To Play the Fool

This book contains a lot of elements; from mystery to friendship to religion. Don't worry she doesn't get all holy on you but there's a lot of quoting going on from the Bible and other books. The book contains some historical info in it also to help you understand and get into not only the case but even one of the protaganists. The mystery involves a religious fool and of course a dead body. However, this is not your everyday fool. His job is to be a fool and in this book you learn just how smart true fools really are.

For those of you who have read all of the Mary Russell books by King, you might be pleasantly surprised that she writes other, more modern books. For those of you who live in the SF Bay area, you will also be excited by the locations that are described in this book. I had read many of Laurie King's other books before reading this one and I will say that it was one of the most interesting and best written. The novel is based on the mystery surrounding the murder of a homeless man, but the story actually told is of Brother Erasmus, a Fool, who only speaks in quotes from Shakespeare and the Bible. The real mystery is who Brother Erasmus really is, what he is hiding, and why he speaks only in quotes. There are some other homeless characters in the book who are also well characterized. This book has a lot of metaphysical discussion on those who live outside society in this way. And there is a lot of suspense and mystery involved in finding Brother Erasmus's secrets. Eventually the detective Kate Martinelli founds out who the murderer was, but she is more interested in the life of the characters she meets. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes your mysteries to be a bit more literary. King has been compared a lot to PD James, and I think that comparison holds true.

Wow - a book worth re-reading, just to savor the delicious prose and extremely human characters! Everything about this book is delicious. The plot is a good blend of suspense and fun, the characters have soul, and the writing is superb. Some chapters and passages were so well crafted that I went back to enjoy them two and three times. It's amazing what King can do with black ink, white paper, and 26 letters. King's books are all good, but this has got to be the best of all. I think I'll go read it again!

What a sensational read! The San Francisco atmosphere, the subtle but brilliant plotting, and the unforgettable character Erasmus make this a book to relish. I've read it several times since it was first published, and it never fails to entertain and intrigue me. Buy it and read it -- it's a keeper. (And don't miss the other books in the Martinelli series.) Three cheers for Laurie King!

This book has made me a huge fan of Laurie King. I really liked her other Martinelli books and love the Russel series, but this book is far and above her best. It was very hard to put down and when I finished, she kept me wanting more. Readers who love interesting characters will love this book. Brother Erasmus is the best of the supporting cast. I just wish we could have more of him! The plot is exciting and unique as well. A great read!