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Slippery Creatures

(The Will Darling Adventures #1)

K.J. Charles (Goodreads Author)

4.13 · Rating details · 3,933 ratings · 825 reviews

Will Darling came back from the Great War with a few scars, a lot of medals, and no idea what to do next. Inheriting his uncle’s chaotic second-hand bookshop is a blessing...until strange visitors start making threats. First a criminal gang, then the War Office, both telling Will to give them the information they want, or else.

Will has no idea what that information is, an ...more

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ebook, 265 pages

Published May 13th 2020 by KJC Books

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Aug 20, 2020 Nataliya rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-reads

“What I say is, one can be as moral as one likes but one should have the courtesy to do it in private, like any other bad habit.”

K.J. Charles certainly knows how to write an entertaining story. I already expressed my sincere appreciation of her books, but I’ll say it again — she certainly knows how to grab your attention with a clever plot, compelling characters and easy narrative flow, not to mention spicing it up just a tad with a rather non-cringeworthy romance bit.

Thank God they were

“What I say is, one can be as moral as one likes but one should have the courtesy to do it in private, like any other bad habit.”

Thank God they were British. He took a deep breath. “Cup of tea?”

It’s early 1920s, and life is tough for former soldiers in Britain, trying to stay afloat after years spent fighting in the Great War. Will Darling is lucky to have inherited a second-hand bookshop from his namesake uncle that he barely knew. Of course, pretty soon he figures out that his lucky inheritance also comes with the unexpected side of having to defend himself from both War Office and a secret brutal gang trying to make him hand over some mysterious and apparently vital “information” that his uncle apparently had been entrusted with prior to his sudden death.

And Will is confused — but also beyond irritated by everyone bursting into his affairs and treating him as a punching bag, especially as he comes to learn that “between greed and fanaticism people can justify anything.”

“I was good at it,” Will said. “I enjoyed it. The danger and the challenge, mostly, but killing was part of the game too, and it was a lot better than sitting on my arse in a trench. I volunteered to go kill men who I’d have had a drink with if I’d met them in a pub, and that wasn’t courage, just a twist in the head that went the other way round to shellshock. Calling it honour is putting ribbons on a pile of shit. It might look good, but it still stinks.”

Lucky for him, a mysterious and full of secrets Kim Secretan ((view spoiler) suddenly enters Will’s life at the most opportune moment, with all the aristocratic splendor and surprising fighting skills, and bad reputation combined with good looks. Lucky coincidence? Perhaps not, because something is definitely fishy here. And Will is now at the end of his rope — but luckily, he is good with the weapons after his war experiences, and is overall a bright chap that nobody should have messed with. Not even Kim.

“He is, isn’t he? Or, rather, no, he isn’t. Kind.” She appeared to consider the word. “He does things when he thinks they ought to be done, but I don’t know if that’s kindness or just rightness. Do you know what I mean? Kim says, Well, that needs to be dealt with, and he deals with it, and then you’ll be sorry.”

It’s a fun mystery story with all the perks of the genre. Charles balances very well between lighthearted snappy banter and heartwarming scenes and maintaining suspense and high stakes with rather dark undertones. It made me chuckle, it made me nod in sympathy, and it also at times made me suitable edgy and angry. And I never stopped feeling very entertained. She made her characters feel real, with enough flaws and redeeming qualities. Phoebe was a lovely supporting character. And seriously, I still have no idea how I even feel about Kim, considering all the good and terrible things that he does and his whole contradictory personality. That’s one seriously problematic man who needs to get his shit together or else he does not deserve Will in the least.

I loved it. I’m seriously getting hooked on K.J. Charles’ stories and I’m very happy that she seems to be an exceptionally prolific writer. You can tell that she clearly has a lot of fun writing these — and I plan to have a lot of fun reading them.

“Scheduled mayhem is more convenient? I suppose you can put it in your diary. Work around it.”
“‘Sorry, I’ve no time for a knife fight in the street on Thursday, could you make it Friday?’”

