I always enjoy any entry in the Barker and Llewelyn detective series. The characters are original and interesting and the plots are always intriguing. This latest book is no different. The two detectives get involved in a crazy sort of plot involving former Confederates hoping to launch a rebellion to take back the United States about 30 years after the defeat of the South.

It reminds me a bit of some of the more fantastical Sherlock Holmes plots. It was fun to suspend disbelief and go along with all the plot twists. It does get a little convoluted and then gets wrapped up rather suddenly. The author mixes in real characters who would have been around in England in the mid-1890s with his fictional creations. I had to pause a few times to go read up on some of the real figures who play roles in the story.

If you’ve read the previous books in this series, all the familiar side characters show up and play a role. If you haven’t read any of the earlier books, I recommend that you give yourself a treat and immediately set about doing so.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Death and Glory is the 15th book in the phenomenal series Barker & Llewelyn by Will Thomas. I discovered this series shortly after I began reading historical mystery and thrillers. This series is what made me fall in love with the genre, and it is now my favorite. I started in the middle of the series, but each mystery basically stands alone, so dive in. I went back and read all I missed; I also get the audio books to savor at a later date. This review is actually for both the book and audio book; it's nice to switch to audio while driving. While this book is not my favorite of the series, it's still a solid story and definitely worth reading (and/or listening to)!

Private Enquiry agent Cyrus Barker and his partner Thomas Llewelyn have worked cases for many prominent groups - the Foreign Office, Scotland Yard and even the British Monarchy. Their newest clients, however, they never could have imagined. A group of men who fought for the Confederacy in the American Civil War thirty years ago show up at their office. Their goal? They want to revive the Confederacy with a warship promised to them from the British Government in 1865. In order to get that ship, the delegation is threatening to publicly reveal Britain's secret treaty with the Confederacy. Barker and Llewelyn are hired to bring their threats quietly to the Prime Minister. There are a number of prominent - and rich - Brits who are willing to donate funds to wage war against the United States again, and the delegates are just waiting for their warship. But are they really Confederates as they state, or grifters, or even something else? The Americans also have teams watching and waiting for the right time to strike. Barker and Llewelyn certainly have their work cut out for them with this case!

This was a fun change of pace for this series, something totally different from their previous cases. I was thoroughly without a clue as to the real identities of the delegation members. They claimed to be members of the Knights of the Golden Circle, a fraternal organization based upon the Masons in the Southern United States during the Civil War. The Ku Klux Klan was their military arm. This group wanted to repeal the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and acquire more land to increase the number of Confederate states. (This part, of course, is actual history.) I won't ruin the surprise of who the U.S. Treasury actually thought these men were! The most interesting of the delegation was St. Ives, a man who would experience every available vice. He even wore a vial of poison around his neck, just in case... He seemed quite fond of Llewelyn's company. Robert Todd Lincoln, the real oldest son of President Lincoln and a minister to Britain for the State Department, also makes an interesting appearance. The story was great, though the end seemed a bit anticlimactic to me. The series has great stories, but it's the characters that keep me coming back time and time again. Barker is a Scotsman with a mysterious past who became the premiere private enquiry agent in London. (Do NOT call him a detective !) He lived in China, is the Captain of the Osprey, teaches antagonists classes, smokes meerschaum pipes, and doesn't kid around. Oh, and he has a garden which is the envy of all. His dearest friend is Lady Philippa Ashleigh, a lovely, wealthy, connected and influential widow. She tries to keep Barker from taking everything so seriously; the key word here is "tries". My favorite character is Thomas Llewelyn, a young Welshman who was at his lowest when he was hired by Barker years ago. Now he is a partner. I just adore his snark, which sometimes goes above Barker's head, as he takes things literally. And I just adore a man who loves books! He's such an endearing character, and the stories are told from his point of view. He is married to Rebecca, a pretty Jewish widow; their lives have just reached a turning point here, as they have had some extremely happy news. I'm looking forward to following their journey. Beloved supporting characters Mac the butler, Ho the restaurant owner and Harm the dog are all still here, which makes me extremely happy. This is a series you will want to devour!

