Garment of Shadows

Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes #12

by Laurie R. King

Laurie R. King's "New York Times" bestselling novels of suspense featuring Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, comprise one of today's most acclaimed mystery series. Now, in their newest and most thrilling adventure, the couple is separated by a shocking circumstance in a perilous part of the world, each racing against time to prevent an explosive catastrophe that could clothe them both in shrouds.

In a strange room in Morocco, Mary Russell is trying to solve a pressing mystery: "Who am I?" She has awakened with shadows in her mind, blood on her hands, and soldiers pounding on the door. Out in the hivelike streets, she discovers herself strangely adept in the skills of the underworld, escaping through alleys and rooftops, picking pockets and locks. She is clothed like a man, and armed only with her wits and a scrap of paper containing a mysterious Arabic phrase. Overhead, warplanes pass ominously north.

Meanwhile, Holmes is pulled by two old friends and a distant relation into the growing war between France, Spain, and the Rif Revolt led by Emir Abd el-Krim—who may be a Robin Hood or a power mad tribesman. The shadows of war are drawing over the ancient city of Fez, and Holmes badly wants the wisdom and courage of his wife, whom he's learned, to his horror, has gone missing. As Holmes searches for her, and Russell searches for her "self," each tries to crack deadly parallel puzzles before it's too late for them, for Africa, and for the peace of Europe.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, Audiobook, Adventure

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 4, 2012

About the author

Edgar-winning mystery writer Laurie R. King writes series and standalone novels. Her official forum is
THE LRK VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB here on Goodreads--please join us for book-discussing fun.

King's 2018 novel, Island of the Mad, sees Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes travel from London's Bedlam to the glitter of Venice's Lido,where Young Things and the friends of Cole Porter pass Mussolini's Blackshirts in the streets. The Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series follows a brilliant young woman who becomes the student, then partner, of the great detective. [click here for an excerpt of the first in the series, The Beekeeper's Apprentice] The Stuyvesant and Grey series (Touchstone; The Bones of Paris) takes place in Europe between the Wars. The Kate Martinelli series follows an SFPD detective's cases on a female Rembrandt, a holy fool, and more. [Click for an excerpt of A Grave Talent]

King lives in northern California, which serves as backdrop for some of her books.

Please note that Laurie checks her Goodreads inbox intermittently, so it may take some time to receive a reply. A quicker response may be possible via email to info@laurierking.com.

Reviews

[Lightreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I genuinely like this series of memoirs from Sherlock Holmes’s late-life partner and wife, but I shake my head in bafflement over every second or third one. This is a story of amnesia and intrigue in French and Spanish Morocco in the early 1920’s. A lovely sense of place, as usual, but otherwise . . . no. There is a good book here, it’s just that this book only intersects with that one for about twenty pages. The emotional crux of the book lies neither with Holmes nor Russell, and we only get to know what it actually is in dried out retrospect, recounted in one of the endless attempts to explicate the overbaked plot into something digestible by way of everyone sitting around and talking about it for pages on end.

I mean, I respect her for trying new things, I totally do. The last book was a pirate caper, this one is a straight-faced amnesia espionage story. Just, when you try new things, sometimes they’re a miss. And at this point, I really, really, really wish this series would cough up a good old murder mystery. Remember those? Sherlock Holmes solved them? …Yeah. Me neither.

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, much better..
After being so sorely disappointed in The Pirate King, I was rather hesitant about reading this one. However, my trepidation was unnecessary--Ms King is back in fine form. Russell and Holmes are up to their necks again in international intrigue and all's right in this reader's world.
The plot is an intricate one, involving the Rif Rebellion in Morocco in the early 1920s. I am always happy to learn new (to me)bits of history, so I loved all the background info. The local politics have international repercussions, of course, and the outcome that would best suit England isn't necessarily the one that would best suit the people of Morocco. The French envoy is a historical figure and King does a nice job working him into the story.

The book blurb gives a good idea of the bones of the story. The plot is nicely full of twists and turns as the puzzle pieces fall into place. And, just when you think it has all been settled, there's one final zinger. Well done, Ms King!