4 happy stars.

Kim exhaled hard. “We appear to be locked in competition as to who has less of a spine.”

...more

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May 13, 2020 Talia Hibbert rated it it was amazing

Shelves: autobuy-auther, histrom, duet-or-trilogy, friends-to-lovers, m-m

THE BELOW REVIEW FEELS SPOILERY, SO HERE'S A SPOILER-FREE SUMMARY.

Read if you like:

- electric slow-burns
- razor-sharp wit
- hilarious, unique and relatable characters
- anti-establishment spy vibes
- explosive chemistry

OKAY, NOW READ ON FOR THE MORE DETAILED BUT SLIGHTLY SPOILERY TAKE...

What does one even say about a book like this? I'll begin with the fact that it hooked me from start to finish despite my current case of Quarantine Brain. I'm struggling to focus on so many excellent books, but th ...more

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Sep 06, 2020 Richard Derus rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: lists-lists-lists, kindled, quiltbag

Real Rating: 4.5* of five

The whole review is posted on my blog.

If you remade NOTORIOUS with Steve Cochran opposite Cary Grant instead of Ingrid Bergman, it would feel a lot like this read. And I hope y'all've been paying enough attention to me to know that I mean this as a deep and sincere compliment.

A lovely period piece in the vein of the smoldering hot film about finding Nazi spies. This was as much fun as I can remember having in ages. And, as a note to lazier writers, I will point out that, ...more

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May 30, 2020 * A Reader Obsessed * rated it liked it

Shelves: lordship-your-highness, 2020, mm-love, lgbt, bmbr, historical, military, assassins-spies-mercs, bi-ofy-gfy, crime-mystery-suspense

3.5 Historical Hearts! - Team review with Adam!

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a historical MM connoisseur but Charles’s Magpies series is one of my favorites, and I’ve been wishy washy over what next to read of this author’s and instead of diving right in, I’ve avoided them all until now.

To say the least, I’m charmed, especially titillated by the idea that the rest of this trilogy is planned to come out this year and features one couple - all of which greatly appealed to my quirky prefe 3.5 Historical Hearts! - Team review with Adam!

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a historical MM connoisseur but Charles’s Magpies series is one of my favorites, and I’ve been wishy washy over what next to read of this author’s and instead of diving right in, I’ve avoided them all until now.

To say the least, I’m charmed, especially titillated by the idea that the rest of this trilogy is planned to come out this year and features one couple - all of which greatly appealed to my quirky preferences.

As per the blurb, this stars Will Darling, a somewhat hardened young fellow who’s been down on his luck having returned from the war and instead of being embraced, has had a hard go of it. When he falls into a fortuitous inheritance of his uncle’s bookstore, the last thing he’s prepared for is to be embroiled in a treacherous push pull by what seems like the military and a secret society - both hell bent on getting a hold of some very nebulous but sinister knowledge of his uncle’s that may or may not benefit mankind (depending on whose side one is on). Now Will is very practical, and just because someone demands something without due cause or adequate explanation, doesn't mean he’ll automatically comply even if he had a clue as to what everyone was making such a fuss over.

When a stranger becomes friendly and offers his help, Will can’t help but be persuaded to accept the generosity from sophisticated handsome Kim Secretan, who has plenty of his own secrets and a hidden agenda as well.

There’s no doubt Charles can write a tangled tale. Points towards making Will an upstanding character for he’s no slouch. At times, I questioned his belief that all men should play fairly and honorably which often got him into certain sticky situations, but the man is not a pushover, and though he doesn't hold any high opinions for the government, aristocracy, or scary faceless bullies, Will knows what’s good and just and he won’t be forced into anything untoward if he has any say about it!

So yes, Will is played and betrayed, and the story is fast paced with twists and turns providing plenty of mystery, a bit of suspenseful action, and a slow development of the attraction between him and Kim that results in some nice (lite dirty) smexy!

