I received this ARC free from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Island of the Mad, the 15th book in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series, is fantastic. The mystery is compelling, the dialogue interesting, the setting, Venice, fascinating. Aside from being a Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes mystery, which I really love, but there are the little bits of history that Laurie King puts in her books that shows how much research she puts into these stories. Looking forward to the next book.

This is true to fashion Laurie King. Good stuff. I was pleased to see that there were enough snippets of Holmes's investigation away from Russell that I didn't feel like he got lost. As always, the sense of time and place is immersive - I now feel like I've seen Venice. And, I always love Laurie King's inclusion of real historical figures on Russell and Holmes's adventures.
The cover of this book is just gorgeous, and the descriptive scenery in the book certainly lived up to the beautiful cover.

I am a longtime fan of Sherlock Holmes and have come to love the Mary Russell series as well. The latest book, "Island of the Mad" is another great entry in this series.

This time, we find Russell and Holmes in Venice, trying to find the "mad" aunt of Russell's college friend. Veronica has been troubled and has spent a lot of time in Bedlam, an insane asylum. The last time Russell saw her, she said that she felt safe there. If that is true, then why has she disappeared?

On just a slim clue, Russell and Holmes delve into the world of Venice in the 1920's, complete with high society partiers, Fascists black shirt militia and Cole Porter.

The author, Laurie King, has once again written a very detailed book, describing the sights of Venice, the nightlife of the rich and famous, and the way that Russell and Holmes solve the mystery of this disappearance.

I love these books and hope that Ms. King continues to write them for a long, long time. Always entertaining, always informative and always fun!

In this latest Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes story, fans will not be disappointed. It has a wonderfully presented plot that deals with issues of prejudice, sexuality, and power. Although not se in a contemporary context, the story speaks to some of the topics of today. I have not loved all of the Russell & Holmes books, but this one is definitely in the top 5. ]goodreads.com]

Island of the Mad is the latest of Mary Russell's memoirs, lovingly curated by Laurie R King. This adventure finds the intrepid sleuthing duo headed to Holmes’ least favourite place- Venice. Russell’s friend Veronica has asked her help in finding her aunt Vivian, who has gone suddenly missing, along with jewels and money that, to be fair, belonged to Vivian anyway. Veronica's aunt, though quite young, was a long-term patient at the notorious asylum known as 'Bedlam’. She had been granted a pass to go attend her brother's birthday party, accompanied by an asylum escort. Sometime after they left Selwick, the pair disappeared. Russell's initial digging hints at Venice as the place Vivian may have ended up. Of course, as long as Sherlock is going, Mycroft has work for him! As Russell gets acquainted with the Lido set, in hopes of news or sightings of Vivian, Holmes turns his attention to Cole Porter and his entertainments at the Ca’ Rezzonico. Their lines of enquiry will bring them into close contact with Mussolini's Blackshirts, and take them to the plague island of Poveglia.

This has become my second favourite of Russell's memoirs, after Justice Hall. I love the depth of history. There is much excitement in this story, as both Russell and Holmes are plunged into frenetic environments. Between Cole’s parties, and the Lido set, there's no shortage of entertainment, and that's aside from the mischief the pair get up to together. I felt as if I could step right into the gaiety. And Russell spearheaded a gate-crashing expedition. Too funny.

As part of their investigations, the pair visit the island of Poveglia, which just delighted me. Sensationalism aside, I find Poveglia fascinating because of its history, especially as a plague quarantine island. Around this point in time, the island housed an asylum (yes, asylums are a big theme of the book), and Russell and Holmes find a possible explanation for some of those tales of hauntings. Also slightly touched upon is Percy Fawcett, whose expeditions fascinate me, and who just may have been on to something after all.

(Read my Fawcett post here)
http://www.aislynndmerricksson.com/lorekeeping-percy-fawcetts-fringe-archaeology/

Aspects of this story touched on issues of homosexuality in that era, in different cultures. It's terrifying to think that in England you could have been locked up for it in a place like Bedlam, as well as being locked up simply for being an inconvenient woman. That happens in Venice later, too, sad to say. Then there is the attitude in Venice, where it is tolerated and more openly accepted. I loved that Holmes had the attitude that people should be who they are, as did Russell. In fact, they did a bit of cross-dressing for one of the little 'flings’ later in the story, and my but wasn't that whole set-up a bit of Loki-inspired mischief? Too bloody funny!

If you are a fan of the series, you won't be disappointed! If you love Sherlock Holmes, and you've never read the series, what's up with that?! Go now, and start! You've gotta lotta catchin’ up to do. Highly recommended.

