A page-turner, for sure. This is my first by Will Thomas, and it definitely won't be my last. I love mysteries that involve .useums. The narrator did a great job.

I just couldn't get into this book. I was attracted by the mystery in the Victorian period and the archaeology, but the tone of the book is very dismissive of women. Anytime women are mentioned, it's as a hindrance and a burden to men. I hate that.

Will Thomas's long running Barker and Llewelyn series continues with Heart of the Nile. Thomas Llewelyn, Barker's understudy and newly minted partner in the firm are working to find the killer of a British Museum volunteer. Before he died, he discovers a giant gemstone enclosed in a mummy's wrappings. The ruby is gone, and the volunteer is dead.

Llewelyn continues to develop his sleuthing skills along with his self-defense tactics. More of Barker's interesting back story is revealed in this book. This is another 5* entry in a 5* series.

I always enjoy the engaging and non-intrusive narration of this series by Antony Ferguson.

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

This isn't even a case of me requesting a later book in a series. Most crime series can be read as standalones. This is just boring. If you want the Sherlock/Watson dynamic, just read the originals. If you want a great historical mystery series, I'd recommend What Angels Fear.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

Heart of the Nile takes place in London in the year 1893, Will Thomas does an excellent job taking you there building the mystery having to do with a Mummy, a giant ruby, and a murder. Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn are on the case when a young wife hires them to find out where her husband who is missing is.
This book has great action parts and love PIs Barker and Llewelyn. Also felt like Will Thomas did an excellent job mixing in real facts. This was my first book in this series now that I know this is number 14 I will be looking for the rest of these books. Thank you Netgalley and Macmillian Audio for letting me listen to this for an honest review.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Really enjoy this historical mystery series! looking forward to getting my hands on more of this series and especially the next book!

Absolutely fascinating mystery!! I loved every chapter as Barker and Llewellyn got into tough scrapes, tried to gather intel, and piece together the reasoning behind a needless murder. I so relished in the Holmes and Watson-esque comraderie, so tastefully written. The Egyptian topics at hand concerning this particular mystery also intrigued me. Just fascinating all around!

This was my first introduction to this series. I am looking forward to reading more!

Content: Fairly clean read. Contains some mild language and allusions to crude actions, but tactfully done. I could recommend to adults or teens, 13+.

Audiobook listeners: This is a quality audio production. I love to hear a good Scottish accent, and Barker's is done very well. I approve of the audiobook quality!

When a museum volunteer disappears after making a potentially ground-breaking discovery in one of the collection's mummies, Barker and Llewelyn step in to find him and make sure a priceless artifact does not fall into the wrong hands.

This is a fun, fast-paced, action-packed Victorian mystery. Think Sherlock Holmes where every other scene is like the Reichenbach Falls.

I listened to the audiobook version and thought the narrator did a fantastic job. It was a quick listen and really kept my attention.

The characters were quirky and intriguing. The content was good, clean fun. I would have no problem recommending this series for younger readers as well as old.

This was the first book I read in this series, but I'm definitely going to go back and read the rest now.

A book that was practically written for me, a historical mystery set in Victorian London and its craze for explorers and Ancient Egyptian artifacts. London, 1893.
The book starts out with a volunteer, a history teacher, an outcast of his rich and influential family working late at the British museum. Cataloging artifacts in the storage space when he notices one Egyptian mummy being quite a bit heavier than what he expected it to be.
Since it’s late at night and he is alone at the museum he decided to open the chest cavity to find a big uncut ruby. The next morning he is gone. His wife hires a duo of private detectives Barker & Llewelyn to find her missing husband.
The pair embark on a chase through Victorian London where it seems like everyone is in the market for the gemstone and no one cares about a simple volunteer.
I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me an Agatha Christie novel. But the part that made it extra special was how well done the historical atmosphere and setting was done, all the way down to proper behavior and undergarments.
The audio for this book was narrated by Antony Ferguson and he did all the different accents and inflections so well - it was a joy to listen.

