Set in an alternative Victorian Steampunk world, Oisin McGann’s The Wisdom of Dead Men is the second thrilling instalment in his Wildenstern family saga. The first Wildenstern novel, Ancient Appetites, introduced a world where Queen Victoria is still present and correct and reigning over Britain and Ireland, but powerful business empires, one of the most important of which is based in Ireland and run by the Wildenstern family, have taken the place of the British Empire as the world’s most influential power structures. Aside from this change in global influence, perhaps the most important addition to the world which the Wildensterns inhabit is the inclusion of Engimals, creatures that are part animal and part machine that serve as helpers for humanity. Ancient Appetites saw eighteen-year-old Nate Wildenstern return home to the family empire after nearly two years away only to find his world shattered by the murder of his eldest brother. Since the family’s Rules of Ascension allow for the murder of one male family member by another, Nate is blamed for his brother’s death. Aided by his sister-in-law Daisy and his cousin Gerald, Nate sets out to discover the identity of the real murderer and ends up finding out more dark secrets about his family than he ever thought possible.

In The Wisdom of Dead Men, Nate has seemingly given up on his dreams of avoiding a life spent working for the family firm and had instead devoted himself to protecting his disabled brother Berto from the evil machinations of other family members. As the eldest surviving brother, Berto has been installed as the head of the Wildenstern family and so is in ultimate control of the family’s huge business empire. Unfortunately for Berto, “behind every great man is another man waiting to stab him in the back”. While the Wildenstern family are generally unhappy, dissatisfied and out to kill or maim each other, they are even more riled up than usual over Berto since, heavily influenced by his wife Daisy, he wants to change the way the family does business so that they no longer strive to spread misery and profit from the misfortunes of others. Keen for things to remain the way they are, there are many among the Wildensterns who will do whatever it takes to dispose of Berto and so Nate has set himself an incredibly difficult task in attempting to keep his brother safe.

If murder and mayhem within his extended family wasn’t enough to keep Nate occupied, he is drawn into another dangerous investigation when the burned bodies of various women begin turning up across Dublin. Each of the women had died in mysterious circumstances as accusations of witchcraft are whispered throughout the city. When a link between the deaths and the Wildenstern family comes to light, Nate once again teams up with Daisy to try and unravel the mystery. As they delve back into the history of the family, Nate and Daisy discover an ancient conspiracy involving past generations and a secret society whose membership includes some of the most famous figures in Ireland that seems to lead to the origins of the Engimals as well as that of the Wildenstern family itself.

Although not a direct sequel to Ancient Appetites, The Wisdom of Dead Men is informed by the events of the first Wildenstern novel and so, although not strictly necessary, it is probably wise to read that book first. I certainly found the background that it provided to the Wildenstern family and the world which they inhabit both useful and interesting. I love the parallel Victorian world that McGann has created for the Wildensterns, the mix of the historical and the steampunk provide a delightfully intriguing background for the murderous shenanigans of the family. The inclusion of the Engimals and the history of their development and evolution was a particularly original touch. While probably not suitable for younger readers or particularly sensitive children, with its darkly entertaining mix of eccentric characters, family warfare, secret societies, witch hunts, Victoriana and spontaneous human combustion, the plot of The Wisdom of Dead Men has just about everything you could ask for in a young adult’s fantasy adventure story and is a hugely enjoyable read.

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