Book Review: Slippery Creatures (The Will Darling Adventures #1) by K.J. Charles

Slippery Creatures

by K.J. Charles

🍵🍵🍵🍵 (four stars as rated in cups of tea because, “thank God we’re British.”)

When he inherits his uncle’s book shop, Will Darling gets much more than he’d bargained for. Now shady characters are demanding he hand over “their” property – the war office is hounding him about it as well, incidentally. And who exactly is the dashing and mysterious Kim Secretan that is ever so eager to help him figure it all out? 👀

Ummm… is it hot in here or is it this book!? HOLY COW, y’all! This book is steamy. Some of the best sex I’ve read in awhile. I mean, hot damn! Look, I’m going to be real: the mystery is only okay. The best part of this book is the characters and their relationships. Will and Kim are both infuriating little gems and if we don’t get more of Phoebe and Maisie in book two I’m going to throw a tantrum. I am a sucker for a cozy mystery and they so rarely have good rep of any sort. Well done, K.J. Charles. Well done.

✨ Rep in this book: Gay protagonist, queer characters

✨ Content warnings for this book: homophobia, harassment, assault, government conspiracy, kidnapping, violence, guns, discussions of war, graphic sex

About the Author: K.J. Charles

After twenty years in UK publishing including a stint at Mills & Boon, KJ Charles is now a full-time writer. She lives in London with her husband, two kids, an out-of-control garden and an increasingly murderous cat.

KJ writes mostly historical romance, often with some fantasy or horror in there. Her paranormal romance Spectred Isle is a 2018 RITA® nominee. (Copied from the author’s personal website.)

Personal note: girl on cozy mysteries

Cozy mysteries are my jam lately. I was reading The Amory Ames series, which I really do like. But it’s just so dripping with the privilege of the un-marginalized. Does that make sense? I was pretty pumped when K.J. Charles was recommended to me because, for better or for worse, I really am a sucker for period pieces. If anyone has recommendations for historical cozy mysteries that aren’t a wall of white, PLEASE SEND THEM MY WAY! 🙏

Best,

Sarah