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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
I've been sorely disappointed in King's more recent Russell books, so I was wary of this newest installment. While at least Holmes and Russell are together in this one, they're at an apparently rough patch in their still-young marriage, and we're once again lacking the wit and fun of the first several books in the series. However, at least the plot works, more or less, and the supporting characters are pretty well written. But Russell and Holmes being on tiptoes with one another makes the book uncomfortable to read, especially if you've read others in the series. In addition, I know King has a mandate not to let Holmes get too old, but the timeline for all of the books is getting crowded to the point of absurdity, even if it is a fictional world.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"Your mother says you like detective stories."Conversation between Mary Russell and Ileana, Royal Princess of Roumania
"I do. They're so clever, people like Sherlock Holmes and Father Brown. However, I have to tell you my heart belongs to Bulldog Drummond, said the future Queen.
"Good choice."
Once again, Laurie R. King smoothly melds real historical figures with the latest adventure featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. In this tale, we have Queen Marie of Roumania, her daughter Ileana and her lover and great Romanian patriot, Barbu Stirbey. It is set primarily at Castle Bran, Marie's beloved home and supposedly the setting of Bram Stoker's Dracula. But we also travel throughout Roumania and Transylvania.
Mary and Holmes are asked to investigate some strange happenings at Bran Castle. Mycroft suspects they are political orchestrations to undermine the Queen who is rightly much beloved by the Romanian people. There seems to be an effort to tie sinister happenings around the castle and the town such as abductions, dead people coming to life, witchy doings, and even vampirism to the Queen. Having done my due diligence and read up on the political situation and Marie's relationship to her feckless son, Carol, a political explanation of the mystery seemed credible indeed. I will only say that it is much more interesting than that.
There is plenty of adventure and action as well as mystery, as Mary survives abduction and attack, discovers the source of a ghost-like presence in a secret room, and, with Holmes, races to save the life of a likable local girl. As always, there is amusing banter between Holmes and Mary, and intriguing and titillating insights into their unique relationship. We also get a rare glimpse into Holmes' inner thoughts regarding his wife, his marriage, and the challenges of his brother Mycroft's presence in their lives.
Four and a half years of being married to Mary Judith Russell, and he was still finding the adjustment difficult.
For his entire adult life, until the night he signed his full name upon a church register, Sherlock Holmes had been accountable to no one....when he judged it necessary, he had bullied, ignored, and lied, even to his friend Watson, without hesitation.
But not to a wife. A wife meant a contract of a different sort....Serving the needs of brother and Britain had become increasingly incompatible with his partnership with Russell.
It looks like things might be coming to a head between Mycroft, Holmes, and Mary. By the end of this book, you have not only been on an adventure, but feel like you've been a guest in Dracula's Castle, come to know important, compelling, if little known personages in history, and traveled through the countryside and villages of Transylvania and Roumania. It's maybe not for everyone, but I welcome each book in this series. I always feel a little more enlightened about something.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings.com/
Love this series
I really enjoy this series and this was a good solid contribution to it. I found it an enjoyable read.
I really enjoy this series and this was a good solid contribution to it. I found it an enjoyable read.
Thoroughly enjoyed it. The atmosphere and setting were great. Side characters were ok. Personal growth? Welll… Mary continues to become her own person, which sometimes means making decisions that seem less than wise. Sherlock also has a moment or two of introspection.
Perfectly good novel, but I don’t know that it’s going to be one that I reach for when I want a quick hit.
Perfectly good novel, but I don’t know that it’s going to be one that I reach for when I want a quick hit.
See my full review at https://topplingbookpile.wordpress.com/2023/03/15/castle-shade-by-laurie-king/
This a series that I have long admired - it's Sherlock Holmes, one of the best characters ever devised and Laurie plays great homage to the originals. Also, in this outing you have vampires and as a long time lover of Dracula, this was a marvellous combination.
Holmes has been asked to consult for the Queen of Roumania no less, as she feels that her daughter is under threat and believes the cause to be vampires. Holmes and his worthwhile companion of Mary travel by train and there is a great opening scene of the between the two of them. They are to present themselves to the court as architects to give them the access they need and this case really does test them both physically and mentally.
I adored all the historical aspects in the book as Queen Marie was a person whom the country did love. She was a beloved leader and helped make Romania into what it is today.
Returning to a series like this that I love is so important to me. It allows you to escape the world for just that little bit and when you have stuck around for so many books as I have, it begins to form a part of your world and the characters feel like people you know. There are so many authors that try to do Sherlock books but Laurie is the best! They feel like an extension of Conan Doyle’s work and that's the best compliment I can give. I would recommend reading the series from the beginning but you can read this as a standalone as there aren't as many references to past adventures.
The game is afoot!
Holmes has been asked to consult for the Queen of Roumania no less, as she feels that her daughter is under threat and believes the cause to be vampires. Holmes and his worthwhile companion of Mary travel by train and there is a great opening scene of the between the two of them. They are to present themselves to the court as architects to give them the access they need and this case really does test them both physically and mentally.
I adored all the historical aspects in the book as Queen Marie was a person whom the country did love. She was a beloved leader and helped make Romania into what it is today.
Returning to a series like this that I love is so important to me. It allows you to escape the world for just that little bit and when you have stuck around for so many books as I have, it begins to form a part of your world and the characters feel like people you know. There are so many authors that try to do Sherlock books but Laurie is the best! They feel like an extension of Conan Doyle’s work and that's the best compliment I can give. I would recommend reading the series from the beginning but you can read this as a standalone as there aren't as many references to past adventures.
The game is afoot!
I love Laurie R. King’s Russell novels, they always make me laugh, and long for the ability to travel for long periods of time. This adventure did not disappoint, and took Holmes and Russell into Transylvania. This will likely become an October read for me, when it’s chilly and gloomy outside, and I have some Hungarian Orchestral music playing and a hot toddy for accompaniment.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The Mary Russells are somehow both repetitive and a little ridiculous at this point, but still very fun to read.