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Anatomy of Evil

A Barker and Llewelyn Mystery by Will Thomas

Anatomy of Evil by Will Thomas

Review: Scotland Yard turns to private enquiry agent Cyrus Barker for help in tracking down the Whitechapel Killer — more popularly known as Jack the Ripper — in Anatomy of Evil, the seventh mystery in this series by Will Thomas.

Robert Anderson, recently appointed assistant commissioner of Scotland Yard in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, tells Barker that neither his department or the Whitechapel Police Department have any clues to the identity of the killer. Barker agrees to assist in the investigation, and together with his associate Thomas Llewelyn, moves into offices in Whitechapel, an impoverished neighborhood that had recently seen an influx of immigrants. Though Anderson is grateful for Barker and Llewelyn's help, many in Scotland Yard are not welcoming. It isn't enough that they have to live in the squalid neighborhood, hunt for clues and track down suspicious people in the dead of night, they are subjected to the politics and in-fighting between Scotland Yard, the Police and various vigilante forces of the time. But all seem to know that based on the reputations of Barker and Llewelyn, who are famous for their achievements on finding criminals quickly, their chances of beating them are slim. As the search goes on and the list of suspects grows, more women are killed and dismembered. Just how long can the Ripper continue his massacre before he is caught?

The plot of Anatomy of Evil is a complex one, with well-developed characters, both fictional and historical. But it is the strong sense of time and place that is the hallmark of this mystery. The sociopolitical environment of Whitechapel provides an interesting backdrop to the departmental politics of the investigating agencies. Though this is a fictionalized version of a series of real crimes, a broader picture is drawn here, one that is both immersive in its detail and impressive by its scope. Highly recommended for fans of historical mysteries.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Anatomy of Evil.

Acknowledgment: Minotaur Books provided a copy of Anatomy of Evil for this review.

Review Copyright © 2015 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved

Selected reviews of other mysteries by this author …

Mystery Book Review: Fatal Enquiry by Will ThomasFatal Enquiry
Minotaur Books (Hardcover), May 2014
ISBN-13: 9781250041043; ISBN-10: 125004104X

Location(s) referenced in Anatomy of Evil: London, England.

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Anatomy of Evil by Will Thomas

Anatomy of Evil by A Barker and Llewelyn Mystery

Publisher: Minotaur Books
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-1-250-04105-0
Publication Date:
List Price: $25.99

Buy the Book (purchase options)

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Page Author: Lance Wright
Site Publisher: Mysterious Reviews

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