The Moor

The Moor
by Laurie R. King
369 pages

When I’m reading books in a series I avoid reading the plot summary on the back cover until after I’ve read the book. Since I’m already into the story from the previous book I know I’m going to enjoy it and I don’t want any clues as to what is going to happen next. Does anyone else do that?

Ok, so … since this is the 4th book in the Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell series I didn’t read the back of the book. Because of that, I assumed that "The Moor" referred to in the title would be like Morgan Freeman’s character in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. (This makes lots of sense when you consider Russell’s Jewish background and her keen interest in the Middle East.) You can imagine my surprise when the book turned out to be about the actual moor – as in, a place in England –and not a “Saracen”. Oops.




*** The Plot ***

I don’t want to give anything away here so let’s just say that this SH/MR adventure has lots of links to the original Holmes tale, THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES. It takes place on the same moor, references some of the same characters, and even includes visits to Baskerville Hall.


*** My Thoughts ***

THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES was always my favorite Holmes tale (I reviewed it on this blog way back when I first started reviewing) so the links between that book and this one make this my very favorite of the SH/MR books so far. This book also has more of the traditional Holmesian feel to it – it was much more like reading an Arthur Conan Doyle tale than King’s other SH/MR books.

Highly recommended, people – HIGHLY recommended.


*** Other posts so far in my Month of Joyful Reading ***

• what it is
• author interview: Laurie R. King
• Book 1: The Beekeeper's Apprentice
• Book 2: A Monstrous Regiment of Women
• Book 3: A Letter of Mary
  
• and there are more reviews to come!