American author Laurie R. King writes English literature! I'd heard of her book The Beekeeper's Apprentice for years and had wanted to read it; I was intrigued with the idea of a twentieth century Sherlock Holmes coming out of retirement and solving mysteries with a young student. I finally checked out the book at my wonderful local library, and I liked it so much that I'm now reading the fifth in the series.
What do I enjoy in King's mystery books? (1) King's writing style. Believably British in its complex sentence structure, precise use of language, details. She doesn't jump quickly from scene to scene as though her reader has watched too much television and has no attention span. (2) Characters. Mary Russell is a bit more feminist than I, but she lives in a time when it is more difficult to be a woman and to be taken seriously as a woman. She is a suitable partner for Holmes in her intelligence and an effective agent for allowing the reader to see the private, more tender side of Holmes. (3) Setting. I love "traveling" in Oxford, London, Dartmoor, Sussex.
Shamefully, I have not read the original Holmes books. I'm perfectly happy with the Holmes portrayed by King. But I gave King's first book, Beekeeper's Apprentice, to a Holmes expert--my father--to critique, and he said yes, King's portrayal of Holmes is believable, and he enjoyed the book.
So for people who love Brit Lit, don't be put off by the fact that Ms. King is from San Francisco. She is a Holmes expert, has lived part of her life in Britain, is an excellent writer. Enjoy her Mary Russell series.
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