Thoroughly enjoyed the addition of uncle Jake Russell as a narrator. It was really neat seeing both Russell and Holmes from the perspective of another character, and we got a lot more back story on Mary's family.
The historical mystery was based on talk life events and made for an engaging plot.
A a long- time fan of this series, I can say Ms. King does an excellent job of keeping things fresh and interesting.

Having not read any of the previous books in this series I have to admit I was lost for a bit. It isn't designed for newcomers, because the story arc has travelled so far from the canon of the Holmes work. Here, Holmes had a relationship with Alder, had a son by him. His mother is alive. Something happened to Mrs Hudson - is she alive? Is she ill? He's married to a woman (our main character) who is a fraction of his age. I have to admit, the age gap made me very uncomfortable, but there was no actual moments between them.

I couldn't decide if they actually romantically cared for each other or if the marriage had been more of a platonic meeting of the minds, a way to give Russel stability and security. I would prefer the latter but the fact I couldn't tell throughout the whole book is not great - it's obvious he respects her and her abilities but that doesn't explain exactly what they are to each other.

I'm sure if I'd read the previous ones, I would have that, but at the same time the book needs to also work in its own right.

The mystery itself, based on real events, was entertaining enough, although apart from a couple of moments of Holmes being brilliant, it was just the characters moving from one location to another, sometimes opening a safe. The side characters were the star of the show, from Mrs Walsh to Lady Vicars, to The O'Mahony. They are delightful oddballs, the jewels of the book and where the writer shines.

Russell and Holmes are finally back from the continent and ready to relax, after tending to the bees, of course. But then Holmes is summoned by Mycroft in relation to an old case - a case where Holmes was prevented by the British government itself from bringing his investigation to an official close. And while he is away, Russell receives a visit from her uncle. Readers have been given details about a few of Russell's family members (beginning with the odious aunt and cousin who were making her life miserable when she first met Holmes), but this is a relative that has remained in the past until now. When it turns out that Uncle Jake was somehow (is still somehow?) involved in that unsolved case, we are not too surprised.

As the three of them set out to find the missing Irish Crown Jewels, the interplay between them all is fascinating. Episodes that Russell has shared with Holmes are fleshed out with more detail and we start to see where Russell learned a few of the skills she already had before becoming the apprentice of Sherlock. Breaking and entering, safe-cracking, train rides, boat trips, and visits to tea shops are just a few of the activities that take place as we watch Russell become reacquainted with Jake and learn along with her about a few of the shady exploits he has been involved in over the years. The friction between husband and uncle is understandable considering which side of the law they each represent.

It is an intriguing and suspenseful adventure - made more so by our desire as readers for Uncle Jake not to break Russell's heart and for Holmes and Jake to peacefully coexist.

“Knave of Diamonds” is the nineteenth installment in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes mystery series. This installment focuses on Russell’s long lost roguish Uncle Jake, who suddenly reappears in Russell’s life at the same time that new information on the theft of the Irish Crown Jewels has come to light. Russell’s Uncle Jake was apparently involved in the theft, and Holmes was on the investigation - resulting in one of his few failures - which puts Russell in a delicate position.

I love this series and this outing was absolutely true to form and perfect! All of the Russell/Holmes books are fabulous and this was no exception. The setting is always a highlight in a Laurie King book and “Knave of Diamonds” had me transported to Ireland in the 1920s. I loved the character of Uncle Jake - it was a treat to learn more about him after his introduction in the short story “Mary’s Christmas”. And the mystery had me totally hooked - I don’t want to say too much and give anything away but I could not put the book down!

I think this could work as a stand alone for new readers but I would highly recommend starting at the beginning with “The Beekeeper’s Apprentice”. I know nineteen books sounds intimidating but if you haven’t read this series yet you’re in for a wonderful time! As always, I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the Russell and Holmes series - I can’t wait to see what cases await them and where they go next!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Bantam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first time I've ever been disappointed by a Mary Russell story. I've always liked the series for the relationship between Russell and Holmes and for their investigations of intriguing mysteries; sadly, neither of those things shine in <i>Knave of Diamonds:</i> Russell and Holmes rarely interact with each other and their "investigation" is just them following after yet another long-lost relative and being give the answers by other characters.

The bright spot of the book is Uncle Jake: he's an entertaining scapegrace, and I enjoyed his (too few) conversations with Holmes.

Despite my disappointment, I do think <i>Knave of Diamonds</i> is worth reading, but I know Laurie R. King is capable of writing a much better book.

Received via NetGalley.

