What do you think?
Rate this book
Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes #6
Justice Hall
Hours after Holmes and Russell return from solving the murky riddle of The Moor, a bloodied but oddly familiar stranger pounds desperately on their front door, pleading for their help. When he recovers, he lays before them the story of the enigmatic Marsh Hughenfort, younger brother of the Duke of Beauville, returned to England upon his brother's death, determined to learn the truth about the untimely death of the hall's expected heir — a puzzle he is convinced only Holmes and Russell can solve.
It's a mystery that begins during the Great War of 1918, when young Gabriel Hughenfort, the late Duke's only son, died amidst scandalous rumors that have haunted the family ever since. While Holmes heads to London to uncover the truth of Gabriel's war record, Russell joins an ill-fated shooting party. A missing diary, a purloined bundle of letters, and a trail of ominous clues comprise a mystery that will call for Holmes's cleverest disguises and Russell's most daring journeys into the unknown, from an English hamlet to the city of Paris to the wild prairie of the New World. The trap is set, the game is afoot, but can they catch an elusive villain in the act of murder before they become his next victims?
It's a mystery that begins during the Great War of 1918, when young Gabriel Hughenfort, the late Duke's only son, died amidst scandalous rumors that have haunted the family ever since. While Holmes heads to London to uncover the truth of Gabriel's war record, Russell joins an ill-fated shooting party. A missing diary, a purloined bundle of letters, and a trail of ominous clues comprise a mystery that will call for Holmes's cleverest disguises and Russell's most daring journeys into the unknown, from an English hamlet to the city of Paris to the wild prairie of the New World. The trap is set, the game is afoot, but can they catch an elusive villain in the act of murder before they become his next victims?
333 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
512 people are currently reading
4153 people want to read
About the author
Laurie R. King
135 books6,846 followersEdgar-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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 958 reviews
January 26, 2012
This sixth novel in the Mary Russell / Sherlock Holmes series may be my favourite so far. If so, it is not because of the mystery, which is whether the battlefield execution of a young officer in WWI was in fact a sophisticated murder. Nor it is because of anything that Russell and Holmes actually did in the course of the novel, although they remain on good form.
In my view, the chief strength of the novel lies in two characters who made their first appearance in the preceding novel in the series – O Jerusalem – albeit in a very different guise - and in another character introduced in the novel, the redoubtable Iris. These three are great characters: compelling, exotic and just believable enough. Another strength is the moving theme of battlefield executions during WWI and the experience of war in the trenches, which is poignantly described. The scene involving Russell and Holmes and the elderly chaplain is particularly moving.
King writes lovely, fluid prose, with interesting dialogue and powerful descriptive language. The narrative is – as is usual in this series - from the perspective of Mary Russell, whose observations are caustic and witty. The mystery is secondary to other themes and the resolution is consequently not terribly suspenseful. While this is certainly a weakness in a crime fiction novel, it did not unduly disturb me because of the novel’s strengths. Something which may be perceived as a strength or a weakness depending on the perspective of the reader, is the setting the major part of the novel: the country estate of an English aristocrat. It’s all rather Downton Abbey. If I weren’t somewhat addicted to that television series, I might roll my eyes. But as I am, the setting only added to my reading pleasure.
This novel contained several scenes which moved me to tears. This doesn’t happen to me that often when I read crime fiction and when it does, it’s a definite mark in the writer’s favour. Overall, this is a solid novel in a solid series.
September 11, 2024
This is my second time through this book - the first time I read it, this time I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jenny Sterlin. While I've gotten bogged down in The Pirate King previously (book 11), I do intend to break the back of this series this time through.
Having said that, I write this review having previously read the next four books in the series: The Game, Locked Rooms, The Language of Bees and The God of the Hive, as well as the five preceding books. At least at this point, this is the emotional high point of the series for me. The scene where Mary and Sherlock meet with Reverend Hastings to find the truth behind the case they are investigating remains one of the single most devastating and damning discussions of the emotional reality of warfare and the concept of honor that I've ever read, and it is odd that it is contained within the confines of a piece of Holmes pastiche. Laurie King has transcended the genre several times throughout this series, but this book, for me, is the one that does it most clearly and best.
If I had one series that I wish to see adapted for television by an HBO or a Netflix, it is this one. Even then, the idea of an adaptation terrifies me, because I see no likelihood that the depth of the series could be adequately translated without falling into the trap of ignoring what makes the series great in favor of what makes it commercial.
Having said that, I write this review having previously read the next four books in the series: The Game, Locked Rooms, The Language of Bees and The God of the Hive, as well as the five preceding books. At least at this point, this is the emotional high point of the series for me. The scene where Mary and Sherlock meet with Reverend Hastings to find the truth behind the case they are investigating remains one of the single most devastating and damning discussions of the emotional reality of warfare and the concept of honor that I've ever read, and it is odd that it is contained within the confines of a piece of Holmes pastiche. Laurie King has transcended the genre several times throughout this series, but this book, for me, is the one that does it most clearly and best.
