I've been a huge fan of Ms. King since first stumbling across 'The Beekeepers Apprentice'.
While I appreciate the Kate Martinelle books and the standalones like 'The Folly' and "Back to the Garden',
it's the Russell and Holmes books that hold my heart.

While owning hardcovers of all the Russell and Holmes novels, I must admit that I had not read any past
'Justice Hall'. Life intervened and between one thing and another they just all got shuffled onto my 'keep'
shelf and not touched since. I am VERY thankful to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the
opportunity to read and review Ms. Kings latest novels and remind me just how much I enjoy them!

While I quite enjoyed 'Castle Shade' I must admit that, for me, 'The Lantern's Dance' is the superior novel.
This book reminding me STRONGLY of the early novels, especially 'A Letter of Mary'. Russell is in her element
in this book. All of her native intelligence, plus her Oxford training and of course Holmes training is in evidence.

I very much enjoyed the fact that the reader is pretty much getting three books for the price of one. Russell has
her investigation, Holmes his and then there is the story of the author of the mysterious cyphered journal. All of
which come to an extraordinarily satisfying and shocking conclusion.

After 18 books and 30 years you think there's not much more you can learn about Russell and Holmes and
'The Lantern's Dance' deftly and quite fluidly proves one definitely mistaken in that assumption.

I'm being deliberately vague because I want the reader to enjoy the novels twists, turns and revelations for themselves!

It’s difficult to review the seventeenth in a series without giving away plot spoilers. So let me start by saying that, first, I love everything about the series as a whole—the sole exception being the forty-year age gap between the two leads, given the nature of their relationship, and that is evident from chapter 1 of the first book—and second, that this latest installment fits beautifully into what has come before.

The novel begins with Russell and Holmes arriving at a small house in the French countryside. They soon discover that their intended host and his family have left for parts unknown because of a recent attempted break-in. Holmes sets off in search of the missing family, while Russell, whose twisted ankle has yet to heal, remains in the village to see what she can figure out about the intruder, identified only as a dark-skinned man probably from the Indian subcontinent, and his goals. She unpacks a series of boxes and discovers, in addition to paintings and photographs, a lantern designed to act as a kind of early projection camera and a coded journal written in a woman’s hand, with an introduction in French. Having little else to do with her time, Russell exerts herself to crack the code, and the rest of the novel is told from the alternating perspectives of Russell and Holmes, interspersed with chapters from the journal. As each short journey into the past reaches its end, its impact on the present becomes clearer, by the end revealing a secret thread running through Holmes’s past.

Although this was one of the rare times when I figured out what was going on before Russell did (which, I admit, gave me a wonderful sense of complacency), I would place this among the best in the series—right up there with Locked Doors, which has always been my favorite. If you prefer lots of action and politics, this may not the Russell & Holmes for you, but I love the personal developments and the way that Laurie R. King tweaks the canon to humanize and enrich Holmes as a character. The Lantern’s Dance definitely does both.

This outstanding entry in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series offers a set of mysteries that bring together the couple’s past and present., While Sherlock is out in the field investigating one aspect of the mystery, Mary does her research while confined to quarters with an injured foot — somewhat reminiscent of Josephine Tey’s The Daughter of Time. To tell more of the mystery would give too much away, but fans of the series will find it both enjoyable and extremely satisfying.. I highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

One would think after 17 previous books and a handful of short stories that readers would have lost interest in Mary Russell's adventures over the last 30 years AND YET WE BEG FOR MORE! Laurie R. King has created such an incredible character that I often forget that the reason I picked up the first book in the series several years ago was because of Sherlock Holmes.
The Lantern's Dance gives readers a new insight into Holmes this time around. More than ever before we're given glimpses of his life before Russell tripped into his life. What I love most about the Russell/Holmes books is how every one of them stands out. Each have such unique and unforgettable plots and character insights that always leave me wanting more. Russell and her Holmes feel more real to me than any other Sherlock Holmes ever could even though his character has been written and rewritten countless times. King knows how to build worlds, craft mysteries, and introduce characters that could step out of the pages.

This series is an auto read for me. You don’t have to read them order, but you’ll enjoy it more if you at least know Mary. Go grab The Beekeeper’s Apprentice if you haven’t read it yet.

