THE LANTERN'S DANCE by Laurie R. King is the latest in the suspense series featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes and this is one of King's best. She separates the protagonists (Russell has hurt her foot and stays behind) which cleverly allows each to narrate portions of this tale. Always curious, Russell discovers an old, coded journal and sets about deciphering its contents which, in turn, relay the life story of an adventuresome woman. Holmes, meanwhile, is off to try to protect the lives of his son (Damian Adler) and his family. There had been a break-in at Damian’s home and Holmes focuses on figuring out motive and assessing the potential danger. Readers will likely suspect an overlap in these two situations as they loop between past and present in an entertaining and surprising manner. Employing a clever puzzle and artful description, King skillfully provides additional backstory for her main characters. Can't wait for the next one!

It's amazing to realize that 2024 marks the thirtieth anniversary of publication of The Beekeeper's Apprentice, first in this remarkable series.

Illusions can shape one’s life and “The Lanterns Dance” is all about illusions.

When Damien Addler chases away a knife wielding intruder in the middle of the night, a visiting Holmes rushes the young family off to safety and Russell, stays back to investigate. She wants to find out the identity of the thief and two other men who have been asking after Damien. Believing that the break-in is related to the recent delivery of some boxes that once belonged to Damien’s distant relatives, she looks through the old crates. She finds nothing of great value, but she does find two things that are very unusual. The first is an old “magic lantern”. The zoetrope was a precursor to film animation that ran a strip of drawings past candlelight to provide the illusion of movement. She also finds a book that at first appears to be an old diary. But that too is an illusion. After the first couple pages, Russel discovers that the rest of the book is written in code. The initial page promises that “those with eyes to see” will view a series of images from her life. Russell slowly decodes the book, and in doing so, she solves much of the mystery that beguiled her, but also reveals the truth behind some other illusions.

This is the 18th book in Laurie R. King’s “Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes’ series a pastiche that features Conon Doyle’s sleuth and King’s original character Mary Russell. Doyle focused on the mystery and the action, and his characters were one-dimensional. King also adds introspection and inner dialogue to her characters. She has created an older Holmes who is more vibrant than the original. The series has built upon Doyle’s canon adding new adventures of Holmes and his young protege who becomes his partner and eventually his wife. These books always have two points of view. Russell is written in the first person, and the reader is privy to her every thought and feeling. Chapters that feature Holmes are always in the third person and read very much like a classic Sherlock Holmes adventure. This book provides a third voice as well, for over half of the chapters are passages from the diary. As the book progresses the reader joins Mary as we get to know a young girl who is taken from Paris to live in India. We become engrossed in her story, even as we wonder how it ties to the mystery at hand. Most of the books in the series have complicated plots with adventures in foreign lands, often with historical figures taking part in the action. This book provides a change of pace with a mystery in Paris that strikes very close to home. It had very little mystery and even less action. But what this book did provide was a story within the story that made for a compelling read. I found this foray into women’s fiction entertaining.

Over the course of the series, she provides a lot of the back-story for Sherlock’s early life. Although this book can be read as a stand-alone, it would be enjoyed much more if you have read some of the books in the series. I accessed this book from the publisher Bantam via NetGalley. I can honestly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction who love books with strong female characters.

This was a really fabulous book. I love the Russell and Holmes books, and this was a great addition. Russell and Holmes arrive at Damien's house to find out they had an intruder. Holmes leaves to find the family and make sure they are safe. Russell stays behind because she has sprained her ankle and cannot get around easily. Russell finds a diary in code and sets out to decode it while Holmes is gone. I don't want to give too much away but you will be as enthralled as i was to follow along. I had figured out some of the story but not all. Well worth the time to read this newest installment.. Laurie R. King never disappoints.

I received a copy for an unbiased review.

I have been entranced with Laurie R King's take on Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell since "The Beekeeper's Apprentice". After all this time, the relationship between the two has never been better. I love how detailed the research into the backstory of all the novels is. Come join Holmes and Russell as they solve yet another mystery..

