Very fast-paced (at times) Victorian spy-romance. Bethany is a rather odd combination of the unique (scientist) and conventional (has all sorts of conventional plucky talents like picking locks with hairpins and handling firearms). Ian is, well, tall, blond, gorgeous, conflicted, a spy, you name it. Makes the crawling around in tunnels on England's north coast much better. The plot is a bit frenetic - new elements are almost continually introduced and it gets hard to keep straight after a bit.

The conversational aspects of the novel are very well-done.