This book, like all of them, has a great historical setting and a fantastic blend of canon and new. Mary is strong minded, brilliant, and likable; and Holmes is a character Doyle would recognize. I still like the earlier books in the series better than the recent ones, but this one doesn’t disappoint. Does the mystery standalone? Yes. Will this book hook you if you haven’t read some of the other books? Probably not. Mary’s brilliance isn’t as much display although we learn more about Holmes. It was a little slow to start and the format of Mary exploring letters didn’t help. But the story that unfolded tied together in a brilliant way. This was a rarity where I found Holmes’ chapters more interesting than Mary’s. But fans will enjoy it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment of the Russell and Holmes partnership. The pair find themselves in France for a visit to Holmes' son Damian Adler and his young family, but upon arriving the Adlers are nowhere to be found with only a cryptic message left with the neighbors to shed any light on their disappearance. What follows is Holmes and Russell separating to each do what they do best -- Russell to researching and decoding, and Holmes giving chase. What follows is a fascinating dive into French colonial India as we peel back the layers on the pasts of both Damian Adler and Sherlock Holmes. This novel feature Holmes at his most self-reflective (not his strong suit) and illustrates the strength and power of both the Holmes/Russell partnership and their marriage. Highly recommended for fans of the series and the Great Detective.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher, but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. First and most important, this title just blew me away and I couldn't put it down. This is my favorite Russell title hands down. Mary and Sherlock travel to France to spend some time with Holmes's son, Damian Addler, and his family. When they arrive, they discover the house in disarray and that the Addlers had left in a hurry with exact where abouts unknown. Holmes quickly leaves to track down Damian and ensure that everyone is OK while Mary stays and investigates things on that end. She discovers that several foreigners were seen in the area. While looking through some trunks in Damian's home, she discovers a coded journal that she quickly becomes engrossed with. It tells the story of a woman's life by focusing on several key images/events in her life as a way of a memoir. Spanning locations from France to India to England, the story it tells spans a lifetime. I don't want to include to many details as to avoid running the story, but I will say that readers of the series will be extremely interested and satisfied in the outcome of the mysteries in this book. Although I was able to figure out some of the pieces of the mystery, there was a twist at almost the very end that I didn't see coming. I really couldn't put this title down and resented real life for preventing me from finishing it in one sitting.

Laurie R. King does it again in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series, it had a great overall story going on and had the spirit of the series. I enjoyed how good the characters were written again and it felt like it was meant for this time-period. The writing worked well overall and the characters felt like they were supposed to.

I very much enjoyed this latest installment of Mary Russell’s and Sherlock’s adventures. This one is set in France where they are spending time with Holmes's son, Damian Adler and his family. It’s an edge of your seat adventure with an interesting ending.

This new book in the Holmes and Russell stories might be one of the best. A threat on Holmes’ son Damian, some missing jewels and a mysterious woman of mixed heritage round out the story, with a
perfectly wonderful surprise at the end.

I always love a Russell book and this one was no exception however, this time it may have been for the wrong reasons. There's a lovely story within a story that requires Russell to decipher and we see Sherlock's relationship with his son and granddaughter deepen but the ending seems a bit pat and that was okay. Do I want all of the series to go like this? No, certainly not. But this one works as is and I'm content with it (and excited to see where it takes us going forward).

This review is based on an advance copy that I received for free.

Wow! Just wow! Another tour de force from author Laurie R. King. King deftly intertwines not only the Mary Russell memoirs, but also one hundred and twenty five years of Sherlockian cannon. Following their most recent adventure in Transylvania, Russell and Holmes find their way to France to spend time with Holmes's son, Damian Adler and his family (see King's The Language of Bees, The God of the Hive). I could tell you more, but you'll want to be as engrossed as I was in this nail-biter with a topsy-turvy ending.

Do you need to start with book 1 of the series? (This is book 18.) I'd recommend reading at least The Language of Bees and The God of the Hive first, but if you're impatient, you can dig right in and you'll be fine. There's always time to go back and read the earlier memoirs of Ms. Russell!

If only Ms. King could write these stories as fast I can read them!

While in France to visit Sherlock's son and his family, Mary Russell of course becomes embroiled in a new chapter of the Holmes family mystery. Damian has disappeared, and Sherlock leaves in a rush to track him down. Although she is somewhat immobilized because of a recent injury and therefore left behind, Russell goes to work to unravel what has happened, and puts her talents to use to decode a found message in a box of memorabilia she finds. By the end of the novel, much has been learned about the family, in spite of Holmes and Russell going off in different directions, and the resolution is quite satisfying.

I am always thrilled when a new installment of the Mary Russell series is available from Laurie R. King. The Lantern's Dance is an intriguing tale ostensibly centered around Damian Adler - Sherlock Holmes' son and Mary Russell's stepson - but as the book progresses, it becomes apparent that the story is about a different, rather surprising, character. Told in the excellent voice and style as all of the Mary Russell books, this is another enjoyable read. Unlike the others, however, this book is light on action and light on detection. More cozy than suspenseful, but still an enjoyable interlude with detecting's favorite duo.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

I have always enjoyed following the excellent stories of Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell written by Laurie R. King. The Lantern's Dance is another great episode in the lives of Holmes and Russell.

In this book, the reader gets to learn more about Holmes' background and family history as he reconnects with his son, Damian Adler. When Holmes and Russell go to visit Damian, they discover that a break-in has occurred and the family has decamped for their safety. Earlier, a shipment of crates has arrived for Damian, containing paintings and a "magic" lantern or zoetrope, hence the title of the book.

