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Barker & Llewelyn #10
Blood Is Blood
A bombing injures private enquiry agent Cyrus Barker, leaving it up to his soon-to-be-married junior partner Thomas Llewelyn to find the person trying to murder them both before it's too late—in the newest mystery in Will Thomas's beloved series.
In 19th century London, Cyrus Barker and his associate Thomas Llewelyn are renowned private enquiry agents, successfully employed by the highest levels of Her Majesty's government as well as private citizens. Their success, however, has led to their acquiring a powerful group of enemies, many of whom are determined to have their revenge.
At least one of those enemies is responsible for a bombing of their offices that puts Cyrus Barker into the hospital and endangers Thomas Llewelyn's rapidly forthcoming nuptials. To add to the confusion, Barker's long-lost brother Caleb turns up on the rubble of their doorstep not long after the not-quite-fatal bombing.
Unsure of Caleb and warned about him by Barker, Thomas reluctantly accepts Caleb's help both with a new case that comes in as well as trying to pinpoint which of Barker's enemies is making a move against them. As Thomas works his way through their enemy list, someone else is winnowing down that one by one those enemies are dying.
With time running out—and his bride-to-be reconsidering their marriage—Llewelyn must (with the sick-bed bound Barker's help) uncover the killer and the plot before it's too late.
In 19th century London, Cyrus Barker and his associate Thomas Llewelyn are renowned private enquiry agents, successfully employed by the highest levels of Her Majesty's government as well as private citizens. Their success, however, has led to their acquiring a powerful group of enemies, many of whom are determined to have their revenge.
At least one of those enemies is responsible for a bombing of their offices that puts Cyrus Barker into the hospital and endangers Thomas Llewelyn's rapidly forthcoming nuptials. To add to the confusion, Barker's long-lost brother Caleb turns up on the rubble of their doorstep not long after the not-quite-fatal bombing.
Unsure of Caleb and warned about him by Barker, Thomas reluctantly accepts Caleb's help both with a new case that comes in as well as trying to pinpoint which of Barker's enemies is making a move against them. As Thomas works his way through their enemy list, someone else is winnowing down that one by one those enemies are dying.
With time running out—and his bride-to-be reconsidering their marriage—Llewelyn must (with the sick-bed bound Barker's help) uncover the killer and the plot before it's too late.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 13, 2018
236 people are currently reading
651 people want to read
About the author
Will Thomas
45 books1,088 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Will Thomas, born 1958 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is a novelist who writes a Victorian mystery series featuring Cyrus Barker, a Scottish detective or "private enquiry agent," and his Welsh assistant, Thomas Llewelyn. The Barker/Llewelyn novels are set in the 1880s and often feature historical events, people, and movements. Martial combat is a recurring theme throughout this hardboiled series.
Prior to writing novels, Will Thomas wrote essays for Sherlock Holmes society publications and lectured on crime fiction of the Victorian era.
Will Thomas' first novel, Some Danger Involved, was nominated for a Barry Award and a Shamus Award, and won the 2005 Oklahoma Book Award. In 2015, he won the Oklahoma Book Award a second time for Fatal Enquiry. Will Thomas has been featured on the cover of Library Journal, and was the Toastmaster at the 2007 Great Manhattan Mystery Conclave in Manhattan, Kansas. His fifth novel, The Black Hand, was nominated for a 2009 Shamus Award. He is married to author Julia Bryan Thomas.
Series:
. Barker and Llewelyn
Will Thomas, born 1958 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is a novelist who writes a Victorian mystery series featuring Cyrus Barker, a Scottish detective or "private enquiry agent," and his Welsh assistant, Thomas Llewelyn. The Barker/Llewelyn novels are set in the 1880s and often feature historical events, people, and movements. Martial combat is a recurring theme throughout this hardboiled series.
Prior to writing novels, Will Thomas wrote essays for Sherlock Holmes society publications and lectured on crime fiction of the Victorian era.
Will Thomas' first novel, Some Danger Involved, was nominated for a Barry Award and a Shamus Award, and won the 2005 Oklahoma Book Award. In 2015, he won the Oklahoma Book Award a second time for Fatal Enquiry. Will Thomas has been featured on the cover of Library Journal, and was the Toastmaster at the 2007 Great Manhattan Mystery Conclave in Manhattan, Kansas. His fifth novel, The Black Hand, was nominated for a 2009 Shamus Award. He is married to author Julia Bryan Thomas.
Series:
. Barker and Llewelyn
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
May 7, 2024
I have read most of the books in this series in the order published and have enjoyed them. This was one of my favorites. Cyrus Barker's brother played a large role in the book and added a lot to the storytelling. Again, the reader is terrific and increased my enjoyment a great deal. A bombing takes place and Llewelyn takes the lead role. A review of past cases reacquaints the reader with the series history. The ending is just so good and is a cherry on top! This was on the free side of audible.
May 1, 2020
Thomas Llewelyn is a young private enquiry agent who has worked for Cyrus Barker for 6 years. Thomas is to marry his fiancé Rebecca in two weeks, when an explosion destroys Barker's office and puts him in the hospital with serious injuries. Accordingly, most of the detective work in this book is done by Thomas, and I missed having more of Barker. Soon after the explosion, Barker's long lost brother Caleb suddenly appears and occasionally tags along with Thomas as he tracks down all of the people with the motive and opportunity to have attacked Barker. I didn't think that Caleb added much to this book, other than acting mysterious and adding red herrings.
I've read every book in this series. My favorites were the first three, and there have been one or two that were pretty bad. This one falls somewhere in the middle - 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. It held my interest and didn't make me want to skim through it. I didn't find the explanation of how, why and by whom the crimes in this book were committed very convincing. This book also did not have any of the historical details that have made some of the previous books more interesting. In the ARC that I read there were a couple of serious editing/continuity errors that were distracting. I hope that they will be corrected in the final version of the book. I stick with very few series, but I find the Barker/Llewelyn combination entertaining enough to keep me reading.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I've read every book in this series. My favorites were the first three, and there have been one or two that were pretty bad. This one falls somewhere in the middle - 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. It held my interest and didn't make me want to skim through it. I didn't find the explanation of how, why and by whom the crimes in this book were committed very convincing. This book also did not have any of the historical details that have made some of the previous books more interesting. In the ARC that I read there were a couple of serious editing/continuity errors that were distracting. I hope that they will be corrected in the final version of the book. I stick with very few series, but I find the Barker/Llewelyn combination entertaining enough to keep me reading.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
November 29, 2018
First Sentence: I detest Mondays with all my soul.
Cyrus Barker and his assistant Thomas Llewelyn have become highly successful enquiry agents. But with success comes enemies. With only a fortnight before Thomas is to marry Rebecca, a bomb destroys their offices. With Barker in a coma, it is up to Thomas to uncover the villain. When a contractor goes missing, his wife comes to Barker & Llewelyn for help. Help appears unexpectedly in the shape of Barker's brother, Caleb who has been in America as a Pinkerton agent. Can Thomas solve the cases and prevent his fiancée from canceling their wedding?
What a great opening. It is one with which anyone who works can identify, and the introduction to Thomas is delightfully self-deprecating and unusual, which is a nice change. The inclusion of information on Cyrus Barker, Thomas' employer, is neatly done, and very succinct background of Thomas is provided. It is also the calm before the surprising storm which dramatically alters the tenor of the story. The introduction to Barker's inamorata, Phillipa Ashleigh, certainly makes an impression—"It was the sound of a woman's boots clicking in fury. Every man on earth is acquainted with the sound, it is instinctual."
Assembling the list of suspects is an effective way of acquainting, or re-acquainting, readers with previous cases in the series. A delightful reference is made to the address of their new office. With the case of the missing builder, it is very well done by the author that one is allowed to be suspicious very shortly before Thomas comes to the same realization. It's a clever way to make the reader feel directly involved in the story, and the first major twist is a corker.
What an apt description—"Ah, the Wealden murders." He replied. "Three men dead in a display of firearms, all Americans. It is as if they come from the womb with a gun in each hand." It is not easy to convey the action and danger of hand-to-hand combat in words, yet Thomas does a very credible job of making it real, visual, and with plenty of action. One certainly doesn't want for excitement or plot twists. They come one after the next in swift succession.
It's hard not to like the advice Caleb offers Thomas—"'A woman prefers a man who is confident.' 'I hadn't considered that.' 'And when she talks, listen, by god. She feels she has important things to say. Maybe she does and maybe she doesn't, but listen anyway.'" And Phillipa is such a wonderful character. She's the woman one would like to be and offers sage advice to Thomas when trying to win back his fiancée—"Don't shave; it shall make you look desperate. She'll complain, but she'll like that. Give her all the control."
The relationship between Thomas and Barker is truly that which draws one to the series. We know how the two men met, yet much of the appeal is Thomas' desire to grow and please Barker, not in a subservient way, but in the way of one who wants to earn the regard of someone greatly admired. As for Barker, he respects who Thomas is and who he has become, and that, in spite of everything, Thomas is—"still keen as you ever were."
It's amazing what one may learn—"There are a dozen of types of rain in London…"—and who knew about the difference between a noose with a Marwood ring rather than one without. One theme which is somewhat unusual for a story such as this is religion and faith. It is there not in a preachy way but in the best representation of it.
Will Thomas created an excellent reveal of one character's true purpose, the surprising appearance of an historical figure, and a very lovely ending.
"Blood is Blood: A Barker & Llewelyn Novel" is another wonderful read in an excellent historical mystery series filled with wry humor, suspense, great characters, and a wonderful sense of time and place. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the books in order.
BLOOD IS BLOOD: A Barker & Llewelyn Novel (HistMys-Barker/Llewelyn-London-1890) –VG+
Thomas, Will – 10th in series
Minotaur Books – Nov 2018
Cyrus Barker and his assistant Thomas Llewelyn have become highly successful enquiry agents. But with success comes enemies. With only a fortnight before Thomas is to marry Rebecca, a bomb destroys their offices. With Barker in a coma, it is up to Thomas to uncover the villain. When a contractor goes missing, his wife comes to Barker & Llewelyn for help. Help appears unexpectedly in the shape of Barker's brother, Caleb who has been in America as a Pinkerton agent. Can Thomas solve the cases and prevent his fiancée from canceling their wedding?
What a great opening. It is one with which anyone who works can identify, and the introduction to Thomas is delightfully self-deprecating and unusual, which is a nice change. The inclusion of information on Cyrus Barker, Thomas' employer, is neatly done, and very succinct background of Thomas is provided. It is also the calm before the surprising storm which dramatically alters the tenor of the story. The introduction to Barker's inamorata, Phillipa Ashleigh, certainly makes an impression—"It was the sound of a woman's boots clicking in fury. Every man on earth is acquainted with the sound, it is instinctual."
