Island of the Mad is the second book in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie R. King that I'm reviewing on this blog. The first was Dreaming Spies . In Island of the Mad, Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes conduct their investigations in Venice which is under the rule of Mussolini. I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Net Galley and this is my honest review.

The cover of this novel is lovely. Some readers have mistaken the elegant woman on the cover for Mary Russell herself, but I've been reliably informed that the author denies that this is an image of her heroine.

For Mary Russell, this is a missing person case that begins in England. She is searching for a college friend's aunt who had been consigned to Bedlam. Holmes accompanies Russell, but he is on a mission for his brother, Mycroft. Holmes' investigation brings an espionage element into the book. The involvement of American musician Cole Porter adds extra interest.

Yet it was the disappeared Aunt Vivian who really held my attention. She is an independent minded woman. Desiring independence was still considered enough of a sin against convention that she might well be committed to an institution for that alone, but there are secrets motivating the missing woman that Mary Russell will uncover as part of the process of finding her. Aunt Vivian's sketches provide clues. I thought it was fascinating that Vivian used her sketchbook as a sort of diary.

Although there is a slow section, the dramatic resolution of Island of the Mad more than makes up for it. There are some feminist themes and the fascist environment provides relevant political commentary for our contemporary times. I think that Island of the Mad should be considered one of the best books in Laurie R. King's Russell/Holmes series.

I have followed Mary Russell’s adventures from her very first outing in The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, almost 25 years ago. And how that time has flown!

The story we have in Island of the Mad reminds me of the best of the Russell/Holmes kanon (yes, that spelling is deliberate) combining the farcical aspects of the case in Pirate King with the more serious undertones, as well as a few of the characters, from the second book in the series, A Monstrous Regiment of Women. And the result is glorious – as well as a bit star-studded.

And if you’ve ever wondered about the origin of the name “Lido”, which seems to be a deck on every cruise ship as well as appearing in multiple songs and all sorts of other places, our journey also takes us to what feels like the original of the name, the Lido di Venezia in the beautiful La Serenissima – Venice.

The case before our intrepid heroine is to determine whether her best friend’s aunt disappeared of her own free will, was the victim of some foul deeds, or succumbed to the madness that has plagued her for the past dozen years or so.

Or perhaps all of the above.

When Mary’s search for Vivian Beaconsfield leads her from Bedlam to Venice, a separate case miraculously (or perhaps nefariously) appears before her husband Sherlock Holmes. Mycroft desperately wants his brother to poke his inquisitive nose into the rise of the Fascisti in Italy. While too many people in England think that a strong man like Il Duce Mussolini is just what Italy needs, Mycroft is certain that there is something sinister about the rise of the fascists in Italy, Germany and possibly even Britain.

History proved he was right, but in 1925 all that Mycroft had was his finely honed intuition. He can’t send an agent because even he can’t describe what an agent should be looking for. But if there is something to find, Mycroft is certain that Sherlock will find it. Or that it will find him, whether he wants it to or not.

While their separate missions lead them to the same city, the things that need investigation pull them in entirely different directions. While Mary hunts for evidence of Vivian’s presence among the more outre denizens of Venice’s celebrating ex-pat nightlife, Sherlock inveigles himself into the household of American composer Cole Porter, where anyone who is anyone in the city is entertained in lavish style while the rich Americans drop millions of lira into the local economy.

When their respective cases dovetail into one another, the conclusion of both trails ends in a bang, a whimper, and an explosion of sound and light. Lots and lots of bright, white, revealing light. Flashbulbs!

Escape Rating A: As much as I love this entire series, naturally some of the stories work better than others. Island of the Mad worked really, really well, because it went back to the elements that make this series so special.

The premise of this series, established all the way back in The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, was that after Sherlock Holmes retired to the Sussex Downs at the end of his adventures, he literally stumbled over a 15-year-old girl – or rather she stumbled over him while her nose was buried in a book. After that fortuitous meeting, he took her on as an apprentice, and in the course of her apprenticeship, they eventually, after the events in A Monstrous Regiment of Women, married.

If you can swallow that premise, and admittedly some people can’t, the entire series is marvelous from beginning to the present. I don’t say beginning to end, because I sincerely hope the end never comes. If you can swallow the premise and have not read the rest of the series, well, you could start with this one. It does stand a fair bit on its own. But it would lose some of its resonance. If you are interested, but just not up to plowing through all 14 previous books in one go, read at least the first two so that you know how these two fit together into their singular relationship.

The series began in 1915, and this story takes place in 1925. Holmes and Russell have been married for several years, and are quite happily married. Also, it is a real marriage and not in any way a marriage of convenience – as many of their acquaintances occasionally assume. Their marriage is a true partnership, and much of the fun of the series is watching them work together, even if, as happens here, they are sometimes apart in their togetherness.

The stories are always told from Russell’s perspective, with her parts being in the first person, and Holmes’ separate investigations in the third person. We operate from inside her head, but with extremely rare exceptions, never inside his. Holmes is as inscrutable as ever, including at times to his wife.

There’s a difficult balance to strike between having Russell operate on her own and making sure that Holmes participates enough to keep things interesting for both them and the reader. The books do not always strike that balance well, but this particular outing does. They have separate tasks to perform and separate ways to go about them, but they check in with each other on enough of a regular basis for the reader to feel invested in both cases, and for the dovetailing at the end to work well.

One of the things that makes this series different from other Holmes pastiches and continuations is not just Russell’s voice but the way that she takes Holmes’ training and moves it into a new century with the different sensibilities of both her generation and her gender.

There are two dark themes underlying the froth in this particular outing. One is, of course, the rise of fascism in between-the-wars Europe and just how quickly and easily the fascists have taken over Italy. That is a darkness and a threat that Holmes would both recognize and fight against whether Russell was present or not. And any resonance between the situation they investigate and current xenophobic and tyrannical regimes rising today is probably intentional.

But just as the way that the fascists have come to power leads the reader to compare that situation to the present, so does the initial case that takes Russell to Venice in the first place. Her best friend’s aunt has been committed to Bedlam, the psychiatric asylum in London, for years. She has escaped. As Russell investigates, it turns out that the question isn’t why she escaped, but why she was committed in the first place. And if you don’t see the #MeToo movement peeking out from behind the historical curtain, you’re not looking.

There’s a lot of substance under the froth of the “Young Things” partying between the wars and the glitter of the ex-pat night life – if you want to look for it. But even if you don’t, it’s a fascinating story from the very first page.

I look forward, as always, to Mary Russell’s next investigation.

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 have been a huge fan of Laurie King for a long time. I am in love with all things Sherlock. I love how historically accurate her books are even down to insignificant details. Her plots are easy to follow, keeps you guessing, and at the conclusion have no holes. This is one series that follows the same genius and personality of Sherlock from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

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.

A fabulous mystery story especially if you like Sherlock Homes. Fascinating and kept me guessing until the end!

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