Will Thomas

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.

A Novel

Some Danger Involved

An atmospheric debut novel set on the gritty streets of Victorian London, Some Danger Involved introduces detective Cyrus Barker and his apprentice, Thomas Llewelyn, as they work to solve the gruesome murder of a young scholar. When a student bearing a striking resemblance to artists' renderings of Jesus Christ is found murdered -- by crucifixion -- in London's Jewish ghetto, 19th-century private detective Barker must hire an assistant to help him solve the sinister case. Out of all who answer an ad for a position with "some danger involved," the eccentric and enigmatic Barker chooses downtrodden Llewelyn, a gutsy young man whose murky past includes recent stints at both an Oxford college and an Oxford prison. As Llewelyn learns the ropes of his position, he is drawn deeper and deeper into Barker's peculiar world of vigilante detective work, as well as the dark heart of London's teeming underworld. Together they pass through chophouses, stables, and clandestine tea rooms, tangling with the early Italian mafia, a mad professor of eugenics, and other shadowy figures, inching ever closer to the shocking truth behind the murder. 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 while signaling the start of an exciting career for Will Thomas.

Colleen

3.5 Stars

*A typical but engaging historical mystery*


Some Danger Involved follows the typical Sherlock style storyline. You have the genius investigator, the dedicated sidekick narrating the tale, and the historical London setting. The biggest difference is that Barker isn't as socially obvious as most Sherlock clones. He's also religious and quite the social reformer. The story certainly doesn't romanticize the time period. 

In the first of the series, Some Danger Involved tells the story of Thomas Llewelyn transformation from destitute young man to assistant to London’s most successful detective. Despite the unoriginal premise, I enjoyed the story. Both the characters and the plot kept me engaged. It’s well researched and immersive. This is a good book for those who enjoy the Sherlock style mysteries. And I look forward to continuing with the series.


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 3 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 3 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 4 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 2 Stars

Anastaciya

Nineteenth-century private detective Cyrus Barker teams up with Thomas Llewelyn, a young man with a murky past, to investigate the sinister killing of a young scholar bearing a startling resemblance to artists' renderings of Jesus Christ, whose body is found crucified in London's Jewish ghetto. A first novel. 60,000 first printing.

Some Danger Involved A Novel

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