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Barker & Llewelyn #13
Fierce Poison
London, 1893, there is poisoner loose in the city, with deaths piling up, and private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn are apparently his next target in Fierce Poison by Will Thomas.
Private Enquiry agent Cyrus Barker has just about seen it all—he's been attacked by assassins, his office has been bombed, and evil-doers have even nearly killed his dog. But never before has a potential client dropped dead in his office. When Roland Fitzhugh, Member of Parliment arrives to consult Barker and his partner Thomas Llewelyn, he falls to the floor, dead, upon entering. As they soon learn, he's been poisoned with a cyanide laced raspberry tart, and the adulterated tarts also take out an entire family in the East End. Labelled the Mad Pie Man by the press, Barker and Llewelyn are hired by former Prime Minister William Gladstone to find out who has targeted the House of Commons's newest member.
But before they can even begin, they find themselves the latest target of this mad poisoner—with Barker's butler poisoned with digitalis and dozens of diabolic traps discovered at their home. On the run from their unseen adversary, Barker and Llewelyn must uncover the threads that connect these seemingly random acts and stop the killer before they and their closest friends and family become the latest casualties.
Private Enquiry agent Cyrus Barker has just about seen it all—he's been attacked by assassins, his office has been bombed, and evil-doers have even nearly killed his dog. But never before has a potential client dropped dead in his office. When Roland Fitzhugh, Member of Parliment arrives to consult Barker and his partner Thomas Llewelyn, he falls to the floor, dead, upon entering. As they soon learn, he's been poisoned with a cyanide laced raspberry tart, and the adulterated tarts also take out an entire family in the East End. Labelled the Mad Pie Man by the press, Barker and Llewelyn are hired by former Prime Minister William Gladstone to find out who has targeted the House of Commons's newest member.
But before they can even begin, they find themselves the latest target of this mad poisoner—with Barker's butler poisoned with digitalis and dozens of diabolic traps discovered at their home. On the run from their unseen adversary, Barker and Llewelyn must uncover the threads that connect these seemingly random acts and stop the killer before they and their closest friends and family become the latest casualties.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2022
88 people are currently reading
3,636 people want to read
About the author
Will Thomas
48books1,058followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
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:
.
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:
.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
April 20, 2022
I have read this entire series, and that is very rare for me. There is a lightness to these historical mysteries that I enjoy. I always thought that they would make good movies starring Hugh Jackman and Daniel Radcliffe. There is clever detection, action and humor. In this book the inquiry agents try to stop a determined poisoner whose first victim dies in their office. More victims follow. I actually figured out the motive right away, but I didn’t identify the villain.
January 30, 2022
For quite a while now, my favorite series of historical mysteries has been Will Thomas' Barker and Llewelyn novels. The novels are set in London in the late 19th Century and go well beyond the predictable plots and characters featured in too many such series. Private enquiry agents Barker and Llewelyn both have complex back stories, and, even after years of working together, neither has fully revealed himself to the other. There's also a first-rate cast of secondary characters, who are such an unusual mix that I can't begin to describe them all. Suffice it to say, I'll hang out with this crowd any time I can. More good news: the mystery itself is complicated, with a truly surprise (at least for me) ending.
If you read historical mysteries, this is a series to dive into enthusiastically—and with 13 volumes so far, there's lots to enjoy. Pick up Fierce Poison or any of the other volumes in the series and you'll have hours of first-rate reading ahead of you.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
If you read historical mysteries, this is a series to dive into enthusiastically—and with 13 volumes so far, there's lots to enjoy. Pick up Fierce Poison or any of the other volumes in the series and you'll have hours of first-rate reading ahead of you.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
March 19, 2022
Cyrus Barker (the Guv) and Thomas Llewelyn have worked together in their private inquiry business for ten years now so this 13th book in the series is rich in background information regarding these two primary characters as well as others who move in and out of the narrative as the stories progress. I always enjoy getting back in touch with these well-developed characters, but also with the intricate problems author Will Thomas puts forth for our solving pleasure. This one stumped me all along the way and I didn't come anywhere close to solving the crimes.
Roland Fitzhugh, the Liberal MP for Shoreditch is the victim who falls down dead before he can have any conversation with Barker or Llewelyn in their office. The one phrase of "help me" is taken by Barker as a dying request from Fitzhugh for the duo to find out how he was poisoned and who planned it. Barker just didn't like anybody dying in his office, so he immediately began working on one of the most well plotted cases I've seen in a long, long time. I like the way Will Thomas writes the historical time into his stories so that they explain why the characters react in a particular way, but Mr. Thomas doesn't feel he has to keep bringing up the setting just so the reader remembers why nobody is carrying a cell phone glued to their hand. This is one of my favorite historical crime series and I always look forward to reading the next book as soon as it is published.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for an e-galley of this historical crime novel.
Roland Fitzhugh, the Liberal MP for Shoreditch is the victim who falls down dead before he can have any conversation with Barker or Llewelyn in their office. The one phrase of "help me" is taken by Barker as a dying request from Fitzhugh for the duo to find out how he was poisoned and who planned it. Barker just didn't like anybody dying in his office, so he immediately began working on one of the most well plotted cases I've seen in a long, long time. I like the way Will Thomas writes the historical time into his stories so that they explain why the characters react in a particular way, but Mr. Thomas doesn't feel he has to keep bringing up the setting just so the reader remembers why nobody is carrying a cell phone glued to their hand. This is one of my favorite historical crime series and I always look forward to reading the next book as soon as it is published.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for an e-galley of this historical crime novel.
April 22, 2022
I have enjoyed each of the books in this series, now numbering 13, but is it unlucky 13? It would seem so as even Barker and Llewelyn are victims of the elusive poisoner. A visit with Gladstone, former prime minister, is compulsory early on after one of the first poisoning events as Thomas and Barker approach him with news of a victim. Gladstone asks them: "Will you be discreet? Can you perform your duties with decorum and without violence?" Barker promises: "I give you my word we will not instigate any violence."
Was there any violence? Well, of course. It is a lively investigation with several deaths along the path that leads to truth. The characters are interesting, the action pretty constant and favorite characters all have their moment in the spotlight.
Library Loan
Was there any violence? Well, of course. It is a lively investigation with several deaths along the path that leads to truth. The characters are interesting, the action pretty constant and favorite characters all have their moment in the spotlight.
Library Loan
April 12, 2022
Deadly poisoner wreaks havoc!
Well the unrelenting action here had me on the edge of my seat and scratching my head. Truly a mind boggling maze that became even more complicated as I flipped each page. This time the two Victorian private investigators, Cyrus Baker and Thomas Llewellyn have become involved in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a clever and unscrupulous killer.
When a potential client drops dead in their office from poisoning, and his last words to Baker are ‘Help me!� Well you know that’s just what Baker and his partner Llewellyn will do, even if the great man Gladstone hadn’t subsequently asked them to investigate.
Cyrus and Thomas, indeed their household and office employees become targets for this cold blooded maniac who had little regard for the collateral damage they inflicted.
Finding the poisoner will challenge the pair in ways that cut to the quick.
When the poisoner was finally disclosed I was stunned. I was compelled by the killer’s motivation but repelled by their absence of conscience for the swathe of destruction that trailed in their wake. Fierce indeed was their motivation and fierce the execution of their grievance.
A gripping read!
