Cyndi J. (cyndij) reviewed The Murder of Mary Russell (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, Bk 14) on + 1032 more book reviews
I liked this the first time I read it, but my notes don't say why. This time around I'm not as pleased. I was griping that the last several have been in foreign countries but now that we're (mostly) back in England, Russell and Holmes are barely in the book! Mrs. Hudson's backstory turns out to be a lot more sordid than I liked, and despite all the potential for drama it is boring. Her "education" was fun, but it just went on too long. The book just slogs along until the two detectives get involved. I also didn't like the eventual relationship between Holmes and Hudson - it's like emotional blackmail on his part. And now they are covering up a crime for Mary, another secret which seemed completely unnecessary. Oh well...
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Holy crapola! Initially I was unimpressed with this book, as it was so unlike her others. But I struggled through with it, and about 1/3 of the way through---at the end of a chapter---a revelation was made which changed everything. At that point it became hard to put down.
But if there is one thing I really hate, it's when an author tells you something truly important and it turns out not to be true. It doesn't matter if in the very next chapter the author let you know the real story, it's still not fair.
I wish Arthur Conan Doyle could read this one. Although, I'm not sure he'd like it. Or maybe....
But if there is one thing I really hate, it's when an author tells you something truly important and it turns out not to be true. It doesn't matter if in the very next chapter the author let you know the real story, it's still not fair.
I wish Arthur Conan Doyle could read this one. Although, I'm not sure he'd like it. Or maybe....
R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed The Murder of Mary Russell (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, Bk 14) on + 1453 more book reviews
The title of this book almost made me avoid the read but I'm glad that I plunged right into it. It opens with Mary Russell meeting a stranger at her door looking for her housekeeper. As the plot begins, he pulls a gun on her and assures her that his intent is to kill her. When the housekeeper returns home she finds blood spattered across the kitchen and Mary Russell missing.
Sherlock Holmes must uncover every lead he can to find Mary Russll but everything leads to one conclusion. The blood is hers and whether she has been injured and kidnapped or murdered no one knows. The key perpetrator seems to be Samuel Hudson, son of the housekeeper, but as the reader discovers there is much more to the tale than that. As Holmes romps around checking every possibilty, Mrs. Hudson, the housekeeper, takes matters into her own hands. And, the story moves on with Mrs. Hudson actually uncovering the total picture. And, I just loved, loved the ending.
This is a wonderfully complicated and stimulating read. I think it's one of the best in the series that I have read. Congratulations to Laurie King for such an imaginative and well writting mystery. And, I just loved, loved the ending. Great read!
Sherlock Holmes must uncover every lead he can to find Mary Russll but everything leads to one conclusion. The blood is hers and whether she has been injured and kidnapped or murdered no one knows. The key perpetrator seems to be Samuel Hudson, son of the housekeeper, but as the reader discovers there is much more to the tale than that. As Holmes romps around checking every possibilty, Mrs. Hudson, the housekeeper, takes matters into her own hands. And, the story moves on with Mrs. Hudson actually uncovering the total picture. And, I just loved, loved the ending.
This is a wonderfully complicated and stimulating read. I think it's one of the best in the series that I have read. Congratulations to Laurie King for such an imaginative and well writting mystery. And, I just loved, loved the ending. Great read!
Cameron-Ashley H. (BigGreenChair) reviewed The Murder of Mary Russell (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, Bk 14) on + 464 more book reviews
It wasn't what I expected since a large part of the book is about Mrs. Hudson and that made me miss the interaction of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, but it was still a good read.
