The Hunchback Assignments: Arthur Slade

A hunchbacked orphan with the strange ability to shape-shift is rescued by Mr. Socrates – a member of the spy agency, Permanent Association. Mr. Socrates names the boy Modo, and trains him to become a secret agent. Modo learns to fight, to speak foreign languages and practice the art of disguise by shifting his physical appearance until he becomes someone else. Then, his ability to survive is tested as he is cast out to the poor alleys of London.

Meanwhile, Dr. Hyde and various other characters experiment with advanced technology way beyond the Victorian era, employing young noblemen as their pawns. It is up to Modo to stop them – or face the end of Queen Victoria’s reign and the destruction of Parliament.

In The Hunchback Assignments, Arthur Slade challenges the boundaries of traditional genre by combining speculative elements with mystery, and setting it in the dark world of Victorian London. The multiple narrators, along with the subplots, add intrigue and suspense, marking this as a novel that cannot be easily put down. Whether you’re a fan of action, fantasy or science fiction, you will enjoy this engaging steampunk tale.