The Sterling Directive by Tim Standish

Release: August 20, 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Unbound Digital
Source: Random Things Tours
Find it at: Kindle , B&N

Captain Charles Maddox returns secretly to London from an exile in disgrace.The authorities arrest him and imprison him. . They threaten him with the death penalty. A shadowy government agency called the Map Room rescues him . They give him a choice either return to prison or become an agent. He is codenamed Sterling. He will help them uncover a government conspiracy connected to the Ripper murders.

A coolly calculating Milady and her associate Collier lead the freshly appointed Agent Sterling. He also get the help of fellow agent Church and mechanical computer expert Patience. Now he must rapidly learn his new trade if he is to survive the murky and violent fringes of Victorian life. Also, he needs to uncover a secret that threatens the Empire itself.

Set in 1896 in an alternative Victorian timeline where mechanical computers are a part of everyday life, The Sterling Directive blends fact and fiction to create a gripping thriller for fans of espionage and historical adventure alike.

About the Author:

Tim Standish grew up in England, Scotland and Egypt. Following a degree in Psychology, his career has included teaching English in Spain, working as a
researcher on an early computer games project. He has also worked with groups and individuals on business planning, teamworking and personal development. Tim has travelled extensively throughout his life and when not working or writing,
he enjoys long walks under big skies and is never one to pass up a jaunt across a field in search of an obscure historic site. He has recently discovered the more-exciting-than-you-would-think world of overly-complicated boardgames.

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The Sterling Directive Review:

A science-fiction, steam-punk, espionage thriller set in the late 1800s on Jack the Ripper? Yes please! This book was weird, wild, and wonderful and I liked it a lot.

To be honest, I am not an avid reader of any of these genres. However, the author tells the story in such a gripping manner that I was immediately hooked. The story is a bit bumpy at first as you try to figure out what is happening. But the story was amazing once Charles figures out his situation. There are so many twists and turns, and the story is so unique that you cannot even guess how it will turn out. The author also wrote the action scenes very well, like the scene in the train when they go for billiards.

Charles is great as the lead. I was totally picturing a James Bond like character set in the 1800s for him. Church and Patience also add very well as supporting characters. In fact, I really liked Patience and found her sarcastic wit hilarious. Another particular character that stood out was Richardson. Even though he only appears for a few scenes, he was very memorable.

However, I thought the story moved very fast in the last few chapters. While I like a good high speed climax, I felt like I was in a roller-coaster on this one. It would have been nice if the pacing was a bit relaxed towards the end.

Apart from that, this was very entertaining. I hope this is the start of a series, as I would love to see these characters again. Overall, you have to read “The Sterling Directive” as it is complete out of the box and feels like a brand new experience.