Full review on my blog.

Dreaming Spies is the first book from author Laurie R King that I read. I’d been meaning to read Mary Russell’s adventures for a while, so when I saw this book and its praise as a novel of suspense, blackmail, fraud, conspiracy and espionage that included the wonderful Sherlock Holmes, I knew I had to read it. I also knew this wasn’t going to be a full Homes mystery, but I was excited to read how this dynamic duo behaved together.

Dreaming Spies is divided into 3 parts. It starts in Sussex and Oxford, then we take a trip from India to Japan where we stay for part 2 of the book and then we’re back to Oxford where it all ties up. In all honesty I think Book 1 could’ve been edited because nothing exciting happened. Book 2 was better than the first, more action and drama, but my favorite part was book 3, which is when we finally see the mystery unfold.

My problems with this book:
1.I had a hard time getting into the story.
2.It moved to lowly for my taste.
3.Too many redundant and endless descriptions that make you feel blasé.
4.The book focuses too much on the description and leaves the mystery to be solved and the interaction between Russell and Holmes in a second place.
(more about this on the full review on my blog.)

What I take from this book:
1. The Haikus at the beginning of each chapter.
2. The Holmes-Russell duo action.
3. Everything tied up well in the end.
(more about this on the full review on my blog.)

Having read Dreaming Spies, I don’t feel motivated to check out the other books in this series. So in terms of recommending it, I guess I can say that if you’re looking for an action packed, fast-paced, exciting mystery featuring Holmes and Russell, this is not the book for you. If you want to earn extensive knowledge of what it was like to travel by sea from India to Japan in the 1920’s, this is the book for you. If you want to learn about Japan, the Japanese culture, and ninjas, this is the book for you. And of course, if you are a fan of Laurie R King and her Mary Russell series, this is the book for you.

 

 

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DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

I received an Electronic copy of this book but was not financially compensated in any way nor obliged to review. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my personal experience while reading it. This post contains affiliate links.

 

 

Laurie R. King writes the only series I follow—though if she would continue with her Kate Martinelli series, I would follow that one too! I have read every single one of her books.

 

This is the 13th book in the Russell and Holmes series. I found 12 to be very disappointing—it felt very forced and unfinished. But with this book, Laurie R. King is back to form.

This time Russell and Holmes go to Japan, work with a Ninja, and catch a blackmailer or two. The story makes sense, nothing feels too forced, and some of the usual minor characters put in appearances. I love the intricacies of King's stories, which make it so easy to give a spoiler. And her books are too enjoyable to spoil.

This was the first book in the Mary Russell series for me. I had heard positive things about it and so I decided to give it a try. Starting a series with one of the later volumes often isn't easy and I have to admit I was a bit confused after the first few pages. But that soon passed and I starting enjoying this novel immensely.
The first thing I have to mention is the language. I really loved it and was so glad to finally read a crime novel written in beautiful words. I clearly wasn't expecting this especially because the series would fall slightly in the cozy mystery category and those books often aren't renowned for their superior language.
The second thing I really liked were the lectures on Japan. I was familiar with some of them but definitely learned a lot of new and interesting facts. And I really started loving the Haikus - once I knew what they were. They are heading every chapter and I first thought them very weird. I could tell that they were a summary of what was to happen in the chapter but I didn't really appreciate them until I had learned more about them. My respects to the author for the work she put into them!
I also liked the whole crime story, especially that everything was so clear. I often could tell before Russell and Holmes what was happening. I'm never sure whether this is acutually a good sign or a bad one. On the one hand when this situation occurs I always wonder how the detectives can be that stupid. On the other hand it means that the mystery is very well structured and written. I like complicated mysteries but I also have to have the feeling that things aren't too far-fetched.
The book was a very pleasant experience and I'm now looking forward to reading some of the other books in the series.

(I receievd a free digital copy via Netgally/the publisher. Thanks for the opportunity!)

Loved it. A more than worthy addition to the Russell/Holmes series!

Holmes and Russell did not disappoint in this latest book. If you are a mystery lover, this series is consistently wonderful and you don't get that repetitive feeling that can often occur when you get the fourth or fifth book. Each installment is original and completely captivating. Dreaming Spies is no exception and I read at every chance I got until the book was finished. The relationship between Russell and her much older husband, Sherlock Holmes, is always a delight. Mary Russell is consistently taught new skills by her husband but is also a brilliant and independent woman for her time. She strives to be his mystery solving equal and sometimes even surpasses him. Sherlock treats her as a partner and never acts the overprotective husband. Each brings their own unique personality to the table and together they are truly phenomenal.

This is one of the few series where the writing is so well done and the plot so deep and intriguing, that I cannot solve the mystery myself. There are many twists and turns so that, many times, I miss clues that only the most cautious eye will find. I love this about these books. I love that I am engrossed and trying to work things out in my mind until the very end, where I am almost always impressed with how the story plays out. I find myself often having an "aha" moment along with the characters. This was definitely the case for this book.

If you are a lover of mysteries and have a soft spot for Sherlock Holmes, you might want to give these books a shot. Mary Russell is the main character but Holmes is prominent in most of the stories. However, in my opinion, you absolutely must start at the beginning where they first meet. Holmes, an aging detective losing faith in his world, and Russell, a young girl with her own issues, who stumbles upon him at just the right moment. The first book is The Beekeepers Apprentice. I go back to read the first few chapter often and It will always be one of my favorites.