Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes turn the Riviera upside down to crack their most captivating case yet in the New York Times bestselling series that Lee Child called “the most sustained feat of imagination in mystery fiction today.” It’s summertime on the Riviera, and the Jazz Age has come to France’s once-sleepy beaches. From their music-filled terraces, American expatriates gaze along the … expatriates gaze along the coastline at the lights of Monte Carlo, where fortunes are won, lost, stolen, and sometimes hidden away. When Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes arrive, they find their partnership pulled between youthful pleasures and old sins, hot sun and cool jazz, new affections and enduring loyalties.
Russell falls into easy friendship with an enthralling American couple, Sara and Gerald Murphy, whose golden life on the Riviera has begun to attract famous writers and artists—and some of the scoundrels linked with Monte Carlo’s underworld. The Murphy set will go on to inspire everyone from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Pablo Picasso, but in this summer of 1925, their importance for Russell lies in one of their circle’s recent additions: the Holmeses’ former housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, who hasn’t been seen since she fled England under a cloud of false murder accusations.
When a beautiful young man is found dead in Mrs. Hudson’s front room, she becomes the prime suspect in yet another murder. Russell is certain of Mrs. Hudson’s innocence; Holmes is not. But the old woman’s colorful past has been a source of tension between them before, and now the dangerous players who control Monte Carlo’s gilded casinos may stop at nothing to keep the pair away from what Mrs. Hudson’s youthful history could bring to light.
The Riviera is a place where treasure can be false, where love can destroy, and where life, as Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes will discover, can be cheap—even when it is made of solid gold.
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I love this series!! Mary Russell is a delight and I really enjoy the way King has developed the relationship between Mary and Sherlock – they are equals, even though their experience levels are so different, and I enjoy watching them work together and separately as they resolve the myriad situations they stumble (or find themselves thrust) into… This time the focus is on Mrs. Hudson, and I quite enjoyed seeing her backstory finally fleshed out. I’ve long felt that she was (deserved to be) a more complex character than she is often presented to be, and in Riviera Gold King played out my suspicions in a way more grandiose (in a good way) than I would have imagined. It made for a fascinating peek behind the curtain into a central player in the Holmes/Russell mythology that has developed over the course of this series, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I love that the setting for each of these novels is so, well, novel. The early development of the summer season on the French Riviera was a marvelous place for this one, allowing it to be populated by fascinating real-life characters like Picasso and the Murphys. It was fun trying to figure out who the ancillary characters mentioned at the Murphy parties were (Dos Passos, the Fitzeralds, etc) and entertaining to see how easily Mary and Mrs. Hudson fit into that world. I’ve read a modest amount about it in the past, and enjoyed the added fictional layer here. This one built up slower than some of the others; I wasn’t sure where things were going to go for some time, and the interludes with Mrs. Hudson’s past were teasers more than plot generators for a good portion of the book, but once things started rolling they generated steam quickly and I was as engrossed in the mystery and the tale as ever.
This is a marvelous series populated by strong, independent women who exist as counterparts to Sherlock Holmes, rather than foils or supporting characters. It adds an excellent weight to the Holmes mythology as a result, and I cannot wait for the next installment!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
Having just completed a dangerous investigation in Venice, Mary Russell is looking forward to a relaxing escape to the Riviera. She does have an ulterior motive. She hopes to locate her former housekeeper Mrs. Hudson who mentioned that Monaco might be a nice place to visit. Mary finds her, only to discover that she’s in a bit of hot water. What follows is an intriguing mystery involving murder, art, smuggling and the, perhaps not so mythical, gold of the Czar. Once again, Laurie R King has delivered a mystery full of twists and turns, complex characters, and a fabulous location.
I often hid in another room to read this book! It was one of the best in the series. Like always the plot was well developed, action outstanding, and characters magnificent.