There is also a journal, written in code. Mary manages to decode the journal while she is home-bound with a sprained ankle. At the same time, Holmes is trying to find Damian and discover who broke into the house -- and why!

I look forward to future adventures written by Ms. King.

The Lantern's Dance is delightful for Mary Russell fans. Not so much a Sherlockian adventure as a research and discover the puzzle exercise for Mary. While sidelined from following the trail of mysterious strangers by having a bum foot, Mary discovers a coded diary from long ago that fits right into the Holmes family tree. Her skills at decoding and linguistics solve the puzzle. A fun read.

It's been over two years since the last installment of this series, and this was worth the wait! I thoroughly enjoyed Russell and Holmes in their latest escapade, this time in France. It often feels like they barely have a moment to catch their breaths from one adventure before being plunged into the next; they have yet to return home after their time in Romania. Look for the return of Damien and his family to bring a new mystery for our favorite pair to solve, namely, who has been asking questions and even broken into their home? With Mary nursing a sprained ankle, they divide and conquer: Holmes taking the family to a safe hiding place while she remains to evaluate the evidence left after their hasty departure. A coded journal holds the key to many locked doors if only she can translate it in time.
It's been a while since a book made me jump out of my seat in surprise. I wanted to read slowly and savor, but the story compelled me to gobble it up quickly. It's definitely best to have read previous entries in the Russell and Holmes series. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
Highly recommended

While this one felt very different from a lot of the other books in the series (more history, less action), I really enjoyed it. It’s hard to say much without giving any spoilers, but I loved following Lakshmi’s (the owner of the journal Mary finds - see synopsis below) story and loved how similar her life was to Mary’s.

Fans of this series will love this one as much as the rest!

Synopsis:
After their recent adventures in Transylvania, Russell and Holmes look forward to spending time with Holmes’ son, the famous artist Damian Adler, and his family. But when they arrive at Damian’s house, they discover that the Adlers have fled from a mysterious threat.

Holmes rushes after Damian while Russell, slowed down by a recent injury, stays behind to search the empty house. In Damian’s studio, she discovers four crates packed with memorabilia related to Holmes’ granduncle, the artist Horace Vernet. 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, fitted with strips of paper whose images dance with the lantern’s spin.

In the same crate is an old journal written in a nearly impenetrable code. Intrigued, Russell sets about deciphering the intricate cryptograph, 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.

Russell is troubled, then entranced, but each entry she decodes brings more questions. Who is the young Indian woman who created this elaborate puzzle? What does she have to do with Damian, or the Vernets—or the threat hovering over the house?

The secrets of the past appear to be reaching into the present. And it seems increasingly urgent that Russell figure out how the journal and lantern are related to Damian—and possibly to Sherlock Holmes himself.

Could there be things about his own history that even the master detective does not perceive?

If you have been reading the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series, you will be familiar with the characters in The Lantern’s Dance, book 18 of the series. No worries if you have not though. Laurie R. King fills in the background expertly and you will not be lost.

Russel and Holmes have traveled to rural France for a visit with Damian Adler, Holmes’ estranged son. Irene Adler kept her pregnancy secret from Holmes. Damian didn’t meet his father until he was an adult and needed Sherlock’s help. Now the two are trying to build a relationship but are very awkward with each other. When the couple arrive to find Damian and his family have gone into hiding. The pair begin to investigate who could be after the couple and why.

The mystery goes much farther back into the family history than they could have known. Sherlock’s mother had a very big secret. A delightful read as always, I personally love the character of Mary Russell and she really shines in The Lantern’s Dance as a determined, intelligent, woman of her times.

Laurie R. King is back with another installment of the life and marriage of Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell. If you are a fan of this series, you'll enjoy the twists and turns, the witty banter, and learning more of the backstory of the characters.

If you've never read this series, I don't really think you would find it enjoyable. This is book number 18 in this series and there is way too much backstory for you to enjoy this book as a standalone. That being said, don't set this book aside. Just enjoy several months of reading through this charming series. You'll love how Mary Russell is feisty and intelligent but not an over the top feminist. You'll be charmed by Sherlock Holmes.

For this specific book, I didn't enjoy it as much as previous books. This is mainly because I guessed the big surprise early on in the book. I still finished and I still enjoyed it and I loved thinking about the psychology of Sherlock Holmes' choice of women because of information we learned in this book.

One thing that I missed in this book is Laurie R. King usually has a touching scene between Sherlock and Mary and I didn't really find that in this book. This book was more about character backstory than their marriage, but I prefer my books (even mysteries) to contain a dose of romance. That was a disappointment for me within this book.

I still found the writing engaging. I don't want Mrs. King to stop writing. In fact, I am looking forward to any other books she writes.

I can recommend this book.