Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes Series by Laurie R. King FIC King First Published 1994
In this special series, our librarians are introducing you to more series and authors that keep them reading long into the night. In this post, one of our librarians talks about one of her favorite series: Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes by Laurie R. King:
In this series, Laurie R. King revives the tradition of Sir Arthur Conan Dole from a distinctly different point of view, while being faithful to the voice of Sherlock Holmes. She presents him with fresh adventures and a new partner in Mary Russell. Mary is a student of Theology and Chemistry at Oxford University. She is intelligent and excels at deduction. Sherlock Holmes long since retired from crime fighting in London and has moved to Sussex, along with housekeeper Mrs. Hudson. There he meets Mary. As the series grows, so does the relationship between Mary and Sherlock. Mrs. Hudson's fascinating background is also revealed throughout the series. Mary struggles against the social norms of the day, and the changing roles of women in society remain a main theme of the novels. As the series progresses, the cases become global, with rich historical and cultural details adding texture to the books. I learn so much about many world locations and their history, customs, languages and beliefs while watching Mary and Sherlock's relationship grow and change. Below are the summaries of the first 2 books in the series, as well as the most recently published installment.
Keep Calm and Read On!
Michaelle S. Popular Materials Asst.
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice (First in
Series)
In 1915, 15-year-old Mary Russell meets
Sherlock Holmes on the Sussex Downs. Holmes
has retired from investigation, moved to Sussex and his attention is absorbed
by beekeeping. Mary Russell is a
gawky, egotistical, recently orphaned young lady who piques Holmes’s interest
and in short order impresses the detective with her intellect and powers of
deduction. Under his tutelage, this very modern twentieth century woman proves
a deft protégée and a fitting partner for the Victorian detective, and in this
first volume, we witness the formative years of a character who will grow and
develop over many books to come.
A
Monstrous Regiment of Women (Second in series)
Two years later, Mary Russell has graduated from Oxford with
degrees in Theology and Chemistry and now, will inherit a considerable
fortune. Mary returns to Sussex to find
her mentor behaving strangely. Could he
have developed stronger feelings for her?
What about her own feelings about him? Russell turns her attention to
the New Temple of God, and its leader Margery Childe, a charismatic suffragette
and a mystic, whose draw on the young theology scholar is irresistible. When
four young woman with
considerable scholarly and intellectual ability turn up dead shortly
after agreeing to will money to the temple, Russell and Holmes come together to
investigate Childe, and a sinister plot is
revealed.
Riviera
Gold (16th in series, newest)
In 1925, Mary Russell has been a member of a crew sailing to
the French Riviera. She found the
experience exhilarating and exhausting.
She meets a group of Americans, Russians, artists, writers and other
creative types summering there even though the season has long since
ended. On the beach with these friends,
Mary sees Mrs. Hudson of all people wearing apparently new clothing of a very
fashionable sort. Mrs. Hudson is
living in a rental home not far from the beach and a young man is killed in her
sitting room. Holmes comes to join Mary
and they begin trying to find the murderer.
Mrs. Hudson is the primary suspect, but Holmes and Russell, well Russell
at least, is not suspicious. Holmes,
however, is keeping an open mind. This
adventure involves smugglers of all kinds, sea chases, and the great wealth of
Monte Carlo where money is won, lost, and stolen.