Author: Laurie R. King
ISBN: 0007111355
A Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes mystery ; #5
LibraryThing ; Author’s site
The skiff was black, its gunwales scant inches above the water. Like my two companions, I was dressed in dark clothing, my face smeared with lamp-black.
I’m continuing to work my way through the Mary Russell novels; I slowed down a bit for two reasons. One, I don’t want to overload on the ‘verse. Two, the library ran out of the series. Well, it skipped the next so I took my time with O Jerusalem while I boughtJustice Hall for my own shelves. I will at some point go order all this series, I really do think that they are books you can very easily reread and enjoy time and again.
This one, the fifth in the series, takes us back to the events of the first book, when Holmes & Russell leave England to escape the attentions of, as well as to heal, and to frustrate their antagonist. The adventures that occur in this book are briefly mentioned in that first book, here they are explained in full.
It is 1918, and the future of Palestine is under discussion. The Turks have been driven out(of have they) and the British are starting to figure out what to do with the land. In the midst of this Holmes & Russell enter the country in order to help some British operatives. Help that is not wanted, especially not from an “old man and a girl”. Russell, of course, must disguise herself as a young man in order to travel the country.
It was interesting to go back in time and see Holmes & Russell interact when they were still, in many ways, coming to grips with their relationship. The tutor-pupil stage was at an end but I think they were still finding their feet in many ways. And I really enjoyed the descriptions of Palestine. It brought back some memories of Dreamers of the Day although they are very different books, the time setting is the same. And of course the author of that book is Mary Doria Russell :)
Other reviews: Hipster Dad’s Bookshelf ; Huggermugger
I always worry I'll overwhelm people when I get obsessed with an author and read like ten of their books in a row – but I never feel overwhelmed when reading other blogs. I just love bookish enthusiasm of any sort. Anyway, I have book two on my shelf and it's calling my name… soon.
"soon" is what loads of books are telling me. The next Mary Russell. Blankets, which just arrived. Leviathan by Scott Westerfield (not sure of spelling there).
but how soon is soon?
I'm kind of with you about not wanting to wear out this series, but more than that – I'm ashamed to admit – as soon as the romantic tension disappeared my interest plummeted a few degrees… How shallow am I? And how hypocritical, considering that I always say I hate romances? :)
You should like O Jerusalem then as they go back to before they hooked up.