A St Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley
Well the unrelenting action here had me on the edge of my seat and scratching my head. Truly a mind boggling maze that became even more complicated as I flipped each page. This time the two Victorian private investigators, Cyrus Baker and Thomas Llewellyn have become involved in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a clever and unscrupulous killer.
When a potential client drops dead in their office from poisoning, and his last words to Baker are ‘Help me!� Well you know that’s just what Baker and his partner Llewellyn will do, even if the great man Gladstone hadn’t subsequently asked them to investigate.
Cyrus and Thomas, indeed their household and office employees become targets for this cold blooded maniac who had little regard for the collateral damage they inflicted.
Finding the poisoner will challenge the pair in ways that cut to the quick.
When the poisoner was finally disclosed I was stunned. I was compelled by the killer’s motivation but repelled by their absence of conscience for the swathe of destruction that trailed in their wake. Fierce indeed was their motivation and fierce the execution of their grievance.
A gripping read!
A St Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley
April 17, 2022
FIERCE POISON is my first Barker and Llewellyn Whodunnit and I feel as though I have missed out.
I find I really like listening to period British stories! I never get the accents correctly, and this audio was superb. Antony Ferguson brings Will Thomas's words to life just as they should be. A solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐ audio for me!
This murder literally comes crawling through the duo's door in this 13th installment. A Parliament member comes to seek the duo's help and falls dead in their office, followed quickly by a boy and his entire family. When their butler is poisoned, it becomes clear there is more at stake, confirmed when traps are discovered in their home.
This was a very smart mystery. I enjoyed the all the aspects of case and had no idea of the outcome. I really liked the motivation of the killer in this one which was not disclosed until the end unless you are more clever than me and figured it out! I found myself chuckling at some of Llewellyn's comments, and wished for a bit more of those witty quips.
Thank you @NetGalley and @macmillan.audio for the advanced audio of this clever sleuthing pair! Fortunately for all, this tale is available now!
I find I really like listening to period British stories! I never get the accents correctly, and this audio was superb. Antony Ferguson brings Will Thomas's words to life just as they should be. A solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐ audio for me!
This murder literally comes crawling through the duo's door in this 13th installment. A Parliament member comes to seek the duo's help and falls dead in their office, followed quickly by a boy and his entire family. When their butler is poisoned, it becomes clear there is more at stake, confirmed when traps are discovered in their home.
This was a very smart mystery. I enjoyed the all the aspects of case and had no idea of the outcome. I really liked the motivation of the killer in this one which was not disclosed until the end unless you are more clever than me and figured it out! I found myself chuckling at some of Llewellyn's comments, and wished for a bit more of those witty quips.
Thank you @NetGalley and @macmillan.audio for the advanced audio of this clever sleuthing pair! Fortunately for all, this tale is available now!
April 19, 2022
Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Barker & Llewelyn #13
Publication Date: 4/12/22
Period: 1893 - Victorian London
Number of Pages: 320
What a delightfully convoluted mystery! I have read and loved each of the thirteen books in the series � and each new book is better than the last. At first, I wasn’t a huge fan of Barker but he has definitely mellowed � and now, the mighty Barker is beginning to feel his age and he doesn’t like it a bit. Llewelyn has also nicely matured into a formidable investigator on his own. This book is a great addition to the series with non-stop action, an intriguing mystery with a maze of clues and suspects that will keep you guessing right up until the last.
Thomas Llewelyn and Cyrus Barker are at their detective agency when a man rushes in, says “Help Me� to Barker, and drops dead on the office floor. He is a relatively young man, did he have an apoplexy? No, it turns out he was poisoned and Barker insists they solve the case even though they won’t be paid for it. They will cooperate and work alongside Scotland Yard, but the cunning murderer is well ahead of both the detectives and Scotland Yard.
The murdered man is a former solicitor and newly elected member of parliament. Was he murdered because of his stance on a bill before parliament? Could someone involved in one of his legal cases bear a deadly grudge? Or, is it something else entirely? As they are investigating everything in the man’s background, an entire family is found murdered � poisoned. Then, a servant is murdered � and several attempts are made on the lives of Thomas, Cyrus, and their staff � even Barker’s beloved Koi fish are killed in the fish pond.
When the murderer was revealed, I was in total shock � and that just never happens. The murderer had absolutely no scruples, no morals, no compassion, no remorse, and no conscience, so I was really, happy to see how things ended up. Sadly, I almost understood his motivation for one of the murders, but the others were just beyond the pale.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and did not put it down from beginning to end. The writing is excellent, the characters are compelling, and the mystery is riveting. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Series: Barker & Llewelyn #13
Publication Date: 4/12/22
Period: 1893 - Victorian London
Number of Pages: 320
What a delightfully convoluted mystery! I have read and loved each of the thirteen books in the series � and each new book is better than the last. At first, I wasn’t a huge fan of Barker but he has definitely mellowed � and now, the mighty Barker is beginning to feel his age and he doesn’t like it a bit. Llewelyn has also nicely matured into a formidable investigator on his own. This book is a great addition to the series with non-stop action, an intriguing mystery with a maze of clues and suspects that will keep you guessing right up until the last.
Thomas Llewelyn and Cyrus Barker are at their detective agency when a man rushes in, says “Help Me� to Barker, and drops dead on the office floor. He is a relatively young man, did he have an apoplexy? No, it turns out he was poisoned and Barker insists they solve the case even though they won’t be paid for it. They will cooperate and work alongside Scotland Yard, but the cunning murderer is well ahead of both the detectives and Scotland Yard.
The murdered man is a former solicitor and newly elected member of parliament. Was he murdered because of his stance on a bill before parliament? Could someone involved in one of his legal cases bear a deadly grudge? Or, is it something else entirely? As they are investigating everything in the man’s background, an entire family is found murdered � poisoned. Then, a servant is murdered � and several attempts are made on the lives of Thomas, Cyrus, and their staff � even Barker’s beloved Koi fish are killed in the fish pond.
When the murderer was revealed, I was in total shock � and that just never happens. The murderer had absolutely no scruples, no morals, no compassion, no remorse, and no conscience, so I was really, happy to see how things ended up. Sadly, I almost understood his motivation for one of the murders, but the others were just beyond the pale.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and did not put it down from beginning to end. The writing is excellent, the characters are compelling, and the mystery is riveting. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 16, 2022
First Sentence: Scotland Yard is of the opinion that we at the Barker and Llewelyn Agency are barking mad.
Private Enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn have had a wide assortment of cases. This is something new. Roland Fitzhugh, a Member of Parliament, was rebuffed by the police over his claim that someone was trying to kill him. Entering the office of Barker and Llewelyn, he falls to the floor, dead. Baker feels obligated to find the killer and more deaths follow. The threat becomes personal and enters Barker’s house. Can the Agency uncover the killer in time?
Because Thomas writes from the point of view of young Thomas Llewelyn provides an intimacy to the story and an introspection. At times, Llewelyn's observations also provide an element of humor�"Later, I found out I'd got it all wrong. There's more than porridge in the old Llewelyn noggin."
The opening of the book is both clever and interesting. It’s well done that we meet the ensemble of policemen in very short order and understand their rankings. Sergeant Kirkwood quickly becomes one’s favorite. By the police not believing Fitzhugh, it moves the crime to its critical location, establishes the rank of the victim, and creates an important historical link. An interesting factual tidbit is that in those times, members of parliament had originally been barristers.
