Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was the first I've read in this series and it intriqued me enough to consider going back and listening to the other 16! Decent characters, and well written overall.

Season of Death is the 16th book in the historical mystery series Barker & Llewelyn by Will Thomas. I started this series a number of books in, and I immediately fell in love with it. I went back and read all I had missed. This has become one of my favorite series EVER. You would think that after this many books the series would become stale, but it hasn't in the least. In fact, this was one of my favorite books in the series. This volume stands alone, so jump right on in and start enjoying! I also listened to the audiobook along with reading so I didn't have to step away from my book, because for some reason people don't like you reading as you're driving.

It's November 1895 in London, and private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn have seen a lot in their years working together. They've worked from the top for the Crown and down to the bottom for the London Underground. But this newest case is going to be a doozy! A railway tunnel in the East End of London suddenly collapses and kills dozens of people, shutting down services all over the city. While working on a case, Barker and Llewelyn meet a beggar calling herself Dutch, and she informs them that there is an attempt by a powerful aristocrat to take over London's criminal underworld. Their search for a missing heiress and violence at a women's shelter are muddying up the works and keeping Barker and Llewelyn from learning the truth. Barker is in relentless pursuit, and Llewelyn is starting to wonder how a poor beggar seems to know a lot about what's going on.

Barker and Llewelyn are one of my favorite crimefighting duos of all time. Their personalities seem like oil and water, yet they have solved innumerable cases while working with each other. Barker is a stubborn Scot who worked his way up in the world, became rich and started London's premier private enquiry office. And for the love of all that is holy, do NOT refer to him as. a private detective! It's PRIVATE ENQUIRY AGENT. He owns a beautiful home, a garden that's the envy of all, and has worked on investigations for the highest down to the lowest of Society. He's stoic, deadly, a member of the Knights Templar and has a caring heart under a rough exterior. Llewelyn is the son of. Welsh coal miner. After losing his young wife and being set up for theft, he was put in prison. When out he sought a job with Barker and if he wasn't successful, he was planning on ending it all. But he was hired, and years later the men are partners in the agency. Llewelyn has married and has just become a father for the first time. Llewelyn, first and foremost, is a smartass. I absolutely adore him, and the humor between he and Barker always makes me laugh. The story is told from the point of view of Llewelyn. This case turned out to be one of their most difficult. It appears that because of the tunnel collapse, many heads of crime syndicates died, and someone is attempting to take over the underworld. At the same time, Barker and Llewelyn are trying to solve a string of thefts that ended in a murder, plus they are hired to find the missing sister-in-law of an aristocrat. Throw in a beggar woman - she's a "crawler", one of the worst off of beggars because she can't walk - who seems to be quite intelligent though living on the streets and seems to be involved in this complicated mess somehow, and things go from bad to worse. We learn a bit more of Barker's involvement in the Knights Templar, and of his complicated relationships with higher-ups in law enforcement. Meanwhile, Llewelyn is trying to deal with a new baby who cries all of the time, and taking care of a stray dog that's on the verge of becoming part of his family. Barker and Llewelyn are always in physical danger, and that certainly is raised a notch here! The mystery was complicated, and I was totally stunned with the climax. All of our old favorites are still here, such as Barker's Chinese friend Ho (who owns a restaurant, lives to give Llewelyn a hard time, and has his thumb in some illegal pies), Llewelyn's wife Rebecca, Barker's butler Mac, and of course Harm, Barker's dog who has a thing for chewing on Llewelyn. The only regular character not present during the story but was referenced to was Barker's woman friend Lady Ashley. I hope there are many more books for this dynamic duo. My world would be a sad - and dull - place without Barker and Llewelyn!

As I mentioned earlier, I also listened to the audiobook when I couldn't read the book. The audiobook is narrated by Antony Ferguson, who is absolutely magnificent! He captures every nuance of the story and characters, and he IS Barker and Llewelyn. He may be my favorite narrator.

