Review: The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King

Yet another in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie King.  I bought this book when it came out, hence the hardcover version that I own.

Holmes and Russell have just returned home to Sussex from their trip abroad (chronicled in The Game and Locked Rooms) when Damian Adler appears at their door - Holmes' son by Irene Adler.  You may recognize her name from the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle series.  Damian is a Bohemian - an artist who has nevertheless seen his fair share of war.  He has married (an Asian former-prostitute named Yolanda) and has a three-year-old daughter, Estelle.  Damian is seeking Holmes' help because Yolanda has disappeared.  It's not unusual for Yolanda to go off on her own, leaving Estelle to Damian's care, in search of spiritual enlightenment.  But she's been gone longer than usual, and Damian is starting to get worried.

So he seeks out his famous father, with whom he has an uneasy relationship at best.  Holmes and Russell had once helped exonorate Damian when he was charged with murder, and when Yolanda turns up dead at the base of a strange monolith, it appears they may have to do so again.  Their investigation takes them into the strange world of the Children of Lights - a cult that has grown up around a man called The Master - one which Yolanda became involved with before her death.  Holmes and Russell soon discover that they are on the tail of a madman.  But what is Damian's involvement?  Is he an unwitting pawn?  Or did he have something to do with the murder?

This installment of the series was great.  I really enjoyed the look at alternative religions in the early 20th Century, especially the cult-like Children of Lights (a fictional religion, but similar to some of the spiritualist movements that were popular at the time).  The fact that this case involved Holmes' son gave it an added edge of suspense.  I'd give this one four out of five Whatevers.  Very solid entry in the series.  I only have three more to go!  At least King is still writing these.  I don't want the series to end!

2012-21

Review: Perfectly Matched by Heather Webber

The next novel in the Lucy Valentine series, Perfectly Matched was everything I hoped for...fluffy romance/mystery/psychic detective story and a quick read to boot.  I read my copy on my Kindle, so it was a copy I purchased from Amazon.  As usual, I loved it.

These books are fun and fluffy and a good break in between larger, heavier reading.  In this installment, a serial arsonist seems to be targeting Lucy's boyfriend's brother Sam...or is it her boyfriend Sean the arsonist is really after?  Lucy is also training with a group of other psychics, trying to expand her abilities beyond finding lost objects.  Will she be able to see visions of the past and present?  Can she teach herself to talk to animals?  What about spirits?

As with all the Lucy Valentine books so far, this one was a good mix of romance, mystery, and the supernatural.  The arsonist story was tense enough to keep me turning the (virtual) pages, and the side storylines of what was wrong with Lucy's friend Preston, and why Aidan Holliday, the state police officer she sometimes worked with, would be ignoring his burgeoning romance with Lucy's friend Em kept me interested as well.

This novel was a good continuation of the series.  Unfortunately, I think I am now caught up on the sereis.  But the ending left an opening for another installment, and I am eager to resolve the cliffhanger!!!  Five out of five Whatevers, just because it was such good fluff.

2012-20