In London, 1896, private enquiry agent Cyrus Barker's world is upturned when his longtime nemesis, Sebastian Nightwine, previously believed dead, turns up with evil on his mind, launching devastating and secretive attacks against not just Barker, but his network of friends and close associates.
In 1896, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, would be reformer and revolutionary, turns up in London, running away from China's Imperial Qing Secret Service, who has placed a substantial bounty on his head for his political activities. Captured by those agents, he's imprisoned in the Chinese Embassy until he can be smuggled back to China to face execution.
In the meantime, private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn receive the unbelievable news that Sebastian Nightwine is both alive and in London. Not just that, it seems he's taking action against Barker and his close associates. At the same time, they've been hired to find this missing Sun Yat-Sen. With elements of the Chinese secret service, elements of the British government, and Nightwine himself all working against them, Barker & Llewelyn are at risk of being cornered by the deadliest set enemies they've yet faced.
There is something wonderfully comforting about returning to a long-running mystery series and finding that the characters still feel like old friends. For Services Rendered, the seventeenth Barker & Llewelyn novel, brings Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn back for another complicated adventure through Victorian London.
The main mystery incorporates the real historical events surrounding Sun Yat-Sen into the fictional investigation, creating a fascinating blend of history, political intrigue, and mystery. I particularly enjoyed this aspect of the story because the historical details never felt like they were simply dropped into the narrative to show off research. Instead, they became an important part of the mystery itself. Thomas clearly knows how to make Victorian London feel like more than a backdrop. The period details, along with the inclusion of real historical figures and events, give the story an immersive quality that fans of historical mysteries will appreciate.
As always, one of the biggest strengths of the series is the relationship between Barker and Llewelyn. Barker's intelligence, eccentricities, and almost infuriating ability to remain several steps ahead are nicely balanced by Llewelyn's observations and dry humor. Llewelyn's narration gives the story plenty of personality, and his occasional snarky commentary is one of the things that makes this series so enjoyable.
My one complaint is that the mystery itself wasn't difficult to unravel. Still, the characters, historical elements, and larger story more than made up for that.
I would recommend reading the earlier books if you want the full impact of the characters and their history; this installment can still be enjoyed by newcomers.
If you enjoy Victorian mysteries, historical fiction, Sherlock Holmes-style investigations, political intrigue, and eccentric detectives with wonderfully complicated partnerships, add this to your TBR.
Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
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