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The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter

(Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire #1)

Rod Duncan (Goodreads Author)

3.75 · Rating details · 2,902 ratings · 443 reviews

Elizabeth Barnabus lives a double life—as herself and as her brother, the private detective. She is trying to solve the mystery of a disappearing aristocrat and a hoard of arcane machines. In her way stand the rogues, freaks and self-proclaimed alchemists of a travelling circus. But when she comes up against an agent of the all-powerful Patent Office, her life and the cour ...more

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Paperback, 375 pages

Published August 26th 2014 by Angry Robot (first published August 20th 2014)

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Jan 17, 2016 Richard Derus rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Rating: 4.5* of five

The Publisher Says: Elizabeth Barnabus lives a double life—as herself and as her brother, the private detective. She is trying to solve the mystery of a disappearing aristocrat and a hoard of arcane machines. In her way stand the rogues, freaks and self-proclaimed alchemists of a travelling circus.

But when she comes up against an agent of the all-powerful Patent Office, her life and the course of history will begin to change. And not necessarily for the better…

July 2020 UPDA ...more

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Dec 19, 2016 Felicia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: steampunk, mystery

This is a really enjoyable book that blends mystery and steampunk together. I've always been a sucker for cross-dressing ladies a-la Shakespeare, and this one really does a bang up fun job of having a protagonist who dresses as her "brother" in order to be a detective.

There's intrigue and a cool steampunk alt-world to dive into, and really interesting characters. There are hints of romance but it's certainly not a driving force. The political intrigue and mystery are, and those are where the bo ...more

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Jun 17, 2016 Orient rated it it was ok

Recommends it for: steam punk fans

Shelves: desperado, fantasy, historical, steam-punk

"The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter" is a book I really looked for reading and after finishing it I feel a little bit disappointed because the book was not as interesting for me as I expected. I’ve read it quite quickly, but it didn’t grip me or excite me in the way that so many other books do. Maybe Mr. Murakami had spoiled me :D
I quite liked the story and the characters. The idea to write a steam punk story about a woman who disguises herself as a man sounded really attractive to me. (It’s definit ...more

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Aug 10, 2014 Robin (Bridge Four) rated it really liked it

Shelves: chick-i-want-to-hang-out-with, ya

3.5 Stars

I really enjoy a good story about cross dressing. When done well I find the social dynamic changes between being male and female fascinating. The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter is done well. The background of Elizabeth and the explanations of her mannerisms make it believable.

Men fancy that they recognize a woman by dress, figure and face but it is more through movement that gender is revealed.

Elizabeth was brought up in a traveling circus and learned very young the art of being both her ...more

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Aug 05, 2014 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it really liked it

Shelves: alternate-history, arcs-and-galleys, steampunk, netgalley, review-copy

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2014/09/02/b...

Angry Robot is making a comeback this fall with a couple of great titles, and The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter is one gem that is deserving of a lot more attention. I really had no idea what I was in for going into this book, but even before the beginnings of the story was revealed to me, I found myself already captivated by the elegant writing style.

Rod Duncan brings the Gas-Lit Empire to life in this steampunkish tale of my 4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2014/09/02/b...

Angry Robot is making a comeback this fall with a couple of great titles, and The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter is one gem that is deserving of a lot more attention. I really had no idea what I was in for going into this book, but even before the beginnings of the story was revealed to me, I found myself already captivated by the elegant writing style.

Rod Duncan brings the Gas-Lit Empire to life in this steampunkish tale of mystery and espionage, starring a female protagonist with a big secret. Elizabeth Barnabus is the single child of a “bullet-catcher”, a term used to describe stage magicians or artists known for performing large-scale or spectacular illusions, but she has used all the tricks of the trades to fool the world into thinking she has a twin brother. In the guise of her fictitious brother Edwin the private detective, Elizabeth sets out to solve the case of a missing aristocrat while dodging alchemists and shady circus folk as well as agents of the all-powerful and tyrannical International Patent Office.

Obviously, Elizabeth is a talented, capable and intelligent young woman used to solving her own problems, often in creative and ingenious ways. So forgive me for going on a mini-ramble here while I ponder on the trend of the “daughter-in-the-title” phenomenon; that is, I notice so many book titles that seem to follow this “The ________’s Daughter” formula these days, but I call it a ramble and not a rant because I think it amuses me more than it bothers me. I find it curious especially in this case, where Elizabeth is such an awesome character and being defined by her father’s profession clearly doesn’t do her enough justice! Besides being a master of disguise, she is also very adept at taking in a situation and making snappy decisions.

