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Lunch » Tags » Book » Reviews » The Language of Bees (Mary Russell Novels)

The Language of Bees (Mary Russell Novels)

1 rating: 5.0

A book by Laurie R. King

Book Description In a case that will push their relationship to the breaking point, Mary Russell must help reverse the greatest failure of her legendary husband’s storied past—a painful and personal defeat that still has the … see full wiki

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Author: Laurie R. King

Genre: Mystery & Thrillers

Publisher: Bantam

1 review about The Language of Bees (Mary Russell Novels)

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Holmes outside his element in this excellent updating

Mar 8, 2010

by TStocksl
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

Exclusive to the Lunch Network

Rating:

Excellent updating of the Sherlock Holmes legend, told through the eyes of his young wife Mary Russell, who joins the master in this adventure which tours the mystical Stone Age sites around England and Scotland. In the end, well, lets just say there's a sequel coming soon (The God of the Hive: A novel of suspense featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes).

If you are interested enough to read reviews of this updated Holmes, you know the basics of the Holmes legend (and thanks to the latest movie iteration can't help but picture Holmes as Robert Downey, Jr.). What makes the King extensions read-worthy:

1). Elementally not Doctor Watson. Russell is young, energetic, learned in theology (a helpful skiill in this adventure), not susceptible to drug use,--and female. In a word, most everything that Holmes and Watson are not, and thus provides companionship, challenges, and contributions to the mystery resolution that Watson can not. While she clearly loves Holmes as a husband and friend, and respects him as a detective, her voice is not that of the awestruck Watson serving a master, but a loving equal. She's a strong and attractive woman in every way.

2). Holmes outside his element. We see Holmes, with Russell about, as not just a calculating automaton, but as a fully-engaged human being who must act as a husband and lover. This expands Holmes by forcing him out of his "comfort zone", a well-worn cliche most appropriate here because of how well-worn was that single-minded path of mental exercise at the beck and call of crime detection. He is also older now, and has obligations (without giving way plot, it is safe to say these way heavily in this story) and limitations he never had before as a younger single man.

3). The world after war--Holmes is also out of his element as the stories move forward into the mid 1920's. Cars and telephones are no longer oddities, but common place tools in the detective's kit, and it is interesting to see Holmes and Russell use them. Airplanes are still a novelty, but figure heavily in this story. And the cultural landscape has changed--the Great War has shaped society, politics, the economy, demographics, and relationships--including Holmes's own.

Modern extensions of the Holmes legend are a popular sub-genre in the mystery section, and popular updates like this might help fuel the sometimes unhealthy obsession Holmes fans have with the character. That's not King's fault, and this story is certainly worth reading--especially in preparation for the coming sequel which I am reading now after finishing this one. Check my review of that book, coming soon.

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