Thomas cleverly establishes Llewellyn as one who is trying to be the practical Welshman and look after the business side by questioning spending time on a case for which they won’t get paid, while Barker is looking at the moral side of feeling obligated to a man who asked for their help before he died. That Thomas includes Llewelyn’s introspection adds depth and humanity to the character. Adding actual historic characters and events, such as William Gladstone introducing a bill for universal health care and rearranging the country into smaller, self-government districts, called town councils on which women would be allowed to serve. And who doesn’t love the inclusions of Shakespeare?
An ensemble cast, when done well, gives a sense of depth and realism. No one operates in the vacuum, either professionally or personally. Thomas surrounds his protagonists with police contacts, their co-workers, household members, employees, friends, and Llewellyn’s wife Rebecca.
The case grows threat by threat, victim by victim.
Despite this being the thirteenth book in the series, Thomas hasn’t allowed the characters to stagnate. Instead, they have developed, grown, and their lives have changed. This keeps them real, interesting, and gives them greater depth with each book.
Thomas demonstrates the way a book should be done. The reader doesn’t know the identity or the killer, nor for a while, even who is the actual intended victim. When the killer is revealed, one is caught off guard, yet delighted by the character who uncovers the truth. Thomas doesn’t resort to the overused devices of prologues or portents. What exposition there is, and it’s not much, isn’t there to expand the page count, but to provide historical clarity.
FIERCE POISON is 292 pages of mystery and intrigue with a very clever plot. An excellent final chapter plays with one’s emotions and leaves one anxious for the next book.
FIERCE POISON
HistMys-Barker/Llewelyn-England-1893
By: Will Thomas � 13th in series
Minotaur Books, Apr 2022, 292 pp.
Rating: VG+/A
Private Enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn have had a wide assortment of cases. This is something new. Roland Fitzhugh, a Member of Parliament, was rebuffed by the police over his claim that someone was trying to kill him. Entering the office of Barker and Llewelyn, he falls to the floor, dead. Baker feels obligated to find the killer and more deaths follow. The threat becomes personal and enters Barker’s house. Can the Agency uncover the killer in time?
Because Thomas writes from the point of view of young Thomas Llewelyn provides an intimacy to the story and an introspection. At times, Llewelyn's observations also provide an element of humor�"Later, I found out I'd got it all wrong. There's more than porridge in the old Llewelyn noggin."
The opening of the book is both clever and interesting. It’s well done that we meet the ensemble of policemen in very short order and understand their rankings. Sergeant Kirkwood quickly becomes one’s favorite. By the police not believing Fitzhugh, it moves the crime to its critical location, establishes the rank of the victim, and creates an important historical link. An interesting factual tidbit is that in those times, members of parliament had originally been barristers.
Thomas cleverly establishes Llewellyn as one who is trying to be the practical Welshman and look after the business side by questioning spending time on a case for which they won’t get paid, while Barker is looking at the moral side of feeling obligated to a man who asked for their help before he died. That Thomas includes Llewelyn’s introspection adds depth and humanity to the character. Adding actual historic characters and events, such as William Gladstone introducing a bill for universal health care and rearranging the country into smaller, self-government districts, called town councils on which women would be allowed to serve. And who doesn’t love the inclusions of Shakespeare?
An ensemble cast, when done well, gives a sense of depth and realism. No one operates in the vacuum, either professionally or personally. Thomas surrounds his protagonists with police contacts, their co-workers, household members, employees, friends, and Llewellyn’s wife Rebecca.
The case grows threat by threat, victim by victim.
Despite this being the thirteenth book in the series, Thomas hasn’t allowed the characters to stagnate. Instead, they have developed, grown, and their lives have changed. This keeps them real, interesting, and gives them greater depth with each book.
Thomas demonstrates the way a book should be done. The reader doesn’t know the identity or the killer, nor for a while, even who is the actual intended victim. When the killer is revealed, one is caught off guard, yet delighted by the character who uncovers the truth. Thomas doesn’t resort to the overused devices of prologues or portents. What exposition there is, and it’s not much, isn’t there to expand the page count, but to provide historical clarity.
FIERCE POISON is 292 pages of mystery and intrigue with a very clever plot. An excellent final chapter plays with one’s emotions and leaves one anxious for the next book.
FIERCE POISON
HistMys-Barker/Llewelyn-England-1893
By: Will Thomas � 13th in series
Minotaur Books, Apr 2022, 292 pp.
Rating: VG+/A
June 16, 2024
”Applegate has determined what Mac was given. It was digitalis.�
ྱٲ?� I asked. “I thought that was medicine.�
“It is, but as Lucretius said, ‘What is food to one man may be fierce poison to others.’�
This story got back to what I had come to like in this series. It was a thrilling chase to uncover the poisoner.
ྱٲ?� I asked. “I thought that was medicine.�
“It is, but as Lucretius said, ‘What is food to one man may be fierce poison to others.’�
This story got back to what I had come to like in this series. It was a thrilling chase to uncover the poisoner.
June 3, 2022
4.5 stars - I always enjoy an outing with Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn, Private Enquiry Agents in Victorian London. They always serve up an exciting, knotty mystery, along with a chance to revisit the quirky, interesting recurring characters Thomas has introduced over the years I have enjoyed this series.
This book opened with a bang, as a newly elected MP, in obvious distress, enters the the agency office, says, “help me�, and drops dead.
He has no obvious injuries, and a post-mortem reveals he was poisoned. The victim had suspected he was being poisoned, and had already been to Scotland Yard for help. Inspector Terry Poole joins forces with Barker & Llewelyn to investigate.
Horrendous poisoning deaths and near misses follow; the poisoner seems to be honing in on Barker & Llewelyn, laying traps at their offices and home. There aren’t a lot of potential suspects, but I was gobsmacked when the killer was finally identified. It made sense, was satisfying, and I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. I listened to the audiobook mostly, which was well-acted and kept the action and dry humor going at a good pace. I look forward to the next Barker & Llewelyn mystery!
This book opened with a bang, as a newly elected MP, in obvious distress, enters the the agency office, says, “help me�, and drops dead.
He has no obvious injuries, and a post-mortem reveals he was poisoned. The victim had suspected he was being poisoned, and had already been to Scotland Yard for help. Inspector Terry Poole joins forces with Barker & Llewelyn to investigate.
Horrendous poisoning deaths and near misses follow; the poisoner seems to be honing in on Barker & Llewelyn, laying traps at their offices and home. There aren’t a lot of potential suspects, but I was gobsmacked when the killer was finally identified. It made sense, was satisfying, and I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. I listened to the audiobook mostly, which was well-acted and kept the action and dry humor going at a good pace. I look forward to the next Barker & Llewelyn mystery!
January 8, 2024
A man comes to Cyrus Barker's office, asks for a drink of water, and immediately dies. Barker takes this personally, and the game is afoot! There's poisonings all over the place, it started to give me the willies. Don't read this right before dinner, unless you're on diet.
Barker is also getting older, and starting to show his age, possibly having a midlife crisis. Did such things really occur in the Victorian/Edwardian era?
Still a very good, very tense novel.
Barker is also getting older, and starting to show his age, possibly having a midlife crisis. Did such things really occur in the Victorian/Edwardian era?
