Jonathan L. Howard, Johannes Cabal:The Detective. Headline.
Not my normal choice. The only reason I picked it up at all only was because of the striking tri-colour scheme. I haven't always enjoyed steampunk and I picked it up in spite of the steampunk promise.
And I'm very glad I did.
Brilliantly written and viciously sharply observed, the pages are encrusted with caustic wit. You can find a deliciously dry piece of description on every single page.
Page 85: "Cabal dislike him instinctively, having identified him as a man still prey to his hormones while his intellect puttered around in the background like an embarrassed parent".
Another page at random: page 264: "Cabal was growing irritated, too. He had been planing his grand entrance for the past few hours, and people kept chattering instead of letting him get on with it".