Assembling the list of suspects is an effective way of acquainting, or re-acquainting, readers with previous cases in the series. A delightful reference is made to the address of their new office. With the case of the missing builder, it is very well done by the author that one is allowed to be suspicious very shortly before Thomas comes to the same realization. It's a clever way to make the reader feel directly involved in the story, and the first major twist is a corker.
What an apt description—"Ah, the Wealden murders." He replied. "Three men dead in a display of firearms, all Americans. It is as if they come from the womb with a gun in each hand." It is not easy to convey the action and danger of hand-to-hand combat in words, yet Thomas does a very credible job of making it real, visual, and with plenty of action. One certainly doesn't want for excitement or plot twists. They come one after the next in swift succession.
It's hard not to like the advice Caleb offers Thomas—"'A woman prefers a man who is confident.' 'I hadn't considered that.' 'And when she talks, listen, by god. She feels she has important things to say. Maybe she does and maybe she doesn't, but listen anyway.'" And Phillipa is such a wonderful character. She's the woman one would like to be and offers sage advice to Thomas when trying to win back his fiancée—"Don't shave; it shall make you look desperate. She'll complain, but she'll like that. Give her all the control."
The relationship between Thomas and Barker is truly that which draws one to the series. We know how the two men met, yet much of the appeal is Thomas' desire to grow and please Barker, not in a subservient way, but in the way of one who wants to earn the regard of someone greatly admired. As for Barker, he respects who Thomas is and who he has become, and that, in spite of everything, Thomas is—"still keen as you ever were."
It's amazing what one may learn—"There are a dozen of types of rain in London…"—and who knew about the difference between a noose with a Marwood ring rather than one without. One theme which is somewhat unusual for a story such as this is religion and faith. It is there not in a preachy way but in the best representation of it.
Will Thomas created an excellent reveal of one character's true purpose, the surprising appearance of an historical figure, and a very lovely ending.
"Blood is Blood: A Barker & Llewelyn Novel" is another wonderful read in an excellent historical mystery series filled with wry humor, suspense, great characters, and a wonderful sense of time and place. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the books in order.
BLOOD IS BLOOD: A Barker & Llewelyn Novel (HistMys-Barker/Llewelyn-London-1890) –VG+
Thomas, Will – 10th in series
Minotaur Books – Nov 2018
December 1, 2018
I have enjoyed this series very much, and this latest book was most satisfying on several fronts. We are introduced to Barker's older brother Caleb who has come over to England on some Pinkerton business, but Cyrus warns Thomas that his brother is not to be trusted. They had not seen each other in years, in fact. His appearance coincides with the bombing of Barker's offices that causes grave injuries to Barker, leaving Thomas in charge of the investigation to discover who was trying to kill his boss.
The list of people of interest with motives to kill Barker was sizable. Colorful characters, threats against the woman Thomas was soon to marry (Rebecca)...
I could describe this book in great detail, but that would spoil it for others. If familiar with the series, you know there is plenty of conflict/action, utilization of self-defense skills Barker trained Thomas in and interfaces with Scotland Yard.
I sat in a chair rather long reading this since I had no desire to put it down and now I find Manchester Union vs Southampton is tied at half on my television - so...I must now stand in front of the screen and do some exercise, acting like a cheerleader and activating some muscles. Could I be a Manchester fan? I'll never tell.
The list of people of interest with motives to kill Barker was sizable. Colorful characters, threats against the woman Thomas was soon to marry (Rebecca)...
I could describe this book in great detail, but that would spoil it for others. If familiar with the series, you know there is plenty of conflict/action, utilization of self-defense skills Barker trained Thomas in and interfaces with Scotland Yard.
I sat in a chair rather long reading this since I had no desire to put it down and now I find Manchester Union vs Southampton is tied at half on my television - so...I must now stand in front of the screen and do some exercise, acting like a cheerleader and activating some muscles. Could I be a Manchester fan? I'll never tell.
November 5, 2018
Series: Barker and Llewelyn #9
Publication Date: 11/14/18
How in the world have I managed to miss this author and this series? This is basically the tenth book in the series because I think one of the others was a .5 book. I loved the characters of Barker and Llewelyn as well as the other members of the ensemble cast. The book is well plotted and well written and even has a bit of humor.
Cyrus Barker is a self-made man whose parents were missionaries. They died during a cholera epidemic in China when Cyrus was still young. This book didn’t spell out all of his history, but he made his fortune from captaining a merchant vessel that ran from Hokkaido to Singapore. Afterward, he started the Barker Enquiry Agency and has done remarkable well – often solving cases that Scotland Yard can’t. He’s a gruff bear of a man that most folks walk on tiptoes around. Six years ago, his assistant was killed during an investigation and after winnowing through many applicants, he hired Thomas Llewelyn. That was a shock to everyone because Thomas definitely appeared to be the least qualified applicant.
I didn’t learn as much about Thomas Llewelyn in this book. Evidently, he had been a scholar and had a number of dead-end jobs and finally served eight months in prison for theft. This book doesn’t actually say, but I think he was convicted on a false accusation by a peer. Thomas seems to be a very good investigator who works on intuition and methodical investigation.