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for providing me with an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review !

A fun Victorian mystery with an Egyptomanian theme.

This is my first foray into this series, and from what I can tell, it doesn’t much matter if you read them out of order.

This isn’t exactly Charles Finch caliber stuff (though really, what is?) but it’s a fun story with a solid sense of humor and a decent plot.

The ending felt a bit silly as contrived, but the fun part was getting there, and there’s plenty of entertainment along the way. I loved the focus on the British Museum and Egyptomania, though I wish the book had spent more time in the museum and with its staff instead of devoting so many pages to the detectives going around interviewing petty criminals.

Given that, the theme and sense of place weren’t quite as good as they easily should have been with such a promising premise, hence a rating of three stars here rather than four.

But Barker and Llewelyn are both capable and likable, and their banter helps with the less well-executed sections of the book. I’d read another.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for a copy of this Audiobook.

Heart of the Nile is a fun Victorian-era detective mystery reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes. Detective Cyrus Barker and his partner Thomas Llewelyn must find a missing ruby found inside a mummy and solve the murder of the man who may have uncovered the secret of the century.

I was drawn to this book because I really enjoy stories that involve Egyptology and mysteries. It's the perfect combo and so I was really excited to begin reading. First the Pros: The narrator does a great job with voices regarding Cyrus and Thomas. Often times it can be hard to distinguish characters in an audiobook if the narrator doesn't find a way to make each character distinguishable. The setting of the book reminded me a lot of Sherlock Holmes so I think if you're a fan of those stories you'll enjoy this book, as well. The pacing moved along and with each new discovery the path to finding the murder twisted and turned. Next the cons: Overall the story is solid but the two detectives fell flat for me. They seemed like water down versions of famous literary detectives that have come before them. However, to add a caveat, this is the first book of this series that I've read and it's the 14th in the series. It's very possible that the backstory and personality quirks of each detective have been previously established. I just didn't find them to be very dynamic in this particular story. Personally, I think the personality dynamics of characters should be present throughout all the books in a series. Especially since each book, as far as I know, are standalone - you don't necessarily need to read the prior books before reading and understanding this book.

I'd definitely suggest Heart of the Nile to my friends who share a similar interest in detective books. Again, the story is solid overall and it's just the main two characters who fell flat for me. I think this book is a perfect read for someone who needs an escape from life and wants to embark on an adventure in Victorian-era London. I am giving it three stars mainly because of the flat main characters - I just couldn't connect with them in a way that would make me want to read/listen to another Barker/Llewelyn book.

This is the 14th book in the Barker and Llewelyn series - and the first one I've read. Will Thomas did a very good job of drawing a newcomer into the story, just hinting at the back story without leaving any holes in the story.

This is another historical mystery, influenced by the classic Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson characters. It reminded me very much of Sherry Thomas' the Lady Holmes series.

3 1/2 star for the story, and another 1/2 star because it was so easy to jump into the series in book number 14.

While I recieved a copy of this audiobook in exchange for a review, all opinions remain my own. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian audio for the opportunity to listen to this novel.

Even though this is part of a quite long series, it was a complete story. You know how much I love that. This book was a perfect who dunnit. There was lots of mystery, lots of colorful characters and lots of questions. I loved the setting of past-time London. It allows you to go way back to a "simpler" time which was also a much more complex time. I also really loved Cyrus and Thomas, the "detectives" called enquiry agents in this series. They are such fun characters. So very different from each other but they work so very well together. I would totally pick up another of these novels to listen to. Narrator was awesome and easy to listen to.

Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn are partners in a private enquiry business in London in the 1890s. This book appears to be part of a series of mystery novels featuring the pair. It's the first one I've encountered. While Cyrus seems to be a man with a very interesting and varied past, Thomas is more typical gentleman of that period. We are given hints of their earlier lives, undoubtedly covered more deeply in earlier novels. In this book, they are tasked with finding the killer of a young volunteer in Egyptology at the British Museum. This unfolds a maze of possible connections that we follow as the two investigate. One gets a detailed picture of life in urban London during Victorian times, in addition to a glimpse of the beginnings of the great era of discovery in Egypt. The book was entertaining and the killer was not completely obvious until near the end of the book--always a good sign. The characters were described in detail and were quite intriguing, making the reader want to know them better.
I actually read and reviewed the ebook before receiving the audiobook. I wish it had been the reverse, as the audiobook narration really brought out the personalities of the characters and made the book much more interesting.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for sending this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Heart of the Nile by Will Thomas was just released on April 11th, and it is a great read for anyone who loves a good mystery, a bit of history, and a healthy dose of adventure.

In this book, we follow Cyrus Barker and his assistant, Thomas Llewelyn, who are private inquiry agents who were hired to find a missing man, Phillip Addison, who volunteers at the British Museum. Addison made a shocking discovery while examining a mummy in the museum’s collection, a large heart-shaped ruby – the Heart of the Nile.

The volunteer is discovered floating in the Thames River the next morning, and the ruby has vanished. In order to uncover the murderer and protect the jewel, they now have to evade a vicious street gang, a cunning collector, and the British Museum itself.

This book was an intriguing mystery that transports you back to Victorian-era Britain. It evokes Agatha Christie vibes while bringing more suspense, mystery, and twists and turns. What seemed like a simple mystery turned into something more up and drew me in until the very end.

Heart of the Nile is the 14th book in the Barker & Llewelyn series by Will Thomas. I read the book, plus I listened to the audiobook version when I was driving; I didn't want to stop the story! This is truly one of the best historical mystery series I've ever read/listened to. Heck, it's one of the best series of any kind ever! Not only have I read all the previous books, but I have the audiobooks of each one as well. I started the series in the middle, then went back and got all that I missed. This book stands alone, so there won't be any confusion if this is your first foray into the world of Barker & Llewelyn.

Cyrus Barker, along with his former assistant and now partner Thomas Llewelyn, are premier enquiry agents (don't call them detectives!) in London, 1893. They've had some strange and complicated cases, but this one goes a step beyond. This time there's a mummy, a giant ruby and a murder. While examining a mummy in the British Museum's collection, a volunteer finds a huge ruby in the shape of a heart in that mummy, who may actually be Cleopatra herself! The next day, the poor volunteer's lifeless body is fished out of the Thames, and the ruby is missing. Barker and Llewelyn are hired by the man's widow to find out what happened; this puts them in the sights of a violent gang, a peer of the realm who is a fanatical collector and the British Museum itself. Will they be able to find the killer and keep the gem safe?

I just loved this story; it was fun, fast-paced and impossible to put down. I was kept guessing the entire time, and I was shocked at the end. That doesn't happen to me very often. It's the characters, however, who shine in this series. The story is told from the point of view of Thomas Llewelyn. I can't overstate just how much I love this character. He's a snarky smartass, for one thing...my kind of guy! This Welshman had a hard life; he lost his first wife, was accused of theft and served time in jail. He was about to end it all when he was hired by Barker. Now Llewelyn is Barker's partner and is married to a beautiful woman. He's also smart as a whip, having studied at Oxford. And then there is the enigma that is Barker. The Scotsman lived in China with his missionary parents and brother, but was orphaned and had to make it on his own. There are some parts of his past that even Llewelyn doesn't know after working with Barker all these years. Barker's a self-made man and is wealthy, but doesn't live an ostentatious lifestyle. He's also quite brilliant, learning from the school of life and very mysterious. Barker and Llewelyn are perfect foils for each other. I was thrilled to see characters from the previous books, such as Ho (who owns a restaurant and is involved in illegal matters), Mac (Barker's butler; who must keep order in this world), Terrence Poole (law enforcement friend of Barker's), Liam Grant (an honorary librarian friend of Llewelyn's), Llewelyn's wife Rebecca and Harm the dog. Of the characters specific to this book, I enjoyed Mrs. Addison (wife of the deceased museum volunteer) and Reggie (leader of the Tweed Gang). After 14 books, Barker and Llewelyn are still fresh and exciting, and I look forward to many more adventures.

