This book artfully combines magic with mythology and historical figures. Thus, he goes on a journey to uncover the bank’s odd dealings and to learn more about these Peculiarities.

In addition to all that, Thomas has begun to notice strange dealings at the bank, dealings that are not conducive to a bank making money. He thinks it might be connected to something called the Peculiarities, which are strange occurrences and creatures that no one is really talking about.

Oh, and Thomas is also mysteriously growing leaves on his body. Neither of whom have any interest in the other. On top of the tediousness of his job, his older brother, Walter, is pressuring him to marry Esther, a wealthy woman. Now he has a low-level clerical job at his family’s bank in London. Thomas Thresher is a 23 year old man who has lived a mostly carefree life without any hardships or obligations. This historical fantasy was a little iffy in the beginning, but it got much better after a certain point. Or perhaps a lycanthropic medium the members of a secret occult society.or even Aleister Crowley. He cannot determine whom to trust: his own family his banking co-workers and superiors the beautiful widow of his companion the woman he is to marry. London's famous grey fog has been concealing a rash of unnatural afflictions-and worse, the murderous Elegants.Īs Thomas grows leafier, the conspiracies surrounding him become more apparent. Thomas must conclude that it is due to the long-rumored Peculiarities. Worse, a verdant skin malady has infected him: leaves have begun sprouting on his skin. His childhood friend has mysteriously turned up dead. There are irregularities at the bank he cannot explain. Thomas's older brother Walter has trapped him in a tedious clerical job at the family bank in London, and Thomas is expected to wed a wealthy young woman in whom he has no interest.īut Thomas has more serious problems than those of a disaffected young man. He is a twenty-three-year-old man whose best days are behind him. 'Historical fiction is notoriously difficult to do well, but David Liss has mastered the art.'Īll of his life, Thomas Thresher has been free of obligation and responsibility, but that is over now. Rooted in strange conspiracies and secret societies, this absurdist comedic romp combines strange bedfellows with murderous creatures, resulting in an unexpectedly delightful consequences. From popular historical alternate history author David Liss (A Conspiracy of Paper) comes the tale of a clueless young man embroiled in a deadly supernatural mystery in London.

The peculiarities by david liss