For Services Rendered by Will Thomas:

5 Stars

Because the complimentary copy I received was marked uncorrected, I won’t make any judgments regarding typos or minor inconsistencies.

I have never been so delighted to realize I was reading part of a series — and not the first installment. How had I not discovered Will Thomas before? For Services Rendered is precisely calibrated to my tastes and proved a welcome palate cleanser from my usual reading. I finished it in less than a day, and reading it out of sequence presented no issues at all.

Cyrus Barker evokes Phileas Fogg in his habits and Sherlock Holmes in his choice of associates—a delicious combination—yet he remains wholly his own character. The story is immersive, seamlessly blending history and fiction. The dialogue, one-liners, narrative style, plot structure, and pacing are all beautifully executed. Will Thomas’s entire backlist has now landed squarely on my TBR, and I plan to explore his wife’s books as well.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this advance copy. I received For Services Rendered through NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.