In book one, The Beekeepers Apprentice, we meet teenage Mary Russell who is living in England under the care of her aunt. We know little about her family, other than she was orphaned in America after being in an automobile accident. Her English mother, American father, and little brother all perished in the crash.

Mary’s neighbor in England is the reclusive semi-retired Sherlock Holmes. The two strike up an unlikely friendship and partnership. With his tutelage and her quick mind, she is soon solving crimes along with him. Locked Rooms brings them to San Francisco where Mary, now an adult, is finally ready to deal with her family home and other assets in America. The closer they get to America the more she is plagued by disturbing dreams and memories of her former life.

Laurie King’s genius is well placed detail, historical correctness and believable characters that keep me coming back for more. Fortunately, this series has plenty of mysteries to solve. There are several books in-between these 2, but after reading an excerpt of Locked Rooms I couldn’t wait to read it. I’m so glad I skipped ahead, even if I missed the references to past stories, still this one can stand alone as a great read. It’s on my favorites list because it is as good as the first book.