The main conflict is technically resolved, but the overall story arc remains to be further explored. There’s a fragile truce between scrappy Will and idealistic Kim at the end of this first installment, and I’m intrigued by their dynamic and am saving rating stars for what I hope will be an even bigger payoff that’s sure to come in their future adventures (and definitely, the feels) that hopefully await them!

Thank you to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review

...more

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May 18, 2020 Ariana rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Jan, Simone, Snjez, A Reader Obsessed, Lisazj1 , Shile,

Shelves: detectives-mystery, lgbtq, best-of-the-best, hot-hot-hot, historical, to-read-again

*5 stars +++*

Reread August 2020
Needless to say I loved this all over again. I totally adore Will, the way he is willing to stick up for his principles and high moral code. He is a 100% genuine guy. Despite all the trickery and betrayals we can see that Kim has also a very vulnerable side, something Will with his sharp mind and acute observation skills has noticed, too.
Loved (again) what happens in the bedroom between them - the passion and heat with generous helpings of tentative feels.

Can't ...more

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Mar 27, 2021 Reading_ Tam_ Ishly rated it really liked it

Darling is sassy!

The humor and the entertainment in the writing is everything what I wasn't looking for but which I really needed that I didn't know.

I just want to meet the uncle who started with all the code to solve the mystery.

The plot is thick and all it involves is a book shop with lots and lots of books, and the scary people ready to pounce on our sassy main character.

We just got to look for the hint in the books.

And...the characters. Damn. I love their chemistry so much. Each character ...more

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Aug 29, 2020 mina reads™️ rated it liked it

Shelves: mlm, historical-romance, mystery-thriller-horror, lgbtq, romance

3.5

Will Darling, king of stubbornness and morality methinks

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Apr 12, 2020 Caz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: aar, queer-romance, m-m, mystery-thriller, arc, romance-other-time-period

I've given this an A at AAR.

K.J. Charles’ new series, The Will Darling Adventures , is a set of three rip-roaring adventure yarns in the style of 1920s pulp fiction, so readers can expect thrilling adventures, clever mysteries, dastardly deeds, and evil villains pitted against tough, tenacious and upstanding (well, mostly) heroes who triumph against all the odds. Needless to say, when the author announced this was to be her next project, I was rubbing my hands with glee in eager anticipation ...more

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Apr 15, 2020 Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle, fiction, tag-reviewed, genre-hr, stars-4-5

4.5 very satisfied stars

On this basis of this terrific start, this trilogy is going to be vintage KJC - one of the high points of her writing.

What's so good about it?

Well, for a start, this is a clever book, as most of her books are. It's clever in its nod to the pulp fiction of the time - nasty anarchists, missing papers, innocent heroes caught up and proving their worth under fire. It's clever in the way it subverts its own context: the hero is disillusioned rather than innocent, the forces 4.5 very satisfied stars

On this basis of this terrific start, this trilogy is going to be vintage KJC - one of the high points of her writing.

What's so good about it?

Well, for a start, this is a clever book, as most of her books are. It's clever in its nod to the pulp fiction of the time - nasty anarchists, missing papers, innocent heroes caught up and proving their worth under fire. It's clever in the way it subverts its own context: the hero is disillusioned rather than innocent, the forces of the Establishment are equally as suspicious as the nasty anarchists. It's also clever in the way the plot is worked out: there's a particularly nifty bit of plot laying in an early chapter that lies in wait until - bam! - it turns the tables at the end.

But - and I think this is one of the reasons KJC is so popular -the whole book is flatteringly clever. There are twists (OMG, are there twists!), but ju-u-u-st before the twist, ju-u-u-st before poor Will is set adrift again, we get there. We suspect what Will hasn't yet noticed. And that's really clever: to set up a satisfying twist that, yes, surprises us, but which we get before the hero does. Clever old us!