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

I received this as an ARC audio book from NetGalley and didn’t realize it’s part of a series. They don’t need to be read in order, I didn’t even realize it was part of a larger series until the end when I looked it up! This book was great, I will absolutely be reading more from Will Thomas. While this mystery did have lots of action and some darker tones, the characters made it funny and engaging. I would absolutely recommend this book and am excited to follow along with more of Barker and Llewellyns adventures!

5 stars!
Season of Death is another masterful installment in the Barker and Llewelyn series by Will Thomas. Rich with Victorian-era atmosphere, engaging characters, and a tightly woven plot, the story moves effortlessly from gritty London streets to shadowy corners of intrigue. Thomas expertly balances historical detail with suspenseful storytelling, keeping me riveted from the first page to the thrilling conclusion. Fans of historical mysteries won't want to miss this standout entry.

I absolutely love the Barker & Llewelyn series, and Season of Death is a fantastic addition that delivers everything I’ve come to expect: excellent writing, intriguing characters, suspenseful twists, and rich historical detail. Will Thomas once again immerses readers in the dark, vibrant heart of Victorian London, a city teeming with street urchins, American heiresses, suffragettes, and scheming lords—and I loved every minute of the journey.

One of my favorite aspects of the series is the seamless way Thomas incorporates real historical facts and events into his fiction. This time, the plot kicks off with the sudden collapse of a railway tunnel in the East End, sending Barker and Llewelyn headlong into a deadly investigation involving a missing heiress, a riot at a women’s shelter, and a beggar woman named “Dutch” who proves far more than she seems. The mystery is layered but never confusing; there are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, but not so many that you lose track of the plot.

The writing is concise and purposeful—no unnecessary fluff—and carries just the right touch of dry wit and Sherlock Holmes vibes that I’ve come to adore in this series. Cyrus Barker remains a force of nature: enigmatic, principled, and deeply capable. Thomas Llewelyn’s narration brings the human heart to the story, and their partnership continues to be one of the most compelling in detective fiction.

I also highly recommend the audiobook version, beautifully narrated by Antony Ferguson. He brings each character to life with distinct voices and authentic accents, making for an immersive and thoroughly enjoyable listening experience. For anyone who loves Victorian-era mysteries, this audiobook is a must.

Season of Death by Will Thomas

Season of Death begins with a robbery, followed by the sudden collapse of a railway tunnel in East London—two events that set off a chain of consequences far more sinister than they first appear. Amid the chaos, a beggar woman known only as “Dutch” somehow becomes central to the investigation. As Barker and Llewelyn dig deeper, they uncover a plot by a powerful aristocrat to take over the city’s criminal underworld. A missing heiress, a riot at a women’s shelter, and a growing sense that nothing is what it seems—this is a story where even the most overlooked figures can hold the key to everything.

This was my first Barker and Llewelyn novel, and although it’s the latest in a long-running and popular series, I found it worked perfectly as a standalone. I think this speaks to Will Thomas’ talent—he draws the reader in with an engaging plot, lively dialogue, and a richly atmospheric setting. I thoroughly enjoyed Season of Death.

Two aspects of the book stood out to me in particular. First, Thomas’ use of imagery—especially his similes—often made me smile. Phrases like “they butted heads like rams in spring” and “he came out much in the way a cuckoo comes out of his clock” added colour and wit to each scene. These literary touches helped me connect with the characters and the world they inhabit.

I also loved the way Llewelyn spoke about his wife, Rebecca. She is clearly a strong, intelligent, and at times formidable woman. Llewelyn’s love for her is unmistakable, and the way Thomas depicts their relationship adds warmth and depth to the story.

One of the key plot elements involves a women’s shelter—a place where wives facing domestic abuse can seek refuge. Thomas uses dialogue between Rebecca and Llewelyn to highlight how radical this idea was at the time. Later, when the shelter is attacked, the reader sees just how controversial it was for women to leave their husbands in Victorian society.

Much of the novel shines a light on the vulnerability of women in that era. Women with large dowries or inheritances are exploited for their wealth. Those in unhappy or abusive marriages have few options, as society does not treat them as equals. And disabled women who are forced onto the streets become “crawlers”—the lowest of the low. With their little teapots, they beg for water as they wait to die. They are particularly at risk during winter—the season of death.