I’m also impressed with the way the author has created this world using very subtle means. Instead of throwing buckets of descriptive details in the readers’ faces, he instead uses the history he has crafted for the Gas-Lit Empire to great effect. By reading about the significant events that shaped the empire, such as the war that divided England or the rise of the Patent Office, I was able to piece together the culture and mood of this alternate universe. Sights and sounds can come across easily through words, but it takes a much rarer talent to convey the intangible such as the atmosphere of a setting the way Duncan does.

The mystery in this novel unfolds gradually, and though I wouldn’t call The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter a high-octane read, it does keep up a steady level of intrigue and suspense. It also has its moments, such as when Elizabeth runs afoul of a troupe of traveling circus performers and for a few chapters I was immersed in the dark side of circus life and became acquainted with many very interesting individuals.

With its unique setting and premise, this book embodies the essence of what I’ve come to expect from Angry Robot over the years. But I would still love to know more about Elizabeth as a character. Even though the story is told through her perspective in the first person, she seems to keep the reader at arm’s length. This might be an effect of the writing style, or perhaps something Rod Duncan purposely meant to do from the start, and if that’s the case, then it’s actually pretty clever. It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for someone in Elizabeth’s place to maintain a detached attitude even as she is narrating her own story, given how she must protect the secret of her double-life from the rest of the world.

In short, this was a well-written novel, the story fantastically put together with elements of alternate history and steampunk, topped off with a strong, resourceful heroine. You can’t help but be drawn to Elizabeth Barnabus. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing her adventures in the sequel. ...more

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Feb 22, 2017 Veronique rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: stars-4-0, r2017

Stories of cross-dressing always attract me - not just in the fun of the fact itself but also in its deeper meaning, flouting gender ‘rules’. The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter does this in an alternate Victorian setting, one where the United Kingdom has been divided into two republics with very different laws, mores and technologies.

This is where we find Elizabeth Barnabus, who takes on the persona of her fictitious twin brother Edwin in order to be able to sustain herself, working as a private inv ...more

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Jun 27, 2014 Daniel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi-fantasy

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. rated 5.0 of 5

Often, when I pick up a new book, by an author who is unfamiliar to me, there is both a sense of excitement, wonderment, but also a little sense of dread, wondering what I might be about to throw myself in to. It's a game of trust betwen me, the author, the editor, and the publisher. And when the author, and his/her book hooks me and takes me on a fantastic adventure and in to a land of people and places that I don't wa This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. rated 5.0 of 5

Often, when I pick up a new book, by an author who is unfamiliar to me, there is both a sense of excitement, wonderment, but also a little sense of dread, wondering what I might be about to throw myself in to. It's a game of trust betwen me, the author, the editor, and the publisher. And when the author, and his/her book hooks me and takes me on a fantastic adventure and in to a land of people and places that I don't want to leave, I am thrilled to have been so surprised.

Rod Duncan's The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter, has thrilled me.

Our protagonist is Elizabeth Barnabus, a spy/detective who disguises herself as her own brother. We meet her as she takes on a new job for a Dutchess, the Lady Bletchley, tracking down a person while avoiding capture and the loss of her home and discovering what makes a few new machines so valuable. Along the way she encounters a travelling circus that may be concealing some of the information she's looking for, and an agent for the Patent Office ... perhaps the most powerful of all agencies.

Elizabeth is resourceful and intelligent. If she can't talk or disguise her way out of trouble, she likely can use guile and prowess to physically escape. Author Duncan weaves in Elizabeth's back story with masterful ease. So nicely intertwined, we often don't realize that we've stepped out of the present story to get some background. This is precisely how it should be done - it is a wonderful balance of being story-driven and character-driven.

Everything about this world felt real. Elizabeth and author Duncan don't spend time marvelling over little things that would be very natural to them (and as Elizabeth was raised in a circus environment, even the most strange would appear natural to her). Instead, the world/environment is created through the action of the story. It ocurred to me at some point that this book might be considered 'steampunk' given the era and the modern marvels within. Typically, I haven't been impressed with steampunk precisely because so much attention is paid to showing off how 'cool' the concepts are. But when a story isn't about concept, it is much easier to make it real.

It's almost impossible to have a book without some sort of romance, but here again, Duncan gets it just right. There are hints of romance that satisfy, amuse, and promise more for another time.

There wasn't a single moment that I felt bored or wanted to skip ahead a little. I was mesmerized early and the story and characters blossomed before me with precision. This is the book I was hoping to read back when I delved in to The Night Circus and again with Hang Wire. Now it's been done correctly and I want more!

