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The Clockwork Detective (Constable of Aqualinne Book 1) Kindle Edition

by R. A. McCandless (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 63 ratings
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Aubrey Hartmann left the Imperial battlefields with a pocketful of medals, a fearsome reputation, and a clockwork leg.

The Imperium diverts her trip home to investigate the murder of a young druwyd in a strange town. She is ordered to not only find the killer but prevent a full-scale war with the dreaded Fae.

Meanwhile, the arrival of a sinister secret policeman threatens to dig up Aubrey’s own secrets – ones that could ruin her career.

It soon becomes clear that Aubrey has powerful enemies with plans to stop her before she gets started. Determined to solve the mystery, Aubrey must survive centaurs, thugs and a monster of pure destruction.

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Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 1
    Constable of Aqualinne
  2. Print length
    276 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    May 7, 2019
  6. File size
    750 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is my kind of book: A wonderful, fully realized,utterly plausible steampunk world with a dynamite plot, great characters, andthe best dirigibles this side of anywhere. I hope there's more to come." --James P. Blaylock, World Fantasy Award-Winning Author

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07Q5VH2MQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ellysian Press; 1st edition (May 7, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 7, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 750 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 276 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1941637582
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 63 ratings

About the author

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RA McCandless

RA McCandless

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

R.A. McCandless has been a writer both professionally and creatively for over two decades. He was born under a wandering star that led to a degree in Communication and English with a focus on creative writing. He’s the author of the steampunk THE CLOCKWORK DETECTIVE, urban fantasy TEARS OF HEAVEN winner of the 2014 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Preditors & Editors Reader’s Poll and a 2015 EPIC eBook finalist, and HELL BECOMES HER. His shorts have appeared in IN SHAMBLES (with Kevin J. Anderson) NINE HEROES, and GEARS, GADGETS AND STEAM. He continues to research and write historical and genre fiction, battle sprinklers, and play with his three boys.

Follow Rob on Twitter @RobRoyMcCandles

On Facebookwww.facebook.com/RobroyMccandless

On his blog www.highlandrogue.blogspot.com/

On his Instagram www.instagram.com/ramccandless/

Learn more at Rob's website: www.ramccandless.com

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
63 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Clockworks Village
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Escape into Steampunk Fantasy
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2019
Verified Purchase
I've never read steampunk before, so this was a treat for me. From the first page it's clear that world-building is McCandless's superpower. Between the Haenlein, the developing city of Aqualinne, and the backwoods town of Sankt Andra, I felt immersed in a surreal fantasy world where old meets new. Likewise, McCandless does a fabulous job with character development. Though I did find Aubrey a little too perfect at times, she makes for a formidable protagonist--clever, levelheaded, and strong--which is a refreshing detour from the dramatic or angsty female leads featured in so many novels today. Kerrigan is equally as awesome. McCandless does a wonderful job casting a shadow of suspicion on the inspector, keeping us perpetually on our toes wondering if he is a 'good guy' or 'bad guy'. Even side characters such as the town's doctor and the centaur Nessus have strong, unique voices.

Though this is a fantasy, it's surprisingly realistic. The old-fashioned elegance by which the characters speak and details concerning the townsfolk's homes and Aubrey's clockwork leg lend themselves to a well-researched, fleshed out novel.

The pacing of The Clockwork Detective felt a little bit 'off' to me (overdrawn exposition and a climax that occurs a little too early in the novel), but not enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. Any fan of steampunk, high fantasy or Firefly-like SciFi will want to give this one a go.