The audiobook was narrated by Antony Ferguson, who has narrated all the books in these series. He is one of the most talented narrators I have ever had the pleasure of listening to; he perfectly brings to life the personalities of Barker and Llewelyn. I hope he continues for the life of the series.

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

In the book Heart of the Nile, author Will Thomas continues his Barker & Llewelyn series. It’s 1893 and a volunteer at the British Museum makes a startling discovery in a mummy! But the volunteer is found dead. Cyrus Barker and his partner Thomas Llewelyn are hired by the man’s widow to find out what happened to him. And in the process of their investigation they uncover more than they bargained for.
This was a good time-period story that kept you engaged till the end. The audio-book narration was very good. I would recommend this book. I received a copy of this audio-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

HEART OF THE NILE is Will Thomas's latest installment of Barker and Llewellyn mysteries. Read by Antony Ferguson, this mystery finds the private inquiry agents being hired by the wife of a missing man who works at the British Museum. It appears he was on the verge of sharing some vital information about a mummy in the collection when he goes missing. Unfortunately, a recent body found floating in the Thames is confirmed to be him, and with the devious underbelly of activity the men have uncovered, they must truly keep vigilant watch.

This was another very entertaining mystery that felt familiar in the most comforting ways. Having read other Barker and Llewellyn novels, I enjoy both their banter and the cases in which they solve. This case didn't seem as difficult as first, but as the men dive deeper, more was involved than I initially thought.

I very much enjoyed listening to this audio. There is something about Ferguson's voice that simply fits this genre of Victorian London superbly. I am confident in following this series and these characters!

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the opportunity to listen to this ALC and share my thoughts. I am happy to relay that this is available today for all you Victorian Mystery fans!

Heart of the Nile is the first book I’ve read in the long-running Baker & Llewelyn series and I need to figure out why it took me this long to check out this series. I will definitely be looking to read some of the other books in the series now.

The setting is London in late 1893 and the story is told by Thomas Llewelyn, the junior partner in this detective (“private enquiry”) firm. Cyrus Baker is the senior member and seems to have had quite a fascinating and varied life before opening his detective agency, bits of which we read about along the way in this book - perhaps more is revealed in earlier volumes. Llewelyn also has an interesting backstory and we also learn bits of it gradually.

The mystery this time involves an ancient Egyptian mummy at the British Museum and a large gem discovered inside it by a volunteer working the night shift. Murder follows.

I really enjoyed the twists and turns this story took, as well as glimpses of Victorian London - including all walks of that society.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook’s narrator, Antony Ferguson, did a fabulous job with a whole variety of British 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.

If you are a true murder mystery fan and love a story with quick wits, the occasional British humor, and quirks, minus any type of romance, this book is for you. This has a Sherlock Holmes feel to it where you think the story has ended and all is well and then the real answer reveals itself self.

I will admit, I have never read any of the previous 13 books by Will Thomas, but after reading The Heart of the Nile, I can tell there was some correlation between previous novels, as you can tell there had been a build-up of both main characters over time, but it wasn't fully necessary for me to have read previous books it to fully enjoy it. However, I will be starting this series from the beginning.

The Heart of the Nile will keep you interested with the witty conversations between Barker and his mate, Llewelyn. The love for the mysterious Egyptian history is an added bonus. I enjoyed the POV from Llewelyn as the story was told. I loved the characters, and the way they were described. The ending felt a tad rushed, but I will assume that is part of the "Sherlock" type endings (as in the ending really isn't the ending).

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC of Heart of the Nile!