Rating: 
Summary: Certainly More Appealing to The Feminist
Review: Totally critical of Watson. About half way through the book the author's true political sentiments became apparent. Made Holmes out to be an old man that kept needing to have the heroine save his backside. My money tells me that most of the positive reviewers were of the female left. Certainly the way Holmes was related to would repulse a true critic of the chronicles!
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing "elementary" about it
Review: Laurie King is one of the best storytellers writing books today, and this book is a perfect introduction to her absolutely wonderful Mary Russell series. Not only does King write fabulously entertaining stories, but her stories are filled with dazzlingly witty exchanges and terribly evocative descriptions, as well as populated by incredibly life-like characters. Her portrait of Sherlock Holmes is not a departure from Conan Doyle's canon, but merely a more fully-examined character, in all his rich complexity. This is the way Holmes should have been written, and the character of Mary, who is every bit as complex, brings out wonderful facets of his character. Mary is also an achingly real, intelligent female character, who will be very familiar to many women. I know she is to me.
Rating:
Summary: I can't wait for the more in the series!
Review: I have read the entire Canon, and I loved this book. It's not for Holmesian purists, I know, but personally I found the Holmes in this book to have a much more human personality. I LOVED this book! Even those who don't normally like mysteries can enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: The Beekeeper's Apprentice
Review: An excellent imaginative fantasy with excellent regard for the characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The best book that I read in 1999.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Book Ever!
Review: When I first heard of this book, I was really quite sceptical. Sherlock Holmes teamed up with an adolescent girl? It did not seem plausible. But after reading the first paragraph, I was hooked. Mary Russell is a protagonist you will love. The dialouge between her and Holmes is priceless. The plot is well paced and interesting, with enough references to keep the Sherlockians amused, but not so many that it will leave the casual reader feeling confused and left out. Some Holmesian purists will call it heresy, but personally, I think the book does The Great Detective justice and even gives him more of a personality than Doyle ever did. Tie me to the stake and burn me for THAT one, Baker Street Irregulars!
Rating:
Summary: Top stuff
Review: This was an excellent book introducing Mary Russell a 15 year old with Sherlock Holmeses abilities. There develops between them a firm friendship as he teaches her the tricks of his trade, and they solve several mysteries together. A fun book, with a unique view of Sherlock Holmes from and 'equals' point of view.
Rating:
Summary: A young lady bests Sherlock Holmes
Review: This book is terrific! A young woman meets Sherlock Holmes in his retirement and turns out to be every bit as smart as he is. They team up to solve murders. No grisly violence, just wonderful story-telling.
Rating:
Summary: This book was awesome!
Review: Being a young reader (11 years old) I had some trouble with the long words that Mary Russell, the brilliant young theologist, uses (parapatetic?). However, I thought that this book was an excellent read, and it is interesting to see Sherlock Holmes actually team up with atwentieth century adolescent female. I I found some of the conversation between them very humorous. Anyway, I have some advice for all you readers out there- READ THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: Mary Russell is infinitely better!
Review: Hello! Gosh, there's so much to say about this book. First - read it. I bought it, too, and as I don't have all that much money for buying books, that's saying something. I really enjoy reading about Mary Russell and Holmes, because it is challenging reading (well for me, but I am 13), and it tells a lot about the way the characters think. I absolutely idolize Mary Russell - she is the one of the coolest female characters I have ever, umm, met, in a book. (I'm bunching her with Lessa of Pern, Harper Something, Juanita Callahan, Scarlet O'Hara, Turtle Wexler, and Polyhymnia O'Keefe. Forgive the references to all the kid's books.) Another great aspect is the mystery. While there is no romance (le sigh) this book is definitely worth it. If it seems slow after the first couple of chapters, keep going. (For instance, I tend to skip her 'first case' when I re-read it. But you need to know this stuff the first time around, kay?) MY RECOMENDATION: Read this book. Keep a dictionary handy for those oh so eclectic unusual interesting descriptive words that tend to be 19 letters long (Class, can anyone define the word "phlegmatic"?) Once you get past book one, it all takes off. Actually a little ways before book 2, I'm not entirely sure. I took a week to read to book two, then finished the entire thing in one day, get the picture? Granted, I was stuck at my grandmothers house with no one fore company but her and Lucy the fat chihuahua, but it's really good. And that's all I have to say about that before I get even more repetetetetive.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good and entertaining
Review: This book has a wonderful sense of time and place - it brings the Edwardian period to life and the scenes are vivid and fresh. I'd heard about this book some time ago but hadn't read it until recently. My only disappointment was the story slowed down a bit near the end - not a big flaw but definitely noticeable. As a mystery the "culprit" was a surprise - the author is very good at playing with gender stereotypes and incorporating it into the mystery. I'm surprised this hasn't been made into a movie or Masterpiece Theatre adaptation - it would work very well as a multi-part television miniseries.
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