Who doesn't love Barker and Llewelyn? Cyrus Barker, man of action and mystery, and Thomas Llewelyn, good detective and loyal amanuensis. The reader opens a book by Will Thomas and knows the game is afoot. This is the thirteenth book in the series, and there is not a dud among them.

This series is set in Victorian London, and Barker and Llewelyn give Holmes and Watson a run for their money. I remember bombs, fire, vicious assaults, but I don't remember poison being used before. Thomas is a fine writer, and he shows his mastery of his craft here. Every time you think you have it figured out, something else happens and you realize you are two steps behind. Again.

If you haven't read any of the earlier books you will be able to follow this book with no problems. And you should, this is a cracking read. This may be Thomas' best book yet, and that is saying something. Grab a copy of this one, and if you haven't read the first dozen you have a great pleasure awaiting you.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed this latest installment in the witty historical mystery series set in Victorian London.

This is the second book I have read in this entertaining series. I enjoy them because of the well developed characters of Barker and Llewelyn; they make a perfect detective team.

This 13th installment has a darker plot with a sinister poisoner on the loose. The mystery was clever and difficult to figure out. I was surprised by the ending, which is what I like to see in a twisty mystery.

Not to mention that this cover is absolutely stunning!

As he enters the office to ask for help, Cyrus Barker’s latest client falls dead on the floor. Roland Fitzhugh, a member of Parliament, had been given a tart laced with cyanide by a young boy shortly before entering the offices of Barker and Llewelyn, Private Enquiry Agents. Barker still considers Fitzhugh a client and is determined to find his murderer, putting himself and everyone around him in danger. Fitzhugh’s murder is followed by the murder of the Burke family, including young Tommy, the boy who gave Fitzhugh the piece of pie. Dubbed The Mad Pie Man, the murderer sets a number of traps, poisoning Barker’s butler, causing a life threatening allergic reaction for Llewelyn and almost snaring Barker in a trap in his own office. There does not seem to be anywhere that the murderer can not get to.

From the poorer districts to the manors of the rich, Barker and Llewelyn work with Inspector Poole of Scotland Yard to solve these crimes before panic takes over the city. Fitzhugh was engaged to a woman who is demanding answers. His former law partner had a fight with him that came to blows before dissolving their firm. Fitzhugh had also prosecuted cases that could provide a number of suspects. With a case that puts close friends and loved ones in danger, Barker and Llewelyn must move quickly but cautiously to find the poisoner.

Barker and Llewelyn work well together. Llewelyn is a young married scholar who has spent time in jail. His wife is aware of the dangers involved in his position, but when their home becomes unsafe she wonders if it is time to choose another profession. Barker is a man of few words, but he can be intimidating when he does speak. He has been taught by a master in China and is still wanted by the Qing dynasty for his activities while living there. Together they are a formidable pair. Will Thomas’ Fierce Poison is beautifully plotted and will keep you engaged from the first page to the surprising solution. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for my review.

I've enjoyed Will Thomas's excellent series from the very first book, Some Danger Involved. I've learned a lot about the different areas of Victorian London, and I've enjoyed watching young Thomas Llewelyn mature and his cheeky sense of humor become more sharply honed. The mysteries are always good, strong exercises for the little grey cells, too.

From standing beneath Big Ben as it tolls the hour to finding out why the typical Englishman dislikes plainclothes police officers, readers are firmly treading the streets of London in the 1890s, and I have to admit that Fierce Poison is one of my favorite books in the series. The "Mad Pie Man" poisoner is truly frightening, and Llewelyn's reaction to one of the victims and her flower pots is profoundly moving. There was a time or two when Barker or Llewelyn touch something or enter a place and I wanted to shout "Put that down!" or "Don't go in there!" -- but happily, Thomas manages to keep readers on red alert without overusing that thriller staple.

Barker and Llewelyn continue to be one of my favorite private enquiry duos, and as young Thomas's life continues to change, I'm certainly looking forward to their next adventure. If you're new to the series and not sure you're intrigued enough to begin at the very beginning, you should be able to read Fierce Poison without confusion. The author does provide enough of the characters' backstories. But... don't be surprised if you find yourself wanting more.