Thirty years after the publication of The Beekeeper's Apprentice, Mary Russell continues to support and at times supplant Sherlock Holmes in their latest adventure. Only slightly hampered by an ankle injury, she pursues an investigation into the latest difficulty concerning Holmes' son Damien and his family. Russell's demeanor as a wife is both sly and knowing, making her a worthy partner to her famous husband.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. This is actually my first Mary Russell novel. It's a series I've wanted to read for quite some time and will definitely be going back to.

Mary and Holmes, are returning from their most recent adventure and decide to go visit Holmes' son, Damian and his family. When they arrive, they learn the family hurriedly departed after an unusual break-in at the house after strangers were asking in town about the family. Mary, incapacitated by an injured ankle, stays behind while Holmes sets off after Damian to ensure his safety and investigate further. Mary spends her time investigating some crates and trunks Damian received related to a long deceased relative of he & Holes, the Verner family the strangers were asking about. She discovers a fascinating puzzle while pursues Damian and tries to get him to safety.

The mystery unfolds in a beautiful way. The characters and the relationships are complex and engaging
There is much detail and research in bringing this world to life. This is not just a mystery. It is a story about family and what it means to us. King has created a world of characters that I want to spend more time with. There is a delightful depth to this story and these characters. I will definitely be returning to this series.

This is a really exciting series and it is just as good entering into the 18th volume. Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, are in France. They are going to stop by to visit Holmes' son, Damian Adler, while on their vacation, because his home is along the way. When they arrive however, they learn that Damian and his young family have fled their home. There were some strangers asking about where Damian lived recently and the night before Mary and Holmes arrived, Damian surprised an intruder climbing through a window into his house.
Holmes is concerned and intends to make sure his son and granddaughter are safe.
While Holmes is gone, Mary stays behind in Damian's home. She had just injured her ankle and despite wanting to be with Holmes she knows that will not be practical with her on crutches. Mary decides to look around the home, in case there is a clue about the intruder. She discovers, packed away, in some boxes Damian recently aquired, an old journal. It is coded, but perhaps it contains information. As Mary works out the cipher she reads the story of a young French girl taken from her mother's house, to live with her father's family in India. Lakshmi's story takes Mary into the past. The story that slowly unfolds, not only reveals a murder and blackmail, but also......well you will just have to see for yourself.
This story can be read alone, but the series is so very good and you will get a fuller appreciation of the characters if you read them all.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for the opportunity to enjoy this amazing e-ARC

The Lanterns Dance is the newest installation of the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie R. King. In this story, the couple starts out heading to the Paris countryside to visit Holmes’ son. Unfortunately, upon arrival at the son’s home, they discover he and his family have fled. Holmes and Russell take it upon themselves to ensure their safety and at the same time uncover some long buried family secrets.

I had previously read the first few books that start this series, but not the most recent dozen or so and not for many years. As a result, I was familiar with some of the background information but also was lacking in a great deal. While I was able to follow the story and enjoy it, I think it would be enjoyed even more by someone who had read all of the previous books before picking up this one.

Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

I love this series and was excited to read this book! It did not disappoint. Sherlock is busy traveling all over France trying to ditch a stalker following his son Damian while Mary stays behind at Damian’s house to figure out why someone from India broke into his house. Mary finds a coded journal in a crate (which of course she deciphers) that tells the story of Lakshmi. I got caught up in the mystery of Lakshmi’s story and little by little was able to figure out who she was. This is the first time in the series I was able to put the pieces together and figure out the solution. I was still surprised at the reveal of the person who broke into Damian’s home. I loved how it all came together at the end! The confusing part of the book was keeping the genealogy of Lakshmi straight. I enjoyed reading this mystery and would recommend it to readers who enjoy a twisty Sherlock Holmes mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Hard to believe that it’s been 30 years since Mary Russell was dropped into the life of Sherlock Holmes in The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. Since then, Laurie King as taken us on adventures all over the world. In this 18th book, Holmes and Russell are in France looking forward to relaxing, which of course does not happen. This book combines cultures, family history and mysteries, as many long-held family secrets are revealed.

In The Lantern's Dance, Mary Russell and her husband Sherlock Holmes are back to unravel another mystery. This time it involves Sherlock’s son and their genealogy, which makes fascinating reading.

Mary and Sherlock visit his recently discovered adult son, Damien. It seems Damien and his family have been scared off from their home by mysterious “foreigners”. Mary, who has twisted her ankle, stays at Damien’s home, while Sherlock rushes out of town to help his son. But Mary is not bored as she finds a long hidden coded diary and she slowly deciphers the author’s story. Meanwhile, Sherlock is chasing a mysterious lascar, or Indian sailor, who broke into Damien’s home and another pair of Indian men who seem to be following the family with ominous intentions. The chapters alternate Sherlock’s and Mary’s discoveries.

I have read this series sporadically over the years. Some of the books keep my interest more than others. I loved this one the best so far! Peering into Sherlock’s past was fascinating. The author puts so much effort in keeping her writing in alignment with the Holmes canon that sometimes it seems like Arthur Conan Doyle has been reincarnated. I did guess Mary’s big reveal early in the book. However, that did not reduce my delight in the plot of The Lantern's Dance. If you like this series or the Holmes stories at all, this book is a must read. 5 stars!

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

The Lantern’s Dance by Laurie R King finds Holmes and Russell at the home of Holmes’ son, Damian Adler. Sadly, none of the family was there, having been spooked by a break-in. The caretaker gave all the information he could and Holmes set off. Russell stayed behind as she had sprained ankle and was not at her best. To amuse herself she opened the crates and trunks sent to Damian from Paris, containing items left behind from when Vernet had been in residence years earlier. Having found nothing of interest she began to put the items back where she had found them but ran into resistance. It turned out to be journal, full of both illustrations and verbiage, but written in some sort of code. Well, this would keep her occupied while she awaited Holmes’ return. And an interesting story it told. Meanwhile, Holmes saw his son, daughter-in-law (almost) and granddaughter to safety before beginning to investigate. He caught up with Russell in Paris where they moved forward together.

This, as always, was a convoluted mess of a book that came together nicely in the end. Russell and Holmes are well-matched intellectually and often proceed with the same ferocity whether together or separately. Holmes is a character who was primarily developed by another author but he continues to show growth with King and surprisingly, is respectful of Russell’s intellect and skills despite the time in history in which he grew up. It is a compelling mystery, rooted in the past, and takes twists and turns aplenty. In the end, the bad guy was not a bad guy, and the couple of others weren’t really, either. It was a terrific book. Keep writing, Ms. King!

I was invited to read The Lantern’s Dance by Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine #LaurieRKing #TheLanternsDance

With Mary Russell on crutches after a minor accident, she and Sherlock Holmes travel to France for a visit with his son Damian, his daughter and fiancée. They arrive to discover that Damian and his family have left after a break-in. While Sherlock travels to Nimes to find Damian, Mary remains behind to look into what happened. Prior to the break-in, Damian had received several crates that had belonged to Horace Vernet, an artist and Holmes’ grand uncle. With limited mobility. Mary wonders if there is a connection between the crates and the break-in and begins to review the content. Enclosed is an antique zoetrope, a lantern with a rotating shade that creates pictures in motion and tells a story. She also discovers a journal written in code. As she deciphers the code it tells the story of Lakshmi, the illegitimate daughter of an Indian businessman who was taken from her mother in France and brought to India. The journal covers her early years and her escape from India after the death of her father, finally settling in England. Mary discovers ties to Sherlock’s family and it sets up an important twist at the end.

After ensuring the safety of Damian and his family, Sherlock returns to Mary. When Damian disappears after encountering a man fitting the description of the burglar they must join forces to find him. Two men identified as Indian had been looking for him at the time of the break-in and they may be able to provide an answer. This is a story of family ties and a vendetta tied to family jewels that reaches back through time. Sherlock explains his family history to Damian, but even the great detective does not know the whole story. Laurie R. king once again presents a mystery that will delight her fans. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for providing this book for my review.

This is another winner by Laurie R. King, one of my favorite authors!

Russell and Holmes arrive at his son's house in France, but they are not met as expected by his son and his wife, but by a caretaker holding a shotgun! As he explains what has occurred, Russell and Holmes must decide how to figure out how best to fix the situation.

I love the way the family was woven into the mystery, as well as the setting of this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for and ARC of this book #sponsored

4.5 stars rounded up because this one just made me sigh in satisfaction when I closed the book.

Happy Publication Day! I've been a huge fan of the series for years, but while I've enjoyed the last few very much, this was extra special because we get to learn things about Holmes' past that we've never known before. I love how King has taken on a whole new aspect of the Holmes canon and added to it in a way that is believable and wonderful in the heroine that is Mary Russell.

In this one, Mary and Holmes end up splitting forces because of a sprained ankle. While he goes off to try saving his son and family from unknown forces, she stays behind and starts investigating and translating some boxes that were sent to Damien shortly before he and his family ran off. While I usually enjoy having Mary and Holmes together and interacting, I liked that they each took on a different aspect of the case and only joined forces near the end, when he trusted her enough to let her share only part of her information so they could each do what had to be done. Over this series, Holmes shows over and over how much he values and trusts her as a true partner, even when he would love to be able to swoop in and save the day. We see this again in this story, and when they reunite, he trusts her judgment on what he needs to know immediately, and what can hold until later.

I teared up at the end, even if I anticipated what would happen, and it just made me smile and hope that I will see some of these characters reappear in future books! Of the recent books, this has been my favorite!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the Publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is one of my very favorite Historical Mystery series and I was excited to read this latest installment. Although I have actually listened to them all with audible, I do intend to do the same eventually with this one!

With all the spinoff's of Sherlock Homes, this is one of the best. Mary finds herself alone as her husband goes off on a mission and begins to decipher clues in a written journal left in Sherlock's son's home.

A journey of discovery and mystery you will not be able to put down!

As always with Laurie R King, this is a story that is full of depth and details.
Having Russell and Holmes working in two different locations is an interesting switch.
Great attention to detail and character building.
Another great read.

“The Lantern's Dance,” by Laurie R. King, Bantam, 320 pages, Feb. 13, 2024.

Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, are traveling to visit his son, Damian Adler, and Damian’s fiancée in the French countryside.

Damian is a Surrealist artist. He has a four-year-old daughter, Estelle, with his late wife. His fiancée is Dr. Aileen Henning.

Russell is on crutches after a recent injury. As she makes her way to the door, she hears the unmistakable sound of a breach-action shotgun being snapped into place. After they identify themselves, Gervais LaRue, the man with the shotgun, apologizes.

LaRue tells them that people in the small village noticed strangers who asked about the Adlers. One man also asked about the Vernets. Holmes’ granduncle was the French artist, Horace Vernet. But virtually no one outside of the Holmes family knows that Vernet and Adler are related. Then a short time later, someone broke into Adler’s house during the night. The burglar dropped a machete when he fled.

The family fled to Nimes where Damian has a friend who owns a hotel. Holmes rushes after Damian while Russell stays behind to search the empty house. In Damian’s studio, she discovers four crates packed with memorabilia related to Holmes’ granduncle. It’s an odd mix of treasures and clutter, including a tarnished silver lamp with a rotating shade: an antique yet sophisticated form of zoetrope.

In the same crate is an old journal written in a nearly impenetrable code. Intrigued, Russell sets about deciphering the journal, slowly realizing that each entry is built around an image—the first of which is a child, bundled into a carriage by an abductor, watching her mother recede from view. Who was this child and why was the journal packed in that crate?

The characters are well-developed and the plotting is excellent. The attention to details makes the different locations come to life. The ending had me yelling “no way” out loud and I had to go back to reread it. While “The Lantern’s Dance” is the 18th in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone as the author goes into enough detail of the earlier books for those who are new to the series to follow along. This is one of the best of the year.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

What starts as a possible threat to a family member may end up shedding light on a past tragedy..

Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes arrive in the small town in the south of France, ostensibly for a visit with Holmes’ son Damian and his family. A period of recuperation after their latest exploits would also not be unwelcome, particularly since Russell is nursing an injured ankle. Being met by someone with a cocked shotgun is but the first indication that this will not turn out to be the rapprochement for which they had hoped, and things will only get worse. Damian, his fiancée and daughter have decamped after an intruder was caught breaking in one night, which coupled with a pair of foreign men asking around town for his address points to possible danger. Just who these people are is uncertain, and what they may be up to is equally unclear. Holmes sets off to connect with Damian and get him and his family somewhere safe, while the injured Russell is left behind. While alone, she pokes about in some boxes which recently arrived for Damian from Paris, connected in some way to his artistic ancestorsm and discovers an encrypted journal. As Holmes works to identify what if any threat faces Damian and from whom, Russell is able to translate the journal. Both aspects lead to past associations with India, and not only is the safety of Holmes’ family on the line….Russell may just have solved a painful mystery from Holmes’ past.
Just about thirty years ago, Laurie R. King published the first book in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. I thoroughly enjoyed that first entry in the series (and am more than a little shocked to find how much time has passed since then), and have read many (though not all) of the books that followed. The Lantern’s Dance marks the eighteenth entry in the Russell/Holmes collection, and I can honestly say that I enjoyed this almost as much as I did the very first. The relationship between a later-in-life Sherlock Holmes and a young woman who is every bit his equal in intellect and whom he has come to accept as such remains an enjoyable construct to a mystery where the reader must use their own skills of deduction alongside the pair to solve the mystery afoot. With vivid descriptions of a past India, from its wonders and beauty to the prejudices and unfairness present, the journal left by a young woman who identifies herself as Lakshmi weaves a fascinating tale, while the prickly relationship between Holmes and his son with Irene Adler (of whose existence he has only been aware for a relatively short time) makes the current uncertain situation more difficult…there is much to ponder and absorb. Keeping within the tenets of the official Holmes
canon while expanding Holmes’ character and those who populate his life is a challenge for which Ms King is always ready. This book is a must-read for those who have enjoyed any of the previous Russell/Holmes books, as well as for those interested in Sherlockian literature in general. While it is not strictly necessary to have read any or all of the preceding novels, I would advise people to pick up at least one or two of the earlier books (both because they are wonderful books to read, and because it will give the reader a more thorough appreciation of the Russell/Holmes relationship). That said, I have not read some of the most recent installments but was able to quickly sort out what had happened during my absence. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group -Ballantine Bantam for allowing me access to a copy of The Lantern’s Dance….I am so glad to have the opportunity to catch up with these “old friends”.

The Lantern's Dance is the 18th book in Laurie R. King's Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes historical mystery series. Of course, I started on book 17! Why do I do that?! However, I discovered a great series, and I have obtained some of the first books in the series to catch up on when I pare down my TBR towers a bit. The mystery stands alone, but some references are made to past cases.

After a recent case in Transylvania (that was a great story!), Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes travel to the French countryside to visit Holmes' son - famous artist Damien Adler - and his child and soon-to-be wife. However, when they arrive, it appears that the family has fled due to some threat. Holmes rushes after them. Russell, suffering from an injury to her foot, stays behind to search the empty house. In Damien's studio, she discovers four crates packed with memorabilia related to Holmes’ grand-uncle, artist Horace Vernet. Some is junk, but some are treasures like paintings. However, Russell is awed by an antique yet sophisticated form of zoetrope, which is fitted with strips of paper whose images dance with the lantern’s spin. Also among the crates is a coded old journal. It's quite difficult, but Russell is determined to decipher it; and when she does, she discovers that each entry is built around a particular image. Who wrote the journal? What does it have to do with Damien or the Vernets? Russell begins to realize that the journal may even be connected to Sherlock Holmes himself.

I never read any of the Sherlock Holmes books by Arthur Conan Doyle. (Yes, I am a philistine!) The closest I got to the character was watching the British show starring Benedict Cumberbatch. So when references were made regarding past cases of Holmes', I was a bit lost. This story started our rather slow for me due to that reason; however, when I almost reached the halfway mark, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. The story is told from two different viewpoints - Sherlock and Russell. (They call each other by their last names, by the way.) For most of the story, besides the beginning and the end, the couple was working separately. I enjoyed seeing Sherlock's relationship with his son Damien and his family, especially the little daughter. Apparently Sherlock hadn't known he had a son for quite a long time, so the relationship is still growing. Then we had Russell trying to decode the cipher of the journal, and her search for suspects. A good many chapters were the entries in the journal. Those were the parts that I enjoyed the most. Who was the little Franco-Indian child, and why was she taken away from her mother? The entries became more fascinating as they went along. I'm not going to say much more, as I don't want to ruin the jaw-dropping conclusion for you. I was stunned. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, as well as the beginning ones; I'm totally lost how Russell ended up marrying a man twice her age! There are probably some great stories explaining that!

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.