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    Some Danger Involved
    Some Danger Involved
    Some Danger Involved
    Audiobook9 hours

    Some Danger Involved

    Written by Will Thomas

    Narrated by Antony Ferguson

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    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 Barker takes the case, 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 novel that introduces an equally captivating duo.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateNov 29, 2016
    ISBN9781515983798
    Some Danger Involved
    Author

    Will Thomas

    WILL THOMAS is the author of the Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn series, including The Black Hand, The Hellfire Conspiracy, The Limehouse Text, To Kingdom Come, and the Shamus and Barry award-nominated Some Danger Involved. He lives with his family in Oklahoma.

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    Reviews for Some Danger Involved

    4/5

    369 ratings32 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I love historical mystery novels and I'm really glad to have discovered this series. I hope the following books will be just as satisfying as this one. The audio version makes it a very pleasurable read.
    • 5/5
      Excellent! Great characters, great story line, and exceptional narration. Can't wait to listen to the next book in the series.
    • 3/5
      A bit slow going at times. I enjoyed it for it's atmosphere (Victorian England).
    • 3/5
      Set in Victorian London, a inquiry agent, Barker, hires a new assistant, Llewelyn. Llewelyn has been recently released from prison and is down on his luck. They are hired to investigate the crucifixion of a man in the Jewish ghetto by the Anti-Semite league. Much of the novel is to get us familiar with the main characters. They are both smart and quirky. There is a bit of a morality lesson in the story as well. I had high hopes, but it was just OK for me.
    • 5/5
      Wonderful series, totally immersed in the characters and plot twists.
    • 5/5
      Cyrus Barker and his new assistant Thomas Llewelyn are drawn to a case of the murder of a young Jewish man. After he was murdered, the victim was crucified. Was this a Jewish hate crime or something else entirely? The two inquiry agents must search the East East of London to find the answer. This is an excellent first mystery novel of Victorian England filled with a number of colorful characters. You can almost hear the clop of horses hooves on the cobble stone streets.
    • 5/5
      SOME DANGER INVOLVED BY WILL THOMAS is the first in the BARKER/LLEWELYN SERIES. The title, taken by the advertisement from Mr.Barker,private inquiry agent in Victorian London. Barker,after hiring Llewelyn paid to find out who crucified a very young Jewish man. Barker is a mystery himself,he keeps himself to himself. His past , not much known, his present, not much known. Barker wont even talk to Llewellyn about what he knows about his case and Llewelyn is working for Barker. What a wonderful historical mystery. I cant wait to listen to more of the series.
    • 3/5
      This serviceable mystery set in Victorian London involves the gruesome death by crucifixion of a member of London's large Jewish population. Is the murder related to the victim's scholarly studies, his secretive romantic life, or perhaps a warning that rising tensions between the Jews and other ethnic minorities inhabiting the stews of London might be coming to a dangerous boil?The author, Will Thomas, is an avowed Sherlockian, so it's not surprising to see Sherlockian echoes throughout this novel - especially since this is Thomas's first novel and thus (we might infer) his first attempt at developing his own narrative voice. His detective, Barker, bears many similarities to Holmes, including an encyclopedic knowledge of London (readers familiar with the Doyle canon will recognize the metaphor in which Barker describes himself as a spider seated in the middle of a web, attuned to every movement and shudder of the strands) and cool oriental fighting skills. He also has his own Watson, a young Welshman named Llewelyn, to whom he can explain his investigative methods, lest we fail to appreciate them. At least in this outing, however, Barker demonstrates little of Holmes' wit or investigative prowess. The solution to the mystery depends more on dogged investigation and "hunches" rather than forensic evidence or clever observation; moreover, the murderers' ultimate methods and motives prove disappointingly uninspired.Having said that, I found this a satisfying read. Thomas's depiction of Victorian England feels authentic and accurate. His characters, while somewhat derivative, possess a certain depth and appeal. Most of all, I enjoyed his insights into the Jewish community during this period of time. All in all, Some Danger Involved is better written and more engaging than some other Victorian mystery serials I have sampled over the year.
    • 4/5
      I love the characters in these books. Mr. Thoms has another in this series coming out in July. I can't wait. Anyone else reading these? This is fun reading, not great literature, but I still learn historical things about everyday life in this time period.
    • 3/5
      3.5 stars. After a stint in prison and having lost his wife to consumption, young Thomas Llewelyn has just about lost hope of finding a position in London. He answers an advertisement as an assistant to enquiry agent Cyrus Barker, planning to jump off a bridge later if this last effort proves unsuccessful. Luckily Barker sees Llewelyn's worth and hires him. Their first case involves the murder by crucifixion of a young Jewish scholar.