Looking for a good book? Mystery, duplicity, secret societies, alchemy, romance, action ... The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter by Rod Duncan has it all and promises to be the talked-about/must-read book for sci-fi/fantasy enthusiasts this year! ...more

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Jun 02, 2014 Koeur rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/06/02...

Publisher: Angry Robot
Publishing Date: August 2014
ISBN: 9780857665317
Genre: Fantasy
Rating:4.7/5

Publisher Description: Elizabeth Barnabus lives a double life – as herself and as her brother, the private detective. She is trying to solve the mystery of a disappearing aristocrat and a hoard of arcane machines. In her way stand the rogues, freaks and self-proclaimed alchemists of a travelling circus. But when she comes up against an agent of the all-power http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/06/02...

Publisher: Angry Robot
Publishing Date: August 2014
ISBN: 9780857665317
Genre: Fantasy
Rating:4.7/5

Publisher Description: Elizabeth Barnabus lives a double life – as herself and as her brother, the private detective. She is trying to solve the mystery of a disappearing aristocrat and a hoard of arcane machines. In her way stand the rogues, freaks and self-proclaimed alchemists of a travelling circus. But when she comes up against an agent of the all-powerful Patent Office, her life and the course of history will begin to change. And not necessarily for the better…

Review: Cover art is pretty inventive.

This novel kind of crept up on me…in a good way. Elizabeth’s past is inter-woven into the story line and this picture emerges of a traveling family whose lives were ruined because of the Duke of Northampton’s desire for young Eliza. She flees to the Republic to escape the Duke and subsequently becomes an investigator in the guise of her non-existent brother. She takes a commission from Lady Bletchley to find her lost brother, whom does not wish to be found, especially by his sister.

The characters were well built and the story-line really was the entirety of the novel. As Eliza moves through her life in the constrained Republic, the nuances of that life and her inner dialogue draw you into the tapestry of her world. While inner dialogue usually decries a failed attempt at world building, the author makes good use of this time to center Eliza’s thought processes on evading bad people, staying under cover, planning for contingencies and using her wiles to escape the Dukes and Mr. Timpson’s minions. She has sudden allies in the form of street people, orphans and her neighbors whom rent the boat slip to her.

Really, a fine and well crafted novel. Those of us who imagine novels in pictures will enjoy this work for the subtle descriptors that build an alternate world reality. The author plans a few of the “Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire” novels. As per the glossary, Elizabeth plays a key role in the fall of the Gas-lit empire. Cheers to that as she is a captivating character. Angry Robot has picked a winner.
...more

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Jun 29, 2014 Siobhan Logan rated it it was amazing

From the ingenious art work of Will Staehle – that blood-red Victorian purse/ metallic hand – to the fabulous title, The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter, Rod Duncan's first novel in the Gaslit Empire series promises a thrilling and duplicitous read. And it delivers. This treat from imprint Angry Robot (loving their Cylon logo too!) is coming to Steampunk fans this September, with a sequel hot on its heels next spring. It has as much peril, mystery and mashed-up Victorian-futuristic technology as you c From the ingenious art work of Will Staehle – that blood-red Victorian purse/ metallic hand – to the fabulous title, The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter, Rod Duncan's first novel in the Gaslit Empire series promises a thrilling and duplicitous read. And it delivers. This treat from imprint Angry Robot (loving their Cylon logo too!) is coming to Steampunk fans this September, with a sequel hot on its heels next spring. It has as much peril, mystery and mashed-up Victorian-futuristic technology as you could wish but above all, what will be bringing this reader back for more is the central character; gutsy cross-dressing private-detective, Elizabeth Barnabus. She is alone in this world but for a fictional brother and a remembered father. 'I'm no more than a shadow,' she tells a would-be admirer, 'and can have only such friendships and feelings as a shadow might'. Only one job away from destitution, she yet turns out to be a cunning and always courageous match for the shadowy Agents of the all-powerful International Patent Office. Appealingly, she is an accomplished liar as well as a reader of others' deceptions.

