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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 823
EAN num: 9780312427375
ISBN number: 0312427379
Label: Picador
Manufacturer: Picador
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 336
Printing Date: October 02, 2007
Publishing house: Picador
Release Date: October 02, 2007
Sale Popularity Level: 153353
Studio: Picador
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Winner of the Nero Wolfe Award
It is 1921 and Mary Russell--Sherlock Holmes's brilliant apprentice, now an Oxford graduate with a degree in theology--is on the verge of acquiring a sizable inheritance. Independent at last, with a passion for divinity and detective work, her most baffling mystery may now involve Holmes and the burgeoning of a deeper affection between herself and the retired detective. Russell's attentions turn to the New Temple of God and its leader, Margery Childe, a charismatic suffragette and a mystic, whose draw on the young theology scholar is irresistible. But when four bluestockings from the Temple turn up dead shortly after changing their wills, could sins of a capital nature be afoot? Holmes and Russell investigate, as their partnership takes a surprising turn.
Amazon.com Review:
In The Beekeeper's Apprentice, Laurie R. King came up with a completely original story that had Sherlock Holmes as one of its principal characters but was in no way part of the Holmes canon. The focus of that book was a young woman, Mary Russell. Now in A Monstrous Regiment of Women, Mary Russell's adventures as a student of the famous detective continue. A series of murders claims members of a strange suffrage organization's wealthy young female volunteers, and Mary, with Holmes in the background, investigates, little knowing what danger she personally faces.
Laurie R. King is also the author of the Edgar Award-winning novel A Grave Talent.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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I thought that Laurie King was quite creative in blending in a character like Mary to enter into a relationship with an aging Sherlock Holmes. For that time and era, Mary reflects a real feminism that probably is more true of Laurie King than would've been the case in that day...not withstanding the Suffragette Movement. However, the intricacies of the plot and the dialog of the principles was very credible; I enjoyed her book very much.
Rated by buyers -
As a fan of most things Holmes-related, I must have been living under a rock, because I had never heard of this series until very recently. I stumbled upon O Jerusalem and was fascinated by the idea of a young, headstrong woman with a vicious wit and knife-throwing arm, who could also keep pace with England's most famous detective.
In this, MRoW, Mary is just coming into her inheritence and with it come all the follies and responsibilities of newfound wealth. I found this a compelling and touching basis for the story because, while she is obviously trying to find her place in life, she is also of a generation that has been devastated by WWI and already wise beyond her years in her own way. King expertly weaves the story of Mary getting drawn into a women's suffrage group (the head of which seems to be part preacher, part women's rights activist, and part cult leader) with her daily interactions with mentor Holmes and her duties as a student. We also get a close (sometimes too close) look at post-WWI London in all its seedy, wounded, rollicking, and occasionally good, glory.
I was particularly drawn to a section at the end where Mary is taken against her will and fears not just for safety of her corporeal self, but for that of her very soul. It is here, I found, that all the faults and flaws in both Mary and Holmes lay themselves out, for good and bad, and we see what draws them together.
Anyone hoping to see the famous detective brought to his knees by sexual passion will be sorely disappointed. Even the most intimate and tender of scenes wouldn't cause a historical romance reader to blink twice, though I found them touching.
Overall, a very fine read!
Rated by buyers 
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This is the second book in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series. The very first book was a little slow but Mary was young. In this book, she's just recently turned 21 and graduated from Oxford. I still find it hard to believe that she is helping the great Sherlock Holmes. Ms. King has created a fascinating back story of how she obtained a trunk that had all of Mary Russell's diaries to document this series. I enjoyed the look at theology and Mary's exploration of the women's movement in London. The mystery part of the book was just ok. I didn't think that it was edited very tightly and would have like for it move a little more quickly. I didn't find this book keeping me on the edge of my seat. However, I did enjoy the exploration of a charming leader of a religious movement and how that person can get people to do different things. I also enjoyed the interactions between Sherlock Holmes and Mary. I'm not so sure about the romanance because of the 39 year age difference but maybe it could work. I would recommend this book to those looking to learn something while going about reading their mysteries. This series sheds a new light on Sherlock Holmes.
Rated by buyers -
This is the thoroughly satisfying second book in King's Mary Russell series. Mary is Sherlock Holmes protege--a young orphan who lives the life of the mind much as Holmes does. She has now graduated from Oxford and is about to receive her considerable inheritance. In addition Holmes has created considerable tension into their relationship by suggesting that Mary will propose marriage.
Russell retreats from Holmes in confusion and absorbs herself in a mystery surrounding a charismatic female cult leader who seems to be the genuine article--a mystic with healing powers and a genuine mission to help women. Yet Mary connects mysterious deaths of rich women to this cult leader. Ultimately Holmes and Mary unite in a perilous pursuit of a malefactor.
King crafts an absorbing mystery with appealing characters and with considerable suspense. Despite the considerable age difference between Mary and Holmes, they are clearly soul-mates and could never be happy with anyone else. The ending is gratifying with the mystery solved and Russell and Holmes negotiating a satisfactory relationship based upon their sharp wit and passionate souls. Highly recommended!
Rated by buyers -
This followup to The Beekeeper's Apprentice was an enjoyable read and held my interest all the way through. It touches expertly on some very engrossing subjects, such as love between friends, and also explores the very dark elements of abduction and drug use. However the author seems to get bogged down in discusion of religious topics. Understandable, because King has a degree in theology and the topic definitely relates to the story, but it seemed to be a little too much in a "less is more" situation.
The climax of the story was also somewhat of a dissapointment; it had sort of a rushed-to-the-end feeling. The buildup to this was quite good, though, and if you loved the very first in the series, you will definitely enjoy this.
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