I love Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes -- I've been reading the series since before it was (technically) a series. I admit, right off, that the earlier books are my favorites. With that as my disclaimer, I have to state that this is as much a review of a series as of this individual book, Riviera Gold.

I'm trying to be very careful as I write and not give away any specifics so I'm just going to say that if you're already hooked on Russell and Holmes, you're going to enjoy this one. If you haven't read any of the books, you should know these are wonderful books--quality reads that are smart and fun. In reading the series I've learned so much about the earlier part of the twentieth century and assorted locales. (Did we ever even touch on these subjects in school?!) If you're the sort of person who likes to know the background of the characters and their relationship to one another, you might want to read The Beekeeper's Apprentice and A Monstrous Regiment of Women first. But no matter whether you need the backstory, or you prefer to just dive in where you are, I hope you enjoy Riviera Gold as much as I did. It's a window into a different time and place that I found very welcome in the middle of "coronatime."

Just finished Riviera Gold and loved every minute. It was wonderful to spend time with Mary Russell again.

After their adventures in Venice, Sherlock and Mary split up for different destinations. Holmes is off to Romania for something to do with vampires while Mary sails to the South of France with the Honorable Terry and some friends. Mary wants to see if she can locate their former housekeeper Mrs. Hudson who left a clue that Monaco was her destination when she left them.

Clarissa Hudson is in Monaco with some plans for her retirement that means she needs to interact with some of the shady characters who are making Monaco their home base in 1925. From smugglers to arms dealers to White Russians who fled the revolution, Monaco is filled with shady characters.

Monaco is also the home of a growing group of American ex-pats led by Gerald and Sara Murphy who are gathering a group of artists of all kinds from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Pablo Picasso.

When the body of a handsome young man is found in Mrs. Hudson's sitting room, Mary and Sherlock get involved in finding out what happened since Mary, at least, is certain that Mrs. Hudson had nothing to do with the murder.

I loved the setting and characters in this story and the way real historical characters are included in the story along with the fictional ones. The historical detail in intriguing. The story moves at a fast pace and was engaging. I can't wait for more adventures starring Mary Russell and her husband Sherlock Holmes.

I very much enjoyed this latest installment of the Mary Russell series (which I have been reading for more than half my life at this point, so it's always nice to catch up with an old friend). I loved learning about Monte Carlo and the Riviera through the eyes of Mary Russell. There was a lengthy description of the process of creating bronze sculptures that dragged a little and felt a bit research-heavy, but it was overall relevant. While probably not the best entry-point into the series (likely by design since this is Book 16 and is very closely related to The Murder of Mary Russell), this was another strong and intriguing mystery by Laurie R. King!

Laurie R. King brought a new vision of Mrs. Hudson to her Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. The Murder of Mary Russell revealed Clarissa Hudson’s history as a con artist, leaving Sherlock and Mary Russell behind at the end. After visiting Venice, Russell is invited to join her friend Terry on a cruise around the Italian coast to Cap d’Antibes.. She agrees to the trip, hoping to find Mrs. Hudson in nearby Monte Carlo. On their arrival, a quick walk to the beach introduces them to the Murphys and a group of artists staying in the area. Tending the children in the group is Mrs. Hudson, temporarily filling in for their nanny. With the help of her friend Lillie Langtry, she has settled in Monte Carlo, where she has become involved in dealings with a Russian count, the banker to the former tsar.

Mary’s fears for Mrs. Hudson are realized when she is arrested for the murder of a young smuggler who also has ties to the count. Despite Mrs. Hudson’s assurances that she will be fine, Mary enlists Sherlock’s help to investigate the murder. Somewhere among the artists, Russian nobility and smugglers there is a murderer and Mary is determined to find the person responsible. King once again provides an intriguing mystery which culminates in a chase that endangers both Mary and Mrs. Hudson and will have you quickly turning the pages to reach the conclusion. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine Publishing for providing this book for my review.

This book is the completion of the saga of Mrs. Hudson after she leaves the employ of Sherlock and Mary Holmes. It is very well done and the setting of Monte Carlo lends an exotic flair to the story. It is a very well done read. I highly recommend!

I've been reading this series for so long that Russell and Holmes feel like old friends at this point. Riviera Gold is another great installment in the series and features an interesting storyline about the previously missing Mrs. Hudson. Mary does alot of her solo sleuthing again in this one and there are references to events in previous books. I'm eagerly awaiting their next adventure in book 17!

