Keertana @ Ivy Book Bindings

It's always a challenge to write a novella about characters we have never been previously introduced to. In the past two novellas I've read from Brook, she has used these miniature snippets to further enhance her already developed characters. In this novella, though, she introduces us to Newberry - the constable we met in The Iron Duke - and his wife. Newberry's marriage, when this story begins, is a mess. Not only is his wife sick and fearful of the nano agents that may cure her, but she believes Newberry married her solely for her dowry. It's a desolate situation and one that could have very easily been dragged out into a full-fledged novel. As it was, condensed, this was still a solid read, one that shed more light on our favorite - and blushing - constable, but it lacked the meticulous details a full novel would have had and that I would have liked. For a novella, though, this was excellent and the mystery - not to mention the portrayal of Mina through an entirely different characters eyes - was all very well-done. Once again, not a must-read for the series, but sure to satisfy fans.