To Kingdom Come

To Kingdom Come (2005) Will Thomas

The sequel to Some Danger Involved find Barker and Llewelyn involved in a case involving the IRB. Fearing that Scotland Yard and the Home Office will be unable to solve the problem, Barker proposes that he and Llewelyn go undercover and attempt to help bring catch the criminals.

The book starts with Thomas Llewelyn plunging into the Thames, and then, when we’re not sure if he’ll survive the plunge, shifts to the past and the events that led to his fall.

A couple of things about this book. I particularly liked how Barker and Llewelyn prepare to infiltrate the group–what they do seems a very reasonable way to achieve their goals. Llewelyn’s training leads you to see how Barker could have gained his varied expertise, and how Llwewlyn quickly have a very broad range of knowledge that will be useful as an enquiry agent.

I also liked how, although Barker is seemingly in complete control over himself, Llewelyn is still learning, and you can see how his youth and inexperience will cause him problems–and I also like how Barker knows and actually uses Llewelyn’s naivete.

One thing initially annoyed me while reading the story:

SPOILER (rot 13)
Dhvgr dhvpxyl V svtherq bhg gung Znevr jnf gur oenvaf oruvaq gur bcrengvba, naq vg sehfgengrq zr gung Yyjrjyla jnf fb qrafr.

Hcba shegure gubhtug, ubjrire, V ernyvmrq gung Onexre nyfb dhvpxyl svtherq guvf bhg, naq uvf jneavatf gb Gubznf jrer gb xrrc uvz sebz ybfvat uvf urneg gb n jbzna jub qvqa’g pner sbe uvz, naq jnf hfvat uvz sbe uvf fhccbfrq rkcregvfr.

Gung znqr frafr. Gubznf’ nggvghqr gbjneqf jbzra vf gung gur snve frk vf nyfb gur jrnxre frk naq arrqf gb or cebgrpgrq. Fb ur jnf hanoyr gb pbaprvir gung Znevr jbhyq or nalguvat zber guna gur ubhfrxrrcre sbe ure oebgure.

Naq guvf gbb vf cneg bs Yyrjryla’f yrffbaf gb znxr uvz n orggre radhvel ntrag, rira vs vg oernxf uvf urneg va gur cebprff.
END SPOILER

Since that had been my only real problem with the book, realizing it was purposeful brought my opinion of the book back up.

The one thing I wish could have been differently is the treatment of the Irish in London: Thomas sees a brief glimpse of the way the Irish were treated, but it’s only a brief look, and it doesn’t seem to phase Thomas very much. Essentially, the Irish did have legitimate gripes, but they were quite obviously going about things the wrong way.

Perhaps the author didn’t want to rub our noses in it, and the single incident was enough for the reader to see the issue even if Thomas didn’t necessarily see the injustice. But it seems as if they would have run into the prejudice more than once.

Regardless, it’s a good story and I particularly liked Llewelyn’s education with van Rhys. If you have not read Some Danger Involved, you should still be able to read To Kingdom Come with no difficulty.
Rating: 8/10

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