Slippery Creatures

Slippery Creatures (2020) KJ Charles (The Will Darling Adventures #1)

Set in London in 1923

When Uncle William had died, Will remembered an ancient piece of lore about bees, and he’d cleared his throat and told the books, “He’s gone.”

He’d been a working part in the State machine for years, a tool to be used, easily replaceable if he broke. He hadn’t particularly minded it at the time—there was a job to be done, one at which he’d proved rather good. But he wasn’t a tool any more, and he was damned if he’d be put back in that box without a by-your-leave.

“My grateful nation wasn’t grateful enough to give me a job. I pawned my medals to keep a roof over my head and food in my belly, and I’ll tell you what, the Military Cross doesn’t fetch a great deal, no matter how many bars you have on it. The pawnbroker told me I should have tried for a Victoria Cross. That would be worth something, he said.”

They would happily burn down the world in order to sift the ashes for gold.

Characters: William Darling, Arthur Aloysius Kimberley de Brabazon Secretan, Mr. Price, Captain Charles Ingoldsby, Professor Edward Draven, Maisie Jones, Elizabeth Ponsonby, Bubby Fanshawe, Norris, Alfie Greenaway, Phoebe Stephens-Prince, Chingford, Superintendent Waddleston, Nanny Mungo, Martin McLean

Cover by Tiferet Design

Rating: 8.5/10

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