Check out my other Mary Russell reviews:

The Beekeeper's Apprentice
https://wp.me/p6C2DX-NA
The Marriage of Mary Russell
http://www.aislynndmerricksson.com/book-review-the-marriage-of-mary-russell-co-laurie-r-king/
The Murder of Mary Russell
https://wp.me/p6C2DX-1Ou

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House/ Ballantine for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This adventure takes Mary and Sherlock to Italy as they search for a missing 'madwoman' who was clever enough and brave enough to make a break from her brother. In Italy, they meet Cole Porter, tangle with the Fascists, and of course have fun solving the mystery.

The life in the Roaring Twenties can seem like a mad, mad world, but their latest case brings Russell and Holmes face to face with the truly mad, the dangerously ignorant, and a hard look at their own eccentric life.

Island of the Mad is the fifteenth installment in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. The books are strong on suspense, but also follow closely with global and personal historical events for the main characters so they must be read in order.

In the latest, Mary and Holmes are just settling back into their life in Sussex after a string of daring cases when a phone call from an old friend has them back in action once again. Ronnie’s eccentric, mad aunt has gone missing along with her nurse and a stash of jewels. Was it voluntary or something much more sinister and if it was voluntary, is it a good idea to have a woman from a madhouse loose?

Starting from the beginning has Mary investigating the inside of Bedlam and confronting both the mad and the current day treatment of the mad along with her journey to the ancestral home to discover if the answer lies within the family to Lady Vivian’s disappearance. Meanwhile, Mycroft wants Holmes to look into the disturbing reports about the Fascists in Italy under Il Duce, Mussolini. Mary worries that Holmes is getting too old for this sort of thing and Holmes worries that he may just be too old for his own wife. The case takes them across the continent to Venice where Holmes and Mary are faced with some of the wealthiest and powerful ‘bright young things’ drinking and partying in the palazzos and waterways of Venice. I confess that Sherlock Holmes and his violin and Cole Porter on his piano in a few jam sessions was probably my favorite scenes in the book.

Island of the Mad presents a good mystery, but leans just as heavily toward historical fiction the way it delves into the activities, thinking, and social mores of the day from those on the lunatic fringe, to those put away for madness, to the powerful and growing Fascist movement, women’s issues, homosexuality, and the darkness that can drive a person to seek asylum in a madhouse. Russell and Holmes take turns with the narration and both ponder on all these things.

There were some thrilling moments as Russell and Holmes worked the case and a mystery, but this was tucked in with so much more that I think those who enjoy fiction set in the Roaring Twenties are as likely to love this as mystery fans. As always, I was well-pleased to get another installment in a long-time favorite series. The author has carefully preserved the spirit of the Sherlock Holmes world from the beginning and keeps it authentic even into these stories that explore his later years and the clever and resourceful young woman who is his partner in every way. Definitely, recommend the series to Sherlock fans and to historical mystery lovers.

Mary Russell is asked by her university friend to try to find an aunt that has gone missing after visiting the family estate while on leave from Bedlam. Yes, Bedlam - the asylum for the insane. Mary manages to infiltrate the establishment and deduces that Aunt Vivian, apparently sane all along, has now opted to escape her prison to live a reclusive existence elsewhere - presumably Venice. Planning her travels, Holmes is reluctant to accompany her until Mycroft persuades him to look into the "Fascist" situation while in Italy. Their efforts to uncover the truth had some interesting links to historical figures, I'm not sure they were true or not.

I have adored the Mary Russell series since it first was published in 1994 and have faithfully awaited each new installment of the adventures of Mary Russell with the mature Sherlock Holmes. However, this one fell a bit flat for me. It seem to lack the tension that all the other stories have elicited when danger seem to be in the offing. It seemed a bit too predictable. The situations and characters seemed a bit stale this time.

It's 1925 in June on the Sussex Downs, and Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes are out strolling around their orchard when the telephone rings. An old friend of Mary's needs their help when her aunt has failed to return following a supervised visit from Bedlam. After the previous few weeks of dealing with a bloody murder, a terrible loss, and startling revelations about Holmes, Russell is feeling a bit unbalanced herself. The last thing she wants is to deal with the mad, and yet, she can't say no. The Lady Vivian Beaconsfield has spent most of her adult life in one asylum after another, she seemed to be improving or at least, finding a point of balance in her madness. So why did she disappear, and take the family's jewels with her? Did someone help her like the Bedlam nurse, perhaps? The trail to find Vivian leads Russell and Holmes through Bedlam's stony halls to the warm Venice lagoon. Where the ethereal beauty is jarred by Mussolini's Blackshirts, the gilded Lido set may be tempting a madwoman, and where Cole Porter sits at a piano, playing with ideas.