For those who have problems with amnesia as a plot device, I thought Mary's was handled in a believable manner. Best scene in the book, IMO, is when Mary and Holmes are first reunited.

Can't wait to see what the author has next in store for our intrepid duo.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started out loving this series. However, when I read Pirate King, I thought it was all over between me and Laurie R King. It's taken me a while to get over my disappointment with that particular offering. However, when I wanted something light to read, I found my way back to her work.

Better than Pirate King, but nowhere near as good as earlier books in the series, this installment in the series served its purpose by giving me something reasonably engaging and easy to read. Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes are in Morocco, Mary has amnesia and friends from earlier in the series make a reappearance. Political highjinks ensue. I may have been more engaged if I had known about early 20th century Moroccan history, but it was interesting enougth. No doubt I'll be back for more.

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, especially since I found the previous book; Pirate King, to be a bit of a letdown. I usually love these books, but Pirate King just didn't work for me. But, this book did, the story was interesting and captivating. Mary Russell wakes up in a room in Morocco with no memory of who she is. There are soldiers pounding on the door and blood on her hands. She is clothed like a man and she discovers while running from the soldiers that she is quite skilled when it comes to picking locks and pockets. Now she just needs to find out who she is. Sherlock Holmes meanwhile is trying to stop a war but also trying to find out what has happened to his wife that has gone missing.

This series is great, I recommend it to anybody that likes historical mysteries.

[Deborah Harkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this entry in the Mary Russell series. What a fantastic, well-crafted beginning, and the rest of the story unfolds beautifully.

[Stephen Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. So glad I have found this series. I'm not going to give any spoilers, but you should definitely read this book.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that I am a bit disappointed in this book. I'm not sure if I am reading a travelogue or an exposition on the early 20th century political history of Morocco. While I appreciate some history, several pages of exposition regarding the Rif Revolt, M. Lyautey, and the Abd el-Krims were superfluous. And the descriptions...yes, she has amnesia and yes, she is trying to decipher clues to her identity, but do we really need several pages of descriptions of the various alleys and shops in Morocco? I'm just beginning Chapter 13 and I must admit that a little less descriptive narrative would be welcome.

Also, where does the suspense come in? This is historical fiction and unlike Locked Rooms, Justice Hall or The Language of Bees/God of the Hive (which is my favorite by the way), we sort of know the outcome. Yes, there is some adventure and yes we have the Hazr brothers back, which is lovely, but I'm find myself slogging through this one. Most of the time, I devour Ms. King's books in one or maybe two sittings. It's taken me a week to get halfway through this one. Hopefully, it gets better.

Update: It didn't. Not enough of Holmes/Russell until almost the final two chapters. Not enough of the Hazr brothers. A relatively simple plot about spies and international relations made more convuluted by Russell's continued confusion about her brother in law and his motives.

One additional comment: I love the character of Mary Russell Holmes but my suggestion is that it is time for her to move on regarding Mycroft. Her naivete regarding the means and the methods that a government will use to achieve its agenda is unrealistic in my opinion for a highly intelligent feminist living in the turn of the 20th century. The world is not full of sunshine and lollilops or noble men doing noble deeds for noble reasons.

[Kerry Kilburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a die-hard Laurie R King fan and have been since I read her first book not long after it was published. I can't think of another author who has written as many different kinds of protagonists and set stories in as many different kinds of settings as she has, or who has crossed genre lines as successfully. Her sense of place is always a joy to experience, her research impeccable, and her prose extraordinary. While those elements are present in this latest installment of her Mary Russell series, I found the book disappointing after a long string of truly outstanding offerings. As another reviewer noted, we got a lot of telling in this book and relatively little showing, which was unfortunate given the unique opportunities presented by Russell's amnesia at the beginning of the book. I also found that the emphasis on political intrigue required a lot of exposition that kept me from becoming as emotionally involved with the characters as I normally do. It also seemed to overshadow any of the more interesting personal and interpersonal conflicts, resolution, and growth that, to me, make a series worth following. It's still a good read - just not the same caliber as her other recent work. I don't regret buying or reading it, and will undoubtedly revisit it, though!

