As much fun as Terry Pratchett or Indiana Jones! 
 Be sure to read David Barnett's guest post @ Not Yet Read on "Steampunk. What's that, then?" 
 A marvelous adventure filled romp, Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl is a novel that has it all. Gideon is a daydreamer with his nose stuck deep in his penny dreadful novels, he wasn't prepared for the terrible things that happen in his small ocean side town. This is a genre bender mixing steampunk, vampires, mummies, alternate historical fiction, and just a smidge coming of age story. 
 After his father is lost at sea, Gideon and the town start to experience quite a few odd things, from another ship showing up crew-less with nothing but a large wolf aboard, a murder in town, and his young neighbor seeing monsters. One of my favorite parts is the inclusion of the character Abraham Stoker! Gideon and Abraham befriend each other and while Gideon believes the cause of these troubles are mummies, Stoker believes it to be vampires. I know! - sounds farfetched right? 
 "A stake through the heart?" Bathory. smoked. "I dare say if I hammered a wooden stake through your heart, Mr. Stoker, it would sting a little." - pg 69 
 You wouldn't believe how well done this is! The novel has a sense of seriousness to it while still managing to hold onto a bit of the ridiculous. Mixed such as it is this turns into the greatest adventure ever, as Gideon sets out and happens to rescue a mechanical girl. The two of them make quick time to London where there are so many more wonderful characters that Gideon meets. Each has such a unique and strong personality and quite a few times I found myself smiling or laughing as I read. 
 "Hold on a minute!" Bent yelled, his own voice driving into his head like a gravedigger's spade. He clutched his temples with both meaty fists and sank back into his pillow, murmuring, "Oh, sweet Jesus, fuck me sideways in a barrow of tripe." - pg 112 
 While Gideon is a more than a bit naive he has this spark about him that motivates and attracts people. I'm sure you've all met such a person before. He becomes the unlikely hero. 
 "He said a hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer." - pg 244 
 Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl is adventure in the air, as this motley crew of adventurers set out each with their own agenda but all very dependent upon the other. With Air ships, slave traders, treasure hunters and government spies, the pace is action packed and I literally could not guess what was going to happen next - well except for the obvious bits that were of course meant to be obvious! This is not a book to miss and I'm twitchy to get my hands on the next installment!!