This book doesn't just have the mystery of the missing Lady Beaconsfield we also get a second mystery when Mycroft asks Sherlock to look into the fascists who are gaining control in Venice. As the two cases start to come together, Holmes and Russell start discovering secrets about the people involved in the cases. The author lets the readers see what Venice was like in 1925 with her descriptive writing, of the characters, places, and the situations. The conclusion to both cases is very cleverly written as the good guys triumph and the bad guys get exactly what's coming to them.

It felt like I was getting together with some old friends who were telling me about their latest exploits in the world from the first page to the last page. I like that the author has preserved the Sherlock Holmes that Conan-Doyle introduced the world to as she lets us continue to read about his new adventures with Russell. I'm looking forward to the next installment in the adventures of Russell and Holmes.
I got an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for my honest opinion.

A tricky enquiry!

Not only but also! An absorbing investigation by Mary and Sherlock that takes us from Bedlam to the Lido and onto the Venetian asylum island of Poveglia.
What a fabulous conondrum for the wonderful Mary Russell and her ever fascinating husband Sherlock Holmes. Mary is asked by an old friend to find out about her aunt Vivian Beaconsfield who seems to have absconded from Bedlam along with some family jewels. The whole family seems cowered by Vivian's brother the Marquess of Selwick, who may or may not have been responsible for confining Vivian to Belam.
The search leads Mary to pre war Venice with Mussolini in power and his Blackshirts are instilling their reign of terror. Wonderful descriptions of the Lido and the going on of the permanent visitors to Venice, including Cole Porter are detailed. (Mycroft has asked Sherlock to look at the Fascists. He is disquieted!) I love the way King has Holmes dropping one off lines to Cole that end up as songs that are well known down through the generations. An amusing way to have Sherlock's influence quietly confirmed, all fiction of course, but a titillating idea.
Venice, it's gondoliers, it's residents, the islands that served as places and asylums are all well interpreted. The threat of the rise of fascism thinly veiled.
A very clever and racy read that had me fairly galloping towards a satisfactory Holmesian end. A brilliant foray into pre war Venice of 1925.

A NetGalley ARC

This book was a galley copy given to me by Random House and Netgalley.
The Island of the Mad is book fifteen in the Mary Russell Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie R King. This book sees Mary Russell take an even bigger role a front and center role in the series. Which make plenty of sense because in this series Holmes is almost two decades her senior. The Island of the Mad is a more straight forward story the previous entries In the series. There are no chapter headers in this new entry and I was saddened because I found I did miss them. At least there weren't any in my galley copy. The readers get to see a secondary character return and become the catalyst for why our duo sets out on this adventure. The Island of the Mad has a Edgar Allen Poe feel to it. It has spooky and creepy vibes that lurk around every corner. The story itself is very straight forward, but does have the twists and turn a reader can come to expect from a Laurie R King novel. King's command of language makes this next entry a worthy addition to the series. You just might learn something in addition to being told a great story. The Island of the Mad is a solid read with plenty of good story to tell. However, it slightly lacks the complex plot of the last entry into the series. The Island of the Mad is objectively a solid four star read. Personally it was a fun read I won't soon forget!

Island of the Mad takes Mary Russel and Holmes to Venice, when Mary is asked to find the aunt of an old friend. I love the relationship between Mary and Holmes - they are truly partners, both resourceful and intelligent. One of the things I enjoyed most about this book (besides the mystery itself) was the historical setting. From Bedlam, to Mussolini, to Cole Porter, it was fun to see the slices of history interspersed with the story, and I got interesting enough in some of them to do some research online in between chapters.

This book would be ok to read as a stand-alone, but as with most long-running series, some extra enjoyment will be had for those who get to revisit some past books' characters.

Mary and Sherlock are back to work in Island of the Mad.

Mary’s old friend Ronnie’s “mad” Aunt Vivian has disappeared. Returning early from a home visit to Bedlam, both Vivian and her caregiver never arrive. After a search fails to find her, Mary and Sherlock are enlisted into the search. Mary enters Bedlam undercover as a patient. Lady Vivian has reason to believe Bedlam is a safe harbor and her lifestyle before entering comes into question. The search continues among the rich internationals in Venice.

This is the first book in the series I’ve read and it works as a stand alone. However, some of the teases to what happened to Watson and Mrs. Hudson make me look forward to reading some of the earlier entries later. I selected this series because of glowing references to it in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series by Vicki Delany.