[Sondra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first thing I thought when I pulled the book out of the shipping box was, "It's so thin!" After reading the book I came to the conclusion that I would have waited longer for more story. It's a good book. All of Laurie R King's books are good. The Russell/Holmes series is probably my favorite. I've read all the books in the series multiple times. That being said, I think this book is my least favorite. It's good, not great. Some aspects of the story feel a bit stale, as they have been done before in other, better Russell/Holmes books. I was delighted when two of my favorite semi-recurring characters showed up, the Hazr "brothers". I was less delighted when, as in "The Game", a mysterious, clever, street-wise child assists Russell and Holmes. It took me out of "Garment of Shadows" and put me to thinking about "The Game" and how great that book was. I was even less delighted when it seemed like the scheming, traitorous secretary to the General was behind most of their troubles- it made me think of "Oh, Jerusalem" where the scheming, traitorous secretary to the General was also responsible for some of the problems in that story. I then thought about that Russell/Holmes adventure with the Hazr brothers and how great that book is. (Yes, yes, I was making text-to-text connections which is something readers do). Now, that's not to say that you shouldn't read this book. Read it. Saying "Garment of Shadows" is the worst Russell/Holmes book is like saying someone is the least intelligent member of MENSA.

[Cookie M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took a break of several years from reading the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes books and it took me a while to get back into the swing with this one. I should say that of all the modern authors who have taken up writing Holmes stories and giving him a new partner, Laurie R. King's, while the most outlandish and inconceivable are also the most enjoyable. Set aside your disbelief that the great Sherlock Holmes could take up with a woman, let alone marry her, and enjoy the adventures their partnership provides.
This time they are in Morocco in the 1920's, and I really have no idea what is going on historically. France, Spain and Great Britain are all jockeying position for control over the region along with rebelling factions. Holmes and Russell get separated. That old literary chestnut amnesia gets thrown in as a plot device, causing me to drop the rating down from four stars to three. (Some day I am going to write an essay on the top ten things I hate in stories. Amnesia is right up there with dragons and vampires.) Mycroft Holmes lurks in the background but never actually appears.
Holmes is aging, and so is this whole premise. I think there are only a few more books in this series. It was wonderful for a while. I will finish it and move on to King's next venture. I hope I like it as well.

[H (no longer expecting notifications) Balikov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurie King has made her literary stock and trade from the imagined relationship between a “retired” Sherlock Holmes and a young apprentice/partner, Mary Russell. To say “stock and trade” is not to denigrate … only to acknowledge that according to Goodreads, this is #12 in her series. Though King builds on what we have been given by Arthur Conan Doyle as the consummate detective, King does not ape his style, though she is careful to keep the general personalities of Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft Holmes, Dr. Watson, Mrs. Hudson, etc. within the parameters of their original creator.

She departs from the traditional London and England crime backdrop, taking Holmes and Russell on journeys to Africa, the near and far East and even the United States (almost all in the post-World War One period). This story places the two in the Northwestern corner of Africa during the Rif Revolution.

“It would be a plan as tangled as the streets of the medina, a garment woven of lies and half-truths, of truths that look like lies, and lies that appear the truth. A garment suited to the half-light, its precise outlines impossible to discern.”

Another way that King’s books differ from her predecessor’s is that Russell isn’t the only narrator. Sometimes we see things from Holmes’ perspective and at times from others’. In this case, we start with Russell suffering injury and amnesia and confinement in a strange city. Her decision to escape only puts her in a different kind of danger. Holmes expects her to meet him and when she fails to show finds that he has limited options since his presence is demanded in Fez by circumstances that involve the foreign policy of both England and France.

King is deft at providing local color and atmosphere. There are so many touches that make one feel they are experiencing Morocco in the 1920s. She even varies her characters’ speech patterns slightly so that the Holmes and Russell that we earlier met in London or Jerusalem are not exactly the same as they are here. The book’s cover quite rightly characterizes this one as “a novel of suspense,” not a mystery. It had me hooked and not able to foretell how things would play out, no matter how hard I tried. The preceding book, Pirate King, was my only disappointment with this series. I am glad King is back on track and Russell is in the ascendant.

[Kribu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. Not a bad book by any means, but without a doubt my least favourite in the series.

I just had a really hard time getting into it. Too much exposition, too much background - all of it necessary for the plot, and perhaps if the book had been twice as long, with something else actually happening rather than just a lot of talking about the political situation in Morocco in the early 1920s, I wouldn't have minded.

I mean, the politics & history lesson was interesting, but I'd have read a non-fiction history book if I'd really been in the mood for that...

Basically, too much history & politics, too little else of interest going on. And the solution just came off as rather too convoluted (and again, too much talking).

Of course there were things I did like - the writing, the bits where stuff was actually going on (the older I get, the more action I need in a book?), the setting and descriptions and the sense of location were marvellous, as usual. A few lovely moments between Russell, recovering from concussion-caused amnesia, and Holmes.

[Bre · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, actually.

I was lucky enough to recieve an advanced reader's copy of Garment of Shadows and devoured it in about 3 days! So...without further ado, here is my review(I swear, I didn't mean to make that rhyme)

As for the storyline itself, without giving too much away, Mary Russell has amnesia. You might think you know amnesia stories, but think again. She wakes up in Morroco, unsure if she's killed someone,covered in blood.

Holmes himself doesn't pop in until around page 36 or so...so I can imagine some diehard Holmesians raging right now. Well, so be it. -laughs-

Follows is a list of GOOD things about GARMENT, so I can stop myself from blabbering.....

GOOD
-Action scenes(guns, knives, you name it)
-Morrocan atmosphere described in detail
-The amnesia plot(surprisingly AWESOME)
-Mary's wit/intelligence
-A particularly tense prison scene
-Some good historical details about feuding tribes and the loving description of Morrocan streets and life.
-Not very many dull spots, or characters sitting around doing nothing.
-Characters(You might recognize a couple from previous books...)
-The likable Arab boy, Idir.

Honestly, I was confused a few times about the polical interplay between all the feuding countires. My only complaints are that the politics of the France, Spain, and Morroco's feud were a little dense at times. Also, the ending was dense with deceptions, and twists, and it boggled my brain a little. I think I may still be a little confused....

Might just need time to let the end sink in though.
In short, exciting amnesia story, highly political, and brings Mary Russell to the forefront. Will appeal particuarly to fans of O'Jeruselem and The Game, as the setting is exotic.

Glad to have read it! And I don't foresee having amnesia about it or dumping it into my brain's recyling bin anytime too soon. Excuse me while I go dump my most recent Nicholas Sparks but so I have more room for Mary Russell.

[Brenda Hawley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all of Laurie R King's Mary Russell series, especially the toungue-in-cheek Pirate King. This novel, however, is not one of my favorites. Mary wakes with amnesia (a convention I still find pretty trite) and wanders around Fez, Morocco looking for clues to her identity. Two comrades from other books, Mahmoud and Ali, are involved with political upheaval in the country centering around two opposing factions,as well as the Spanish and the French. One positive was that I did learn some of Morocco's history leading to independence. But the book seemed to have much more "telling" than Laurie usually allows. Too much time explaining background, too many stilted conversations, too little interest in the character's dilemnas. Holmes has little stake in the book nad his character is terribly flat this time, not his usual witty self. Russell is chased,attacked and kidnapped in the usual quota, but none of is terribly suspenseful or fun. Go back to the Pirate King formula, Laurie.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a beautiful cover.
It had a very slow beginning and as I started coming up on the middle of the book, I couldn't take anymore. It has a lot of history of Morocco and background and such. It is a very atmospheric book but I just couldn't hang on anymore. Not for me, but I think there are a lot of history buff people who will like this book

[S. J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garment of Shadows: Mary Russel and Sherlock Holmes # 12 - Keep them coming, Mrs. King! *5 Stars**The Gush*
 
