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

The first mystery in King's 19-book series builds an irresistibly layered professional partnership and personal, friends-like-family bond between Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. The story's detail, pacing, plot, and character development are all fantastic. I look forward to reading more titles in this series.

It's 1915 and Sherlock Holmes is bored out of his mind and languishing in retirement...until he happens to meet 15-year-old Mary Russell on the Sussex Downs.

She's curious, clever, doesn't mince words, and isn't concerned about social niceties. Holmes is drawn back into a vibrant, exciting life by Mary's promising intellect--and her initially vague interest in his extensive knowledge and methods of investigation. Soon he is teaching Mary all he knows, and she is reluctantly absorbing his information, then adding her own observations.

Soon they're faced with the urgent mystery of a senator's kidnapped daughter, and they work together to solve the case. Mary shows herself to quickly be growing into Holmes's equal. It's satisfying to witness Holmes's initially begrudging acceptance of Mary's instincts and talent as his own abilities wane with his age, then to see the duo's heartfelt, eccentric, growing father-daughter bond.

Soon a broader, more dangerous, thrilling mystery emerges: Someone is targeting Holmes, and now all those in his small orbit are in grave danger: Mary, Watson, Holmes's steadfast housekeeper Mrs. Hudson, and Holmes's brother Mycroft. But Holmes's longtime nemesis Moriarty is dead. So who is after Holmes? And will each of the people Holmes cares about survive this complicated revenge quest?

I loved the steady but patient pacing, which allows for rich character development, particularly regarding Holmes and Mary (the Watson characterization is also fantastic, although limited). The story's details of the time and the setting are fantastic, the plot twists are intriguing, and the complicated, shifting dynamic between Mary and Sherlock is endearing. The layered, sinister long game aimed at besting Holmes is chilling and wonderfully imagined.

I look forward to reading more mysteries in this series.

I listened to this title as an audiobook courtesy of Libby and my local library.

More Mysteries to Dive Into

There are currently 19 full-length novels in this series, plus related works. Laurie R. King is also the author of many other mysteries.

You can find more Bossy mystery reviews here.