THE CASE OF THE MISSING MOONSTONE

Ada Lovelace, the world’s first computer programmer, and Mary Godwin, creator of the science-fiction genre, are cleverly brought together in a series that weaves history, science, and mystery in a way that is sure to appeal to Lemony Snicket fans. Nicola Barber tells the story with a flair and liveliness that add realism to this little time-travel jaunt. Her British pronunciations of some words may sound odd to the American ear, but she ably breathes life into this interesting cast of characters, especially Ada; Mary; the tutor, Peebs (Percy Bysshe Shelley); and an unwitting travel mate, a young Charles Dickens. They use curiosity, book smarts, and quick thinking to expose a false confession and recover a stolen gemstone. A great start to a promising new series. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2015]