Some Danger Involved

Some Danger Involved (2004) Will Thomas

Thomas Llewelyn is at the end of his rope. He’s spent time in prison, his wife is dead, and he cannot find a job–all but a death sentence in Victorian London. So he eventually applies for the position as assistant to the private inquiry agent Cyrus Barker. After only a few days as Barker’s assistant they take on a case involving the murder of a Jewish man that may be the start of a pogrom against the Jews in London.

I was quickly drawn into the story, and was curious about not just the murder, but Thomas’ past, as well as the history of his employer, Barker. The strength of the book was both the story and the ambiance, with the history of the Jews in London in Victorian London serving as a fascinating backdrop.

It wasn’t a perfect story, however. There were a couple things that nagged at me through the story. One turned out to be a plot point that I was right to question. The other I’m still not certain about, but as this is the start of the series, perhaps my questions will be addressed in further books.

Additionally, I found the dialog jarring at times. It wasn’t the language per se, as much as I had a hard time reconciling Barker’s position in society and the way he spoke to those around him, including Thomas. It just felt a bit off kilter.

However, it was only a small thing, and didn’t ruin the book in any manner, it was just a small distraction from what was otherwise a good tale.
Rating: 7/10

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