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Editorial Reviews
BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Laurie R. King's The God of the Hive.
For Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, returning to the Sussex coast after seven months abroad was especially sweet. There was even a mystery to solve—the unexplained disappearance of an entire colony of bees from one of Holmes’s beloved hives.
But the anticipated sweetness of their homecoming is quickly tempered by a galling memory from the past. Mary had met Damian Adler only once before, when the surrealist painter had been charged with—and exonerated from—murder. Now the troubled young man is enlisting the Holmeses’ help again, this time in a desperate search for his missing wife and child.
Mary has often observed that there are many kinds of madness, and before this case yields its shattering solution she’ll come into dangerous contact with a fair number of them. From suicides at Stonehenge to the dark secrets of a young woman’s past on the streets of Shanghai, Mary will find herself on the trail of a killer more dangerous than any she’s ever faced—a killer Sherlock Holmes himself may be protecting for reasons near and dear to his heart.
For Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, returning to the Sussex coast after seven months abroad was especially sweet. There was even a mystery to solve—the unexplained disappearance of an entire colony of bees from one of Holmes’s beloved hives.
But the anticipated sweetness of their homecoming is quickly tempered by a galling memory from the past. Mary had met Damian Adler only once before, when the surrealist painter had been charged with—and exonerated from—murder. Now the troubled young man is enlisting the Holmeses’ help again, this time in a desperate search for his missing wife and child.
Mary has often observed that there are many kinds of madness, and before this case yields its shattering solution she’ll come into dangerous contact with a fair number of them. From suicides at Stonehenge to the dark secrets of a young woman’s past on the streets of Shanghai, Mary will find herself on the trail of a killer more dangerous than any she’s ever faced—a killer Sherlock Holmes himself may be protecting for reasons near and dear to his heart.
Related Reviews
From "The Beekeeper's Apprentice" to "The Language of Bees:" End of the Line for This Reader?
I got very little done today, because I was far too busy devouring the latest installment of Holmes' and Russell's adventures. Laurie R. King, after developing Mary Russell's past and vulnerabilities (and strength!) in _Locked Rooms_, undertakes a similar sort of character development for Holmes himself.
I'm almost surprised that I enjoyed it so much. I'm not a Holmes purist, but even to me, this seemed like a risky gambit -- it has so much potential to change his character ... but I should not have been worried. What King accomplishes makes the character of Sherlock Holmes more richly complex, and in the course of doing so, provides a chilling mystery, of a different sort than has been featured in the earlier volumes of the series.
If I'm vague, it's only that I'm trying to avoid spoilers. In this volume, readers are treated to more Mycroft (a treat!), Russell solving a different sort of mystery than usual, and a case involving an Aleister Crowleyesque cult. I felt as though there was a more meditative cast to parts of the book, which is to say that readers see Russell musing over human error, and forgiveness, and the ability to move past human error, and loneliness, a little more than in earlier entries of the series. But the book isn't dominated by these musings -- they are skillfully woven into the action.
I was satisfied by the ending, despite the fact that the last words are "to be continued...". Sometimes novels that end with cliffhangers feel like half-books that were only published accidentally. _The Language of Bees_ is unquestionably a whole book, and one that I will no doubt read again, while waiting for the sequel. I only wish I knew when the sequel was due to be published!
I'm almost surprised that I enjoyed it so much. I'm not a Holmes purist, but even to me, this seemed like a risky gambit -- it has so much potential to change his character ... but I should not have been worried. What King accomplishes makes the character of Sherlock Holmes more richly complex, and in the course of doing so, provides a chilling mystery, of a different sort than has been featured in the earlier volumes of the series.
If I'm vague, it's only that I'm trying to avoid spoilers. In this volume, readers are treated to more Mycroft (a treat!), Russell solving a different sort of mystery than usual, and a case involving an Aleister Crowleyesque cult. I felt as though there was a more meditative cast to parts of the book, which is to say that readers see Russell musing over human error, and forgiveness, and the ability to move past human error, and loneliness, a little more than in earlier entries of the series. But the book isn't dominated by these musings -- they are skillfully woven into the action.
I was satisfied by the ending, despite the fact that the last words are "to be continued...". Sometimes novels that end with cliffhangers feel like half-books that were only published accidentally. _The Language of Bees_ is unquestionably a whole book, and one that I will no doubt read again, while waiting for the sequel. I only wish I knew when the sequel was due to be published!
metaphysically witch-slapped - five stars for the first 400 pgs; no stars for the last 48
Even though The Language of Bees came out at the over-full end of the semester, I fell into it instantly, neglecting piles of blue books and papers. At first, I was in ecstasy -- posting non-spoiler updates on Facebook and burbling to friends at morning coffee -- but I got quieter as pages turned and the narrative gave me more and more about less and less. I've always admired King's ability to bring together disparate topics and, rather like the metaphysical poets, to yoke them into a new reality. Here, she certainly laid out the material for another great work, but that unifying alchemy was missing.
Bee-keeping, standing stones, Aleister Crowley, French painters, an eclipse, and Holmes' son ~ how could this add up to anything other than the Philosopher's Stone?
Dunno, folks, but it didn't achieve critical mass.
I found very interesting the remarks of another reviewer who said that King's publisher was pushing for a higher page count. Well, if that's true, I don't see why it should obviate the possibility of an even better book. Look at the first in this series, The Bee-Keeper's Apprentice. It had the action and resolutions of several novels packed into one cover: fabulous. In many ways, the book is its mirror image: few plots, none resolved. "To be continued" is a total cheat. Unlike the 19th-century novels that came out in serial form, this wait will be not weeks, but years. And I don't think anyone is going to go down to the docks, al la The Old Curiosity Shop, for the next installment of this story.
For me, introducing the references to Crowley without following through was close to criminal. Crowley doesn't have the public profile of Holmes, but he was a fascinating/horrifying figure of the time - surely the most shaming-making alum that Trinity/Cambridge has. His various witchy works are the subtext for the group Russell and Holmes investigate, but King doesn't give us her version of the man. Other than Sylvia or Cristobel Pankhrust, I can't think of anyone I'd rather see King turn into a character.
As in the Monsterous Regiment, we get some London life and sub-cultures, although not nearly enough for me. The best thing about the novel - other than the idyllic time Russell spends alone in Sussex - is the presence of Mycroft, who comes close to being a fully developed character. Russell's time in the airplane is wonderfully rendered, but the tension it builds for the climax is cruelly betrayed.
To call the end of the book an anticlimax would be kind. I'm not feeling very kind at the moment, so I'll call it a cheap marketing ploy, the sort of thing to which I didn't think Laurie R King would sink.
Bee-keeping, standing stones, Aleister Crowley, French painters, an eclipse, and Holmes' son ~ how could this add up to anything other than the Philosopher's Stone?
Dunno, folks, but it didn't achieve critical mass.