      The best thing about this book is the two lead characters. Their relationship grows very slowly and realistically throughout the novel. At the start Thomas is not sure what to make of his eccentric employer and is unsure if he should continue in his employ. But very slowly they learn more about each other and form a good working relationship, and eventually a friendship. Thomas is a very sympathetic character and you really feel his pain and depression. Cyrus is a very strange man yet you come to realize he sees far more than most people. I also liked that he seems very open minded and non-judgmental. There are obvious influences of Sherlock Holmes in this story, yet it stands on its own.

      I will definitely be trying the next in the series.
    • 4/5
      I found this to be a very good Victorian mystery, well written and always moving. I really liked The Reading Group Guide at the end. I hope the rest of the Barker & Llewelyn books are just as good.
    • 4/5
      Surprising at the end.
    • 5/5
      AUTHOR: Thomas, WillTITLE: Some Danger InvolvedDATE READ: 12/28/2015RATING: 5/AGENRE/PUB DATE/PUBLISHER/# OF PGS Historical Mystery/ 2004 /Touchstone / 288 pgs SERIES/STAND-ALONE #1 Cyrus BarkerCHARACTERS AUTHOR: Cyrus Barker/Enquiry Agent Thomas Llewelyn/ assistantTIME/PLACE Victorian LondonFIRST LINES Assistant to prominent enquiry agent. Typing and shorthand required. Some danger involved in performance of duties. Salary commensurate with ability, 7 Craig's Court. So ran the advertisement in the "situations vacant" column of THE TIMES for the 4th day straight. COMMENTS: Great debut and will read on. Love the time & setting and the characters are unique. Cyrus Barker is an odd looking fellow w/ a bit of a "gray" past. Thomas Llewelyn is a young man who had a benefactor paying for an Oxford education but circumstances …stopped his education when his young wife was ill. He was accused of stealing and sent away to prison. About to end it all he makes a last stop/stab applying for this job. Barker sees beyond the superficial and sees his potential. This 1st outing deals w/ the Jewish community, religious prejudice, eugenics and betrayal. Kept me interested.
    • 3/5
      While both the seasoned "enquiry agent" and his new assistant have fascinating back stories, and the setting is distinct, the murder and investigation are not compelling. Mysterious and exotic Cyrus Barker and desperate, young Thomas Llewelyn plod along by foot or carriage, interviewing potential suspects, while the only interesting revelations are Thomas's discoveries about Barker and the reader's insight into the likable narrator. Fans of historical fiction may enjoy information about the influx of Jews into Victorian London but I hope author Will Thomas finds more exciting cases for this potentially-entertaining duo in subsequent installmens.
    • 4/5
      This is the first I've read from this author & I really enjoyed it. Set in victorian London, it begins a series featuring an eccentric enquiry agent (don't call him a private detective) & his assistant, a down on his luck Welshman. Full of period details, real life characters & wry humour, it makes for a quick & entertaining read.
      Cyrus Barker is an enigmatic renaissance man who may well be the best enquiry agent in London. It begins with him interviewing for the recently vacated position of assistant. Unfortunately, his last side kick took a bullet between the eyes so it's important prospective applicants realize there will be "some danger involved". After three days, he meets Thomas Llewelyn. Thomas is a young man who has lost it all....his wife, his reputation & maybe his future. With three shillings in his pocket & few possessions, he has decided that if he doesn't get the job, his only option is a swan dive into the Thames.
      But Cyrus sees something in the small, dark man & before Thomas knows it, he has a job, a home, a wardrobe & three square meals a day.
      They catch a new case. A promising Jewish student has been murdered & left hanging from a light pole in a disturbing recreation of the crucifixion. Anti-semitism or something more personal? Sir Moses, a prominent & influential english Jew fears the possibility of a pogrom like those that have occurred in other European cities & wants this nipped in the bud. Cyrus & Thomas begin an investigation that will take them into neighbourhoods that are affluent & poor, Jewish & Christian.