If I had one series that I wish to see adapted for television by an HBO or a Netflix, it is this one. Even then, the idea of an adaptation terrifies me, because I see no likelihood that the depth of the series could be adequately translated without falling into the trap of ignoring what makes the series great in favor of what makes it commercial.
June 28, 2021
A house (Justice Hall) that was very much a character in its own right. Laurie R. King paints it so well that I could picture each and every room and Justice Hall's gardens. Described right after WW1 one can see the bustling servants and snippets of a posh life that one was.
Also a personal look in a tragedy that happened during the war, a occurrence that was not unusual but very much felt in the telling of this story.
Meeting up with Mahmoud and Ali again along with a number of interesting and intriguing new characters--this has to be my forvorite of the Mary Russell, Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
June 28 2021
This is still my favorite book in this series. I loved every moment in re-reading this. I adore the fact that no matter how many times I re-read the story I come to a new realization to some part of the story I ponder over due to the intricacies of the book in its entirety.
Also a personal look in a tragedy that happened during the war, a occurrence that was not unusual but very much felt in the telling of this story.
Meeting up with Mahmoud and Ali again along with a number of interesting and intriguing new characters--this has to be my forvorite of the Mary Russell, Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
June 28 2021
This is still my favorite book in this series. I loved every moment in re-reading this. I adore the fact that no matter how many times I re-read the story I come to a new realization to some part of the story I ponder over due to the intricacies of the book in its entirety.
March 8, 2018
This is a wonderful period mystery series, and even moreso if you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes.
Laurie King writes historical fiction wonderfully, never an anachronistic word in the lot, which is becoming increasingly rare, in my experience. Sherlock Holmes and his wife are so real to me in these books, it is as though I know them.
Most of the novel is spent in a beautiful country estate (Justice Hall) as the family searches for the rightful heir to carry on with. In this volume, an English officer is executed during WWI and we are not sure if a crime has indeed occurred, as this is what put the title up for grabs. I laughed and cried at times, and really enjoyed this.
Jenny Sterlin's audio narration of every installment in this series is superb. She becomes Mary Russell in her performance. She is phenomenal.
This has become a rather famous quote from the Bible during the past year, and opens this volume:
Amen, let it roll.
Laurie King writes historical fiction wonderfully, never an anachronistic word in the lot, which is becoming increasingly rare, in my experience. Sherlock Holmes and his wife are so real to me in these books, it is as though I know them.
Most of the novel is spent in a beautiful country estate (Justice Hall) as the family searches for the rightful heir to carry on with. In this volume, an English officer is executed during WWI and we are not sure if a crime has indeed occurred, as this is what put the title up for grabs. I laughed and cried at times, and really enjoyed this.
Jenny Sterlin's audio narration of every installment in this series is superb. She becomes Mary Russell in her performance. She is phenomenal.
This has become a rather famous quote from the Bible during the past year, and opens this volume:
Let justice roll down like the waters, and righteousness like an ever flowing stream. Amos 5:24
Amen, let it roll.
December 23, 2013
I do try to be sparring in handing out five stars--and I've read some really fine books lately. But this series is a favorite of mine, and this might be my favorite of the books yet. For those who don't know, the Mary Russell series is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche. King created a female counterpart and partner for Sherlock Holmes--a much younger, feminist Jewish American partner. Oh, so many ways it could have gone wrong! But I loved the first Mary Russell book I picked up in the middle of the series, A Letter of Mary, and eventually made my way to the first, The Beekeeper's Apprentice and made my way back up to this, the sixth book. It's been a while since I've read one of these--this is actually something of a direct sequel to the last, O, Jerusalem, and two characters central there, Ali and Mahmoud Hazr, are also central here.
It might have been best to read the books back to back, but I didn't feel like I'd missed a step. You know why I felt I had to give this five stars? Because from the first words I couldn't stop reading to the end and finished the same day. Because from the beginning I felt as if I had stepped into a bath and felt warmth suffuse through my body as I read the descriptions of Mary returning with Holmes. There are just so many elements done right. Sherlock Holmes is a delight to read, a highlight whenever he appears. The historical fiction side is convincing--this is set in 1923 and deals with World War I and its aftermath. I loved the theological and thematic elements woven in--in particular into "Justice Hall" one of those fictional great estates, like Pemberly or Manderley, that dominate a narrative, that is a character in a story. And the mystery--not brilliant in a Christie or Tey twist sort of way--but satisfying. And the book never insults your intelligence. I enjoyed the Stephanie Plum book I read, but soon decided she wouldn't wear well on me--too stupid to live characters don't amuse me. But the so very sharp Holmes and Russell, ah that's a great pleasure.
