Scan barcode
dembury's review against another edition
2.0
As a teenager I read this series almost devotedly, and some of the earlier adventures I really truly love; I even consider the first book one of my all-time favorites. But right before the release of this installment in 2015 I fell off the Russell & Holmes train for awhile and got behind by 5 books. So when started this one in order to catch up, I was SHOCKED at how much I immediately disliked:
-the chemistry between Russell and Holmes is nonexistent in this installment. Their interactions are sanitized and just downright boring, with none of the spark that I vividly remember (and can point to exact passages) from the earlier books.
-the STAGGERING amount and abuse of phonetic spelling used by King to convey accents, particularly Japanese ones. King draws out scenes and emphasizes over and over just how difficult it is for various Japanese characters to pronounce English words, especially the English letter "r", and is just quite offensive at times. Russell is also deeply judgy about characters not being able to speak "properly".
-the reliance on Japanese stereotypes, such as comparing Japanese characters to dolls and children because of how "tiny" they are; the broad, sweeping statements about Japanese people being super industrious; the repetitive scenes of Russell turning her nose up at Japanese foods that are, to her, basically all just stinky dried fish. And there aren't things that just happen a bit and then Russell learns from them and corrects her thinking - even up until the very end of the book these problems persist.
-the mystery is little more than a brainteaser wrapped in a history lesson that King has tried to make multilayered but is really just quite messy. I genuinely didn't believe for a moment this was a case Holmes (any version of him) would get involved in, let alone not be able to see the very obvious answers to.
I don't remember any of the previous books having the same issues to this extent, but I'm also not sure how much of it was maybe a younger me not picking up on things? I'm going to continue my catch-up of the series for now (partially to find out if "Dreaming Spies" is just a weak link) but I'm really disappointed in King for both the overall mystery as well as astounding amount of stereotypes and snobbery she's written into this book.
-the chemistry between Russell and Holmes is nonexistent in this installment. Their interactions are sanitized and just downright boring, with none of the spark that I vividly remember (and can point to exact passages) from the earlier books.
-the STAGGERING amount and abuse of phonetic spelling used by King to convey accents, particularly Japanese ones. King draws out scenes and emphasizes over and over just how difficult it is for various Japanese characters to pronounce English words, especially the English letter "r", and is just quite offensive at times. Russell is also deeply judgy about characters not being able to speak "properly".
-the reliance on Japanese stereotypes, such as comparing Japanese characters to dolls and children because of how "tiny" they are; the broad, sweeping statements about Japanese people being super industrious; the repetitive scenes of Russell turning her nose up at Japanese foods that are, to her, basically all just stinky dried fish. And there aren't things that just happen a bit and then Russell learns from them and corrects her thinking - even up until the very end of the book these problems persist.
-the mystery is little more than a brainteaser wrapped in a history lesson that King has tried to make multilayered but is really just quite messy. I genuinely didn't believe for a moment this was a case Holmes (any version of him) would get involved in, let alone not be able to see the very obvious answers to.
I don't remember any of the previous books having the same issues to this extent, but I'm also not sure how much of it was maybe a younger me not picking up on things? I'm going to continue my catch-up of the series for now (partially to find out if "Dreaming Spies" is just a weak link) but I'm really disappointed in King for both the overall mystery as well as astounding amount of stereotypes and snobbery she's written into this book.
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
2.0
I just couldn't get into this book despite the fact that Laurie R. King's writing style is very good. As with the past several Russell/Holmes books, there is little interaction between Russell and Holmes. That was what made the first books in the series so attractive. I missed that. I think it's time to give up the series and find some other Holmes pastiche. Russell by herself is just not as interesting to me.
gmamartha's review against another edition
4.0
Combining "current" 1925 with missing details of the past shipboard journey and Japan.
shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition
Another (#12) enjoyable romp with Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. As per usual, we learn a little history as Mary and Sherlock solve another crime --- this one has a couple of clever twists. I'll keep reading as long as Laurie King keeps writing.
zoereads88's review against another edition
3.0
This was a disappointing read. Nothing happened until 60% of the way through the book, and then it was only somewhat interesting. The earlier books in this series were so good. The last three have been mediocre. Do i keep going, or give up on the series? Undecided as of yet.
kayteeem's review against another edition
I wanted more Bodleian library, I think.
I enjoyed the read, though the surprise ninja were a little over-the-top. And the contents of the bedside table drawers seemed a bit of too-obvious shortcut for explication of character; you'd think that the adultery and the blackmail would be quite sufficient.
I enjoyed the read, though the surprise ninja were a little over-the-top. And the contents of the bedside table drawers seemed a bit of too-obvious shortcut for explication of character; you'd think that the adultery and the blackmail would be quite sufficient.
rebroxannape's review against another edition
3.0
Had some very interesting aspects, Particularly the insights into Japanese culture. My main problem with this book, is that although Mary and Holmes spend the entire book together, there is no hint of affection and closeness that one glimpses occasionally with her other books. (Mary Russell keeps her private life private, even from her readers, in all but her first 3 or 4 books.) Holmes is virtually a nonentity in this one. I correctly suspected many parts of the mystery beforehand as it progressed.
3 1/2 stars.
3 1/2 stars.
soniapage's review against another edition
3.0
Holmes seems to be taking the back-seat more in this thirteenth book of the series. I know it's supposed to be about Mary Russell but I hope she doesn't start to overshadow him in the detecting business.