'Illusion was my inheritance,' she confides early on. From a childhood spent in The Circus of Mysteries, she has learnt ' … the gift of being, when needed, my own twin brother.' Without this skill, Elizabeth cannot survive as a woman on the run exiled in a land where females cannot own property or run businesses. 'Equal but different' is the slogan of the Anglo-Scottish Republic, a rather Puritan world where the Rational Dress Society enforces strict codes about women's clothing: 'That is not a hat and you are not properly dressed.' Elizabeth, masquerading as a Victorian gentleman 'intelligence-gather', is a deviant living in the shadows of Leicester's waterfront on an old canal-boat, Bessie. Duncan convincingly explores the mechanics of her gender-manipulation: 'Men fancy they recognize a woman by her dress, figure and face but it is more through movement …' Elizabeth enjoys strolling through the city with the easy swagger of a man: 'rolling the shoulders … occupying the centre of the road.' However much she can handle a weapon and calculate an escape route, this action-heroine is young and at times, emotionally volatile. 'I don't know if it was fear or anger that made me act,' she reflects after shoving a loaded revolver in a thug's mouth. What's for sure is you're rooting for this outsider who is not only a wanted 'fugitive from a contract of indentured servitude' but also a Gypsy who arouses a casual bigotry in officials of the Republic.

Elizabeth has crossed all sorts of lines in a novel pre-occupied with boundaries of many kinds. A runaway from the Kingdom of England and Southern Wales, she occupies the middle-space of Leicester, a city bisected by the historic partition of England (an irony this Irish reviewer enjoyed.) As a citizen of the real Midlands centre, I thought the sense of place enriched the novel with its Turkey Café, Darkside Coffee House and Gallowtree Gate, complete with gallows. The twin border-checkpoints are a step away from Leicester's iconic Clock Tower. Another location I recognise as 'the Lanes', offering 'an alternative shopping experience' of boutiques and 'emporiums', has become Duncan's 'the Backs … that dark warren of narrow streets, blind alleys and iniquity.' I found myself wanting a map in the book (apparently this will be found in the accompanying web-site on publication) but then again, my Leicester is not the fictional city. Rather I am looking at a setting reflected back in the distorting lens of a fairground-mirror. Similarly, I kept thinking I had gotten a foothold on the history of the book, drawing on my own knowledge of the English Revolution, the Luddites and Empire etc. But like a tourist who's strayed into the smuggler's den of the Backs, I am easily way-laid. It makes no sense that the emerging bourgeoisie of Cromwell's Puritans would build a realm so hostile to technological innovation. And which century am I in when a reference to the 1970s is dropped in as a teaser never to be explained? History-as-we-know it, fragments of that narrative, have been shaken up in the kaleidoscope of Duncan's invention. It is this kind of total 'world-building' that draws in the reader and I hope to master this alternative history as it unfolds over several volumes.

I soon stopped trying to map my way through, too caught up in the rapid pace of Elizabeth Barnabus' adventures. The protagonist is continuously on the move, taking an airship to Lincolnshire, where she pursues Harry Timpson's Laboratory of Arcane Wonders, and later to London where she not only risks capture by her old enemy, the Duke of Northampton, but even enters the citadel of the terrifying International Patent Office. The Lincolnshire scenes will delight fans of the cult-TV series, Carnivale – I'll say no more – and the capital is at once Dickensian and deliciously fantastic with its International Air Terminus at St. Pancras. The tension of quest and discovery is constant. And Elizabeth Barnabus has more secrets and back-story packed into her trusty portmanteau than her friends can possibly know or the agents of the Patent Office suspect. 'Illusion is story,' she advises us, quoting her long-lost father, '… weave it with characters … and love and loss and the audience will follow you as children … followed the Pied Piper of Hamlin.' Here are Mysteries wrapped in Disguises moon-lighting as Plots. The closing pages promise that The Gaslit Empire will yield many more before its rumoured 'Fall'. This reader is booking her ticket for the show and marking off the months till the sequel 'Unseemly Science' rolls into town. ...more

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Aug 27, 2014 Monica rated it really liked it

This review was originally posted on Avid Reviews: http://www.avidfantasyreviews.wordpre...

2014 has been a great year for innovative releases in speculative fiction, and the publisher Angry Robot in particular has put out a wonderful abundance of genre-defying novels this year. One of Angry Robot’s newest releases, The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter by Rod Duncan, is no exception. This novel is the first installment of The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire, and is Duncan’s first speculative fiction series. This review was originally posted on Avid Reviews: http://www.avidfantasyreviews.wordpre...

2014 has been a great year for innovative releases in speculative fiction, and the publisher Angry Robot in particular has put out a wonderful abundance of genre-defying novels this year. One of Angry Robot’s newest releases, The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter by Rod Duncan, is no exception. This novel is the first installment of The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire, and is Duncan’s first speculative fiction series. It is impossible to define the book within a single genre; instead it is a hybrid between alternate history, fantasy, sci-fi, and steampunk, and Duncan masterfully weaves these different genres into a wonderful story with subtle but intricate world building. From the first chapter the story takes off on an action packed adventure filled with illusion, magic, mystery, and even a traveling circus. Duncan creates a heady bouquet of story elements that will leave the reader in dire need of the next novel in the series.

