well-established characters who are new to me. I haven’t read the previous four books, but that wasn’t an issue with this fifth book in the Newberry & Hobbes series. As far as genre, we have Victorian mystery-solving combined with steampunk influences, occult magic, zombies, and mysterious creatures. Needless to say, it’s a fascinating combination of genres and sub-genres.

The steampunk elements in The Revenant Express were pretty light. There were definite mentions, and an overarching goal involving a fascinating mechanical object but overall, it was more mystery than steampunk. The train itself is a marvel to imagine with its two-story train cars and epic steam engine. There are horrors hiding at the front, to be sure, but overall it’s extremely glamorous and quite Victorian. Coupled with an on-the-streets mystery narrative in early 1900’s London, the settings created an imaginative journey. 

Overall, The Revenant Express is an impressive feat, combining a handful of genres to create a well-connected narrative that is sure to be a much-sought-after addition to this series. It was a great way to spend a Sunday morning, and I look forward to the future of the series.

NOTE: I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.