It might have been best to read the books back to back, but I didn't feel like I'd missed a step. You know why I felt I had to give this five stars? Because from the first words I couldn't stop reading to the end and finished the same day. Because from the beginning I felt as if I had stepped into a bath and felt warmth suffuse through my body as I read the descriptions of Mary returning with Holmes. There are just so many elements done right. Sherlock Holmes is a delight to read, a highlight whenever he appears. The historical fiction side is convincing--this is set in 1923 and deals with World War I and its aftermath. I loved the theological and thematic elements woven in--in particular into "Justice Hall" one of those fictional great estates, like Pemberly or Manderley, that dominate a narrative, that is a character in a story. And the mystery--not brilliant in a Christie or Tey twist sort of way--but satisfying. And the book never insults your intelligence. I enjoyed the Stephanie Plum book I read, but soon decided she wouldn't wear well on me--too stupid to live characters don't amuse me. But the so very sharp Holmes and Russell, ah that's a great pleasure.
October 24, 2014
Fun, but not up to the quality of King's previous Mary Russell tales. Too many holes, convenient coincidences and an unsatisfactory conclusion--even the casual reader sees that the "trap" for the guilty will both fail and probably endanger the innocent. The set-up is fine, using characters from an earlier story to good effect.
The plot revolves around the succession to a fictional peerage near top of English nobility, and yet the development betrays an American's superficial view of how bloodlines are established and tracked. One candidate cannot simply disappear because Sherlock Holmes, much less he himself, is satisfied of another candidate's credentials. Physical resembles (or not) aside, documents must not only be produced but authenticated. The story mentions, but largely ignores how, even ninety years ago, the operation of a ducal estate would be such a large, complex business that one could not simply walk away from and assume the lawyers would sort it out--not if one cared about the outcome.
Still, a good read.
The plot revolves around the succession to a fictional peerage near top of English nobility, and yet the development betrays an American's superficial view of how bloodlines are established and tracked. One candidate cannot simply disappear because Sherlock Holmes, much less he himself, is satisfied of another candidate's credentials. Physical resembles (or not) aside, documents must not only be produced but authenticated. The story mentions, but largely ignores how, even ninety years ago, the operation of a ducal estate would be such a large, complex business that one could not simply walk away from and assume the lawyers would sort it out--not if one cared about the outcome.
Still, a good read.
July 7, 2010
Once I have managed to transplant myself someplace with more shelf space, I know all of the Marry Russell novels in hardcover will be moving in with them. Reading this book was a struggle for self-control, as I am simultaneously anxious to read faster, faster and find the resolution of the mystery, while at the same time I want to slow down and savor each subtle and delightful sentence. I look forward to the re-read, when the whip of mystery will be gone and I can simply relish the wonderful characters Laurie King has created. Mary Russell ranks next to Claire Frasier as one of my all time favorite heroines, capable, brilliant, passionate, and blessed with her own passions and pursuits alongside her husband’s.
February 1, 2016
Justice Hall story takes place quite directly after The Moor when Holmes and Russell find a bloodied guest at their doorstep begging for help. It actually makes a lot of sense to why O Jerusalem came before this book despite that the story takes place directly after The Moor. You just have to rad this book and the previous to find out why...
Russell and Holmes have to help Marsh Hughenfort discover the truth about the death of his nephew Gabriel Hughenfort who died in the Great War of 1918. But, there is someone out there that doesn’t want the truth to be reveal and will do anything to stop Holmes and Russell finding out the truth…
This is also, like O Jerusalem, a book that took some rereads for me to really warm up to it. I was actually a bit surprised to find I have only given it 4-stars on Goodreads (so I changed it to 5-stars) since I actually like it quite a lot nowadays. I like the connection this book have to O Jerusalem and the case is very interesting and tragic. It’s a very good book.
Russell and Holmes have to help Marsh Hughenfort discover the truth about the death of his nephew Gabriel Hughenfort who died in the Great War of 1918. But, there is someone out there that doesn’t want the truth to be reveal and will do anything to stop Holmes and Russell finding out the truth…
This is also, like O Jerusalem, a book that took some rereads for me to really warm up to it. I was actually a bit surprised to find I have only given it 4-stars on Goodreads (so I changed it to 5-stars) since I actually like it quite a lot nowadays. I like the connection this book have to O Jerusalem and the case is very interesting and tragic. It’s a very good book.
February 3, 2022
This is historical fiction done just the way I like it. It’s also crime fiction, but with less emphasis on that genre.
Though I skipped O Jerusalem, the preceding novel, this closely-tied book left me feeling like I didn’t miss anything critical and everything made sense.
Though I skipped O Jerusalem, the preceding novel, this closely-tied book left me feeling like I didn’t miss anything critical and everything made sense.
July 31, 2022
I love this series involving an aging Holmes and the young woman who becomes his wife. Mary Russell is my favorite character in quite some time. She is the equal of the great Sherlock intellectually, complementing his skills of deduction with her own brilliant analyses of the theological and human aspects of a case. Together, they are the ultimate investigative duo.