I found very interesting the remarks of another reviewer who said that King's publisher was pushing for a higher page count. Well, if that's true, I don't see why it should obviate the possibility of an even better book. Look at the first in this series, The Bee-Keeper's Apprentice. It had the action and resolutions of several novels packed into one cover: fabulous. In many ways, the book is its mirror image: few plots, none resolved. "To be continued" is a total cheat. Unlike the 19th-century novels that came out in serial form, this wait will be not weeks, but years. And I don't think anyone is going to go down to the docks, al la The Old Curiosity Shop, for the next installment of this story.
For me, introducing the references to Crowley without following through was close to criminal. Crowley doesn't have the public profile of Holmes, but he was a fascinating/horrifying figure of the time - surely the most shaming-making alum that Trinity/Cambridge has. His various witchy works are the subtext for the group Russell and Holmes investigate, but King doesn't give us her version of the man. Other than Sylvia or Cristobel Pankhrust, I can't think of anyone I'd rather see King turn into a character.
As in the Monsterous Regiment, we get some London life and sub-cultures, although not nearly enough for me. The best thing about the novel - other than the idyllic time Russell spends alone in Sussex - is the presence of Mycroft, who comes close to being a fully developed character. Russell's time in the airplane is wonderfully rendered, but the tension it builds for the climax is cruelly betrayed.
To call the end of the book an anticlimax would be kind. I'm not feeling very kind at the moment, so I'll call it a cheap marketing ploy, the sort of thing to which I didn't think Laurie R King would sink.
What a disappointment to be dragged all over Great Britain in pursuit of a surreal and only intermittently engaging plot, just to be faced with the words, "to be continued"! I wondered, when the pages of "The Language of Bees" dwindled to a few dozen, how the intricate strands of the story could possibly be woven together by the end--and they weren't. This literally and figuratively meandering story bears scant resemblance to its predecessors in terms of intensity, drive, and suspense. I doubt I will be reading its sequel.
I still consider the last book, Locked Rooms, to be the low point of the series, but this one is not far behind it. I read for 100 or more pages before the plot got going. At the end, none of the plot lines (even why one of Holmes' hives is acting up) are satisfactorily concluded. Russell and Holmes are apart for too much of the story, although at least they're back in character. The 'to be continued' at the end is such a cheat, and as someone else pointed out, we'll be waiting a year or two at least for the resolution. I've ready many of King's stand-alone books, and while they are generally well-written and very interesting, they do seem to just stop as opposed to coming to a rational conclusion, and that seems to be what she's done here.
At the beginning of Locked Rooms, Russell drops a tantalizing clue about a case involving the Emperor of Japan, and I hoped it would be next in the series. Now it looks like I'll have to suffer through part 2 of The Language of Bees before there's a chance of a Japanese adventure.
If you're already into the series, I know you'll read this book, just as I will continue to read anything King writes in the Russell/Holmes saga. If you have not read any of the books, the best advice I can give you is do not start with this book. Instead read The Beekeeper's Apprentice, The Moor, Oh Jerusalem!, or The Game. Those books are simply amazing. This book, not so much.
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At the beginning of Locked Rooms, Russell drops a tantalizing clue about a case involving the Emperor of Japan, and I hoped it would be next in the series. Now it looks like I'll have to suffer through part 2 of The Language of Bees before there's a chance of a Japanese adventure.
If you're already into the series, I know you'll read this book, just as I will continue to read anything King writes in the Russell/Holmes saga. If you have not read any of the books, the best advice I can give you is do not start with this book. Instead read The Beekeeper's Apprentice, The Moor, Oh Jerusalem!, or The Game. Those books are simply amazing. This book, not so much.
.
Have read all the Mary Russell novels. What was once a good concept by a worthy writer, has turned into a series running low on inspirational steam and execution. This book is wordy, meandering, and has a very unsatisfying ending that smacks of exploiting the reader. Where was the editor? Very disappointing.
Like many of you I have waited quite a long time for this book. What a disappointment. Not all the blame can go to Laurie R. King though. Bantam books is just as much to blame if not more. From the title to the very end a good conscientious editor would have changed or gotten rid of up to over 100 pages of how to keep bees, an airplane trip in which given how many chapters it took up, you'd have thought Mary was going to Antartica, not northern Scotland and more. Ms. King is a very good writer but there aren't many examples of it in this book. If you absolutely have to read it, go to the library. Do not spend your hard earned money on this book or you'll be severly disappointed.
Love Russell but not this Story
This will not make me popular with the rabid Russell fans of which I can count myself. It almost feels sacreligious to say I was disappointed with the newest novel by Laurie King "The Language of Bees" but there it is, what a let down. I was anticipating a rousing period mystery with Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell collaborating like old times but what transpires is a complete absence of Holmes right from his abrupt departure in the first chapter. I thought the plot was clever, especially the appearance of Damien Adler, Holmes' son, who must come to terms with his emotions about Holmes so that he can ask for help in finding his wife and daughter. It would have been a grand opportunity for King to explore more deeply the ties that bind Russell and Holmes and how a couple can deal with past sins and loves in a marital relationship. In this latest novel their relationship is almost sterile and the love and tenderness that has marked their past interactions is completely missing. They are just two independent detectives working on the same case and not a husband and wife dealing with personal crisis for one of them with the intensity of a case as the backdrop. I think that King missed the boat on this one. A disappointment.
Awaited with much anticipation/read with some disappointment
Although I was eagerly awaiting this book, I was somewhat disappointed by it; to me the books' appeal lies in their portrayal of the relationship between Holmes and Russell, and they were apart for so much of the book that this didn't feature sufficiently for me. I find Holmes more interesting than Russell, and to me he didn't appear enough. I hope the next book will be better!
For the first time in the Russell series, it felt like work to finish this installment...let alone be confounded by the realization that the game's still afoot. LRK is incapable of writing a poor novel, but like Holmes empty hive, something went astray here.
Disappointing..buy it used only
I was going to give this book 3 stars but changed my mind. The book is WAY too long, the protagonist rather dull and unexciting, the relationship between Mary and Holmes is shallow, and what's all this about the bees? It's as if the bee story was put in to up the page count. Totally unrelated to the story as far as I could tell. And the title is out of place as well. I waited and waited for this book to come out and now I'm sorry to find it has to have a sequel. Not a very good read. But as a fan I will read the next and hope it will be much better written and edited. Perhaps it's time to find a new publisher. This seems to be a bad year for this genre and that of action/adventure books. Buy it used people....it's not worth the full price.
Wonderful, Till I Reached the Cliff...
Laurie King's Mary Russell books are my favorites of all the Holmes spin-outs I've read -- which is a copious number. Given the grandness of Monstrous Regiment and A Letter of Mary, I'm forgiving about the less successful books. I wouldn't put this one in the latter category. Rather than getting bogged down, I actually found myself making time to get back to it, and I read the last 100 pages in one sitting. The plot is engaging, the continuing characters develop interestingly, and the trademark arcana (in this case, Surrealism, Crowley, and pre-Roman Britain) are engrossing.
