Johannes Cabal the Detective
- an exciting, entertaining, whizzbang thriller first page to last.
British author Jonathan L. Howard has written a work of highly polished
literature that's also incredibly fun to read.
I'm making my way
through all five Cabal novels. Steampunk sensational! I've started in
the middle and I'm working outwards: my first Cabal, The Fear Institute; my second, the novel under review; my next Cabal, Johannes Cabal the Necromancer.
Oh, if some creative director ever turned Johannes Cabal the Detective
into a feature film, it would most certainly become a box office smash.
Meanwhile, the following could serve as the book's highlight reel:
DOUBLE WHAMMY
Johannes
Cabal practices necromancy. “Strictly, necromancy was the telling of
the future by summoning up the spirits of the dead and asking them
searching questions. This, Cabal believed, was a singularly poor way of
finding out anything. The dead were moderately strong on history, weak
on current events, and entirely useless for discerning what was to come.
They were, after all, dead.”
The above quote, a bit of Johannes Cabal internal monologue, provides an example of the way the
objective third-person narrator shares and reinforces Cabal's view of
the world – caustic, scientific and condescending with more than a few
daubs of gallows humor. One of the most important things I can point out
as a reviewer: If you click into and enjoy Jonathan L. Howard's
instantly recognizable authorial voice, every single page of this and
all the other Cabal novels will be an especial treat - his voice is that
strong.
STUPENDOUS STEAMPUNK
What's steampunk without an airship? For this Cabal adventure we have Princess Hortense,
a colossal vessel, a triple-decker that's combination aircraft
carrier/dirigible. For added zest, a reader can take delight in a two
page spread (presented as part of "The Clarion: The Boys' Call to
Adventure!") featuring a detailed illustration complete with captions
and key. Likewise for the CI-880 Fighter Entomopter,
retrofuturistic technology that is part jet, part helicopter the size of a
piper cub. A hefty chunk of the story unfolds aboard the Princess Hortense and Entomopters also play a vital role.
VICTORIAN EUROPE, SORT OF
Since
we're talking retrofuturistic nineteenth century, Jonathan L. Howard
takes full advantage by creating his own version of Europe: there's
England, the Germanies and Italy but also such countries as Mirkarvia,
Senza and Katamenia to the east (a map sketched out by Cabal is included
for a reader's easy reference). Part of the joy in turning the
pages – readers are given enough space to engage their own imagination
to fill in the geographical and historical gaps.
LOCKED-ROOM MYSTERY
What's more intriguing than an impossible crime committed in a unique setting? Aboard the Princess Hortense,
the crew, Cabal and others must fathom such a murder, if, indeed,
it is a murder. Our British author incorporates all necessary elements
to add a special piquancy: atmosphere, narrative momentum,
foreshadowing, red herrings, and...for each reader to discover.
ARCH-VILLAIN
If
Johannes Cabal, necromancer turned detective, is forced to play the
role of hero, then the prime evildoing villain is undoubtedly Count
Marechal, a dastardly cur with political ambitions in leading his
country of Mirkarvia into a bloody war.
"En garde....This isn't
one of those effeminate fencing sabres that Italians came up with. It is
a real weapon and it really kills, and it shall be my very real
pleasure to hack you into pieces with it, Cabal." These threatening
words from Count Marechal appear in the opening chapters. There's
nothing like a good old-fashioned crossing and clashing of steel to set
the stage for the ultimate showdown.
LOVELY LADY BECOMES CABAL'S PARTNER IN AN ATTEMPT TO CRACK THE CASE
Readers of Johannes Cabal the Necromancer
will hear a familiar ring when Leonie Barrow, a delightfully attractive
Englishwoman, makes her appearance in the novel. And since Ms. Barrow
possesses a background as a student of forensics, she's in an ideal
position to team up with Cabal in the investigation of what could prove
to be an exceedingly knotty mystery.
Political
climate permitting, I can imagine Leonie Barrow writing a novelized
version of her adventures with Cabal some time following the actual
events. In that case, the above photo could be Ms. Barrow reading her
adrenaline-fuelled novel in leisure hours.
THE BOOK'S MAIN MAN
Of
all the interesting parts of the novel, surely the most interesting is Johannes Cabal himself. Each and every scene provides yet another
glimpse, another sharp angle into the character of the natty
necromancer. For instance, these words following a particular harrowing
happening while aboard the Princess Hortense:
"Johannes
Cabal hated people trying to kill him. He hated it, and he hated them.
Certainly, most people aren't keen on it, but few have actually
experienced it, and fewer still on the regular basis with which Cabal
was familiar. Already, within this single narrative, we have seen how
the Mirkavian judicial system had salted him away for execution and
then, more personally, how the Count Marechal had intended to skewer him
upon a cavalry sabre. Cabal by degrees had grown more inured to the
actual event of an attempt upon his life, but he never could gird
himself effectively against the intent. He didn't so much find it
hurtful as ignorant."
How will it all turn out? And are we talking unexpected romance of a kind between Cabal and Leonie Barrow? I can't recommend Johannes Cabal the Detective
highly enough. And the good news: not only can you read but, like all
the other Cabal novels, this one is available as an audio book. I myself
have both read the novel and listened to the audio multiple times. The
enjoyment runneth over.
British author Jonathan L. Howard
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