Scan barcode
jonie_rich's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
annarella's review
5.0
It was the first book I read in this series and was more than happy I got this ARC because it was a great discovery.
It's an engrossing and entertaining read with a well crafted plot that kept me hooked till the end.
I loved the well researched historical setting, the well thought cast of characters, the humor, and the fast paced and action packed plot.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's an engrossing and entertaining read with a well crafted plot that kept me hooked till the end.
I loved the well researched historical setting, the well thought cast of characters, the humor, and the fast paced and action packed plot.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
vesper1931's review against another edition
4.0
1892 London. Enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and his partner Thomas Llewelyn are employed by the Britsh P.M. to act as couriers and deliver a stolen satchel and its contents, to Calais and there hand it over to Monsignor Bello of the Vatican. But the package is wanted by various people who will stop at nothing to retrieve it. Can Barker succeed.
A very enjoyable well-written historical story, a well-plotted mystery with its well-developed characters.
A NetGalley Book
A very enjoyable well-written historical story, a well-plotted mystery with its well-developed characters.
A NetGalley Book
truestorydesu's review against another edition
4.0
See the full review (it has gifs!) on my dumb blog here.
Barker and Llewelyn are hired by the Prime Minister himself to transport an ancient manuscript to Calais. Sounds easy enough! Except Barker seems more interested in investigating the death of the man who brought the manuscript to England in the first place…
January! 1892! Hillary Drummond, recently arrived to England from Germany (somewhat newly united! Kind of!) is on the run from some blue uniformed youths after the satchel he’s carrying, which contains this book’s MacGuffin an ancient, and very valuable manuscript. Drummond almost, almost makes it to the Home Office when, gasp! He’s run through with a sword. Then he walks into traffic and is run over by a cab.
Or, as it’s known in London traffic: Tuesday.
Meanwhile! Llewelyn is a happily married man, as he loves to mention roughly every two pages. Along with being a happily married man (did he mention that he’s married now? Because he is) he’s also now a partner in Barker’s Detective Private Enquiry Agency. Barker has been moving a bit slower since his leg injury during the events of Blood is Blood, but, instead of treating Llewelyn like a full partner, Barker continues to treat him like an assistant. Which rankles Llewelyn a bit but hey, at least he’s married to the love of his life Rebecca. Only they still live in Barker’s house - he’s renovated the first floor for them and everything. Anyway, Barker and Llwelyn receive a summons from Prime Minister himself! The British government has the MacGuffin, and they want nothing more than to have the manuscript sent off to the Vatican archives and forgotten. But Barker is more interested in the mystery of who killed Hillary Drummond and why. Rather than immediately deliver the manuscript to Calais like the Prime Minister asked them to do, Barker hangs onto it. See, this manuscript is, apparently, a new gospel. Which is important because…reasons?
This manuscript is so valuable, the people after it are willing to kill for it. Which puts Barker & Llewelyn in an awkward position. Even more awkward is the fact that Rebecca’s family, who seemed so cool in the last book, have now decided to shun her for marrying Thomas, a gentile. As usual, Barker & Llewelyn are caught between a rock and a hard place. Can they deliver the manuscript safely to the Vatican? Can Thomas repair the relationship between himself and his in-laws? Will Rebecca ever learn how to make a decent Pain au chocolat? Will we ever, ever meet Thomas’s massive Welsh family? Will Rebecca ever demand to get to know her small army of brothers- and sisters-in-law? Will Barker ever propose to Philippa? Will I ever learn the difference between various sects of Christianity? Find out tomorrow in Barker & Llewelyn: Lethal Pursuit! Same bat time, same bat channel!
I love this series. I am well and truly hooked. Barker & Llewelyn are a more down-to-earth Holmes and Watson. There is just the right amount of action, historical detail, and mystery to satisfy any Sherlockian desperate for some 19th century English mystery. I don’t know of any other book series, save Meg Cabot’s Princess Diaries series, where I’ve stuck around past the 8th or 9th book. So many books! Not enough time for serieses! I mean, sometimes I entertain the thought of binging all 900,000 Discworld books, but there are so many other things I’d like to read, too…I wish I were a faster reader. Better yet, I wish I could be like the Doctor and just flip through a book and absorb all its contents at once. That’d be awesome.