Still a very good, very tense novel.
January 4, 2023
I enjoyed that immensely.
April 8, 2022
This is #13 in the Barker & Llewelyn series.
This historical mystery is set in London in 1893. Private Investigators Cyrus Baker and Thomas Llewelyn have been working together for ten years however, there are still things they don’t know about one another.
In this story there appears to be a poisoner (yes poison as in “Fierce Poison� that has causes multiple deaths. It seems to be have been hidden in a raspberry tart.
Have to admit this got my attention. I did have concerns about it being #13 in the series. I do enjoy reading books in a series in order ~ as you get to know the characters and have certain expectations.
Although true this can be read has a standalone but it is ‘just not the same�.
I enjoyed it but would have enjoyed it more if I had read others in this series first.
Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review. Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 12, 2022.
This historical mystery is set in London in 1893. Private Investigators Cyrus Baker and Thomas Llewelyn have been working together for ten years however, there are still things they don’t know about one another.
In this story there appears to be a poisoner (yes poison as in “Fierce Poison� that has causes multiple deaths. It seems to be have been hidden in a raspberry tart.
Have to admit this got my attention. I did have concerns about it being #13 in the series. I do enjoy reading books in a series in order ~ as you get to know the characters and have certain expectations.
Although true this can be read has a standalone but it is ‘just not the same�.
I enjoyed it but would have enjoyed it more if I had read others in this series first.
Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review. Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 12, 2022.
April 23, 2022
While I adore Cyrus Barker in every way, Llewellyn is getting increasingly grating and dense. It is nearly impossible to tell whether he has grown or learned anything over the course of the novels. Rebecca's continued presence is a lead weight to the dynamics of what used to be an interesting partnership, and generally, she sucks all of the air out of the plot. Nearly every new supporting character is a shrill, two-dimensional, Victorian cliche. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm not sure the series can be saved - it's been written into a corner.
April 11, 2022
I enjoyed this latest installment in the witty historical mystery series set in Victorian London.
This is the second book I have read in this entertaining series. I enjoy them because of the well developed characters of Barker and Llewelyn; they make a perfect detective team.
This 13th installment has a darker plot with a sinister poisoner on the loose. The mystery was clever and difficult to figure out. I was surprised by the ending, which is what I like to see in a twisty mystery.
Not to mention that this cover is absolutely stunning!
Many thanks to the publisher for my complementary eARC of this book via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This is the second book I have read in this entertaining series. I enjoy them because of the well developed characters of Barker and Llewelyn; they make a perfect detective team.
This 13th installment has a darker plot with a sinister poisoner on the loose. The mystery was clever and difficult to figure out. I was surprised by the ending, which is what I like to see in a twisty mystery.
Not to mention that this cover is absolutely stunning!
Many thanks to the publisher for my complementary eARC of this book via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
June 26, 2022
Although I now know there is another book forthcoming this one felt oddly like an ending or at least a shift in the Barker/Llewelyn dynamic. I do not generally like mysteries that involve jeopardy for the family and friends of the main characters so that aspect of this one was not a plus. The whodunit reveal felt like it came out of left field even though there was some logic to the motivation. Definitely did not see that coming. Barker is beginning to age and his earlier injuries are making him less capable. What I had enjoyed most about the series was learning about Barker’s “skills� to quote Liam Neeson’s movie character, so seeing him somewhat diminished was sad.
January 21, 2022
Another ripping yarn from Will Thomas. The stakes seem higher in this installment for the Barker & Llewelyn agency as a vicious and mysterious poisoner creeps ever closer to the inner circle of the Guv and his Boswell. However, our intrepid narrator, Thomas Llewelyn maintains his wry outlook on life, and infuses the story with many humorous asides and descriptions. Perhaps this unexpected levity is what has drawn me to the series since the very beginning. Perhaps more than others, this book seems like it would suffice as a standalone novel, although I would encourage you to seek out the full series in order. The opening scene of the series with Thomas standing in line for a job with Cyrus Barker, the enigmatic private enquiry agent still remains as clear in my mind as the image of a huge phosphorescent hound loping across the moors. Barker and Llewelyn would hold their own against Holmes and Watson any day.
Please note that I received an advance copy of this book from a ŷ Giveaway and the publisher in exchange for my unvarnished opinion. Let me tell you, I hope that the copy editor sees the dozen-plus typos in this ARC. I've never seen an ARC with so many typos!
Please note that I received an advance copy of this book from a ŷ Giveaway and the publisher in exchange for my unvarnished opinion. Let me tell you, I hope that the copy editor sees the dozen-plus typos in this ARC. I've never seen an ARC with so many typos!
April 18, 2022
4.5 stars.
Great pacing. Great character interactions.
Riveting mystery.
Great pacing. Great character interactions.
Riveting mystery.
May 28, 2023
Ratings:
Writing 4
Story line 4
Characters 4
Impact 3
Overall rating: 3.75
Writing 4
Story line 4
Characters 4
Impact 3
Overall rating: 3.75
May 16, 2022
I love love love this series and the main characters, but I keep finding continuity errors. Chapter 15 was quite out of whack in this installment. I will continue with the series though, because I'm just a little bit in love with Thomas. Don't tell Rebecca.
October 21, 2022
Love this series! The characters are so well developed and interesting, their depth growing with each book.
February 15, 2025
This is the first Will Thomas book that I have read. I enjoyed it very much. The characters, the plot and the ending. I plan to read the entire series from the beginning.
November 13, 2024
Continue to adore the series as well as Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewellyn! Clever and entertaining as always!
September 1, 2022
I loved the early books in this series, but now I think I read them purely out of habit. What is causing the rot is not one tangible thing, but an amalgam of a lot of small things. Firstly, I listen to them on audiobook rather than reading them, and the narrator is appalling. This is certainly not a fault of the books themselves, but it certainly does not make things any better.
Secondly, while the character of Thomas Llewellyn was very interesting at first, now that he is not really a novice and is no longer in training, this just serves to show how lacklustre a detective he really is beside Cyrus Barker. He is now Barker's business partner, but he is very much in the great man's shadow.
The third, and I'm sorry to say the biggest millstone around the neck of this series - and I'm sorry to say it because she is of my sex - is the introduction of Rebecca. She weighs the series down horrendously. She adds absolutely nothing to either plot or substance, and each story could lose every scene she is in without losing anything material at all. In fact, each book in which she appears (perhaps with the exception of the first one she appears in, where she was integral to the plot), would be greatly improved if this were done. The same cannot be said of Barker's love interest, so since Rebecca features quite heavily in each book, perhaps switching the characters of these two women would be a benison.
Finally, Will Thomas needs to either spend more time in London, or to research better. If he is going to write about period London, he needs to know a bit more about his setting. It is WHITEHALL, not Whitehall Street, SCOTLAND YARD, not Great Scotland Yard Street, and cream is not taken in tea, but in coffee. MILK is taken in tea. And a person of Thomas Llewellyn's original class and background would not call anyone 'The Guv'. That is purely an East End cockney phrase and was (and still is), not likely to pass the lips of an ex-Oxford Welshman.
Secondly, while the character of Thomas Llewellyn was very interesting at first, now that he is not really a novice and is no longer in training, this just serves to show how lacklustre a detective he really is beside Cyrus Barker. He is now Barker's business partner, but he is very much in the great man's shadow.
