As a ten-year-old, Gilbert Sparks watched his mother die...
Now, eleven years on, he still blames himself.
It's 1891 in the northwest of England. Innovations in clockwork and steam power are propelling the Industrial Revolution to new heights in engineering and technology. Gilbert has finally settled into a job as a navigator on the ground-breaking, but controversial, Manchester Ship Canal project, but his violent reaction to fellow workers' jibes has put his future in jeopardy. Now, forged in guilt, tempered by vengeance, a tragic chain of events hurls him into a dark, unfamiliar world of secret societies, and he finds himself battling for his life. Clinging to memories of his mother, will he choose to face his demons alone? Or will he draw on the passion and strength of newfound friends?
Take a seat, curl up and immerse yourself in a tale from another time, another place.