Tue 30 May 2006
HILE Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell stories (beginning with The Beekeeper’s Apprentice) are practically required reading for pastiche enthusiasts, I must confess that I haven’t ready any of her other popular mystery series involving the San Francisco detective Kate Martinelli. That said, her new book, The Art of Detection, looks like it may be the perfect introduction to the series for myopic Sherlockians like myself. The Miami Herald covers her latest offering in their online article Summer reading: Kick back with a book from our list:
Mary, who signs on as Holmes’ apprentice and ends up as his wife, doesn’t make an appearance here, but her husband solves the case in an unpublished story rumored to have been the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The manuscript falls into Kate’s hands during the investigation of a memorabilia collector’s murder and leads her into the arcane, fascinating world of Sherlockians, whose contradictory hobbies include dinner parties in full Victorian costume as well as webcam broadcasts. As Kate investigates, the great detective applies his powers of deduction in the manuscript, which is contained within the novel.
Read the rest (the book is about two-thirds down the page).
Hmmm. Anybody got a link to Sherlockian webcam broadcasts…?
3 Responses to “Miami Herald recommends King’s “The Art of Detection” for summer reading”
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May 31st, 2006 at 3:41 pm
As something of a purist, I cannot understand anyone liking Laurie King’s novels. They are so untrue to the Holmes of the Canon that they are laughable. Holmes would never have used a female apprentice, much less marrying her.
June 13th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
I too have not read Laurie King’s Kate Martinelly books, but I have read some of the Mary Russell books. Such a pity I couldn’t find all of them in the library… I think I’ll pay a visit again tomorrow. Just checking. Again.
And um, Art Bergeron? I really don’t think that it matters whether or not the books are true to the Canon. They’re good books anyway. No offence.
July 25th, 2006 at 6:40 pm
Do try the Mary Russell stories. As a matter of fact, if you have an mp3 player sign up for audible books (audible.com) and give them a listen. The Beekeeper’s Apprentice and Justice Hall are on available. My suggestion would be to pick up a copy of Oh, Jerusalem and read it between BA and Justice. The reader of the stories, Jenny Sterlin, has such a wonderful way of reading them with such an expressive voice that you will certainly enjoy her Holmes, Russell, Mycroft and all the other character she writes about.