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Apr 20, 2010

Joyce rated it:

Russell and Holmes are at their home in Sussex, enjoying a much-needed rest. But Holmes brother Mycroft is seriously ill, and the pair travel to London for a visit. Sick or well, Myrcroft is always looking after British Intelligence interests; when he asks Sherlock rather casually if he has been following the news our of Russia, Russell immediately suspects that the end result of the inquiry is that she and Holmes will be off on some sort of foreign adventure.[return][return]She s right. I More...

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Dec 22, 2008

Angela rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Jan 07, 2012

E rated it:

I picked up this book on a whim. Lately I've been on a Sherlock Holmes binge, which happens every now and again with me, and I'd heard polarising things regarding this series. I was perfectly prepared in advance to hate it, because I firmly believe in the asexuality of Sherlock Holmes. That said, this seemed a rather promising tale, and I got the impression that they were going to pastiche Rudyard Kipling's Kim as well, which excited me. A similar idea was executed in The Mandala of Sherlock Holmes More...

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Nov 26, 2011

Ann aka Iftcan rated it:

This 7th book in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series is excellent. In this one, Mary and Holmes are headed to an India that is heading for independence from England as a favour to Mycroft. The are in search of Kim O'Hara (yes, THAT Kim, the one that Kipling wrote about) who has gone mysteriously missing and is feared dead. This book is a stronger story than previous ones, and includes the usual historical characters interacting with our heroine and her spouse. As well as other "ficti More...

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Oct 03, 2011

Kam rated it:

People who have been engaged in the habit, hobby, and joy of reading since they were very young often find it a pleasant shock when one book references something they have read before. Whether it is a beautifully constructed allusion to a work already read, or favorite characters borrowed from one novel and then put into another, the web of references and allusions created is a joy to construct, and can only grow stronger and wider as one keeps on reading. Add to this the fact that nowadays, man More...

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Jun 04, 2009

Kayeb rated it:

I truly had forgotten that the plots include them going their separate ways as much as they do. Actually, I had forgotten a significant part of the undertones and plots so rereading the several books I have is almost like reading new books again. And in my current reading, I am also reminded how often bees are brought into the stories one way or the other, even if as simple as referring to the honey they are eating.

I have never read Kiplings Kim, and may have to look it up...and More...

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Mar 30, 2009

Cynthia rated it:

I tried to read this when it first came out and for some reason it just didn't click but this time I tore right through it. The plot is very good, not brilliant but certainly moves the story along at a nice clip. It's the descriptions of India that are extraordinary, mouthwatering even (mmm, the food: I am totally having puri, chapatis and curry this week); mostly the imagery is delicious, but when she wants to gross you out, the author is also vurrry good at that. Laurie King is very insightful More...

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Aug 31, 2011

Ron rated it:

The beginning of this Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes adventure started out promising, but after awhile it got caught in the mud. Russell and Holmes rush off to India to try to locate Kimball O'Hara, the famed Kim from the Rudyard Kipling books. The journey there is interesting and almost deadly to the 2 main characters. They fear they are being followed by forces unknown, so the stage is set for another interesting story.

Unfortunately, once they get to India, things become tedious More...

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Aug 16, 2010

Phyllis rated it:

This is part of the Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes series. (Note, I consider Laurie King's Sherlock Holmes to be a parallel character with that of the very famous detective, not the same one. But that's my quibble and has little to do with the stories.) Ms. Russell and Mr. Holmes take a trip to India to locate Kimball O'Hara—pulling in yet another fictional character, this one from Rudyard Kipling.

That said, and leaving out most of the plot, the book is an exciting read. Ms. King More...

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Nov 13, 2011

Helen rated it:

I think this is the third time I've read this. This story takes Holmes and Russell to the hill country of India where Kim (yes, Kipling's Kim!) O'Hara has disappeared and Mycroft wants to be sure he hasn't changed sides because Soviet Russia is looking to come into India through the northern passes and Kim would be ideally positioned to provide all sorts of information to them. The story takes the reader through a number of exotic locations and activities, including magic shows, secret tunnels, More...

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Jun 25, 2009

Treasa rated it:

I love this series. I love the partnership and chemistry between Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, and I love how their relationship has grown over the course of the series. Previously, Holmes may have tried to tell Mary what to do, but by now he knows and accepts that she is perfectly capable of making intelligent decisions herself. It's also fun to read these books because I know Mary and Holmes are both going to be ok in the end, so I can just read the story and enjoy watching as the myste More...

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Jul 09, 2009

Kathleen rated it:

Somehow this author has explored my young adult bookshelf, first with references to Tolkien and the Bird & Baby in one book, now bringing in one of my all time favorite characters, Kimball O'Hara from Kipling's Kim. I can't tell you how many times I've read that book! Anyway, this was yet another fast-paced, can't-put-down offering in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series.

Some people have commented that Mary Russell is just one big Mary Sue construct, and I can see their point in More...

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Oct 21, 2009

Lori rated it:

Russell and Holmes set out on another exotic adventure, this time to British ruled India. All the elements are there to make the reader speed through the pages enjoying every historically rich morsel. Great secondary characters; the Goodhearts, Americans traveling to India, a Maharajah with a quirky personality, a zoo and village of dwarfs, Nesbitt a ripe old English chap of Her Majaesty's Army and best of all Kimball O'Hara....yes Kim, of the Rudyard Kipling book fame. Russell is on her own mos More...

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Jul 05, 2008

Sue rated it:

How audacious of Laurie R. King - to reason that if Sherlock Holmes was actually a real person, then why couldn't Kim (of Kipling's book) also be a real person! Hence, the "Game" of this title refers to the "Great Game" of Victorian times. This book was a lot of fun.

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Feb 15, 2009

Flourish rated it:

Perhaps it's because I recently have been on a Kipling kick, but this simultaneous tribute to Kim and Sherlock Holmes had me engaged to the very last page. A delicious romp through India under English rule - although if you are troubled by the idea that a book set at this time period mightn't be an indictment of imperial rule, be forewarned: this book hardly touches on such issues. Written from the perspective of happy colonialists, it doesn't embrace racism, but nevertheless is the story of a m More...

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Oct 28, 2011

Gerry rated it:

Very disappointing considering that it was billed as 'A spellbinding mystery featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes'.

There are some good descriptive passages of the sub-continent and some exciting action on pig-sticking hunts but the storyline overall is weak.

What exactly is 'The Game'? A game of what? Find the missing boy? Hide and seek? Spies in the Hindu Kush? Whatever it is, it is not terribly clear even though, to repeat myself, there are some individual exciting More...

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May 12, 2011

Jill rated it:

I love the way the author of this series of books usually includes real or fictional characters from other sources into the story. In this case it is Kim from the book by the same name by Kipling. Kim, now an adult, is a British Intelligence agent who has gone missing somewhere in the Indian Raj and Holmes and Russell are sent out by brother Mycroft to ascertain his whereabouts. They meet an Indian maharajah who may not be what he appears, as well as various colorful characters as they search f More...

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Sep 22, 2009

Jody rated it:

Sherlock's brother Mycroft is ill. Kim O'Hara (Kim from Rudyard Kipling) is missing. Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes are off to India near the Afghanistan border searching for the missing Kim. They get caught up with a Communist sympathizer from the United States who is traveling with his mother and sister. The sister, Sunny, is a delightful young woman.
Soon, they must travel under disguise to try to find the missing man who has been a secret agent for the British.
Accidents happ More...

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Oct 06, 2010

Libby rated it:

As usual, Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes are enjoyable characters to read about. For this novel, King draws from Rudyard Kipling's book Kim and even includes a middle-aged Kim O'hara as on of the characters. I have never read Kim and so I'm not sure how acceptable her portrayal is, but I enjoyed his character and feel more motivated to read Kipling's novel.

This is the first Mary Russell novel that came close to The Beekeeper's Apprentice. I loved that first one, and have felt a More...

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Apr 14, 2011

Erin rated it:

I think I'm going to repeat myself here, but this book is awesome and Laurie King is the queen of mystery fiction. Okay, I don't actually read enough mystery novels to make that pronouncement, but Ms. King has once again written an awesome book that pays homage to the Victoria era, early 20th century British history, and one of the most famous novels about colonialism all at once. I mean, what did you do today? This book is more of a taut thriller than some of the earlier installments, and I More...

