Book Review: To Kingdom Come

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

To Kingdom Come     Amazon US TPB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada TPB Amazon Canada HC
Will Thomas
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Historical
Series: Cyrus Baker and his assistant Thomas Llewelyn # 2
Touchstone 2005

Will Thomas is a relatively new voice in suspense fiction. His protagonists are a delightful pair of investigators working in London in the late years of the 19th century.

Cyrus Barker owns a private investigative firm, and dislikes the term "private detective." He insists on the more distinguished term "enquiry agent." He has a group of eccentric sidekicks, household employees, and outside consultants - calling to mind the similar collection of characters employed by Peter Wimsey featured in Dorothy L. Sayers' books set in the same city about a quarter century later.

In an earlier installment in the series, Barker rescues Thomas Llewellyn from a precarious existence living on the edge in London. He provides a home, clothing, a nutritious diet, and training in weaponry and various martial arts. In exchange Thomas is to join the firm and work with Barker on his various commissions.

IRA bombers have destroyed a section of Scotland Yard's London headquarters, and some high officials consult Barker privately, encouraging him to infiltrate an IRA cell and provide evidence to support the arrests of those responsible.

Barker and Lewellyn are off - traveling to Liverpool, to Paris, back to London. They strive to maintain confidence in their skills as bombers and terrorists, fool the IRA, yet render the bombs they build as ineffective. Along the way they meet a beautiful young woman who provides Thomas with several opportunities to consider a change of career.

William Butler Yeats has a cameo role in the action, as did Sir Moses Montifiore in Thomas' earlier book in the series.

Looking forward to the next one!

Woodstock - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Woodstock - RAM