Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes have decided to spend some time with the son, Damian, whom he just learned about and the son's family in France. Mary is recuperating from a badly sprained ankle resulting from their last adventure. When they arrive at the home, the family is not home. Damian, his wife, and daughter departed after someone broke into their house. It appears that Damian's life is once again in danger and Holmes goes to find the family and get them to a safe location. Meanwhile, stuck at the cottage due to her injury, Mary begins her own investigation into the break-in and why people have been asking after Damian in town. She stumbles upon some crates in Damian's studio, one of which contains a journal written in some mysterious code. This gives Mary something to fill her time, and what she discovers in the journal is quite shocking. Working separately and together, Mary and Holmes uncover something totally unexpected. It's a great ending to the book.

Fresh from their adventures in Transylvania (and a brief sojourn in Berlin which left Russell with a sprained ankle), Holmes and Russell make their way to France, eager to spend time with Holmes’ son Damian and his daughter and fiancée. Upon arrival to the Adler house, however, they find the little family gone, having fled after a break-in seems to indicate a threat to their safety.

While Holmes sets off immediately to locate Damian and determine where and why someone seems to have such an interest in his family, Russell’s injured ankle leaves her behind and at loose ends. Being Mary Russell, she promptly finds herself caught up in a puzzle to solve. While going through crates Damian received from a Parisian art institute, she finds a coded journal. After breaking the code, Russell sets about reading. It's written from the perspective of a young French girl — nicknamed Lakshmi — taken to India to live with her father's family in the French settlement of Chandernagore.

After unexpected events, Lakshmi finds herself fleeing India incognito with only the company of a beloved family friend as protector. As Russell gets further into the journal, she begins to see that it’s no coincidence this book ended up in Damian’s possession at the same time that parties from India are searching him out. But what is the connection, and who exactly is this mysterious Lakshmi?

All in all, I very much enjoyed this installment in the series. It was admittedly slow in parts, but I liked it more than other recent ones. I do prefer when Holmes and Russell are together rather than separated, though.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell are stopping in France in hopes of spending time with his son and family.. instead they arrive to find that the family has fled after an unknown intruder enters their home. Sherlock and Mary separate and reunite a few days later with each having discovered pieces of this mystery, one that reveals much to Sherlock about his family.

Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell are planning to visit Sherlock's son Damian, but upon arriving at his home, they discover Damian has disappeared. As Sherlock goes after his son, Mary stays behind and discovers a journal in code that slowly reveals old family secrets. Thoroughly enjoyable addition to the series, and a nice glimpse into Sherlock's early life. The journal entries were fascinating, and Holmes and Russell have their usual great rapport. NetGalley provided the ARC in exchange for a review.

I love a good Russell/Holmes book and this one was quite enjoyable. I love the framing of the mystery and really enjoyed the attention to detail within it. It's a pretty convoluted story but you can follow along and see where it's going easily but with delight. Another solid entry that I think fans will enjoy!

The Mary Russell series is one of my all time favorites, and one of my go to recommendations. I was so excited to see another addition to the series.
After a bit of a slow start, this turned out to be a great story that really drew me in. I have always loved the books in the series that give the reader more background into Russell or Holmes, and this one did just that. This book is well written and the background introduced to readers is unexpected but fascinating.
Fans of the series will love this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing for providing an early copy of The Lantern's Dance by Laurie R. King

The Lantern's Dance is the 18th Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes novel and marks 30 years of following the varied cases they have tackled. This episode is one of the most personal examinations of Holmes's ancestors with explosive revelations at the conclusion.

Russell and Holmes have barely a few moments together before distressing news that Holmes's son Damian, his fiance and young daughter may be in imminent danger. When Holmes leaves on a short jaunt to protect them, Russell delves into a journal found among Damian's belongings. She spends time decoding the writing and developing an understanding of the woman writer.

The Holmes' ties to India along with ties to the artistic Vernet family of France play major roles in avoiding a crime and will result in the family building new family ties.

Russell/Holmes never disappoint and this newest installment will give readers new reasons to celebrate their dynamic partnership.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read The Lantern's Dance by Laurie R. King. The latest in this long-running series is, in my opinion, one of the best. I love Mary Russell and how her mind works. Learning more about Damian and his family is a big plus and keeps me hoping for more. This series is far from done.

Latest in the Holmes and Russell series. I'm always more interested in her doings than in his, and this time is no exception. Russell has injured her ankle, so while Holmes runs around investigating, she stays behind and translates a coded journal that she found in a mysterious crate. I'm glad to say that I figured out where the journal entries were leading before Russell did.

Worth reading.

A new and sure to be beloved Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes story. Mary and Sherlock go to visit his son, but Damien has fled; a burglar invaded his home. Sherlock takes off to find his son and those behind the attack. But Mary, with a sprained ankle, stays behind at Damien’s house. There she finds a chest filled with odd memorabilia, junk, some art. And a journal written in code. As she decodes it, bit by bit, she unravels a story, that will solve the puzzle of the burglary… and uncover a part of a history beyond even Sherlock’s knowledge.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.