This audio book, as well as the preceding books, is narrated by Antony Ferguson. I believe this talented man may be my favorite narrator ever, and that's saying a lot because I have some I really love. He perfectly embodies the characters of both Llewelyn and Barker. I also like that he doesn't attempt to make the females sound like Monty Python members impersonating women; he gives them a believable softer voice. I hope he continues to narrate the series for as long as it lasts...and I hope that will be a long, long time!

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

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Will Thomas for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Death and Glory coming out April 23, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love this series! I haven’t read all of them, but I think it’s a really fun historical series. The Civil War time setting is a really fascinating time period to me. I love the detectives. I think they’re a fun duo. I also loved to see more of their home lives. The whole plot felt like espionage, so I loved it. I’m definitely excited to read more of this series.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys American Civil War era murder mysteries!

Death and Glory is the 15th book in the Barker & Llewelyn mystery series but you don't have to read the previous books in the series. This is only the 4th book I've read in the series.

The series is set in 1890s London so I was surprised when men claiming to be Confederate soldiers appear in Barker's office.

While my American history classes spent a great deal of time on the Civil War and Reconstruction, I realized I knew ( or remember) very little about what happened to high-ranking Confederate soldiers. The men claiming to be Confederate soldiers have been living in Cuba, Mexico, and Brazil. I had to look it up, but apparently, about 10,000 Confederates left the U.S. after the war and lived abroad in mostly Brazil but also in Cuba, Mexico, and Central America.

I've never considered what other countries were doing during the Civil War or if either side sought allies from other nations.

In Death and Glory, these men claim that a treaty was signed during the war which among other things gave the South a battleship. Nearly 30 years later, they have shown up to claim the ship that they had paid for. The mystery that Barker and Llewelyn are trying to solve is multi-pronged: who are these men really, why do they want a battleship, and is all of this subterfuge concealing a larger plan.

While Barker and Llewlyn are interesting characters, the Southerners are quite colorful characters.

I mentioned in my review of Heart of the Nile that I really like listening to this series as an audiobook. And I wish I had received the audiobook for this book because I think it would have been fun to hear the narrator do the Confederate southern drawl.

If you like to solve the mystery then this isn't quite the novel for that. It is more like the reader is along for the ride and should enjoy the company of the characters. For me, I do enjoy being with the characters. We get to see as much of their personal life as we do their work life.

If you like historical mysteries with great characters, then this is the book for you.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Wednesday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/04/death-and-glory-by-will-thomas-review.html

Barker and Llewellyn are back with another interesting adventure. I should start by pointing out that while this is the 15th book in this long-running historical mystery/thriller series, I’ve only read one other so I feel this would be fine as a standalone or as your first foray into this series.

I was particularly interested in this book because of the idea of former members of the Confederacy still scheming and trying to get support in England in 1894 - and it was indeed a fascinating premise. The author’s note at the end was also illuminating.

There are many opportunities to smile and laugh along the way. Barker and Llewellyn have some great banter between them. With Llewellyn having married a Jewish woman, we also get small glimpses into the London Jewish community and the discrimination they face by “society.” The men who purport to represent the Confederacy are well-drawn individuals, one of whom is constantly intoxicated, either from drink or drugs or a combination of both. They have arrived with a treaty they say was signed with Britain many years ago.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient, and allowed me to continue with the story even when I could not sit down and read - or when I could not listen. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Antony Ferguson, with many different characters and accents.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn find themselves dealing with a very different sort of case when a group of Americans show up wanting their assistance to enforce a 30 year old agreement between the Confederate States of America and Great Britain. Seems that 30 years on, these men want to revive the war in the US and they want a ship to do it with. This is peek into a corner and it's a bit unsettling but it is undeniable, of course, that there are, even today, those that support the Confederacy. I've been a fan of this series not only for the mysteries (which this isn't really) but for the characters, which grow in in installment. This is no exception but those who haven't read the preceding novels will be fine with this as a standalone. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Currently one of five finalists for the upcoming Oklahoma Book Award in Fiction for Heart of the Nile, Will Thomas has gifted readers with yet another Barker and Llewelyn Victorian mystery, Death and Glory (#15 in the series). The book is set in 1894 London with Enquiry Agent Cyrus Barker in his fifties and partner Thomas Llewelyn thirty.