The third, and I'm sorry to say the biggest millstone around the neck of this series - and I'm sorry to say it because she is of my sex - is the introduction of Rebecca. She weighs the series down horrendously. She adds absolutely nothing to either plot or substance, and each story could lose every scene she is in without losing anything material at all. In fact, each book in which she appears (perhaps with the exception of the first one she appears in, where she was integral to the plot), would be greatly improved if this were done. The same cannot be said of Barker's love interest, so since Rebecca features quite heavily in each book, perhaps switching the characters of these two women would be a benison.
Finally, Will Thomas needs to either spend more time in London, or to research better. If he is going to write about period London, he needs to know a bit more about his setting. It is WHITEHALL, not Whitehall Street, SCOTLAND YARD, not Great Scotland Yard Street, and cream is not taken in tea, but in coffee. MILK is taken in tea. And a person of Thomas Llewellyn's original class and background would not call anyone 'The Guv'. That is purely an East End cockney phrase and was (and still is), not likely to pass the lips of an ex-Oxford Welshman.
April 10, 2022
Fierce Poison is the 13th book in the Barker & Llewelyn series by Will Thomas. Many series lose their magic after just a few books, but that's not the case here! I'm 57 years old and have read an unbelievable amount of books in my lifetime, but honestly, this is one of my favorite series ever. I both read and listed to the audiobook version of this story; you'll enjoy both, but listen if you have the opportunity. Narrator Antony Ferguson is absolutely phenomenal and brings this book to living, breathing life.
It's 1893 in London England. Private enquiry agents (NOT detectives!) Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn have seen just about everything, but even they never had a possible client drop dead in their office...until now. Roland Fitzhugh, a Member of Parliament, comes into their office to consult them, but after uttering the words "help me", he collapses and dies. They learn that Fitzhugh was poisoned with a raspberry tart containing cyanide. A tart also kills an entire family in the East End, except for the baby. The press, always giving nicknames to killers, labels the poisoner the Mad Pie Man. William Gladstone, the former Prime Minister, hires Barker and Llewelyn to find out who killed Fitzhugh, who was the newest member of the House of Commons. Soon both men are targeted by the poisoner; it begins with Barker's butler Mac being poisoned by digitalis and his dog Harm being drugged. They also find boobytraps throughout their home. They have got to find out who is perpetrating these dastardly murders before they find themselves 6 feet under. As it turns out, the danger is closer to home than either Barker or Llewelyn realize.
This was an exciting story with many twists and turns, and I was caught up in a web that wouldn't let me go. The book is written from Llewelyn's point of view, which makes this story amusing as well as thrilling. Llewelyn, you see, is a bit of a wiseacre. My kind of man. He lent humor to a serious plot. He was a young Welsh widower just out of jail when he was hired by Barker 10 years previously. He's now a partner in the firm and is married to Rebecca, who is not pleased with the danger Llewelyn meets on a daily basis. He's dedicated to his job, however, even though he is still sometimes referred to as "Lad" by Barker, who seems to forget that Llewelyn is now 30. Barker is a rather unique man. A Scotsman, he lived in China for a good amount of time and sometimes seems to be stuck between two different worlds. He's nearing 50 and is dealing with a severely injured knee, and he's beginning to feel his age. He's a gruff man of few words and is a brilliant enquiry agent. I absolutely love the relationship between Barker and Llewelyn. They can be at odds, as Barker is a hard taskmaster and Llewelyn mouths off; but you can see the respect and dare I say the affection they actually have for one another. I was happy to be reacquainted with the supporting characters who have become like friends to me: Jacob "Mac" Maccabee, Barker's fastidious butler, Harm the dog, cantankerous chief Etienne, firm clerk Jeremy Jenkins, Barker's Chinese friend Ho, Barker's lady friend Philippa, Llewelyn's wife Rebecca and Terence Poole of Scotland Yard are all here. As to the plot, it was a great mystery with twists and turns everywhere! I kept thinking I knew who did it, but apparently I didn't have a clue. You can feel the frustration and worry that more people will die if our private enquiry agents couldn't identify the killer, and soon. They were in the poisoner's path as well. When the poisoner was revealed, I was just shocked at who it was! I never would have guessed. That makes for an entertaining mystery. I hope the whole crew will be back soon.
Narrator Antony Ferguson is one of the best in the business. He voices Barker and Llewelyn just perfectly. When I'm reading the book and not listening to the audio, I clearly hear the characters' voices in my head. I hope he is NEVER replaced as narrator, as no one could ever top his work. He IS Barker and Llewelyn.
I received and ARC of this book and audiobook courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
It's 1893 in London England. Private enquiry agents (NOT detectives!) Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn have seen just about everything, but even they never had a possible client drop dead in their office...until now. Roland Fitzhugh, a Member of Parliament, comes into their office to consult them, but after uttering the words "help me", he collapses and dies. They learn that Fitzhugh was poisoned with a raspberry tart containing cyanide. A tart also kills an entire family in the East End, except for the baby. The press, always giving nicknames to killers, labels the poisoner the Mad Pie Man. William Gladstone, the former Prime Minister, hires Barker and Llewelyn to find out who killed Fitzhugh, who was the newest member of the House of Commons. Soon both men are targeted by the poisoner; it begins with Barker's butler Mac being poisoned by digitalis and his dog Harm being drugged. They also find boobytraps throughout their home. They have got to find out who is perpetrating these dastardly murders before they find themselves 6 feet under. As it turns out, the danger is closer to home than either Barker or Llewelyn realize.
This was an exciting story with many twists and turns, and I was caught up in a web that wouldn't let me go. The book is written from Llewelyn's point of view, which makes this story amusing as well as thrilling. Llewelyn, you see, is a bit of a wiseacre. My kind of man. He lent humor to a serious plot. He was a young Welsh widower just out of jail when he was hired by Barker 10 years previously. He's now a partner in the firm and is married to Rebecca, who is not pleased with the danger Llewelyn meets on a daily basis. He's dedicated to his job, however, even though he is still sometimes referred to as "Lad" by Barker, who seems to forget that Llewelyn is now 30. Barker is a rather unique man. A Scotsman, he lived in China for a good amount of time and sometimes seems to be stuck between two different worlds. He's nearing 50 and is dealing with a severely injured knee, and he's beginning to feel his age. He's a gruff man of few words and is a brilliant enquiry agent. I absolutely love the relationship between Barker and Llewelyn. They can be at odds, as Barker is a hard taskmaster and Llewelyn mouths off; but you can see the respect and dare I say the affection they actually have for one another. I was happy to be reacquainted with the supporting characters who have become like friends to me: Jacob "Mac" Maccabee, Barker's fastidious butler, Harm the dog, cantankerous chief Etienne, firm clerk Jeremy Jenkins, Barker's Chinese friend Ho, Barker's lady friend Philippa, Llewelyn's wife Rebecca and Terence Poole of Scotland Yard are all here. As to the plot, it was a great mystery with twists and turns everywhere! I kept thinking I knew who did it, but apparently I didn't have a clue. You can feel the frustration and worry that more people will die if our private enquiry agents couldn't identify the killer, and soon. They were in the poisoner's path as well. When the poisoner was revealed, I was just shocked at who it was! I never would have guessed. That makes for an entertaining mystery. I hope the whole crew will be back soon.
