This was the last one I've read. ( )

Did not much enjoy this one, sorry to say. ( )

Twenty-six-year-old Thomas Llewelyn, who is a partner in Cyrus Barker's private enquiry firm, is now a married man. Barker has renovated his home to make room for Thomas and his bride, Rebecca. The year is 1892, and a Foreign Office man, Hillary Drummond, has stolen what is thought to be an ancient and priceless manuscript. When Drummond arrives in London after a stay in Germany, he fears that someone may be following him. Soon, the English Prime Minister urges Barker and Llewelyn to transport the manuscript to Calais where, if all goes as planned, couriers will convey this precious cargo to the Vatican for safekeeping.

In “Lethal Pursuit,” by Will Thomas, we encounter the Knights Templar; Jesuits; an evangelist who attracts devoted followers to his revival meetings; an atheist who rails against religious beliefs; assassins who run their victims through with swords; members of Scotland Yard; and street urchins who earn money both as messengers and pickpockets. Also on hand are Barker's employees: his clerk Jeremy Jenkins, factotum Jacob Maccabee, and master chef, Etienne Dummolard. Barker keeps his plans hidden even from Thomas and, in the process, Cyrus enrages government officials who expect him to do their budding. Unsurprisingly, numerous assailants attempt to harm our heroes and, before the case is closed, innocent people will die.

This novel is talky, its humor is tepid, and the busy plot generates minimal excitement. After a succession of violent confrontations between our heroes and their foes, Thomas wraps things up with a lackluster conclusion. To his credit, the author does raise such timely issues as nationalism, racial prejudice, and religious intolerance, and his tale demonstrates the catastrophic consequences of avarice and a hunger for power. However, "Lethal Pursuit" lacks the thoughtfulness, energy, and suspense of Will Thomas's more accomplished and compelling works of fiction. ( )

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 ( )

Starting right off with a murder. Then theft and spies are soon added to the story line in an enjoyable read. Lethal Pursuit is the 11th book in the Barker & Llewelyn series but the first one I have read. I will be seeking out other books in this entertaining series. ( )

A bit too complicated. ( )

I love the mash up between historic fiction and mysteries. For me, I really like the historic fiction part of it -- reading a book set in a different time is instructive and fascinating. I had always thought that the mystery part added just a little extra to keep things moving. Well in this story, I would say that the setting and the attention to details was fantastic, but the mystery plot was sorely lacking.

The story starts with Barker and Llewelyn, private enquiry agents (private investigators) who are tasked by the prime minister to deliver a satchel filled with an ancient religious document back to the Vatican, the original owners. But there is another party who want this document, so badly that they've already killed for it. Barker and Llewelyn are given a list of suspects and the list itself was fascinating including Austrian nobility, a rabbi, a American leader of a religious cult, etc. And definitely, some of the individual stories with each of the characters were very well crafted. But investigating each person on the list felt like more of a To Do list than the plot of a mystery thriller.

This is my first story by Will Thomas, but the 11th in the series, so it's possible I lost a bit being unfamiliar with the different characters, but I really struggled to finish this one. So I would give 5 stars for the historic fiction part of it and maybe 2 stars for the overall plot. ( )

I've been a fan of Will Thomas' Barker & Llewelyn mysteries from the very first book, Some Danger Involved. I always learn something about Victorian London, the slalom course of action and mystery is often hair-raising and always enjoyable to read, and the characters are just plain fun.

While Cyrus Barker is a larger-than-life character, young Thomas Llewelyn is our narrator. He's learned a lot over the years he's been with Barker, and I love his tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. Thomas can always make me laugh.

The story in Lethal Pursuit is a corker, one of the best howdunits I've read in a long time. You see, when the Prime Minister wants Barker to take the mysterious document to Calais, Barker will not agree until he is given the leeway to do the job as he sees fit. The Prime Minister doesn't see any particular problem in allowing this-- no one disobeys him after all-- but longtime readers of the series know that a wild ride is about to begin. And what a ride! With so many different groups after the document, Barker has to be a master of misdirection, and that's exactly what he turns out to be.

Now I'm left wondering what on earth these two private enquiry agents will get up to in the next book in this series. I can't wait! ( )

Enthralling fast paced read!

London 1892, a man is stabbed to death just near Whitehall. Various packs of mysterious young men dressed uniformly in blue coats and caps with swords have been seen.
Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn are led via a convoluted route to visit the Prime Minister. As part of that journey involves tunnels, Thomas is not enamored. “Down the rabbit hole,” he jokes, but it appears he has a fear of enclosed spaces and is not so sanguine about this part of things.
The mysterious man was a Foreign Office Agent. Barker and Llewelyn are not to look into his death but are to deliver a package and its mysterious contents to France. And even here Barker is very careful about the phrasing of his agreement. In the words of a well loved Bard and a famous sleuth, "The game is afoot!"
Barker's nemesis, Commissioner James Munro of the London Metropolitan Police, comes into play with a large amount of acrimony and petty antics on Munro's part. Of course in the end that particular bird comes home to roost, but not after some high jinks and awkward moments for the government.
But Munro's just one of many interested in Barker and Llewelyn's movements. The list includes the German government, various branches of the British government (talk about loose lips sink ships!), powerful and wealthy pundits, the Vatican and various other political and religious groups. Oh, and to cap it all off, the Knight Templars!
I was fascinated by the dissertation on fencing and sword play, including Mensurites, apparently, "a style of fencing in Eastern Europe, taught mostly in universities and schools ... Also known as ‘academic fencing.’" ... And yes, this becomes another important tidbit!
This was my first Barker and Llewelyn encounter, and although a reading of previous novels would be an asset, I didn't find my lack of knowledge of their history in any deterred from my reading enjoyment, which I'd first put at a four star rating but on reflection have decided to five star it. Although I must say this later novel has spurred me on to investigate their past.