The novel’s Preface opens with what appears to be a murder—a hit and run in which a horse-drawn carriage runs down a 92-year-old man, who had played a leading role in the Civil War’s Trent Affair. Although I immediately started a Google search, Will Thomas does eventually explain everything readers need to know about this historic incident called the Trent Affair. Following the Preface, the story shifts to protagonists Barker and Llewelyn, contacted by a group of four former Confederate soldiers seeking an audience with the Prime Minister. Holding an old contract for a British built warship, the Confederates have arrived to collect the ship paid for thirty years earlier but never received, the war having ended before the ship’s completion.

From here, the author picks up the pace, adding a variety of characters, raising questions about the contract’s authenticity and the Confederates’ identity. Briefly telling of their lives in the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America following the Union victory, the expat Confederates have arrived in London for larger purposes than claiming the ship. The British are watching the Confederates. American officials, under the direction of United States Minister to England Robert Todd Lincoln, are watching the Confederates and the British. Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn find themselves in a tight spot as they cozy up to the Confederates in the line of duty.

Barker and Llewelyn fans and historical mystery lovers should pick up a copy of Death and Glory. Readers can easily start with this fifteenth in the series but are likely to next pick up Some Danger Involved (2004), Will Thomas’s introduction to Barker and Llewelyn, and follow up with the rest of the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur/St. Martin's Press for an advance reader copy of this highly recommended new novel.

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Old soldiers never die, and some never give up
This fifteenth in the Barker and Llewellyn series continues to provide a clever mix of historical events with the investigational efforts of the protagonists. The historical event that provided the background for Death and Glory was especially intriguing. The year is 1894, and a group of Confederate patriots who escaped to other countries after the war are in England attempting to equip themselves with a warship to resume their battle for independence. They engage Barker to get them an audience with the English prime minister. That seems straightforward enough, but the implications for international diplomacy are far from simple.
Most Americans do not think much about the activities of former leaders and warriors of the Confederacy after the end of the Civil War, so the idea was intriguing but not really surprising. Some of the events and people alluded to are real, such as the Trent Affair, which occurred in 1861, and Jubal Swindell, whom we meet in a very dramatic prologue. Some of them MIGHT have been real, but we are not sure about their identity…. There is a helpful author’s note at the end to give some enlightenment about what was historically true in the book; it was interesting, and I wish it had been longer.
The idea of these men persisting in pursuit of the patriotic goal for three decades was fascinating. Their characters never really came alive for me, though. And although there is a lot of action, the actual plot was surprisingly not very engaging. In addition, some things were left unsettled at the end of the book, which left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.
Although I very much enjoyed the early books in this series, for some reason book 4 was the last I read, so as a result I was not up on some significant events in the Barker’s and Llewellyn’s lives. It is not absolutely necessary to read the books in order, but I would recommend it. I plan to go back and fill in some gaps.
I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and the publisher

Death and Glory, by Will Thomas
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy of this book

Late Victorian private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Lewellyn make their latest appearance in Death and Glory, the 16th book in this series. It is 10 years since they began working together, and though Lewellyn now is married, they continue to live in Barker’s gracious house, surrounded by many of the people who have accompanied them from their first outing.

Like its predecessors, Death and Glory is a rather tall tale of mystery and action, filled with characters having uncommon skills and resources, both physical and financial. Set in 1894, this time the plot revolves around the efforts of a group representing themselves as the survivors and heirs of the American Confederacy. Based on a supposed 1865 treaty between the Confederate and the British governments, they lay claim to an iron-clad ship from England, aiming to re-ignite the War of Secession. Barker and Lewellyn are hired by the British Prime Minister to learn as much as possible about these men and their plans.

The story is engaging, if a little far-fetched: how many men can survive a 15 ft. fall onto cobblestones and the next day take the helm of a large Chinese junk fitted with European locomotion? Thomas Lewellyn can, and similarly, Barker remains in action despite varied physical attacks.

Written with light humor, there seem to be unnecessary characters who make short appearances, complicating an already busy plot, but one that fans of this duo will enjoy.

Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn are private enquiry agents in England, during the Victorian era. They take all types of cases and have developed reputations for doing good work and being honest.