That said, the book has two serious problems. First, the central villain is, frankly, a bore. He is not worthy of Russell's time, except for his personal importance to her. Second, the "...to be continued" is infuriating. The continuance is utterly gratuitous, because the plot lines are all apparently, and satisfyingly, wrapped up. Then King resorts to the hoary "Just when you thought you were safe" cliche to crank things up again... for another book. I was embarrassed. If the story needed another 100 pages (it didn't), write them and print them. It's an utter misfire, because another 400 pages of the same boring adversary is not something I will haunt the bookstores waiting to read.
Nevertheless, four stars, because I enjoyed the ride, right up until the cliff.
That said, the book has two serious problems. First, the central villain is, frankly, a bore. He is not worthy of Russell's time, except for his personal importance to her. Second, the "...to be continued" is infuriating. The continuance is utterly gratuitous, because the plot lines are all apparently, and satisfyingly, wrapped up. Then King resorts to the hoary "Just when you thought you were safe" cliche to crank things up again... for another book. I was embarrassed. If the story needed another 100 pages (it didn't), write them and print them. It's an utter misfire, because another 400 pages of the same boring adversary is not something I will haunt the bookstores waiting to read.
Nevertheless, four stars, because I enjoyed the ride, right up until the cliff.
Disappointing addition to a good series
Finally settling down to say that I read and enjoyed all the Sherlock Holmes mysteries when I was young and I have to admit that Mary Russell is a delightful character and Holmes has been made more human in this fabulous collection by Laurie King. I really enjoyed the Beekeeper's Apprentice, The Game, O Jerusalem and Justice Hall and wrote an enthusiastic review for the first one. But it seems to me that writing a handful of novels, then not warning the readers that the next one is a duology is a shabby way to treat a loyal contingent. At least writing "Part 1" on the cover would give the reader a clue. It wasn't as if both the volumes couldn't have been written as one 650-page novel by eliminating so many of the (at least to me) meandering and irrelevant passages.
Even if the novel needed to be several hundred pages long the reader shouldn't have had to slog through the endless apiarian passages and all the solitary interludes with Russell accompanied only by stale food. Why not give us more peeks into the relationship of Holmes and Russell? Or the Holmes brothers? Or even the dark arts? Any of these would probably have been far more interesting than the seemingly self-indulgent tangents into the aimless and uninspiring. Two stars because I think the author is a great writer notwithstanding the supreme irritation of finding the ending "to be continued". But she needs a better editor.
Even if the novel needed to be several hundred pages long the reader shouldn't have had to slog through the endless apiarian passages and all the solitary interludes with Russell accompanied only by stale food. Why not give us more peeks into the relationship of Holmes and Russell? Or the Holmes brothers? Or even the dark arts? Any of these would probably have been far more interesting than the seemingly self-indulgent tangents into the aimless and uninspiring. Two stars because I think the author is a great writer notwithstanding the supreme irritation of finding the ending "to be continued". But she needs a better editor.
This book carried you nicely, if tediously, along to a hoped for resolution of a number of issues raised in the tale. Sadly, I felt ransacked when I was done. I had hoped to overcome the many diversions by arriving at a satisfactory end. Holmes was painted as a dodo and this is unsettling. His brother seems a much more resourceful character. I would not recommend it and certainly have little interest in the obvious follow-on that I felt was a pure exercise of greed.
It's too late for me. Save yourself. Don't buy this book. I read just a few pages, and it was like an invisible force was pushing my eyes off the page.
The genius of this series is its ability to bring Sherlock back to us, both in personality, and in type of narrative. In both ways, this novel is not up to par. First, there isn't enough focus on Sherlock - and he is by far more interesting than Mary Russell. Second, the novel isn't written as well as prior ones and it gets almost repetitive, and certainly off track from the plot at times. Conan Doyle is a tough act to follow, true, but other of King's books have done it. This one falls some short.
Angieville: THE LANGUAGE OF BEES
I love the title of this the 9th Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes novel. In name and spirit, THE LANGUAGE OF BEES brings things back to the beginning once more. Back to the Downs, back to the hives, back to a 15-year-old Mary Russell stumbling over a retired detective tending his bees in peace, thus setting into motion the unlikely formation of a most formidable and engaging partnership. What an adventure it's been, and how fascinating to follow these two dominant personalities meet and clash and meet again, picking their way ever so rationally toward a kind of home.
In this installment, Russell and Holmes indeed come home to Sussex after months and months abroad--tired, anxious, and, in Russell's case, tangled up in self-doubt and disillusionment. They walk through the door to find Holmes' beloved bees have inexplicably fled their hive and a stranger waiting for them. A stranger who is not a stranger after all. They met surrealist painter Damian Adler once before. Now he solicits Holmes' aid tracking down his missing wife and child. Holmes and Adler depart for London, leaving Russell to unpack, unwind, and investigate the mysteriously missing bees. Soon, however, the pair will reunite and blaze a trail across the isles of Britain, following a string of standing stones, gruesome suicides, and sacrifices, as they attempt to locate Damian's family.
There is something of the truly macabre in this volume. Even the cover, which at first glance is merely lovely, takes on a particularly disturbing quality after all is said and done. Undertones of madness course throughout the tale and I found myself, along with Mary, shaking off shivers of fear and uncertainty in my haste to find out what was behind the string of awful deaths and missing people. Interestingly enough, I found the crux of the mystery to be not so much who did it but the effect of fear and uncertainty (and, yes, madness) on each of the major players. Excepting, of course, Holmes' unflappable brother Mycroft, who continues to be a delight despite his sudden loss of weight. Russell and Holmes' stay with Mycroft was one of the high points for me, as was (rather surprisingly) Russell's solo stay at home. Usually I prefer my Russell and my Holmes together for as much of the story as possible. However, I found myself completely riveted as Russell paced the halls of the place that has, after nine years, become her home, trying to find herself once more amid a houseful of Holmes. Laurie R. King pulls out all kinds of stops in this one, managing at once to entertain and make the reader think and feel and wonder, like Russell, if anyone can be trusted. Holmes, Adler, even herself. I will say that this one does end unresolved in certain respects and, as such, left me longing for the next installment. Alas, a not altogether unfamiliar emotion.
In this installment, Russell and Holmes indeed come home to Sussex after months and months abroad--tired, anxious, and, in Russell's case, tangled up in self-doubt and disillusionment. They walk through the door to find Holmes' beloved bees have inexplicably fled their hive and a stranger waiting for them. A stranger who is not a stranger after all. They met surrealist painter Damian Adler once before. Now he solicits Holmes' aid tracking down his missing wife and child. Holmes and Adler depart for London, leaving Russell to unpack, unwind, and investigate the mysteriously missing bees. Soon, however, the pair will reunite and blaze a trail across the isles of Britain, following a string of standing stones, gruesome suicides, and sacrifices, as they attempt to locate Damian's family.
