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vkemp's review against another edition
4.0
A delegation of Japanese diplomats arrive in London. Kew Gardens knows that Cyrus Barker has the best Japanese garden in all of London, so they ask if the new arrivals can view it. When the contingent arrives, Thomas Llewellyn, Barker's assistant, notices his boss' reaction to one of the members of the group. That night, one of the diplomats is assassinated and Barker is arrested after being caught on scene with a revolver containing a spent shell. However, Thomas and Barker's attorney are able to get him released and Barker's agency (consisting of Thomas and Cyrus) are hired by another member of the delegation to investigate the murder. As they close in on the murderer, it becomes clear that there are a lot of mysteries surrounding not just the diplomats, but also the Foreign Office, that wishes to cut out the Americans' hold in Japan. How many will die? This is one of the best series of historical crime novels; the reader will find out a lot, not just about London in the late 19th-century, but also history of other countries. Cyrus Barker spent time in the Far East during his youth and this will come into play as the story develops. Recommended for all who enjoy historical novels.
traveling_in_books's review against another edition
4.0
The summary of a new volume of a series always seems to state that the book '...is the finest yet....' of said series, but that's not always the case. Sometimes a particular volume falls flat, but the blurb will somehow state that it's a phenomenal success.
In the case of Old Scores, though, it really is the best of the series so far. With most mysteries, if you can guess early on who the killer is, it might kill your interest in the rest of the book. I mean, if you've figured out that X is the murderer on page 126, and then every single clue from then on confirms that notion, then the book probably hasn't lived up to your expectations of what a good mystery entails.
And while Barker guesses the identity of the killer fairly early on in Old Scores, the story is not entirely about finding him/her. As the title indicates, Cyrus Barker has a history full of secrets and old scores to settle. He knows who did it, but he wants more than a simple confession as he fights to keep his past from overwhelming himself and the investigation.
Thomas Llewellyn, on the other hand, is looking toward the future and contemplating his next steps- as a full partner in the agency, and perhaps as a husband. He's done a lot of growing up since we were first introduced to the desperate and naive Welsh boy of the first book, but while Thomas has grown more worldly he hasn't lost any of the wit and charm he's had from the beginning.
One of the things I most enjoy about the Barker and Llewellyn mysteries is how Will Thomas incorporates the different cultures and ethnicities that existed in London in the late Victorian era. While other Victorian-era mysteries might dwell on the murder of Lord Such-and-Such, Thomas's heroes investigate the untimely deaths of people who were largely overlooked by the London police force of the time- a poor Jewish schoolteacher; an Italian criminal; a Chinese clerk. In Cyrus Barker's view, none of these people were minor. They all deserved justice. And that's the mindset that he passes on to his assistant, Thomas. Barker's tolerance and acceptance of all people is central to these books.
As such, it's helpful to have a knowledge of different cultures when you're trying to figure out whodunnit, or else you'll be as baffled as Llewellyn often is during the investigations. But whether that knowledge-- or lack thereof-- aids in the suspense is up to the reader. For example: I have a few thimblefuls of knowledge about Japanese history and culture, and this bit of knowledge helped me figure out what was going to happen in the last few chapters. Llewellyn was completely in the dark. I still found the set-up to be suspenseful and was glued in place until I'd finished the book. Would someone without that knowledge have found those chapters as suspenseful? I imagine so.
I first found this series just after the second book, To Kingdom Come, was released. I always look forward to a new entry in the series, and although I read them quickly and don't always take the time to savor the minute details, I'm not bothered by it. The Barker and Llewellyn books are ones that I can read over and over again and never tire of. They are funny and smart, full of interesting side characters with full lives of their own, and maintain a modern sense of tolerance without losing the Victorian feel. If you are a fan of mysteries or of books set in Victorian era, then check out the Barker and Llewellyn novels. You won't be disappointed.
In the case of Old Scores, though, it really is the best of the series so far. With most mysteries, if you can guess early on who the killer is, it might kill your interest in the rest of the book. I mean, if you've figured out that X is the murderer on page 126, and then every single clue from then on confirms that notion, then the book probably hasn't lived up to your expectations of what a good mystery entails.
And while Barker guesses the identity of the killer fairly early on in Old Scores, the story is not entirely about finding him/her. As the title indicates, Cyrus Barker has a history full of secrets and old scores to settle. He knows who did it, but he wants more than a simple confession as he fights to keep his past from overwhelming himself and the investigation.
Thomas Llewellyn, on the other hand, is looking toward the future and contemplating his next steps- as a full partner in the agency, and perhaps as a husband. He's done a lot of growing up since we were first introduced to the desperate and naive Welsh boy of the first book, but while Thomas has grown more worldly he hasn't lost any of the wit and charm he's had from the beginning.
One of the things I most enjoy about the Barker and Llewellyn mysteries is how Will Thomas incorporates the different cultures and ethnicities that existed in London in the late Victorian era. While other Victorian-era mysteries might dwell on the murder of Lord Such-and-Such, Thomas's heroes investigate the untimely deaths of people who were largely overlooked by the London police force of the time- a poor Jewish schoolteacher; an Italian criminal; a Chinese clerk. In Cyrus Barker's view, none of these people were minor. They all deserved justice. And that's the mindset that he passes on to his assistant, Thomas. Barker's tolerance and acceptance of all people is central to these books.
As such, it's helpful to have a knowledge of different cultures when you're trying to figure out whodunnit, or else you'll be as baffled as Llewellyn often is during the investigations. But whether that knowledge-- or lack thereof-- aids in the suspense is up to the reader. For example: I have a few thimblefuls of knowledge about Japanese history and culture, and this bit of knowledge helped me figure out what was going to happen in the last few chapters. Llewellyn was completely in the dark. I still found the set-up to be suspenseful and was glued in place until I'd finished the book. Would someone without that knowledge have found those chapters as suspenseful? I imagine so.
I first found this series just after the second book, To Kingdom Come, was released. I always look forward to a new entry in the series, and although I read them quickly and don't always take the time to savor the minute details, I'm not bothered by it. The Barker and Llewellyn books are ones that I can read over and over again and never tire of. They are funny and smart, full of interesting side characters with full lives of their own, and maintain a modern sense of tolerance without losing the Victorian feel. If you are a fan of mysteries or of books set in Victorian era, then check out the Barker and Llewellyn novels. You won't be disappointed.
melissadeemcdaniel's review against another edition
4.0
It was fascinating to read this novel about the crossing of Japanese, Chinese and British cultures in London at the end of the 1800’s. Along with a compelling history, Thomas brings to life a large cast of characters, including Barker and Llewellyn, private inquiry agents, and their household, Barker’s adopted daughter and her husband, and the Japanese embassy to London. I look forward to filling in the back story with the previous books in the series.
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