We meet again the cousins Mahmoud and Ali from O, Jerusalem, however in this book they are transformed into their original identities as Marsh and Alastair, members of an aristocratic British family. Marsh has been named the 7th Duke of Beauville after the tragic death of the heir apparent at the front lines during WWI. Gabriel’s death does not occur on the battlefield, and it is the circumstances and mystery involving it that spurs Alastair to involve Holmes.
The investigation moves from the ancestral country home of Justice Hall to London, then on to Paris as Holmes and Russell work to unravel the complex line of succession to the Dukedom. The conspiracy, then coverup, of events leading to Gabriel’s final days is a sad testimony to the shameful practices of the British military during the conflict. The devastation wrought by the foolish and stubborn belief at the highest levels of command that the only way to maintain discipline at the front line was via executions is a stain on the military legacy of Britain.
This book is more than a murder mystery, and I was deeply moved by the plight and bravery of young Gabriel, even as he was betrayed by a member of his own family. I don’t often re-read mysteries, but in this case I will probably make an exception. Well done, Ms. King.
We meet again the cousins Mahmoud and Ali from O, Jerusalem, however in this book they are transformed into their original identities as Marsh and Alastair, members of an aristocratic British family. Marsh has been named the 7th Duke of Beauville after the tragic death of the heir apparent at the front lines during WWI. Gabriel’s death does not occur on the battlefield, and it is the circumstances and mystery involving it that spurs Alastair to involve Holmes.
The investigation moves from the ancestral country home of Justice Hall to London, then on to Paris as Holmes and Russell work to unravel the complex line of succession to the Dukedom. The conspiracy, then coverup, of events leading to Gabriel’s final days is a sad testimony to the shameful practices of the British military during the conflict. The devastation wrought by the foolish and stubborn belief at the highest levels of command that the only way to maintain discipline at the front line was via executions is a stain on the military legacy of Britain.
This book is more than a murder mystery, and I was deeply moved by the plight and bravery of young Gabriel, even as he was betrayed by a member of his own family. I don’t often re-read mysteries, but in this case I will probably make an exception. Well done, Ms. King.
December 24, 2018
The 6th book in the Mary Russell series is closely connected to the previous book in the series, O Jerusalem, which I highly recommend reading first. Mary and her husband Sherlock Holmes are interrupted at home by an injured man, with whom they are acquainted, requesting they save his cousin Marsh from being named Duke of Beauville as Marsh feels trapped in the position and unable to do what he is meant to do. The investigation leads to the suspicious death of Marsh's nephew Gabriel during WWI, which has only recently ended as the book is set in 1923. These books are a bit slower paced but I enjoy the characters and the setting. I recommend the series except for the incredibly boring The Moor, the 4th book in the series.
December 3, 2019
My first book in this series, listening to a narrator. It took me a little time to get used to the Jenny Sterlin voices for the characters. It did not take anything away from my enjoyment of the story. It was awesome!
If you are going to read this one, make sure you have already read O Jerusalem.
If you are going to read this one, make sure you have already read O Jerusalem.
November 1, 2024
(4.5) one of those books that I want to reread like immediately now that I know the ending
November 23, 2019
I love this series! Some books I like better than others, but I love the characters and the whole thing. You really need to read Book 5 to understand Book 6. I know that #5 goes back in time, but it's worthwhile to read it and not skip. The characters in #6 will be richer if you don't jump books.
July 17, 2012
I really like this series, and Justice Hall is my favorite of the bunch. I'm on a definite Sherlock Holmes kick lately, so that helps, but I also just think that King is a great writer. The word that keeps popping into my head when I think about her writing is "erudition." She is not necessarily a beautiful writer; her style isn't poetic or particularly lovely in anyway, but she's a smart writer. She doesn't hold the reader's hand. I feel like she assumes that her readers are intelligent and can understand nuances without being hit over the head, an assumption that is rare in authors of less-high-quality mystery novels. There are lots of red herrings and loose ends that aren't tied up in the end, making the books realistically messy at times. King also throws in lots of cultural, historical, and literary allusions (one of my favorites: "[so and so] was [doing such and such] when Victoria was wearing color." I can't remember the exact quote, but I loved the reference.). All of her cultural allusions, as far as I can tell, are appropriate to the time. I love her use of the characters, events, and culture of the time: Holmes, of course, and also Rudyard Kipling's Kim and Dashiell Hammett, an actual person and author of the Sam Spade detective novels, are all characters in her books. She also mentions the vote for women, land girls during WWI, airplanes, chewing gum, flappers, and silent films, among other things. I love all of the cultural details--the trips to India and Jerusalem were fun, but having taken a fairly rigorous college course on the history of San Francisco, I loved Locked Doors; so much of what we covered in the course was woven into the story--the dynamiting of Van Ness, for instance, or Amadeo Giannini, president and founder of Bank of Italy (now Bank of America and considerably less concerned for its client's interests) braving the fires following the 1906 earthquake to rescue his investors' deposits, etc. And it was done seamlessly--not in a way that was jarring or tangential. And, of course, Mary Russell is just a great character. She's supposed to be smart and interesting and has a sense of humor, and I just love her. And I love that you can hear her voice in the books. At times I really do forget that they were written in the last few years, and not in the 1920s. Overall, I've just really enjoyed this series, and I'm sad I've come to the end (I just finished Pirate King). Hopefully she has a few more titles in the work.