Another well paced tale featuring Mary Russell and her husband Sherlock Holmes, interweaving a real life mystery of the disappearance of the Irish Crown Jewels, and some (fictional) history of Russell's past (namely the return of her 'black sheep' uncle Jake). The narrative was split into three perspectives - that of Russell, Jake and Holmes (though curiously Holmes' chapters were in third person whereas Russell's and Jake's chapters were relayed in first person).

Nevertheless, the interweaving of the three perspectives did not detract from the narrative, which gave enough insight to each character's feelings (or in Holmes' case a straightforward assessment) about the quarry, the persons involved with the theft, and the overall situation between England and Ireland during this time period.

The story is a stand alone tale but it helps to have read previous entries in this series to better understand the character dynamics.

Enjoyable detective story starring Mary Russell and her husband, the famed Sherlock Holmes. I liked the story here: the mystery, the times it which it is set, and the characters. I have read several in this series (by no means all, and not necessarily in order) and have enjoyed each story as a standalone and also the unfolding family histories of the main characters.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

I think I’ve read just about all of the books in this series. This one was a bit different with the narration. I thought it was a nice change. I did think the story dragged at times. It’s another good addition to the series.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

I have read and loved many of the Mary Russel novels. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for Knave of Diamonds. My primary problem with the novel is the first 1/3. Too much time is spent telling the reader about the theft of the Irish Crown Jewels, an historic crime that occurred in 1907. If this history had been brought out, either as a brief introduction or as information presented throughout the book, I would have been happier. As it was, by the time I got into the action (which, as usual, was well presented, I had lost interest in the book.

Since the theft has never been solved and the jewels never recovered, this could have been a more engaging basis for the mystery novel. Once the book got into the action of the story, the pace picked up and my interest grew.

I look forward to future Mary Russel novels.

I liked this one because it told the story from several points of view--Russell, her uncle Jake, and Holmes. What's cool is that this story connects the three of them in a way that reminds us just how much older than Russell Holmes really is. We're also reminded that although Holmes is fiercely protective of her, he is also very respectful of her ability to make sound judgements even if it takes her into dangerous territory. Theirs is a true partnership and I appreciate that about these books. And as much as Jake is a rogue and ne'er-do-well who has spent most of his life on the wrong side of the law, there are some lines he would never cross, and I believe that Holmes comes to realize and respect this. He may be a criminal, but he is a criminal with principles. I enjoyed the mystery, which had me guessing, but my favorite part was just the interactions between the principal characters and the respect that grew between them. I also enjoyed some of the "characters" that showed up including the Matty Donovan, the carriage driver, and "The O'Mahony". I found them highly entertaining. If you're a fan of these books, this is another good addition to the series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In the 'Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes' series, set around the 1920s, Sherlock Holmes is an older gentleman, tending his bees in Sussex. Holmes is also married to a young woman named Mary Russell, whom he took under his wing some time ago. Holmes and Russell are a detective duo, and Russell has shown herself to be an intrepid sleuth with nerve and smarts.

This 19th book in the series focuses on a real event, the theft of the Irish Crown Jewels - also known as The Jewels of the Order of St. Patrick - in 1907. The crime went unsolved, but maybe Russell and Holmes can shed some light on the scandalous affair.

The book works fine as standalone.

*****
Mary Russell was orphaned at the age of fourteen, but her Uncle Jake Russell didn't show up to offer comfort. Jake loved his niece but he was a swindler and thief with a warrant on his head, so Jake resided overseas to avoid arrest. It's now been over a decade since Mary heard from Uncle Jake, and she assumes he died in some foreign land. So it's a shock when Jake shows up in Sussex, with (of course) an agenda.

Jake admits he was involved with the theft of the Irish Crown Jewels in 1907, and Mary is appalled!! She knows the jewels vanished from an impregnable safe at Dublin Castle a few days before English royals were to arrive for a visit, at which time the jewels were to be worn. Scotland Yard and Sherlock Holmes were brought in, but the investigation was suppressed, and the jewels were never recovered.

Uncle Jake explains that Sir Arthur Vicars, a pompous prig, was in charge of keeping the jewels safe in Dublin Castle. But Vicars was a show-off, and he would invite friends to the castle, get drunk, and take out the treasures. When the jewels disappeared, Vicars' friends were implicated. However, they were never charged because a 'homosexual scandal' might be exposed.

Uncle Jake admits to being in league with Vicars' villainous friends, but says the jewels were squirreled away, and he never got his share of the booty. Jake now thinks he knows the location of the jewels, and he asks Mary to accompany him to Ireland to look for them. Since Jake is family, Mary agrees.

In the meantime, Sherlock Holmes is being sent on a similar quest. Sherlock's brother Mycroft Holmes, who's high up in government circles, asks Sherlock to find the Irish Crown Jewels to ease the hostility between England and Ireland.