      Cyrus is an interesting man who seems to know every hidden doorway, back alley & trapdoor in London. Raised in the far east, he has an appreciation & profound knowledge of all things Asian, reflected in his practice of Tai Chi, an ornamental garden & Harm, a cantankerous Pekinese who doesn't hesitate to go for the ankles of any intruder. He's surrounded himself with odd characters: Mac (the Jewish valet/housekeeper/bodyguard), Etienne (a temperamental French chef who knows how to hold a grudge) & John Racket (the ever present cab driver).
      Thomas is a sympathetic character who has known only poverty, hardship & heartbreak 'til now. Under Cyrus' employ, his world expands as he's exposed to people & places he never knew existed & he has to learn on his feet. It's not going too badly & it takes a full week before someone attempts to kill him. Huh, maybe he should have read the help wanted ads more carefully.
      There are lost of twists & turns in this smart & amusing who-done-it. I know other reviewers have made comparisons to Holmes & Watson & there are similarities but this is much more fun. Cyrus has his secrets but is much less arrogant than Holmes, not as cold & supercilious. The book is narrated by Thomas so we get his take on everything that happens plus his witty impressions of the colourful cast they encounter during the investigation. Through his eyes, we experience the simmering struggles between different ethnic groups set against the age old British class system. Dialogue is lean & smart & the tension slowly builds as we reach the action packed finale. Like a good Conan Doyle or Agatha Christie mystery, only with hindsight do you realize the significance of earlier comments that seemed inconsequential at the time.
      There is a huge variety of characters & the author's descriptions bring them to life ("Her hair was pulled back so severely, it would have won approval from the Spanish Inquisition as a method of torture."). And there is a compelling murder(s) mystery to be solved. But at its' heart is the budding relationship between the two main protagonists. Many of the passages I enjoyed the most took place under Cyrus' roof during conversation between the boss, Thomas, Etienne & Mac. And Harm, of course (I don't want to risk pissing off the tiny terror).
      Clever, witty & atmospheric, this is a book that keeps you chuckling as you follow the intrepid agents on their current case & I will definitely pick up the next one to see where it takes them.
    • 3/5
      The first book in a promising series of Victorian England detective novels finds the somewhat superhuman but attractively eccentric sleuth Cyrus Barker and his green but plucky assistant, Thomas Llewellyn, on the trail of the vicious Anti-Semite League. The book provides interesting insights into Jewish life in 1884 England and features cameos from historical Jewish figures such as the centenarian Sir Moses Montefiore and the 21-year-old Israel Zangwill (future author of "The Melting Pot"). I loved the vividness with which London was portrayed, especially the neighborhood of Elephant and Castle, (which I visited exactly 100 years later), and the dialog and plot are soundly constructed. However, the book suffered from what I take to be first-novel flaws, most notably a rather over-explicated solution to the mystery, in which the villain delivers a monologue over a page long explaining in great detail how he dunnit as one of the heroes is in mortal peril. Also, very strangely, the novel is written in American English despite being set entirely in London. Finally, the novel was apparently edited via spell-check: a character filed down the "site" of his pistol and commented on the "yoke" of his eggs. I hope both the writing and the editing improve in future entries in the series—which I intend to read.
    • 4/5
      I liked this novel. While not as detailed as, for example, a Sherlock Holmes novel, the plot did hold my attention and I found that I enjoyed reading the novel from the "assistant", Llewelyn's point of view. Now off to read the next installment!
    • 4/5
      Probably more of 3.5 stars, but it was better than average and it was well done.
      It a good sink you teeth into it classic mystery and detection story with plenty of red herrings all looking like smoked salmon!
      Interesting characterizations, realistic London locale, believable.

