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Tara

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Tara is Currently Reading

Tara is currently reading

The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About

by Mel Robbins

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5 hours, 38 min ago

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Cocktails Illustrated: 400+ Recipes for the Home Bartender, from Spirit Forward to Zero Proof

by America's Test Kitchen

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Feb 10, 2026 04:43PM

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The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, #1)

by Laurie R. King (Goodreads Author)

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Reading for the 2nd time

read in January 2001

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Tara said: " To be honest, this "review" is more of an explanation of why I adore this book so much than a critical look at the work. I am aware this is not the "great American novel"...my love for it is that of an avid fan who's current personality and interest To be honest, this "review" is more of an explanation of why I adore this book so much than a critical look at the work. I am aware this is not the "great American novel"...my love for it is that of an avid fan who's current personality and interest were vastly influenced by this story, not a master's student's thesis. That's why I gave up my literature degree and went to dental school instead. Carry on!

This book continues to be one of my favorites, 15 years after I read it for the first time during the mystery unit of our 7th grade language arts class. More than half of this mystery unit was comprised of Sherlock Holmes lore and stories, likely motivated by my teacher's obsession with the character. It is no small wonder that I was attracted to this book in the first place...our hero of mystery+relatable young female heroine!

And it does not disappoint. Laurie's characterization of a young, female, and 21st century Holmes manages to jump straight into that fantastical world that Conan Doyle created without skipping a beat. The book has enough fan service to the original stories to be both fun and respectful. However, this story is about the coming of age of a Miss Mary Russell, a character who's witty internal dialogue, strong feminist values, and tremendous complexity make her worthy of a series whether Sherlock Holmes were involved or not.

That is, perhaps, the greatest tragedy. Not only is this a SH pastiche, but a young, female spin has been added to it. This forces this book into a niche where it is, perhaps, enjoyed and taken seriously by much fewer people than it may have been otherwise. For me, however, it has given me a deep set love for all that is Sherlock Holmes, which I would not give up for anything.

Laurie King's first novel doesn't read like a debut: it is the balanced work of a masterful story teller. In fact, what this book accomplishes that most of the others don't is a story completely focused on her characters and their development. Most of the rest are mysteries in their own right, but this story is all about Russell, Holmes, and her apprenticeship. This means every world is focused directly on what I, as a reader, care about most...the characters, not the mystery itself.

This novel takes place in an extraordinarily interesting time, that in my opinion was mostly overlooked between the rigid class system of the Victorian era or the expansive World War II. Laurie King's research, both historical and cultural, is detailed and pristine without being distracting. For me, she introduced me to a time of tremendous change in Europe and the World which we are still feeling the aftermath of to this day.

Perhaps most importantly, this novel brought me a character who has become one of my greatest role models. Because yes, fictional role models are totally a thing. Mary Russell taught me it's ok to be a nerd, it's ok to be different, and it's ok to only justify who you are to yourself, not the entire world around you. And for that lesson alone, I would give this book five stars. Yet what brings me back to these stories again and again is the brilliant wordsmithing of Laurie King. Her understanding of the complexities of such difficult characters, and her ability to place their thoughts and actions to pen with so much eloquence, is what turns what should have been another Sherlock Holmes fanfiction story into a work of art. ...more "

Apr 03, 2016 05:18PM · see review

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