Excellent!

Very good with lots of twists and turns. Narrator was great too and brought the characters to life. Looking forward to listening to the next episode.

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Enjoyed this read very much.

I really loved this book, interesting characters, no gratuitous violence, loved the narrator. Look forward to more in the series.

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good

A solid Victorian mystery. Llewelyn is a likable protagonist with an interesting backstory. Barker is not quite a Holmes clone, but he is definitely "inspired by." But he's less of a jerk. Which is nice. The secondary characters are well developed, and the canine character is just charming.
The mystery is engaging and believable and I didn’t see the solution coming. I might have to check out more in the series.

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1 person found this helpful

The Best Read I’ve Enjoyed this Year!

If You (as I do) enjoy historical detective-stories such as Sherlock Holmes and Nero Wolfe — and rollicking adventure-stories like Shogun, The Physician, and The Walking Drum… You’ll love this story!

Will Thomas is a new favourite of Mine, and Antony Ferguson the perfect choice for this most-excellent of investigative adventures.
Definitely a must-read!

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1 person found this helpful

Impressively Well-Researched

"Private Inquiry Agents" (Detectives) 'Cyrus Barker' and 'Thomas Llewelyn' are glaringly obvious 'Holmes'/'Watson' clones.. but passable ones. Author Will Thomas admirably tries to deliver on a balanced character development/mystery mandate.. providing a twisty-turny investigation involving the murder by crucifixion of a Semitic Scholar - complete with plenty of plausible suspects, false leads, and jeopardy (murder attempts on the investigators, for example) - and simultaneously introducing intriguing characters (enigmatic Mandarin-speaking survivor of a mysterious head wound Barker and tragically-widowed/once-imprisoned Llewelyn).
Unfortunately, the author isn't very effective. I found myself neither entranced by the characters nor captivated by the case (both ended up being treated relatively superficially).
On the other hand, the description of what it was like to be a Jew in Victorian England feels incredibly authentic: Mr. Thomas immerses his readers in the setting with an exhaustive exposure to synagogue traditions, theological debates, home life, and funerary rites among the Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazi in London.

Reader Antony Ferguson contributes to my "adequate" assessment of the book with a professional but unspectacular performance, unfortunately. His diction, timbre, cadence, timing, and voice-acting are creditable.. but Ferguson occasionally makes it quite clear that he's reading a book open on his lap. A disinterested flat tone is too often evident.

Altogether, this Tantor Audio product is an excellent listening experience, but only merits 5.5 stars out of 10. If you can get it as a 'Plus' selection, it's a fine period mystery to while away a couple of quiet afternoons.. but save your Credit for better options should they ask for one.

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very good

loved this story. it was a very different type of detective story. Informative of the life and the time it is set in. Takes you to unexpected places , people, situations.
Antony Ferguson excellent reader. I have heard of Will Thomas but this was the first book of his I have read. looking forward to the next in series.

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Worth the Money

The narrator is outstanding. Loved the story. Interesting and engaging characters. Worth the money

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Great read

Some slow parts, but was an entertaining read. I quite liked the main characters. Well written. Worth the read.

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