As usual, Laurie King has delivered a fantastic Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes mystery. Set on the French Riviera in 1910, the plot centers on an artists’ conclave living in Monaco during the off season. Mary Russell is shocked to find Mrs. Hudson (also known as Miss Clarissa Hudson) who has reconnected with her long-time friend Lillie Langtry. Mary enjoys the liveliness of the young artists so is shocked when Niko is killed and Miss Hudson is arrested for his murder. When Russell and Holmes get involved in the investigation, it doesn’t take them long to discover smugglers. It is fun to hear Mary interact with Picasso and Scotty and Zelda Fitzgerald at different cocktail parties. And it is shocking to learn that a long-time arms dealer is buying up much of Monaco behind the scenes.
Another great Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes book. I really enjoy Mary and Sherlock working both together and individually, with Mary sometimes out “Sherlocking” her husband.
So far the most fun of Holmes & Russell adventures.
I enjoy the Laurie R. King Mary Russell / Sherlock Holmes series.
Excellent book in a series that continues to add depth to established characters which impacts both the storyline and the relationships. Certainly, this can be read as a stand-alone; however, the entire series is a delight to savor.
Riviera Gold is the 16th in the series, and there’s been a definite arc in the way the author deals with the mystery. Initially, the stories were about Mary and Sherlock and how they solved crimes; now it’s more about what the world was like in the 1920s with a mystery plot there to get the reader through the travelogue. I enjoyed the book, but it’s worth noting the departure from earlier books in the series.
And the characters aren’t standing still, either, which can definitely be an asset. The girl who researched theology at Oxford has disappeared, and Mary is now a “Bright Young Thing.” It will be interesting to see what turn she takes next.
From the publisher: “It’s summertime on the Riviera, where the Jazz Age is busily reinventing the holiday delights of warm days on golden sand and cool nights on terraces and dance floors. Just up the coast lies a more traditional pleasure ground: Monte Carlo, where fortunes are won, lost, stolen, and hidden away. So when Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes happen across the Cote d’Azur in this summer of 1925, they find themselves pulled between the young and the old, hot sun and cool jazz, new friendships and old loyalties, childlike pleasures and very grownup sins..”
Riviera Gold by Laurie King
There is so much happening: Artists, dancers, writers . . . Lille Langtry, Picasso, and Zelda and Scott . . . smugglers and Russian exiles, trains, boats, and aqua-planes, and the creation of bronze statues in difficult and dangerous pouring of molten metal. We may be quarantined “Safe At Home,” but in reading this wonderful books, we can travel and face danger.
Mary Russell and her sidekick, Sheldon Russell 😉 work on behalf of Mrs. Hudson to . . . no, that would be telling. Suffice it to say that there is intrigue and danger enough to give one chills, even in the heat of summer on the Riviera, and that the kindness of women can heal much. Block out some time, because this adventure, once begun, will not be easily left.
I love this series and found this latest book a delight to read. Russell hanging out with Sarah and Gerald Murphy, F. Scott and Zelda, Picasso, and a whole cadre of artists and writers make for a merry group. Drop-in a murder, smuggling, and a notorious and highly dangerous arms dealer and Russell finds herself up to ears with intrigue and emotions she is still trying to sort out over her beloved Mrs Hudson. I can’t recommend this series and this book enough.
Since 1994, when the first Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes book, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice was published, I have waited eagerly for the next mystery for them to solve. Here we are with #16 and I have enjoyed every single one. With an awesome first chapter as an introduction, I settled down to savor every page. The beginning pace was on the slower side but that soon picked up and I was willing to forgo a meal, just to read a little bit more. The best indication of a good book, of any genre.
Ot’s now 1925 and the Jazz Age has come to the Riviera. Monte Carlo is thriving moving the money of others from the winners to the losers. Mary Russell has come to try and locate Clarissa Hudson, last reported to be in Monte Carlo. Mary wants to see if she is well. Especially after learning the truth about her past in the Murder of Mary Russell. Mary finds her along with murder. Holmes arrives and his motives are not Mary’s. He wants to find out if Clarissa has reverted to her dark past. It’s quite a conflict for Mary and Sherlock and the case at hand is a very well crafted puzzle. I’ll say no more to avoid any unintentional spoilers.
If you are a long time fan of the series, grab a copy, settle down in a comfy chair with you beverage of choice at hand and get lost on the Riviera with Mary and Sherlock. If you are new to the series, by all means give it a try but be ready to go back to the first book and play catch up.
