2020 books: King

[melita66]

 Many thanks to Bantam for an advance reader's copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Publication date is 09 June 2020. 
 

Riviera Gold is the latest book in the long-running series about Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. Mary Russell first met Holmes in Sussex when she was 16. She went on to get an Oxford degree and become Holmes's partner, professionally and personally.. After the events of the previous book, Island of the Mad, Russell is feeling the aftermath of a solved case (a bit down) and decides to join some friends as crew on a sailboat heading to Cote d'Azur and Monte Carlo. Russell has the idea that Mrs. Hudson might be there. Mrs. Hudson left England after the events of The Murder of Mary Russell (spoiler: she survived), 

 

At this point in time, the mid-1920s, Monte Carlo and the surrounding areas are busy in the winter, but not the hot summers and the famous casino has fallen on hard times. There's some movement to rejuvenate the area, and some nutty Americans have begun vacationing there in the summer. Russell meats Gerald and Sara Murphy, American expats. In their company, she sees Mrs. Hudson. 

 

Mrs. Hudson had come to Monte Carlo to reconnect with an old friend, but finds that some other old acquaintances are also in Monte Carlo. 

 

I found this entry quite enjoyable. There's a nice mix of real people whom I always check out online, and new characters. We get to learn more of Mrs. Hudson's backstory. Holmes does make an appearance after a few days. I enjoy watching two very, very smart people working through a mystery. There's a quite exciting denouement and a nice resolution of Mrs. Hudson's story--at least for now.

Comments

[castiron]

I'll have to catch up on the Mary Russell series one of these months. Locked Rooms had a trope I'm not crazy about, so I haven't followed the series since then.

[melita66]

So far the book I disliked the most in this series was Pirate King which had them involved in a crazy filming of The Pirates of Penzance. It came off like the author thought she was writing a comedy. I've never seen the opera. Maybe I would have liked the book better if I had...but I don't think so.