The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter is the story of Elizabeth Barnabus. Her world is an alternate historical England that has been divided into two nations, and is portrayed with a blend of Victorian era sensibilities and cultural influences, and futuristic technology. Elizabeth lives a double life; she dresses up as a fictional twin brother named Edwin in order to ensure a job as a private detective. When a Duchess from the northern nation, a place Elizabeth fled years ago, hires her to find a missing aristocrat who does not wish to be found (especially by the Duchess), she is suddenly swept up in the mystery of a hoard of arcane machines. To solve the mystery she must travel with eccentric members of a wandering circus, and face the ghosts of her past. In addition she will have to go up against rouges, self-proclaimed alchemists, and an agent of the all-powerful Patent Office; an institution that is highly averse to any technological innovation. The closer Elizabeth comes to solving this mystery, the more her life, and even the course of history, will change.

One of the most accomplished aspects of Duncan’s writing is his ability to impart a vast amount of world building and plot details to readers without overwhelming them with an information dump. Duncan weaves the details of the setting, the political climate, the nature of the world, and numerous other elements with a first-hand account of the protagonist’s past. This balance of characters, plot, and detail keep the story fast paced and engaging throughout the entire novel. I was very intrigued to come across an author whose writing was subtle and captivating in equal measure. Another benefit of this novel’s genre defying story and unique writing style is an appeal to a much larger audience than a regular steampunk novel. Fans of numerous types of speculative fiction, as well as fans mystery and alternative history, will find a wonderfully unique novel that also contains aspects of their respective preferred genres. This blend of the familiar and the strange will be sufficient to satisfy many different kinds of readers.

The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter sets itself apart from many other genre-defying novels with its well-chosen themes. I particularly love the theme of illusion, and how it plays such an important role in Elizabeth’s life and the world that Duncan has created. There is also a strong sense of Elizabeth defying the constraints of her culture. She is an extremely strong and well-developed protagonist, and she makes her own definition of what it is to be a woman, and of what a woman is capable of doing.

Though there are plenty of thought-provoking elements to the story, on the surface it is still a fun mystery set in a fascinating world. It is one of those books that the reader can really get out of it what he wants. If you are looking for intricate themes and innovative writing, then this is a great book for you. On the other hand if you are looking for a moderately fast paced mystery with magical qualities… well, then this is also a great novel to read. There are some places where the plot slows down significantly, but I found them to be few, and to not disrupt the story’s pacing. For example, after the initial excitement at the beginning of the novel, the story does slow down a bit in order for the reader to become familiar with the protagonist and her situation. But soon the action picks up again, and the reader begins to become immersed in the story rather than simply intrigued by it. Overall, it is a wonderful story that I would recommend to anyone even remotely interested in speculative fiction.

My rating: 7.75/10

I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley and the publisher, Angry Robot, in return for an honest review. ...more

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Jan 28, 2016 Stephanie Swint rated it really liked it

Rod Duncan’s created a world known, incorrectly, as ‘The Gas-lit Empire.’ Part of what makes Duncan’s alternate history complete is the complexity of it including scattered inaccuracies through its revolutions, wars, offices, and political systems. The Anglo-Scottish Republic is mashed up against The Kingdom of England and Southern Wales splitting at Leicester. The flaws and benefits of both societies are uniquely viewed by Elizabeth Barnabus, daughter of a Bullet Catcher, fugitive, Intelligence Rod Duncan’s created a world known, incorrectly, as ‘The Gas-lit Empire.’ Part of what makes Duncan’s alternate history complete is the complexity of it including scattered inaccuracies through its revolutions, wars, offices, and political systems. The Anglo-Scottish Republic is mashed up against The Kingdom of England and Southern Wales splitting at Leicester. The flaws and benefits of both societies are uniquely viewed by Elizabeth Barnabus, daughter of a Bullet Catcher, fugitive, Intelligence Gatherer, and main character. While I am entranced by Duncan’s world, the core of this book is a mystery. Elizabeth, resident of ‘The Republic’, takes a job to find a missing Aristocrat. An invention of his, and scientific leanings, make him dangerous. He is wanted by many, not the least by ‘The Patent Office.’ Elizabeth is uniquely qualified for the task, but if she had any option she would not/should not take it.

