Darrell Pitt, The Lost Sword: a Jack Mason adventure, Text Publishing, 26 August 2015, 256pp., $16.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781925240184
Steampunk, mystery, humour and international travel in the 1800s… definitely my cup of tea! In this latest installment of the Jack Mason series, the Emperor of Japan promises the British Government to keep peace with the allies if the ancient Kusanagi sword can be found. Assigned to the case, trainee detectives Jack Mason and Scarlet Bell, under the concerned eye of Mr Doyle, soon find out that the Nazis will stop at nothing to retrieve the sword and use its purported magical powers for world domination.
Packed with action and narrow escapes, never dull or predictable, this book started with so much potential but, to tell the truth, I got tired of running back and forth and back again. There was little chance to catch my breath and absorb each dramatic moment, the many tantalising new twists and the amazing inventions. The real standout in the novel was the development of Jack’s character and the realisation of his feelings for Scarlet. Without giving too much away, Jack’s jealousy causes him to miss clues and make mistakes that provided some funny moments. We could have lots of ethical discussion on the pros and cons of the Darwinist League whose use of the natural adaptations of animals to produce such items as jellyfish breathing apparatus and whale submarines were abhorred by the Metalists. Recommended for ages 10+
Reviewed by Sharon Smith
