Slippery Creatures

There’s a reason this book is called Slippery Creatures (aside from all the Shakespeare references), and it’s not because of straightforward, upright, just-a-bit-stroppy ex-soldier Will Darling.

Having accidentally inherited a highly sought-after secret along with his uncle’s bookstore, he’s practically surrounded by slippery creatures, not least of whom is Kim, a helpful aristocrat with unclear intentions, a shady past, a delightful fiancée, and an awful lot of baggage.

I became so invested in their relationship that I actually looked into whether Will would be eligible to be drafted in WWII. And no matter how often I re-read it, I laugh… show more.

I write gay romance novels, and K.J. Charles is, bar none, my favorite author in this genre. Her books are smart and witty, with amazing dialog and great love scenes. And she’s written several books with the “hero in disguise” trope (please see also Think of England, another gem).

Kim Secretan is posh, handsome, and ever-so-helpful, and Will Darling finds him irresistible. Then Will finds out the truth about Kim. And then he finds out the truth behind the truth about Kim. It’s a perfect example of everything I love about this trope: surprising, romantic, and perfect.

It’s the roaring twenties—fast cars, slinky dresses, and international spy agencies. Will Darling, a former soldier turned bookshop owner, gets stuck into a mystery, and it’s all so much fun.

Will has a wonderfully dark sense of humor, his love interest Kim is morally gray but tries hard, the supporting characters sparkle, and although it’s escapism all the way down, it’s the highest class of escapism. This is the first of a trilogy, and they’re all delicious and frothy.

I actually found this series through Tiktok and immediately fell in love with it. Slippery Creatures is the first in the series and it sets up the tenuous relationship between Wil Darling and Kim Secretan. After the Great War, Will inherits his uncle’s bookshop, and the attention of a criminal gang and the War Office. Both demand information Will has never heard of before. Will then meets Kim, who seems sociable and helpful, but there is more to Secretan than meets the eye. As the series continues the relationship between Will and Kim grows as they battle gangs and Kim’s… show more.

I’m stretching this category because neither of the protagonists here are actually cops, but Kim Secretan does work for a shadowy government agency and there’s a real mystery in this three-book series, though there is also a lovely romance between Kim and World War I veteran and bookseller Will Darling. KJ Charles is one of my all-time favorite authors, and everything she publishes becomes a must-read for me.