Note: Spoilers are only for previous books in the series and parts of the story mentioned in the book description.
Wow. What a ride and what a trip. I'm still checking my clothes for hints of spice, sand, and sweat. Once again, Laurie R. King has done a beautiful job of transporting the reader to another place and another time. I feel like you need a passport for this series or something. What I think I love most about being a long time fan of the series is seeing the books evolve. I think that if she had written this book right after The Beekeeper's Apprentice, I would not have liked it near so well. Her books have gotten...tighter I guess you might say. Plot, clues, environment have all been carefully weaved together into a gorgeous tapestry you can't help but admire, even if the subject matter is not your favorite thing ever. And the plot of this...no, I'm not going to let this run away with me. Let's give this review a bit of order.
 
Characters:
Ah, some old favorites mixed with new and exciting ones. Holmes is, again, quite impeccable. How King can put that man into such...non-Holmesian situations and yet keep him completely in the character he has grown into during this series is nothing short of amazing. And Russell is still Russell even without her memories. I particularly enjoyed how the idea and smell of Bees follows her around and she's like, "Why is my messed up brain obsessed with the little blighters?" No idea, Russ, no idea. ;P Our old friends Mahmoud and Ali Hazr return; it's nice seeing them back in their 'native' habitat after Justice Hall. The various new cast, both fictional and historical are wonderfully fleshed out as the plot allows with my particular favorites being Idir and Maréchal Lyautey.
 
Plot:
I have to admit, I doubted you Mrs. King. I really did. I read the description, saw the word amnesia and thought: "Nope, no way. She can't do it."
 
You proved me wrong. Thank you.
 
I don't want to spoil anything because I really want you to read it, but this was a great plot. The mystery was really good, I hadn't even guessed most of it and the whole part about Russell losing her memories was actually well handled. I love seeing Holmes worried about his Russ. The fact that he never shows it makes it mean so much more when he finally does. I would like to point out that they can't seem to go to another country without being imprisoned, but then again: A Monstrous Regiment of Women. While the travelogue is no where close to that of their sojourn through Palestine, the author uses that time to build up Fez until you swear you can smell the spice and see the honeycomb streets.
 
Writing:
As I stated above, I firmly believe King's writing has really grown. In 266 pages, she manages to turn a story including amnesia, revolt, mystery, Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell, a strange new land, and history into a concise, elegant story made all the more amazing by not feeling rushed. A real gem in this already well decorated series.
 
*The Rant*
So, I'm still reeling from the whole Mycroft issue and you just had to bring a new element into Russell's shaken world with Mahmoud and Ali? Really? The trouble is, I do understand Mahmoud's position, I really do but after everything they've been through together, the fact that he would not be honest to his 'brother's' disturbs me more than I can say.
 
*Conclusion*
If you have hung around for this long in the series, you don't need me to tell you to read this book. If you are intrigued by this particular book but are a stranger to the rest of the series, I strongly urge you to read the rest before returning here. I may have been able to mostly follow what was going on in a book as early as The Moor, but by this point in the series, the amount of short hand to prior events is nothing short of impossible for a new reader. The fact that a good deal of Russell's recovered memories come from the previous books does not help the matter.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This proved a Mary Russell novel of top caliber. The author challenges the reader to follow a very complicated trail entwining history, greed, the struggles of colonial powers, corruption, and the consciences of her protagonists--in this case all four of them!

Apart from the mystery, the period and setting are particularly challenging--the contenders being Spain, France, England, Germany and three native factions. Balancing them all within the narrative of her (intrigue-minded) characters kept me busy backing up whole chapters and rereading paragraphs to be certain I was still on the trail. I don't say this to fault the writing, but to demonstrate the depth of the work. "Garments" is a demanding read, a thoughtful read.

That said, the farther one progresses into the book, the harder it becomes to put it down. The ending is a revelation, inside a revelation, inside a revelation enclosed by an ethical conflict.

The afterword should not be missed. It brings closure to the story of the birth of Morocco and the prominent historical figures who played a role in its foundations.

[Connie G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary Russell, the investigator and young wife of Sherlock Holmes, awakens with a concussion and amnesia. She reacts instinctively to avoid capture by a group of soldiers, and wonders how she acquired the knowledge needed to escape. She soon realizes she is in Morocco and her memory comes back in bits and pieces. After Holmes is reunited with her, they become involved in some international intrigue during the 1920s Moroccan independence movement.

Before starting the book, it was helpful to have read a short Wikipedia article about the Rif War to learn the names of the major historical figures in Morocco. Although this is a stand-alone novel, it would have been better to have read the two prior Mary Russell mysteries first to get acquainted with some of the other characters. I started with this book because it was a book group read.

The book presented a good opportunity to learn about the tensions in 1924 Morocco between the colonial powers of Spain and France, and the Moroccan tribesmen of the Rif mountainous region. The characters were colorful and the setting was exotic. Although it had an interesting start, the plot got much too convoluted by the end.

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm very fond of the author's Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series, but this one is a miss. Not enough Russell and Holmes together, too much background history...not enough plot, too much detail. Looking forward to this duo heading back to England together.

[Zainab Bint Younus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow, I always forget what happened in previous Mary Russell books, but I continue to enjoy them thoroughly. There's certainly deeper layers to be appreciated by those more educated and subtly intelligent than I am; as far as I'm concerned, I find myself inexplicably swept away by King's writing.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably four and a half stars - but I'm happy to round up for Holmes and Russell.

Bless Netgalley's buttons, persistence paid off and I finally got approved. If only it hadn't taken me so long to get this review written … par for the course, lately.

The story is well set up, with an economy and elegance that should make lesser series writers weep. It is not long after Pirate King. Holmes doesn't know where Russell is. Russell doesn't know where Russell is, nor whom for the matter of that. The skills she has worked to acquire startle her as she discovers them – the slightly sarcastic explanation her hurting brain supplies to take all of them into account is thieving circus performer. But because of her skills, she is able to adapt to her situation and launch an investigation based on the things in her pockets.

Amnesia, while a much-maligned plot device, is only a cliché because it's overused because it's so gosh darned much fun to read, and I imagine to write about. To pare down a character to her most basic elements, and to send her into a story armed only with her wits and the skills she discovers she has – it's a little like hitting a reset button in a game, retaining all the muscle memory and intelligence, but being left to wonder why exactly you have these abilities. It was fun to watch Mary try not only to deduce where she was and why as well as who, but to explain to herself why she knew how to pick a pocket and a lock. And her reunion with Holmes was everything that it should be.

It's a suspenseful read, a wonderful return to the sort of adventure Holmes and Russell shared in the beginning. Great fun.

(Wouldn't Holmes's origami go against the Islam strictures against graven images? "You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them." Oh dear. Ah well.)

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This latest Russell/Holmes novel of suspense came out in September, 2012. It's a tale of adventure with a focus on a small cast and the complicated political situation in Morocco in 1924.
I really liked PIRATE KING and I loved GOD OF THE HIVE. But PIRA was just for fun and GOTH was incredibly complex, as well as beautifully executed. This is more vintage Russell, with the initially odd device that Russell has no idea who she is or why she's there.
I couldn't help thinking, as Laurie has said somewhere, that amnesia is a big help for new readers of the series. As Erin says elsewhere (in effect) the amnesia improves quickly enough not to be annoying. It also leads to some priceless lines and moments. Consider the comments on Holmes as "husband material!"
I will make a comment I have repeated many times for a Laurie R. King story: don't start the last third (or possibly even the first third) if you have to get to sleep soon. Because you won't.
Not that I'm biased or anything (*cough*). Laurie has contests in which a donation to a charity may win you a character name. The kind and capable lady named Peg Taylor just happens to have my mother's name! Enjoy your reading!
p.s. I finished the book early due to the kind K.B. who loaned me her ARC.

