Laurie R. King’s New York Times bestselling series featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes is “the most sustained feat of imagination in mystery fiction today” (Lee Child)!The last thing Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, need is to help an old friend with her mad, missing aunt. Lady Vivian Beaconsfield has spent most of her adult life in one asylum after another, since the loss of … another, since the loss of her brother and father in the Great War. Although her mental state seemed to be improving, she’s now disappeared after an outing from Bethlem Royal Hospital . . . better known as Bedlam.
Russell wants nothing to do with the case—but she can’t say no. To track down the vanished woman, she must use her deductive instincts and talent for subterfuge—and enlist her husband’s legendary prowess. Together, the two travel from the grim confines of Bedlam to the murky canals of Venice—only to find the shadow of Benito Mussolini darkening the fate of a city, an era, and a tormented English lady of privilege.
Praise for Island of the Mad
“Full of lush details and clever twists.”—Booklist
“Once again validates Laurie R. King as the preeminent Holmes writer working today.”—Bookreporter
“A truly memorable mystery . . . Laurie King brings her always amazing imagination to the page to enthrall readers, as only she can do.”—Suspense Magazine
“Superb . . . shocking . . . Come for the mystery, stay for the sightseeing, the gibes at fascism, and the heroine’s climactic masquerade as silent film star Harold Lloyd.”—Kirkus Reviews
“There’s no shortage of entertainment. . . . If you are a fan of the series, you won’t be disappointed!”—San Francisco Book Review
“Well-plotted . . . This ranks as one of the better recent installments in this popular series.”—Publishers Weekly
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This is yet another fabulous book by Laurie R. King.
She keep Russel and Holmes fresh and exciting.
The setting, pre-WWII, is portrayed as the slowly creeping presence of fascism. The historical reality of who finds that option desirable is fascinating.
Add to that the central question of where the missing woman went and why. As that unfolds, we get another chilling aspect of societal norms of the time.
Thank goodness for the creativity and tenacity of Russell and Holmes (and Laurie R. King’s amazing research and imagination)!
ISLAND OF THE MAD by Laurie King
From Bedlam (Bethlhem Royal Hospital) to Venice, busy with parties, water skiing, and Fascists, it does seem the world is indeed on a path toward madness. Holmes and Russell boldly go, to try to find Mary’s friend’s missing aunt, and with an additional mission on behalf of Mycroft. Using their wits and humor, they sort through layers of “all is not as it seems.” Allies include a “platoon if not a company of waterborne Irregulars,” Mary’s stalwart pair of on-call gondoliers, and fascinating historical personae, Cole Porter and “Miss Elsa Maxwell? Of San Francisco?” As Mary chastises herself for not seeing something sooner, I feel better for not seeing it either.
Writing that flows, characters one truly cares about, wit and suspense add up to a satisfying reading experience (and neglect of other pastimes and duties) — worth it!
Life lessons and observations:
“It is a precious thing, to be in agreement with one’s husband, particularly when it came to misbehaviour.”
“The man (Porter) seemed to spin words and music as a peasant woman spun her thread: at all spare moments . . . without appearing to be aware of it as labour.”
“An evil reputation can be a protective wall.”
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2355824013
Island of the Mad, a Mary Russell novel by Laurie R King is the latest entry into the franchise. It is like going home, reading a novel from such an accomplished author. Mary’s friend Ronnie has lost her great aunt Vivian who had been home from a mental hospital on furlough and then disappeared. She has called upon Mary to help. The search takes Mary and Holmes to Venice.
This book gives a nice tour of Venice in the 20s, somewhat damaged from World War I, but more damaged from the current political climate in Italy. Il Duce has brought black shirts to Venice and the populace is slowly growing frightened and wary. Il Duce has a great many supporters in England so Holmes accompanies Mary both to check on the situation for this brother but also to guard Mary who, in her youth, doesn’t understand the possible serious consequences of an ill-timed word.
Vivian was the daughter of William Reginald George Beaconsfield, Seventh Marquess of Selwick. She had been happy living with her brother, Thomas, and his family (including Ronnie) but after Thomas’ death her grip on reality seemed to fade and she has been sent to one private hospital after another. She would appear to have regained her senses until she was sent home and then things had started to unravel for her again until she arrived at Bedlam where she has now lived for years, apparently happy there. Her older brother, Edward, seemed happy with the situation as well…until she disappeared.
Can Mary find her? Was it foul play or something else?
King writes with subtle nuance and brings current social issues out in the open a hundred years ago when they existed but were kept behind closed doors. There are several in this novel which cannot be discussed at this juncture without revealing things that would spoil the novel for the reader. They are poignantly and gently treated and explain the solution quite nicely. The Mary Russell stories on one of many takes on the Sherlock Holmes saga and one of the most creative. Very descriptive comments about not only the physical surroundings but also the mores and political climate of the time make this more than an enjoyable read, but rather an experience…one that should not be missed. I highly recommend Island of the Mad.
I liked this book on many levels: good plot, good characters, great setting. It is just a good read from a writer who never disappoints me. It is a pleasure to read a book that is well write .