So fortunate to get my hands on an advance copy of this! (Thank you, NetGalley!) This installment of the Russell/Holmes saga picks up right where the previous book ended, with Mary in Venice. She accepts an offer to crew on a vessel headed to Monaco, and once there, finds herself in the midst of a swirl of interesting characters. Just after she encounters her former housekeeper, Mrs Hudson, a young man is found murdered in said housekeeper's home, setting up the usual complex mystery that Russell and, to a lesser degree, Holmes must solve.
I enjoyed the chase, meeting new characters--even a sprinkling of whom were persons from history, and seeing the Riviera from Mary's perspective. My only complaint is that I would have liked Holmes to have been a larger part of the narrative. The return of Mrs Hudson was a welcome respite from her absence.
Highly recommended

Laurie King fans will have a lot to celebrate with the release of her newest installment of the Mary Russel/Sherlock Holmes series. The beautiful Mediterranean coast and the Principality of Monaco are the setting which brings a cast of characters together including villains with past ties to Czarist Russia, smugglers galore, and a crowd of expat Americans who invade the area during the unfashionable heat of summer. Throw into that mix a dab of historical figures such as Lilly Langtry, Pablo Picasso, and the Fitzgerald’s and you get the foundation for a fun romp with plenty of mystery to engage every lover of the genre.

Mrs. Hudson has left England forever and has made her way to the area and her friend Lillie Langtry to begin her new life. Laurie King delightfully offers the reader glimpses of the young Clarissa Hudson revealing the layered complexities of the elderly longtime Holmes housekeeper. As Mrs. Hudson navigates the seedy side of Monaco to secure her future economic stability, she is arrested for a murder. But fear not for Mary Russel and Sherlock Holmes are there to set things aright.

It has been too long since the last Mary Russell novel, so it was a pleasure to catch-up with her and Sherlock Holmes. This book picks-up where the previous one ended, following-up on the intriguing plot twist involving Mrs. Hudson. The story moves slowly at first, filled with King's gift of painting pictures of the European backdrops, but it is worth the time to get to the heart of the story. As always, Mary and Sherlock do not disappoint, and it is fun to learn more about the elusive housekeeper with a suspicious past. I so appreciate King's writing of an intelligent and capable female character in Mary Russell.

Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes on the French Riviera. Mrs. Hudson present and past comes back to haunt her or is she just up to her old bad tricks? A fun mystery sprinkled in with some well known characters make for a good read.

I have really enjoyed the other Holmes and Russell books, but I tried and failed to get into this one. Maybe it’s me, or the setting? Anyway-did not finish it.

It's 1925 and Mary Russel is in Monaco with some friends who are taking a leisurely cruise around the Riviera. She finds her old friend Mrs. Hudson has been living there as a stylish older lady and socializing with some surprisingly dashing people. When a murder is committed and Mrs. Hudson is arrested for the crime, Mary finds Holmes already in Monaco on another errand and the two of them jump in to investigate in order to exonerate their friend. Mrs. Hudson's previous elderly housekeeper persona has hidden a very colorful past and Holmes and Russel must figure out if and how it all connects to the murder. Some well known names of the era, like Lily Langtry and Pablo Picasso make appearances while the crime seems to have connections to Tsar Nicholas' banker and lost wealth. It's all fun and an interesting window into a lost era as well as a decent mystery. I enjoyed the character of Mary's friend, the Hon. Terry and hope we see him again in future books.

This book picks up right where the last one left off. Mary and Sherlock continue their travels by going to Monaco and catching up with Mrs. Hudson. But it isn’t long before they have to put their detective skills to use when a murder occurs in Mrs. Hudson’s new house and the prime suspect is none other than Mrs. Hudson herself! As always, things aren’t always what they seem and they soon uncover at tangled web of criminals and smuggling. A smart and entertaining read.

If you’re 16 deep into the Mary Russell series, I think you’re pretty much pot committed at this point. I can’t imagine not continuing on, even though this book was mostly just ok for me.
Mary is independent and strong and oftentimes without Sherlock which I love except I feel like King’s writing is so much better with them together! The historical detail and characters were just not as interesting to me this round. I was happy to continue with Mrs Hudson but it’s weird to me she’s such a rogue now...Anyways still glad I read it!

I enjoyed the next chapter in the Mary Russell saga! I appreciated the return to the Mrs. Hudson story line very much.