Still. I adore Barker & Llewelyn - I will absolutely be there for any book they’re in, even if the series goes the full Anne Perry and goes on and on for like, 20+ books. I’m here for it. And I am on pins and needles for the next book. I really, really, really want Thomas to reconcile with his family in Wales. I want Barker to actually acknowledge that Philippa Ashleigh is his girlfriend. I JUST WANT MORE, DAMN IT!
Barker and Llewelyn are hired by the Prime Minister himself to transport an ancient manuscript to Calais. Sounds easy enough! Except Barker seems more interested in investigating the death of the man who brought the manuscript to England in the first place…
January! 1892! Hillary Drummond, recently arrived to England from Germany (somewhat newly united! Kind of!) is on the run from some blue uniformed youths after the satchel he’s carrying, which contains this book’s MacGuffin an ancient, and very valuable manuscript. Drummond almost, almost makes it to the Home Office when, gasp! He’s run through with a sword. Then he walks into traffic and is run over by a cab.
Or, as it’s known in London traffic: Tuesday.
Meanwhile! Llewelyn is a happily married man, as he loves to mention roughly every two pages. Along with being a happily married man (did he mention that he’s married now? Because he is) he’s also now a partner in Barker’s Detective Private Enquiry Agency. Barker has been moving a bit slower since his leg injury during the events of Blood is Blood, but, instead of treating Llewelyn like a full partner, Barker continues to treat him like an assistant. Which rankles Llewelyn a bit but hey, at least he’s married to the love of his life Rebecca. Only they still live in Barker’s house - he’s renovated the first floor for them and everything. Anyway, Barker and Llwelyn receive a summons from Prime Minister himself! The British government has the MacGuffin, and they want nothing more than to have the manuscript sent off to the Vatican archives and forgotten. But Barker is more interested in the mystery of who killed Hillary Drummond and why. Rather than immediately deliver the manuscript to Calais like the Prime Minister asked them to do, Barker hangs onto it. See, this manuscript is, apparently, a new gospel. Which is important because…reasons?
This manuscript is so valuable, the people after it are willing to kill for it. Which puts Barker & Llewelyn in an awkward position. Even more awkward is the fact that Rebecca’s family, who seemed so cool in the last book, have now decided to shun her for marrying Thomas, a gentile. As usual, Barker & Llewelyn are caught between a rock and a hard place. Can they deliver the manuscript safely to the Vatican? Can Thomas repair the relationship between himself and his in-laws? Will Rebecca ever learn how to make a decent Pain au chocolat? Will we ever, ever meet Thomas’s massive Welsh family? Will Rebecca ever demand to get to know her small army of brothers- and sisters-in-law? Will Barker ever propose to Philippa? Will I ever learn the difference between various sects of Christianity? Find out tomorrow in Barker & Llewelyn: Lethal Pursuit! Same bat time, same bat channel!
I love this series. I am well and truly hooked. Barker & Llewelyn are a more down-to-earth Holmes and Watson. There is just the right amount of action, historical detail, and mystery to satisfy any Sherlockian desperate for some 19th century English mystery. I don’t know of any other book series, save Meg Cabot’s Princess Diaries series, where I’ve stuck around past the 8th or 9th book. So many books! Not enough time for serieses! I mean, sometimes I entertain the thought of binging all 900,000 Discworld books, but there are so many other things I’d like to read, too…I wish I were a faster reader. Better yet, I wish I could be like the Doctor and just flip through a book and absorb all its contents at once. That’d be awesome.
Still. I adore Barker & Llewelyn - I will absolutely be there for any book they’re in, even if the series goes the full Anne Perry and goes on and on for like, 20+ books. I’m here for it. And I am on pins and needles for the next book. I really, really, really want Thomas to reconcile with his family in Wales. I want Barker to actually acknowledge that Philippa Ashleigh is his girlfriend. I JUST WANT MORE, DAMN IT!
vivajayne's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
It was the first book I read in this series and was more than happy I got this ARC because it was a great discovery.
