A great addition to this historical mystery series set in Victorian London ...
Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn are about a generation removed from the American Civil War and in London when they find themselves dealing with a group of Americans showing up wanting Cyrus Barker's assistance as a free mason to enforce a 30 year old agreement between the Confederate States of America and Great Britain. It first seems like some 30 years after the war ended, these men want a rematch and rewrite the ending of the American Civil War but first they need a British battle ship to do it with. Do they have a valid contract, or is this a hoax and what can Barker and Llewelyn do to prevent a global political catastrophe?
Can they scheme to prevent while trying to stay close and friendly with the wannabe confederates ?
This series is fantastic for its well researched historical setting and the picture it paints of Victorian London.
I've been a fan of this series not only for the mysteries but for the well drawn characters, which are, of course, further developed in each installment. This book is no exception but if you want to read this book as a standalone it is possible and you will not spoil you enjoyment of going back and read previous installments later. Thanks to netgalley and Minotaur for the eARC.
This was fun to read - an interesting romp through gin palaces, Shakespearean theatre and shipbuilding ...

I jumped into this series to read this ARC and it was good as a stand-alone but now I have another series that I want to read all the books! I am adding all of Will Thomas' books to my TBR and starting with book 1 in this series, maybe I can catch up before the next installment is released!

I received an #ARC through #NetGalley. Solid 3.5 stars! Overall, an engaging light mystery. The writing style was relaxing and interesting. I didn't realize this was a good chunk into a series so I was kind of hopping in blind. Felt a bit like a sherlock Holmes style writing with Llewelyn journaling and ruminating about their experiences and Barker being a more eccentric mystery solver that has taken Llewelyn under his wing. I did feel that the end wrapped up rather suddenly and with less suspense than what the author was trying for. I would read more in the series though, and it made me interested in how the series began. The audio book narrator did a great job differentiating characters as well!

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.

Death and Glory, by Will Thomas is the newest in a long detective series, however this audio book can be enjoyed as a stand alone. The narration was spot on bringing the characters to life. I really enjoyed this story, and it is a must for lovers of British detective novels!

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.

Death and Glory AUDIO by Will Thomas is a Barker and Llewelyn mystery taking place in Victorian England where they are private inquiry agents. The two live in Barker’s home, primarily for convenience, along with Llewelyn’s wife Rebecca. This is definitely a conspiracy theory book wherein men claiming to be representative of the Confederate States of America arrive and request that Barker arrange a meeting for them with the Prime Minister. They are taken aback but do as requested only to discover that these men want to take possession of a battleship that the Confederate government had commissioned and paid for before the war ended. Since it had never been delivered, they wanted it now. The prime minister wasn’t so sure. Things escalated as it became the belief of Llewelyn that two of the men, rather than being who they claimed to be, were, in fact, John Wilkes Booth and Jesse James. They also claim to hold a treaty between England and the Confederacy which, if brought to light, would be an embarrassment and could harm relations with the United States.

Barker and Llewelyn are an odd pair, Barker having spent his life in heroic pursuits, while Llewelyn is basically a home body. Rebecca is a Jewish, a fact which bothers neither of them, but will bother the wider society. They keep a low profile. Rebecca’s mother does not like Thomas Llewelyn; she thinks her daughter could have done better. These Southerners were charming men, if dangerous. Their idea to revive the Confederacy, and along with the slavery, have gained support both in the United States and in England. They presented a huge challenge to the enquiry agents, which put them in danger, as well as leaving them confused. This “blast from the past” has proven to be a challenge, especially since much of Llewelyn’s research is coming from dime novels. They are a great pair: both well-written and interesting. The mystery of the men’s; behavior turned out to be challenging and difficult. Thanks Will Thomas! I love Barker and Llewlleyn!

The Narrator is Antony Ferguson and he is an excellent choice for this book. I love Barker’s Scottish accent. Ferguson keeps a relatively serious tone, even in the most ridiculous situations. He made Death and Glory a really good listen.

I was invited to listen to Death and Glory by MacMillan Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #MacMillanAudio #WillThomas #AntonyFerguson #DeathAndGlory

Thomas Llewelyn has worked with Cyrus Barker for ten years, and it has been a wonderful reading journey. Thomas has gone from a melancholy, down-on-his-luck, contemplating suicide young man to a confident, skilled enquiry agent with a wife. Thomas shows those skills in this book and even gets some excellent personal news.

It seems the south is rising again – in London. No, not the south of England, but the Southern United States. A delegation of Southern expatriates appears at the offices of Barker and Llewellyn on a lovely spring morning. They wish to hire Barker to arrange a meeting with the new Prime Minister, the Earl of Rosebery. Barker and Thomas immediately suspect their motives but feel they should play along until they discover what the Prime Minister and his government want to do about them.

What these Southern gentlemen want astounds the government and can create a huge political scandal/crisis. Whichever way the government decides, the fallout will happen. The civil war in the US has been over for thirty years, yet these people want the delivery of a warship promised to them just as the war was ending. Barker and Thomas think they want more and quickly infiltrate the group to see what they can learn. A Barker and Llewellyn case is always more complicated and convoluted than they first appear – and this one was no exception.

