THE DEATH COLLECTOR

Scene: the foggy streets of Victorian London. Characters: Eddie, a precocious urchin who is a pickpocket by day and hero by night; George, the earnest young engineer, toiling late into the night at the British Museum repairing clocks and automata; and Elizabeth, the minister’s daughter, who yearns for the adventure of a life on the stage. And, of course, there’s a villainous thug lurking just around the corner, who has a telltale scar down the side of his face and goes by the ominous name of “Blade,” as well as a giant creature that breathes fire into the night. This engaging story is rich with atmosphere as the trio of protagonists is brought together by fate and circumstance. The game’s afoot as they try to figure out why a dead man is walking, what it is that the imposing industrialist wants from George and how they will stop his nefarious scheme. Both Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Who would feel right at home in this tale that begs to be made into a movie. A thoroughly enjoyable romp full of chases, high drama and a hint of romance in a great old-fashioned style. Simply smashing. (Fiction. 12-14)