It's an engrossing and entertaining read with a well crafted plot that kept me hooked till the end.
I loved the well researched historical setting, the well thought cast of characters, the humor, and the fast paced and action packed plot.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's an engrossing and entertaining read with a well crafted plot that kept me hooked till the end.
I loved the well researched historical setting, the well thought cast of characters, the humor, and the fast paced and action packed plot.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
deearr's review against another edition
5.0
{60-Second Words on Words video review at http://bit.ly/LethalPursuit }
A work of historical fiction can fall on many points in a spectrum. When it encompasses many aspects of the chosen era, readers are in for a treat. “Lethal Pursuit” by Will Thomas certainly succeeded in wrapping me in the sights and sounds of late nineteenth century London.
This book was my introduction to private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn, and my only dismay was that I had missed the first eleven books. While “Lethal Pursuit” may refer to events or characters from previous books, the references are slight and the story can definitely stand on its own.
THE PLOT is interesting although similar to others (a religious item is found which may have great impact on the world…thus, many people from different factions want to take possession of it). It is the mystery that drives the story, and as more facts are revealed the reader is confronted with multiple solutions. While there are no incredible twists, the solutions presented are clever and satisfying.
THE CHARACTERS demonstrate distinct personalities. Barker has many similarities to Sherlock Holmes though not enough to cause alarm, and Llewelyn is a total opposite to Dr. Watson. In fact, I enjoyed his sassy and in-your-face nature that emerges whenever necessary. Minor characters, depending upon their importance to the story, receive what I thought to be the proper amount of attention. Descriptions of bit players like Soho Vic are definitely entertaining.
THE DIALOGUE AND PROSE help to set the scenes, and I have to confess that I made use of Wikipedia to look up some of the terms that are no longer in use or were only employed in England. Mr. Thomas never slipped, and the atmosphere of 1892 was always consistent.
PACING in the first two-thirds of the book seemed to bog down at times, mostly when some of the description appeared to be unnecessary and only served to slow the plot. However, the last third of the book flew by as the author brought all the strings together and raced to an exciting climax. Overall, the book is so well-written that it is easy to forgive a few slow passages. Highly recommended for those who like their mysteries wrapped in historical fiction. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance electronic copy of this book.
A work of historical fiction can fall on many points in a spectrum. When it encompasses many aspects of the chosen era, readers are in for a treat. “Lethal Pursuit” by Will Thomas certainly succeeded in wrapping me in the sights and sounds of late nineteenth century London.
This book was my introduction to private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn, and my only dismay was that I had missed the first eleven books. While “Lethal Pursuit” may refer to events or characters from previous books, the references are slight and the story can definitely stand on its own.
THE PLOT is interesting although similar to others (a religious item is found which may have great impact on the world…thus, many people from different factions want to take possession of it). It is the mystery that drives the story, and as more facts are revealed the reader is confronted with multiple solutions. While there are no incredible twists, the solutions presented are clever and satisfying.
THE CHARACTERS demonstrate distinct personalities. Barker has many similarities to Sherlock Holmes though not enough to cause alarm, and Llewelyn is a total opposite to Dr. Watson. In fact, I enjoyed his sassy and in-your-face nature that emerges whenever necessary. Minor characters, depending upon their importance to the story, receive what I thought to be the proper amount of attention. Descriptions of bit players like Soho Vic are definitely entertaining.
THE DIALOGUE AND PROSE help to set the scenes, and I have to confess that I made use of Wikipedia to look up some of the terms that are no longer in use or were only employed in England. Mr. Thomas never slipped, and the atmosphere of 1892 was always consistent.
PACING in the first two-thirds of the book seemed to bog down at times, mostly when some of the description appeared to be unnecessary and only served to slow the plot. However, the last third of the book flew by as the author brought all the strings together and raced to an exciting climax. Overall, the book is so well-written that it is easy to forgive a few slow passages. Highly recommended for those who like their mysteries wrapped in historical fiction. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance electronic copy of this book.