The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

I am not, by any stretch of imagination, a reader of mystery novels. But sometimes I stumble across an author who just happens to combine the right amount of atmosphere with unique characters and I'm utterly helpless to resist. Like with Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey series. Or practically anything by Mary Stewart. Once again the stars have perfectly aligned and have brought me another winner: Laurie R. King's The Beekeeper's Apprentice. It's the first novel in a series featuring a young orphaned girl called Mary Russell who happens to stumble across Sherlock Holmes in his retirement. Holmes immediately recognizes a fellow savant -- albeit one many years his junior -- and Miss Russell's continued visits to the detective spark an unusual partnership full of unorthodox lessons and later, intrigue.

Now I am not a devoted fan of Sherlock Homes (other than a slight addiction to the Benedict Cumberbach and Martin Freeman version, that is). So if The Beekeeper's Apprentice had been written as a 'Sherlock' book with Mary Russell as a supporting character a la Dr. Watson, I would never have become as engrossed in the story as I did. Happily it was not. Shifting the POV to Mary's perspective gives the reader such a open look at England during WWI and the changing roles a woman faced during that time. Not to mention all the early forensics work Sherlock teaches Mary. Fingerprinting, soil identification...fascinating stuff. Also! There are plots and schemes to be unraveled which of course kept this reader continually in awe of watching the true brilliance of Mary's agile mind unfold under the tutelage of Holmes.

Perhaps most notable is that Mary comes into her own by the close of the story, not simply functioning as a protege but a true, valued partner to Holmes, for which I am ever so grateful. Furthermore, Laurie R. King does a superb job introducing suspense and letting her characters stop to feel the tension, rather than just plow through the action. Such subtle yet realistic treatment of emotions are the basis for the lasting connection forged between Mary and Sherlock that I am happy to discover continues on for many books more. I believe I've found a new favorite friends.

series reading order:
~ The Beekeeper's Apprentice
~ A Monstrous Regiment of Women
~ A Letter of Mary
~ The Moor
~ O Jerusalem
~ Justice Hall
~ The Game
~ Locked Rooms
~ The Language of Bees
~ The God of the Hive
~ Beekeeping for Beginners
~ Pirate King
~ Garment of Shadows

Because Everyone Likes a Second Opinion:
A Striped Armchair's review
BookLoons review