Narrator Antony Ferguson is one of the best in the business. He voices Barker and Llewelyn just perfectly. When I'm reading the book and not listening to the audio, I clearly hear the characters' voices in my head. I hope he is NEVER replaced as narrator, as no one could ever top his work. He IS Barker and Llewelyn.
I received and ARC of this book and audiobook courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Read
April 5, 2022London, 1893
Though the team of Barker and Llewellyn have seen a lot of strange things in the past ten years, they’ve never had a client drop dead in their offices before. But that’s just what happens one day when Roland Fitzhugh, a newly minted Member of Parliament, walks in one morning and dies with little warning. After a brief investigation, Barker determines that Fitzhugh died of poisoning� specifically because of a cyanide-laced raspberry tart he had eaten on the way in. The murderer’s crimes are compounded by the death of an East End family, poisoned that very night. With the press having a field day over the Mad Pie Man, as they’ve begun to call the poisoner, Barker and Llewellyn are hired by former Prime Minister Gladstone to investigate the deaths and find the murderer before more people succumb. But no sooner have they been hired, than they find themselves under attack. Their butler is poisoned and vicious traps have been laid throughout their home. On the run, Barker and Llewellyn must use all their wits and investigative skills to find the killer before they and the people they love most fall prey to a poisoner’s traps.
Thirteen is considered to be an unlucky number, and in this thirteenth outing for private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewellyn, it seems as though their luck might finally have run out. Poisoning doesn’t leave behind the sort of evidence that a knife or a gun might, and because the poisons used are readily available throughout the great city of London, it seems impossible that our intrepid heroes could find the killer among the millions who live there. But they pursue their suspects all the same, if only because there is little else they can do. They are targets themselves and cannot find peace or safety until they get to the bottom of the mystery.
And so they do. Llewellyn with his usual snark and storyteller’s flair, and Barker with his stoicism and eye for detail. And in typical fashion, Will Thomas weaves a tale in which both suspects and victims have more going on in their lives than meets the eye. While the overworked detectives of Scotland Yard tend to leap on the most obvious suspect, Barker takes his time� and his risks� to find the correct perpetrator. This has been his modus operandi throughout the series. Barker is slow and steady, but one always has the sense that there is far more going on behind those smoked spectacles than anyone thinks there is.
But time has passed for the detecting duo. Thirteen volumes and ten years on, Llewellyn knows things are changing He’s not the naive young pup that he was when Barker pulled him off the street and gave him a new lease on life. At every turn, he’s reminded that there are safer jobs out there for a young man with a wife and, one day perhaps, a family to raise. And while Barker is unflappable as ever, he’s not getting any younger. At nearly fifty years old, he can no longer go toe to toe with any young miscreant who wants to take him on in a fight.
Change is in the air for Barker and Llewellyn, but they are still in fine form, and if there is a flaw in Fierce Poison, it is that a major plot point that was brought to light in the final pages of Dance with Death (the twelfth book in the series) is absent from Fierce Poison. Surely it was at least in the backs of their minds, but neither Barker nor Llewellyn even mentions it� a strange oversight, if oversight it is, given where Llewellyn’s thoughts often turn in Fierce Poison.
Perhaps this absence can be forgiven, though, given the stresses they’re dealing with. It can’t be easy to think of past details when you have reason to fear that your next bite of food or sip of water might be your last.
But whatever changes are in store for Barker and Llewellyn, they remain true to form and character. Fierce Poison is a tense thrill-ride through Victorian London, filled with a wondrous variety of often unexpected characters who leap off the page and make the reader want to know more about them. And, as usual, this reader can’t wait for the next book.
-----
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion.
Though the team of Barker and Llewellyn have seen a lot of strange things in the past ten years, they’ve never had a client drop dead in their offices before. But that’s just what happens one day when Roland Fitzhugh, a newly minted Member of Parliament, walks in one morning and dies with little warning. After a brief investigation, Barker determines that Fitzhugh died of poisoning� specifically because of a cyanide-laced raspberry tart he had eaten on the way in. The murderer’s crimes are compounded by the death of an East End family, poisoned that very night. With the press having a field day over the Mad Pie Man, as they’ve begun to call the poisoner, Barker and Llewellyn are hired by former Prime Minister Gladstone to investigate the deaths and find the murderer before more people succumb. But no sooner have they been hired, than they find themselves under attack. Their butler is poisoned and vicious traps have been laid throughout their home. On the run, Barker and Llewellyn must use all their wits and investigative skills to find the killer before they and the people they love most fall prey to a poisoner’s traps.
Thirteen is considered to be an unlucky number, and in this thirteenth outing for private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewellyn, it seems as though their luck might finally have run out. Poisoning doesn’t leave behind the sort of evidence that a knife or a gun might, and because the poisons used are readily available throughout the great city of London, it seems impossible that our intrepid heroes could find the killer among the millions who live there. But they pursue their suspects all the same, if only because there is little else they can do. They are targets themselves and cannot find peace or safety until they get to the bottom of the mystery.
And so they do. Llewellyn with his usual snark and storyteller’s flair, and Barker with his stoicism and eye for detail. And in typical fashion, Will Thomas weaves a tale in which both suspects and victims have more going on in their lives than meets the eye. While the overworked detectives of Scotland Yard tend to leap on the most obvious suspect, Barker takes his time� and his risks� to find the correct perpetrator. This has been his modus operandi throughout the series. Barker is slow and steady, but one always has the sense that there is far more going on behind those smoked spectacles than anyone thinks there is.
But time has passed for the detecting duo. Thirteen volumes and ten years on, Llewellyn knows things are changing He’s not the naive young pup that he was when Barker pulled him off the street and gave him a new lease on life. At every turn, he’s reminded that there are safer jobs out there for a young man with a wife and, one day perhaps, a family to raise. And while Barker is unflappable as ever, he’s not getting any younger. At nearly fifty years old, he can no longer go toe to toe with any young miscreant who wants to take him on in a fight.
Change is in the air for Barker and Llewellyn, but they are still in fine form, and if there is a flaw in Fierce Poison, it is that a major plot point that was brought to light in the final pages of Dance with Death (the twelfth book in the series) is absent from Fierce Poison. Surely it was at least in the backs of their minds, but neither Barker nor Llewellyn even mentions it� a strange oversight, if oversight it is, given where Llewellyn’s thoughts often turn in Fierce Poison.
Perhaps this absence can be forgiven, though, given the stresses they’re dealing with. It can’t be easy to think of past details when you have reason to fear that your next bite of food or sip of water might be your last.
But whatever changes are in store for Barker and Llewellyn, they remain true to form and character. Fierce Poison is a tense thrill-ride through Victorian London, filled with a wondrous variety of often unexpected characters who leap off the page and make the reader want to know more about them. And, as usual, this reader can’t wait for the next book.
-----
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion.
April 10, 2022
Fierce Poison is the 13th book in the Barker & Llewelyn series by Will Thomas. Many series lose their magic after just a few books, but that's not the case here! I'm 57 years old and have read an unbelievable amount of books in my lifetime, but honestly, this is one of my favorite series ever. I both read and listed to the audiobook version of this story; you'll enjoy both, but listen if you have the opportunity. Narrator Antony Ferguson is absolutely phenomenal and brings this book to living, breathing life.
