Review of "Some Danger Involved: A Cyrus Barker/Thomas Llewelyn Victorian Mystery" by Will Thomas

This is the first book in the Victorian mystery series that features Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn.

*****

There's a good deal of unrest in late 19th century London, with immigrants flooding in and much of the population - both native and foreign - living in poverty.



Twentysomething Welshman Thomas Llewelyn, a former Oxford student who'd served a brief stint in prison, is unemployed and homeless. Thus he's hopeful when a job opportunity presents itself. A classified ad in The London Times announces that inquiry agent Cyrus Barker is looking for a new assistant, and that the position involves 'some danger.'



Intrepid Llewelyn applies for the job, and - after a harrowing interview - is hired. Llewelyn soon settles into the Barker household, which includes a Jewish butler/jack of all trades who's good with a gun; 



a talented French chef; Chinese gardeners; lazy clerks;



 and a fearless Pekingese dog. Thomas's interaction with this bunch provides some of the lighter moments in the novel. 



Inquiry agent Barker is hired when a Polish Jew named Louis Pokrzywa is murdered and crucified, with claims of responsibility from the anti-Semitic league. A Jewish community leader asks Barker to look into the matter, fearing that anti-Semitic sentiment - which is rife in the area - might lead to a pogrom.


A pogrom

Barker and Llewelyn make inquiries, during which they interview people who might harbor animus against Jews, including Italians, Irish, a racist eugenicist, and even messianic Jews who converted to Christianity.

As Barker and his assistant traipse around London, they dine in Chinese and Italian restaurants; meet people with a variety of jobs; and hear many hateful sentiments about Jews. 



Llewelyn is even sent to infiltrate a meeting that foreshadows the KKK and - at one point - is almost shot in a hansom cab.



When Barker learns that victim Louis was an eligible bachelor being pursued by Jewish mothers for their marriageable daughters, he decides he needs an inside man. Thus Barker arranges for Llewelyn to be the 'Shabbos goy' for the area's head rabbi. (A Shabbos goy is a non-Jew who performs tasks forbidden to Jews on the Sabbath, like lighting fires and dispensing medicine).

While Llewelyn spends the Sabbath (Friday night to Saturday night) in the rabbi's home, his 'undercover assignment' is to sneak a few words with the rabbi's daughter. The girl was acquainted with Louis and might know if he had any enemies, etc. It turns out that the rabbi's daughter is a raven-haired beauty and Llewelyn develops a serious crush.



When another body is found - a Jewish woman who was stoned - it gives Barker the clues he needs to solve the crimes.

Thomas's book provides a compelling overview of Victorian London, and I could almost sense the corrosive squalor, hunger, and rivalries that led to the hatred and violence that plagued the city.

The Barker-Llewelyn partnership has a Sherlock Holmes vibe, and the book's finale - describing how Barker uncovers the perp(s) - could have been delivered by Hercule Poirot himself. Thus the book has amusing elements. For me, though, the vitriolic anti-Semitic venom spouted by many of the characters - though it may be historically accurate - was overdone and disturbing.

Still, I'd recommend the book to fans of Victorian mysteries.

Rating: 3 stars