Book Review: The Beekeeper's Apprentive

by Laurie R. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This...THIS... is exactly my kind of escape literature. I appreciated that it was light without being brainless. In fact, the vocab was refreshingly difficult (compared to the mush I've been reading lately). The story was witty, clever, and engaging. I thought the humor was of the same variety as the most recent Sherlock Holmes movies. The story was suspenseful, but not in a way that required any emotional stamina. (As in, it wasn't overly realistically sad or serious.) I have a soft spot in my heart for Sherlock Holmes anyways, because when I was a kid my dad used to read us the Conan Doyle stories by flashlight when the power went out. But I thought this story remained true to the character and feel of the original Holmes and added to it positively. I also liked the choice of adding a female side-kick. And I really liked Mary's character and the father/daughter relationship she cultivated with Holmes throughout the story. Although it's mainly a mystery, I thought the author did an excellent job with the character development, making this both a plot driven and a character driven novel. It was a delightful read. If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan, or if you like a good mystery, I recommend this book to you.