I liked the secondary characters in the series and would be interested in reading more about them. There is Jenkins, the alcoholic slacker who is their clerk; Mac who is their majordomo at their residence; Rebecca, a lovely widow, who is Llewelyn’s betrothed and Philippa, also a widow and in a relationship with Barker. Other recurring characters seem to be from Scotland Yard and a lawyer turned enquiry agent who works directly across from Barker’s agency.
The book begins with Llewelyn telling us – “I detest Mondays with all my soul. I always have.” That is a portent for his day! As he and Barker have settled into their shared office for the day’s work, Llewelyn hears something and feels a bit of a jolt. There had been an explosion at a nearby building a while back that had shaken their offices, and this felt much the same. Then, he is shocked to see Barker sink through the floor – followed by his desk, the file cabinet and ending with Llewelyn’s desk, chair and finally Llewellyn. The entire office floor and all of its contents had fallen down into the basement. Llewellyn had enough time to recognize what was happening and managed to get into his roll-top desk and pull the thing closed, so he wasn’t seriously injured. The same was not true for Barker. He was buried under six feet of all sorts of rubble, including his huge heavy desk. Barker’s worst injury seemed to be a shattered leg that would put him out of commission for quite some time. Thus, the investigation into the explosion falls directly and solely onto Llewellyn’s shoulders.
Obviously, someone wants to bring Barker and by association Llewelyn down. They don’t want to just cause problems, they want serious physical injury – maybe even death. So Llewelyn begins going over old cases where the perpetrators had threatened Barker and there were several of them. As Llewelyn investigates each of those cases, more and more things happen – not just to Llewelyn, but to those they hold dear. There are red herrings, twists, turns, and revelations before the final solution. It is a great mystery.
An additional wrench-in-the-works is the appearance of Barker’s estranged brother. Each had actually thought the other had died. Caleb Barker had gone to America (from China) when he was very young – maybe eighteen or so. He is Cyrus’ older brother. In his first appearance, Llewelyn thinks he has found a full-sized, living, breathing American cowboy. He was a full head taller than Llewelyn and was wearing a brown slicker, wide-brimmed hat, long mustache and he had a gun belt on his hip. It turns out that Caleb works for the Pinkerton Detective Agency in America. Even though he is Barker’s brother, neither Barker nor Llewelyn trusts him. Actually, I liked him and can’t wait to see what happened to him when he returned to America.
I love historical mysteries – they are my absolute favorite – but – I like romance in them as well. Is there a genre called historical romantic mysteries? Anyway, this book actually had Llewelyn and Rebecca’s wedding in it. I wonder how that will work out with future stories. I’d love to see both Rebecca and Philippa take roles in investigations in the future.
Some of Llewelyn’s thoughts that I thought were witty:
--“It is necessary to moderate the intake of sunlight between one’s lashes after imbibing freely the night before.”
--“One can sulk for an hour or so, but brooding can take days.”
--“It was the sound of a woman’s boots clicking in fury. Every man on earth is acquainted with the sound;”
--“Pie cannot fix everything, of course, but it has never ruined anything either.”
--“Could you translate that from American to English?”
I certainly recommend this book, but you should be aware that it is written in the first person.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Publication Date: 11/14/18
How in the world have I managed to miss this author and this series? This is basically the tenth book in the series because I think one of the others was a .5 book. I loved the characters of Barker and Llewelyn as well as the other members of the ensemble cast. The book is well plotted and well written and even has a bit of humor.
Cyrus Barker is a self-made man whose parents were missionaries. They died during a cholera epidemic in China when Cyrus was still young. This book didn’t spell out all of his history, but he made his fortune from captaining a merchant vessel that ran from Hokkaido to Singapore. Afterward, he started the Barker Enquiry Agency and has done remarkable well – often solving cases that Scotland Yard can’t. He’s a gruff bear of a man that most folks walk on tiptoes around. Six years ago, his assistant was killed during an investigation and after winnowing through many applicants, he hired Thomas Llewelyn. That was a shock to everyone because Thomas definitely appeared to be the least qualified applicant.
I didn’t learn as much about Thomas Llewelyn in this book. Evidently, he had been a scholar and had a number of dead-end jobs and finally served eight months in prison for theft. This book doesn’t actually say, but I think he was convicted on a false accusation by a peer. Thomas seems to be a very good investigator who works on intuition and methodical investigation.
I liked the secondary characters in the series and would be interested in reading more about them. There is Jenkins, the alcoholic slacker who is their clerk; Mac who is their majordomo at their residence; Rebecca, a lovely widow, who is Llewelyn’s betrothed and Philippa, also a widow and in a relationship with Barker. Other recurring characters seem to be from Scotland Yard and a lawyer turned enquiry agent who works directly across from Barker’s agency.
The book begins with Llewelyn telling us – “I detest Mondays with all my soul. I always have.” That is a portent for his day! As he and Barker have settled into their shared office for the day’s work, Llewelyn hears something and feels a bit of a jolt. There had been an explosion at a nearby building a while back that had shaken their offices, and this felt much the same. Then, he is shocked to see Barker sink through the floor – followed by his desk, the file cabinet and ending with Llewelyn’s desk, chair and finally Llewellyn. The entire office floor and all of its contents had fallen down into the basement. Llewellyn had enough time to recognize what was happening and managed to get into his roll-top desk and pull the thing closed, so he wasn’t seriously injured. The same was not true for Barker. He was buried under six feet of all sorts of rubble, including his huge heavy desk. Barker’s worst injury seemed to be a shattered leg that would put him out of commission for quite some time. Thus, the investigation into the explosion falls directly and solely onto Llewellyn’s shoulders.
