The Watchmaker of Filigree Street
ISBN: 9781408854310
Description
Thaniel Steepleton returns from his job at the Home Office to his tiny flat only to find a gold pocketwatch lying on his pillow. When the watch then saves Thaniel's life in a blast that destroys Scotland Yard, he goes in search of its maker, Keita Mori - a kind, lonely Japanese immigrant. Meanwhile, Grace Carrow is sneaking into an Oxford library, desperate to prove the existence of the luminiferous ether before her mother can force her to marry. As the lives of these three characters become entwined, events spiral out of control until Thaniel is torn between loyalties, futures and opposing geniuses.
Reviewed on 1st February 2026
The second of Natasha Pulley's books that I've read and wildly different from the first in terms of setting, and yet really similar in tone.
This is the story of Thaniel, a civil servant and telegraphist in 19th Century London, as he's caught up in significant events for the Japanese and Irish communities.
It's a complex blend of historical fiction and fantasy, with exotic clockwork, timey-wimeyness, and a range of really interesting characters with rich and varied backgrounds.
I found it incredibly readable and am both delighted and slightly wary of having discovered that there are sequels.