It's 1893 in London England. Private enquiry agents (NOT detectives!) Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn have seen just about everything, but even they never had a possible client drop dead in their office...until now. Roland Fitzhugh, a Member of Parliament, comes into their office to consult them, but after uttering the words "help me", he collapses and dies. They learn that Fitzhugh was poisoned with a raspberry tart containing cyanide. A tart also kills an entire family in the East End, except for the baby. The press, always giving nicknames to killers, labels the poisoner the Mad Pie Man. William Gladstone, the former Prime Minister, hires Barker and Llewelyn to find out who killed Fitzhugh, who was the newest member of the House of Commons. Soon both men are targeted by the poisoner; it begins with Barker's butler Mac being poisoned by digitalis and his dog Harm being drugged. They also find boobytraps throughout their home. They have got to find out who is perpetrating these dastardly murders before they find themselves 6 feet under. As it turns out, the danger is closer to home than either Barker or Llewelyn realize.
This was an exciting story with many twists and turns, and I was caught up in a web that wouldn't let me go. The book is written from Llewelyn's point of view, which makes this story amusing as well as thrilling. Llewelyn, you see, is a bit of a wiseacre. My kind of man. He lent humor to a serious plot. He was a young Welsh widower just out of jail when he was hired by Barker 10 years previously. He's now a partner in the firm and is married to Rebecca, who is not pleased with the danger Llewelyn meets on a daily basis. He's dedicated to his job, however, even though he is still sometimes referred to as "Lad" by Barker, who seems to forget that Llewelyn is now 30. Barker is a rather unique man. A Scotsman, he lived in China for a good amount of time and sometimes seems to be stuck between two different worlds. He's nearing 50 and is dealing with a severely injured knee, and he's beginning to feel his age. He's a gruff man of few words and is a brilliant enquiry agent. I absolutely love the relationship between Barker and Llewelyn. They can be at odds, as Barker is a hard taskmaster and Llewelyn mouths off; but you can see the respect and dare I say the affection they actually have for one another. I was happy to be reacquainted with the supporting characters who have become like friends to me: Jacob "Mac" Maccabee, Barker's fastidious butler, Harm the dog, cantankerous chief Etienne, firm clerk Jeremy Jenkins, Barker's Chinese friend Ho, Barker's lady friend Philippa, Llewelyn's wife Rebecca and Terence Poole of Scotland Yard are all here. As to the plot, it was a great mystery with twists and turns everywhere! I kept thinking I knew who did it, but apparently I didn't have a clue. You can feel the frustration and worry that more people will die if our private enquiry agents couldn't identify the killer, and soon. They were in the poisoner's path as well. When the poisoner was revealed, I was just shocked at who it was! I never would have guessed. That makes for an entertaining mystery. I hope the whole crew will be back soon.
Narrator Antony Ferguson is one of the best in the business. He voices Barker and Llewelyn just perfectly. When I'm reading the book and not listening to the audio, I clearly hear the characters' voices in my head. I hope he is NEVER replaced as narrator, as no one could ever top his work. He IS Barker and Llewelyn.
I received and ARC of this book and audiobook courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
It's 1893 in London England. Private enquiry agents (NOT detectives!) Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn have seen just about everything, but even they never had a possible client drop dead in their office...until now. Roland Fitzhugh, a Member of Parliament, comes into their office to consult them, but after uttering the words "help me", he collapses and dies. They learn that Fitzhugh was poisoned with a raspberry tart containing cyanide. A tart also kills an entire family in the East End, except for the baby. The press, always giving nicknames to killers, labels the poisoner the Mad Pie Man. William Gladstone, the former Prime Minister, hires Barker and Llewelyn to find out who killed Fitzhugh, who was the newest member of the House of Commons. Soon both men are targeted by the poisoner; it begins with Barker's butler Mac being poisoned by digitalis and his dog Harm being drugged. They also find boobytraps throughout their home. They have got to find out who is perpetrating these dastardly murders before they find themselves 6 feet under. As it turns out, the danger is closer to home than either Barker or Llewelyn realize.
This was an exciting story with many twists and turns, and I was caught up in a web that wouldn't let me go. The book is written from Llewelyn's point of view, which makes this story amusing as well as thrilling. Llewelyn, you see, is a bit of a wiseacre. My kind of man. He lent humor to a serious plot. He was a young Welsh widower just out of jail when he was hired by Barker 10 years previously. He's now a partner in the firm and is married to Rebecca, who is not pleased with the danger Llewelyn meets on a daily basis. He's dedicated to his job, however, even though he is still sometimes referred to as "Lad" by Barker, who seems to forget that Llewelyn is now 30. Barker is a rather unique man. A Scotsman, he lived in China for a good amount of time and sometimes seems to be stuck between two different worlds. He's nearing 50 and is dealing with a severely injured knee, and he's beginning to feel his age. He's a gruff man of few words and is a brilliant enquiry agent. I absolutely love the relationship between Barker and Llewelyn. They can be at odds, as Barker is a hard taskmaster and Llewelyn mouths off; but you can see the respect and dare I say the affection they actually have for one another. I was happy to be reacquainted with the supporting characters who have become like friends to me: Jacob "Mac" Maccabee, Barker's fastidious butler, Harm the dog, cantankerous chief Etienne, firm clerk Jeremy Jenkins, Barker's Chinese friend Ho, Barker's lady friend Philippa, Llewelyn's wife Rebecca and Terence Poole of Scotland Yard are all here. As to the plot, it was a great mystery with twists and turns everywhere! I kept thinking I knew who did it, but apparently I didn't have a clue. You can feel the frustration and worry that more people will die if our private enquiry agents couldn't identify the killer, and soon. They were in the poisoner's path as well. When the poisoner was revealed, I was just shocked at who it was! I never would have guessed. That makes for an entertaining mystery. I hope the whole crew will be back soon.
Narrator Antony Ferguson is one of the best in the business. He voices Barker and Llewelyn just perfectly. When I'm reading the book and not listening to the audio, I clearly hear the characters' voices in my head. I hope he is NEVER replaced as narrator, as no one could ever top his work. He IS Barker and Llewelyn.
I received and ARC of this book and audiobook courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
February 27, 2022
I received a copy of this book through the ŷ Giveaways program in exchange for an unbiased review.
While my favorite genres are science fiction and fantasy, I also like to dabble in mysteries and historical novels, ones set in Victorian London settings are particularly enjoyable and Fierce Poison doesn't disappoint.
I was a little worried jumping into a series on book 13, there is a lot that would have built up before that which an author can't ignore for those readers who have been following the adventures thus far. On the other hand, each case is independent, so this usually works in mystery series. And it worked here, though I felt I had a few too many people tossed my way with a one sentence explanation of who they were, I managed well enough.
The plot was exciting, I found the use of poisons making it particularly interesting, with the protagonists frequently in danger themselves. The protagonists being a kind of Holmes & Watson pair, Barker being the mysterious dominant partner, and Llewelyn the married Watson narrating the tale from his point of view. I enjoyed both characters. And no, I didn't guess who the murderer was.
I did have a couple qualms, which maybe brought my review to 4.5 stars but then I had to round back up - Note my spoiler exposes the murderer so read at your own risk!
I have gone ahead and added all previous 12 books to my to-read pile, I'd really like to see who these two meet, learn more about them, and of course enjoy their mystery solving skills.
