The Lantern's Dance

                                                                         

This latest entry in the ongoing saga of Mary Russell and her rather older husband Sherlock Holmes (yes, that Sherlock,) is a pure delight.  The eighteenth in the series, it's a delightful puzzle, weaving together past and present while unravelling some old family secrets.

I highly recommend the entire series. While this novel can stand alone, it will be especially fulfilling for those who've followed the adventures of ths unlikely duo of Russell and Holmes.

As always, King's writing is intelligent and lively--fully developed characters, well-drawn settings (India and France), and a twisting, teasing plot with an ending to satisfy--and intrigue. 

Great fun!

Bingeing on Russell and Holmes

Years ago, when I learned that Laurie R. King and I shared an editor, I quickly purchased her first book--The Beekeeper's Apprentice--and fell in love with her writing. And bought copies of all her books at the time. These books survived the Great Purge because they are books I've read and re-read. 

The beekeeper is a semi-retired Sherlock Holmes, and the apprentice is the teenaged Mary Russell, whose intelligence startles and intrigues Holmes to the point that she becomes his apprentice and, eventually, his partner.

The series is wonderful--rich, intelligent writing, complex characters, intriguing situations, exotic locations (Jerusalem! Japan! India! Oxford! Transylvania! Romania! Morocco! California!) and all backed up with King's own formidable knowledge of the Holmesian canon as well as the literature, social scene, and history of the time (early 20th C.)

The series in order:

The Beekeeper's Apprentice, Beekeeping for Beginners (e), A Monstrous Regiment of Women, A Letter of Mary, The Moor, O Jerusalem, Justice Hall, The Game, Locked Rooms, The Language of Bees, The God of the Hive, Pirate King, Garment of Shadows, Dreaming Spies, The Murder of Mary Russell, Island of the Mad, Riviera Gold, and Castle Shade.

Recently I realized that while I'd read and re-read the first ten or eleven books, there were some more recent ones out there, unread. Time to catch up! But first I had to re-read from the beginning.

I mentioned that King and I were both fortunate enough to have the redoubtable Kate Miciak as editor. So, when I delved into the newer books, I was tickled to find that King was giving Mrs. Hudson, Holmes's iconic housekeeper, a very surprising past . . . not unlike what editor Miciak nudged me toward with Miss Birdie. 

It was a delight to catch up with the Russell/Holmes team--and to know there is yet another entry in the series coming out in the fall.

This time I won't have to reread from the beginning.

 

Of Books and Book Pushers

I've been accused of being a book pusher -- but when I read a book and really enjoy it, I just have to tell folks about it, And there are often great suggestions for further reading in the comments.

Sometimes books are thrust upon me  recommended by Facebook friends -- Jayna and Mario suggested that I might enjoy Waiting for the Galactic Bus and, oh, I did, I did!

The premise is that two teenagers from a very long-lived alien race were stranded on Earth at a time when apes were the most advanced form of life. The teens experimented with giving the primates a bit of a push (a la SPACE ODYSSEY 2001.)  

As time passed and the primates evolved, the two aliens came to be regarded as gods  . . . and when, much, much later, an anguished St. Augustine realizes the truth and asks what remains, if his beliefs are based on a mistake, he is told:

 "A great deal remains, you relentless man . . . that splendid mind I gave you. Though it's very like building a magnificent car for someone who obstinately refuses to learn to drive."

Waiting for the Galactic Bus is a wonderful, thought-provoking romp through time, history, theology, and philosophy!

Vicki Van V. is another of those Facebook book pushers. We share an enthusiasm for the novels of Laurie R. King and Vicki suggested I take a look at one of LRK's early works, published under a different name.  Califia's Daughters is a dystopian novel, set in a future California where a virus has killed off most men, triggering a role reversal in which women are the warriors and men are more or less relegated to harems.

Richly imagined and full of sly detail, the book kept me reading. (The main character is an extremely likeable warrior woman with a pair of Irish Wolfhound type giant dogs.) The different communities that struggle to survive are a wise look at society's varied ways of responding to disaster. The ending came too soon and seemed to beg for a sequel -- but there isn't one, alas.

As a bonus, I learned about Califia  (or Calafia)-- a warrior queen in a Spanish novel written around 1500. There is an interesting account HERE of how this novel was ultimately the source of the  name California for the state.

Three More Books

Due to lack of room in my baggage, I was very restrained in my purchase of books in Indianapolis but I managed to bring home three goodies . . .

A Duty to the Dead is the first of a new series by the talented mother-son teams writing as Charles Todd. It's set in England of 1916 (not 1016 as I originally typed!) and Bess Crawford, the protagonist, is aan engaging young woman serving as a volunteer nurse in France and later on a hospital ship.

I always enjoy visiting this time period and the Todds' writing is both rich and compelling.

Click on the book cover to visit their website and to learn more about this and their other books.

I've mentioned more than once how much I like Laurie King's books. This ninth entry in the Mary Russell series continues the high standard of writing I always know I'll find in King's work.

It could be read as a standalone but I recommend beginning at the beginning so as not to miss any of the fun in this clever, complex, layered, intelligent story of young Mary Russell and her mentor/partner/husband, the much older Sherlock Holmes.

This book is set in England (and Scotland) in 1924 -- earlier entries range from Palestine to San Francisco to India and beyond.

Click on the book cover to visit Laurie's website (one of the best I've seen.)

And here is a long postponed pleasure. I met Beverle a few years back and was intrigued by the setting and subject of her series. She writes about Titi Amato, an 18th century castrati singer in Venice.

Tito is a likeable protagonist who inhabits a fascinating world. I can see that I'm going to have to read the rest of the series.

Again, click on the book cover to learn more.

Bouchercon 2009~ Friday

Escalators and
Elevators -- effortless.
Why am I so tired?

Too many heroes?
Too many panels to see?
Info overload!

And then the book room . . .
Could I please have one of each . . .
Mysteries old and new?

Two full days of Bouchercon and I'm reeling. I've been able to see and listen to writers that are among my heroes -- that's Laurie R. King in the shot of the Sherlock Holmes/Conan Doyle panel above. I've discovered far too many writers that I want to read and best of all I've met quite a few readers who say they've fallen in love with my books.

I've shared a cab with Charles Todd (both of them) to the Random House cocktail gathering where I caught up with Deborah Crombie (whom I raved about before this) and got to chat with Naomi Hirahara, a charming diminutive person who writes the Mas Arai series. And, of course, Herself (my editor) was there -- we'll be having lunch tomorrow. There were so many others, around whom I tend to go all speechless -- the afore-mentioned Laurie King, S, J. Rozan, and Lee Child, to pick three.

It's all fun -- but a little overwhelming for one who's used to the quiet life. (Sorry the pictures aren't better -- I didn't bring the Nikon and I think the little Lumix is feeling hurt that I have a new love in the camera line.)