Mr. Starling has written alternate-universe stories before, and I have read them with great relish. In this book, he has surpassed himself. The plot and protagonist redefine derring-do, raising the bar quite a bit higher. I shan't include spoilers, but we see dirigibles (_The Peshawar Lancers_) again, Bad guys (some with moustaches, which they twirl), and that one-in-a-million chance which happens about every seventh time. I got it as an eBook, but may buy a print copy to lend (with suitable security, of course) to VERY trusted friends.