      I will read the next in this series.
    • 3/5
      A bit slow going at times. I enjoyed it for it's atmosphere (Victorian England).
    • 5/5
      SOME DANGER INVOLVED by Will Thomas (Mystery Fiction, Victorian England) 4.5 star ratingIn 2010 I won, and read, The Limehouse Text, the third in this series by Will Thomas, featuring Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn. I knew then I’d found a series worth following up. Set in 1884 London, the characters are clearly modeled on Holmes and Watson, but are still original enough (and much more likeable!) to be entertaining.In this first of the series, Thomas laments:If I could change any aspect of work as an enquiry agent, it would be the danger, but then, Barker warned me on that very first day, right there in the advertisement. ASSISTANT to prominent enquiry agent.Typing and shorthand required. Some dan-ger involved in performance of duties. Sal-ary commensurate with ability. 7 Craig’sCourt.Some Danger Involved contains a solid mystery, an adventure in the Jewish section of Victorian London, and some danger for the reader: that of becoming hooked on this series.Read this if: you enjoy Sherlock Holmes pastiches – this is a particularly good one. 4½ stars
    • 4/5
      A fun mystery, well-researched, featuring a kind of Victorian man of mystery. There are sequels, and I plan to read them. Great fun!
    • 4/5
      A young man, penniless, hopeless and ready to just give it all up, reads an ad in a London paper saying an enquiry agent is looking for an assistant. "Some danger involved." He skips on the rent he can't pay, takes his meager belongings and shows up to apply. Thus begins a new life filled with danger, but also with a bed, food and more importantly, feeling useful and worthwhile.The mystery was pretty good, the characters drawn well and complex, Victorian London displayed in all its grimness, grime and growing pains. I'll be reading more of the series to see where it goes.
    • 4/5
      I was lent this book by Brenda (Bashford Methodist), which she recommeded. I really enjoyed this and suggested to my book club. The tow main characters are very similar to Holmes and Watson, but enough significant differences to not make me think I was reading Arthur Connan Doyle. I will be looking for some time to read his next installment.
    • 5/5
      Thomas Llewelyn is a man facing what may be his last day. A recent Oxford student, Oxford ex-convict and by his own calculations 'unemployable', Llewelyn has decided that if he doesn't obtain employment that day, he will swan dive into the Thames and end it all. The live or die job that he is applying for is assistant to a prominent enquiry agent, a.k.a detective. As per the advertisement, some typing and shorthand required and some danger involved in the performance of duties. Luckily for both Llewelyn and readers alike, he passes the rather unusual interview process and secures the job as assistant to Cyrus Barker.With 'on the job training' provided, Barker quickly involves his new assistant to help solve a murder - by crucifixion - of a Jewish immigrant and scholar, Louis Pokrzywa, in the Jewish ghetto of London. Told from the point of view of Llewelyn, the reader follows Llewelyn's educational learning curve - understandably steep at times - in his new work environment as assistant to a 19th century P.I., as well as the case at hand. As part of his employment package, Llewelyn is provided with room and board in the home of his employer where we get to meet a unique cast of characters - Barker's dry sarcastic Jewish butler Mac, the temperamental French chef Dummolard, a Chinese gardener and the ankle-biting territorial Pekinese watch dog Harm.Racing through the streets of London with an enigma of a boss - there is more to Barker than meets the eye - to try and solve the murder and hopefully stop a potential pogrom in its tracks, this story was a great mix of Victorian England flavor, religious and historical background, excellent characters and unexpected twists and turns to the case to keep the reader, or at least kept me, guessing right to the very end. A great Victorian murder mystery to curl up with.
    • 3/5
      This book pleasantly surprised me - I was worried it would be another bad Sherlock Holmes knockoff, but it was quite enjoyable.
    • 4/5
      Historical english mystery with wonderful characters. A bit slow in places but overall a good read. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
    • 4/5