So this is a clever book. It's also a book with a heart. I think KJC is best at love stories where she can set up two things - a slow burn, and real pain. The less satisfying of her books are those where the love story is (faintly) rushed e.g. "Spectred Isle" and "Any Old Diamonds". These are books where the ILY feels dragged in a bit at the end, and where the relationship has taken a bit of a backseat to the plot. Think instead of, say, "A Seditious Affair" or "An Unseen Attraction", or the Magpie Trilogy. In those books, there is space to explore relationships at more leisure, either because (An Unseen Attraction) the book starts where the MCs are already friends, or (the Magpie Trilogy) there are three books to spread the development over.

All of which is a long way round of saying that the ending of Slippery Creatures, though it's neither an HEA nor really an HFN, is actually very satisfying. The relationship between Will and Kim is developing slowly, and with depth. There's pain involved (mental not physical!), which takes the connection beyond a merely superficial physical attraction, though that's described in satisfying detail too! What I particularly liked was the sense of equality between the MCs. There have been a couple of recent KJCs where I felt an imbalance of power between the MCs: one MC was larger, more commanding, cleverer, more powerful than the other. Here, while there was a risk that Kim (rich, aristocratic, well-connected, in the know) could come across as dominant, he displays weaknesses that soften that Crane-like aspect. Will, on the other hand, is no pushover: he's bright, assertive, and absolutely willing to challenge Kim's take-charge elements.

The other reason this is a book with a heart is that the supporting characters of Phoebe and Maisie are just, well, darling! It's happily clear that both are going to have roles to play in the next book, and I, for one, can't wait.

I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for my unbiased review. ...more

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Jul 05, 2020 h o l l i s rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-reads, hist-fiction, m-m, sexytimes, lgbtqia, romance, crime-mystery, finished-in-july-2020, a-smattering-of-lols, overdrive

Oh look Hollis loves a KJC book. No one is surprised! But seriously, I'm pretty sure I can count on one hand the amount of this authors' works that didn't rate a four or higher. And this author isn't short on books.

Will had gone to the War at eighteen, and come back five years later to find himself useless and unwanted. In Flanders he'd been a grizzled veteran, a fount of professional expertise who knew the ropes and had seen it all. Back in Blighty he'd become a young man again, one with little ...more

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Nov 10, 2020 Meags rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-mystery-suspense, royalty-and-nobility, historical-fiction, lgbt, romance, panties-just-went-poof

4 Stars

K.J. Charles’ latest series-starter is a riveting M/M escapade of romance, mystery and adventure.

Set in London during the roaring-twenties, Slippery Creatures weaves an engaging tale full of double dealings, hidden agendas and secret societies, with a dash of passion and a dollop of action and suspense, and all set in and around a second-hand bookstore. *happy sigh*

The story follows the plights of war veteran Will Darling, whose newly-inherited bookstore becomes the keen focus of several 4 Stars

K.J. Charles’ latest series-starter is a riveting M/M escapade of romance, mystery and adventure.

Set in London during the roaring-twenties, Slippery Creatures weaves an engaging tale full of double dealings, hidden agendas and secret societies, with a dash of passion and a dollop of action and suspense, and all set in and around a second-hand bookstore. *happy sigh*

The story follows the plights of war veteran Will Darling, whose newly-inherited bookstore becomes the keen focus of several questionable individuals, who seem to think Will and his bookstore are the keepers of some highly secretive and potentially dangerous information, that some people are going to great (oftentimes menacing and violent) lengths to be the first to attain.

In his bafflement, and in his obstinacy, Will refuses to give in to demands by some to search the store themselves, after he makes it clear he himself knows nothing of this wanted information or it’s hidden location within the bookstore. But when threats to his well-being and his new livelihood continue to grow, Will finds himself trusting and seeking the assistance of friendly aristocrat Kim Secretan, who after saving Will from potential harm, offers his services to help Will sort through the store and work out what everyone wants so badly and why.

