Dreaming Spies: Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes #13 [L0022]

2015 - HCDJ in nice clean condition. New York Times Bestseller, winner of the Agatha Award for best historical novel, named one of the ten best mysteries of the year by the Seattle Times. By the best-selling author of Garment of Shadows. Laurie R. King's novels of suspense featuring Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, are critically acclaimed and beloved by readers for the author's adept interplay of history and adventure. Now the intrepid duo is finally trying to take a little time for themselves-only to be swept up in a baffling case that will lead them from the idyllic panoramas of Japan to the depths of Oxford's most revered institution. Dreaming Spies immerses Russell, Holmes, and the reader in the country and culture of early twentieth century Japan and involves ninjas, blackmail, the international travel set, the Japanese heir to the throne, the deceptively demure daughter of a Japanese acrobat, and Holmes and Russell posing as both religious pilgrims and high society aristocrats. With intriguing characters, a fascinating setting, a complex mystery, and haikus scattered throughout the text, Dreaming Spies is kind of book you savor rather than rush through until its final section. You can enjoy Dreaming Spies even if you haven't read all the preceding stories.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "I loved this 13th installment in the Mary Russell-Sherlock Holmes series. With a riveting, suspenseful plot, well-portrayed, lively characters, plenty of action, fine writing, vivid portrayals of Japan and Oxford, humor, and ninjas, how could I not? This is one of the best books in a totally delightful series. This novel can be enjoyed on its own."; "This is one of my favorite kinds of books. One that all but demands that you read slowly in order to thoroughly enjoy the two detectives' progress from A to Zed. The book is full of historical detail without being bogged down by them or thinking the author was throwing random facts into the story to impress the reader. No, every detail is important."; "King is a brilliant writer and researcher, with descriptions of exciting events of history, introductions to interesting characters, and complex plots. Dreaming Spies is no exception. Homes and Russell travel from from Oxford to Japan in the 1920s, meeting the young Crown Prince Hirohito, and a troupe of circus performer/martial arts experts and spies. If you haven't read any Holmes/Russell books, start with this one. It will certainly change your view of Conan Doyle's Sherlock."