Obviously, someone wants to bring Barker and by association Llewelyn down. They don’t want to just cause problems, they want serious physical injury – maybe even death. So Llewelyn begins going over old cases where the perpetrators had threatened Barker and there were several of them. As Llewelyn investigates each of those cases, more and more things happen – not just to Llewelyn, but to those they hold dear. There are red herrings, twists, turns, and revelations before the final solution. It is a great mystery.
An additional wrench-in-the-works is the appearance of Barker’s estranged brother. Each had actually thought the other had died. Caleb Barker had gone to America (from China) when he was very young – maybe eighteen or so. He is Cyrus’ older brother. In his first appearance, Llewelyn thinks he has found a full-sized, living, breathing American cowboy. He was a full head taller than Llewelyn and was wearing a brown slicker, wide-brimmed hat, long mustache and he had a gun belt on his hip. It turns out that Caleb works for the Pinkerton Detective Agency in America. Even though he is Barker’s brother, neither Barker nor Llewelyn trusts him. Actually, I liked him and can’t wait to see what happened to him when he returned to America.
I love historical mysteries – they are my absolute favorite – but – I like romance in them as well. Is there a genre called historical romantic mysteries? Anyway, this book actually had Llewelyn and Rebecca’s wedding in it. I wonder how that will work out with future stories. I’d love to see both Rebecca and Philippa take roles in investigations in the future.
Some of Llewelyn’s thoughts that I thought were witty:
--“It is necessary to moderate the intake of sunlight between one’s lashes after imbibing freely the night before.”
--“One can sulk for an hour or so, but brooding can take days.”
--“It was the sound of a woman’s boots clicking in fury. Every man on earth is acquainted with the sound;”
--“Pie cannot fix everything, of course, but it has never ruined anything either.”
--“Could you translate that from American to English?”
I certainly recommend this book, but you should be aware that it is written in the first person.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
September 26, 2018
Thank you to Minotaur Books and the Amazon Vine Voices program for an ARC of this novel.
The tenth entry in the Barker and Llewelyn series finds me just as satisfied with this series as I was following my reading of all the others. Will Thomas writes these two characters in such a way that they are both realistic and their relationship throughout the series has matured and developed at an even pace. This story has Thomas Llewelyn solving a case by himself after six years of working with Cyrus Barker. Well, at least he was almost able to solve it alone. There was an explosion at the offices and Barker was injured enough to require surgery and a long-ish hospital stay. Thomas seems to be on his own until the American Cowboy shows up on the doorstep. It seems this is Caleb, brother of Cyrus, and he's in London working some cases for the Pinkerton agency. They may not see eye-to-eye, but Caleb can't help but get involved in helping Thomas find the criminals out to kill Cyrus.
A very satisfactory addition to the series. Even though this book is pretty far along in the series it has been written so it can technically be read as a standalone. Author Will Thomas fills in the backstory when it is required, but if you begin reading here you will miss all of the wonderful interactions between Barker and Llewelyn which brings them to this point in their relationship.
The tenth entry in the Barker and Llewelyn series finds me just as satisfied with this series as I was following my reading of all the others. Will Thomas writes these two characters in such a way that they are both realistic and their relationship throughout the series has matured and developed at an even pace. This story has Thomas Llewelyn solving a case by himself after six years of working with Cyrus Barker. Well, at least he was almost able to solve it alone. There was an explosion at the offices and Barker was injured enough to require surgery and a long-ish hospital stay. Thomas seems to be on his own until the American Cowboy shows up on the doorstep. It seems this is Caleb, brother of Cyrus, and he's in London working some cases for the Pinkerton agency. They may not see eye-to-eye, but Caleb can't help but get involved in helping Thomas find the criminals out to kill Cyrus.
A very satisfactory addition to the series. Even though this book is pretty far along in the series it has been written so it can technically be read as a standalone. Author Will Thomas fills in the backstory when it is required, but if you begin reading here you will miss all of the wonderful interactions between Barker and Llewelyn which brings them to this point in their relationship.
November 8, 2019
I don’t know how I missed this 2018 entry into one of my favorite historical mystery series! The action starts off (literally) with a bang - an explosion at the offices of Cyrus Barker’s detective agency. Barker is badly injured, and Llewelyn spends the book trying to find the culprit. He and Rebecca are also supposed to be married in a couple weeks, and Barker’s long-lost brother pops up from America. Barker leaves Llewelyn in charge, acting as a sounding board and telling him not to trust his brother. As always with this series, there is a lot going on, I can’t always follow the detectives’ logic as they investigate, but I very much enjoy the ride! Great fun, with a satisfying conclusion- can’t wait for the next installment, which is bound to bring about interesting changes!
January 12, 2019
This series continues to grow and improve with each story, and Blood is Blood is no exception. I was surprised where Will Thomas took the series in this episode--Barker has a brother!--but I found the result very satisfactory. This story can work as a standalone, but a lot of the richness of the characters will be lost. Thomas Llewelyn has come so far! Here, he gets to test his mettle and see what he has learned after Barker is gravely injured. It is a difficult time for Thomas, but I don't think any fans of the series will be surprised to find that he is up to the challenge.
