Will Thomas--Barker & Llewellyn

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Will Thomas--Barker & Llewellyn

1gmathis
Modifié : Fév 26, 2021, 8:36 am

As mentioned elsewhere, I'm a huge Will Thomas fan and during a long gap between books in the Barker & Llewellyn series, was sorely tempted to camp on his doorstep and beg him to crank them out faster.

Since Christmas, I've done some catching up and finished Blood is Blood and Lethal Pursuit, chuckling all the way at the long-running cast of characters' quips and quirks.

However, all my giggling at the insider stuff caused me to wonder if any of the later entries in the series could be handed off to a newbie, or if it takes a strong knowledge of the backstories to appreciate them. Thoughts?

2Bookmarque
Fév 26, 2021, 9:17 am

I don't read these books, but have enough going that I can appreciate the insider stuff that goes with a long-running series. It's a delicate balance between satisfying the established fan who's been with an author since book 1 and a new customer intrigued by the latest story. To me it works best when the little references to past incidents or jokes are just that - little. Those a new reader can be a little puzzled over, but also not be out of the loop for anything really important. They can be hooks to dive into the back catalog looking for what is being referred to.

Any big thing from the past should be explained in a later book though. Otherwise I think new readers will be made to feel left out and that's never good.

3gmathis
Fév 26, 2021, 9:43 am

Agreed. I've jumped in the middles of some series that made me feel like the new kid at school who couldn't get her locker open and didn't know where to sit at lunch.

4rosalita
Fév 26, 2021, 9:56 am

I am also not familiar with this series but it's a good question about series in general. The one thing I hate is reading a later book in a series that spoils a major plot point in an earlier book I haven't read — like the death of a key character or something like that.

5Bookmarque
Fév 26, 2021, 10:01 am

Yeah, I think that can be annoying, but what's an author to do? The longer story arc is something I really appreciate in series, not just each book's particular plot. Jeffrey Deaver has done this with his Colter Shaw series and I liked it again in Nicci French's Freida Klein series.

6gmathis
Fév 26, 2021, 10:24 am

As far as the series itself, I can't top how this reviewer described it:

"Enigmatic Cyrus Barker and novice Thomas Llewelyn are partners in the most loved, hated, respected, disreputable enquiry agency in London. The description all depends on who you ask." Holmes and Watson on steroids, if you will, in 1890's London and thereabouts.

7rosalita
Fév 26, 2021, 10:32 am

>5 Bookmarque: Yeah, I wasn't meaning to criticize authors at all. I was just explaining why I am extremely leery of jumping into a series anywhere except at the beginning.

8Bookmarque
Fév 26, 2021, 10:33 am

>7 rosalita: Agreed. I generally don't either. If a writer can't hook me with the first one, that's it.