Elizabeth is resourceful and intelligent. That does not mean her life is easy. She found a way to survive as a 14-year-old girl, alone, without money, in a new land. This is not an easy task in ‘The Republic’ where women can not own property. She relies heavily on skills her parents taught her. As the daughter of a Bullet Catcher, and child of Traveling Shows, she has relied heavily on illusion to survive. Her parents conjured a twin brother for her as a child. He plays heavily into how Elizabeth is able contract work, and procure her houseboat. The book includes excerpts from The Bullet Catchers Handbook at the beginning of every chapter. They are lessons of illusion that pertain to the chapter, but also to Elizabeth’s past and future. It helps the reader connect to the larger story. The book is centered on her work as an Intelligence Gatherer searching for a missing Aristocrat from the Kingdom, but taking work in The Kingdom is risky for her. As a fugitive, she can not be caught in its borders. This contract also brings danger by drawing the scrutiny of The Patent Office. Elizabeth does not need anyone inspecting her closely. What she does need is the promised money – badly.

The political system Duncan created is a backdrop to this book. It is integral, however, to the greater story of the series hinted at in the expanded title, ‘The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter: The Fall of The Gas-lit Empire.’ The ideologies of the Kingdom and Republic don’t seamlessly match their cultures. The Republic has strict social standards, very conservative and monotone, contradictory to its democratic political freedoms. The Kingdom isn’t a true monarchy, but the Council of Aristocrats hold to the political structure of Old England. While there is a great deal of unfairness swayed heavily in favor of those Aristocrats, women have more rights than those in ‘The Republic’. Duncan’s alternative history has several parallels to historical Victorian democracies and monarchies of our world. Some ideas Duncan acted on, such as a world where Scotland split from the United Kingdom, were wished for by various parties but did not come to fruition. His world is well-built. It gave me a deeper level of respect for the book and author. Take some time looking at it, including reading the glossary. You can see there are many words, offices, treaties, etc. that are unique. I usually skip glossaries. Honestly, I’m too lazy to read them, and you can usually infer the meanings/content from the writing. You can do that here too, but I appreciated the material included.

The book can be enjoyed on two levels. You can read or listen to it on a shallow level. I do not say this dismissively. I’ve enjoyed several stories wanting to only pay attention to the surface. This story can be enjoyed on a deeper level too. The political structures, the history Duncan created, and the detail of the illusions make this story much more than the intelligence job. I liked Elizabeth going undercover to find the Aristocrat and the twists that individual story holds, but Elizabeth’s own history and what is intimated for the future made me pick up the second book without pause. ...more

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Jun 22, 2014 Simone rated it really liked it · review of another edition

**ARC provided by Angry Robot and Netgalley**

I had no idea what to expect from The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter – but boy, was it a nice surprise!

Intriguing characters?

Check.

Exciting plot?

Check.

Meticulous world-building?

Check.

This novel has it all.

It's beautifully written too - Rod Duncan has a way with words.

Edwin Barnabus is a private detective, a good one at that, hired by the Duchess of Bletchley to search for her missing brother. Respectable enough...except Edwin Barnabus isn’t really who ...more

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May 28, 2014 Reading Reindeer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: all-sci-fi-my-challenge, 2014_reads, armchair-england, august-2014-reads, armchair-scotland, a1-netgalley, a1-i-own-books, steampunk

Review: THE BULLET-CATCHER'S DAUGHTER by Rod Duncan

An engrossing steampunk series which takes a divergent turn and becomes Alternate History instead of embracing the more common steampunk trope of a twisted background of Victorian and/or Edwardian England (specifically London), THE BULLET CATCHER'S DAUGHTER inaugurates an all-new series. Much world-building goes into the story, but the author starts with a sharp and catchy reader's hook, and interweaves the background world gradually. I found th ...more

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Oct 31, 2015 Nicky rated it liked it

Shelves: speculative-fiction, steampunk

I’ve been meaning to read this book for ages, and seeing that there are now three books in the series (which I think I read is complete as a trilogy?), I thought it was about time I got round to it. I’m not necessarily a reader of steampunk for steampunk’s sake, but the set-up intrigued me, and especially the double life lived by the protagonist.

I have to say that I missed some things which other reviewers spotted, like the date this is set, but I enjoyed it all the same. It does feel a bit gimm ...more

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Aug 23, 2014 Frank Errington rated it it was amazing

4.5 of 5 Stars Review copy

First I'd like to make note of the stunning and eye-catching cover by Will Staehle. Very nice work.

How best to describe The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter? Well, there are certainly some elements of Steampunk, there is an Alternate History going on, and there is the feel of a classic Sherlock Holmes story as told by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Rod Duncan weaves these elements deftly into a beautiful tale of mystery and intrigue.

