I’ve always been a fan of Sherlock Holmes—to the point where I was accused of having a crush on him in high school—and I’ve been unable to focus on any serious literature this summer. So imagine my delight to find a mystery that features a young lady with mad observational skills of her own who meets Holmes in retirement and becomes his newer, smarter Watson. The book is by Laurie King and there’s a whole series featuring the two, which is good because I was more than halfway through The Beekeeper’s Apprentice in just one day.
I can’t recommend my new discovery enough. If you’re a fan of Holmes at all, you’ll love them—the continuity between the Conan Doyle and King versions of Holmes is perfect, and there’s just enough period costume and descriptions of brandy being drunk. It’s light reading, yes, but not silly. (There’s an excerpt here.)
And I have to say, I think Holmes would approve of having such adventures with a 20-year-old in his retirement.
August 14, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
Actually, Jason, I think the “light” summer reading tradition comes from the fact that you want a book that doesn’t require too much focus, because, you know, the sun is so hot and the cocktail you’re drinking is so engrossing and the pool boy is so distracting…ahem.
I highly recommend reading the original Holmes stories, and reading them first–if only because you’ll get more of the references in the delightful spinoff series.
And Mr. Isbell: Damn, you know me well.
August 14, 2008 @ 12:12 pm
I’ve always meant to check out Holmes (I saw all the Basil Rathbone movies as a kid, if that counts!), but I’ve never gotten around to it… 🙁
This sounds like fun summertime reading, though…
(Have you ever wondered where the idea came from that you’re supposed to read fluffy stuff in the summer and, presumably, the weighty intellectual tomes in winter? Is that a holdover from school days or something? Wouldn’t it make more sense to read the lighter things in dark, dreary wintertime? I wonder about these things…)
August 14, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
Actually, I think that *you* delight in the idea of being in your twenties and having adventures with a retired Holmes!
:p