There is something of the truly macabre in this volume. Even the cover, which at first glance is merely lovely, takes on a particularly disturbing quality after all is said and done. Undertones of madness course throughout the tale and I found myself, along with Mary, shaking off shivers of fear and uncertainty in my haste to find out what was behind the string of awful deaths and missing people. Interestingly enough, I found the crux of the mystery to be not so much who did it but the effect of fear and uncertainty (and, yes, madness) on each of the major players. Excepting, of course, Holmes' unflappable brother Mycroft, who continues to be a delight despite his sudden loss of weight. Russell and Holmes' stay with Mycroft was one of the high points for me, as was (rather surprisingly) Russell's solo stay at home. Usually I prefer my Russell and my Holmes together for as much of the story as possible. However, I found myself completely riveted as Russell paced the halls of the place that has, after nine years, become her home, trying to find herself once more amid a houseful of Holmes. Laurie R. King pulls out all kinds of stops in this one, managing at once to entertain and make the reader think and feel and wonder, like Russell, if anyone can be trusted. Holmes, Adler, even herself. I will say that this one does end unresolved in certain respects and, as such, left me longing for the next installment. Alas, a not altogether unfamiliar emotion.
Too many stings in this long slog
I agree with some previous reviewers about the disappointing nature of The Language of Bees. This episode, if you can call it that, of Mary and Sherlock Holmes, is pretty dreadful to put it kindly. It's wandering, discursive and uninteresting. It put me to sleep several nights running and it will others too. There is, however, one bit of hope with the appearance of Sherlock's son, Damian. That's a great name for movie buffs. Perhaps Sam 0'Neill will take the movie role if only we can resurrect Gregory Peck.
Not worth the "to be continued"
Unfortunately, this was my first (and will be my last) read of King's series on Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, so I was unaware of it's being a must-read-all-in-order series. King makes asides throughout this book of earlier events, but does no explaining for those of us new to the series. She also takes an enormously long time before getting into the particulars of the story (and I wish she had used that time for some of those background details). The mystery itself is rather mundane, but King has a nice skill with descriptive writing, and for that I continued my reading of this book. I doubt I would have recommended it even before discovering that it doesn't "end". However, my frustration with this author's non-ending ensures I will warn any would-be readers I may encounter. Perhaps books such as this should have a printed warning that, if one decides to invest the time to read this one, they had better be ready to go on to at least a second one.
One of the previous reviewers has indicated that the follow-up to this book is well worth the wait. Maybe those folks who have enjoyed the previous issues of this series will, indeed, enjoy it. I will definitely not be doing so.
One of the previous reviewers has indicated that the follow-up to this book is well worth the wait. Maybe those folks who have enjoyed the previous issues of this series will, indeed, enjoy it. I will definitely not be doing so.
First time reader of Laurie King - well written, but unfocused
I promise not to judge Laurie King's Mary Russell novels by this one alone. In fact, I've actually read the sequel to this one and liked it very much. That said, this particular novel was not a great introduction to her Mary Russell series - unfocused, and at times, very difficult to get through. The only thing that kept me going was that the writing is very good, and the character of Mary Russell is very engaging. I was incredibly disappointed, however, to slog to the very end, when I am greeted by a "to be continued..."
Once you get past the first chapters, in which Mary Russell rattles around the house by herself, tends to some bees, and eats a lot of stale bread, focuses on a general plot surrounding Holmes' son and his missing wife and child. A cult leader is thrown into the mix, and we see a lot of Mycroft Holmes at home and perambulating around the park. There is an exciting (but perhaps a little drawn out) plane journey followed by an anticlimactic fight and...nothing. Time to read the next book.
The next book is very exciting and had the benefit of better editing. I recommend "The Language of Bees" so that you can understand "The God of the Hive", but on it's own it's not a standout novel.
Once you get past the first chapters, in which Mary Russell rattles around the house by herself, tends to some bees, and eats a lot of stale bread, focuses on a general plot surrounding Holmes' son and his missing wife and child. A cult leader is thrown into the mix, and we see a lot of Mycroft Holmes at home and perambulating around the park. There is an exciting (but perhaps a little drawn out) plane journey followed by an anticlimactic fight and...nothing. Time to read the next book.
The next book is very exciting and had the benefit of better editing. I recommend "The Language of Bees" so that you can understand "The God of the Hive", but on it's own it's not a standout novel.
Laurie King is a very talented and entertaining writer but I feel cheated. After reading 432 pages I don't think the reader deserves to be told "to be continued". If this were a TV show where you had to wait a week to find out what happened it wouldn't be a problem. But who know when, or if, this story will be completed. Still I give it three stars because it is a well written book and I did enjoy what I read. I'll most likely pick up another of her books but I'll read the reviews first and if I see it also is to be continued it will go right back unread.
Gustav Mahler wrote that his need to write music "begins ... where things are no longer separated by time and space." The most recent Mary Russell stories have that feeling. In Locked Rooms it was Mary's past that shaped the present. That story developed logically from hints that we were given through the other books. In this story, it is her husband's past.
The basic premise of this story is an episode from the past of Sherlock Holmes, an episode largely invented by Laurie King for this novel. And while it is no more outrageous than the basic premise of the whole series, I found it the weakest part of this story. Once accepted, however, the pieces fit well.
As in Justice Hall the personal tragedies of World War I shape a central character. Here however they are part of the exposition rather than the heart of the mystery. Love and devotion are central themes, as are their perversions: fanaticism and the moral vacuity of the Bohemian life in London. (Russell's narrative of this latter element is addressed to post-Summer-of-Love sensibilities; not indelicate, it is in some ways unsparing.)
Mycroft and his resources play perhaps too large a role, but there is a price: Mycroft himself appears to come under some sort of official suspicion. We don't know how the story ends, because this book is not the end. It offers a partial resolution as two lives are saved, but the peril remains.
The book's title is a reference to a secondary story, in which Mary Russell attempts to understand how one of her husband's beehives has destroyed itself. Until we read the final part of this story, we won't know what part the beehive mystery will play in the story, whether as metaphor or as an important clue.
This is as much an adventure as a mystery and some of the adventure elements could have been condensed. Another reviewer has reported that Laurie King's publisher is pressuring her to lengthen her books. Why? If it is to allow them to charge more, they should instead rely on excellence to support their price. The book's pace, while acceptible, would be better if the right parts were shortened. Probably fifty pages could have been removed to good effect. The passages drawn from the 'magnum opus' of Sherlock himself were a particular disappointment.
All in all, The Language of Bees is not the work that the previous few Mary Russell stories have been. But it is a good addition to the Russell canon.
The basic premise of this story is an episode from the past of Sherlock Holmes, an episode largely invented by Laurie King for this novel. And while it is no more outrageous than the basic premise of the whole series, I found it the weakest part of this story. Once accepted, however, the pieces fit well.
