Once again we return to Victorian England but this time DS Billings is just John Billings, private investigator. This is such a great series and so full of suspense, tension, and all around mayhem. What I love best about this series is the mystery is truly the main focus but that doesn't mean we don't get to see inside the mind of the detective, John Billings. Despite the time frame being wrong for noir, there is still something very reminiscent of the genre within the pages of this Victorian world.
As I said the mystery is the main bulk of the story but we get to see a little more of Billings' mind toward accepting who he is, his sexuality is brought in a little more each time. Personally I think he explored that side of himself more in the last entry of the DS Billings Victorian Mystery series, Anarchy, and yet we see him accept himself a bit more in A Glimpse of Heaven. With his new employee, intern, partner, whichever term you like, Trotter is just as enjoyable as Billings himself. I can't wait to watch Trotter grow just as we have seen Billings do throughout his journey. The potential to be a Victorian-non-superhero Batman and Robin is definitely there and I look forward to their working/friendship evolve.
John's friendship with his former partner, Sergeant Clarkson, is carried over into this spin-off series, which I loved. If you've been reading Billings' exploits from the beginning you know where his feelings tend to go when Clarkson is involved and now we get to see Clarkson's thoughts on Billings' inclinations. I won't go into more detail there because I feel like I've already said too much for those who have yet to start these stories but it's a wonderful and realistic progression.
As for the mystery itself, there is so many interesting and intriguing moments that I don't want to touch on because it truly is something you have to experience for yourself and as so often, every little detail is another twisted corner you have to wrap your mind around. Trust me, it will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
I don't know if the author thinks of John Billings Mystery as a "spin-off" of the DS Billings Victorian Mysteries or just the next leg in the main character's journey but I call it a spin-off as it's just simpler😉. Do you need to read DS Billings first? Probably not but I know I wouldn't want to start with A Glimpse of Heaven, I'd want to see how and where John's story began and grew. I have a feeling that John Billings Mystery is more of an ongoing series than DS Billings, those mysteries all have a beginning and end but again I recommend reading from the beginning, if for no other reason than to see his evolution towards accepting himself as well as the friendship with Clarkson. However you read it, they are brilliant tales of murder, menace, and mayhem.
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