*Advanced Copy Reviewer
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Caty M
4.0 out of 5 stars Another great story by Mr McCandless
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2019
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I found the beginning a little slow, but as expected, the story was worth it. This story is a great start to what promises to be an exciting series.
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Kenneth Myers
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic story!!!! Thristing for more.
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2019
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Phenomenal story. First let me say, this is the first Steampunk genre book I've read, I am more the Space Opera Honor Harrington type of reader. From the first page until the last the story continued to excite. I finished this in two days the last day, I stayed up in the wee hours of the morning because I couldn't put it down. Mr. McCandless' writing style is smooth and his characters are believable and very much engaging. Constable Aubrey Harmann has just the right amount of bravado and intelligence that you expect of a "Top Cop" she fights demons like the rest of us. His writing style is to be similar to say, Katherne Kerr or R.A Salvatore. All in all fantastic book I cannot wait to hear more of the good Constable's adventures. If you are a fan of engaging real to life characters painted on a tapestry of a sprawling dynamic world this is the book for you. Run do not walk to the nearest outlet or computer and purchase your copy.
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Christopher Hoffman
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2019
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I really enjoyed reading this book. The story moved at a good pace, characters and their actions made sense, and before the end of the first page, I felt immersed in the setting. It is definitely not the kind of book you pick up when you have just a few minutes to kill because you'll probably end up negotiating how much time you actually have before you absolutely need to do the thing. I can't wait to join Constable Hartman on her next adventure.
2 people found this helpful
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Jaryn Drakeln
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent fantasy adventure in a strongly built steampunk setting
Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2019
Verified Purchase
I genuinely enjoyed this story. Strong worldbuilding, interesting characters, and a lot of depth.

I'm always pleased to pick up a title where it feels like there's an entire world genuinely at work behind the scenes. If you like settings that are going to really draw you in, this is a good one.

Plus there were centaurs! I love centaurs!
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E.P. McLean
3.0 out of 5 stars First in series
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2019
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Nice steampunk/fae world with some interesting characters. Constable Audrey is a war hero turned law enforcement for a steampunk empire who is diverted from her next assignment to solve a murder that could lead to a new war with the fae. Plot is nice and the Constable is an interesting person. However, really very little steampunk technology in the story beyond her artificial leg which frankly doesn’t make sense as a clockwork below the knee leg has no need for any clockwork functions. Nice try.
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lisa
4.0 out of 5 stars Good start to a series
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2019
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I don't read a tremendous amount of steampunk or steampunk fantasy, but I might have to change that. Book one of the Constable of Aqualinne series introduces us to Constable Aubrey Hartmann, a hero in the recent wars, sidelined most inconveniently by a cannonball.

Retired from the Imperial army, she now serves her country as a constable and puts into Aqualinne only to find the Imperium has loaned her out to the locals to help with a murder case. A local Druwyd has been murdered, possibly by the fae, which is worse than being killed by a human.

And so the case begins. Aubrey Hartman is a most human character, brought down a peg from her heroic actions as a most capable Captain in the ranks to that of a constable working around the limitations of a clockwork prosthetic leg. She won't be stopped. She won't be pitied. She'll get the job done. Looking forward to book two.
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Cecilia Rodriguez
5.0 out of 5 stars Steampunk mystery
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2022
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Set in the village of Sankt Andra, Constable Aubrey Hartman arrives at Aqualinne, a town near Sankt Andra to investigate the recent murder of Druwyd Lorenz.
McCandless incorporates Fae magic with local politics.
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Top reviews from other countries

Sean P Chatterton
5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic intro to Steampunk.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2019
Verified Purchase
This is the first book in what I hope will be a long running series. We are introduced to Constable Aubrey Hartman. A veteran of the campaigns, a chest full of medals, a fearful reputation, and a clockwork leg.

The blurb on the back of the book entices you enough, I don't feel the need to expand on this as it might give away too much.

R. A. McCandless writes engaging, believable characters. I'm not normally a steam punk reader, but this book has changed my mind. I'm likely to look up more. The mix of Fae, magic and steam was woven well and the reader is taken into a fully fleshed out world ripe with stories to be told.

With nods to many of the greats of SF (the likes of Heinlein, Niven & etc) gives the well read SciFi reader plenty of little nuggets. These add smiles, and a touch which helps make this book stand out from others.

I thoroughly recommend this book, and I am genuinely looking forward to reading more about Aubrey in the future.
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