SLIPPERY CREATURES by KJ Charles

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.

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Title : Slippery Creatures
Author : KJ Charles
Series : The Will Darling Adventures (book one)
Format : eBook (overdrive)
Page Count : 215
Genre : LGBTQIA+ romance/historical fiction
Publisher : KJC Books
Release Date : May 13, 2020

Reviewer : Hollis
Rating : ★ ★ ★ ★

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Hollis’ 4 star review

Oh look Hollis loves a KJC book. No one is surprised! But seriously, I’m pretty sure I can count on one hand the amount of this authors’ works that didn’t rate a four or higher. And this author isn’t short on books.

Will had gone to the War at eighteen, and come back five years later to find himself useless and unwanted. In Flanders he’d been a grizzled veteran, a fount of professional expertise who knew the ropes and had seen it all. Back in Blighty he’d become a young man again, one with little training and no expertise. [..] All he was good at now was killing people, which was discouraged.

This new series is set in the twenties and features a ex-soldier finding his place as a bookseller after inheriting his late uncle’s shop and then, unexpectedly, his rather expected life takes a turn when he’s caught between War Office agents and a gang both looking for information his uncle possessed. And then in walks a man who offers to help, seems to have no skin in the game, and.. off it goes.

He had no idea what civilians, or civilized people, would say in these circumstances. Thanks for that, old chap, much obliged, perhaps? Ought he apologize for coming in his mouth? [..] Thank God they were British. He took a deep breath. “Cup of tea?“

Considering the length of this book, the author somehow manages to not skimp on anything. Not the plot, not the characters, not the ability to infuse depth or weave backstory with only a glance, a word, and that just shows how talented she is. That said, I was sad to say goodbye to this world, even though it’s only temporary until book two. I loved how things resolved without solving everything and yet left on a good note.

“What do you want to talk about?“
“I don’t know. The football results? Politics. The pictures. Why the blazes you’re called Kim when your name is Arthur.“
“My name, since you raise the topic, is Arthur Aloysius Kimberley de Brabazon Secretan. What would you do in my place?“
“Leave the country.“

If you’re a KJC fan, I think you’ll be absolutely delighted by this new series (if you haven’t already read it, I’m a wee bit late to this one) and if you’ve yet to try Charles, this might be a great place to start. But honestly there’s not really a wrong choice no matter where you start in the backlist.

What a great way to end a weekend.