Old Scores

Written by Will Thomas

Narrated by Antony Ferguson

In 1890, the first Japanese diplomatic delegation arrives in London to open an embassy. Cyrus Barker, private enquiry agent and occasional agent for the Foreign Service Office, is enlisted to display his personal Japanese garden to the visiting dignitaries.

Later that night, Ambassador Toda is shot and killed in his office and Cyrus Barker is discovered across the street, watching the very same office, in possession of a revolver with one spent cartridge.

Arrested by the Special Branch for the crime, Barker is vigorously interrogated and finally released due to the intervention of his assistant, Thomas Llewelyn, and his solicitor. With the London constabulary still convinced of his guilt, Barker is hired by the new Japanese ambassador to find the real murderer.

In a case that takes Barker and Llewelyn deep into parts of London's underworld, on paths that lead deep into Barker's own mysterious personal history, Old Scores is the finest yet in Will Thomas's critically acclaimed series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Oct 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781541477773

Will Thomas

WILL THOMAS is the author of the Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn series, including The Black Hand, The Hellfire Conspiracy, The Limehouse Text, To Kingdom Come, and the Shamus and Barry award-nominated Some Danger Involved. He lives with his family in Oklahoma.

Reviews for Old Scores

[lewilliams-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In 1890 the Japanese delegation visits Cyrus Barker's garden. That same evening the ambassador is killed. Barker was outside the building at the time of the murder with a pistol in which one shot had been fired. Barker immediately becomes the prime suspect and is arrested and interrogated. However, all is not as it seems. Barker is later released and hired buy one of the Japanese delegation to find the ambassador's killer. In this book, more of Barkers past is revealed, including his time spent living in Japan. Another good addition to the Barker and Llewelyn series.

[vesper1931 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

1890 London and the new Japanese ambassador has arrived with his entourage. One of their schedule visits is to the gardens of Cyrus Barker. Later that night when Ambassador Toda is kiled , Barker who was in the vicinity is the prime suspect. But the new ambassador, General Mononobe, employs them to find the murderer.
A stand-alone story, and an enjoyable mystery with political intrigue, a bit of romance, and where we also find out more about Barkers' history.
A NetGalley Book

[hardlyhardy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

If not the best of the Barker and Llewelyn adventures by Will Thomas, “Old Scores” (2017) still moves along at a lively pace and maintains reader interest throughout.It is 1891 and a Japanese delegation has arrived in London. It is mainly a shopping trip, the Japanese eager to purchase items, including a battleship, that will help them become an Asian power. One of their first sightseeing stops is the Japanese garden belonging to Cyrus Barker, the private enquiry agent who smokes a meerschaum pipe, has his own Doctor Watson in the form of the Welshman Thomas Llewelyn and considers the word detective to be a pejorative. Barker, it happens, once lived in Japan and had a Japanese wife, foreshadowing the "old scores" of the title.The assassination of the Japanese ambassador leads to Barker being hired to find the killer, as well as to Barker being considered the main suspect. The ambassador's embarrassed bodyguards target Barker and Llewelyn, and there is much involving members of London's Chinese community, who despise the Japanese. This community includes Barker's former ward, Bok Fu Ying, now married to a man involved in prosperous but barely legal activities. What was she doing at the scene of the crime?The resolution Thomas gives us seems complicated and confusing, and all questions are not satisfactorily answered. Even so, this is an excellent series of mysteries. Just choose another book to start with.

[writemoves · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book that I have read and enjoyed in the Cyrus Barker series. I read The Limehouse Text earlier. There were interesting stories within the main story which was the murder of the Japanese Ambassador. Barker was initially accused of killing the Ambassador but was later hired by the Japanese embassy to investigate the murder. Barker's past personal history figures very prominently during the investigation. His knowledge of the Japanese language and its culture proves not to be a coincidence.

Very good page turner. Again, if you like Sherlock Holmes mysteries, you will enjoy this series...

[cathyskye · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Will Thomas's historical mystery series is one that I've been following with pleasure since the very first book, Some Danger Involved. My pleasure is mainly due to the voice of Thomas Llewelyn, who begins as a complete novice to the private enquiry business and gradually becomes quite skilled, thanks to the tutelage of Cyrus Barker. Barker has always been a rather shadowy character, and tiny bits and pieces of his past have to be wrenched out of him, so it was good to see more information was forthcoming in Old Scores. Thomas knows how to construct a plot that keeps readers guessing, and his action scenes keep the pace moving right along. I always feel as though I'm walking the streets of the seamier parts of London when I read a Barker and Llewelyn mystery, but I know I'm in safe hands with these two men. If you like strong mysteries that take place in Victorian London, I think you'll find Thomas's series a perfect fit.

[rowingrabbit · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Can I start with how much I love these covers? Each is a work of art with shadowy figures, unmistakably Victorian, shrouded in foggy gaslight. The tone is set. You know you’re in for a clever, atmospheric mystery full of colourful characters.It’s 1890 & at the home of Cyrus Barker, staff are getting ready for a very special visit. Barker is hosting a Japanese delegation who are in London to open an embassy. The ambassador is a soft spoken, gentle man who appreciates Barker’s garden. However, the ministers & body guards who accompany him seem less than impressed.Thomas Llewelyn has been working with Barker for several years now & beneath the polite conversation, he picks up an odd tension. Something is very wrong. His spidey-senses prove correct when later that night the ambassador is shot & Barker arrested in possession of a fired pistol.It’s a PR disaster for the Foreign Office & Trelawny Campbell-Ffinch (who’s as pretentious as his name) is determined to convict Barker as quickly as possible. But the canny detective has a few friends in useful places. He’s soon back in his office where he gets an interesting offer. General Mononobe, one of the delegates, wants him to find the ambassador’s killer.What follows is a ripping story full of secrets, riddles, hidden identities & dirty politics. And danger of course, usually at the expense of long suffering Thomas. The clash of cultures presents a unique challenge. But Barker is up to the task of deciphering the enigmatic Japanese contingent. Faithful fans know he spent time there before settling in London & for the first time, we get some glimpses of his mysterious past. Thomas’ personal life is slowly moving forward as he continues to spend time with widow Rebecca Cowan & she plays a much larger role in this outing as she begins to meet the people that make up his adopted family. The gang is all back including Harm, a judgemental Pekingese who is the true master of the house. Each of these characters is so well rendered with distinct personalities & colourful backgrounds. They’re a ragtag bunch that act like siblings. Sometimes they fight but they always have each others’ backs. This is book #9 & as with all series, readers have their favourites. To be honest, I didn’t love the last one but I think it was more about setting than story. So I’m thrilled to report this one finds Barker & Llewelyn in top form & right where they belong….in the middle of a clever, intricate mystery. Highly recommend this series, starting with “Some Danger Involved”.