Laurie R. King Virtual Book Club discussion

Hello, I am currently reading Laurie R. King's The Moor for the third time. I've read the complete Mary Russell series, of course. I am looking for recommendations of books that hit some of the same notes as The Moor -especially in regard to the geography/weather/tone of the book/personalities of the characters.

Thank you for reading and thank you for suggestions, one and all.

Libby wrote: "Hello, I am currently reading Laurie R. King's The Moor for the third time. I've read the complete Mary Russell series, of course. I am looking for recommendations of books that hit some of the sam..."

Libby, you will probably think this is silly, because you've already read it, but if you haven't read it lately, I recommend "Jane Eyre." This has been one of my favorite books since I was a teenager and I recently listened to it as an audiobook - it doesn't disappoint and of course - great Moor settings!
And then there is Lyndsay Faye's "Jane Steele," which is sort of a modern rif on "Jane Eyre," with quite a twist. It's great.

Wuthering Heights and The Moonstone come to mind. But if you want something lighter. The third book in Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia series, Silent on the Moor, is a fun romantic historical mystery.

Thank you!

And of course, Hound of the Baskervilles…

Libby wrote: "especially in regard to the geography/weather/tone of the book/personalities of the characters"

They're really quite different in a lot of ways, but thinking of evocative descriptions of the landscape and weather, the John Buchan series featuring Richard Hannay is pretty good. It starts with The Thirty-nine Steps, but all five of them, especially The Island of Sheep, have some very evocative descriptions of the landscape, which is usually an important part of the story. Coincidentally, I am currently rereading Island of Sheep, or it might not have come to mind so quickly. Just be aware that The Thirty-nine Steps is quite different from the Hitchcock film adaptation.

Thanks, Emily. I'll take a look!

Yes, thank you, Laurie! One of my favorite Holmes stories ever.

P.S. I'm looking forward to the release of the Mary Russell short stories. It will be so great to have them in hard copy. Thanks for sharing your wonderful work.


Laurie wrote: "And of course, Hound of the Baskervilles…"

Hello! I'm rereading A Letter of Mary and after having read The Murder of Mary Russell I am confused. In Letter, Mrs Hudson receives a letter from her daughter in Australia. And then she goes to visit a nephew in Guildford. We now know she has a son in Australia as well as her sister. And there can be no nephew in Guildford. Have I missed something? Thank you!

Sheri wrote: "Hello! I'm rereading A Letter of Mary and after having read The Murder of Mary Russell I am confused. In Letter, Mrs Hudson receives a letter from her daughter in Australia. And then she goes to vi..."

I went back and looked. Actually, the letter is said to be from her son in Australia. As for the "nephew in Guildford," it is Holmes who tells Russell she has gone there, not Mrs. Hudson herself. It could easily be one of Billy's nephews by marriage -- whom Mrs. Hudson would certainly think of as "her" great-nephew, given the relationship she has with Billy. And Holmes, who is keeping Mrs. Hudson's secrets, would adopt that point of view.

Leaves me wondering what would have happened if Mrs. Hudson's son had ever come to London to see her (like in the event that his mother has died and he has no remaining connections in Australia? Even without murderous intentions). Since apparently everyone but him knew Mrs. Hudson had a son in Australia.

Thank you for reminding me of Billy's large family by marriage. I agree, Holmes would have gone along with whatever she told him. The copy of Letter I am reading is a first edition, published 1996, and it must have an edit mistake (p. 5) because it says the letter is from her daughter in Australia. It was probably fixed in later editions.

MMR definitely changes my perspective when rereading the early books. We can look back with a more informed perspective now. I can't wait to see where we go next!