The Language of Bees

The Language of Bees by Laurie R King.

 

Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Bantam (April 28, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0553804545

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 power to sting…this time fatally.

For Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, returning to the Sussex coast after seven months abroad was especially sweet. There was even a mystery to solve--the unexplained disappearance of an entire colony of bees from one of Holmes’s beloved hives.

But the anticipated sweetness of their homecoming is quickly tempered by a galling memory from her husband’s past. Mary had met Damian Adler only once before, when the promising surrealist painter had been charged with--and exonerated from--murder. Now the talented and troubled young man was enlisting their help again, this time in a desperate search for his missing wife and child.

When it comes to communal behavior, Russell has often observed that there are many kinds of madness. And before this case yields its shattering solution, she’ll come into dangerous contact with a fair number of them. From suicides at Stonehenge to a bizarre religious cult, from the demimonde of the Café Royal at the heart of Bohemian London to the dark secrets of a young woman’s past on the streets of Shanghai, Russell will find herself on the trail of a killer more dangerous than any she’s ever faced--a killer Sherlock Holmes himself may be protecting for reasons near and dear to his heart.

Wow...   what can I say?   Laurie R King is such a good writer!!! ... 

Once upon a time (where Have I heard that Before?).. you couldn't have convinced me that I would enjoy mysteries, let alone read books that include Sherlock Holmes!

As a  young person, I did enjoy the old Sherlock Holmes movies.. but I never read any books of him.

Then along came Laurie R King.  The first of her books I read was "The Moor".  This was for two reasons.  One was that it was for Carl's challenge, the second I thought that if I was going to try this book it may as well be about my favorite old movie The Hounds of the Baskerville's.   Little did I know that it would include not just a mystery but a back story of Mary Russell, an extraordinary woman, and future wife of Sherlock Holmes!

I quickly went backwards after reading The Moor and began at the beginning of these mysteries revolving around Mary Russell and her famous husband.  And thus began my love affair with Laurie R King and her writing!..

I thought the Mary Russell books were "done"... Ms King put out a stand alone book called Touchstone (which I wound up really liking too!)  So when I heard a NEW Mary Russell book was being written I was thrilled!!

Not long ago I was sent a signed ARC copy of the newest Mary Russell book called, The Language of Bees.

As with her other books Laurie drew me right into this book!  Her writing is just so enjoyable I would tell everyone to try one of her books and dare them not to get hooked!

This book begins with the fact that one of Sherlock's hives has been abandoned and left empty of it's inhabitants.  A mystery that Mary takes upon herself to solve when her husband up and leaves her alone at the house when he takes off with Damian to solve the mystery of his missing wife and child.

But are they really missing?  or abducted?   Why does Damian not tell Sherlock and Mary the full truth?  Just what is he hiding?  

So many questions... so many things to be discovered!  Once Mary resolves the hive mystery she takes off after Sherlock to help resolve a much more personal mystery.

This is a great read, as all her books are. (yep ..those are words of a fan fersure!) I don't want to give away anything, but I will say that I would be shocked if you didn't feel as if you were right there with Mary as she unravels one question after another.

If you like mysteries and don't mind reading of a woman that is every bit as smart (if not smarter) than her famous husband, Sherlock.. then you are in for a treat!!

I would highly suggest to anyone to do a little  detective work of your own and check out Laurie's own website,  to learn about her books and then go out and try one!   You won't be disappointed.