This story was quite a mysterious ride, keeping Will and the reader scrabbling to work out who was trustworthy and what it was everybody was after. As the plot unfolded, more interesting reveals were made, setting a complex web of conflicting agendas and unexpected deceits.

I was well and truly immersed in the plot, liking how the events played out and appreciating that the layered storytelling here was just the groundwork in a bigger series arc of mystery and adventure.

As a couple, I liked Will and Kim’s tumultuous chemistry, particularly given their opposing societal statuses and their conflicting scruples and political beliefs. Although they seemed ill-fitted when all was said and done, their passion and tenderness for one another was all-consuming, and I’m very keen to see where, or how, their connection will go as the story progresses in the sequels. ...more

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Apr 15, 2020 Stephanie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romantic-suspense, romances-for-adults, historical-romances-for-adults

I read this 1920s-set romantic adventure on one of the most stressful days that I can remember, and it really saved me. It's so much fun!

Will Darling was an excellent, much-awarded soldier in World War I but has been at loose ends ever since...until he inherits his uncle's used bookshop and gets thrown into a lethal adventure full of secret agents, the War Office, a very nasty gang, kidnappings galore, treachery and hidden secrets. Luckily, it turns out that all of the skills he developed in th ...more

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Sep 05, 2020 Heather K (dentist in my spare time) marked it as to-read

Shelves: price-was-right-2-99-or-less, bought-but-haven-t-read-yet

Price drop to $0.99 at Amazon US! 9/6/20!

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Jan 19, 2021 Maja - BibliophiliaDK ✨ rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, historical-romance, lgbtq

QUEER 1920'S MYSTERY THRILLER - IS THAT A THING? 😲🤯

Actual rating: 3.5⭐

Yes, yes it is and I'm sooo into it. Even though I'm not one for mystery thrillers, this just got to me. The historical setting and the queer relationship between the two main characters won me over And I'll definitely come back for more!

👍 What I Liked 👍

Mystery: Zodiac is a secret organisation hell bent on destroying the world for their own profit. Will get's swept up in their warmongering by accident and a thrilling mystery c ...more

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Jun 13, 2020 Maygirl7 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, thriller, epub, historical, worth-re-reading, mystery, desperately-waiting-for, gumroad

Hallelujah, I read a book! Thanks to pandemic brain I’ve had an exceedingly hard time reading at all. I started two weeks ago and stalled near the beginning. Praise be a question from Vivian got me to restart this morning and I read the whole thing.

This hit my sweet spot so hard. Tough guy, too stubborn to give up and smart enough to stumble his way through with a bit of help from an enigmatic bastard too twisty to be trusted and too enticing to be resisted. Like a historical m/m Dick Francis w ...more

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Sep 01, 2020 Vanna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: action-thrill, favorites, series, hot-sizzling-steamy, mm-romance, historical-romance