My thanks to the publisher Bantam and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Riviera Gold by Laurie R King is the latest Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell novel. It was interesting in that it featured such luminaries as F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda, Pablo Picasso, Lily Langtry, and the lesser known Gerald and Sara Murphy. It also contained a myriad of information about such topics as the history of Monte Carlo and bronze casting. It takes place in 1925, the height of the Golden Age between wars; a time when only the most astute saw World War II on the horizon as Europe was slowly recovering from the Great War. It takes places in a community of artists. At this time, the Riviera was not a summertime getaway. These folks were at the forefront of making that happen. And, it was where Mrs. Hudson had chosen to retire. And Mary had chosen to follow her…to be sure she was fine.
This series is one of my favorites although it must be said, the exceptional observational power of Holmes, and Mary, as his apprentice, is somewhat lacking. It becomes a standard mystery novel: not necessarily a bad thing, and we do see glimpses. As often happens with older people, Mrs. Hudson has a past…a shady one, at best. She knows many of the wrong sorts of people. In fact, Holmes has been protecting her for years. She takes on more of a personality as Russell and Holmes endeavor to save her from a murder charge. The mystery is a good one and the glimpse of the lives of the wealthy on the Riviera is worth the price of admission. For followers, I recommend Riviera Gold. For first time readers: you will enjoy it and then you will have to return for more.
I received a free ARC of Riviera Gold from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #rivieragold
The Holmes’s are still on their European jaunt where they continue to meet the most interesting people! They arrive separately from Venice to the Riviera where they explore Cap d’Antibes with its sun-worshiping artists and Monte Carlo. Russell joins the Jazz Age set revolving around Sarah and Gerald Murphy while searching for Mrs Hudson. Holmes joins the fray when Mrs H is accused of murder. The plot teems with white Russians, smugglers, artists and writers, even the Merchant of Death makes an appearance. The mystery is made even more fun with the name-dropping: Sidney Reilly, John Dos Passos, the Fitzgeralds, and many more.
This is the 16th book is the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series.
This book is set in 1925 on the Riviera where Mary has traveled to after solving a missing-person-case in Venice. Mary’s life is in flux – she has no idea where her husband, Sherlock Holmes, is nor where their beloved housekeeper of many years, Mrs. Hudson is. She expects to see both in Monte Carlo.
King’s descriptions of the Cote d’Azur and its wealthy residents who seem content to party the nights away and to spend their afternoons on the beach are so well done you almost feel like you’re there feeling the heat of the sun on your skin and the feeling the tipsiness of having drunk too much champagne at night. Added to that is the issue of the missing bullion allegedly smuggled out of Russia by the Romanovs as the Russian Revolution began and now missing. Rumors have it may have found a home in or near Monte Carlo. Mrs. Hudson’s whereabouts is another mystery for Mary to solve. Shortly before leaving for Venice, Mary found out that staid and steady Mrs. Hudson had been a con artist in her youth stealing money from the wealthy in cahoots with her father. When Mrs. Douglas left Holmes’ employ, she refused to tell anyone where she was going. The only clue she gave was she had once found Monte Carlo intriguing. She no sooner finds her former housekeeper than a young man is found dead in her front room.
This is another well-written outing for Laurie King. Her descriptions leave nothing to be desired and her characters are charming even as they keep their secrets close to their vests. This is a fast read and one that may keep the reader reading into the wee hours of the morning. While this is the 16th book in the series, you need not to have read the first 15 books to enjoy this outing. However, you might want to read at least the first book in the series, “The Beekeeper’s Apprentice,” to see how this all began.
My thanks to Bantam Books and NetGalley for an eARC.
I’m a big Sherlock Holmes fan and a big fan of this series! I was excited to be able to read this early copy. I thought it started a bit slow but seemed to be more interesting once SH appears. It’s a bit different from her other books but it gives some insight to Mrs Hudson’s life post SH. I enjoyed the story but it wasn’t one of my favorite. I did like the little tease at the end regarding their next adventure.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy