About Me

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Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada
I am a lawyer in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada who enjoys reading, especially mysteries. Since 2000 I have been writing personal book reviews. This blog includes my reviews, information on and interviews with authors and descriptions of mystery bookstores I have visited. I strive to review all Saskatchewan mysteries. Other Canadian mysteries are listed under the Rest of Canada. As a lawyer I am always interested in legal mysteries. I have a separate page for legal mysteries. Occasionally my reviews of legal mysteries comment on the legal reality of the mystery. You can follow the progression of my favourite authors with up to 15 reviews. Each year I select my favourites in "Bill's Best of ----". As well as current reviews I am posting reviews from 2000 to 2011. Below my most recent couple of posts are the posts of Saskatchewan mysteries I have reviewed alphabetically by author. If you only want a sentence or two description of the book and my recommendation when deciding whether to read the book look at the bold portion of the review. If you would like to email me the link to my email is on the profile page.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King


27. – 490.) The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King – As Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell return to England after several months abroad in 1924 Sherlock is contacted by his son, Damian Adler, who is the son of the late Irene Adler who bested Holmes in the story, A Scandal in Bohemia. It is striking premise. Holmes did not know of Damian, who was a French officer, until after World War I. Damian is a brilliant surrealist who has returned from Shanghai with a Chinese wife Yolanda and, the suprises continue, a daughter Estelle who is Holmes’ granddaughter. Yolanda moves from religion to religion seeking a spiritual home. In London she becomes involved with the Children of the Light. They are a mysterious religion, really a cult, following the “Master” who has written Testimony, his Bible which is amalgamation of religious traditions including Christianity and Norse mythology. Russell and Holmes examine killings at pre-historic religious sites around Great Britain. The investigation is better than some of her recent books. The mystery plot was predictable. The additions to Holmes’ life are brilliantly done. The book does not have the depth of some of her earlier mysteries. While I forsaw the denoument I did not foresee the ending. It is a step back from The Art of Detection. Good. Paperback. (July 19/09)
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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 28, 2011 at 6:50 AM

    Bill - Thanks for this thoughtful and well-written review. I'm glad you thought that the developments in Holmes' life in this novel were well-written. It's so interesting to speculate on what Holmes' personal life might have been like. I'm sorry that you didn't think this was quite up to the others, but such an interesting premise, I think.

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  2. Bill SelnesNovember 28, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    Margot: Thanks for the comment. King has brilliant premises. I do not think they are consistently well developed in her recent books. Do you like her later books as well as her earlier books?

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  3. AnonymousNovember 30, 2011 at 7:05 AM

    Bill - You've got a point there about King's more recent books. I do prefer her earlier ones, and you've helped me clarify the reason, so thanks for that. It really does have to do with the way her premises are laid out and carried out (or not so much)...

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  4. Bill SelnesNovember 30, 2011 at 8:12 PM

    Margot: Thanks for the comment. I expect I will read the newest in the series but it is not a priority.

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