'Slippery Creatures' by K.J. Charles is a historical fiction novel set in the 1920s London and countryside, blending elements of romance, mystery, and espionage. The story follows Will Darling, a WWI veteran who inherits a bookshop from his uncle and gets entangled in a web of conspiracy, spycraft, and a complex relationship with the intriguing Kim Secretan. The book is praised for its fast-paced plot filled with secret societies, kidnappings, betrayals, and a slow-burn romance between two damaged men. The writing style is described as witty, snarky, and steamy, reminiscent of Golden Age crime fiction, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover the mysteries surrounding the characters.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of violence, references to war trauma, and potential instances of homophobia.
Has Romance?
While romance is a significant part of the story, it is intricately woven into the mystery plot and doesn't dominate the narrative, leaving notions of romance as an evolving subplot.
From The Publisher:
Will Darling came back from the Great War with a few scars, a lot of medals, and no idea what to do next. Inheriting his uncle's chaotic second-hand bookshop is a blessing...until strange visitors start making threats. First a criminal gang, then the War Office, both telling Will to give them the information they want, or else.
Will has no idea what that information is, and nobody to turn to, until Kim Secretan-charming, cultured, oddly attractive-steps in to offer help. As Kim and Will try to find answers and outrun trouble, mutual desire grows along with the danger.
And then Will discovers the truth about Kim. His identity, his past, his real intentions. Enraged and betrayed, Will never wants to see him again.
But Will possesses knowledge that could cost thousands of lives. Enemies are closing in on him from all sides-and Kim is the only man who can help.
A 1920s m/m romance trilogy in the spirit of Golden Age pulp fiction.
Ratings (11)
Incredible (2) | |
Loved It (5) | |
Liked It (3) | |
It Was OK (1) |
Reader Stats (21):
Read It (11) | |
Want To Read (7) | |
Not Interested (3) |
2 comment(s)
Good book. Kim is a difficult character to read and is unsure of what he should and shouldn’t do. But man did he drag Will through it all. 😂
It's a good story, although I expected more. The beginning is a bit slow, the first few chapters didn't attract me somehow, but then it was much better.
The characters are just fine. We still don't know much about Kim, but I had no problem with that while reading the book. I don't think he is underdeveloped as a character. But I hope that in the next books I will get to know him much better. Will is a very good main character with a complicated personality and some noteworthy past. Not so much to think about him as a tortured hero, but enough to make him even more fascinating and that he can show the other side of his nature from time to time. Of the two, Will seems more interesting to me, although Kim is more mysterious and has more of the traits I usually like about characters in my books.
Together they make a nice couple and I think they fit together pretty well. You clearly feel that they are interested in each other. Although for me there is a bit too much pulling and pushing in their relationship. I wish their relationship was a little less turbulent and volatile, with a little less drama. I'd rather see them work together a little more than constantly break up and come back together. Too many times their problems have reflected the lack of good communication.
The best part of this book for me is the suspense part which is great. I was really curious what it was all about and how it would end. And when the mystery started for good and become more complicated, I couldn't stop reading this story. Still, I had predicted many things and wasn't completely surprised.
For example, I quickly figured out where the pawnshop ticket was, and even noticed that Kim had put it in his pocket.
It will be fun to read the next book in this series. So far Will and Kim are not my favorite couple by this author (mostly because the competition is big and strong) but I like them. I'd like to see them work together for a change, it can be really interesting, together they will make a great duo.
What can you read after
Slippery Creatures?
About the Author:
KJ Charles is an editor and RITA-nominated author. She lives in London with her husband, two kids, an out-of-control garden and a cat of absolute night. She writes mostly historical queer romance, some paranormal. Smut, skulduggery, and swashbuckling may occur.Follow on Twitter at @kj_charles, join the KJ Charles Chat group on Facebook, or check out kjcharleswriter.com for book info and many posts on reading, writing and editing.
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