Book Review: For Services Rendered by Will Thomas

 This may honestly be the most 'mainstream' book I've read and reviewed all year.  

Will Thomas' Barker and Llewelyn series set in Victorian England is a long running series with Barker- an eccentric Enquiry Agent sort of rescuing Llewelyn in his misguided youth and eventually making him a partner in the Enquiry business.  (private detectives).

I started this series several years ago and while I always had a few misgivings about the possible accuracy of Barker's ties to China, and the Chinese in London during this time, I also have to admit, I didn't really have an knowledge to ascertain if it was accurate or not. It turns out, based on some conversations and the mildest of google research that Thomas appears to have done his research. 

SO- I'm not going to spoil the story but I might reveal a bit more than normal. 

     In this novel we meet historical figure Sun Yat Sen.  (Yes the SUn Yat Sen we recall from history classes).  He's on a trip to London when he finds himself rather indisposed and missing.  In fact, he has been kidnapped. Who better to look into this than Barker and Llewelyn Enquiry Agents? Barker speaks Cantonese and has deep ties within the London Chinese population. Llewelyn is, as always, along for the ride. 

    And what a wild ride it is!!! An arch-rival nemesis arrives after being declared dead, adding even more stakes to the mystery.  Llewelyn's by now raising a young family that must be protected, and Barker's mysterious lady friend becomes more prominent in this novel. 

  There is a fair amount of swashbuckling, gun slinging, and adventures on the river with the historic River Police. Interspersed, long time readers of the series will be delighted with the back story that Llewelyn is FINALLY able to squeeze out of the reticent Barker! This was the bit that I adored the most.  In addition, Llewelyn has a bit of an addition to his family that was most unexpected, and also delightful in it's own way. 

  Antony Ferguson does the narration for this novel and I appreciated that he was able do all of the accents without exaggerating them, making it a fun an interesting listen that flowed easily through my ears. Many Thanks to Macmillan audio for this copy. 

    If this piques your interest but you have not read the entire series, rest assured, Thomas does a nice job of summing up the situation, so that the reader can read this as a stand-alone. 

STATS

First Published  August 18, 2026

Pages: 320

Available as an Audio Book : Yes ~ 9 hours 

Trigger Warnings:  death, violence, poisioning, gun violence, kidnapping, unlawful arrest,   

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)