A Spider In The Eye: A Hannibal Smyth Misadventure (The Hannibal Smyth Misadventures Book 1 by Mark Hayes

Queen Victoria is in the 200th year of her reign, and her Glorious British Empire faces a grievous threat due to the Machiavellian machinations of that most notorious instigator of insurrections Herbert George Wells. The Ministry, the shadowy branch of the British government that deals with things other Ministries neither need or want to know about, needs to send its best available man. But as the best available man is not available, they are going to have to turn to someone else. Enter Hannibal Smyth, a gentleman of nefarious repute. Formally in the service of ‘She whom is seldom amused’ as an officer in the Royal Air Navy, thief, scoundrel, gambler, drinker, arsonist, womaniser, convicted murderer, and currently resident in the New Bailey, awaiting the shortest of short walks to the gallows. Will Hannibal become the hero the Empire needs? Will he face down the dangers of international conspiracies, psychotic maids, crazed scientists, air pirates, and those blasted fools who want independence? Will he rise to the occasion? Will he defend Queen, Country, indeed the Empire with his life if necessary? Not if he has anything to say about it

From Russia With Tassels: The Second Hannibal Smyth Misadventure (The Hannibal Smyth Misadventures Book 2) by Mark Hayes

Queen Victoria is in the 200th year of her reign, and her Glorious British Empire faces a grievous threat due to the Machiavellian machinations of that most notorious instigator of insurrections Herbert George Wells. An agent of The Ministry, the shadowy branch of the British government that deals with things other Ministries neither need or want to know about. Hannibal Smyth finds himself languishing in a cell on a mountain side in Tibet. A prisoner of the very man he was sent to find. While all around him a fleet is gathering that could set the Empire aflame and plunge India into insurrection. Hannibal must strive to face this plot down, with nothing but his raw courage and the cutthroat razor hidden in his boot. So just the cutthroat then.... Will Hannibal become the hero the Empire needs? Will he face down the dangers of international conspiracies, psychotic maids, bullet trains, crazed scientists, air pirates, clockwork Geisha, Sleepmen, and those blasted fools who want independence? Will he rise to the occasion? Will he defend Queen, Country, indeed the Empire with his life if necessary? Not if he can help it, but unfortunately no one has given him much choice in the matter... Praise for A Spider In The Eye