Mrs. Holmes & Co.
Born in Oakland in 1952, Laurie R. King is on an impressive literary run, producing more than 30 novels, mostly in the mystery genre. She is best known for her Mary Russell series, which teams the character with Sherlock Holmes, whom she marries despite the 21-year difference in their ages. The heroine is the daughter of a British Jewish mother and an American millionaire father. She spent her youth on both continents. I just finished Garment of Shadows, published in 2012, 13th of 20 in the series. Set in Morocco in 1925, it is a complex tale of political intrigue using actual historical figures most folks, including yours truly, would find unfamiliar. Although I liked the story, I found the prose difficult, dense, but I loved this metaphor: “Like a lanced boil, corruption poured out...” The narrative is grounded almost all the way through. The only action that strains credulity is Russell’s dispatching of three thugs at once. It is told mostly in her first person account, switching to the third person in those few chapters that follow Holmes. There is a lot on Islam, and it seems genuine, not surprising, as the author has a degree in Comparative Religion and a Master’s in Theology. I am pissed that there is not a single reference to Dr. Watson, although a web search found she has mentioned him in other works. Mycroft, Holmes’ devious brother working behind the scenes, is cited many times. My guess is that the novel would appeal strictly to fans of mystery and the iconic detective. 663 users at Amazon have rated Garment…, forging to a consensus of 4.5 on a scale of five. I say 2.5. King has received several literary awards including an Edgar for Best First Novel, 1993’s A Grave Talent. Her work has earned her membership in The Baker Street Irregulars, a worldwide organization of 300+ Holmes enthusiasts that publishes the magazine Sherlockiana irregularly.
From an article at nypost.com by Andrew Court, edited by yours truly: “A British woman has gone to extreme lengths to uncover whether her boyfriend was cheating on her after she found a wrapped tampon that wasn’t hers concealed in his” dorm room. Using email, she sent the serial number to the manufacturer, Procter & Gamble. Since the date the product was made far preceded the date the guy moved in, he was exonerated, and the couple is still together. Reaction on social media has been mixed.
Chalk one up for the good guys, headline from foxnews.com: “Legally armed citizen thwarts California smash-and-grab attempted robbery.” All four creeps were apprehended later.
Tomorrow is the anniversary of the January 6th riot, the only one of more than 500 that occurred in America under investigation. An AP article at FN reports on one in Central Asia that makes the one in the Capitol look benign. “Protesters in Kazakhstan’s largest city stormed the presidential residence and the mayor’s office on Wednesday and set both buildings on fire…” The unrest was sparked largely by a doubling in fuel prices.
The first proof copy of Curious Sicilian arrived. There will be a second, as expected, as there are a few errors to correct and changes and additions to be made, and that’s only in the first 78 pages. Having the book on hand allowed me to fill the time devoted to the floating book shop, which was rained out today.
Let’s end with a positive story. A 21-year-old woman and her 88-year old grandpa graduated together from the University of Texas San Antonio.
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