One of my favorite mystery genres is the historical mystery and Will Thomas is one author who holds a place on my top ten series list. With 13 books, so far, in the Barker Llewelyn series, not one has been a disappointment. This one is the best yet. While I do like reading series in order, this works fine as a stand alone.
The time is 1893, the place is the office of Barker and Llewelyn, private inquiry agents. They have just met the man who will be their next client...sort of. The man is a new member of Parliment and only utters the words "help me" before he falls to the floor. dead. Fierce poison, indeed as he has been done in by a raspberry tart flavored with cyanide. It's soon clear that he was only the first to be poisoned and the popular press dub the killer the Mad Pie Man. Former PM Gladstone turns to Barker and Llewelyn to follow the cases to stop the killer. When the poisoner starts targeting those close to Barker and Llewelyn, well, wow is all I can say. I won't say any more for fear of dropping a spoiler or lessening the suspense for other readers. With all of the twists, turns and a load of red herrings the ending was unexpected.
From the period, the setting and a great cast of recurring characters all wrapped up in an engrossing puzzle to solve, this series deserves to be on "the must read" list of every mystery reader who enjoys historical mysteries.
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Fierce Poison is the 13th book in the Barker & Llewelyn series by Will Thomas. Many series lose their magic after just a few books, but that's not the case here! I'm 57 years old and have read an unbelievable amount of books in my lifetime, but honestly, this is one of my favorite series ever. I both read and listed to the audiobook version of this story; you'll enjoy both, but listen if you have the opportunity. Narrator Antony Ferguson is absolutely phenomenal and brings this book to living, breathing life.

It's 1893 in London England. Private enquiry agents (NOT detectives!) Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn have seen just about everything, but even they never had a possible client drop dead in their office...until now. Roland Fitzhugh, a Member of Parliament, comes into their office to consult them, but after uttering the words "help me", he collapses and dies. They learn that Fitzhugh was poisoned with a raspberry tart containing cyanide. A tart also kills an entire family in the East End, except for the baby. The press, always giving nicknames to killers, labels the poisoner the Mad Pie Man. William Gladstone, the former Prime Minister, hires Barker and Llewelyn to find out who killed Fitzhugh, who was the newest member of the House of Commons. Soon both men are targeted by the poisoner; it begins with Barker's butler Mac being poisoned by digitalis and his dog Harm being drugged. They also find boobytraps throughout their home. They have got to find out who is perpetrating these dastardly murders before they find themselves 6 feet under. As it turns out, the danger is closer to home than either Barker or Llewelyn realize.

This was an exciting story with many twists and turns, and I was caught up in a web that wouldn't let me go. The book is written from Llewelyn's point of view, which makes this story amusing as well as thrilling. Llewelyn, you see, is a bit of a wiseacre. My kind of man. He lent humor to a serious plot. He was a young Welsh widower just out of jail when he was hired by Barker 10 years previously. He's now a partner in the firm and is married to Rebecca, who is not pleased with the danger Llewelyn meets on a daily basis. He's dedicated to his job, however, even though he is still sometimes referred to as "Lad" by Barker, who seems to forget that Llewelyn is now 30. Barker is a rather unique man. A Scotsman, he lived in China for a good amount of time and sometimes seems to be stuck between two different worlds. He's nearing 50 and is dealing with a severely injured knee, and he's beginning to feel his age. He's a gruff man of few words and is a brilliant enquiry agent. I absolutely love the relationship between Barker and Llewelyn. They can be at odds, as Barker is a hard taskmaster and Llewelyn mouths off; but you can see the respect and dare I say the affection they actually have for one another. I was happy to be reacquainted with the supporting characters who have become like friends to me: Jacob "Mac" Maccabee, Barker's fastidious butler, Harm the dog, cantankerous chief Etienne, firm clerk Jeremy Jenkins, Barker's Chinese friend Ho, Barker's lady friend Philippa, Llewelyn's wife Rebecca and Terence Poole of Scotland Yard are all here. As to the plot, it was a great mystery with twists and turns everywhere! I kept thinking I knew who did it, but apparently I didn't have a clue. You can feel the frustration and worry that more people will die if our private enquiry agents couldn't identify the killer, and soon. They were in the poisoner's path as well. When the poisoner was revealed, I was just shocked at who it was! I never would have guessed. That makes for an entertaining mystery. I hope the whole crew will be back soon.

Narrator Antony Ferguson is one of the best in the business. He voices Barker and Llewelyn just perfectly. When I'm reading the book and not listening to the audio, I clearly hear the characters' voices in my head. I hope he is NEVER replaced as narrator, as no one could ever top his work. He IS Barker and Llewelyn.