January 11, 2019
DNF. Not very good, not enough suspense, the characters are parodies, behaving ridiculously. Seems like a YA novel, trying to be funny but isn't much.
November 17, 2018
As the British would say, a bloody good classic detective novel! If I heard one of them saying that, I'd agree.
It all started with an assistant who despises Mondays. Things always go wrong on that particular day of the week for him. Sure enough, he's stressing about his upcoming wedding, his office gets bombed, causing his employer to be seriously injured. While Llewelyn tries to clean up and assess the damages, his employer's long lost American brother shows up unexpectedly causing them to have a scrappiness which, in my opinion, is hilarious between a British and an American. So far, not the greatest Monday for Llewelyn along the week following that day as he tries to come up with possible suspects who would want to harm Barker, his boss.
There have been twists and turns, and surprises which kept me on my toes. The Scotland Yard area and London along with the buildings were pretty descriptive where I was easily lost in that era. There is a bit of Sherlock theme going on but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
"Nobody sells snake oil like a snake."
"Could you translate that from American to English?"
"A paragon of citizenship"
"YOU do talk posh, Mr. Llewelyn." He said.
Those are just couple of many banters between Llewelyn and the American that had me cracking up as a case gets solved.
So, the question of this story is, Will this assistant be able to solve this brutal crime just in time before his wedding on his own, while his employer is laid up in the hospital recuperating? There were so many elements thrown his way including a shocking incident which may call off his wedding for good.
Just wanted to say the title was just perfect for this novel.
I was very delighted to be kept on my toes while reading this novel. Extremely entertaining. Imagine my delight when I found out there are other Barker and Llewelyn novels! I intend to read those and I hope the upcoming novels of those two beloved detectives in the future.
I received this interesting ARC from St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books through Net Galley. Thank you!
It all started with an assistant who despises Mondays. Things always go wrong on that particular day of the week for him. Sure enough, he's stressing about his upcoming wedding, his office gets bombed, causing his employer to be seriously injured. While Llewelyn tries to clean up and assess the damages, his employer's long lost American brother shows up unexpectedly causing them to have a scrappiness which, in my opinion, is hilarious between a British and an American. So far, not the greatest Monday for Llewelyn along the week following that day as he tries to come up with possible suspects who would want to harm Barker, his boss.
There have been twists and turns, and surprises which kept me on my toes. The Scotland Yard area and London along with the buildings were pretty descriptive where I was easily lost in that era. There is a bit of Sherlock theme going on but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
"Nobody sells snake oil like a snake."
"Could you translate that from American to English?"
"A paragon of citizenship"
"YOU do talk posh, Mr. Llewelyn." He said.
Those are just couple of many banters between Llewelyn and the American that had me cracking up as a case gets solved.
So, the question of this story is, Will this assistant be able to solve this brutal crime just in time before his wedding on his own, while his employer is laid up in the hospital recuperating? There were so many elements thrown his way including a shocking incident which may call off his wedding for good.
Just wanted to say the title was just perfect for this novel.
I was very delighted to be kept on my toes while reading this novel. Extremely entertaining. Imagine my delight when I found out there are other Barker and Llewelyn novels! I intend to read those and I hope the upcoming novels of those two beloved detectives in the future.
I received this interesting ARC from St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books through Net Galley. Thank you!
October 17, 2025
I had an itch for a good detective story in late 1800s London after reading about Jack the Ripper. I can confirm that this book has pin pointed and gave that itch a good scratching. The chapters read fast and transition in-between with great anticipation, hard to put down!
December 4, 2018
I've now read all ten novels in this series.
November 21, 2018
Blood Is Blood
By
Will Thompson
What it's all about...
Llewelyn and Barker...they are turn of the century private detectives. This book is one of the later books in this series. In this one their office is bombed and Barker is hurt while Llewelyn is left to figure out how all of this happened. Then...out of the blue...Barker’s rough and tumble brother shows up...from America. He wants to help find the bombers, too!
Why I wanted to read it...
I love books like this and I immediately grew fond of Llewelyn and his fiancé...Rebecca. Llewelyn is sort of lost without his boss Barker around...at least that was my impression. He sort of stumbles along...things happen...he is not very decisive. But he is determined.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
The escapades of Llewelyn and the Barker Brother were what made me enjoy this book. There are gunfights, possible kidnappings, broken engagements and murders! This book is very exciting!
Why you should read it, too...
Readers who love these odd old adventures should enjoy this book and this series.
I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.
By
Will Thompson
What it's all about...
Llewelyn and Barker...they are turn of the century private detectives. This book is one of the later books in this series. In this one their office is bombed and Barker is hurt while Llewelyn is left to figure out how all of this happened. Then...out of the blue...Barker’s rough and tumble brother shows up...from America. He wants to help find the bombers, too!
Why I wanted to read it...
I love books like this and I immediately grew fond of Llewelyn and his fiancé...Rebecca. Llewelyn is sort of lost without his boss Barker around...at least that was my impression. He sort of stumbles along...things happen...he is not very decisive. But he is determined.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
The escapades of Llewelyn and the Barker Brother were what made me enjoy this book. There are gunfights, possible kidnappings, broken engagements and murders! This book is very exciting!
Why you should read it, too...
Readers who love these odd old adventures should enjoy this book and this series.
I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.