They are approached by 4 men who represent the Confederate States of America. Yet, the War Between the States has been over for years. The men request that Barker and Llewelyn introduce them to the Prime Minister.

The goup includes a strong leader, a drunken dandy, a large bully and a young man who seldom speaks. The reason for the need of an introduction is the fact that Britain owes the Confederacy an ironclad ship and the men are ready to take the ship.

I have not read any of the other books in this series. But, I had no problem following the action, learning of relationships and hearing about previous events.

Thomas is the voice for the story. He is an admirer of his heroic, older partner. He is a precise story teller who has no problem describing his own shortcomings. Actually, the described shortcomings are only in his estimation of himself.

The book is action packed. The plot is well developed. The characters are complete human beings. Barker is the only character who is an enigma. Thomas understands him, but Barker is not big on sharing.

Barker and Thomas are very thorough investigators. They are smart and brave and humorous. The description of hanging on the side of a building is scary and funny at the same time.

The story includes a little about the private lives of both Barker and Thomas. But, the majority of the story is about playing cat and mouse with the Americans. There are dangers. There are mysteries within the mystery. And it is evident that taking a life is not a problem for the men from the Confederacy. After all, they were soldiers in a War.

The story introduces possibilities that the ship could cause relations between Britain and the United States government to be strained. That possibility is one of the reasons the Prime Minister wants to be kept up to date on events. In fact there are many people who are interested in the outcome.

This is a terrific story.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

"In 1894, Cyrus Barker, London's premier enquiry agent, is entangled in a conspiracy to revive the American Civil War by prominent figures, long believed deceased.

Private Enquiry agent Cyrus Barker, along with his partner Thomas Llewelyn, has a long, accomplished history - he's taken on cases for Scotland Yard, the Foreign Office, and even the crown itself, fulfilling them all with great skill and discretion. None of those cases, however, are as delicate and complicated as the one laid before him by a delegation of men who, thirty years before, fought for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. These men want to revive the Confederacy with a warship promised to the Rebels from the British Government in 1865. To get it now, they're threatening to reveal the long-secret treaty with the Confederacy. Barker is hired to use his connections to discreetly bring their threats to the Prime Minister.

With a web of prominent, if secret, supporters throughout England ready to through their support to their efforts to wage war anew on the United States, the delegates are just waiting for the warship to begin their plans. But some of the men are not who they claim to be, and the American government has their own team watching, and waiting, for the right moment to take action.

As this fuse on this powder keg of a situation grows ever shorter, it's up to Barker and Llewelyn to uncover the real identities and plans of these dangerous men."

I'm always here for the new Will Thomas book!

Another fine read from Will Thomas. It is a bit mind boggling to me how many historical events seem to happen all around the same time. I like how the author integrates history with fiction.

When a group of gentlemen show up wanting to speak to Barker and they claim they are not only from but leaders of the secret society that barker belongs to but also claiming to be the president of the southern states of America and oh yes they want him to set up a meeting with newly seeded Prime Minister Rosenbury. When Barker set up this meeting needless to say he Llewellyn and the Prime Minister of flabbergasted that not only the goal of these men who come representing four different countries but claiming to belong to one and wanting to be paid in full for a ship that was promised to the southern states during the Civil War even have a treaty signed with Britain in hand that not only looks authentic but they want paid in full or they will release a copy to local newspapers. The problem lies in the fact the confederate states of America has been disband since 1964 not only that some of these men are way too young to have even been a part of it… So who are they and why did they want this ship? When Barker and Llewellyn investigate the identity of some of these men it’s surprising but why they want this chip is even more amazing. There is way too much to this book to give a good brief summary just know I listen to the audio and read some of it on Kindle and I think either way you listen it’s a great read. The narrator did a great job but the story is so interesting I don’t think you need to dress it up I have never read a book from the Barker and Llewellyn mystery Siri‘s and it almost makes me sad I started at book 15. It definitely proves this book can be read as a standalone I thought the narrator did really good especially with the southern voices and the different accents in the UK this is a great book and one I definitely recommend. I love historical fiction and historical mysteries or some of my favorites. I want to thank the publisher and Net Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

How I love Barker & Llewelyn. Let me count the ways, all the way from 1 to 15 in this new fantastic installment. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy so I could read it as soon as humanly possible!