The author has created a not so United Kingdom foll ...more

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Jul 27, 2017 Rose rated it liked it

Shelves: science-fiction

I honestly thought this story would be more exciting than it was. The synopsis makes it sound like a lot happens but it’s like a movie trailer that gives you the best stuff leaving nothing big for the story itself. It started out feeling a bit like The Lies of Locke Lamora but then the exciting stuff became a lot less exciting. It was still a good story and I did like it, but I should have loved it. Really. Just look at the cover. It just screams “Read me, I’m amazing” ...more

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Aug 08, 2014 Terri Bradshaw rated it it was amazing

Rod Duncan's fabulous writing takes you to places you never knew you wanted to go. He has created a world in the Gas-lit Empire that is so completely believable, it affects you long after you've put the book down. Elizabeth Barnabus is a heroine for our time; Lizzie Bennet meets Lara Croft. She finds adventure between the grinding difficulties of life in a misogynist world and with constant threats from overbearing authorities. Well which of us hasn't been there. To these problems she finds solu ...more

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Jan 23, 2015 Ian Mond rated it it was ok

What’s It About

The novel is set in an alternate history where, as a result of the 1811 Luddite Rebellion, the UK has been divided into the Kingdom of England and Southern Wales and the Anglo-Scottish Republic. Keeping a keen eye on The Kingdom and the Republic (and a good chunk of Europe and America) is the International Patent Office. Their job is to ensure that only the right sort of technology is developed and introduced.

In amongst this mishigas is private detective Elizabeth Barnabus, former ...more

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Jan 05, 2019 MTK rated it liked it · review of another edition

A solid steampunk adventure story, excellent worldbuilding, but too slow-paced. If I had bought only this book, I doubt I would have rushed to buy the two sequels,but as it is I got the entire trilogy on sale for a couple of euros, so I will read them. I am reserving final judgement till then.

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Aug 18, 2014 AH rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-stars, historical, steampunk, arc-netgalley, babr-reviews, first-in-series, zzread-aug-2014, alternate-histories

Initial Thoughts: This was so much fun to read. If you are a fan of steampunk and alternate histories, The Bullet Catcher's Daughter should appeal to you. Nicely written, fantastic story, resourceful and brainy heroine, and such an interesting world.

The Review:
Steampunk and alternate history fans will adore The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter. Set in England, but not really the England that we know from our history lessons, The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter is the story of Elizabeth Barnabas, a private i ...more

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Jul 30, 2014 SoWrongItsRANDI {Bell, Book & Candle} rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, suspense, action, thriller, series, paranormal-fantasy, kick-ass-heroine, steampunk, dystopian

Bell, Book & Candle | Book Reviews

The cover art of this book is as creative as the actual story. It gave me the feeling that I was reading a combination of The Master of Disguise and She's the Man, except this was more of a detective mystery with a steampunk element to it. I was definitely on the edge of my seat while reading. Also, the characters were likable for the most part.

Elizabeth is a pretty street-smart and cunning character. How she manages to lead a double life as her "twin brother Ed ...more

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Apr 01, 2016 Danie Ware rated it really liked it

Neatly plotted, elegantly phrased, and enough of a tight conclusion to keep you guessing right to the end... I don't read 'steampunk' as a general rule and really enjoyed this. The main character was smart, capable, utterly believable in both guises and human enough to make mistakes. And the difference between her dress/behaviour/freedom as a woman and as a man brought the restrictions of both garments and gender sharply home.

Plus a nice spinning of chemistry, metallurgy and circus flair all ad ...more

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Mar 07, 2015 Annerlee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: alternative-history

Excellent read. Fast paced with interesting characters and a fascinating alternative world

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Mar 13, 2014 Tammy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, steampunk

The nitty-gritty: A rollicking steampunk adventure, filled with intricate twists and turns, top-notch world building, and a heroine that quickly became one of my favorites ever.

Illusion was my inheritance, fed to me on my mother’s lap as the drowsy rocking of the caravan and the slow rhythm of iron-shod hooves lulled me. It was a ripe strawberry conjured from the air, or a silver coin caressed from my soft cheek by the touch of a loving hand.

The first great illusion given me by my father was the ...more

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Jun 17, 2020 Ann-Marie rated it liked it · review of another edition

A fairly slow start to what I hope will become a grand adventure in the books to come, "The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter" lacked a level of excitement and came close to the feeling of intrigue it aimed for, but missed it by millimeters. The premise is interesting, though, so I will try the second book, "Unseemly Science." I might as well. I already own a copy.

