#Review - The Zeppelin Deception by Colleen Gleason #YA #Mystery #Steampunk

Series: Stoker & Holmes #5
Format: Hardcover, 318 pages
Release Date: August 22, 2019
Publisher: Avid Press
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Action & Adventure

Mina Holmes and Evaline Stoker return in their final—and most exciting—adventure together.

It’s a cold, blustery day in January of 1890 when Mina Holmes receives an invitation to Evaline Stoker’s wedding. The two young women—partners and occasionally friends—haven’t spoken for nearly two months, since the events at the Carnelian Crow.

Shocked, Mina is still looking at the invitation when constables from Scotland Yard begin pounding on her front door. They’ve arrived to arrest her for the murder of a man she’s never even heard of.

Meanwhile, Evaline has her hands full with wedding plans (boring) and an overbearing sister who wants to manage her every move—including a dizzying array of social activities. In the midst of all this, she receives an invitation to visit Lady Isabella Cosgrove-Pitt, a most villainous woman.

With Pix in jail, Mina being hunted by Scotland Yard, and Evaline dining with the murderous Lady Isabella what more can possibly go wrong? Plenty. And when the mysterious black zeppelin appears once again in the night sky, things are about to get even more dangerous for Miss Stoker and Miss Holmes.

"Nothing is more hateful to wisdom that excessive cleverness."

 

The Zeppelin Deception, by author Colleen Gleason, is the Fifth installment in the authors Stoker and Holmes series. The story is set to the backdrop of 1890 London. The series features two young women (Mina Holmes & Evaline Stoker). The author actually alternatives narratives between the characters and in this case, it is absolutely necessary. The young women are mostly separated for most of this story due to some confusion, hurt feelings, and pride. It has been two months since Mina and Evaline's last adventure in The Carnelian Crow which saw the pairs the arch-villainess the Ankh get away once again. 

As a series summary, Alvermina (Mina) is the daughter of Sir Mycroft Holmes who is the brother of Sherlock Holmes and Desiree Holmes aka Siri who was Evaline's trainer/mentor. No, there's no Sherlock sighting in this book, but there is a brief appearance by Dr. Watson and Mina disguises herself as Dr. Watson to avoid capture by the police and others. Mina has the same inquisitive mindset as Sherlock and doesn't really care what society thinks about her plain Jane appearance or the fact that she avoids London’s society altogether. Fair to say that Mina has known the identity of the Ankh for some time now.

Evaline is the sister to Bram Stoker and a venator (vampire hunter). She is also Victoria Gardella's direct descendant. Mina and Evaline were brought together by Irene Adler, Sherlock's brilliant nemesis to work for the Crown uncovering dangerous mysteries. Evaline has been blessed with super speed, strength, and healing, but nothing can stop her fate when her brother and sister-in-law who are in a financial fix, demand that she marry Edward Lucas Oligary who happens to be filthy rich. 

The story takes some interesting twists & turns that you won't see coming. As I mentioned, Evaline is supposed to marry in March, her friend Pix aka Edison Smith son of Thomas Edison has been arrested for murder, and to top it off, Mina finds herself on the lam after the Metropolitan Police show up at her door attempting to arrest her for murder. To make things interesting, Mina takes a meeting with Lady Isabella who claims that she needs Mina's help. I won't spoil why Isabella is important except to say READ THE SERIES!!!

While Evaline is trying to figure out a way to not marry Edward, and uncovering what really happened to Pix, Mina's hope of salvation and freedom may come from Inspector Grayling who she definitely connects to on an intellectual level as well as an emotional one. For the most part, Mina is literally and figuratively alone for most of this story. Someone has obviously made it their mission in life to put her in prison and out of the way of their machinations. While this is all happening, the mysterious black Zeppelin returns. 

When the young women finally do connect, they need to find a way to take down their arch-nemesis who is quick witted, vastly intelligent, superior in reasoning and deductive skills, not unlike Mina herself. Which is why they wanted to ICE Mina from having anyone to help her. There's no such thing as coincidences in this series. You really need to pay attention to the clues in order to figure out the mysteries, and yes, I mean mysteries. The ending of this series is one that includes everyone from Dylan (who was from 2016), to Irene Adler, to Desiree, to Inspector Grayling, to the appearance of Mycroft. There's yet another surprise waiting at the end of this story for both Mina and Evaline, so, try not to skip over it. The author leaves a curious note. She claims that this may not be the final adventure(s) for Mina or Evaline. But, we will have to see.

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