5 Stars!!🤩😍 Loved this 1920s themed suspense-thriller-romance with plot-twists and mystery till the very end 😱. This is one of those books that you just can't put down 😳
Will Darling is a World War I veteran and he is both physically and mentally weary of the war and it's aftermath. Having been unsuccessful in finding gainful employment in a war ravaged economy, he is relieved when he receives communication from his long lost uncle. His uncle's generosity literally saves him from the streets and 5 Stars!!🤩😍 Loved this 1920s themed suspense-thriller-romance with plot-twists and mystery till the very end 😱. This is one of those books that you just can't put down 😳
Will Darling is a World War I veteran and he is both physically and mentally weary of the war and it's aftermath. Having been unsuccessful in finding gainful employment in a war ravaged economy, he is relieved when he receives communication from his long lost uncle. His uncle's generosity literally saves him from the streets and he is every grateful for it. And although his Uncle dies soon after their reunion, he leaves Will his entire business. That business is an old and dusty bookstore which has thousands of second-hand books. But Will is grateful to have a roof over his head and a running business to make his living. But this peace and contentment does not last long. Trouble in the form of an unknown and mysterious gang threatens him for a piece of information connected to the bookstore, that he has no knowledge of. Add to that, the War Office also starts to harass him for the same information. His defiance against pressure and intimidation from both sides leads to danger , when lo and behold a friendly knight appears. Kim Secretan's appearance as well as his intentions seem harmless but are they? Or is his sudden interest in Will hiding something sinister? Can Will survive the aggressive attacks on him and figure out the mystery in time? Who are his allies and his enemies? Who can he trust in this race against time to save humanity? 💔
This story keeps the reader on tenterhooks. Will is battle-weary but a through and through soldier. His determination and stubbornness is sometimes exasperating to the reader. Kim on the other hand is more of a grey character; a little righteous and principled sometimes and charmingly unscrupulous at other times. He keeps both Will and the reader on edge because we are never quite sure whether we like him or loathe him. Will and Kim's love-hate relationship leads to sizzling passion between the sheets, but also complicates their alliance even further. And the plot-twists keep coming unexpectedly just to keep us guessing till the very end.
It is most definitely a thrill-ride of a book, but one must have an affinity for historical plots, mystery and mayhem, slow-burning romance and multi-dimensional and complex characters to truly appreciate it. 🤩Also, the story may be historical in genre, but the theme and issues it highlights feels current. Highly recommended!! 👍👍
I can't wait to read the next one. 😍 ...more

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Jul 10, 2020 Ashley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: addictive, anglophilia, espionage, historical-fiction, sexytimes, self-published, unfinished-series, lgbtqia, ridiculously-prolific-authors, romantical

I loved everything about this.

K.J. Charles is honestly spoiling me for other historical romance authors. There's just something about her style (very detailed, historically accurate, flawed but compelling characters) that gets me right in the pleasure center. She also doesn't just write in one time period or keep it to straight romance. She's always messing around with spy fiction or mystery or golden age pulp (here and Think of England) or jewelry heists or homages to Georgette Heyer regency f I loved everything about this.

K.J. Charles is honestly spoiling me for other historical romance authors. There's just something about her style (very detailed, historically accurate, flawed but compelling characters) that gets me right in the pleasure center. She also doesn't just write in one time period or keep it to straight romance. She's always messing around with spy fiction or mystery or golden age pulp (here and Think of England) or jewelry heists or homages to Georgette Heyer regency fiction. Sometimes many of these at the same time! She self-publishes all her books, and there's a freedom in that to explore whatever her writerly heart desires. All her writing is also very feminist and queer-centered (all along the LGBTQIA spectrum, including ace, trans, bi-, and nonbinary protagonists), and there's a sensitivity to class and social structures that provides all her stories with strong backbones.

What I'm saying basically is read K.J. Charles, and this would be an excellent place to start. This is the first in a trilogy, and if it finishes as good as it starts, this series will be in my top five for her, right up there with Band Sinister and Think of England.

Will Darling is in his early twenties, and just home from five years service for Britain in WWI. He had a really rough go of it, and when he came home, despite being lauded for his service, found his job prospects to be nil, and he was quickly destitute (the narrative makes clear his plight was far from uncommon for returning soldiers at that time). Luckily, a friend badgers him into contacting an estranged uncle who he hasn't seen since he was a child to ask for help. The uncle takes him in and Will begins to work for him, but the uncle soon develops a fatal illness, and after nursing him on his death bed, Will inherits his uncle's used bookshop. Which is when strange and sinister characters start badgering him for information he doesn't have, and doesn't know how to find. His kindly uncle and his inheritance windfall also seem to come with some baggage of the espionage variety, and soon Will is in over his head. This is when Kim Secretan walks into the bookshop. Adventures proceed from there.