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May 12, 2014 Kara-karina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, kindle, steampunk

A curious thing happened to me while reading this book. I couldn't get through the very beginning and got stuck on the first few chapters for a couple of months. The writing felt heavy, unwieldy.

And then I picked the book up again in mid September and read it in one sitting! Go figure. All I'm saying, give The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter a chance to charm you before giving up.

Elizabeth Barnabus is an exile from the Kingdom where women can be owned as property and lives in The Republic now, a much A curious thing happened to me while reading this book. I couldn't get through the very beginning and got stuck on the first few chapters for a couple of months. The writing felt heavy, unwieldy.

And then I picked the book up again in mid September and read it in one sitting! Go figure. All I'm saying, give The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter a chance to charm you before giving up.

Elizabeth Barnabus is an exile from the Kingdom where women can be owned as property and lives in The Republic now, a much more conservative country which with its rigid manners and strict adherence to the law protects womenfolk somewhat more successfully.

Of course, The Kingdom and The Republic are actually Great Britain split into two, and in Leicester where Elizabeth lives that means that the city itself is literally split into halves.

Elizabeth leads a double life masquerading as twins - by night she is a private intelligencer, her non-existent brother, and by day she is his spinster sister looking after the household and helping him with his correspondence.

When The Duchess of Bletchley from The Kingdom begs her to take on the case of her missing brother who ran into The Republic, Elizabeth knows that this is bigger than her and much more than she can chew, but the reward is tempting - a promise to be able to return from her exile freely is so hard to resist...

Soon she is forced to take on a job in a travelling circus remembering her own childhood in her father's caravan; dodge around the powerful agents of The Patent Office looking for the same target as she; and at last venture into the forbidden for her territory, - the country of her birth, where she is a wanted women, and the men-at-arms of The Duke of Northampton are waiting for her with not-so warm welcome.

There is danger in the air, one curious device turning lead into gold, colorful and so different traditions of The Kingdom, old friends and new enemies, and at last, John Farthing, a meddling, persistent agent of The Patent Office.

If it's steampunk, it's a very muted one. There are a few gadgets, but the spirit of the world created by Rod Duncan strongly reminded me of Planesrunner by Ian McDonald. If you don't mind a steady pace, less dashing heroines and very little gadgetry in lieu of alternative history exploration, this book is for you. Recommended!

...more

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Jul 16, 2014 Karen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science-fiction

The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter by Rod Duncan

Elizabeth Barnabus lives with her brother on a barge in the Republic having fled a life of servitude in the Kingdom – or does she?

The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter is a riveting tale which moves swiftly and the reader will be gripped from the first page when Elizabeth has taken the persona of her brother, Edward Barnabus, a private intelligence gatherer. Disguised as a man for her work, Elizabeth meets with the Duchess of Bletchley who hires her, as Edward, ...more

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Sep 19, 2019 Tricia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: have, fantasy, series, audio

Alternate history is always a challenge as it can often verge on the ridiculous however Rod Duncan has risen to it beautifully in the first of the Gas-Lit Empire series. Add in a Steampunk world, more than a touch of intrigue, a political system crying out to be pulled down seasoned with a social structure ripe for destruction in parts of said Gas-Lit Empire and you have a recipe for a fascinating tale. Our heroine, Elizabeth Barnabus is feisty and determined if a little naive at times, always e ...more

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Jun 05, 2014 Katie Montgomery rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A wonderfully pleasant surprise ...

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Aug 24, 2014 Alexandra rated it liked it

Shelves: steampunk-ish, own-on-kindle, own-on-audible, read-in-2016, fall-of-the-gas-lit-empire-series, 2014-to-read-own

Interesting story, writing is delicious. Evokes the Victorian era without being overly flowery. A nice, diversionary read.

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About Rod Duncan

Rod Duncan

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Rod Duncan worked in scientific research and computing before settling in Leicester to be a writer. His first novel, Backlash, was short-listed for the John Creasey Memorial Award (now the CWA Debut Dagger).

After four crime novels he switched to fantasy. The Bullet Catcher's Daughter was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award. He is currently writing a series of alternate history books, called ‘Th ...more

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Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire (3 books)

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“There was once a line marked out by God, through which were divided Heaven and Hell. And thus was chaos banished from the world. The Devil created lawyers to make amends. They argued the thickness of the line until there was room enough within it for all the sins of men to fit. And all the sins of women too. – The Bullet Catcher’s Handbook ” — 5 likes

“the wealthy seem remarkably honest, for they are seldom found guilty of any crime.” — 3 likes

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The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter

(Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire #1)

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