July 24, 2016
An exquisite return to form - not formulae - by Laurie R. King after the flounderings of The Moor, Justice Hall is a stimulating and nuanced mystery. Drawing upon the best of her previous texts, The Beekeeper's Apprentice and O Jerusalem, Justice Hall reunites Mary Russell and Holmes with their closest comrades, the Hazr "brothers" of Palestine. Now returned to England and trapped by ancestral nobility, these men have sought the assistance of those they can trust to both honour and find freedom from their noble responsibility. That alone would be a tall order, but of course the plot thickens...
Justice Hall unites strong canon with layered plot, then builds well upon this foundation. Emotionally intimacy coexists with organic mystique, and both are accompanied by indirect meditations on the forms of honour, the nature of family, and the relationship between identity and freedom. Historical context and theological references, hallmarks of the series, further serve to ground the narrative.
If there is a notable criticism to make, it is that the character of Sherlock Holmes plays a particularly limited role, and that his brother remains an implausibly inexhaustible and unthreatened resource. There is some sense of vulnerability at times, but some characters - Mary Russell for instance - avoid any notable danger.
Justice Hall unites strong canon with layered plot, then builds well upon this foundation. Emotionally intimacy coexists with organic mystique, and both are accompanied by indirect meditations on the forms of honour, the nature of family, and the relationship between identity and freedom. Historical context and theological references, hallmarks of the series, further serve to ground the narrative.
If there is a notable criticism to make, it is that the character of Sherlock Holmes plays a particularly limited role, and that his brother remains an implausibly inexhaustible and unthreatened resource. There is some sense of vulnerability at times, but some characters - Mary Russell for instance - avoid any notable danger.
November 19, 2015
This is the 6th in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series. It picks up very shortly after the 5th book's conclusion and, indeed, involves two of my favorite characters from the series (outside of Holmes and Russell): Ali and his brother Mahmoud. In fact, the attraction of this particular entry in the series is not Russell or Holmes or even the mystery that permeates this story. Rather it is those two "supporting" characters and the mystery of their lives and backgrounds. Throw in the setting itself, Justice Hall and you have the makings of a great novel. I did not award 5 stars simply because I listened to the audio version of this one and I found the narrator's voice a bit tedious at times. And I didn't care for her voice for Sherlock at all. I suspect reading the book versus listening to it might well have bumped it up to the 5 star level for me.
June 30, 2016
I haven't read O Jerusalem yet, but the synopsis of this was just so tempting, especially by comparison to Pirate King, which I'd started and was finding hard going. It's been a very fast read.
6/30 - finished this last night. I don't have words for the way Gabriel came to die in 1918. Highly recommended.
6/30 - finished this last night. I don't have words for the way Gabriel came to die in 1918. Highly recommended.
July 4, 2017
Painful, brutal, beautiful integration of WWI aftermath with the twists and turns of a Holmes mystery. Paired with O Jerusalem, makes an enjoyable and challenging duology in the midst of the ongoing series.
April 2, 2017
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
In the combined desire to reread the Holmes/Russell series and still hurry to get to Pirate King, I skipped two books: Letter of Mary I did not have, and O Jerusalem was a departure of setting and plotline, and took place a step out of time in the series, so that I felt safe leaving it out for the time being. (I will get back to it before long.) Such is the beauty of this series that it was perfectly possible to do so and still happily read this sixth book, which not only opens hours after Holmes and Russell return home from the adventures of the fourth book but also picks up the threads of the fifth book, which took place in the middle of the first.
I know, but it really does make perfect sense. The timing and placement of the books in the series is actually quite brilliant planning, if planned it was – and if it wasn't, perhaps it's even more brilliant.
Once again, Holmes and Russell have only the briefest of respites from their travels before they are haled off on another urgent undertaking, to help another old friend in desperate need. Not a need for himself, but that of his closest friend, his all-but brother, who has found himself with no honorable choice but to leave the work he has loved and lived for for decades in the Middle-east to come back to England to play lord of the manor in his family seat, Justice Hall. It's a variation on a theme often played in historical and fantasy novels: the man who never expected to be heir. Marsh Hughenfort was the younger son, and his elder brother had a son – but upon the relatively early death of the brother and the mysterious death of the nephew somewhere on the frontlines of WWI, the title is his. The problem is that his near-brother believes it will kill him, and he wants Holmes and Russell to come and convince him he should shirk his duty and return to the desert. With a sigh (and some grumbling from Russell), the pair heed the call to investigate the nephew's death and, making no promises, to see what they can do in the matter of convincing Marsh to cede the title that will leave him a virtual zombie.
