Will Thomas: The Official Site |
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Press & PraiseThe Black Hand:
"Characters worthy of Dickens' London cross paths with mafiosi as creatively brutal as Mario Puzo's
Corleones...Llewelyn's first-person narrative infuses the story with his trademark humor—wry,
self-deprecating, and sometimes macabre"
"Will Thomas's The Black Hand is what Conan Doyle would write after taking tea with Lee Child. The
Barker & Llewelyn series transports you to the fog-shrouded, gas-lit streets of Victorian London,
then sweeps you away like the Thames at flood-tide. This atmospheric historical thriller is as good
as it gets."
"I've read every book in the series, and loved them. If you love Sherlock Holmes, historical
mysteries, or just a good, rousing adventure, you'll love these books, too."
The Hellfire Conspiracy:Dodging muckrakers, navigating the murky Thames under cover of darkness, and infiltrating London's most
powerful secret society, The Hellfire Conspiracy is another wild ride that "brings to life a London
roiling with secret leagues, deadly organizations, and hidden clubs"
"Thomas knows his Victorian London and his way around the makings of a great mystery. Fans of
Victorian historicals will snap this up. Strongly recommended for all mystery collections."
"Thomas (To Kingdom Come, 2005, etc.) cleverly develops his characters' personalities while
maintaining his marvelously wrought descriptions of a bygone era."
"Written in a manner owing much to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hellfire Conspiracy nevertheless
manages an identity of its own, with an intriguing plotline and interesting, well-drawn
charactersÉAnglophiles, fans of traditional detective novels and those interested in 19th century
England will find this book more than rewards them for their efforts." The Limehouse TextBy John Orr
Will Thomas is proving to be one of those rare mystery novelists who really smack 'em out
of the park with their first books, and then just keep swattin' 'em out as they go along...Highly recommended. To Kingdom Come:
"A fascinating and fun new detective team...Thomas again brings
the era to life with vivid details.... Entertaining."
"A talent to watch and enjoy...delightful."
"A thorough delight."
"Colorful London private enquiry agent Cyrus Barker and his diminutive young
Welsh assistant, Thomas Llewelyn, make a welcome return in this sequel to last year's Some
Danger Involved...The story is lively, full of convincing historical detail and reveals a
few more tantalizing facts from Barker's mysterious past. The wonderful chemistry between
Barker and Llewelyn makes the book, like its predecessor, a thorough delight."
"Thomas places his cast of likeable even heroic characters within a complex
political minefield and the waits for the explosion. Intense and insightful."
"Last year, Will Thomas' debut novel, Some Danger Involved, introduced
readers to Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn, a fascinating and fun new detective team...It
was one of the best mysteries of 2004...[To Kingdom Come] mostly lives up to expectations.
Kingdom opens with a bang, literally, as the new Special Irish Branch of Scotland Yard is
destroyed by a bomb planted by a fledgling group called the Irish Republican
Brotherhood...there's enough of what made Danger so good to keep Kingdom entertaining.
Llewelyn says he's growing used to never knowing where Barker is going or in what
situation they'll find themselves once they get there. But still he follows. Readers will,
too."
"...fast-paced, cleanly written follow-up to Some Danger Involved...The
action unfolds briskly, and Llewelyn's voice should appeal to boys of all ages."
"Having created a pair of appealing protagonists who debuted in his
Victorian London mystery Some Danger Involved, Thomas needed to look no further than May
30, 1884-when Scotland Yard was bombed by Irish nationalists-for an actual event around
which to build his first sequel...A successful blend of fiction and fact, this is-as
expected-expertly researched and skillfully plotted, with satisfying amounts of emotion
(with a growing friendship between Barker and Llewelyn) and suspense. For all mystery
collections."
"Mystery lovers should grab the book and, before opening it, know that the
author, Will Thomas, delivers another slam-dunk story about this inquiry agent and his
apprentice, Thomas Llewelyn, who unravel intricate mysteries in Victorian England. This
second book in (hopefully) a series, is as carefully researched and lethal as the first,
Some Danger Involved."
"Watching Llewelyn acquire expertise in the arcane specialties of
stick-fighting and hand-made explosives was absorbing, and I was equally fascinated by the
meticulous attention the duo pay to assuming their new identities. The descriptions of the
settings, ranging from cosmopolitan London and Liverpool to the desolate Welsh
countryside, are masterfully drawn, and the lead characters and their comrades are
burgeoning delightfully. This modern take on the Victorian era is utterly believable even
when the characters are slightly too skilled to be true, and the running humor (the killer
Pekinese, and the surly Chinese chef, for examples) adds colorful and delectable garnishes
to this tasty main course."
"Oklahoma mystery writer Will Thomas definitely is a talent to watch and
enjoy. His second novel, To Kingdom Come, is a delightful detective story set in
late-19th-century London. It continues the adventures of enquiry agent Cyrus Barker and
his youthful apprentice, Thomas Llewelyn, characters introduced in Mr. Thomas' critically
acclaimed debut novel, Some Danger Involved."
"In his second novel, author Will Thomas delivers a tense thriller filled
with terrorist groups, secret agents and ineffective governments...The author captures
each location perceptively while keeping the action racing...In To Kingdom Come, Thomas
achieves what the best historical fiction should
"Will Thomas in To Kingdom Come re-creates the London of 1884 in which a
faction of Irish rebels blows up Scotland Yard...Thomas keeps the suspense percolating.
Will the imposters be discovered when they try to pass themselves off as bomb makers?
Who's the ringleader behind the conspiracy? And will the prince of Wales get his?"
"To Kingdom Come is set in Victorian England during 1884, but its resonance
with contemporary issues makes the story even more insightful."
"The first thing to say, in offering any kind of review of the Will Thomas
novel, To Kingdom Come, is I loved this book. I absolutely loved this book. During my time
of reading the many great books I have, this is one I happily include amongst their
number. Mr. Thomas understands not only the essential writing trait of "showing, not
telling", crafting an excellent story with the skill of a master, he also suffuses his
world of 19th century England with an authenticity to make you believe it was composed by
one of that actual day and age."
"To Kingdom Come is another great chapter in the series written by Will
Thomas that has quickly become a must read for every devotee of English Victorian
mysteries. There is no loss of excitement in this second book, and I wholeheartedly
recommend To Kingdom Come to everyone. Arthur Conan Doyle may be gone...long live Will
Thomas."
"Thomas' work is earnest, humbly referential, yet polished in its nod to the
masters' before, accomplished in its own ventures."
"Suspense and a dash of romance make this book a page-turner."
Some Danger Involved:
"A story full of fascinating Jewish atmosphere and authenticity set in
Victorian London. An exciting page-turner with two original detectives. I
look forward to their next adventure!"
"The danger involved in beginning Some Danger Involved at bedtime is
missing a night's sleep. Once Thomas's colorful characters and vivid story
grab hold, they don't let go. A thoroughly entertaining read."
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