As in Justice Hall the personal tragedies of World War I shape a central character. Here however they are part of the exposition rather than the heart of the mystery. Love and devotion are central themes, as are their perversions: fanaticism and the moral vacuity of the Bohemian life in London. (Russell's narrative of this latter element is addressed to post-Summer-of-Love sensibilities; not indelicate, it is in some ways unsparing.)
Mycroft and his resources play perhaps too large a role, but there is a price: Mycroft himself appears to come under some sort of official suspicion. We don't know how the story ends, because this book is not the end. It offers a partial resolution as two lives are saved, but the peril remains.
The book's title is a reference to a secondary story, in which Mary Russell attempts to understand how one of her husband's beehives has destroyed itself. Until we read the final part of this story, we won't know what part the beehive mystery will play in the story, whether as metaphor or as an important clue.
This is as much an adventure as a mystery and some of the adventure elements could have been condensed. Another reviewer has reported that Laurie King's publisher is pressuring her to lengthen her books. Why? If it is to allow them to charge more, they should instead rely on excellence to support their price. The book's pace, while acceptible, would be better if the right parts were shortened. Probably fifty pages could have been removed to good effect. The passages drawn from the 'magnum opus' of Sherlock himself were a particular disappointment.
All in all, The Language of Bees is not the work that the previous few Mary Russell stories have been. But it is a good addition to the Russell canon.
I don't want to spoil things by revealing too much, but if I had known this book left so much unresolved, I would have waited for the next one, and read them both together.
Being a thrifty soul, it's rare that I indulge in a hardback book but for anything by Laurie R. King, I'm happy to plunk down my cash as soon as the hardcover is out - I can't wait for a paperback edition! Her characters are complex, quirky, humorous, intelligent, and her books are totally addictive. I've read every single thing Ms. King has written and I never tire of them. The Language of Bees doesn't disappoint, it has believable characters, great writing, and a mystery that will keep you guessing.
I found the story interesting and on par with other Mary Russell stories and "to be continued" ok, but after visiting the authors web site you come away with the impression that this particular story will not become a sequel and that "to be continued" refers to the series and not this tale. Taking this fact into consideration, the ending then becomes a real downer. Too many questions need to be answered and I am not alone here. One of the pitfalls of a successful series is that we loyal readers can be very bitchy when we feel short changed as everyone seems to be with this installment of the Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell saga. In the end, my take on this book is, good story, with a sucky ending.
I enjoyed The Language of Bees as much as the other Mary Russell novels, but I thought the blurb on the back of this one was misleading. It's not about whether Mary can trust Sherlock. This book is really all about Sherlock's son and what kind of man he is and whether Sherlock and Mary can trust him. Even though Sherlock makes a smaller than usual appearance in this novel, we find our a lot more about his inner character.
Worthy additions to Laurie King's remarkable Mary Russell series
Though not marketed as such, _Language of Bees_ and _God of the Hive_ actually tell one story. In _Language of Bees_, Russell and Holmes investigate a case around the leader of a religious cult; in _God of the Hive_, they circle in on the powerful figure using the religious leader for his own purposes. The overall story concerns members of Sherlock Holmes' family and some characters from his past (i.e., the Conan Doyle stories).
As always, it is remarkable how well Laurie King has captured Sherlock Holmes while substituting a wife (Mary Russell) for his old sidekick Dr. John Watson. She has even thought through the background to various parts of the Holmes world that Conan Doyle did not explain - - for example, how does one build a bolt-hole without anyone noticing? She has also fleshed out some characters from the Conan Doyle stories. Most notably, she has turned Mycroft Holmes into a major character and developed a full back story about exactly what he does and how he does it.
I heartily recommend the series for Sherlock Holmes fans. Just be sure to buy both of these books together.
Russell and Holmes at Their Collective Best!
As a fan of Conan Doyle's original Holmes' stories I have never been a big fan of the pastiche novels (although Nicholas Meyer's "West End Horror" is worth a read) that became so popular in the 70's. A favorable review of "Justice Hall" by Laurie King convinced me to give her a work a chance. I began with the "Beekeeper's Apprentice" and was instantly hooked. Make no mistake - these are Russell's stories and Holmes just happens to be in them. "Language of Bees" is among the best to date - ratcheting up the stakes by making the mystery surround none other than Sherlock's son by Irene Adler. Although the author takes an occasional departure from her first person perspective (these stories are supposed to be drawn from the papers of Mary Russell just as Doyle's stories were supposedly from the papers of Dr. John Watson), something I found far too distracting in her prior outing, "Locked Rooms," she is at her best when describing a long, harrowing, dare devil trip by plane (the novel is set in the early 1920's) or the interview of elderly religion professor while punting from Mary's witty and wry perspective. These novels are very clever and intelligent and the period research she has done always shines through. F. Scott Fitzgerald may have believed that there were no second acts in American lives in the 1920's, but Laurie King is doing an excellent job of creating a very vigorous and entertaining second act for Sherlock Holmes.
Laurie R. King's series about Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes is just outstanding. Faithful to the original, yet original in plot and play.
Entertaining, but not a highlight of the series
This book reminded me of certain films I've seen: A top-notch cast, terrific settings, and an engaging premise do not, in themselves, make for good entertainment. While I enjoyed much of the book, I felt that the "payoff" was insufficient after all that led up to it. And I felt that the attempt at creating a new Dark Prince of the Underworld was lame: (1) The series doesn't need one to be interesting; the characters themselves are plenty interesting (and Damian Adler has depth and complexity from the get-go; King did a great job with him). (2) This particular villain doesn't have the brains, or the class, that Holmes' old nemesis did, so he's a flimsy peg to hang a sequel (or two, or three) on.
Don't get me wrong -- it's an entertaining book that kept me up way past my bedtime. And I think King must be channeling Conan Doyle, because her Holmes is so true to the original. (I read Sherlock Holmes for the first time when I was 12, and many times thereafter. This series is the only sequel I've ever read that didn't make me cringe.) Still, this is by no means King's best work.
Don't get me wrong -- it's an entertaining book that kept me up way past my bedtime. And I think King must be channeling Conan Doyle, because her Holmes is so true to the original. (I read Sherlock Holmes for the first time when I was 12, and many times thereafter. This series is the only sequel I've ever read that didn't make me cringe.) Still, this is by no means King's best work.
This is the 9th in the Mary Russell series. This series, set in the 1920's, features Mary Russell, a half English, half American young woman who is married to Sherlock Holmes.
