The Twentieth-Anniversary Edition of the First Novel of the Acclaimed Mary Russell Series by Edgar Award–Winning Author Laurie R. King. An Agatha Award Best Novel Nominee • Named One of the Century’s Best 100 Mysteries by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association In 1915, Sherlock Holmes is retired and quietly engaged in the study of honeybees in Sussex when a young woman literally stumbles … in Sussex when a young woman literally stumbles onto him on the Sussex Downs. Fifteen years old, gawky, egotistical, and recently orphaned, the young Mary Russell displays an intellect to impress even Sherlock Holmes. Under his reluctant tutelage, this very modern, twentieth-century woman proves a deft protégée and a fitting partner for the Victorian detective. They are soon called to Wales to help Scotland Yard find the kidnapped daughter of an American senator, a case of international significance with clues that dip deep into Holmes’s past. Full of brilliant deduction, disguises, and danger, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, the first book of the Mary Russell–Sherlock Holmes mysteries, is “remarkably beguiling” (The Boston Globe).
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I doubt seriously I can put in words my take on this new, to me, take on an old friend from my younger days. Fresh, enlightening, funny! Holmes is new to me again. Like meeting an old school friend you thought long past. Hello friend, so damn good to see you again.
The author had me from the preface. I’m a long-time Sherlock Holmes fan. Read the Conan Doyle books. Loved the Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce radio series and movies. Read a number of second generation efforts. This is the best I can remember. Good characters, good story. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
This is a rare fantastic book. Extremely well-written, not only through the grace with which meaning is conveyed — via vivid reactions that never deviate from being authentic to the character — but also the multiple plots’ intricacies. Last year I re-read all the Conan Doyle Holmes stories and I’m telling you, this author masters the period’s voice and sensibilities but infuses it with even better storytelling. Don’t hate. Conan Doyle’s stories are often curiosities with resolutions that could never be foreseen by today’s reader and frankly probably eluded the contemporaneous audience. There’s just too much missing information. But that’s cool — as a gestalt, it’s very entertaining. But this writing is up one level, to where the fascinating sense of the era is modernized by an interesting mix of a somewhat androgynous brilliant female associate interacting with Holmes et al. as well as modernized by taut, detailed mysteries that actually are unfolded and solved with dash. I’m delighted.
Wonderful use of language. Retired Sherlock Holmes takes on an apprentice, Mary, who closely equals his observation skills. A fabulous read.
Except for Holmes’ age at the time I could actually have seen this plot work. The characters were intelligent , yes and Holmes, too although he did perforce take a bit of a backseat. Of al the overly touted Holmes series out there this is the most intelligent although maybe a bit slow for some. Plausable plot, no cliffhanger ending, believable characters.
Very well written story that draws you in with great characters and a good plot. Different from your run of the mill mystery in a very good way. The start of an equally good series.
Not at all what I expected and thorougly enjoyable
The first of Laurie King’s Mary Russell, books, enthralling continuations of the Sherlock Holmes stories.
Great twist on Sherlock lore.
What happened to Sherlock Holmes after Watson? You’d never come up with this possibility. An update of the sleuth with a much different sidekick and more modern sensibility that will please female readers especially.
My favorite of the Sherlockian genre. Great start to a FABULOUS series.
I LOVED THIS AS I LOVE EVERY LAURIE KING SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOK
Boring.
Sherlock meets and trains a young woman.
Everyone knows who Sherlock Holmes is, and many have read the stories of his life as a consulting detective in the streets of Victorian London. But what happened after the great Sherlock Holmes retired? This amazing series by Laurie R King finds Holmes in Sussex, puttering around his beehives……bored and depressed. Mrs. Hudson is worried about him. One day, hiking across a field, Holmes quite literally stumbles over a young woman sitting in the grasses – Mary Russell, who is quite indignant at being nearly trod upon. In the exchange that follows, Holmes realizes with a jolt that she possesses a mind at least as keen as his own. Taking on an apprentice? At his age? There is much Russell will never know about Holmes, but she herself has secrets. This debut to an incredible series (I have ready every one and wish Ms. King would hurry up and finish the next one) is a must-read, even if you have never read a Sherlock Holmes story in your life. Well-developed characters, smart dialogue, gripping mysteries with a touch of wry humor….enjoy!
Love this series!
I really like her wrriting. I really like her addition to the Holmes canon.
The only reason I started writing a mystery series. This book rekindled my love of reading and the series is the only one I’ve read over and over again. A 15 year old girl stumbles across Sherlock Holmes on the Sussex Downs and becomes his apprentice. How cool is that? Each book in this series gets better and I can’t recommend them enough.
Great reinvention of Holmes.
Clever introduction of a new female detective, a companion to Sherlock Holmes in his mature years. She may be more intelligent than Sherlock and certainly is more learned. But he retains all his old skills, deploying them with wisdom.