This book is highly recommended to Sherlock Holmes fans. It is also great for historical fiction fans interested in the build-up to World War II in Europe. It’s 1925 and the fascists are afoot! I thoroughly enjoyed the well-researched Sherlock Holmes references along with all the characters. Mary, being a feminist, was especially enjoyable. 5 stars!

Thanks to the publisher, Bantam Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Island of the Mad" by Laurie R. King, Bantam, June 12, 2018, 320 pages.

Mary Russell, who is married to Sherlock Holmes, is good friends with Ronnie Beaconsfield Fitzwarren.

It is 1925. Ronnie's aunt, Lady Vivian Beaconsfield, has been in Bethlem Royal Hospital, better known as Bedlam, a mental institution, for years after she twice attacked her half brother and once attempted suicide.

She is granted a weekend visit home for her brother Edward, Marquess of Selwick's 50th birthday party. Vivian and her favorite nurse, Rose Trevisan, disappear along with jewels she inherited from her mother and a few other trinkets from the family safe.

Ronnie has a young son and can't search for her aunt, so she asks Mary for help. Mary goes to the family home and instantly dislikes Edward. Mary agrees to look for Vivian.

She and Sherlock come to believe that the two women may have gone to Venice. Sherlock' brother, Mycroft, wants him to look into the rising prominence of Mussolini and the fascists. They head there, and Sherlock meets composer Cole Porter, who figures in to the plot.

This is a highly entertaining, well plotted, series that starts with "The Beekeeper's Apprentice." The mystery is engrossing and the reasoning is accurate.

I really enjoy the first several in the series, this is number 11, so much so that I have reread them several times. If you haven't read the first four, I recommend that you read them in order. "Island of the Mad" can be read as a stand alone novel, but you'll want to get the history of the couple.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the Advanced Readers Copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Will be posted 6/18

Island of the Mad (Mary Russell, Book 15)
Laurie R. King, 2018

New Release! I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for the purpose of review.

Premise: Sequel to The Murder of Mary Russell. https://bluefairysbookshelf.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-murder-of-mary-russell-mary-russell.html
Russell and Holmes are off again, this time in search of a friend's aunt who may have run from an asylum.

This series continues to merely limp along, and yet, I can't quite walk away. At least this entry didn't have the problem that many of the recent books have shared (namely, that Russell wasn't the main character). It just has other problems.

The bones of the story and the characters are good. Reintroducing Mary's friend Ronnie and her extended clan works well, and most of the early investigation about the whereabouts of the aunt is interesting. However, there's a huge digression early on which strained the bounds of my credulity too far. Russell does something quite dumb and dangerous to go undercover to get information which she could plausibly have obtained any number of more legitimate ways.

It felt like half an excuse for unnecessary tension and half an excuse to infodump about a topic researched for the book so that the research wouldn't go to waste. I found the whole section annoying and thought it made Russell look either stupid or narcissistic.

Later, Russell and Holmes head to Venice (another thoroughly researched topic): Russell to search for Ronnie's wayward relation, and Holmes to obtain intel about the rise of fascism in Italy for Mycroft. Once there, they mingle with young wealthy folks from across Europe who are there for the beach and the parties and a set of artists and nonconformists surrounding the then up-and-coming Cole Porter. Unless I'm misremembering, this book marks the first openly LGBTQ folks in a series that has featured plenty of crossdressing disguises.

All this mingling is part of my second major issue with the book (the aforementioned unnecessary undercover mission being the first). It seems as though the author set up an emotional plot for the main characters, and then just forgot to resolve it. Both Russell and Holmes in their respective sections (the narrative perspective switches back and forth) have moments where they make assumptions or are concerned about the other regarding their relationship.

Now, I have to step aside from the fact that all of these moments seem bizarre to me; the characters' worries do not evolve naturally from the previous depictions of their characters, and the moments are heavily flagged and happen more than once. However, then they aren't resolved. It's the most confounding thing. Neither character's concerns are mentioned or dealt with, rather the ending devolves into a complex, farcical scenario that reminded me of the end of an episode of Leverage. I like Leverage, and the complicated ruse is a lot of fun. But afterward, any loose ends are just hand-waved away.

I found it to be a disappointing read overall.

2 Stars - An Okay Book

It is so relaxing to have a Sherlock and Russell book to read. This book was no exception. Prepare to get none of your chores done because you will not be able to put this one down

Very slow going. I loved the previous books in the series. I just couldnt get through this one. My apologies to the author.