[Mainon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the idea of this series and really liked the first book, so when I saw this one as a cheap audiobook I snapped it up. But frankly, parts of it were really tedious. There is a LOT of background/history of Morocco and international politics of the period, replete with unfamiliar names and geographic regions. I'm a visual learner, so listening to these history lessons was pretty futile; it took me a long time to keep the rebellion leaders straight. (As a side note, I don't think the machinations of a particular political figure should figure prominently in your plot if that figure is never going to make an appearance and interact with any of your characters. As a side-side note, I can't tell you who I'm talking about because I have no idea how to spell his name. Another downside to audiobooks.)

Additionally, the book starts with Mary Russell in a fit of amnesia. I'm tired of amnesia as a plot device, and if she asked herself one more pointless question ("Who am I? What is this gold ring? Am I married? What country am I in? Why is there blood under my fingernails?") I would have been tempted to add to her head injuries myself.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I wanted to erase the bad memories of the last few books in this series and get back to something good and for a while it looked like that might happen. And then it didn't at least not very much. There were so many problems with this book: overly long history lessons, resolving potentially interesting (although over-used) amnesia too quickly and the ending. After 200+ pages of build up the resolution felt like it happened in about 1.5 pages. I had to read it twice just to try and figure out what happened and even then I still wasn't sure everything was resolved. The ending was so convoluted trying to figure out if the "villain" was or was not really being a villain and if not then who the "real villain" was. I keep reading these books because the ones at the beginning were so great hoping for a return to glory but it hasn't happened yet.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Premise: The suave, older Sherlock Holmes finds and marries his proto-feminist intellectual and daring female equal.

Sounds dreadfully contrived. Until the last two books, it's been beautifully conceived, plotted, written. The characters are utterly alive.

While the writing in the last 2 entries - "The Pirate King" and "Garment of Shadows" - holds up, the plotting does not, I am very sorry to report.

Gave up on both volumes. Too little time; too much to read.

But I totally recommend the earlier volumes in the series. Such a delight my husband, Prof. A., and I took turns with them.

Here's fervently hoping Ms. King gets her groove back.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't help it, that was a great story!

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary Russell is married to Sherlock Holmes. This book is supposed to be her memoir of their time in Morocco in 1924.

The parts about Russell are kind of boring. She has amnesia and bumbles around a lot. The parts about Holmes are more interesting but he’s worried about Russell.

There are rebels in northern Morocco. Holmes is distant cousin to the head of the French colony - a decent man. There’s a lot of kidnapping. There are traitors and rescues galore before we learn what is really happening.

It’s okay but I won’t go out of my way to read any more of the series

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book I OFFICALLY love Sherlock Holmes and is now one fo my fave detectives!! Suspense, Drama, Mystery all make for a good book!! Think of it as Sherlock Holmes meets the game Clue in the Middle East!!

I will definitely be reading more stories with Sherlock Holmes in the future!!

[Lucy Barnhouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a thoroughly enjoyable romp. I twitched at every reference to 1920s Fez as "medieval" (sigh), but the drama of espionage and counter-espionage and the struggle for independence from colonial rule was deftly handled. Also, a plot device that I feared would be gimmicky allowed for an interesting exploration of Russell's sense of self and of her relationship to Holmes (who identifies himself, at one point in the novel, as "a beekeeper, among other things.")

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story, overall, and it was a good edition in the series, though it's not my favorite. It's not my least favorite, either, though, so there's that.

I was a bit leery in the beginning with the whole amnesia thing, but it was one way to make a mystery of events which had involved Mary and which she then was forced to have to try to remember/investigate.

I loved Holmes' in this story, but, then, I often do. I was glad that we actually got to see Holmes' activities while he was away from Russell instead of the previously used "summarization of what happened off-stage", which I always find disappointing and somewhat annoying.

It was also interesting to see Ali and Mahmoud again, and I am glad that characters and events from previous stories remain pertinent and aren't all just random one-offs.

I found the history interesting, but I had trouble following the complex politics of Morocco and France and Spain, and the cast of characters from all the sides, but I did appreciate the little bit of history lesson fora time and place I am unfamiliar with.

That said, I'm a little bit weary of the whole national espionage angle these stories have been taking, with Holmes and Russel being threads of Mycroft's web. I rather long for a return to a rainy, English countryside and some mysteries of the more prosaic variety.