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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
slow-paced
Picked up not knowing it was a Sherlock Holmes spin off. Very slow paced with minimal action. Very disappointed with this book and this series since a lot of weird grooming was insinuated.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Holmes & Russell are back! After a few disappointing offers in this series, it finally feels like old times again. H&R are investigating together for about 90% of this one, which always makes for the most entertaining scenes & witty banter.
The audiobook reader Jenny Sterlin is absolutely wonderful. She MAKES these books and Mary’s personality come to life. She’s also a wiz at accents & voices of all kinds! I loved her portrayal of the sweet simple Andrei.
The audiobook reader Jenny Sterlin is absolutely wonderful. She MAKES these books and Mary’s personality come to life. She’s also a wiz at accents & voices of all kinds! I loved her portrayal of the sweet simple Andrei.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Not as good as earlier books in the series
nearly 4. I enjoyed the setting in Transylvania/Roumania, the Castle Bran and the village. The mystery unfolded speedily but I found myself a little unconvinced by Mary and Sherlock and the nature of their relationship which has come under strain (due largely in part to their age difference and to a revelation surrounding Mrs. Hudson.) The latter was alluded to vaguely as something the couple needed to address but were avoiding which me, a trifle bit confused even though I have read all in the series. I'd like to have them sit down and really talk and not be side tracked by their intelligence. Perhaps in the next book.
A fast, good read for Russell and Holmes. Not my favorite of the bunch, but good nevertheless!
4.5* rounded to 5
It’s been some time since last I read a Mary Russel and Sherlock Holmes story but I remember them as gripping and entertaining.
I was curious to read this book because I wanted to know if the series is still as exciting as i remember and wasn’t disappointed.
Mary Russel is a great heroine: logical, strong willed and clever. She could be the grand daughter of Irene Adler aka “The Woman”, one of the four people who were able to beat Sherlock Holmes (according to the Canon). I like her and I like how she deals with her husband as a partner and his wife.
If you are a sticker to the “Canon” maybe you could not like the Sherlock Holmes in this series. The character is as logical as was written by Conan Doyle but there’s a more human side and he’s even married. But even if there are difference the Holmes in this series is thinking about his relationship with the women and the way he does is a reminder of what is said in the Conan Doyle stories (see “The Adventures of the Second Stain” ).
Going back to this story I found if gripping and highly entertaining even if it’s a bit slow at the beginning.
It’s a complex story that starts with some facts that could be related to paranormal but, as in other Holmes stories, can also be explained in a rational way.
The historical background of the story is well researched and vivid. I learned a lot about Romanian recent history and some of its historical characters. I also appreciated the well researched part about Romanian myths and legends.
Even if it’s set around 1925 the aftermath of WWI are stil present and the history often refers to ongoing historical facts.
As for castle Bran it’s a real castle and one of the most famous landmarks in Romania.
The author is a talented storyteller, she delivers a complex plot that flows and it’s full of twists and turns.
I read it as fast as I could because I wanted to know what was happening and who was the culprit.
At the end of the story I decided it would be great to travel to Transylvania as I was fascinated by the places and what i read in this book.
I hope to read another book in this story soon as I’m curious to learn what will happen and how some situations will be faced.
It can be read as a standalone but it would be better to read the previous books to some backstory.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the Allison&Busby and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It’s been some time since last I read a Mary Russel and Sherlock Holmes story but I remember them as gripping and entertaining.
I was curious to read this book because I wanted to know if the series is still as exciting as i remember and wasn’t disappointed.
Mary Russel is a great heroine: logical, strong willed and clever. She could be the grand daughter of Irene Adler aka “The Woman”, one of the four people who were able to beat Sherlock Holmes (according to the Canon). I like her and I like how she deals with her husband as a partner and his wife.
If you are a sticker to the “Canon” maybe you could not like the Sherlock Holmes in this series. The character is as logical as was written by Conan Doyle but there’s a more human side and he’s even married. But even if there are difference the Holmes in this series is thinking about his relationship with the women and the way he does is a reminder of what is said in the Conan Doyle stories (see “The Adventures of the Second Stain” ).
Going back to this story I found if gripping and highly entertaining even if it’s a bit slow at the beginning.
It’s a complex story that starts with some facts that could be related to paranormal but, as in other Holmes stories, can also be explained in a rational way.
The historical background of the story is well researched and vivid. I learned a lot about Romanian recent history and some of its historical characters. I also appreciated the well researched part about Romanian myths and legends.
Even if it’s set around 1925 the aftermath of WWI are stil present and the history often refers to ongoing historical facts.
As for castle Bran it’s a real castle and one of the most famous landmarks in Romania.
The author is a talented storyteller, she delivers a complex plot that flows and it’s full of twists and turns.
I read it as fast as I could because I wanted to know what was happening and who was the culprit.
At the end of the story I decided it would be great to travel to Transylvania as I was fascinated by the places and what i read in this book.
I hope to read another book in this story soon as I’m curious to learn what will happen and how some situations will be faced.
It can be read as a standalone but it would be better to read the previous books to some backstory.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the Allison&Busby and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine