the Mary Russell books by Laurie R. King

[Carol the Dabbler]

Thanks, Fox! The consensus over on that thread seems to be that the term "ink pen" is used in the UK to refer to a fountain pen or cartridge pen (i.e., one that uses "real ink") as opposed to a ballpoint or gel pen. But A Letter of Mary was set in the 1920's, a few decades before ballpoints were in common use, and I still don't know whether the term "ink pen" was in use anywhere at that time. But as the guys at work used to say, NBD ("no big deal").

 

I finally found O Jerusalem at the store tonight.

[sfmpco]

I just finished reading "The Beekeeper's Apprentice," which I found fairly entertaining right up until the end when we got into the tired trope of the baddie having a long conversation on their motives.  Interesting that Holmes is asked to write a suicide note.  I'm afraid to say my vocabulary took a beating while reading her book and I had to write down a ton of new words to learn.

 

I have ordered "Monstrous Regiment," and it should be here this week.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Thanks for mentioning "Monstrous Regiment," Jenny!  When I saw this thread on my New Content page, I remembered that something in the special had apparently derived from King's books, but couldn't offhand think what it was.  You've saved me from searching for it.

 

For those who aren't sure what I'm talking about, here's a minor spoiler:

 

 

At the end of the episode, Holmes is suggesting titles for Watson's write-up of the adventure, and one of his ideas is "The Monstrous Regiment" -- pretty clearly a nod to King's book title.  (Watson rejects all of Holmes' suggestions in favor of his own idea, "The Abominable Bride.")

 

 

P.S.:  Letting the baddie explain everything is pure Conan Doyle (see The Sign of the Four).

[sfmpco]

Letting the baddie explain everything is just so old, though.  And tedious.  I skipped over much of it.

 

 

As for "Monstrous Regiment," there are actually many books pre-dating the King book with that same title about that same thing although likely they were referencing hers.

 

[sfmpco]

Also, King has a Twitter account for her character, Mary Russell, @mary_russell, and she will respond to you as the character.  

[Carol the Dabbler]

As for "Monstrous Regiment," there are actually many books pre-dating the King book with that same title about that same thing although likely

[Moftiss] were referencing hers.

.

 

The expression "Monstrous Regiment of Women" dates from a critical essay written by John Knox in 1558, and the term has been borrowed many times since, mostly by women who disagree with Knox's point of view.  However, I strongly suspect that King's book is the first to link the expression with Sherlock Holmes.  So yes, it seem quite likely.

[sfmpco]

Well, all is all is all canon to Moftiss.  What is interesting is that...

 

 

Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes marry in "The Monstrous Regiment of Women." So, I say all is not lost for Sherlock to stray from ACD into a true relationship.

 

[Arcadia]

 

 

 

The expression "Monstrous Regiment of Women" dates from a critical essay written by John Knox in 1558, and the term has been borrowed many times since, mostly by women who disagree with Knox's point of view.  However, I strongly suspect that King's book is the first to link the expression with Sherlock Holmes.  So yes, it seem quite likely.

 

So when they have Holmes suggesting that as a title ... oh dear. That could be construed as A Bit Not Good, I hope most people don't track down the meaning of the original title....

[Carol the Dabbler]

Well, it could have been a bit of a double entendre, true -- but Knox wrote his essay long before the Victorian era, so I very much doubt that Moftiss had it in mind.  More likely they had in mind the later suffrigist use of the phrase (in-universe) and Laurie King's book title (real world).

[sfmpco]

I am just starting to read "Monstrous Regiment" - and I have a 2nd copy of it to get rid of.  The first one I ordered turned out to be mislabled and is a paperback in acceptable condition, but the 2nd one is a hardback which is what i always prefer.  

 

So, if anyone wants a copy, let me know!

[sfmpco]

So today was published on Amazon the short story by Laurie R. King called "The Marriage of Mary Russell."  In it is mentioned Sherlock's Uncle Rudy.  

 

Uncle Rudy is mentioned in HLV.  Question:  is there an Uncle Rudy in ACD canon?  If not, she clearly borrowed that from SHERLOCK, but then, TAB paid homage to her by mentioning her "Monstrous Regiment of Women."

[Carol the Dabbler]

Interesting!  I don't offhand recall mention of any Uncle Rudy (or any relatives, actually, other than Mycroft and one grandmother) in ACD's stories, but then I've read only about half of canon.  Can anybody else say for certain?  This does sound highly suspicious to me!

 

I believe I've read all of the King books, though (there are only half a dozen or so), and I always wished that the wedding hadn't taken place "offstage."  Now all I have to do is figure out which laptop has my Kindle app on it!

 

[sfmpco]

This question may need to be posted in a more widely read thread.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Oh, good point, since it's actually a Conan Doyle question.  *off to find a good thread*  Done!

[sfmpco]

There's a Random House contest here for the upcoming release of her latest book, "The Murder of Mary Russell."  Winners will be picked after 3/29/16.

 

http://www.randomhousebooks.com/campaign/the-murder-of-mary-russell-contest/

[sfmpco]

Here are some Laurie R. King interviews:

 

 

 

 

 

[sfmpco]

Laurie will be at this book signing and reading on April 20:

 

http://news.ucsc.edu/2016/03/king-laurie-r.html

[sfmpco]

There may be another nod to King... As I have mentioned before, in The Beekeeper's Apprentice, there is a character, Patricia Donleavy, who is Moriarty's daughter and carries out his tasks post Reichenbach Falls.  

 

In TAB, Janine is given the last name Donlevy.  There has been speculation that she is somehow tied to Moriarty, but I suspect that's more because she's Irish.  Nevertheless, I find it interesting that they chose to give her a last name at all when she had no last name for either TSOT or HLV.  And of all the last names they could have given her, they chose that one...  

 

Of course, I realize that Janine cannot be Moriarty's daughter in SHERLOCK, if in fact they choose to go the familial ties direction with her character, and that's IF she even appears again.

[Carol the Dabbler]

There may be another nod to King... As I have mentioned before, in The Beekeeper's Apprentice, there is a character, Patricia Donleavy, who is Moriarty's daughter and carries out his tasks post Reichenbach Falls.  

 

In TAB, Janine is given the last name Donlevy.  There has been speculation that she is somehow tied to Moriarty, but I suspect that's more because she's Irish.  Nevertheless, I find it interesting that they chose to give her a last name at all when she had no last name for either TSOT or HLV.  And of all the last names they could have given her, they chose that one...  

 

Of course, I realize that Janine cannot be Moriarty's daughter in SHERLOCK, if in fact they choose to go the familial ties direction with her character, and that's IF she even appears again.

 

When you say can't be his daughter, you're referring to their apparent ages?  Interesting coincidence, though.  (Moftiss may be yanking our collective chain.  Again.)

[sfmpco]

 

There may be another nod to King... As I have mentioned before, in The Beekeeper's Apprentice, there is a character, Patricia Donleavy, who is Moriarty's daughter and carries out his tasks post Reichenbach Falls.  

 

In TAB, Janine is given the last name Donlevy.  There has been speculation that she is somehow tied to Moriarty, but I suspect that's more because she's Irish.  Nevertheless, I find it interesting that they chose to give her a last name at all when she had no last name for either TSOT or HLV.  And of all the last names they could have given her, they chose that one...  

 

Of course, I realize that Janine cannot be Moriarty's daughter in SHERLOCK, if in fact they choose to go the familial ties direction with her character, and that's IF she even appears again.

 

When you say can't be his daughter, you're referring to their apparent ages?  Interesting coincidence, though.  (Moftiss may be yanking our collective chain.  Again.)

 

 

Yes, I'm saying she can't be his daughter because of the age thing.  I'm sure I will find other bits and nods from between King and Mofftiss as I work my way through the books.  I am on #4 and #14 comes out April 5....

[Carol the Dabbler]

Good heavens, there are already 14 Mary Russell books?  I thought I'd read all of them, or nearly, but I must be only about halfway now.  Oh well, that just gives me something to look forward to!

 

[sfmpco]

Here they are in order:

 

1.  The Beekeeper's Apprentice

2.  A Monstrous Regiment of Women

3.  A Letter of Mary

4.  The Moor

5.  O Jerusalem

6.  Justice Hall

7.  The Game

8.  Locked Rooms

9.  The Language of Bees

10.  The God of the Hive

11.  Pirate King

12.  Garment of Shadows

13.  Dreaming Spies

14.  The Murder of Mary Russell - comes out April 5, 2016

[Carol the Dabbler]

So today was published on Amazon the short story by Laurie R. King called "The Marriage of Mary Russell."  In it is mentioned Sherlock's Uncle Rudy.  

 

Uncle Rudy is mentioned in HLV.  Question:  is there an Uncle Rudy in ACD canon?  If not, she clearly borrowed that from SHERLOCK, but then, TAB paid homage to her by mentioning her "Monstrous Regiment of Women."

 

To be precise, the King story mentions a Cousin Rudy, rather than an uncle.  Still, suspicious.  Maybe he's Rudy, Jr.

[sfmpco]

More works coming out by King.

 

http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=5b89f288ef33a3ddd3166c9ae&id=31715edfd1&e=bd42d6770c

[sfmpco]

I have three duplicate copies of the books.  One is in pristine, unread condition (Dreaming Spies), one is ex-library (The Moor), and one is a well-read paperback (A Monstrous Regiment of Women).  I am happy to give them to anyone in the USA.  Just private message me.