The only part of the book that didn’t fully work for me were the scenes involving violence. Barker’s training facility effectively establishes his physical prowess, but I found the fight scenes surprisingly hyper-masculine and a bit jarring. That said, I imagine this aspect of the story appeals to many readers, and it certainly wasn’t enough to diminish my overall enjoyment.

I listened to the audiobook via NetGalley, and narrator Antony Ferguson was an excellent choice. His seamless transitions between Barker’s Scottish Lowland accent, Llewelyn’s English accent, and the American voices of Lady Danvers and May Evans were impressive. His performance beautifully complemented Thomas’ rich writing and brought Victorian London vividly to life.

I so enjoyed this book! I admit - I jumped into this series at this book, but it was so easy to do and I never felt behind or like I was missing anything. That being said I will absolutely go back and read the previous books because I loved this one. I am a sucker for the detective duo made of the stoic vet and the funny more relaxed newbie. This book was a masterclass in weaving together a complex story through careful and smart detective skills, with so many twists and so many AH HA moments that kept me captivated. I am so impressed at how the story was told to bring it all together the way it does at the end. I loved so many of the characters (and the animals to be honest) and I can't wait for more!

Still not sure how I feel about this one…

Release date is coming on 4/22/25, so look for it then!

This is book #16 for this series, and it’s the first I’m reading … so it may be due to that?

Llewelyn and Barker are private inquiry agents in search of a missing heiress, and sister-in-law of another heiress. Mae has been missing for six months, and no one seems too interested in looking for her! 😮

As they begin searching for her, multiple things are going on… including a tunnel collapse that kills/injures many…

And then there’s the ‘crawler’ that they meet, Dutch, who gives them some info, but also seems to be very highly placed for a bum…

It all kind of comes together in the end, but I felt like I was ‘in the weeds’ for a good part of the book…

#SeasonOfDeath by #WillThomas and narrated nicely by #AntonyFerguson.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

***** THIS HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED!! Look 👀 for it on 4/22/25!! *****

Thanks so much to #NetGalley & #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

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I had no idea that this book was part of a series and had I not looked at the reviews during my listening I might have never known.
This book is easily understandeable outside of it's mother series but it made me want to read the rest!
The mystery was quite interesting, I spent more time than expected pushing back my "listening limit" for the day to get a little bit more.
The writing style was also excellent, the characters were good and I really enjoyed the way the narrator delivered the plot, it really added to the writing style in my opinion.
A very good book! I am looking forward to more!

This is one of my favorite series to listen to. I've only read 5 books in this series and I always like the books much more when I listen to the audiobooks (of the 5 books, I've listened to 3). Season of Death is book 16 in the series, but they really can be read as stand-alone novels.

I think I like the audiobooks so much because it feels like the main character Thomas Llewelyn is telling you the story. Plus I love the voices Antony Ferguson gives to the characters, especially Barker - I can't get his voice right in my head when I read the books myself.

In the beginning, it seems like they are working on two separate cases but you know they will somehow become intertwined. It was fun trying to figure out how they would connect. There's a red herring early on so that kept me guessing too.

I'll admit that I picked up the series in the first place because I love the covers but I've kept reading it because I like the characters. We get enough of their life stories that it feels like checking in with old friends to see what they are up to now. Thomas with his newborn daughter is adorable in this book.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Saturday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/04/season-of-death-by-will-thomas.html

This latest book in the Barker and Llewelyn series marks ten years of partnership between Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Thomas grow from a starving, newly-released prisoner, who is down-on-his-luck, into the competent investigator who still values the teachings of the enigmatic Barker. It is a partnership of opposites that just works on so many levels.

Something is afoot in London’s East End, and it is up to Barker and Llewelyn to figure it all out. They currently have two cases on their slate – one case is to find the missing sister-in-law of a London toff who is very powerful and politically connected. The other client is Scotland Yard – and they want to know why the East End has gotten so quiet. What is going on? That becomes an even more important question when all of the leadership of the various gangs, guilds, etc., of the East End are suddenly killed when a large tunnel caves in. Deliberate or an accident? Will there be wars within the different factions until new leaders emerge?

