I read my first Barker & Llewelyn novel a few years ago. and have thoroughly enjoyed the series. I was provided a advanced copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and Minotaur Books in return for my honest review.
The series centers on the exploits of enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn in Victorian England. Will Thomas loves to take a historical kernel (in this case Dr. Sun Yat-Sen) and build a compelling detective novel around it.
The characters are complex and their are often references to previous adventures, so reading the series in order, while not necessary, is helpful. I jumped in I believe with book 14 but quickly began the series from the beginning.
Without giving spoilers, Thomas weaves a tale of political and social intrigue that is a fun read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery with historical antidotes mixed in.
I read a number of advanced reader copies, and usually they are pretty close to perfection, this one however seems to need some editing in the beginning of the last third. I found some inconsistencies in the storyline and it felt like other parts were missing.
Despite that, I enjoy the exploits of Barker and Llewelyn and look forward to the next twist in the road.