      I'm home miserable with a cold and possible strep throat, feeling sorry for myself and wishing I had something to think about besides trying to breathe. Then I look next to my bed, and here is this book, just waiting for such a chance.Thomas Llewellyn is fresh out of Oxford Prison and down to his last penny. He spots an ad for a job in the paper "Assistant to prominent enquiry agent. Some danger involved in performance of duty." Thomas is just desperate enough to answer such an ad. After a rather unexpected interview, he get the job. Almost immediately he is thrown into the investigation of a murder. A Jew has been found in crucified in the ghetto, a scripture scrawled next to the body, and the slogan "Anti-Jewish League." Could this be the beginning of a pogrom against the Jews of England?It's funny how sometimes, everything you read seems to tie together. I'm not sure if that's because it really is all related, or because your mind just starts looking for connections. But this one seemed to tie in neatly with The Chosen especially well. It is set much later than the mystery and in New York, not London, but the strong setting of the Jewish community is well done in both book.Full of adventure, fast paced, good characters. This is the first in the series, and I will definitely look for the next one. I'm not sure if this counts as a teen book, as I've seen it shelved there in the library, but it would be good for either teens or adults. 4 stars
    • 5/5
      *Sherlock with a Twist*I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a Victorian mystery as much as I did this one. What talent the author has to evoke the reader's feelings of being right there with the characters of the time and landscape of London's turn-of-the-century era. This first installment's plot has a Jewish theme to it and I can honestly say that I found it all very interesting. I learned a lot about Jewish culture and customs that I had not known before. I believe that the author's true talent lies in character development. Great detail and slow build up of information has the reader absolutely loving the two key players of Cyrus Barker the investigator, and his new assistant Llewelyn. Barker is sort of a Sherlock-like character only not so serious, and is a man with an interesting background and unique hobbies and penchants. His love for zen gardening, gourmet food, weapons, books and an adorable Pekinese dog will have the reader spellbound of his character alone. To accompany this investigating duet is a colorful menagerie of background players that we will see in future installments as regulars. We have a Jewish Butler with an attitude, a Chinese gardener, a persnickety French chef, restaurant owners, snitches, Scotland Yard's finest and that cute little attack dog named Harm. This array of characters and blend of superior murder mystery plot, combined with action, romance, and humor, leaves this book ready to be unwrapped like a gift to enjoy from start to finish. I read this in one day and can't wait to pick up book two. This is a very promising series in the making. Hats off to the author for an outstanding performance!
    • 4/5
      "Some Danger Involved" is the debut novel in Will Thomas' Cyrus Barker/Thomas Llewelyn Victorian mystery series. Set in the gritty streets of London, the story is told from the perspective of Thomas, who at the story's onset is contemplating suicide. Twenty-two, unemployed, recently released from prison, and mourning the recent death of his young wife, Thomas on first glance isn't the stuff of which heroes are made. However, he is an absolutely charming character - his basic honesty and integrity, his naivete, his modesty and unassuming style, and even his very Welshness - make him a delightful foil for the sophisticated and confident Barker. Barker hires Thomas as his assistant and the two set out to prevent a pogrom in the Jewish Quarter. Will Thomas knows his period, and Victorian London comes alive. The mystery element is carefully plotted and entirely satisfactory, but it is the characters that keep this novel alive. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
    • 4/5
      When Thomas Llewelyn, penniless and nearing the very end of his rope, answered the advertisement in "The Times" for "assistant to prominent enquiry agent. Some danger involved," he had already made up his mind that if he didn't get the position, his next step would be jumping off the Waterloo Bridge into the Thames and putting an end to his sad, wretched life. He was, quite literally, a man with nothing to lose. His interview with Cyrus Barker was odd, but at the end, he found himself with a new position. The first case he would work on came their way the next morning, with the gruesome discovery of a crucified young Jewish rabbinical student in the center of the Jewish ghetto. Cyrus Barker is hired to determine if the spectacular murder was a forerunner to another anti-Semitic raid against the Jewish community, or just a personal score that got settled the hard way. Llewelyn learns just what his job as "assistant" to an unorthodox vigilante detective entails the hard way as he and his employer inch closer and closer to the truth, and he finds himself literally drug through London's teeming underworld.This is a really good debut of a series, set in Victorian England, with plenty of character development that whets the appetite for the next installment. I really enjoyed this and will give it a strong 4.