I received and ARC of this book and audiobook courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn are very much an odd couple of investigator and this latest in a long running series sees them bring their diverse backgrounds and experience to a very twisty case of a poisoner. Don't worry- it will be fine as a standalone. Set in 1893 London, it's suffused with atmosphere. The pair are hired by PM Gladstone after MP Roland Fitzhugh drops dead in their office after being poisoned with a raspberry tart. And he's not the only one. A villain who becomes known as the Mad Pie Man similarly does in others and then sets sights on Barker and Llewelyn themselves! No spoilers from me but know that I was surprised at the identity of the murderer and the motivation for the crimes. Fans who have followed along will be pleased to see new layers peeled back on these men and new details about their households. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

Set in 1893 London, Fierce Poison is a delectable Victorian-era Historical Fiction Mystery book crammed with oodles of eclectic characters, unpredictable conundrums and wondrous historical details. Will Thomas writes with fabulous wit and engaging style, light yet substantive. Each book in this series introduces the reader to snippets in characters' backgrounds in an enlightening and logical way. Thankfully in addition to the familiar, surprises pop up.

A young man enters the private enquiry practice of China-born Scot Cyrus Barker and Welsh Thomas Llewelyn and drops dead within seconds. This is not exactly a common occurrence, especially as the man was a new Member of Parliament. But the murderous rampage does not stop there...Barker and Llewelyn follow the trail of seemingly random poisonings and become targets. Former Prime Minister Gladstone enters the scene, another Victorian detail which adds a certain weightiness to the atmosphere. The twists and pace are fast, the plot clever and the ending leaves me yearning for the next installment!

Amongst my (many) favourite aspects of this book are the glimpses we see of lives at home which really ground both Barker and Llewelyn. Watching their characters evolve and mature is fascinating as well. Slivers of their pasts come to light as they solve cases, deal with the politics and movements of the time and learn to work with peers.

If you are itching to get your hands on a fun yet satisfying series, this is for you. Though it is possible to read Fierce Poison first, do read the entire series. It seems to get better and better!

My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this compelling and escapist book...I absolutely adored it!

3.5 stars

This latest adventure for enquiry agent Cyrus Barker and his partner Thomas Llewelyn starts right out with a bang. They are in their office one morning when a stranger walks in, asks for help, and then drops dead at their feet.

This historical mystery series has been entertaining and fun. You could read this as a standalone but having the background from the other books would only enhance the experience. They are in London in 1893. Barker has an eclectic background and skill set, including government agent, sea captain and boxer. There is an ensemble of characters, including Llewelyn's wife, Barker's butler, their office manager, some Scotland Yard types and Barker's lady friend.

It turns out that the dead man is only the first body -- he was murdered, and the murderer is clever and follows up by murdering anyone who could identify him or her, including a whole family who is poisoned. Barker and Llewelyn are at risk because the killer had access to their homes and office, and left several deadly traps for them. Both have close calls with planted poisons.

Lots of suspense culminating in a surprise suspect. There was a bit of confusion at the ending having to do with Barker possibly going back to China which I thought didn't add much to the story but altogether a good read. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

London, 1893

Though the team of Barker and Llewellyn have seen a lot of strange things in the past ten years, they’ve never had a client drop dead in their offices before. But that’s just what happens one day when Roland Fitzhugh, a newly minted Member of Parliament, walks in one morning and dies with little warning. After a brief investigation, Barker determines that Fitzhugh died of poisoning– specifically because of a cyanide-laced raspberry tart he had eaten on the way in. The murderer’s crimes are compounded by the death of an East End family, poisoned that very night. With the press having a field day over the Mad Pie Man, as they’ve begun to call the poisoner, Barker and Llewellyn are hired by former Prime Minister Gladstone to investigate the deaths and find the murderer before more people succumb. But no sooner have they been hired, than they find themselves under attack. Their butler is poisoned and vicious traps have been laid throughout their home. On the run, Barker and Llewellyn must use all their wits and investigative skills to find the killer before they and the people they love most fall prey to a poisoner’s traps.

Thirteen is considered to be an unlucky number, and in this thirteenth outing for private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewellyn, it seems as though their luck might finally have run out. Poisoning doesn’t leave behind the sort of evidence that a knife or a gun might, and because the poisons used are readily available throughout the great city of London, it seems impossible that our intrepid heroes could find the killer among the millions who live there. But they pursue their suspects all the same, if only because there is little else they can do. They are targets themselves and cannot find peace or safety until they get to the bottom of the mystery.

And so they do. Llewellyn with his usual snark and storyteller’s flair, and Barker with his stoicism and eye for detail. And in typical fashion, Will Thomas weaves a tale in which both suspects and victims have more going on in their lives than meets the eye. While the overworked detectives of Scotland Yard tend to leap on the most obvious suspect, Barker takes his time– and his risks– to find the correct perpetrator. This has been his modus operandi throughout the series. Barker is slow and steady, but one always has the sense that there is far more going on behind those smoked spectacles than anyone thinks there is.