A St. Martins Press ARC via NetGalley ( )

Series: Barker & Llewelyn #11
Publication Date: 11/12/19
Number of Pages: 320

Enigmatic Cyrus Barker and novice Thomas Llewelyn are partners in the most loved, hated, respected, disreputable enquiry agency in London. The description all depends on who you ask. Cyrus Barker doesn’t suffer fools gladly and those who try to manipulate him soon come to understand that when it comes to wily, smooth and sly manipulators, Barker is king. Barker is always three steps ahead in any situation – it is too bad that he doesn’t always share those steps with poor Llewelyn who always seems to be trying to catch up with his mentor.

It seems that Barker and Llewelyn are on everybody’s bad list in this fast-paced tale of spies, theft, and murder. They are called to the Prime Minister’s office and given a simple task – to deliver a package to Calais. However, as they talk, Barker quickly realizes that it isn’t the simple task the Prime Minister would have him believe it to be. Being Barker, and not appreciating being dictated to, he manipulates the Prime Minister into saying that Barker could use his own judgment in the delivery.

Prior to Barker and Llewelyn getting the package to deliver, an agent of the Home Office was murdered on his way to deliver the package to the English government. Barker decides to also solve that murder – since he’s working for nothing anyway, why not give the government their money’s worth.

There are many plots and villains afoot in this story and you’ll have to pay attention to figure out who is who. With all of the murder attempts and the shenanigans of the leader of Scotland Yard – and a successful murder, you’ll be in a whirl parsing out the facts and clues.

I always love it when the bad buys get their just desserts – and this one surely did – but – not before poor Llewelyn was – AGAIN – injured. Seems the poor man stays injured from one book to the next.

This was an enjoyable read and I hope you enjoy it as well. I do have to say that Barker has never really won my favor. I keep trying to like him – and I don’t hate him – I just tire of his arrogance and how he treats Llewelyn. Barker has Sherlock Holmes-like brilliance and deductive abilities – that I have to admire – but – I’m just not fond of his treatment of poor – often hapless – Llewelyn.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )

private-investigators, historical-fiction, historical-research, action, danger, suspense, secret-society, mystery, England *****

Meet the private investigative team of Barker and Llewellyn and get embroiled in intrigue and secret societies in 1882 England and beyond. A very dramatic beginning is followed by astounding events and associations with misdirections and more twists than a challah. The publisher's blurb is a pretty good hook and no need for spoilers. Excellent read!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St Martin's Press / Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )

The Vatican desires it, the German government needs it, secret societies will kill for it & the British PM…..well, he just wants it gone. What are they squabbling over? A little scrap of paper covered with faded words. Hardly impressive until it’s identified as a previously unknown first century gospel.

The year is 1892 & there are whispers of growing xenophobia in Germany. The new government craves international respect & owning the new gospel will get the world’s attention. But before they can put it on display, it’s stolen by a British spook who hightails it for London. Unfortunately he barely has time to set foot on English soil before he’s murdered quite…um…thoroughly. But he did have time to stash away a satchel which will soon become the hottest item in the country.

The PM is well aware of his country’s cooling relationship with Germany. To him, the gospel is little more than a political hot potato & he decides to hand it over to the Vatican & let them deal with it. The problem is there are different factions keeping an eye on his agents, just waiting for their chance. What he needs is someone unknown to them who can deliver the gospel into the right hands. Hmmm…who ya gonna call?

Private Enquiry agent Cyrus Barker takes a summons from the PM’s office in stride but his partner Thomas Llewelyn is a basket case. So he’s relieved when they’re told it’s a simple job. Deliver one satchel to waiting Vatican officials. What could possibly go wrong? Ah me, where to begin.

Mysterious men in blue uniforms, snake oil preachers, masked assassins, a Hapsburg heir….it seems everyone & their Aunt Martha comes out of the woodwork to foil their plans. But if you’re a fan of the series, you know Barker always has a few dozen aces up his sleeve. Luckily we get to go along for the ride as he & Thomas risk their hides in another clever, twisty adventure.

As usual Thomas is our narrator & he tells the story in a pacy, descriptive style injected with dry humour. Victorian London provides an atmospheric setting & I enjoyed catching up with all the regular cast. Thomas finally married Rebecca & she has a larger role in this outing. Unfortunately not everyone in the Jewish community is happy with her choice. She’s basically been shunned & there’s a certain irony in how she & Thomas are treated in light of Germany’s emerging mistreatment of Jews.

Real life events are mixed into the story & it’s kind of spooky to recognize the political machinations that will culminate with the Great War in just a few years. Barker is recovering from injuries he incurred in the last book but is otherwise on top of his game. He’s as devious & enigmatic as ever, much to Thomas’ frustration. Just wait ’til you find out how he delivered the gospel. Genius.

It’s a smart, well plotted mystery full of colourful characters that add so much to the narrative. Their personal relationships & situations have evolved over the series & there are more changes in store. These books are on my annual read list & I’ll be waiting on the next one. Kudos to those responsible for another gorgeous cover. ( )