NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE AGATHA AWARD FOR BEST HISTORICAL NOVEL • NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST MYSTERIES OF THE YEAR BY THE SEATTLE TIMESLaurie R. King’s novels of suspense featuring Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, are critically acclaimed and beloved by readers for the author’s adept interplay of history and adventure. Now the intrepid duo is finally trying to take a … intrepid duo is finally trying to take a little time for themselves—only to be swept up in a baffling case that will lead them from the idyllic panoramas of Japan to the depths of Oxford’s most revered institution.
After a lengthy case that had the couple traipsing all over India, Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes are on their way to California to deal with some family business that Russell has been neglecting for far too long. Along the way, they plan to break up the long voyage with a sojourn in southern Japan. The cruising steamer Thomas Carlyle is leaving Bombay, bound for Kobe. Though they’re not the vacationing types, Russell is looking forward to a change of focus—not to mention a chance to travel to a location Holmes has not visited before. The idea of the pair being on equal footing is enticing to a woman who often must race to catch up with her older, highly skilled husband.
Aboard the ship, intrigue stirs almost immediately. Holmes recognizes the famous clubman the Earl of Darley, whom he suspects of being an occasional blackmailer: not an unlikely career choice for a man richer in social connections than in pounds sterling. And then there’s the lithe, surprisingly fluent young Japanese woman who befriends Russell and quotes haiku. She agrees to tutor the couple in Japanese language and customs, but Russell can’t shake the feeling that Haruki Sato is not who she claims to be.
Once in Japan, Russell’s suspicions are confirmed in a most surprising way. From the glorious city of Tokyo to the cavernous library at Oxford, Russell and Holmes race to solve a mystery involving international extortion, espionage, and the shocking secrets that, if revealed, could spark revolution—and topple an empire.
Praise for Dreaming Spies
“[Holmes and Russell’s] unusual partnership is, as always, a delight to observe, and King expertly combines rich historical detail, deftly drawn characters and taut suspense. For Holmes fans, mystery lovers and those interested in either Japan or Oxford, this novel is a multilayered and entirely enjoyable journey.”—Shelf Awareness
“Compulsively readable . . . Through astute, precise, and elegant writing, great attention to time and place, and beautifully realized characters, King has created a mystery series that is at once intelligent, reflective, and action filled.”—Library Journal
“A story that keeps the reader enthralled . . . one of the most consistently outstanding mystery series out there. Any time spent with the Russell-Holmes duo is a delight.”—Booklist
“Snappy prose and a captivating plot distinguish King’s fourteenth novel featuring Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes. . . . Many will find the character deepened by his partnership with the spirited and clever Russell.”—Publishers Weekly
“The author continues to offer up incredible plotlines. . . . [Holmes and Russell’s] emotional bond only adds to the magic, suspense, and beauty of the original creation. King’s imagination continues to shine!”—Suspense Magazine
“[King] manages more surprises than usual in this graceful exercise in cultural tourism–cum-intrigue.”—Kirkus Reviews
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Just re-read this one, and enjoyed it very much. I love this series.
great novel… king always writes elegant engrossing stories
Not as good as the real Sherlock Holmes mysteries
I’m a fan of the Mary Russell Sherlock Holmes books. This one takes readers to Japan and is full of surprises. One of my favorites.
I enjoy all of her books and recommend that you not miss any of them!
Russell and Holmes’ latest adventure covers the interim time frame between two other cases from their past and has continuation into their present. This was an intriguing story that has the duo aboard a cruise ship leaving India and journeying to parts east into the Orient where they leave the ship to explore Japan and track down a possible blackmailer. As is par for the course, some things are just as they seem while others are quite the surprising twist. The author did a fabulous job of unsettling me more than once and that’s a good thing in a suspense. I feel like I travel the world with this series and its characters and in this case, I visited 1920s Japan and it was an exquisite, captivating place.
This book falls chronologically both between books seven and eight in the flashback, but also just after book twelve in the present narratives. It doesn’t flip back and forth other than to start in the present then dip into the past and working its way back to the present. It would be alright as a standalone when it comes to the mystery though personally I have enjoyed the ongoing character growth of Mary Russell and the relationship development of Russell and Homes by getting the series in order. There are a few references that will be confusing or mildly spoilerish too.
Holmes and Russell return home after their adventures in the North African desert and expect to dive into quiet pursuits until a few curious things occur that plunge them back into the past to a time three years prior. The detecting husband and wife duo were taking a cruise ship out of India and become curious about their fellow passengers. Holmes’ goes on the alert when he spots Lord Darnley who he is convinced was a participant in a blackmailer’s schemes, but never got caught. They are both taken with a young Japanese girl who may be more than she seems. There is a card shark, a ship’s ghost and a missing woman to round out things to keep them from boredom.