But time has passed for the detecting duo. Thirteen volumes and ten years on, Llewellyn knows things are changing He’s not the naive young pup that he was when Barker pulled him off the street and gave him a new lease on life. At every turn, he’s reminded that there are safer jobs out there for a young man with a wife and, one day perhaps, a family to raise. And while Barker is unflappable as ever, he’s not getting any younger. At nearly fifty years old, he can no longer go toe to toe with any young miscreant who wants to take him on in a fight.

Change is in the air for Barker and Llewellyn, but they are still in fine form, and if there is a flaw in Fierce Poison, it is that a major plot point that was brought to light in the final pages of Dance with Death (the twelfth book in the series) is absent from Fierce Poison. Surely it was at least in the backs of their minds, but neither Barker nor Llewellyn even mentions it– a strange oversight, if oversight it is, given where Llewellyn’s thoughts often turn in Fierce Poison.

Perhaps this absence can be forgiven, though, given the stresses they’re dealing with. It can’t be easy to think of past details when you have reason to fear that your next bite of food or sip of water might be your last.

But whatever changes are in store for Barker and Llewellyn, they remain true to form and character. Fierce Poison is a tense thrill-ride through Victorian London, filled with a wondrous variety of often unexpected characters who leap off the page and make the reader want to know more about them. And, as usual, this reader can’t wait for the next book.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion.

Cyrus Barker (the Guv) and Thomas Llewelyn have worked together in their private inquiry business for ten years now so this 13th book in the series is rich in background information regarding these two primary characters as well as others who move in and out of the narrative as the stories progress. I always enjoy getting back in touch with these well-developed characters, but also with the intricate problems author Will Thomas puts forth for our solving pleasure. This one stumped me all along the way and I didn't come anywhere close to solving the crimes.

Roland Fitzhugh, the Liberal MP for Shoreditch is the victim who falls down dead before he can have any conversation with Barker or Llewelyn in their office. The one phrase of "help me" is taken by Barker as a dying request from Fitzhugh for the duo to find out how he was poisoned and who planned it. Barker just didn't like anybody dying in his office, so he immediately began working on one of the most well plotted cases I've seen in a long, long time. I like the way Will Thomas writes the historical time into his stories so that they explain why the characters react in a particular way, but Mr. Thomas doesn't feel he has to keep bringing up the setting just so the reader remembers why nobody is carrying a cell phone glued to their hand. This is one of my favorite historical crime series and I always look forward to reading the next book as soon as it is published.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for an e-galley of this historical crime novel.

Reading Fierce Poison took me back to the time when I immersed myself in Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes.
It’s 1893 London and a serial killer is randomly poisoning raspberry tarts. No one is safe so it is up to private detectives Cyrus Baker and Thomas Llewelyn to find the killer.
The author paints a vivid picture of Victorian England and inserts intriguing characters in his plot.
I had no idea that Will Thomas had written several “Baker and Llewelyn” mysteries. I found the relationship between our two protagonists charming. It’s always nice to find a new favourite author with a collection of novels to keep me entertained.

"London, 1893, there is poisoner loose in the city, with deaths piling up, and private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn are apparently his next target in Fierce Poison by Will Thomas.

Private Enquiry agent Cyrus Barker has just about seen it all - he's been attacked by assassins, his office has been bombed, and evil-doers have even nearly killed his dog. But never before has a potential client dropped dead in his office. When Roland Fitzhugh, Member of Parliament arrives to consult Barker and his partner Thomas Llewelyn, he falls to the floor, dead, upon entering. As they soon learn, he's been poisoned with a cyanide laced raspberry tart, and the adulterated tarts also take out an entire family in the East End. Labelled the Mad Pie Man by the press, Barker and Llewelyn are hired by former Prime Minister William Gladstone to find out who has targeted the House of Commons's newest member.

But before they can even begin, they find themselves the latest target of this mad poisoner - with Barker's butler poisoned with digitalis and dozens of diabolic traps discovered at their home. On the run from their unseen adversary, Barker and Llewelyn must uncover the threads that connect these seemingly random acts and stop the killer before they and their closest friends and family become the latest casualties."

I've been really into murder mysteries with poison lately... I wonder what that says about me?

Fierce Poison

A Barker and Llewelyn Novel

Will Thomas

Minotaur Books

New York, New York

ISBN: 978-1250624796

April 2022

$27.99

304 pages



Barker and Llewelyn Agency is not your typical investigative agency. They get results.

However, they are stumped when a potential client enters their office, begs for water, and dramatically dies. They don't even know the dead man's name, and this all has happened in less than a minute.

Assuming the dead man requires your services, he must be your new client.

Who is he? How did he die? Who killed him and why?

