The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, #1) in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Dec 22, 2011 Sharlene rated it really liked it

Ah, here I am again, staring at that blank rectangular space, watching my cursor blink furiously at me. The post title glares at me: ‘The Beekeeper’s Apprentice’. Because I’m trying to think of a way to write this post that will do justice to this book. Because it seems like so many of you have read – and loved – this book. And I think a large part of this hesitation of mine is the fact that I still have yet to read an actual Sherlock Holmes book. So how can I say that I loved Laurie R. King’s v ...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Christine H rated it liked it

This was compelling enough that I let the kids stay up late so I could read the end, but lacking enough that I was ultimately a bit disappointed.

Anyone who likes Holmes and doesn't mind some tinkering with him should check it out. I think the main character is a little too much a Mary Sue, and could have used a few more realistic flaws in place of her Tragic Backstory, but just when I would think, "Mary is just too insufferable," the author would make her look a bit foolish or awkward, and she'd ...more

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Jun 29, 2013 Sara rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club-reads, 2013-reads

I will start by saying that I can understand why so many people like this book, I'm just not one of them. While mystery isn't my "go-to" genre, I have nothing against a good mystery. Again, this book just wasn't one of the good ones (in my opinion).

The writing wasn't the problem for me, nor was the reinterpretation of the classic Sherlock Holmes story (maybe that's the wrong word as this wasn't a redo of the familiar story, just a take on what happened after the stories ended). I should also say ...more

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Dec 30, 2018 Debbie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

Young Mary Russell becomes an apprentice to the famous Sherlock Holmes and the pair soon become embroiled in a twisty mystery. I liked Mary’s brains and feistiness, though she was too perfect to be believable. And Holmes. Well, he was more likable and less perceptive in this retelling and not much like the character we know. The author does to him what Meyer did to vampires—she made him sparkly and without much bite.

This was a well-written mystery that just wasn’t my cup of tea.

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