3.75 stars

The Llewelyn and Barker historical mystery adventures are always rollocking fun and also full of interesting historical detours.

This time out they are engaged by a shady American Confederate foursome to help them demand delivery of a warship commissioned years earlier when the Civil War was raging. The scenario is based on a historical incident involving a British mail ship and a U.S. Navy warship that created an international uproar at the time, the Trent Affair.

As always, the ensemble of characters is nicely drawn and there is plenty of action. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The newest in the Barker & Llewelyn series (#15) has a somewhat different feel than the prior books. Will Thomas still crafts a very vivid picture of late 1800s England combining real historic events with the fictional cases the detectives investigate. And there continues to be great comradery between Barker & Thomas. Death and Glory is well-written and very absorbing, however, the plot is jarring: post-Civil War Confederate 'patriots' are plotting in England to gain money and support to continue their war against the USA. It was interesting and the author clearly researched the people and events of that time. But, well... no one really likes to be reminded of the worst parts of our history.

The conclusion of Death and Glory seemed incomplete. In prior books, all of the questions are answered, the mysteries fully solved, and the plot points all neatly tied up. At the end of this story, the reader's still left with questions.

Yet another wonderful adventure in the Barker & Llewelyn books by Will Thomas. Taking a piece of history and weaving it into the case log of his enquiry agents. I find the research done, along with the wonderful characterization, makes this a series one must go on with.

As always with this series, the historical setting is top notch, it’s well-plotted, and Thomas is snarky and you never learn as much about Barker as you want to. I was a little disappointed in the behavior of Rebecca and Philippa. For such a male-centric cast, it’s a let down to see the only women reduced to jealousy and pretty gowns. Still, the mystery was complex and satisfying. A great addition to the series and it might even be enough to entice new readers to go back to Some Danger Involved and start at the beginning.

This excellent 15th novel of Will Thomas’s Victorian private enquiry agents in the Barker & Llewelyn series opens in the spring of 1894 with four men claiming to be Confederate exiles ready to take back their country after thirty years. They require Barker and Llewelyn ensure a meeting with the Prime Minister to enforce a secret treaty from all those years ago, a treaty advantageous to the Confederates. While mostly filled with southern gracious behavior, these men are dangerous as Barker and Llewelyn are well aware. Soon, the American and British governments and the inquiry agents are entangled in pursuing the truth about these four men, their motives, and their immediate dangerous plans.

The author takes a different, effective, and engrossing tack from previous works. A wider history plays a part from the beginning, which is not done pedantically. Understanding these four men, and who they are – or who they are not - increases the intensity and pace. Even some possibly dubious identity connections to other famous individuals arises. This writer has done his research well and weaves such possible connections into the plot. While there is a wide range of well-developed characters over the fifteen books, the ones involved in this politically entangled story are the main characters and the rest may show up in passing. A wise choice by the writer. After ten years working together, Barker and Llewelyn have matured during their dedicated partnership. Barker is 50 and showing subtle signs of aging but is still the same enigmatic man. Llewelyn is confident and content with his life which may hold a change very soon. As ever, Llewelyn's dry wit in his chronicling stands out while Barker lacks even a hint of it. The contrasts are not forced but strengthen the characters. Jeremy, their ex-forger, pub-addicted office worker is a character to watch ahead as he quietly and perhaps unwittingly enhances his research and inquiry skills and his commitment to inquiry work grows.

After reading and/or hearing all the previous books in the series, I enjoyed every page of this book – I could not put it down. I look forward once again to hearing the exceptional, talented reader of all the previous audiobooks read this one. Barker and Llewelyn are a far more interesting, well-developed pair than the famous Baker Street duo. I am an avid reader of this series, and I hope for many more Barker & Llewelyn adventures.

I am grateful to Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Will Thomas for giving me early access to this memorable and exciting book. This opinion is all my own.

I love this series!
Death and Glory, the latest in the series, does not disappoint. I loved how it let us get even closer to Barker & Llywellen. This book was full of. history and I was sucked in from the first page. I highly recommend this book and if you haven’t started this series, what are you doing!?