Category: Other

For Services Rendered by Will Thomas

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For Services Rendered: A Barker & Llewelyn Novel

Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Series: Barker & Llewelyn #17
Publication Date: 8/18/26
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 312

It was a pleasure to sit down and listen to Anthony Ferguson’s smooth, mellifluous delivery of Will Thomas’ latest Barker & Llewelyn novel. The pacing was just right, and the distinct voices he gives each character felt almost like old friends saying, “Welcome back!”

If you’ve followed the series, you’ll know that Cyrus Barker’s missionary parents moved the family to China when he was very young. Through a tragic set of circumstances, Barker finds himself orphaned, alone, and fending for himself in China. Because of his background, Chinese characters, history, and events have been woven into many of the books in this series. This story was particularly interesting to me because it features a very young Dr. Sun Yat-Sen and incorporates a fictionalized account of some of his real-life events. He isn’t the entire focus of the story, but he is a major part of it, and I loved that aspect of the book.

I would categorize this book as more of an action/adventure than a traditional mystery because we know who the bad guys are from the very beginning. What we don’t know is how Barker and Llewelyn will outsmart them and save Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, along with several of Barker’s good friends and associates who escaped from China with him. They all have something else in common: the Chinese government has placed a sizable bounty on their heads. And yes, I mean literally—their heads!

This is probably my favorite book in the series so far. It is fast-paced and features some of the deadliest villains Barker and Llewelyn have faced. They not only have to contend with the brutish and deadly Chinese Imperial guards, but also a cunning and dangerous villain—or two—from a previous book. And imagine their shock when a dead man shows up at one of their favorite restaurants…with Prince Albert!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries with strong, compelling characters, plenty of action, and a mystery that keeps Barker and Llewelyn constantly on their toes. Anthony Ferguson’s narration makes this an especially enjoyable listen.

I voluntarily read/listened to an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Murder on Devil’s Ridge by Irina Shapiro

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Murder on Devil’s Ridge (Tate and Bell Mystery, #8)Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Tate and Bell Mystery #8
Publication Date: 7/28/26
Period: Victorian
Number of Pages: 274

The prologue opens with a worried dairy farmer setting out on his usual pre-dawn walk through the bitter cold and thick, fog-shrouded countryside. He has always enjoyed these early morning walks—at least he did until this one led him up Devil’s Ridge, where he discovered the mutilated body of a young child lying atop the ancient stone at its summit.

Gemma and Sebastian are enjoying a visit with Sebastian’s brother, Simian, and his family at the Bell farm in Suffolk when a loud, insistent knock interrupts their morning.  Peter, the dairy farmer who found the body, begs Sebastian to accompany him to Devil’s Ridge because, as an investigator, Sebastian would surely know how to proceed.

The murdered child’s father, Viscount Augustus Ravenel, arrives determined that Sebastian will investigate his son’s death. Faced with such a heartbreaking request, Sebastian has little choice but to accept.

As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that nearly everyone in the household is hiding secrets. The challenge lies in uncovering which of those secrets could possibly provide a motive for the brutal murder of an innocent seven-year-old child. Fortunately, Gemma and Sebastian each possess their own unique talents for wringing out the truth. As they draw closer to solving the mystery, the danger escalates, and they soon find themselves in peril as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment in the Tate and Bell series, from its atmospheric opening to its shocking conclusion. The mystery is exceptionally well crafted and kept me guessing until the very end. In fact, I was completely surprised by the killer’s identity. Every time I thought I had solved the case, another twist sent me in an entirely different direction.

As much as I enjoy the mysteries, it is the characters who keep me coming back for each new book. Gemma and Sebastian are wonderfully developed protagonists who have found love despite the tragedies they have both endured. I’d love to invite them over for dinner just to hear about all of their adventures—but since that’s impossible, I’ll simply have to impatiently await their next book.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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