I loved this book. I loved the double lives – not only of the "guest" protagonists, but of Holmes and Russell (for nearly every case necessitates some degree of false face) and also of others in the cast. I loved the house, and its character; I blunder through that a little more below, but it takes a special gift for a writer to successfully depict a setting with personality without drifting into a fantasy lane. And most of all I loved the people, familiar and new (or altered), living and dead, who filled the story. Setting and characters are all imbued with their own lives and thoughts and business, into which the reader is privileged to be given a brief glimpse.
Justice Hall is an elegy to all that WWI destroyed – the innocence, the security, a generation of youth and promise gone or broken or soured to cynicism. At this distance of space and time it's hard to grasp the gaping wound the Great War left on England – hard, that is, without reading something like this. Here it all becomes much clearer – the chaos and the pain, and the ruination of so many lives. The waste.
I'm not sure this is going to come out as I want it to, but here goes. The book is also a testimony to what a lord should be, the classic ideal of the feudal establishment – the protector and pillar of his people. By this I don't mean shiny-faced happy peasants with their mattocks on their shoulders pulling forelocks to their lord and master as he rides haughtily by on his hunter, and later he sits down to a feast in his lofty hall while they eat their gruel in their hovel. That's not a model of anything except bad cliché. As such, as it is so often seen in fiction (and fact): the system is rife with abuse and advantage-takers, unfair to everyone except the "nobles" at the top of the pyramid. But here the reader is given a glimpse of a platonic ideal in which the family born to power respects it as well as those in its care, and uses the power and wealth of its position to ease life not only for its own immediate members but for its dependents. No one starves on the lands overseen by Justice Hall. The Hughenforts care for and look after their people, and their people in turn are proud of their allegiance to the Hughenforts – it's a beautiful symbiotic relationship. I wonder how often (if ever) this ideal was ever achieved in reality.
It is right and just that this is how it is here – because without the strength and desirability of the estate, there would be no conflict about its inheritance. The draw of Justice Hall is much more than simply familial duty or nostalgia for a childhood home. This book is a love story, on many levels … There is the unorthodox love between Russell and Holmes, of course. There is the filial love between the cousins, which will not allow Alastair to see Marsh core out the heart of him even for Justice Hall. Love of country – which is part of what has kept Marsh and Alastair away from England for so long, and why their nephew went willingly to his death, and why so many, one way or another, lost the lives they had before the war. And duty, that rare sort of duty not performed through mere obligation.
And, not least of all, there is the love that Laurie R. King has for her characters and her work. You can't produce something like this without loving what you do, and caring about the people who will read it. That makes itself felt. And is very much appreciated.
In the combined desire to reread the Holmes/Russell series and still hurry to get to Pirate King, I skipped two books: Letter of Mary I did not have, and O Jerusalem was a departure of setting and plotline, and took place a step out of time in the series, so that I felt safe leaving it out for the time being. (I will get back to it before long.) Such is the beauty of this series that it was perfectly possible to do so and still happily read this sixth book, which not only opens hours after Holmes and Russell return home from the adventures of the fourth book but also picks up the threads of the fifth book, which took place in the middle of the first.
I know, but it really does make perfect sense. The timing and placement of the books in the series is actually quite brilliant planning, if planned it was – and if it wasn't, perhaps it's even more brilliant.
Once again, Holmes and Russell have only the briefest of respites from their travels before they are haled off on another urgent undertaking, to help another old friend in desperate need. Not a need for himself, but that of his closest friend, his all-but brother, who has found himself with no honorable choice but to leave the work he has loved and lived for for decades in the Middle-east to come back to England to play lord of the manor in his family seat, Justice Hall. It's a variation on a theme often played in historical and fantasy novels: the man who never expected to be heir. Marsh Hughenfort was the younger son, and his elder brother had a son – but upon the relatively early death of the brother and the mysterious death of the nephew somewhere on the frontlines of WWI, the title is his. The problem is that his near-brother believes it will kill him, and he wants Holmes and Russell to come and convince him he should shirk his duty and return to the desert. With a sigh (and some grumbling from Russell), the pair heed the call to investigate the nephew's death and, making no promises, to see what they can do in the matter of convincing Marsh to cede the title that will leave him a virtual zombie.
I loved this book. I loved the double lives – not only of the "guest" protagonists, but of Holmes and Russell (for nearly every case necessitates some degree of false face) and also of others in the cast. I loved the house, and its character; I blunder through that a little more below, but it takes a special gift for a writer to successfully depict a setting with personality without drifting into a fantasy lane. And most of all I loved the people, familiar and new (or altered), living and dead, who filled the story. Setting and characters are all imbued with their own lives and thoughts and business, into which the reader is privileged to be given a brief glimpse.
Justice Hall is an elegy to all that WWI destroyed – the innocence, the security, a generation of youth and promise gone or broken or soured to cynicism. At this distance of space and time it's hard to grasp the gaping wound the Great War left on England – hard, that is, without reading something like this. Here it all becomes much clearer – the chaos and the pain, and the ruination of so many lives. The waste.
