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naluju's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Morocco, political unrest, rebellion,
amibunk's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, despite a reunion with two of my favorite side characters, this installment of Mary Russell's adventures was just not my favorite. Too much talking and explaining and too little doing. Still, in most cases, a three star Mary Russell story is better than a four star story about somebody else.
cozydormouse's review against another edition
4.0
MUCH better than The Pirate King, although at times I thought we were in a rehash of O Jerusalem. This was much more like the Russell/Holmes adventures I love.
pattydsf's review against another edition
4.0
I know I will never be disappointed when I pick up an book by King. I also know that, if possible, I will always listen to King’s novels rather than read them. I started many years ago with A Grave Talent on a whim. I had learned to listen to mysteries as I drove around Virginia for my job. I knew nothing about King or her detective, Kate Martinelli, but the book looked interesting. I was hooked. Since then I have listened to everything I could get my hands on.
Garment of Shadows is set in Morocco between the Great War (World War I) and World War II. Of course, the characters can’t possibly see that another war is in the world’s future. They are still recovering from the Great War. However, to this reader the coming conflict seems evident in much of the action of this story. The European powers have divided the world, including Africa and the peoples of those lands are starting to chafe under this political set-up.
I can’t quite imagine starting the Holmes/Russell books with this twelfth volume. The mystery seems slight and some of the ideas seem a bit far-fetched. However, I was just glad to spend more time with Sherlock and Mary. I like the way King portrays them and I want to know more about their life together. Besides Holmes and Russell there were a couple of characters I had met in earlier books – I like that in a series.
If you like Sherlock Holmes and want to see him in a new light, try The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. This novel was fun and I was sorry to see it end. However, if you don’t already have a relationship with these characters you might find this less interesting.
Garment of Shadows is set in Morocco between the Great War (World War I) and World War II. Of course, the characters can’t possibly see that another war is in the world’s future. They are still recovering from the Great War. However, to this reader the coming conflict seems evident in much of the action of this story. The European powers have divided the world, including Africa and the peoples of those lands are starting to chafe under this political set-up.
I can’t quite imagine starting the Holmes/Russell books with this twelfth volume. The mystery seems slight and some of the ideas seem a bit far-fetched. However, I was just glad to spend more time with Sherlock and Mary. I like the way King portrays them and I want to know more about their life together. Besides Holmes and Russell there were a couple of characters I had met in earlier books – I like that in a series.
If you like Sherlock Holmes and want to see him in a new light, try The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. This novel was fun and I was sorry to see it end. However, if you don’t already have a relationship with these characters you might find this less interesting.
seeinghowitgoes's review against another edition
3.0
A welcome foray back into the world of Russell and Holmes, after the confusion of Pirates it's nice to see the crew get back up to their old tricks.
Despite the old memory loss trope the first parts of the novel flow well, serving almost as a reintroduction to the series. A few familiar faces makes up for an overly confusing political mystery.
Despite the old memory loss trope the first parts of the novel flow well, serving almost as a reintroduction to the series. A few familiar faces makes up for an overly confusing political mystery.
roscoehuxley's review against another edition
5.0
Another brilliant Mary Russell book, this one in Morrocco. I enjoyed learning more about the history of this region, and of course enjoyed the plot and interactions of Russell and Holmes. Even more fun was the reappearance of Ali and Mahmoud Hazr!
I listened to this book - it was a wonderful experience.
I listened to this book - it was a wonderful experience.
veronica4242's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
maferg01's review against another edition
5.0
As always, Laurie King delivers another excellent novel. I couldn't put this one down even with a baby needing me all hours and going back to work.
tracey_stewart's review against another edition
5.0
Probably four and a half stars - but I'm happy to round up for Holmes and Russell.
Bless Netgalley's buttons, persistence paid off and I finally got approved. If only it hadn't taken me so long to get this review written … par for the course, lately.
The story is well set up, with an economy and elegance that should make lesser series writers weep. It is not long after Pirate King. Holmes doesn't know where Russell is. Russell doesn't know where Russell is, nor whom for the matter of that. The skills she has worked to acquire startle her as she discovers them – the slightly sarcastic explanation her hurting brain supplies to take all of them into account is thieving circus performer. But because of her skills, she is able to adapt to her situation and launch an investigation based on the things in her pockets.
Amnesia, while a much-maligned plot device, is only a cliché because it's overused because it's so gosh darned much fun to read, and I imagine to write about. To pare down a character to her most basic elements, and to send her into a story armed only with her wits and the skills she discovers she has – it's a little like hitting a reset button in a game, retaining all the muscle memory and intelligence, but being left to wonder why exactly you have these abilities. It was fun to watch Mary try not only to deduce where she was and why as well as who, but to explain to herself why she knew how to pick a pocket and a lock. And her reunion with Holmes was everything that it should be.
It's a suspenseful read, a wonderful return to the sort of adventure Holmes and Russell shared in the beginning. Great fun.
(Wouldn't Holmes's origami go against the Islam strictures against graven images? "You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them." Oh dear. Ah well.)
Bless Netgalley's buttons, persistence paid off and I finally got approved. If only it hadn't taken me so long to get this review written … par for the course, lately.
The story is well set up, with an economy and elegance that should make lesser series writers weep. It is not long after Pirate King. Holmes doesn't know where Russell is. Russell doesn't know where Russell is, nor whom for the matter of that. The skills she has worked to acquire startle her as she discovers them – the slightly sarcastic explanation her hurting brain supplies to take all of them into account is thieving circus performer. But because of her skills, she is able to adapt to her situation and launch an investigation based on the things in her pockets.
Amnesia, while a much-maligned plot device, is only a cliché because it's overused because it's so gosh darned much fun to read, and I imagine to write about. To pare down a character to her most basic elements, and to send her into a story armed only with her wits and the skills she discovers she has – it's a little like hitting a reset button in a game, retaining all the muscle memory and intelligence, but being left to wonder why exactly you have these abilities. It was fun to watch Mary try not only to deduce where she was and why as well as who, but to explain to herself why she knew how to pick a pocket and a lock. And her reunion with Holmes was everything that it should be.
It's a suspenseful read, a wonderful return to the sort of adventure Holmes and Russell shared in the beginning. Great fun.
(Wouldn't Holmes's origami go against the Islam strictures against graven images? "You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them." Oh dear. Ah well.)