Mary and Sherlock are finally back home in England. They have been gone since the first of the year taking care of business, first for Mycroft (THE GAME) and then settling Mary's family estate in San Francisco (LOCKED ROOMS). It is now August and after stopping briefly in London is see a much improved (and slimmer) Mycroft they are at last back in their Sussex cottage. There they are greeted by Mrs Hudson and the news that there is a problem with one of Sherlock's bee hives. It seems as though the pair will quickly return to their quiet country ways, at least until a knock on the door ends the peace. The visitor that Mrs Hudson had been trying to tell them about since their arrival has returned and is none other than Sherlock's son, Damian Adler. Mary had known about her much older husband's past (as did the rest of the world after all), had read about Irene Adler, had been told some details definitely not mentioned in Doyle's stories and had even met Damian years earlier but to have him arrive on their doorstep was just a bit difficult for Mary to handle. When Damian explained why he had now returned England and sought out his father was even more distressing. All too soon Sherlock, Mary and Mycroft were once again hard at work unraveling a tale of murders and mysterious cults.
There is a pronounced story arc to this series overall so for maximum enjoyment begin at the beginning THE BEEKEEPER'S APPRENTICE or as close to it as possible and proceed in order. The arc factor is particularly strong in this novel which is the beginning of a story that is continued in THE GOD OF THE HIVE.
Mary and Sherlock are finally back home in England. They have been gone since the first of the year taking care of business, first for Mycroft (THE GAME) and then settling Mary's family estate in San Francisco (LOCKED ROOMS). It is now August and after stopping briefly in London is see a much improved (and slimmer) Mycroft they are at last back in their Sussex cottage. There they are greeted by Mrs Hudson and the news that there is a problem with one of Sherlock's bee hives. It seems as though the pair will quickly return to their quiet country ways, at least until a knock on the door ends the peace. The visitor that Mrs Hudson had been trying to tell them about since their arrival has returned and is none other than Sherlock's son, Damian Adler. Mary had known about her much older husband's past (as did the rest of the world after all), had read about Irene Adler, had been told some details definitely not mentioned in Doyle's stories and had even met Damian years earlier but to have him arrive on their doorstep was just a bit difficult for Mary to handle. When Damian explained why he had now returned England and sought out his father was even more distressing. All too soon Sherlock, Mary and Mycroft were once again hard at work unraveling a tale of murders and mysterious cults.
There is a pronounced story arc to this series overall so for maximum enjoyment begin at the beginning THE BEEKEEPER'S APPRENTICE or as close to it as possible and proceed in order. The arc factor is particularly strong in this novel which is the beginning of a story that is continued in THE GOD OF THE HIVE.
Another good Mary Russell novel
I loved this book. In fact, I have already pre-ordered the next one to see how the story continues. Anyone who loves this series will love this book as well.
This was a good mystery, but what I liked most about the book was the way the author handled the romance between Holmes and Russell. Between Mary being the private person she is and the book being written in the first person, the reader only gets hints of the relationship that is developing. I was in as much suspense over their romance as I was over the mystery of the plot.
The Language of Bees
type of material: Hard Cover
Publisher: Bantam Dell
Year: 2009
Author: Laurie R. King
Price: $25.00
Review: This latest addition to the `Mary Russell' story answers a few questions and poses many more. The author explains, by way of an off-hand comment, the appearance of Mrs. Turner in place of Mrs. Hudson in "A Scandal in Bohemia." She also clears up the presence of Holmes "...in a laboratory at Montpelier..." as mentioned in "The Empty House" and casually passes along the fact that her husband was the detective cited in The Art of Detection. On the other hand, this tale introduces a mad murderer who leaves blood and bodies in the old, sacred places on days dedicated to the old gods and brings new intensity to the meaning of family.
Both Holmes and Russell are forced to examine their pasts and their earlier mistakes and omissions and both must face the possibility of bloodshed within the family. This is not a gentle novel, nor is it a look at `family values.' It is a mystery of blood and madness that binds the two more firmly together, both as professionals and as husband and wife.
This tale begins when Holmes and Russell return to the Downs after their trip around the world that started with the search for Kimball O'Hara in The Game and ended with their departure after Locked Rooms (with a side venture through The Art of Detection, as noted.) Travel-weary and over-heated, they arrive home to find an unexpected guest from the past and an absent Mrs. Hudson as well as a small mystery. Needless to say, the mystery grows, the guest disppears and the travel must continue.
New characters wander in and out and old characters toss in their penny's worth and disappear. Mary and Holmes approach the problems, each from their own perspectives and meet unexpectedly in the strangest places. Mycroft's rooms are raided by Lestrade and Mary and Sherlock are placed on the `wanted' list, while the odd tourist or farm animal is ritually killed and their blood sprinkled on the Old Stones. Over all looms the possibility of unspeakable tragedy and the loss of a hive on the Downs provides a leit motif for the rest of the tale. It is a worrisome mystery as well as a tale of tragedy and hope that ends in even more questions along with the possibility of a bright future.
Reviewed by: Philip K. Jones, December, 2009.
type of material: Hard Cover
Publisher: Bantam Dell
Year: 2009
Author: Laurie R. King
Price: $25.00
Review: This latest addition to the `Mary Russell' story answers a few questions and poses many more. The author explains, by way of an off-hand comment, the appearance of Mrs. Turner in place of Mrs. Hudson in "A Scandal in Bohemia." She also clears up the presence of Holmes "...in a laboratory at Montpelier..." as mentioned in "The Empty House" and casually passes along the fact that her husband was the detective cited in The Art of Detection. On the other hand, this tale introduces a mad murderer who leaves blood and bodies in the old, sacred places on days dedicated to the old gods and brings new intensity to the meaning of family.
Both Holmes and Russell are forced to examine their pasts and their earlier mistakes and omissions and both must face the possibility of bloodshed within the family. This is not a gentle novel, nor is it a look at `family values.' It is a mystery of blood and madness that binds the two more firmly together, both as professionals and as husband and wife.
This tale begins when Holmes and Russell return to the Downs after their trip around the world that started with the search for Kimball O'Hara in The Game and ended with their departure after Locked Rooms (with a side venture through The Art of Detection, as noted.) Travel-weary and over-heated, they arrive home to find an unexpected guest from the past and an absent Mrs. Hudson as well as a small mystery. Needless to say, the mystery grows, the guest disppears and the travel must continue.
New characters wander in and out and old characters toss in their penny's worth and disappear. Mary and Holmes approach the problems, each from their own perspectives and meet unexpectedly in the strangest places. Mycroft's rooms are raided by Lestrade and Mary and Sherlock are placed on the `wanted' list, while the odd tourist or farm animal is ritually killed and their blood sprinkled on the Old Stones. Over all looms the possibility of unspeakable tragedy and the loss of a hive on the Downs provides a leit motif for the rest of the tale. It is a worrisome mystery as well as a tale of tragedy and hope that ends in even more questions along with the possibility of a bright future.
Reviewed by: Philip K. Jones, December, 2009.
Once I discovered Mary Russell I couldn't stop reading the series. It is great. However....
The last volume (Language of Bees) was a disappointment, for several reasons.