I'm not sure this is going to come out as I want it to, but here goes. The book is also a testimony to what a lord should be, the classic ideal of the feudal establishment – the protector and pillar of his people. By this I don't mean shiny-faced happy peasants with their mattocks on their shoulders pulling forelocks to their lord and master as he rides haughtily by on his hunter, and later he sits down to a feast in his lofty hall while they eat their gruel in their hovel. That's not a model of anything except bad cliché. As such, as it is so often seen in fiction (and fact): the system is rife with abuse and advantage-takers, unfair to everyone except the "nobles" at the top of the pyramid. But here the reader is given a glimpse of a platonic ideal in which the family born to power respects it as well as those in its care, and uses the power and wealth of its position to ease life not only for its own immediate members but for its dependents. No one starves on the lands overseen by Justice Hall. The Hughenforts care for and look after their people, and their people in turn are proud of their allegiance to the Hughenforts – it's a beautiful symbiotic relationship. I wonder how often (if ever) this ideal was ever achieved in reality.
It is right and just that this is how it is here – because without the strength and desirability of the estate, there would be no conflict about its inheritance. The draw of Justice Hall is much more than simply familial duty or nostalgia for a childhood home. This book is a love story, on many levels … There is the unorthodox love between Russell and Holmes, of course. There is the filial love between the cousins, which will not allow Alastair to see Marsh core out the heart of him even for Justice Hall. Love of country – which is part of what has kept Marsh and Alastair away from England for so long, and why their nephew went willingly to his death, and why so many, one way or another, lost the lives they had before the war. And duty, that rare sort of duty not performed through mere obligation.
And, not least of all, there is the love that Laurie R. King has for her characters and her work. You can't produce something like this without loving what you do, and caring about the people who will read it. That makes itself felt. And is very much appreciated.
January 8, 2020
I really enjoyed this book from the Mary Russell series. I found the plot more interesting. It had its usual methodical evidence gathering by Holmes and Russell which makes it slow paced, however this has been my favourite in the series so far
April 24, 2024
Another rousing adventure with Holmes and Russell.
October 13, 2024
This book was a little boring to me in the beginning. As it went, it got more interesting, but I always felt it was little too long. I prefer a bit more A to B, not so much drawn out explanation.
January 24, 2012
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this entry in the Mary Russell series. Perhaps it was because I'd just finished O Jerusalem only a week ago and the characters Mahmoud and Ali were still so very strong in my mind, this was easily my favourite since the first book in the series.
Mary and Holmes return home almost immediately after the events The Moor to discover Alister stumbling into their home, an english caricature of the wild Ali they met in Palestine. And so the mystery continues with the strange circumstances of their brothers.
It's hard to summarise the plot in a few paragraphs without spoilers, but the characters and tragic stories of the Hughenfort family bought me to tears a few times. I wasn't overly fond of O Jerusalem, but have a better understanding of its place in the series after reading Justice Hall.
Mary and Holmes return home almost immediately after the events The Moor to discover Alister stumbling into their home, an english caricature of the wild Ali they met in Palestine. And so the mystery continues with the strange circumstances of their brothers.
It's hard to summarise the plot in a few paragraphs without spoilers, but the characters and tragic stories of the Hughenfort family bought me to tears a few times. I wasn't overly fond of O Jerusalem, but have a better understanding of its place in the series after reading Justice Hall.
April 21, 2020
DNF - A very intriguing mystery was buried under a mountain of descriptions. I get that the house is nice. But could we get to the meat of the story without a detailed description of EVERY room? (I’m not even exaggerating. She gets a tour of the house and feels it necessary to drop several comments on architecture, upholstery, drapery, and knickknacks for each room). My patience was throughly frayed about halfway through and I was having unpleasant flashbacks to The Moor. I think I’m done with the series, especially after the unlikely introduction of not one but two homosexual characters (whose lifestyle is throughly approved by others, despite it being 1923).
I’ve really enjoyed this series, and I will always treasure the first 5 books (excluding The Moor).
I’ve really enjoyed this series, and I will always treasure the first 5 books (excluding The Moor).
March 13, 2018
I think this is my fourth Mary Russell book and once again it was so satisfying, this is exactly what a good read should be on a cloudy day and rainy night, her turn of phrase, attention to detail of the place and period, plot twists and willingness to address a profound historical injustice within these pages of fiction as well as totally engaging characters both charming, oh so clever and oh so despicable and Mary Russell, how I wish she lived next door should I happen to move to rural England!
May 17, 2020
Really enjoyed the adventures of Mary Russell and her husband Holmes. The book featured characters from the previous book. Set after the First World War it tells the story of Gabriel and what happened to him during the war and who was to blame. The pace was quicker than the last book and more enjoyable. One of its main focuses is the barbaric executions of young soldiers.
July 22, 2014
Not a big fan of the major characters of colour from the previous book turning out to have been wealthy white Englishmen all along.