Thus Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes start off on separate trips that have the same goal....to find the lost Irish treasures. Most of the story follows these dual adventures, which eventually merge as Sherlock meets up with Mary and Jake. In the course of the quest, Mary dresses as a man to disguise herself; Uncle Jake is slippery and evasive; Sherlock makes pertinent deductions; and the searchers meet a variety of interesting people.

The story is an engaging cozy mystery, and the author nicely captures the ambiance of early 20th century Ireland.

However, I can't picture Sherlock Holmes being married, and Uncle Jake is a speck too self-satisfied and arrogant for my taste. That said, the 'Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes' books are popular, so if you're not familiar with the novels, you might want to give them a chance.

Thanks to Netgalley, Laurie R. King, and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of the book.

In KNAVE OF DIAMONDS, written by Laurie R. King, Mary Russell’s uncle, Jake Russell, is known as The Knave. Mary is surprised when her Uncle Jake arrives at her home because she hasn’t seen him for fourteen years. I am curious about the arrival of The Knave and how he is involved in the plot.

I like the way Jake Russell speaks directly to the reader early in the book. He grabs my attention and makes me want to listen to what he is saying. The story continues with our protagonist, Mary Russell, who is married to Sherlock Holmes. I think it is fun to have the name-dropping of well-known characters (for example, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Hemingway). Each chapter is told from a character’s point of view (for example, Jake’s view, Mary’s view, Sherlock’s view). There are times I wish there was more about the Mary and Sherlock relationship. The plot of the story picks up when the Irish Crown Jewels come into play. It progresses at a good pace to a satisfying conclusion. I like the addition of historical endnotes at the end of the book. I look forward to reading other books in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. Thank you, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of KNAVE OF DIAMONDS.

Laurie R King involves Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes in a theft of Crown Jewells from Ireland in Knave of Diamonds. A new character is Mary's uncle who may have been involved in the theft. Sherlock is not happy to look into the theft again as his first investigation was buried to stop scandal from reaching the English crown. What could go wrong? Lots. Mary's uncle has been missing from her life since she was a child and he is a charming confidence man. Lots of conflicting motives and events. Wonderful Sherlock romp.

Laurie R King's Russell and Holmes series is one of my favorites; they are smart and funny and draw in the mores of the time as well as some august and not-so-august historical personages.

#19, Knave of Diamonds is a delightful book because we get to hang out with Mary's long-lost Uncle Jake! We learn so much about her family as he rejoins her life to track down the stolen Irish Royal Jewels.

King's knack for intrigue and Sherlock Holmes is at top form. I want a whole spin off series of Jake's previous exploits! There's a side character whose name I can't share, because spoilers, who deserves a spinoff series of their own as well. Long live Holmes!

Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes are settling into married life when Russell’s estranged Uncle Jake makes a sudden reappearance. After losing contact with her uncle following her parents’ deaths, Mary is suspicious of why Uncle Jake has returned after all these years. When it turns out Jake was involved with the infamous theft of the Irish Crown Jewels, a case that Holmes himself investigated, Mary’s interest is piqued.

What follows is an adventure across England and Ireland – boats, trains, cars, and carts pulled by a donkey…Mary, Jake, and Holmes use whatever means necessary to traverse the terrain, interview old contacts, and uncover hidden secrets.

Told from multiple viewpoints, this mystery was fun to follow. The story is a good mix of following clues and digging into the relationships between the characters. It was fun to be introduced to Jake Russell – he’s charming, charismatic, and the reader really roots for him to be trustworthy. I enjoy the relationship between Mary and Sherlock…they’re a great pair with mutual respect for each other that allows them to showcase their strengths. While there are other books featuring these characters, this story stands on its own just fine.

KNAVE OF DIAMONDS by Laurie R. King is the 19th book in the well-regarded Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes mystery series which began over thirty years ago with The Beekeeper's Apprentice. This may be one of the best yet – it certainly is an engaging tale. Three main characters – Russell, Holmes, and Mary's sometimes criminal uncle Jake – share the adventures and narration duties. The story is set in 1925, but hinges on the still publicly unsolved theft of the Irish Crown Jewels in 1907. Readers soon learn that both Holmes and Jake have an emotional stake in that event and it’s entertaining to see them "dance" around each other as they contemplate teaming up to find the jewels, all while looking out for Mary (who is more than capable of taking care of herself). I hope Uncle Jake returns for more mysteries and recommend KNAVE OF DIAMONDS and the entire series to mystery fans. An author's note references the actual theft and provides additional background on historical figures who appear in the novel. A fun, quick read with bursts of Irish affability. 4.5 stars overall

I adored The Beekeeper’s Apprentice when I first read it as a teenager and again when I revisited the series in 2023. The “retired” Sherlock Holmes portrayed in these books is, to me, just as real as the man Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about. The charming and brilliant Mary Russell complements the famous detective beautifully and their adventures in each book are always unique, complex, and delightfully satisfying mysteries. Laurie R King’s newest addition to the series is no exception and even though I’ve missed a few of the more recent books in the series, I jumped right back into the universe of Russell and Holmes with pleasure.

In Knave of Diamonds, Russell and Holmes are joined by a third point of view character, Russell’s long-lost uncle Jake. A bit of a rake and a minor criminal, Jake reappears in his niece’s life to ask for her help in tracking down the Irish Crown Jewels. Jake’s involvement in a previous heist of these jewels and the shady nature of his whereabouts in the years he’s been gone give Russell pause, but she commits to helping her beloved uncle, and of course Holmes joins them. Holmes distrusts Jake but has faith in his Russell’s instincts, so the three of them set out on their mission to track down the jewels.

The mystery and suspense in this book is twofold—where are the jewels, and is Jake trustworthy? The story behind the provenance of the jewels as well as the trio’s jaunts around England and Ireland became ever so slightly convoluted for me while reading. However, I really enjoyed the way the addition of a third character affected the dynamics between Sherlock and Russell, and I found the pace of the final third of the book to be really exciting, culminating in a quietly satisfying wrap-up. Overall, another entertaining and well-written addition to a beloved series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam | Random House Publishing for the opportunity to be an early reader of this title, which is available now!

Best for the King loyalists.

30 years after the first Mary Russel novel, we have the "Knave of Diamonds". This is the 19th book in the Mary Russell series. Unlike some, the books often intertwine, picking up the thread of a story laid down in another book. So, this book isn't for the uninitiated. If you're new to the Mary Russell series, this is probably not a good place to start. We're immediately dropped into a complex family dynamic that has developed over many books.

After a confusing start by a mysterious narrator, the sparks of the story meet the kindling. We're off on our expected adventure, this time with an Irish angle, chasing long lost jewels. A forgotten piece of Mary's family past and Holmes's history collide.

The story takes a bit to get started. there's a lot of history to get caught up. The scenes aren't as exotic as some of King's other stories and the action is more rambling. But the story holds interest and as always is based in historical events with a dramatic twist.

King's writing style is not for everyone. It's vivid and clever, but a bit academic and round about. Read slowly and savor every word. Each is important. The loose threads will tie up into a nice big bow.

The story is sometimes in Mary's voice. But not always. King sometimes switches narrators. Usually authors use a 3rd person voice when they want different perspectives. But not King. This is only a problem when the main character, Mary is in the room. We read these books because of our main character. Reading from a different perspective distances us from her. Mary is no longer the "I" but the "she". Holmes's voice makes sense but a stranger's voice is disconcerting.

This link below is my spoiler free review of this book. Any questions feel free to email me.

https://youtu.be/iv8NLUOBfMM

All Mary Russell wants to do when the wedding is over is to head home and sleep in her own bed. Naturally, this isn’t to be when a long-lost black sheep relation arrives on her doorstep and whisks her away on the hunt for the Irish Crown Jewels that went missing in a robbery several years back and the only case to defeat Sherlock Holmes.

Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes’ series has captivated me from the beginning and I am still eager nineteen books later to pick up the latest, Knave of Diamonds.

Knave of Diamonds presented a cold case robbery of the past, but that felt secondary to Mary finally getting answers about her father’s younger ne’er-do-well brother who disappeared years before and she mostly believed was dead. Now Uncle Jack has shown up on her doorstep needing her help with some unfinished business. Russell is wary, but agrees to help her uncle track down the Irish Crown Jewels while feeling the pull of divided loyalties in opposite directions of thieving uncle vs. detective husband.

Knave of Diamonds divides the story among three narrators: Mary, Sherlock, and Uncle Jack so the reader gets to know Uncle Jack and what he’s up-to as he pits his wits with his brilliant niece and her equally genius husband. I enjoyed getting the back history on the robbery as Jack told it to Mary and also the bits of investigating Holmes did on his end. It was fun seeing Mary back in action in Ireland safe-cracking and more.

I will admit to feeling something of a let-down with this one. It was fascinating for the family mystery reveals, but I just couldn’t get vested in the mystery side because the lack of tension throughout. The robbery details were revealed with Jake’s story and it was more a treasure hunt than a case to solve. Even the big climax seemed muted making this feel like a cozy mystery more than the grittier historical mysteries earlier in the series.

I didn’t hate it, but had to adjust my expectations to appreciate what I got. So, this is one I’d recommend to cozy historical mystery fans who appreciate a husband and wife detecting team and some family back history while on a jewel hunt.