The Strange Case of Finley Jayne is the prequel to The Girl in the Steel Corset. I picked up this short novella as a free download from Kobo books. The title and the cover were attractive and its relatively short length encouraged me to read it. I'll admit that while I liked the story, I just wasn't wowed.It seems to me that a lot of authors are jumping on the steampunk bandwagon. I enjoy the genre; I love the contraptions and gadgets. This story had all sorts of cool gadgets, from simple flush commodes to battery operated lights, to brass automatons and mechanical carts. There was even a Dr. Frankenstein-styled laboratory with some strange items in tanks. I really can't pinpoint why the story did not wow me. I liked Finley's character, but we are never told what she is. I enjoyed her "spider-monkey" skills. I giggled at a description of Finley's riding costume, which suffered from "eggplantishness." Yes, "eggplantishness." While I am curious to learn more about Finley, I think I'll wait until the book is available at the library.
