Will Thomas (1) (1958–)

"Old Scores," by Will Thomas, deals with closely-guarded secrets, past wrongs that can never be forgotten, and power struggles among competing factions. In 1890, Japanese dignitaries (who have expressed an interest in establishing an embassy in London) visit private enquiry agent, Cyrus Barker, to tour his magnificent garden. Later, when one of the delegates is shot to death, the Japanese military ambassador hires Barker and his twenty-six year old assistant, Thomas Llewelyn, to find the show more perpetrator. Cyrus and Thomas delve into a possible conspiracy that could have international implications.

At first, Barker underestimates his opponents, some of whom mask their evil intentions behind a web of lies. Violent assailants pounce on our heroes who, to their woe, become human punching bags. For those who have followed this series since its inception, this novel is a must-read for its fascinating revelations about Barker's mysterious and closely guarded past. In addition, the author reacquaints us with such colorful characters as Ho, whose tearoom serves up covert information along with exotic dishes; Mac, Barker's fussy butler; Harm, Barker's strident but affectionate Pekinese watchdog; and K'ing, a crime boss who oversees an extensive gambling and opium empire.

Llewelyn, the narrator, is as witty, amusing, and sarcastic as ever. He admires his employer's intellect and strategic genius, but wishes that Barker were more forthcoming and less stubborn. Adding to the book's appeal are its intriguing subplots involving Barker's beautiful Chinese ward, Bok Fu Ying; Thomas's protracted engagement to Rebecca Cowan; and a showdown between Barker and a person he has reason to despise. Will Thomas recreates the ambiance of Victorian London beautifully, and engages us with his clever plot, evocative figurative language, fast-paced prose, and animated dialogue. Here is one particularly vivid image: "The general watched the wind blow through the maple leaves as if he wanted to slash them with his sword." "Old Scores" is an exotic, enlightening, and entertaining work of historical fiction. show less

In their 8th outing, London based enquiry agent Cyrus Barker & sidekick Thomas Llewelyn end up stranded on a remote island at the mercy of a killer. It was supposed to be a covert opportunity to further British-French politics disguised as a week long get together at the manor of Lord Hargrave.
He engaged Barker & Llewelyn to provide security but it’s not going so well.

Day one sees the first murder & guests continue to drop like flies as they’re forced to hunker down inside while a show more killer roams the island. They’re a disparate group & it’s inevitable that days of confinement plus rising tension will eventually lead to them eying each other with suspicion & fear.

The setting makes for a traditional drawing room mystery a la Agatha Christie. As the story progresses, it becomes clear some of these people are not who they seem as Barker & Llewelyn gradually uncover old family secrets & private grudges. As claustrophobia & paranoia set in, the relationships between upper crust & servants quickly evolves into a cross between “And Then There Were None” & “Lord of the Flies”.

I’m a big fan of this series but for me, this instalment lacked a couple of things that made other books so enjoyable. I missed the mean streets of Victorian London which provided a vibrant setting for previous cases. Descriptions of gas lit back alleys & characters ranging from lords to street urchins added to the tension that brought those stories to life. This instalment also lacks the witty humour that made for great dialogue between the 2 MC’s. This is a more sober book & I missed the entertainment usually provided by Barker’s chef & valet.

As always, it’s a matter of taste & if you’re a fan of closed room mysteries like those featuring Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot, this is for you. show less

I thoroughly enjoy this series. The stories are told from Llewelyn’s point of view – as if he is writing the stories from much later in his life. Llewelyn is a bit sarcastic and his quips are thoroughly entertaining – though they just pass right over Barker’s head. I came into the series late and read from my entry point through all of the later books and I’m now trying to read all of the earlier books. I love the main characters – Barker & Llewelyn – and the secondary show more characters are intriguing and fun to know.

Barker and Llewelyn are called to the docks on the Thames because a body was found floating in a barrel. It turns out that is a practice used by the Sicilian Mafia and the body belongs to a man named Serafini who is an assassin. The Mafia in London? At least one of the Mafia wants to expand their territory and they have decided to start with the London docks. Apparently, it will be up to Barker and Llewelyn to find the villain and put a stop to his plans.

It seems the villain is one step ahead and has begun causing harm to those Barker cares about. Those who stand in the villain's way receive a note with a warning and a black hand – and that is soon followed by a violent death. The government wants Barker’s help to eliminate the threat, but they also have tied his hands with what he can and cannot do. Finding the villain and eliminating the threat will definitely stretch even Barker’s inimitable skills.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to get into some of the others I’ve missed. While the stories have a progression to them – as shown in the lives and relationships of Barker and Llewelyn – the mysteries and the meat of the stories can easily be read out of sequence. Sometimes it is even fun to be reading an earlier book and know what is going to happen several books down the line.

I can definitely recommend this book and this series. The writing is excellent with strong plots that are perfectly paced. The characters are unique, refreshing, interesting, and definitely not your run-of-the-mill supporting cast. Happy Reading!!! show less

As any reasonably serious reader knows, one of the disadvantages of having an author whose next release you're always anxiously awaiting is that once the new book comes out, you tend to devour it quickly. You savor the experience, but then, almost before you know it, are left asking, once again, "How long until the next one?"

That's the experience I'm having this morning after reading "The Black Hand" during evenings and travel times on an out-of-town trip. Can this really be the fifth Barker show more and Llewelyn mystery already? The characters continue to intrigue, Llewelyn particularly continues to mature as a person and as a character, and Will Thomas continues to impress not only with his research, but with his ability to take us deep into the economic and ethnic subcultures of 1880s London. Each of the Barker and Llewelyn novels have been an intriguing balance of the somewhat-familiar (late nineteenth century London, at a time when Sherlock Holmes is in the early stages of his own career) and the very unfamiliar (the worlds of the Irish, Chinese, Jewish, or in this case Italian urban underclass). Thomas' ability to maintain this balance is one of the remarkable features of the series.

For all its merit as a story of murder and mayhem (have the other books been quite as bloody as this one? I can't entirely recall), "The Black Hand" is a particularly noteworthy milestone in the relationship of our principal characters themselves. For one thing, we learn more about Barker the man and his mysterious background than in any volume since he was introduced. Llewelyn, for his part, is visibly maturing -- a fact Barker acknowledges in a way fans may find touching. As Barker becomes less of a man of mystery (if only slightly) and Llewelyn grows in confidence and ability, it suggests an interesting new dynamic for -- one hopes and assumes there will be -- later volumes.

Most of my review has been in the context of "The Black Hand" as part of a series, and that's certainly how it works best. But it also works well as a standalone murder mystery and I think fans of the genre will enjoy both the twists of the tale and the distinctive narrative viewpoint. As well, of course, as the author's ability to synthesize a huge amount of information into a convincing but not overwhelming level of period detail. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. show less