The Society of Steam, book 1: The Falling MachineAndrew P. Mayer2011

In 1880 women are not allowed to vote, much less dress up in costume and fight crime. But twenty-year-old socialite Sarah Stanton still dreams of becoming a hero. Her opportunity arrives in tragedy when the leader of the Society of Paragons, New York's greatest team of gentlemen adventures, is murdered right before her eyes. To uncover the truth behind the assassination, Sarah joins forces with the amazing mechanical man known as Automaton. Together they unmask a conspiracy at the heart of the Paragons that reveals the world of heroes and high society is built on a crumbling foundation of greed and lies. When Sarah comes face-to-face with the megalomaniacal villain behind the murder, she must discover if she has the courage to sacrifice her life of privilege and save her mechanical mate.