While my favorite genres are science fiction and fantasy, I also like to dabble in mysteries and historical novels, ones set in Victorian London settings are particularly enjoyable and Fierce Poison doesn't disappoint.
I was a little worried jumping into a series on book 13, there is a lot that would have built up before that which an author can't ignore for those readers who have been following the adventures thus far. On the other hand, each case is independent, so this usually works in mystery series. And it worked here, though I felt I had a few too many people tossed my way with a one sentence explanation of who they were, I managed well enough.
The plot was exciting, I found the use of poisons making it particularly interesting, with the protagonists frequently in danger themselves. The protagonists being a kind of Holmes & Watson pair, Barker being the mysterious dominant partner, and Llewelyn the married Watson narrating the tale from his point of view. I enjoyed both characters. And no, I didn't guess who the murderer was.
I did have a couple qualms, which maybe brought my review to 4.5 stars but then I had to round back up - Note my spoiler exposes the murderer so read at your own risk!
I have gone ahead and added all previous 12 books to my to-read pile, I'd really like to see who these two meet, learn more about them, and of course enjoy their mystery solving skills.
August 30, 2023
As mentioned in an earlier blog post, I am reading as many of Will Thomas’s fourteen published mysteries as I can before he visits my book club in early Oct. That means I have had to forgo my penchant for reading books in a series in order! I just finished book thirteen, Fierce Poison. After reading Dance With Danger, I wanted to know more about Sarah Fletcher, the female detective Barker and Llewelyn sometimes hire to help them in their investigations. As a long-time fan of the Masie Dobbs� series by Jacqueline Winspear, I wanted to know if Thomas intended to develop Sarah Fletcher more fully in subsequent novels.
In Fierce Poison, Sarah Fletcher does reappear, but not quite in the capacity I expected. I will leave it to readers to discover the rest.
Often, Barker and Llewelyn find themselves in danger in their investigations. In Fierce Poison, not only are the two principal enquiry agents in extreme danger, but the danger extends to others working with them, Llewelyn’s wife Rebecca, and Barker’s dog Harm. The danger? Poisons of different kinds! Poison makes it difficult to fight the offender because he/she is using a variety of poisons: cyanide, digitalis, and nicotine, for example. The killer, who becomes known as the Mad Pie Man, also booby-traps Barker and Llewelyn’s office and home. Besides targeting Fitzhugh, Barker, Llewelyn, and their immediate cohorts, the Mad Pie Man also succeeds in killing several other people, including an entire poor family. Barker and Llewelyn must figure out what connects these deaths and attempted murders.
By using poisons, the killer could be putting the substance into food, drink, even face powder as Llewelyn points out to Rebecca.
The story begins when Roland Fitzhugh, a member of Parliament, enters the Barker and Llewelyn Enquiry Agency and almost immediately falls dead on the floor. His last words were “help me!� Barker takes that to mean he and Llewelyn MUST discover who has killed Fitzhugh and why. Even former prime minister William Gladstone is part of the story. When Barker and Llewelyn question Gladstone, he insists they send him their bill once they have solved the murder of Fitzhugh.
Readers will find Fierce Poison a compelling story. Readers already familiar with Barker and Llewelyn and their tales will enjoy seeing this story unfold, especially hoping that the principals will survive the poison attacks!
In Fierce Poison, Sarah Fletcher does reappear, but not quite in the capacity I expected. I will leave it to readers to discover the rest.
Often, Barker and Llewelyn find themselves in danger in their investigations. In Fierce Poison, not only are the two principal enquiry agents in extreme danger, but the danger extends to others working with them, Llewelyn’s wife Rebecca, and Barker’s dog Harm. The danger? Poisons of different kinds! Poison makes it difficult to fight the offender because he/she is using a variety of poisons: cyanide, digitalis, and nicotine, for example. The killer, who becomes known as the Mad Pie Man, also booby-traps Barker and Llewelyn’s office and home. Besides targeting Fitzhugh, Barker, Llewelyn, and their immediate cohorts, the Mad Pie Man also succeeds in killing several other people, including an entire poor family. Barker and Llewelyn must figure out what connects these deaths and attempted murders.
By using poisons, the killer could be putting the substance into food, drink, even face powder as Llewelyn points out to Rebecca.
The story begins when Roland Fitzhugh, a member of Parliament, enters the Barker and Llewelyn Enquiry Agency and almost immediately falls dead on the floor. His last words were “help me!� Barker takes that to mean he and Llewelyn MUST discover who has killed Fitzhugh and why. Even former prime minister William Gladstone is part of the story. When Barker and Llewelyn question Gladstone, he insists they send him their bill once they have solved the murder of Fitzhugh.
Readers will find Fierce Poison a compelling story. Readers already familiar with Barker and Llewelyn and their tales will enjoy seeing this story unfold, especially hoping that the principals will survive the poison attacks!
April 13, 2022
Fierce Poison by Will Thomas is another Barker and Llewellyn mystery, the story of a set of very different partners in an enquiry agency . Thomas Llewelllyn is married and the two of them share Cyrus Barker's home. In that home there is a cook and a male factotum who manages everything else. One morning a man rushes into the office and asks for a glass of water says, "Help me," and promptly drops dead. Llewellyn rushes to Scotland Yard, which is nearby and returns with Inspector Poole who identifies the man as Roland McHugh, MP. He knows this because McHugh had just visited him for help. He believer he was being poisoned. Apparently he was correct. Barker, being the man he was, assumer the inquiry into this man's death and started by notifying Gladstone, at the Whitehall, who promptly hired them, with the promise of payment being made upon completion of the investigation. This took the duo to many place and meeting many people, including McHugh's fiancée, who was rude and belligerent; his previous law partner; several people he had successfully prosecuted and sent to prison; his best friend, a priest and his man servant; et al. It was a thorough investigation with multiple leads but not much substance. Sadly, McHugh's death was not the only one by the poisoner as he tries to cover his tracks. An interesting mystery.
Cyrus Barker is an interesting man who has lived a full life, traveled the world, been in the military, and so much more. Thomas Llewellyn is twenty years younger, spent a time in prison, from which he is reformed, and had a wife. Thomas was a partner in the agency but he knew that it was Cyrus Barker who had all the contacts, and all the experience. He was and had been nothing more than a trainee. This is the 13th book in the series and is always a good read. It takes place in London, in 1893, that is a changing time for England and the world. Barker is a huge fan of Chinese medicine and is aware that his body is aging. He is not happy about it, at all. This is an inspiring series, one that tests the reader's observation skills as the story unfolds. I highly recommend it.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Fierce Poison by St Martin's Press, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #stmartinspress #willthomas #fiercepoison
Cyrus Barker is an interesting man who has lived a full life, traveled the world, been in the military, and so much more. Thomas Llewellyn is twenty years younger, spent a time in prison, from which he is reformed, and had a wife. Thomas was a partner in the agency but he knew that it was Cyrus Barker who had all the contacts, and all the experience. He was and had been nothing more than a trainee. This is the 13th book in the series and is always a good read. It takes place in London, in 1893, that is a changing time for England and the world. Barker is a huge fan of Chinese medicine and is aware that his body is aging. He is not happy about it, at all. This is an inspiring series, one that tests the reader's observation skills as the story unfolds. I highly recommend it.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Fierce Poison by St Martin's Press, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #stmartinspress #willthomas #fiercepoison
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