October 21, 2020
Justice Hall is book 6 in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. It is my favorite to date. The book takes place at an immense country estate, known as Justice Hall. Russell and Holmes have been brought there by their friend Alistair John Hughenfort who is concerned about the welfare of his cousin, Marsh Hughenfort, the Seventh Duke of Beauville. We first met Alistar and Marsh, then known as the bedouin brothers Ali and Mahmoud Hazr, in book 5: O Jerusalem!, which took place 5 years earlier in Palestine.
Marsh has returned from his nomadic life in Palestine following the death of his brother, Henry, to do his family duty and serve as the Duke. It is not his choice, but his familiar duty. Not all family members are thrilled with Marsh’s return. There is a question of a possible heir, a young boy living in France with his mother and whom no one in the family has ever met. His alleged father is Lionel, one of Marsh’s brothers. His existence is suspicious in many ways, not least of which is Lionel’s “flamboyant disinterest in women”. Before long another possible heir is on the horizon. A young boy born to Gabriel, son of Marsh’s oldest brother, Henry. Gabriel was executed under suspicious circumstances during the war and his war diary tells of a romance with a young Canadian nurse.
Traveling from England to France to Canada, Russell and Homes conduct interviews, research documents and follow clues all while evading harm, in an effort to determine who is the real Hugenfort heir. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For more book reviews and recommendations follow me at #emptynestreader #instagram #facebook #Goodreads #JusticeHall #LaurieRKing #recordedbooks #fiction #historicalfiction #mystery #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #readingbringsjoy #whatimreading #booksilove #goodreadschallenge #igbooks #bookfetish #octoberreads #5starread #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle
#audible #audiobooks #emptynestreaderaudiobooks🎧
Marsh has returned from his nomadic life in Palestine following the death of his brother, Henry, to do his family duty and serve as the Duke. It is not his choice, but his familiar duty. Not all family members are thrilled with Marsh’s return. There is a question of a possible heir, a young boy living in France with his mother and whom no one in the family has ever met. His alleged father is Lionel, one of Marsh’s brothers. His existence is suspicious in many ways, not least of which is Lionel’s “flamboyant disinterest in women”. Before long another possible heir is on the horizon. A young boy born to Gabriel, son of Marsh’s oldest brother, Henry. Gabriel was executed under suspicious circumstances during the war and his war diary tells of a romance with a young Canadian nurse.
Traveling from England to France to Canada, Russell and Homes conduct interviews, research documents and follow clues all while evading harm, in an effort to determine who is the real Hugenfort heir. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For more book reviews and recommendations follow me at #emptynestreader #instagram #facebook #Goodreads #JusticeHall #LaurieRKing #recordedbooks #fiction #historicalfiction #mystery #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #readingbringsjoy #whatimreading #booksilove #goodreadschallenge #igbooks #bookfetish #octoberreads #5starread #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle
#audible #audiobooks #emptynestreaderaudiobooks🎧
June 10, 2022
spoiler hinted at: still good but not as good
Why would the author take two romantic characters and turn them into middle-aged English nobles? (That’s not the spoiler, it happens in the first two chapters.) Why would the author have Mary Russell spend 10 pages exploring Justice Hall? Every painting, every room…sure, a stairway figures in the denouement but ten pages?
The tragedy of the story is indeed heartbreaking, and although the resolution doesn’t bring true justice, even that can be satisfying. But it isn’t, because…read no further to avoid the spoiler hint… because we never, ever get to know the villain. He’s coyly referred to by his family title, one that applies to at least four other men in the family, throughout the entire book! And we don’t love, hate, fear or in any way relate to the villain. So ultimately, we don’t care who he turns out to be.
But the setting is great, the tragedy is tragic, Russell and Holmes do their thing, and the two English nobles are given back their allure—tarnished allure, an Emperor-has-only-his-underwear allure, but at least that.
Be sure to have read the previous one in the series, O Jerusalem, or this will really not make sense.
I hope the next one is better.
Why would the author take two romantic characters and turn them into middle-aged English nobles? (That’s not the spoiler, it happens in the first two chapters.) Why would the author have Mary Russell spend 10 pages exploring Justice Hall? Every painting, every room…sure, a stairway figures in the denouement but ten pages?
The tragedy of the story is indeed heartbreaking, and although the resolution doesn’t bring true justice, even that can be satisfying. But it isn’t, because…read no further to avoid the spoiler hint… because we never, ever get to know the villain. He’s coyly referred to by his family title, one that applies to at least four other men in the family, throughout the entire book! And we don’t love, hate, fear or in any way relate to the villain. So ultimately, we don’t care who he turns out to be.
But the setting is great, the tragedy is tragic, Russell and Holmes do their thing, and the two English nobles are given back their allure—tarnished allure, an Emperor-has-only-his-underwear allure, but at least that.
Be sure to have read the previous one in the series, O Jerusalem, or this will really not make sense.
I hope the next one is better.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 958 reviews