I didn't get enough sense of the preacher. Such a dangerous lunatic with so few followers? The (to me) confusion of his sacrifices: when to sacrifice, who to sacrifice, where to sacrifice: I found it boring, unconnected to a person about whom I didn't know enough. And, yawn, I stopped reading the excerpts from "The Testament" at the beginning of each chapter along about number 6.
The book had a promising start to find Holmes with a long lost troubled son and the Holmes-Russell household possibly facing the need to make room for another generation. Some of the passsages dealing with the fact of these coming changes in the life of Holmes and Russell are up to King's usual standards. We get a deeper glimpse of the relationship between Russell and Holmes.
But the Holmes son became a very lame character by the end of the story. Kind of dumb.
And then the whole thing "ends" with to-be-continued?!? No, no, no.
I feel torn between wanting a sequel ASAP (after all, there were good parts in this book, it being a Laurie R. King work) and indifferent if the next installment means we chase the preacher around.
After the previous books with their adventures in Palestine, on the Dartmoor Moor, in India (my favorite) this was just not up to those earlier tales.
Maybe I was just spoiled.
The last volume (Language of Bees) was a disappointment, for several reasons.
I didn't get enough sense of the preacher. Such a dangerous lunatic with so few followers? The (to me) confusion of his sacrifices: when to sacrifice, who to sacrifice, where to sacrifice: I found it boring, unconnected to a person about whom I didn't know enough. And, yawn, I stopped reading the excerpts from "The Testament" at the beginning of each chapter along about number 6.
The book had a promising start to find Holmes with a long lost troubled son and the Holmes-Russell household possibly facing the need to make room for another generation. Some of the passsages dealing with the fact of these coming changes in the life of Holmes and Russell are up to King's usual standards. We get a deeper glimpse of the relationship between Russell and Holmes.
But the Holmes son became a very lame character by the end of the story. Kind of dumb.
And then the whole thing "ends" with to-be-continued?!? No, no, no.
I feel torn between wanting a sequel ASAP (after all, there were good parts in this book, it being a Laurie R. King work) and indifferent if the next installment means we chase the preacher around.
After the previous books with their adventures in Palestine, on the Dartmoor Moor, in India (my favorite) this was just not up to those earlier tales.
Maybe I was just spoiled.
The Language of Bees continues the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series. The two have returned from a trip to the U.S., where Mary has learned some interesting facts about her family history. Now, a young man visits them at their home in rural England to ask for their help in finding his wife and young daughter, who have disappeared. There is a brief flashback to the time when Mary originally met the young man, but most of the story takes place in the 1920s. This is a worthy addition to the series with the required plot twists and turns. It can be read on its own, but works better if you've read the earliern novels.
Don't be fooled by the title...
I am a die-hard Mary Russell fan. I have always loved Sherlock Holmes but when I was first introduced to the Mary Russell series, I wasn't sure I was going to find the premise believable. After all, Holmes had always be somewhat disparaging about women in general in Conan Doyle's stories.
Despite this skepticism, Mary Russell won me over. Laurie King has written a character that is an excellent foil and partner for Holmes.
"The Language of Bees" does not sound like a crime-solving novel but don't let the title fool you. The bees are only one of the sub-plots this story embraces. While not as emotional as "Locked Rooms", this Mary Russell adventure fits well into the series. Mary and Holmes have returned home after a long absence, during which they solved several cases for Queen and country, and several personal ones as well, and they are both looking forward to a return to peace and quiet. Of course, peace and quiet don't last very long.
This story grapped me and kept me reading until the conclusion. I hope Laurie King keeps finding adventures for these two.
Despite this skepticism, Mary Russell won me over. Laurie King has written a character that is an excellent foil and partner for Holmes.
"The Language of Bees" does not sound like a crime-solving novel but don't let the title fool you. The bees are only one of the sub-plots this story embraces. While not as emotional as "Locked Rooms", this Mary Russell adventure fits well into the series. Mary and Holmes have returned home after a long absence, during which they solved several cases for Queen and country, and several personal ones as well, and they are both looking forward to a return to peace and quiet. Of course, peace and quiet don't last very long.
This story grapped me and kept me reading until the conclusion. I hope Laurie King keeps finding adventures for these two.
I must say that of all the series I follow, I look forward to Laurie R. King's series featuring Sherlock Holmes and his much younger wife, Mary Russell. I was not disappointed with this installment.
After so long the couple come home. Before they can really relax, things are slightly amiss - one of Holmes' beehives is empty - what has driven these bees away?
Before Holmes really has time to contemplate this, a young man that Russell met when she was 19 with Holmes, comes to them - he is Holmes' son! Damian Adler was the product of a liason years before. Holmes did not know the lady, a well known contralto, was pregnant.
Adler has had a history of drug abuse, and alcoholism, but seems to have gotten himself straight - but his wife and young daughter are missing! He has swallowed his pride and asked his Dad, the famous Sherlock Holmes to help.
Russell finds one morning, Holmes and Adler are gone. While Holmes leaving suddenly is nothing new to Russell, he usually leaves a note. But nothing.
After discovering the mystery of the beehive, she leaves for London and connects with Mycroft, Holmes' brother. All characters connect to find Adler's wife and child. It appears Adler's wife has gotten in with a mysterious metaphysical religious group, whose founder or 'Master' has written a kind of bible and sometimes preaches to his congregation but his identity is disguised somewhat.
Bodies are being found at ancient stone sites - suicides or sacrifices?
Mary Russell again proves she and Holmes are equal in intellect and moxie as she goes on an aeroplane mission with one of Mycroft's operatives. Be sure you have Dramamine in hand as you read this part of the book - you'll need it!
We see another layer of Russell, as she (about 24) thinks she probably won't have children herself, and you feel her mixed emotions regarding looking for a child descended from Holmes' blood, and her own wishes regarding children.
The book ends in a masterful climax, while it leaves you breathless, there are more adventures to come. And I cannot wait for the next Russell/Holmes book to be completed!
A great read for fans of this series!
After so long the couple come home. Before they can really relax, things are slightly amiss - one of Holmes' beehives is empty - what has driven these bees away?
Before Holmes really has time to contemplate this, a young man that Russell met when she was 19 with Holmes, comes to them - he is Holmes' son! Damian Adler was the product of a liason years before. Holmes did not know the lady, a well known contralto, was pregnant.
Adler has had a history of drug abuse, and alcoholism, but seems to have gotten himself straight - but his wife and young daughter are missing! He has swallowed his pride and asked his Dad, the famous Sherlock Holmes to help.
Russell finds one morning, Holmes and Adler are gone. While Holmes leaving suddenly is nothing new to Russell, he usually leaves a note. But nothing.
After discovering the mystery of the beehive, she leaves for London and connects with Mycroft, Holmes' brother. All characters connect to find Adler's wife and child. It appears Adler's wife has gotten in with a mysterious metaphysical religious group, whose founder or 'Master' has written a kind of bible and sometimes preaches to his congregation but his identity is disguised somewhat.