August 24, 2020
I haven't checked in with Barker and Llewelyn for a while... so it was nice to visit them again. This was one of those books that was written mostly as a reward for long time readers... the continuity from other adventures was heavy.
It was fun to see some old bad guys (all the more to make my comparison to Batman and Robin more apt)... they even had a asylum for them. All we need is for them to start coming back from the dead (maybe at the next wedding?) and we'll have full Superhero mode ;)
I was disappointed in the Caleb Barker parts... I expected more of his appearance... he was pretty superflous, imo. Very much a wasted opportunity.
This could easily have been the last book... but there is another... the start of a new status quo? Or an epilogue? (Guess I'll find out soon)
It was fun to see some old bad guys (all the more to make my comparison to Batman and Robin more apt)... they even had a asylum for them. All we need is for them to start coming back from the dead (maybe at the next wedding?) and we'll have full Superhero mode ;)
I was disappointed in the Caleb Barker parts... I expected more of his appearance... he was pretty superflous, imo. Very much a wasted opportunity.
This could easily have been the last book... but there is another... the start of a new status quo? Or an epilogue? (Guess I'll find out soon)
December 11, 2018
If you enjoy historical mysteries and you aren't reading this series, you REALLY need to change that. These books are such a fantastic combination of history, intrigue, and humor. I know I said this last time, but this book really is the best of the series so far. A mysterious relative shows up (!!!), there are fights and explosions, a house fire, a standing arm-wrestling match, two visits to an insane asylum and maybe a wedding! And everything takes place in London in the 1880's. I highly recommend starting at the beginning of the series because all of the characters really develop over time, and knowing the history makes the ending of this book even more satisfying.
July 19, 2019
The "plot" was flimsy, the women, as usual, were hysterical, and Llewelyn's injuries continue to be treated as comic fodder. I recognize that Thomas is writing in a particular context, Victorian England, but I still think that's no excuse for the women to simper.
Is Harm okay? That episode was treated VERY lightly.
Is Harm okay? That episode was treated VERY lightly.
October 25, 2025
This installment might be my favorite in this series. I like the way we are getting to know more about where the characters have been and where they are going. They have become a new set of background people in my life. I find myself reaching for the next book in this series when I want to catch up with them. Like when you call a friend that you haven’t spoken to in a while.
December 31, 2018
There were some great moments, big emotions and intriguing mysteries, but, overall, this just wasn't as satisfying a read as previous entries in the series.
July 17, 2024
4 STARS
October 9, 2018
Challenges for Thomas Llewelyn are two fold. He is preparing for his wedding and he is left on his own to solve a bombing. This is a Sherlock slash Watson clone story which is my favorite duo crime team. Beginning of the story is well described with an office bombing that leaves their detection agency in shambles and Cyrus Barker, Thomas' boss in the hospital. Many avenues are traveled to get answers. Many turns and close escapes make the story a must read. "A copy of this book was provided by St. Martin's Press Via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."
November 13, 2018
“Blood is Blood” is the latest chapter of the marvelous Barker-Llewelyn series by Will Thomas, and it is as excellent as the earlier books. This is one of my favorite series, and I always eagerly look forward to the next book. Will Thomas has never let me down. Thomas must do exhaustive research for his books. I never find anachronisms, nor does he put a foot wrong writing about Britain, although Thomas himself is American.
I don’t like spoilers so I am not going to give any. But I am not giving anything away by saying that at the very beginning of the book Barker’s office is blown up, although he and Llewelyn both live through it. Barker is injured and in the hospital, leaving Llewelyn to run around collecting clues, and taking more on himself than usual. Add to that the fact that Llewelyn is about to be married, and Barker’s long-lost brother turns up, and there is a lot going on.
In case I haven’t been clear, you cannot go wrong with this series. From the first book to this latest one, they are all just wonderful. If anything, the books are getting better, which is not always the case with long-running series. If you like mysteries or detective books, and enjoy historical fiction, you cannot go wrong with this book, which I heartily recommend. If this is your first Thomas book you have the great good fortune of having a wealth of books to which to look forward, and I envy you for that!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
I don’t like spoilers so I am not going to give any. But I am not giving anything away by saying that at the very beginning of the book Barker’s office is blown up, although he and Llewelyn both live through it. Barker is injured and in the hospital, leaving Llewelyn to run around collecting clues, and taking more on himself than usual. Add to that the fact that Llewelyn is about to be married, and Barker’s long-lost brother turns up, and there is a lot going on.
In case I haven’t been clear, you cannot go wrong with this series. From the first book to this latest one, they are all just wonderful. If anything, the books are getting better, which is not always the case with long-running series. If you like mysteries or detective books, and enjoy historical fiction, you cannot go wrong with this book, which I heartily recommend. If this is your first Thomas book you have the great good fortune of having a wealth of books to which to look forward, and I envy you for that!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
September 28, 2019
This is the tenth book in this wonderful Victorian murder, romance, and mystery series. The romance is sparse, but keenly felt. The characters that I have come to love are well fleshed out. This book added another character, in the short term , Cyrus has an older brother names Caleb. He and Cyrus have not seen each other most of their adult lives. One is from America, with a sharpshooter, and a cowboy hat, and Cyrus is a mixture of Asian, and England. The book was well plotted, and started with a bang literally. The entire office sinks to the basement, and injures the Guv., as those that like him refer to Cyrus Barker. Thomas is to marry in just a few weeks, but now faces the biggest mystery of his six years. Who wants his boss dead? The story takes us through past cases, and introduces us to the evil, and crazy. The best part was that some were female, and others male. Thomas gets to spread his wings, and his mind in this book. Cyrus has such a formidable presence that it was good to see others shine in this book. It is one of my favorites so far. I especially loved the ending. 5 shiny stars for me.