I really liked Will as narrator. He was sharp and observant, yet also stubborn and willing to do what's right at the cost of his own safety. He insists to his own detriment on handling the information his uncle left him in his own way, even as the British War Office and various unsavory parties are all coming after him. The way Charles handled his relationship with Kim was really smart, and she leaves them in just the right spot to make it clear that more story is coming, yet there's just enough resolution to keep you satisfied. It feels like there's a lot left there to mine in terms of Kim's emotions and ability to be in a functioning relationship, and how to build trust with someone after a betrayal. It's a slow burn across three books, essentially.

The secondary characters here are some of my favorite from Charles yet. Kim's fiancé Phoebe was a breath of fresh air, and if I'm not mistaken, there will be a f/f pairing down the road for her and Will's friend Maisie, who is a black woman living in 1920s London. Lots of fun dynamics to explore there.

And the next two are out in August and September! So you barely have to wait at all. ...more

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Aug 02, 2020 Caz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, queer-romance, mystery-thriller, audiogals, audiobook, romance-other-time-period

I've given this an A for content and a B for narration at AudioGals, so 4.5 stars rounded up

I always enjoy it when an author sets out to deliberately write a pastiche or homage to a particular type of book. It’s something that goes beyond employing specific tropes; it’s as much to do with evoking the style of writing and the era in which the story is set as it is with whichever elements of storytelling are involved, and there are few authors who can do this sort of thing as well as K.J. Charles. ...more

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Jul 02, 2020 Karen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

5 STARS

“My dear chap, this is a bookshop. There’s never anywhere better to be."

I know I've said this before, but I feel compelled to say it again. There are just some writers that I gel with. And no matter the story, I know I will captivated by it. And K J Charles is one of those writers for me. The endearing characters, the witty dialogue, the mystery and intrigue; I know I will never be disappointed. I stayed up until 3am last night finishing this book. Once I got to about halfway in, the ...more

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May 13, 2020 Lily rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m-romance, mystery

Not the greatest of KJ Charles' books. Starts out as a sort of spy mystery but the plot quickly falls flat and ridiculously predictable. My biggest qualm was that I didn't like the protagonists. Kim was an utter asshole and Will was an incorrigible idiot. It was almost cringy watching him make stupid mistakes and misplace his trust again and again. Kinda like Charlie Brown with the football. At some point I just want to throw my hands in the air and accept that he will never learn better. Becaus ...more

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Apr 15, 2020 Aliette rated it it was amazing

An m/m 1920 romance, in which Will Darling, a WWI veteran turned bookseller, finds himself in possession of a secret wanted by many sides at once--and entangled with the mysterious and aloof Kim Secretan. Spying, romance, and very strong character work (I LOVE Phoebe, Kim's fiancée, who's just all around amazing). It was the perfect read for an exhausting day, and best of all was finding it's part of a trilogy! Cannot wait for the next book. ...more

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May 16, 2020 Kaje Harper rated it it was amazing

Shelves: comfort-reread, favorites, m-m, historical, mystery, 20th-century

This book is mostly what it's billed as - a pulp-fiction style adventure where our intrepid hero faces several kinds of peril at the hands of a secret anarchist society. Except KJ Charles wrote it, so the characters are interesting and multifaceted, the plot turns make sense, and there is some social commentary and a difficult romance in the face of real obstacles.

Will, our hero, is a man who was formed in part on the battlefields and trenches of WWI. After his return home, he was out of work an ...more

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May 13, 2020 Joyfully Jay rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jay

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.75 stars

I have been a K.J. Charles fan for years now, ever since I got blown away by her Charm of Magpies series way back in 2013. It thrills me that her books can still delight me and Slippery Creatures was no exception. The story takes place in the 1920s and there is a nice pulp fiction vibe that mirrors the style of the time. The mystery is clever, the story is exciting and thrilling, and Kim and Will are a really engaging couple.

We jump right into the action almost i ...more

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May 15, 2020 Leslie rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-romance, mystery-and-or-thriller, part-of-a-series-or-trilogy, sometimes-i-read-naughty-books, mm-romance, favorite-couple-alert, 2020-reads

How fun was this book? So much fun! Although I do kind of regret not waiting until all three books were out to binge read them. Because the ending, while not exactly a cliffhanger, was definitely not a happily ever after or even a happily for now. 😭 And now I have to wait!!!! Boooooo. Curse my impatience.