Quickly, the two discover the deceased's identity, who happened to be a member of Parliament. He died from eating a poisoned raspberry tart.

Soon the poisoner seems to be poisoning everyone involved. How can you investigate someone's death while it appears that there is an attempt to poison you? Why? What secrets did the deceased hold?

Fierce Poison is a fast-paced mystery that is not predictable while reflecting the time of the late 1800s in London.

A delightful and fascinating read for adults who enjoy another time and place with wonderfully memorable characters.Sent from Mail for Windows

I love this series! Any book that starts with the client dropping dead on page one gets you hooked pretty fast.

"Barker pushed himself up to a standing position, looking down at what I presumed was our new client...It was unlikely we would send him an invoice."

I am also loving the progression and growth of the characters--I hope this series goes on for a long time!

I love these books. Know up front that I am not an impartial reviewer and whenever the next Barker and Llewelyn book comes out, I just grab it. I don’t even have to read the description.

I enjoy watching Cyrus Barker’s layers be peeled back over a dozen or so books and Thomas’s droll humor will never ever get old for me. These two private enquiry agents in 1890s London are an odd couple—Cyrus is an abrupt Scot raised in China who was a merchant captain and Thomas came from a poor Welsh family, was university educated, and wrongly spent time in prison—and they are compelling in every single book.

The mystery itself stands alone and it’s easy to get acclimated to our detective pair, but have some fun and read them in order. Or at least read the first, Some Danger Involved, or a few of the early ones to get to know these two characters and how they got to where they are.

In Fierce Poison, a government man and former lawyer comes into the office, begs for help, and promptly dies of poisoning. This was a page-turner and as the pair get closer to the solution, the threats hit closer to home.

“We are a loose end, and someone holds the scissors.”

The writing is evocative and the setting comes alive from Thomas’ quick and insightful observations. But as quick as he is, Barker, who keeps his cards close to his chest, is usually one step ahead.

As an aside, if someone has od’d on laudanum, their eyes are like pinpoints, not marbles. This probably says more about me and what I like to read than it does about this book.

This was an uncorrected proof, but there were far more typos and missing words or half sentences or incorrect punctuation than I typically see.

London, 1893, there is poisoner loose in the city, with deaths piling up, and private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn are apparently his next target in Fierce Poison by Will Thomas.
If you are a fan of historical mysteries then this is the series for you. Solidly written, clever and engaging dialog and really interesting characters. Contrary to some reviews, I loved the ending and was surprised by the outcome. I am eagerly awaiting the next adventure of Barker and Llewelyn. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

For quite a while now, my favorite series of historical mysteries has been Will Thomas' Barker and Llewelyn novels. The novels are set in London in the late 19th Century and go well beyond the predictable plots and characters featured in too many such series. Private enquiry agents Barker and Llewelyn both have complex back stories, and, even after years of working together, neither has fully revealed himself to the other. There's also a first-rate cast of secondary characters, who are such an unusual mix that I can't begin to describe them all. Suffice it to say, I'll hang out with this crowd any time I can. More good news: the mystery itself is complicated, with a truly surprise (at least for me) ending.

If you read historical mysteries, this is a series to dive into enthusiastically—and with 13 volumes so far, there's lots to enjoy. Pick up Fierce Poison or any of the other volumes in the series and you'll have hours of first-rate reading ahead of you.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

Will Thomas’s Fierce Poison is a solid historical mystery weakened by a throwaway ending.
The novel comes in Thomas’s Barker & Llewelyn series, following private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn. Barker is an outrageously wealthy ex-pirate (well, merchant?) who spent most of his life in China before coming to London; Llewelyn is Welsh, and he was a promising student at Oxford before he was convicted of a theft. They’re both misfits, which makes them interesting to read against Victorian London, and their camaraderie and obvious affections carries the story nicely.
While I enjoyed the characters, the mystery itself wasn’t great. After they begin the investigation, it essentially stalls out—they do the same thing over and over again. And then they go take a holiday. And then they solve the crime, which they could have solved days earlier if they’d just asked one question. So, that was a real bummer.
Recommended for fans of historical mystery with male protagonists who don’t mind a weak ending.

It’s 1893 in London and bodies are piling up. All seem to be linked to the mysterious poisoner on the loose, and it is up to private enquiry agents Cyrus Baker and Thomas Llewelyn to catch the killer. This is no ordinary killer though and the agents wit and skills are put to the test. This is a very cunning and stealthy killer.

I love the story of this and the book did not disappoint. This was a fast paced read that I could not put down. I didn’t realize it was part of a series so now I have some catching up to do as I will definitely be reading the rest of these books. I highly recommend to any mystery, detective, or thriller reader out there!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced copy.