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Apr 28, 2009

Mike rated it:

I read this at least once several years ago. But until I read the first paragraph I couldn't recall it.

It has a wonderful flavor of colonial India, with colorful and enjoyable details of the people, culture and British and native rule that co-existed (uneasily) after the crown took direct control of the country from the British East India Company. Salient details of religion, politics, cuisine (both native and Indian-English hybrid), and race relations are sprinkled throughout the More...

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Mar 28, 2011

Laura rated it:

Now Ms. King seems to be intent on adding real or fictional characters to her novels for Holmes and Russell to meet. In this book, it is Kim, the infamous child-spy of the Rudyard Kipling book.

I suppose you could say this is sort of the Indian version of O Jerusalem, where Holmes and Russell go tramping around trying to look like locals. Bindra, a local boy who takes up with them is the highlight of the book, since he is the only character evocative of the elusive Kim.

Fai More...

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May 19, 2010

Jim rated it:

Excellent! A good mixture of mystery, adventure, and history all rolled into a yarn that's hard to put down.

But, as usual in her books, Ms King challenges me to go off and expand my horizons. For "The Game" of course I had to go read Kipling's "Kim". (Can't imagine why I'd never read it before, and I really wish I had!)

With Justice Hall I learned about the "Shot at Dawn Memorial" (http://www.flickr.com/search/?ss=2&w=all...), and
as " More...

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May 05, 2010

Jen rated it:

This book was absolutely delightful although I was gasping for air during the last several hundred pages (they had to be read in one sitting - I was so concerned about what was occurring). I'm not sure how this series can both be comfortable and exciting - but the series continues to always elicit that response from me. I was so glad that the weather in Oregon has been blustery lately, it was perfect for mystery reading.

I loved the original Sherlock series, but I have to say that More...

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May 01, 2010

Alice rated it:

King continues to impress me as an author, not just for pulling things off that less talented writers would crash and burn (Jasper Fforde, take note. This is how you integrate characters from other bits of literature into your books), but also for her critique of colonialist and sexist attitudes in eras that were pretty unprogressive. She gets a lot of props for using Peter Hopkirk's The Great Game as source material and for making what could be incredibly dry history fascinating and relevant. More...

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Feb 10, 2011

Dudley rated it:

There is something about the language in this series that makes me feel as though I'm sitting naked in a hot tub, glass of scotch in one hand and a beautiful woman in the other. The sky is bright with mood juice and are the stars are aligned in my favor. That, only less sexy and more, you know, the reading version of that.

Ms. King's narrative is elegant and perfect for Mary Russel throughout. I love her, her husband Sherlock Holmes, and just about every character in this book. King i More...

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May 07, 2009

Lynne-marie rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Sep 20, 2011

Kelly rated it:

I generally like this series, the super-hero like Sherlock Holmes and his very, very young wife who also seems to have superpowers. Throw in decent historical settings and its a good fast read. However, this one was a bit much with the rah, rah, england and crown, and the 'dressing up like natives and blending in because we magically can speak the language with no accent at all' is wearing thin. I might read another if they're back in England, but this series has definitely slipped off of my More...

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Apr 22, 2011

Cindy rated it:

Really enjoyed this adventure set in India with Sherlock Holmes and his young wife/protege Mary Russell. I was first introduced to this series 10 years ago in mother-daughter book club. The beautiful cover caught my eye and I remembered how fond I was of these stories. I usually cannot stand mysteries, but these are written in such a way that they really do surprise and not annoy me.

Includes a very exciting chapter on pig sticking which is funny because I just read another account o More...

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Apr 22, 2010

Fence rated it:

Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes have returned home to Sussex in order to enjoy the new year, but soon enough they travel to London to visit Holmes’ brother, Mycroft, whose health is not the best. While there he suggests that perhaps they might look into a case for him. A possibly-missing person. In India.

Of course they head off, and the person they are looking for, none other than Kimball O’Hara, known to many from Rudyard Kipling’s Kim.
Full review: http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2010... More...

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