Still, I loved this. It was the perfect mix of action, spy intrigue and romance.

Will and Kim positively sizzled together. Their chemistry gave me goosebumps.

I loved the side characters. Phoeb ...more

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May 15, 2020 lottie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: lgbtq, 2020, kjc, historical

this has immediately skyrocketed to #1 on my list of KJ Charles books. sis the drama

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Sep 14, 2020 Cristina rated it really liked it

Shelves: early-20th-century, favorites, historical-fiction, lgbtq, thriller, queer, 1920s, london-themed, ww1

I've really loved the first book in KJ Charles' new series.

Pulpy, intricate and - as usual with her books - extremely well written, Slippery Creatures follows the (mis)adventures of WW1 veteran Will Darling who inherits a bookshop from his late uncle only to find himself dragged into an intricate plot involving secret societies, the War Office and a mysterious and attractive aristocrat, Arthur 'Kim' Secretan.

Will Darling is a great character. Mouthy and stubborn, completely disinclined to be b ...more

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Sep 01, 2020 Rachel marked it as to-read

Shelves: mystery, lgbtqiap-plus, m-m-historical-romance

9/1/20 Currently on sale for 99c via Amazon US: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B086WKLJSN ...more

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May 12, 2020 aarya rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction-genre-romance, theme-c-soldier-vet-knight-warrior, tag-s-mm, trope-kidnapping-imprisonment, year-2020, owned-in-ebook-gumroad-patreon, r-subgenre-hist-romance-european, trope-mistaken-false-identity, s-england, theme-c-librarian-bookseller

CW: (view spoiler)

“I was good at it,” Will said. “I enjoyed it. The danger and the challenge, mostly, but killing was part of the game too, and it was a lot better than sitting on my arse in a trench. I volunteered to go kill men who I’d have had a drink with if I’d met them in a pub, and that wasn’t courage, just a twist in the head that went the other way round to shellshoc ...more

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May 19, 2020 Lisazj1 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-author, m-m, alpha-male, crime-mystery-thriller, hot-and-sexy, historical-fiction, adult, military-spy-merc-assassin, kindle, favorites

4.5 stars! Of course I loved it, it’s K.J. Charles, so it’s kind of automatic. I always love everything about her stories. Her ability to paint time and place so believably with words is phenomenal. Her characters are always so human. Though *mostly* good people, they have their flaws and issues and sometimes do the wrong thing. Her plots are exciting and her writing is always excellent. All of that held true here. *ok, fangirling over* *for now*

I really liked Will Darling. He’s had anything bu ...more

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May 25, 2020 Ami rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mm-mystery-suspense-thriller, mm-historical-medieval-steampunk, mm-romance-or-erotica

3.75 stars rounded up

First thing first, for someone who doesn't easily believe (or even seems to have strong despise) the people coming to his bookstore over the "information" or those with authorities a.k.a. War Office, Will Darling seems to trust Kim Secretan VERY quick. Not just once, mind you ... I felt that was so reckless. Don't you learn something, Will?

Other than that, I quite enjoyed this. The whole 'looking for clues' inside the bookstore was fun to read. The exchange dialogues between ...more

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About K.J. Charles

K.J. Charles

5,465 followers

KJ is a writer of romance, mostly m/m, historical or fantasy or both. She blogs about writing and editing at http://kjcharleswriter.com.

She lives in London, UK, with her husband, two kids, and a cat of absolute night.

Twitter https://twitter.com/kj_charles
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“And he owned a lot of books, although just now and then, when it got dark and the shelves loomed over him, he got the feeling that they owned him.” — 4 likes

“I'd call you a whore but you're nothing so honest” — 4 likes

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(The Will Darling Adventures #1)

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