I’ve read this series for years, but fell behind. In catching up and I found this book to have a slow beginning and QUICK end. I mean it ended so suddenly. Many threads were left hanging. I didn’t feel it was among the best of the series.
Russell and Holmes at their best. I love how Mary continues to grow into her own self and yet Holmes encourages it. I know this is fiction, but I always feel like they were real people. Also, King’s descriptions are wonderful!
The life in the Roaring Twenties can seem like a mad, mad world, but their latest case brings Russell and Holmes face to face with the truly mad, the dangerously ignorant, and a hard look at their own eccentric life.
Island of the Mad is the fifteenth installment in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. The books are strong on suspense, but also follow closely with global and personal historical events for the main characters so they must be read in order.
In the latest, Mary and Holmes are just settling back into their life back in Sussex after a string of daring cases when a phone call from an old friend has them back in action once again. Ronnie’s eccentric, mad aunt has gone missing along with her nurse and a stash of jewels. Was it voluntary or something much more sinister and if it was voluntary, is it a good idea to have a woman from a madhouse loose?
Starting from the beginning has Mary investigating the inside of Bedlam and confronting both the mad and the current day treatment of the mad along with her journey to the ancestral home to discover if the answer lies within the family to Lady Vivian’s disappearance. Meanwhile, Mycroft wants Holmes to look into the disturbing reports about the Fascists in Italy under Il Duce, Mussolini. Mary worries that Holmes is getting too old for this sort of thing and Holmes worries that he may just be too old for his own wife. The case takes them across the continent to Venice where Holmes and Mary are faced with some of the wealthiest and powerful ‘bright young things’ drinking and partying in the palazzos and waterways of Venice. I confess that Sherlock Holmes and his violin and Cole Porter on his piano in a few jam sessions was probably my favorite scenes in the book.
Island of the Mad presents a good mystery, but leans just as heavily toward historical fiction the way it delves into the activities, thinking, and social mores of the day from those on the lunatic fringe, to those put away for madness, to the powerful and growing Fascist movement, women’s issues, homosexuality, and the darkness that can drive a person to seek asylum in a mad house. Russell and Holmes take turns with the narration and both ponder on all these things.
There were some thrilling moments as Russell and Holmes worked the case and a mystery, but this was tucked in so much more that I think those who enjoy fiction set in the Roaring Twenties are as likely to love this as mystery fans. As always, I was well-pleased to get another installment in a long-time favorite series. The author has carefully preserved the spirit of the Sherlock Holmes world from the beginning and keeps it authentic even into these stories that explore his later years and the clever and resourceful young woman who is his partner in every way. Definitely recommend the series to Sherlock fans and to historical mystery lovers.
great portraits of real life LGBTQ scene in historic Venice!
One of the better recent Holmes/Russell adventures.
Great historical discriptive of Venice during Fascism and Americans lifestiles, but Shelick Holmes steals the show!
As a long time fan of the Mary Russell mysteries, I anticipated the book for over a year, and it didn’t disappoint. Russell and Holmes are thrown into a search for a woman who disappeared while on a pass from Bedlam where she had lived for years. Did she walk away of her own accord, was she murdered, was she abducted, all were possibilities. The trail leads Russell and her husband/partner Sherlock Holmes to Venice where they come up against the rising fascist movement and the devil may care bright young things infesting the famous Lido beach. With Cole Porter playing a tune that entrances Holmes and black shirts roaming the streets beating anyone who gets in their way, this story has an anything-goes race to the finish. One of the best in recent years!!
Island of the Mad reveals and reflects the dire reality of its’ time but shows the reader hope as well. The partnership of Russell and Holmes continues to delight and surprise. Don’t miss this!
very dark begining
I’ve been reading the Mary Russell series since The Bee Keeper’s Apprentice was published. One of my favorite series!
This is one of my all-time favorite Holmes spin-off series. In Laurie R. King’s oh-so-capable hands, the Great Detective is handled brilliantly – and his wife and co-conspirator, Mary Russell, is one of my favorite heroines in fiction. She is sassy, brilliant, and holds her own more than admirably as she matches – and shares – wits with her husband, Sherlock Holmes. It is extra impressive that King has managed to run this series well into double-digit books with so few missteps (the Pirate book aside) and with so many original and unique mysteries that cross so many borders (thematically, sociologically, geopolitically) and are consistently so entertaining.
This latest installment takes us from England to Venice, and the social and political issues (homosexuality, the role of women in society, the rise of Fascism) are as wide-ranging as the geography. King has a remarkable gift for bringing history to life amidst a character-driven mystery, and her touch is as deft here as it always is. The supporting cast includes a blend of new and old faces (as is typical), and – as is also typical for King but rarely typical in fiction, to my taste – includes a blend of historical and famous figures that are as organically well-placed within the story as any other characters. The plot is a marvelous blend of action, adventure, character study, and pure entertainment, and King’s writing style is – as always – engaging, drawing the reader in from the opening pages. The humor and sly wit are Holmesian in all the best possible meanings of the word – particularly when they come from the deliciously droll Mary Russell.
If you aren’t familiar with the series, you really should pick it up – it’s one of the best in this area.
My review copy was provided by NetGalley.