Laurie King is always a safe bet for an engaging mystery, particularly her Russell and Holmes series. That said, Rivera Gold rises above even her usual level of excellence. The balance between dark and light moments in the book make it gripping, but not distressing reading. The central characters' understanding of one another continues to grow, offering readers a sense of familiarity—even hominess.

Mysetery lovers and Sherlockians, you're in for a treat!

Mary Russell the bluestocking detective can't help stumbling across mysteries. This time, crime finds her while on a trip to sunny Monaco to try to meet up with her beloved retired housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson. However, before they can properly reconnect, the latter lands in jail. Luckily, Mary's husband Sherlock drops by so they can clear their friend of this particular crime, though she's definitely up to something dubious. Plenty of beautiful scenery, sinister figures, and fun cameos. The series continues to flesh out old characters in new and exciting ways.

Dive into an exciting new adventure for Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. From the thrilling opening scene with Mary at gunpoint to the satisfying ending with the promise of more adventures to come, King fashions an engrossing tale, enticing readers with the Lost Generation, smuggling, and insight into the character of Clara Hudson, the housekeeper with a very scandalous past.

Mary sails with friends from Venice to the French Riviera, hoping to use some unexpected free time to discover the whereabouts of Clara Hudson, vanished from England and the lives of Mary and Holmes and leaving Mary feeling bereft of her only mother figure. The Cap d'Antibes has become a fashionable summer hangout for American writers and artists, thanks to Sara and Gerald Murphy. Mary becomes acquainted with the famous couple and visits their beach only to find a familiar, if unexpected figure, playing nanny to the children - Mrs. Hudson. When Sherlock finally arrives, he and Mary venture out to the famous Monte Carlo casino, only to have their gambling escapade cut short by the shocking news that Mrs. Hudson has been arrested on the charge of murder. As Mary and Holmes exercise their extraordinary skills of observation and detection in the service of exonerating Mrs. Hudson, they untangle a web of deceit, power, and murder.

King skillfully reveals Clara's backstory while recreating the glamor and cachet of the French Riviera and Monaco in the 1920s. The interactions of her fictional characters with the famous residents of the time, including Lillie Langtry, Pablo Picasso, and Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, add extra interest for history and arts buffs. Following the development of the relationship of Russell and Holmes through the series as Russell acquires detective skills to rival those of Holmes is fascinating. King's long-lived mystery series never loses appeal for her fans and Sherlockians.

#RivieraGold #NetGalley

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. Riviera Gold is the latest entry in the long running Russell and Holmes series featuring Mary Russell and her famous husband Sherlock Holmes. Readers don't have to have read every title in the series to appreciate this one, but should read the Murder of Mary Russell before reading this one as events from that book are referenced in this one throughout. After spending time in Venice (events detailed in Island of the Mad), Mary agrees to join some friends as they sail from Venice to the French Riviera aboard a sail boat. One interesting historical fact revealed early in the book is that during the 1920s, vacationing in the South of France was not popular as it is today as it was viewed too hot.

Mary is staying at a local hotel with her friends when she is introduced to a local American ex-pat family at a local beach. To her shock, one of the nannies helping watch the children is a dead ringer for Mrs. Hudson who hasn't been seen since the shocking events detailed in the Murder of Mary Russell. Mary's search for Mrs. Hudson soon takes her to Monte Carlo where she is reunited with her husband. The pair are shocked to learn that Mrs. Hudson (or Miss Hudson as she is known in Monte), has been accused of murdering a young man who was likely involved in smuggling or worse.

As always with a Mary Russell title, the mystery is very well done and keeps the reader guessing, but what I enjoy most is the way real history is blended into the fictional world of Russell and Holmes that readers have a hard time separating it from the fictional parts of the story. 1920s France and the larger events in Europe are clearly foreshadowing WWII which is still years away, but the intensity of the aftermath of WWI and how people dealt with their grief by throwing themselves into life is clearly depicted in the secondary characters and the descriptions of the art scene. I also learned so much about Monte Carlo and how it got to be what it is today; before reading this, I really only knew that Grace Kelley married into the royal family.

I couldn't put this book down; it is the perfect distraction that readers are looking for in the crazy world we find ourselves in these days. I can't wait to see what adventure and mystery await Mary and Holmes in Roumania in the next title in this series that continues to deliver even after so many books.