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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
last of the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series was a little disappointing.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Another strong Mary Russell mystery. King vividly brings to life 1920s San Francisco and writes a bit from Holmes' perspective, which is fun to read.
This is the first of this series I’ve read and although I thought the writing was tight and very good, I did found myself wanting to speed the action up a little. But it is a good quick read and maybe reading more from the series will put this one in perspective.
For some reason it's taken me a couple of weeks to wend my way through this novel this time around, and I'm not sure why. It's a damn solid novel - perhaps it's just that I know the next few in the series pale in comparison and I'm not in a hurry to get there!
This book focusses on Mary's past, but it strikes a fantastic balance between a mystery personal to the protagonists, and a more 'academic' whodunit. The distance of time means that Holmes and Russel are able to do some fairly traditional detective work, without just having to react to whatever's being thrown at them.
This book changes up the POV in the series, to great effect. Thus far it's all been Mary's POV, but this novel includes (apart from two digressions into past POVs) a fairly solid third-person from Holmes' POV. It works well for two reasons - one, as readers it's rewarding for us to see the partnership and Mary's character from Holmes, and two, the middle section of the book includes Mary becoming almost wilfully blind to the circumstances of her family's death. Had we been in her mind, it would have become unbearably frustrating as she made uncharacteristicly foolish choices, but instead we stick with Holmes and the plot moves forward nicely.
Overall there's a really good balance of Holmes-and-Russell-as-PARTNERS in this novel. In some of the next they spend a lot of time separated, so it is rewarding to have this focus on them both as crime-solving partners, and as a married couple.
I liked the character of Tom Long; I disliked Dashiel Hammet. Since I'm not at all familar with Hammet's writing or him as an actual historical person, I didn't get that "oooh, easter egg!" thrill of coming across the character, and it's my long-time opinion that it often adds little to a novel to add in a 'real' person and then needing to introduce them and work around their known characters or life events.
This would be fantastic as an illustrated edition with photos of San Francisco pre-earthquake and the aftermath. As it is, however, it's a very good read and definitely a highlight in the series, both plot-wise and character-development-wise.
This book focusses on Mary's past, but it strikes a fantastic balance between a mystery personal to the protagonists, and a more 'academic' whodunit. The distance of time means that Holmes and Russel are able to do some fairly traditional detective work, without just having to react to whatever's being thrown at them.
This book changes up the POV in the series, to great effect. Thus far it's all been Mary's POV, but this novel includes (apart from two digressions into past POVs) a fairly solid third-person from Holmes' POV. It works well for two reasons - one, as readers it's rewarding for us to see the partnership and Mary's character from Holmes, and two, the middle section of the book includes Mary becoming almost wilfully blind to the circumstances of her family's death. Had we been in her mind, it would have become unbearably frustrating as she made uncharacteristicly foolish choices, but instead we stick with Holmes and the plot moves forward nicely.
Overall there's a really good balance of Holmes-and-Russell-as-PARTNERS in this novel. In some of the next they spend a lot of time separated, so it is rewarding to have this focus on them both as crime-solving partners, and as a married couple.
I liked the character of Tom Long; I disliked Dashiel Hammet. Since I'm not at all familar with Hammet's writing or him as an actual historical person, I didn't get that "oooh, easter egg!" thrill of coming across the character, and it's my long-time opinion that it often adds little to a novel to add in a 'real' person and then needing to introduce them and work around their known characters or life events.
This would be fantastic as an illustrated edition with photos of San Francisco pre-earthquake and the aftermath. As it is, however, it's a very good read and definitely a highlight in the series, both plot-wise and character-development-wise.
Another excellent installment of the Russell Holmes series. This one takes us into the Mary's past and uncovers the circumstances surrounding the death of her family. I loved this book!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In Locked Rooms, Mary Russell and her husband/partner Sherlock Holmes journey to Mary's childhood home in San Francisco, in 1924. She has not been home for 10 years and the old home has been allowed to decay. Why? And why is someone trying to kill Mary? She and Sherlock must go back to the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake to find the answers to the puzzle.
This is the fourth Mary Russell series book that I have read (not in order) and enjoyed it enormously. I particularly enjoyed the scenes of 1924 San Francisco, a very proper society where ladies wear gloves and hat hat when they venture out. Along comes Mary and all the rules go out the window!
This is the fourth Mary Russell series book that I have read (not in order) and enjoyed it enormously. I particularly enjoyed the scenes of 1924 San Francisco, a very proper society where ladies wear gloves and hat hat when they venture out. Along comes Mary and all the rules go out the window!