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"And so it begins again"

Customer Rating:

If you're not familiar with Will Thomas and the Barker/Llewelyn series, "The Black Hand" is, like the Holmes/Watson classics which it mimics, an entertaining mystery set in Victorian England - the "Miller Lite" of fiction - a "less filling" little gem of a novel that still "tastes great". Thomas sets the hook early in this one, as a barrel containing the putrified corpse of an infamous and feared Sicilian assassin is fished from the Thames. Fearing the threat of violence rising in proportion with the growing Sicilian - and Mafia - population working London's east-end docks, England's "Home Office" calls in the cagey curmudgeon Cyrus Barker to work clandestinely to defuse the issue. With his trusty and plucky young apprentice Thomas Llewelyn faithfully at his side, the duo hansom-cabs around London gathering clues and narrowly escaping their own deaths while bodies pile up around them. So this is neither great literature, nor the strongest entry in the series, but it is a more than adequate pastime, and a neat slice of London's rich history. Thomas surely has a passion for the period and it's colorful cast, and Barker/Llewelyn will overlook a rather pedestrian plot and somewhat forced climax in lieu of the continued development on the protagonists, as Thomas doles out a bit more background and history of the pair. Indeed, much of the allure of Barker and Llewelyn is the somewhat mysterious history of the man in the "dark-tinted eyeglasses", as the author cleverly distances Barker from the obvious comparisons to Sherlock Holmes, while setting up well for the inevitable sequel. As should be expected, Thomas keeps his story lively with his own brand of cynical tongue-in-cheek humor - an uncannily authentic British sense of humor from a guy who reportedly lives in Oklahoma. In short, a must read for fans of the series, and while "The Black Hand" certainly stands on its own, the uninitiated would do well to find a copy of "Some Danger Involved" and start there.

Just Gets Better

Customer Rating:

When the Barker and Llewelyn series started it seemed to be an unabashed cousin of Holmes and Watson. As the series has progressed, however, Mr. Thomas has developed his two heroes with distinct personalities of their own. Additionally, the reader is given a history lesson of London, 1885, in every book. Although this is a series, each book stands alone. There are a few references to prior cases, but nothing the reader needs to know about to understand or appreciate the goings on in this book. In the Black Hand, Barker and Llewelyn are up against a new threat to law and order in London - the Mafia. They are teamed up in a conspiracy to fight the new criminals and especially the Mafia's new leader. Although the plot does not have as many twists and turns as prior ones, Barker's willingness to break the law to enforce the law adds tension to the plot. The best part of this book, relative to the others, is the maturation of the characters. As the series has progressed, Barker, Llewelyn and their entire supporting cast has gained in depth and personality. Llyweleyn's sardonic humor comes through and another member of the household is given a life away from Barker. The characters are a pleasure to revisit and the plot good as always. I can't wait for the next installment. I do worry, though, that Mr. Barker will run out of ethnic groups in old London, having now done in the Italians, Jews, Irish and Chinese. I have faith that with his knowledge of Victorian London the next installment will surprise and impress - again. This is a very good mystery, with terrific characters set in a wonderful historic backdrop. Highly recommended.

not the best in the series, but still good

Customer Rating:

Thomas' new novel, "The Black Hand" is number 5 in the Cyrus Barker/Thomas Llewelyn series. In this installment, the two enquiry agents are hired by the government to try to thwart the establishment of a group of Sicilians known collectively as the Mafia from infiltrating the British underworld. There are also fears that these troublemakers will begin a reign of extortion, murder and other nefarious deeds. Several people have been found dead and the manner of their deaths is known to be those used by the Sicilians. Somehow these people have to be stopped, and soon, especially since the criminals hit very close to home for our heroes. The author also gives his readers a very brief history of the Mafia (up to that time, of course), which was very interesting. I've really enjoyed all of the Barker/Llewelyn series, and while I enjoyed this one, it wasn't my favorite of the five. I figured out the plot twist pretty early on, which kind of disappointed me, and it just seemed a bit flat storywise, not as exciting as some of the previous novels in the series. . Overall it was still a pretty good read; the reader learns more about the enigmatic character of Cyrus Barker, which is a plus. I'd recommend it, but I strongly urge readers who may be considering the series to start with the first one, Some Danger Involved, and to read through the books in order. Now, I wonder how long I'll have to wait for the next one?

I just LOVE this series	Customer Rating:
I couldn't wait for #5 to come out & it's as enjoyable as the rest. If you read the quote from Laurell K. Hamilton regarding this series, I simply couldn't agree more. My only fault is why can't Mr Thomas start writing 2 of these each year?

Will Thomas' fifth offering "The Black Hand"

Customer Rating:

Will Thomas' detective series works its way through the 1880's in Victorian London, and each installment is a great treat. Characters are introduced, then revealed at deeper and deeper levels as the stories go forward, others are added, some may be allowed a leave of absence from a volume only to return with smashing effect. Though some of them can barely stand each other, they amount to a durable family-like ensemble, held together only by the rock-hard force of mysterious Cyrus Barker. "The Black Hand," like its predecessors, presents a mystery of violent crime against the backdrop of ethnic and social struggle in a way that is both faithful to history but fair-handed in its treatment. With the tender sensibilities (egos!) of the Home Office, Scotland Yard, and the River Police to balance, Inquiry Agent Cyrus Barker is the only logical weapon to deploy. Perhaps the single most enjoyable aspect of reading Will Thomas is to immerse yourself in the writings of an authentic Victorian (who happens to live in 21st century Oklahoma!). The historical detail, the turns of phrase, and most of all the atmosphere you will find in these tales is by all means authentic Victorian.