Bodies are being found at ancient stone sites - suicides or sacrifices?
Mary Russell again proves she and Holmes are equal in intellect and moxie as she goes on an aeroplane mission with one of Mycroft's operatives. Be sure you have Dramamine in hand as you read this part of the book - you'll need it!
We see another layer of Russell, as she (about 24) thinks she probably won't have children herself, and you feel her mixed emotions regarding looking for a child descended from Holmes' blood, and her own wishes regarding children.
The book ends in a masterful climax, while it leaves you breathless, there are more adventures to come. And I cannot wait for the next Russell/Holmes book to be completed!
A great read for fans of this series!
I have enjoyed her Holmes and Russell books. I decided to get this one for myself. I really like these stories.The Language of Bees (Mary Russell Novels)
I thoroughly enjoyed this return to the Russell/Holmes story line. Well done! Can't wait for the next one.
Laurie R. King once again has captivated my interest in a spellbinding novel. I love the way Mary Russell is on the front line with Holmes off doing his own thing until the very end. Looking forward to the next installment.
While some readers feel that King might have slipped a little in the last couple of Russell books, this one makes a great come-back. Despite the somewhat touchy subject matter for fans of ACD's canon, she manages to pull it off with her stunning and masterful portrayal of the great detective and his partner. The suspense just keeps building. However, fair warning: there's a cliff-hanger ending that leaves readers desperate for answers.
The best Russell so far. It took me a while to get it from the US to Singapore but it is worth the effort. And as other reviewers seem to be not 100% happy with the tbc at the end: Yes, I can't wait until next year but that is actually a compliment for the book in my hand.
It's always good advice to take your time with a good read, because it'll be over before you know it and you're left wishing you had a chance to go back and read it again for the first time. Laurie King's Mary Russel series can always withstand a re-read, since details of the plot and subplots may escape the reader the first time around, but there's only one first go. I finished this one true to form, in less than a day. The plot and subplots dovetail nicely into an ending that's satisfying, perhaps a bit predictable, and thoroughly sensible. Can't wait for the next installment!
In her past novels, Laurie King spent a lot of time painting visual pictures of the location of her story. This time it feels like she spent more time on the characters. The story moves quickly, but still stays true to the Sherlock Holmes feel. I'm not going into detail, but if you have enjoyed any of the previous Mary Russell stories, you will really like this one. It was worth waiting for.
I don't know how long Laurie King, or the anonymous sender of the items, can continue to give us new stories about Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, but I for one hope for a long time. These are absolutely fascinating to me, the character studies are wonderful.
While I agree with some of the more critical reviews that this is not "A Monstrous Regiment of Women" I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really liked the insight into Holmes' mind offered by the excerpts from his book on beekeeping and I loved that Russell exhibits the very human reaction of jealousy. Both Holmes and Russell use intellect to distance themselves from and control their emotions so it was gratifying to see that slip a little.
I was also very glad to see the reference to Holmes' son fleshed out. The chapters of dialogue between Holmes and Damian were a beautiful example of character exposition without heavy handed explanation of what is going through the character's head.
I didn't really have a problem with the "To Be Continued" ending, either. The story didn't feel unfinished to me. It also seems that if Holmes has just begun to know his son that one book won't really do the job. I'd be dissatisfied with both Holmes and Russell if they just went back to Sussex and their "normal" lives after such a revelation. I'll be interested to see what Damian does after finding that his wife's murderer is not, in fact, dead.
No problem with the word count, either. I could read a Laurie King version of the phone book and not get bored, I think.
Cliffnotes version: If you're a Holmes/Russell fan, it's worth reading. Thinner on the mystery but stronger on the character development than some of the other books. It will leave you wanting to go back and revisit some of the earlier adventures.
I was also very glad to see the reference to Holmes' son fleshed out. The chapters of dialogue between Holmes and Damian were a beautiful example of character exposition without heavy handed explanation of what is going through the character's head.
I didn't really have a problem with the "To Be Continued" ending, either. The story didn't feel unfinished to me. It also seems that if Holmes has just begun to know his son that one book won't really do the job. I'd be dissatisfied with both Holmes and Russell if they just went back to Sussex and their "normal" lives after such a revelation. I'll be interested to see what Damian does after finding that his wife's murderer is not, in fact, dead.
No problem with the word count, either. I could read a Laurie King version of the phone book and not get bored, I think.
Cliffnotes version: If you're a Holmes/Russell fan, it's worth reading. Thinner on the mystery but stronger on the character development than some of the other books. It will leave you wanting to go back and revisit some of the earlier adventures.
Kindle, internet availibilty - but not book availability
Why is this book not available for European buyers? Kindle is sold to Europe as well, so it stands to reason that if I would want to buy my favourite author's books, I would be able to - is there any way I would be able to access Ms King's novels on my Kindle?
This book, true to Damien Adler's surrealist philosophy, both thrills and maddens at the same time. The shadowy, brilliantly insane villain is the scariest since the original Beekeeper's Apprentice, and the increasing danger and tension were enough to keep me turning pages until late into the night. But the shock of discovering that, unlike King's other Mary Russell novels, this one is *not* complete in itself was immensely frustrating. One can only hope that King is quicker than usual in producing the next book.
An excellent read. I never read any of Laurie King's before. Very interesting mystery. You'll enjoy this especially if you keep bees.
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On the other hand, after slogging through this overly long and drawn out tale, it was a definite downer to come in for a landing at page 442, only to find:
"to be continued..."
Alas, I don't think I'm going to be up for yet another several hundred pages about the case of the religious nutcase. As villains go, he's just not all that interesting or, to my mind, sequel-worthy.
Some years ago, not long after she changed publishers, I heard Laurie King tell a book fair audience that Bantam was pushing her to up her page counts. And she's certainly done that. It seems to me her novels are getting more and more bogged down in beautifully written, but frequently irrelevant, detail and description that disrupts the pace and doesn't advance the plot. Weary of what reads to me as padding, (the plot here doesn't begin to kick in till page 159), I'm thinking that maybe, instead of ordering her next book at the first announcement of a pub date, as I've always done before, I'll just hang back and wait to see what the page count and reviews here tell me. Meantime I think I'll revisit some of the old 300-pagers like "Beekeeper's Apprentice" and "The Moor" that once made me such a huge Mary Russell/Laurie King fan.
ADDENDA MARCH 1, 2010: Great news, King fans!!! I've just had an opportunity to read and review an advance copy of what comes after the "to be continued" that made so many of us here so angry. It's called "God of the Hive" and it's just terrific: edge-of-your-seat suspense from page 1, nearly 100 pages shorter than this one, but three times as much plot, a new and more villainous villain, no padding whatsoever, Russell's at her best, Holmes is more Holmesian. Definitely one of King's best and definitely NOT the end of the line for this reader after all.