May 22, 2025
A decent entry into the series. A bomb nearly kills Cyrus Barker and his brother Caleb shows up, claiming to be an American Pinkerton's agent. Llewelyn is about to be wed, but is flung into an investigation solo, trying to dig up who attacked their offices.
He goes about it in a kind of haphazard way; he's already been part of a bombing investigation but shows zero awareness of those experiences and lessons, and just goes down a client list and hopes for the best. His fiancée is horrified at some of the things he has to do and almost calls off the wedding.
Its an okay book but a bit disappointing without Cyrus there, and the mystery of Caleb is played up a bit more than it deserves. It feels a bit like Will Thomas is running out of ideas.
He goes about it in a kind of haphazard way; he's already been part of a bombing investigation but shows zero awareness of those experiences and lessons, and just goes down a client list and hopes for the best. His fiancée is horrified at some of the things he has to do and almost calls off the wedding.
Its an okay book but a bit disappointing without Cyrus there, and the mystery of Caleb is played up a bit more than it deserves. It feels a bit like Will Thomas is running out of ideas.
February 7, 2019
Just finished Blood is Blood (Barker and Llewellyn) by Will Thomas. From the previous nine books, I know Thomas can get a bit quirky with his story lines, but I think he went a bit off the deep end with this one. Keeping Barker in the background for most of the book left me feeling flat and a wee bit bored. The characters he chose to feature weren’t strong enough to carry the story, just MHO and the book veered more towards the realm of fairy tale than mystery.
December 13, 2018
I enjoy this series, mostly for the Victorian setting and the characters. The author has done his historical research, and the books often have interesting bits of Victoriana in them. But the books’ plots sometimes don’t hold together well, and that is to some extent the case with this book too. Still an enjoyable, light read.
December 15, 2018
Hope the next is back up to the usual standard.
January 5, 2019
Definitely not one of my favorites in this series.
Ratings (1 to 5)
Writing: 4
Story: 3
Characters: 3
Emotional impact: 3
Overall rating: 3.25
Ratings (1 to 5)
Writing: 4
Story: 3
Characters: 3
Emotional impact: 3
Overall rating: 3.25
November 14, 2018
This latest involvement in Thomas' ten-book series is a little different from previous books. In Blood is Blood, the assistant enquiry agent, Llewelyn, must take the lead because his boss, Barker, has been seriously injured. The witty dialogue that marks their relationship continues in Blood is Blood, but it seems heavier with introspection and description—not necessarily a good thing because it slows the read.
This book contains more strong female characters, and their interactions with their male counterparts are realistic, and not forced. (It seems that male authors are now trying to include more female characters in mystery and thriller, and oftentimes to me, they just don't quite pull it off believably.)
Although Blood is Blood can be read as a standalone, the story was richer because I've read the entire series. I enjoy the relationship that's been built between private enquiry agents Barker and Llewelyn and for that reason, I'd recommend starting with the first one, Some Danger Involved.
Recommended, especially for fans of Ann Perry and Charles Todd.
This book contains more strong female characters, and their interactions with their male counterparts are realistic, and not forced. (It seems that male authors are now trying to include more female characters in mystery and thriller, and oftentimes to me, they just don't quite pull it off believably.)
Although Blood is Blood can be read as a standalone, the story was richer because I've read the entire series. I enjoy the relationship that's been built between private enquiry agents Barker and Llewelyn and for that reason, I'd recommend starting with the first one, Some Danger Involved.
Recommended, especially for fans of Ann Perry and Charles Todd.
February 7, 2019
Someone has bombed Cyrus Barker's private enquiry agency, leaving Barker badly injured. His assistant, Thomas Llewelyn, is fortunately unhurt and can start investigating the crime, hoping to beat Scotland Yard to the solution. He lists all the people who have a grudge against Barker, and sets out to interrogate them, accompanied by Barker's not long-lost enough brother Caleb, who has been working for the Pinkertons in America. Caleb's ideas on crime investigation do not fit in well with English ways, especially when the English decide to deport him if and when they can catch him. Llewelyn is also trying to get married, if he can get the crime solved in time, but someone is killing off the suspects before he can accuse them.
November 12, 2018
"Barker and Llewellyn” is a delightful series. Don’t be afraid to dive in at #10. Thomas gives you enough context to understand the detectives’ history, but not so much that it is a tedious rehash of past stories if you are up to date.
Thomas Llewelyn is about to be married. Trouble is, his office with Barker has been blown to bits, with Barker in it, and it is up to him to find out who from their past wants them dead. There are almost too many candidates to consider. In addition, Barker’s brother, a Pinkerton detective from America shows up with some additional shady history.
“Blood is Blood” is a fast moving, action packed, almost cinematic historical mystery.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thomas Llewelyn is about to be married. Trouble is, his office with Barker has been blown to bits, with Barker in it, and it is up to him to find out who from their past wants them dead. There are almost too many candidates to consider. In addition, Barker’s brother, a Pinkerton detective from America shows up with some additional shady history.
“Blood is Blood” is a fast moving, action packed, almost cinematic historical mystery.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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