They decide to take advantage of their stop in Japan and do some exploration since neither of them are familiar with the country or its beautiful culture. Their stopover also neatly fits with their ongoing pursuit of Darnley as they are now both keen to catch the man before he can act again. The case takes some interesting twists that leave both Holmes and Russell not sure what is truth and they are pretty sure they have been played.
Things heat up three years later when that old case and some of its players resurface once again for the final act in the play. Time is of the essence if they are to keep their adversary from winning the game.
Alright, so my thoughts on this one are that I enjoyed it, but for different reasons than say, the last book. The pace was gentler and less intense as was the tone which makes sense considering their situation is different. This one explores the shadow world of espionage just as the others, but with a new set of rules in the game. There is the criminal(s) for them to track down. But it doesn’t have that desperate life and death feel to it. Russell has time to reflect and philosophize. Holmes and Russell are in sync with no issues between them so they are practically a comfortable old married pair on holiday- okay an old married pair that sneak about breaking into places, taking to the back roads of Japan, pairing up in hand to hand fights against their adversaries and taking turns spying on people. Poetry is a theme element as is cultural and political difference between East and West in the 20s. I was fascinated that Emperor Hirohito is a character. Shamefully, I never really researched his life as a young man, but now I want to study him, Shogun, Geisha, and many other things that intrigued me.
Honestly, what I liked the most was the descriptions of the historical settings and the scenes in Japan. The author gave me a taste and now I have a craving. I want to hit a Japanese restaurant because the mentions of food and tea had me salivating. I would love to see a collection of clothing, house goods, literature and art after all the descriptions. And I have the sudden albeit frightful desire to write some Haiku (frightful because I’m terrible at it). The author provided many delightful samples with each chapter head and within the chapters.
But it wasn’t all travelogue. The case takes a while to build because at first they are not even sure there is a case. They can speculate, surmise and have gut feelings, but it is a waiting game. This is one where the readers can easily think their way clear to a solution and then get the rug pulled out. Personally, I find that the most fun about mysteries. In this story, Holmes and Russell have none of their usual allies to assist them and I enjoyed the intro to the new partner they encounter in their investigations. Both our intrepid detectives had to step up their game to keep up. And yes, I’m being deliberately vague so I don’t spoil the surprises for other readers.
So all in all it was another pleasant encounter with Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. I was sorry to close the book because I always want more. This one had me relaxing back for a cozy read instead of on the edge of my seat. Fans of historical suspense and mysteries really need to pick up this series if they haven’t already and it is a given that Sherlock Holmes lovers need to read it.
Characters were shallow and mostly unlikeable. Mary Russell had much too high opinion of herself. Sherlock was almost invisible, certainly not the brilliant minded detective he is supposed to be. Plot was predictable, slow moving.
I love this author. Not her best effort, but always original and entertaining. You can get lost in the atmosphere of the stories.
Great series!!!!
I have loved all the Russell-Holmes stories.
An alternate Sherlock Holmes series. Ardent Holmesians might not love its basic premise: Holmes has married a woman at least 3 decades younger and as formidable as himself. However, Holmes is less the thinking machine of Doyle and more a foil to his wife, Mary Russell. King emphasizes Russell, no mere admirer of Holmes but an active, fully equal partner and the book’s narrator.
I must say that the prose is merely serviceable and the characters very sketchy. However, the plot, the mystery — Russell and Holmes must find a rare book by Hokusai that the Japanese regent, Hirohito, has given to King George V and which, hidden in a secret fold, contains sensitive information — is all. The “who” is known from the beginning. The question is the “where.” The twists of plot and that few characters other than the principals are what they seem keep up reader interest. It’s a solid cozy.
One of my favorite authors.
Holmes and Russell basically have nothing to do with the plot. If King had left them out and presented it as a stand alone it would have been much better, but would have sold fewer copies.
A bit hard to keep track of where they were. Interesting info about Japan.
I enjoy all of this series
I have red a couple of books by this author and enjoyed both. Very much an interesting take on Sherlock Holmes
I loved the early Mary Russell novels but found the more recent ones (especially The Pirate King) less interesting. However, in Dreaming Spies Laurie King is coming back to her old form. King carefully researches the culture and history of her settings, and I found the Japanese history very interesting. The final third of the book gets back to the mystery and action. I hope that King keeps moving in this direction — focusing on the relationship of Russell and Holmes, developing this strong female character, and creating compelling plots.
I am a total fan of the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series..
Wonderful characters, plots, completely takes you into their world. King keeps every book fresh. I love them.
Different twist on the Holmes series!
slow at first but then it got interesting. i was lost a little by the ending but could figure it out for the most part