Really enjoyed this exciting and entertaining story. Characters are well-written and developed. Story held my interest and attention, was hard to put down so I stayed up way too late reading! Can definitely recommend.

Very exciting. Great characterisations & a riveting storyline. I never give spoilers, as I hate to see them, but I highly recommend this book! Great work Patty!

The web surrounding Jacqui seems to be growing stronger and tighter. People around her are being murdered and someone is trying to kill her. Her marriage is a disaster. She doesn't know who she can trust and she doubts her own judgement. Bridges is on the brink of chaos and the Families are feeling vulnerable. Can Jacqui find a way to defeat the Red Dog Conspiracy?

Those who have yet to begin this series - probably not the best place to start! However, those new to the Red Dog Conspiracy have the pleasure of following the progress so far... I'd urge them to start at the beginning and enjoy this expansive narrative.

Set in the far future domed city of Bridges, major changes have been occurring in the last few years. As the wife of the head of one of the four Families who have divided the city into four Jacqueline Spadros has a number of rôles to play. Her marriage is, not to put too fine a point on it, troubled - but she has hopes that her son and the heir to the Spadros name will bring her husband closer in time.

Meanwhile she is making slow progress on investigating the kidnapping of a young boy, and the murders by the Strangler - but progress is being made and by the end of this volume it is clear who is behind the unrest plaguing the city. We also learn more about the status of Bridges in the wider Mercan Federation - and edge closer to finding how the city is powered, areas that have been previously touched upon but not explored in detail.

There is a sense that matters are coming to a climax - and in the final two 'Chapters' we can hope that all will become clear.

Stunning cover! I also love the dirigible in the upper corner. The front and back covers are sturdy. Inside the pages have a dot grid. I imagine it soon filled by lots of colorful pens! I love it!

I really enjoyed this book, all I can say is I definitely recommend it!

Excellent characters, the story line is very interesting I couldn't put it down. A must read

With the atmospheric artwork on the cove, this is a notebook to leave out where it will be useful. The paper is good quality and lovely to write on.The size is perfect, big enough to be practical but not so big as to be in the way. And I really appreciate the spiral binding - so much neater and easier to use than glued or sewn bindings. Note jotters will love it!

A futuristic 'Victorian' steampunk city, somewhere in what used to be America, ruled by four Families named after the card suits. The protagonist is married into one of these families - an arranged marriage - but has a sideline as a private investigator, unknown to her husband at least.

One of the interesting things about the book is that we are thrown into the middle, as it were, with very little background. The author gradually reveals some elements - but by the end we still know very little about the city of Bridges and its history. (There is a prequel which adds a lot of the missing history but it's not essential reading - and there is a wealth of online material as well, for those who care to search it out.)

An intriguing plot which is essentially resolved - but enough threads are left dangling for at least one sequel.

This is the first novel I have read by Patricia Loofbourrow and my first dive into what I read was steampunk noir. So I thought I would stick my toe in by reading a prequelle – little did I that I was taking a plunge and I loved it. Jacqui Spadros, our protagonist, is a touch, gritty detective by day and a Mafia Queen by night. Ms Loofbourrow sews this plot althougher with the intricate stictches of the finest tailor. It was a thrill to read this novel. I believe that it is the perfect precursor to the rest of the series. I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to others. I received a free copy of this book via BookFunnel and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Wow! Fantastic book! A young woman in a very stratified society manages to acquire what freedom she can while staying within the bounds of the system officially.An empowering story of powerful women striving to survive in an unequal system.Buy this book! I can't wait to find out what happens with these characters

I received this book as an Arc from the author and I’m writing a review because I want to. I enjoy a good Steampunk book. This is a mystery with a good plot and interesting characters! Highly recommended!

This story has intrigue, adventure, and a main character who manages to be both femme fatale and the private investigator of a noir story. I loved the complications in the story and how well Jacqi seemed to come alive on the page. There are many more mysteries to come that will hopefully answer all the ones left yet unsovled.

This was an unique and adventurous mystery to read. The characters and their surroundings were so well written that I could see them clearly. Even though I haven’t read this genre before, I really enjoyed reading this story and feeling this lifestyle. Very interesting and intriguing characters in a very suspenseful mystery. Can’t wait to read the next book.

This instalment of the series had the characters dealing with the aftermath of book #1, more details about peoples' lives, and a great exploration of the idea of deception and its' consequences. We never truly meet the antagonist for book #2 but rather see the results of their handiwork and how it affects different characters while also continuing on with the larger worries introduced at the beginning of the series. Jacqui being our POV into this world continues to be an excellent choice but as much as her role tells her not to do so, she still wants to be able to trust some people in her life. By the end of this book though she's really starting to get close to realizing she can't trust anyone.