The Janus Affair

The best way to imagine the books in this series is to think of them as big, wide-screen, summer action blockbusters. About a steampunk version of the Avengers (the Emma Peel Avengers, mind you, not the repulsor rays and star-painted shield ones), and directed by Sam Raimi. Some people will look at that description and ask why, others will look at it and ask why not. If anything, this one was even more fun than its predecessor, as it could avoid all the niceties and introductions and get right into the two-fistedness.

Come to think of it, Ted Raimi would make an excellent Books.

This was just fun. Rollicking steampunk adventure told with just a touch of whimsy (well, maybe more than a touch when it comes to chapter titles).

This time out, our intrepid secret agents investigate the inexplicable disappearances of several leading British suffragists. Pasts come back to haunt, secrets are exposed, romances are kindled, clockwork doohickeys do all sorts of strange and wonderful things–all you can want.

I really enjoyed this first installment of this series, and this first sequel is a lot more fun–I'd be more than happy if these came out more frequently.