This excellently-written, well-plotted, fast-paced novel was action-packed and filled with interesting characters and enlightening obscure historical facts. Another thing I always enjoy is the Author’s Notes – Yes, I always read the Author’s Notes. This author’s notes are always educational and fun to read. I love Thomas’s wit as he gives us his first-person account of each case and we always learn more about him in each new entry in the series. Barker, of course, always leaves us wanting to know more. We’ve learned a lot about his history, and in this novel, he seemed more ‘human’, but still he is larger than life.

I recommend this book, this series, and this author. I hope you will love the book as much as I did. Happy reading!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Death and Glory" is the fifteenth installment in Will Thomas' "Barker & Llewelyn" series. In 1894, the eponymous enquiry agents are approached by representatives of the Confederate States of America. The members of the group claim to be part of a secret society as well the rightful heirs to a British warship. Barker and Llewelyn are approached by persons on both sides of the Atlantic to discover the individual's true identities and determine the group's goals. Of course, as with any of this series, the job is much more complex than it seems at first glance. The title "Death and Glory" refers to the Confederates, but it could also describe the protagonists. In the ten years since they have joined forces, they have received recognition and a royal warrant. For better or worse, they are no longer anonymous. This begins to change their approach to solving the crimes. They must develop and then untangle a web of dissemblance while staying out of harm's way.

The secondary characters in their lives at home and on the job only make small appearances. Given how heavily they have influenced recent texts, this was not unwelcome. However, while the Confederates are engaging in their own right, I missed the UK focused storyline. London and its environs are still present, but given that their mystery is not inherently British, it takes a back seat. I will hope for a return to a more traditional mystery in Barker and Llewelyn's next outing.

"Death and Glory" will be released in the U.S. on April 23, 2024. Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this audio ARC given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thomas Llewelyn and Cyrus Barker are private detectives in London 30 years after the American Civil War. They are hired to look into a group of men who seem to be in London for nefarious purposes. They learn that these men are members of the Confederacy who believe that the South will rise to power again and that the UK should back them. They have a tricky piece of evidence that they plan to use to guarantee the money and get what they believe is owed to them.

This book is similar to both Sherlock Holmes and the writing style of Agatha Christie. I enjoyed the plot but the story moved along a bit strangely for me. At parts, it transitioned smoothly and in other areas, it jumped around and was quite confusing. The story itself was good though and it was an enjoyable book. The narrator for the audiobook was great and had a wonderful voice. I could imagine that I was in London during that time. I love when each character has a different voice as well and that was done masterfully.

I am a big fan of this series and will continue to gleefully read each one that comes out. That being said, this wasn't my favorite story. While it was unique, interesting, and intelligently written, I did not find it as engaging as their past cases, and it lacked some of the fun, adventurous "enquiring" of past novels. As always, I'd love to see more Harm!

This book wasn't really for me, I'm going to preface with that. It was a fun book that gave me Infinity Bridge vibes throughout.

I wasn't particularly intrigued by either of the main characters, but they also weren't awful. I did want to know more about the two female characters that appear to be series regulars (I understand I came on in book 15 and that may be part of this issue here). I thought most of the villains were a bit flat and would have loved to know more about the woman working with them. I think that's my biggest critique of the book, there were some really interesting side characters that I would have really enjoyed to spend more time with, where many of the main characters (mainly the Confederate guys) we did spend time with were less engaging. The two main guys, Barker & Llewelyn, had really good interactions with each other and established characters, so those parts were quite fun.

I think what I'm saying is that I would enjoy earlier parts of the series to get to know these characters better, and maybe this installment would feel more robust. Overall a good book, I enjoyed reading it, it just didn't feel like it was for me.

Confederates took it to the extreme (like they weren't extremists before) and decided to blackmail the UK at the beginning of the 1900s. They were claiming that the UK government promised them a warship before Civil War was over and now all the confederates spread out to South America got together to claim what was owed to them. But was it really the case?

I just had to remind myself that this was from late 1800s /early 1900s every time I heard something controversial. I'm sure given the opportunity they would ask for the same thing today (i.e., remember 6-Jan). When these folks arrived the UK to have an audience with the PM, they reached out the inspector who happened to be a Mason. they thought using that relationship would get them where they wanted. What they didn't know was these inspector would act like their friend but actually do anything to discredit them.

I didn't know this book was #15 of a series of an inspector and his sidekick. It was an interesting book as standalone as well, but I would have appreciated it more if I knew there were 14 more before this.

Barker & Llewelyn are back on the case in their 15th adventure in Victorian London, this time following the trail of American Confederate generals looking to reclaim a promised warship.

B & L are one of my favourite detective... I mean enquiry agent... duos to date. Their adventures are filled with little known historical information, richly described settings, and interesting plots. This book is no different, however I found the subject matter just a little less interesting than previous outings. It's not a bad book by any means, but it's probably lower down on my list of favourites. Of course that's absolutely personal preference than about the quality of the book! Still an enjoyable story, and I'd definitely recommend it!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the audiobook ARC!

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.

Great book very entertaining and at the same time getting a chance to learn a little history that is mixed into the fiction of the story.