Review: The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes #1) by Laurie R. King

Long retired, Sherlock Holmes quietly pursues his study of honeybee behavior on the Sussex Downs. He never imagines he would encounter anyone whose intellect matched his own, much less an audacious teenage girl with a penchant for detection. Miss Mary Russell becomes Holmes' pupil and quickly hones her talent for deduction, disguises and danger. But when an elusive villain enters the picture, their partnership is put to a real test.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paperback, 346 pages

Published October 2nd, 2007 

by Picador (first published January 15th, 1994) 

3/5 

 

Ever since meeting the author in Toronto, at Bouchercon, this book has been on my radar. I started out with the audiobook, the reader had a great voice that brought the story to life but some weird sounds emitted that I found distracting and I grabbed my signed print copy and continued.

Having never read Sherlock Holmes and my only reference is movies I wasn’t sure what to expect. This book had an interesting beginning as the friendship between Holmes and Mary Russel takes shape. It’s through her voice that this book plays out. She is smart and logical the bond grows between these two.

This book and series have been getting rave reviews, so I feel that my issues are my own. I can’t say that the mystery(s) really kept my attention, rather I found them flat and lacked the spark I enjoy in a good who dun it. Not being a Holmes fan to begin with could play into this. Most likely for those that like what I call a cozy mystery will enjoy this book and series.

This book was part of my 2020 Reading Off My Shelf challenge.