The resolution is well done with all of the threads nicely tied with a series of shorter chapters wrapping them. The heroes and heroines all get their nice rewards, and the villains get equally bad outcomes.

I read the print version and I also listened to the audiobook. The narrator, Antony Ferguson, did an excellent job of making the characters come to life with his smooth delivery. I thoroughly enjoyed his characterizations of the perky Thomas Llewelyn and the gruff Angus Barker.

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

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook version of Season of Death by Will Thomas, which is a historical mystery set in Victorian London. The story features “private enquiry” agents Cyrus Barker & Thomas Llewelyn as they investigate a missing heiress, a diamond heist, a collapsed tunnel, and mob turf wars. The characters reminded me a bit of the Sherlock Holmes stories, and there were plenty of plot twists that kept me guessing until the satisfying conclusion.

Despite not having listened to or read previous installments in the series, the story was easy to follow and I don’t feel that I missed out on any pertinent plot points for not having read them. Finally, the audiobook was beautifully narrated by Antony Ferguson who provided a variety of voices and accents for all the characters. I definitely recommend this audiobook to anyone who loves listening to Victorian-era mysteries!

For Barker and Llewelyn, even a career of solving mysteries hasn’t prepared them for this: a riot, a collapsed tunnel, a missing heiress, and a power struggle in London’s underworld—all connected by a mysterious beggar named “Dutch.” Can Barker uncover the truth before it’s too late?

This book has a lot of moving parts, with storylines weaving together through the course of the novel. There’s not much emotion or character development. The novel is action-oriented, gritty, and fairly dark in tone. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Finding a new to me author who can pen a brilliant historical mystery is such a prize! Season of Death by Will Thomas has so many elements of a fun and intriguing historical mystery. A broody private inquiry agent with a witty sidekick who narrates their activities with humor and charm, quirky yet predictable side characters and a plot that is engaging and plausible. I am looking forward to going back to the beginning to learn more about this dynamic duo and how they started. I love the setting of Victorian England where technology is starting to advance, women’s rights are gaining traction, and status quo is continuously being challenged. There is no foul language, no bawdy scenes, or unnecessary violence and graphic descriptions. It is just a good story for the sake a good, creative story.
I had the additional privilege of receiving an audiobook version which really helped the story come to life in my mind. I loved all the accents and nuances of the various characters. The narrator did an excellent job.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

It was a pleasure to revisit Barker and Llewellyn and be back in 1895 London in Season of Death. While this is definitely a mystery with lots of action, there are also plenty of opportunities to chuckle along the way. Thomas Llewelyn is the narrator, and he reflects on events and personalities they encounter on the job and on his personal life. He is the assistant investigator for Cyrus Barker, who calls their business a “private enquiry” agency.

The story starts off with action scenes of the duo tracking down and catching a ring of thieves who have been preying on small businesses in the East End. But the main story involves an American heiress who has disappeared. Barker and Llewelyn don’t get the case for several months, so tracking her down is difficult. I loved the glimpses of how both the upper classes and the lower classes lived. Telephones were around but fairly scarce and horse-drawn carriages were the rule. By the end of the book we see a rare “horseless carriage”, so times are going to change quickly!

While Llewelyn is married to a Jewish woman, we don’t get much info about the London Jewish community in this volume. It was tantalizing but left me wanting in that one respect. Barker seems to have had quite a fascinating and varied life before opening his detective agency, bits of which we read about along the way. We also learn a bit about Llewelyn’s interesting backstory.

Note: This is a long-running series but this is only my third (out of 16), so I think you can jump in without having to read all the previous books.

I mostly listened to the audiobook version which was beautifully narrated by Antony Ferguson again. He constantly smoothly switches between Barker’s Scottish accent and other accents throughout the book.

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.

Barker and Llewellyn are back with the sixteenth entry in the series. I've been reading them in order so had to jump a number of books in the series to get to Season of Death. Many of the usual characters from the earlier novels are with us although those of you who have been reading them in order already know about any births, deaths and marriages that have already occurred by 1895, the year this story unfolds. Initially, the collapse of a bridge opens up a very important opportunity for someone with a criminal mind and lots of ambition. Leaders of the major gangs were meeting in a room under the bridge and are no longer with us. There is chaos amongst criminals, to fill a leadership void. Yet, in the midst of chaos, we have a series of meticulously planned and executed jewelry store breaking.

Barker is hired to check around the neighborhood for anything that might point to the culprits when he and Llewelyn run across a woman with a teakettle and looking like a pile of filthy rags. She is what is called a “crawler” among the beggars, one of the lowest of the low who relies on pennies from better off street people. The kettle is to collect old tealeaves. Her name is “Dutch,” and there is something odd about her. When asked about whether she has seen anything that might lead to the thieves, it becomes obvious she has. After some back and forth, she acknowledges she has been made a lookout for the thieves and she shares the location of a burglary in progress. As Barker and Llewellyn break up the robbery, they find a more serious crime, burglars acting unusual and confirm which gang is involved. It is obvious to them that an unknown person is at the helm. They get Dutch to the mission where Barker is on the board. It is something of a domestic violence shelter, despised by men who think it's fine to harm their wives. Dutch should be safe, but some unknown person does not want her to be protected. She's unmarried, so who could it be? The plot twists just enough as usual to be entertaining. The characters continue to evolve but with pasts that influence their conduct. The writing is often humorous and sometimes very sad. What I particularly like about Will Thomas's writing is that I genuinely learn more about history of London and surrounds at the time and even within the back stories of characters. In this case, it meant that I learned about crawlers and understood more about the police system of the era. I love these books and Thomas has maintained the quality and interest consistently. The narrator of this audio edition, Antony Ferguson, is excellent.

Review of Season of Death

I received an early release copy of Season of Death from the publisher for review. As a long-time reader of this series, I highly recommend starting with book one if you're new to it. This allows you to truly appreciate the characters' remarkable growth and evolution throughout the narrative.

It delivers an intriguing story, skillfully weaving a mystery within a mystery. As expected in this historical London setting, the narrative is rich with political intrigue, romantic entanglements( Isn't there always?), and, of course, murder. The author crafts a compelling plot that kept me guessing until the very end.

A note on the audiobook narration: I found the narrator's pacing to be a bit slow at the default speed. To enhance the listening experience, I recommend increasing the playback speed to at least 1.25x or 1.35x. This adjustment made a significant difference, transforming what felt like a lecture into a more engaging narration. While the narrator's voice range was somewhat limited, the increased speed improved the overall flow and enjoyment of the audiobook.

Overall, is a well-written and captivating addition to the series. Though at times it seemed the main character repeated a few lines here and there. Despite the minor narration issue, which is easily remedied, the story's complexity and compelling characters make it a worthwhile read or listen for fans of historical mysteries

#netgalley

A great new addition to the series, I liked this one more than the last installment I read.

The characters continue to be interesting, though if this type of book isn’t your normal genre you may find them a bit dry. The character development in this one was very well done, and I appreciated how different characters were juxtaposed.

This is a great book for fans of Andrea Pemrose.

Thank you for the ARC!

I was a tad nervous going in because I was unfamiliar with the previous novels in the series, but it was super easy to follow! I imagine that a lot of them could be read as stand alone books if you wanted. Loved the Sherlock Holmes vibes. There were enough twists and turns to keep you interested, but not so many that you'd become lost in what was the actual plot. The writing was very concise and didn't have too much fluff. Can't wait to do enmore into this series!

This review is for the audiobook narrated by Antony Ferguson. Barker and Llewellyn have been together as enquiry agents for 10 years now. I enjoy seeing Llewellyn married and with a daughter. Barker is his usual aloof, mysterious self. There's lots of domestic violence in the plot, so beware if that's a trigger. I really felt for poor Dutch, and I'm glad it ended well. Anthony Ferguson is perfect for the book. He sounds just like I imagine Barker and Llewellyn would sound.

Thank you to Macmillan for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.