The review is in the June issue of Gumshoe Review and can be found on their website a link to the review is included in this message: http://www.gumshoereview.com/php/Review-id.php?id=6147.

I’ve been a fan of Ms. King’s Mary Russell series from the beginning. Hmm, actually it goes back further than that … I’ve been a fan of Sherlock Holmes since I was a teen. He was one of my first book boyfriends. Not the nicest of boyfriends to be sure. He can be cold and aloof, but I loved him all the same. When I first heard of a book called The Beekeeper’s Apprentice which promised a story about Holmes in his later years I was intrigued. It follows the story of a young woman who becomes an apprentice of sorts to the older, retired Sherlock Holmes. The book was, of course, a mystery. With a strong young woman in the lead role, and a hint of romance between the two?? Oh I was hooked.

The series is 15 books strong now and I have to admit that I dropped off somewhere around #11. Not because the quality of the books suffered, I simply changed the genre I was focused on. Ms. King’s books are always interesting, meticulously researched and a lot of fun. You can be sure of a history lesson to go along with your whodunnit making the settings engaging and well developed.

In this book, the couple are contacted by an ex-school buddy of Mary’s. A mad Aunt (oh so gothic) has gone missing from Bedlam Asylum. The search for her will lead them into pre-war Italy. Does the Aunt have connections to Mussolini and his Blackshirts? Why did she run from the Asylum? Why has she not contacted her family? Ms. King touches on political controversies of that time (and ours?) by delving into the surprising support of fascism by some of the British upper class. She also spends time with the lavish parties of the Lido and American songwriter Cole Porter, a staple of society in Venice at the time. The issues surrounding the homophobic attitudes of their day (and ours) become apparent and Ms. King is ready to address them.

Don’t let me make you think this is all dry and boring history. Life for Mary in Venice is by turns glamorous, harrowing, gothic and madcap. In the midst of all this she still has to solve a mystery. I enjoyed the book but it doesn’t hold the same interest for me as earlier books in the series. I’m not sure when I will pick up another Mary Russell book, I’m really more into fantasy at the moment, but I’m happy to find that the game is afoot and continues apace.

Song for this book: Anything Goes by Cole Porter

Mary Russell’s childhood friend, Ronnie Fitzwarren, contacts her asking for help in finding her Aunt Vivian. Lady Vivian, it seems, was home visiting her family, released from Bethlem Royal Hospital (known to most as Bedlam) temporarily. She was accompanied by a nurse from the hospital. Mary recalls a visit to Bedlam with Ronnie several years before and finding Lady Vivian at ease with her surroundings and admitting to feeling safe there. Mary always thought it was an interesting idea to feel safe in such an institution. But now, after visiting her sister-in-law and half-brother (who lived in the largest part of the house), Vivian and her nurse have vanished.

Selwick Hall, where Vivian’s half-brother, the Marquess, lived was Mary’s first stop in her search for Ronnie’s aunt. When Vivian left, she apparently took some family jewels and other items. Vivian’s sister-in-law was pleasant but not very helpful, and the Marquess came off as a nasty piece of work. Mary’s search of Vivian’s room reveals other items that were missing, mostly artwork that Vivian created. Still, there wasn’t much to go on except for the fact that Mary discovers some of the missing items were masks similar to ones worn in Venice.

Despite this being Mary’s friend, and even though Mary is totally capable of investigating the situation in Venice by herself, she is surprised when her husband, Sherlock Holmes, decides to accompany her. He is, however, doing so at the request of his brother, Mycroft, who is a senior member of British Intelligence. The rise of Mussolini and Fascism has Mycroft and other government officials concerned. So, in disguise and using fake names, Mary and Sherlock arrive in the lovely city of Venice.

Mary and Sherlock work together, but each with separate goals. Mary fits herself into the party atmosphere, making friends with various interesting people, as well as finding two gondoliers who gladly assist her when she hires them to transport her exclusively. There are local stories about an island where the insane are housed, and another where stories of a mad doctor abound. As for Sherlock, in his disguise, he takes up a violin and makes friends with Cole Porter and his wife. They seem to have attracted a myriad of interesting people, including some of the Black Shirts under Mussolini’s orders.

ISLAND OF THE MAD is a page turner with a typically entertaining ending compliments of Mary and Sherlock. The pair are an odd team, she being in her twenties, and he being considerably older. But a team they are and equal in all ways.

Readers of the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes books will enjoy this latest installment. Meticulous research and beautifully written, ISLAND OF THE MAD is a great summer read.

Jani Brooks