Book Review: Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas

Some Danger Involved
Author: Will Thomas
Series: Barker and Llewelyn (Book One)
Publication: Touchstone; Reprint edition (June 3, 2004)

Description: An atmospheric debut novel set on the gritty streets of Victorian London, Some Danger Involved introduces detective Cyrus Barker and his assistant, Thomas Llewelyn, as they work to solve the gruesome murder of a young scholar in London's Jewish ghetto.

When the eccentric and enigmatic Cyrus Barker takes on the recent murder case of a young scholar in London's Jewish ghetto, he realizes that he must hire an assistant, and out of all who answer an ad for a position with "some danger involved," he chooses downtrodden Llewelyn, a gutsy young man with a murky past.

As they inch ever closer to the shocking truth behind the murder, Llewelyn is drawn deeper and deeper into Barker's peculiar world of vigilante detective work, as well as the heart of London's teeming underworld. Brimming with wit and unforgettable characters and steeped in authentic period detail Some Danger Involved is a captivating page-turner that introduces an equally captivating duo.

My Thoughts: This first book in the Barker and Llewelyn mystery series introduces the pair who will go on to star in at least 15 titles. The book is narrated by Thomas Llewelyn who is a young man down on his luck when he is hired by Barker to be his assistant. 

Llewelyn is Welsh and a product of a poor family who is sponsored to public school and then on to Oxford where he falls in love with a poor young woman dying of consumption and then is accused of theft and imprisoned for eight months. When he gets out of prison, his wife has died and he doesn't see much of a future for himself. He's on the verge of suicide when Barker plucks him out of the bunch vying to become his assistant. 

Barker is a man with a mysterious past and a huge variety of contacts in London. He's been hired to discover who murdered a young Jewish man and stage his death to look like a crucifixion. England is being flooded with a series of Jewish refugees from pogroms elsewhere in Europe which bring the usual resentments from those who feel that the refugees are taking resources that would be better given to them. 

As Barker, trailed by Llewelyn, travels throughout London to visit people he feels might be able and willing to set up a united front against the Jews, we get a chance to see Victorian London and the variety of viewpoints among the populace. 

This was an engaging mystery well narrated by Thomas who is a clear observer with a retentive memory and a sense of humor. I enjoyed meeting the variety of characters who are satellites of the mysterious Barker and look forward to more adventures in this series. 

Favorite Quote:

"Do you consider yourself a Christian apologist, Mr. Barker?" Montefiore asked, looking at him through shrewd eyes. "If so, you have much to answer for."

Barker gave a rare smile. "I am but a humble Baptist, Sir Moses, and have enough to apologize for among by own people. I find that, like the Jews, we tend to divide the world between ourselves and everybody else."

I bought this one May 19, 2021. You can buy your copy here.