Justice Hall

Laurie King is the writer behind a wonderful series based on an alternate ending to the Holmes saga. In these novels Holmes meets and weds a young woman who is as dazzling as he, and this sixth is no different -- a fun read with many of the classic elements (heirs in danger! secret marriages! characters who are not what they appear!) with flawless dialogue and plotting. It was a delight to be reacquainted with two charismatic characters from O Jerusalem, Mahmoud and Ali. I wish Holmes would have appeared more, but I always wish that. If you are familiar with the series, you will enjoy this; if you are not, you should read The Beekeeper's Apprentice first -- magical!

This is by far my favorite of the Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell novels. Laurie R. King's description of Justice Hall as well as the colorful characters contained in it is breathtaking. (I wish I could spend a day in Greene Library!) The mystery itself is compelling and keeps you guessing. There's also a sense of adventure and suspense, like when Mary and Iris travel to Canada to seek out a certain someone. There was a poignant touch of sadness in this book for me. I realize that Marsh/Mahmoud and Alistair/Ali belong in the desert, but... WARNING! SPOILER BELOW! the scene at the end with Marsh and Gabe is heartbreaking. As much as the reader (well, at least this reader) wants Marsh to stick around and watch his grandson develop, it just isn't in his nature. This is part of the book that stayed with me long after I read it. I couldn't help but think of what would happen next, after the final page. I'd like to think that back in Palestine, Marsh is secretly keeping tabs on young Gabe in Justice Hall using whatever secret methods he has. And Iris will likely make trips back and forth from Paris to check on Gabe, too. I don't usually spend time fantasizing about what fictional characters are doing after I've read the book, so it's a true testament to Laurie R. King's brilliance as a writer. These characters really become a part of you. Justice Hall is an incredible story on so many levels. I very highly recommend this book to anyone. And for Holmes/Russell fans, it's a must read.

For all fans of the Holmes/Russell books, you will not be disappointed.This is possibly the best book overall in the series save for the original, _The Beekeeper's Apprentice_ (by the way, if you haven't read the other five books, don't read _Justice Hall_ - I highly highly highly recommend that you read all of the books in order). Sherlock Holmes and his young wife and partner, Mary Russell, take a back seat in _Justice Hall_ - making way for the heartwrenching WWI story of Gabriel Hughenfort, whose death under scandalous (and suspicious) circumstances Holmes and Russell are investigating. Old friends are brought back (remember O Jerusalem's Mahmoud and Ali?), and new ones are made - hopefully these new characters will make reappearances in later books.Those who like Holmes and Russell will love _Justice Hall._ Those who aren't familiar with them need to read the rest of the series, beginning with _The Beekeeper's Apprentice._ Those who can't even fathom the idea of Holmes having another partner than Watson.. well.. keep an open mind. Russell's a both a refreshing and infuriating character - as intelligent as Holmes, slightly arrogant, with an acerbic wit, who buries herself in theology texts and feminist papers... She's very different from Watson, but after reading so much of Watson, it's nice to see a change, and see Holmes from the point of view of both an intellectual equal and a woman of a later generation.

Laurie King's series about Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell always puzzle me. Except for one or two less successful efforts, she has managed to create the impossible Holmes gimmick - a Mrs. Holmes, and makes it (and her) utterly believable. Rather than twist Holmes character so that he turns into a romanticized parody of himself, she has made Mary Russell the only woman the consulting detective could have married and remained himself. That Laurie King has proved herself an adept writer in this and her other series about Kate Martinelli is sufficient to ensure that I regularly buy her work.'Justice Hall' is the seat of one of England's blue-blooded ducal families, the Hughenforts. Whose motto (in English) is 'Righteousness is my strength.' They have been fiercely loyal to the throne of England for nearly 1000 years, but now find themselves in rather peculiar circumstances. The current duke has no desire for the job. Much to Holmes' and Russell's surprise, Marsh Hughenfort is an old friend, but in a difference guise. The seventh duke and his best friend Alistair are Mahmoud and Ali, agent's of the British, and the heroes of another King novel, 'O Jerusalem.'Ali, determined to free Marsh from the tyranny of his title, has brought the Holmes family in to investigate the credibility of a potential heir. But the case grows more complex as attempted murder rears it's ugly head, and Holmes becomes convinced that the silence around the wartime death of Gabriel, the heir who preceded Marsh hides a secret that will untangle the current perplex. Gabriel was shot for mutiny in the trenches of Europe, but the tragedy has been carefully hidden away by all concerned. When Marsh is nearly killed in a hunting accident Sherlock and Mary realize that there is some evil behind what has happened to the Hughenfort heirs. The chase leads then through England, Europe and off to Canada as well.One of the remarkable things about this novel is the first quarter of it, which is, for the most part, dedicated to a loving description of Justice Hall, its environs, and its people. For those who are patient, this is a remarkable essay on the beauties of architecture and place. The beginnings of the mystery and all the characters come to life against a background which, if it does not exist, certainly should. If Laurie King ever takes up travelogues, I will not doubt read them. Once this is done, the novel picks up pace rapidly, and by the end the reader will be as stunned by the plot as he or she was entranced by the place.Another interesting facet of a very rich and complex novel is King's exposure of the horrors of World War I, in particular the excessive harshness the British Army inflicted on its own soldiers. 306 men were shot at dawn for desertion, cowardice, and, occasionally, simply to teach their men a lesson. Most of these were still in their teens, struggling with a brutal war that they only half understood. This punishment was abolished in 1930, but

Wonderful! The return of the Hazr brothers! I have waited two years for this book, and it was worth every second of the wait! A reluctant, yet dutiful, heir. A loyal and desperate cousin. A surprise wife. A murdered and righteous man. A secret. And, of course, the remarkable pair of Holmes and Russell. This was a great read. I would have to rank it right up there with "O Jerusalem," just behind "The Beekeeper's Apprentice" and "A Monstrous Regiment of Women." I absolutely devoured every page of this great book!