The Sterling Directive
By Tim Standish
It is 1896. In an alternative history where Babbage’s difference engines have become commonplace, Captain Charles Maddox, wrongly convicted of a murder and newly arrested for treason, is rescued from execution by a covert agency called the Map Room.
Maddox is given the choice of taking his chances with the authorities or joining the Map Room as an agent and helping them uncover a possible conspiracy surrounding the 1888 Ripper murders. Seeing little choice, Maddox accepts the offer and joins the team of fellow agents Church and Green. With help from the Map Room team, Maddox (now Agent Sterling) and Church investigate the Ripper murders and uncover a closely guarded conspiracy deep within the British Government. Success depends on the two of them quickly forging a successful partnership as agents and following the trail wherever, and to whomever, it leads.
An espionage thriller set in an alternative late 19th-century London.
Publication Date: 20 August 2020
Publisher: Unbound
Page Length: 304 pages
Genre: Alt-historical thriller
MY THOUGHTS
Charles Maddox has different identities already – he is supposed to be in exile, serving in the army, a punishment that was the only alternative to being sentenced to death. However, when his father’s health takes a turn for the worse, he returns to London under a false name. Getting arrested and questioned was not a part of his plan and, when he finds himself trapped beneath the Thames, in a cell that would be impossible to break out of, he is rescued, retrieved from the cell and given an ultimatum – join a secret agency, known as the Map Room, and take on a directive, or return to prison, where he is likely to have to carry out his original sentence from years ago and be put to death.
Taking the only choice he sees safe to follow, Charles takes on the name Agent Sterling and, alongside another agent, known as Church, Charles finds himself investigating the Ripper murders, bringing up things that have barely been thought about before, let alone publicised.
I must start by applauding the author for creating such a world. This isn’t a novel set solely in the Victorian era, but an alternative historical world, wherein the characters have access to computers, airships, and advanced technology. In the modern-day, one might say cameras are watching our every move. In this book, no one’s identity is a secret if the government sees fit to check, for everyone is on file. This, of course, does not help Charles, when he is travelling under a different name, and the truth is revealed with a simple check. However, in the modern-day, we have hackers and the agency that ‘rescues’ Charles has one of sorts – Patience, the agency’s tapper, who can, not only change Charles’ file but can provide the agency with vital information necessary for the success of their directive.
Charles was an incredibly interesting protagonist, for while his situation seems dire, he tries his hand at everything put in front of him, and rises to the challenge. The Ripper murders are a mystery still, but he becomes determined to find out the truth and, if possible, find the Ripper. With the help of Church and other members of the Map Room, Charles takes on the role that the name Agent Sterling presents to him. His experience in the army, as a Captain, helps him to lead anyone who looks his way for answers or direction, and his ability to keep himself alive in a fight comes in handy more than once.
Charles and Church make a wonderful team, often coming up with stories about who they are and what they are doing at a specific place only moments before entering, making things up as the situation progresses. Their thought processes were amazing and the way these scenes played out were generally very entertaining. This is not a book filled with intense scenes and serious facts, but one that drops in a few jokes and funny quips every now and again. In certain situations, Charles comes across as incredibly sarcastic, and this made this book even more of a joy to read.
I greatly enjoyed the scenes with Patience. While she is very much a secondary character, her sarcasm outshines Charles’, and her character makes up the stereotype of a computer nerd, getting overexcited in the presence of a piece of new technology, and uncomfortable dressing up to look posh, preferring to rebel in clothing and mannerisms, making her incredibly entertaining to read about.
This book is fast-paced and action-packed, the kind of book that you don’t want to put down, but keep reading until there is nothing left to read. There is action aplenty, and a mystery that will keep you guessing, with twists and turns to confuse you, or to clear things up. Charles’ past is revealed slowly and, as his background is built, things start to come together, with the present revealing secrets about the truth behind the Ripper murders.
I was a little worried as I came to the last chapter, as to how the story was going to be wrapped up so quickly. There seemed to be too many loose ends and unanswered questions. However, I was happily surprised, as everything slotted together like the last few pieces of a jigsaw, with no pieces missing and the full picture being revealed before your eyes. This book was an absolute pleasure to read, and I would happily do so again.
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Tim Standish
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| Author image taken by Hannah Couzens Photography. |
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, and working with groups and individuals on business planning, teamworking and personal development.
He has travelled extensively throughout his life and has always valued the importance of a good book to get through long flights and long waits in airports. With a personal preference for historical and science fiction as well as the occasional thriller, he had an idea for a book that would blend all three and The Sterling Directive was created.
When not working or writing, Tim 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 board games.
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