The Limehouse Text

The Limehouse Text (2006) Will Thomas

The book starts with Barker getting ready for a fight–a fight that is entirely Llewelyn’s fault. As with the last book, we then go back to see how Llewelyn got himself (and Barker) into that fix. (Everything isn’t Llwelyn’s fault, they are investigating the death of his predecessor, Quong, but part of the mess can be laid entirely at Llwelyn’s doorstop.)

The first book introduced Llewelyn to the Jewish quarter of London. The second book involved them with the Irish, and this book involves them with the Chinese immigrants of the city. Considering Barker’s past, it’s almost a surprise it took them this long to becomes involved in a case in that quarter.

We also learn more bits and pieces of Barker’s past, and some of those with him he associates. Of course learning some of that past is what gets Llewelyn into trouble.

Couple things bothered me about the story. First, I find it unlikely that with his wariness about fighting women, Llewelyn would have bested the Chinese girl in the hallway. Especially if she was as well trained as she was supposed to be. Second, I’m not quite sure how things got so out of Barker’s control regarding Llewelyn’s training. Perhaps I just misread it, but you’d think Barker would have done a better job letter Llewelyn know what he should and should not be doing.

Llewelyn still seems very young–more like a teenager who acts first and thinks later, than a young man who has been married and to prison. Naive is one thing, acting without thinking is something else.

Regardless of those issues, I did enjoy the story and tore right through it wanting to know what was going to happen next. I like Barker and do want to learn more about him, so the mystery or Barker threads through each book in the series.

If you like Victorian mysteries, then you should enjoy the Barker and Llewelyn series. You should be able to start with The Limehouse Text even if you have not read other books in the series.
Rating: 7/10

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