• The Language of Bees

  • A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes
  • By: Laurie R. King
  • Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin
  • Length: 15 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (2,056 ratings)

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The Language of Bees

By: Laurie R. King
Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin
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Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Laurie R. King has won or been nominated for every major award in mystery writing. King's beloved sleuth Mary Russell here attempts to reverse her legendary husband, Sherlock Holmes', greatest failure.
©2009 Laurie R. King (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"A one-woman case for the defense of unauthorized literary sequels...intelligent, witty, complex and atmospheric." ( Washington Post Book World)
"Along the way, we are treated to a great deal about ancient sites in England; a major supporting role from Holmes' brother, Mycroft; information on an occult set of beliefs possibly related to Aleister Crowley; a terrifying set piece on the horrors of early air travel; and discourse on the queasy pleasures of surrealist art - all in Mary Russell's wry, brilliant, and occasionally utterly deluded voice." ( Booklist)

What listeners say about The Language of Bees

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Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 2 Stars
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Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 2 Stars
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

To all Holmes buff's,

I have read all of the short stories that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about Sherlock Holmes in the Strand, I have seen every movie that I could find about Holmes, I have read other author's that have written about Holmes, and I even countinue to watch the British T.V. series about Sherlock Holmes...needless to say I am a Holmes Buff, and I can pick out a phony in a second (in my eyes a phony is someone that writes about Holmes but has not done their home work about him and his manorizisms)...
Laurie King should be considered the reincarnated Sir Arthur Conan Doyle!!!
Laurie hits the essence of Sherlock Holmes out of the park, and it feels as though I am listening to Doyle tell new stories about Holmes and his new apprentice.
These audiobooks are great whether you are a Holmes reader or not and I highly recommend this story and any others written by Laurie King to anyone that loves mystery, suspense, and a little brain work also!

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47 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable Book, great narrator

I have read or listened to all the Mary Russell books and have enjoyed them all. I knew from other reviewers that this book was 'to be continued' so that didn't worry me. I fully enjoyed the story and the details. I find the pace very calming and didn't feel that there was too much padding. I think the narrator did a great job with the voices and accents of the characters. I find her voice quite melodic and a pleasure to listen to. Enjoy the details for what they reveal about life at the time. If you want a face paced action adventure story this is not for you but if you fancy a well reasoned mystery with a lot of insight into life in Britain in the 1920s then give it a go. I will certainly listen to part 2 when it becomes available.

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

If you like the rest of the series...

... you will probably like this one. I've enjoyed all these Russell/Holmes books in varying degrees. The first one,"The Beekeeper's Apprentice" is a classic not to be missed. Other books in the series are more a matter of taste. In this one, the introduction of Holmes's adult son (by Irene Adler) is a welcome addition. The cliff-hanging ending leaves Mary Russell in charge of her stepgranddaughter, Mycroft Holmes (possibly) under arrest, and Sherlock gone off to who-knows-where. Stay tuned!

I found the "cult religion" plot interesting but scattershot; something (I'm not sure what--perhaps the presence of a more tangible villain, or just a tighter concept) was lacking. The ending chase (Mary rides an aeroplane!) to stop a human sacrifice goes on a little too long, but has some unexpected turns that keep you listening. As others have pointed out, this is clearly "part one of two," but since Part Two ("The God of the Hive") is readily available, that shouldn't deter anyone.

I've had mixed reactions to Jenny Sterlin's narrations of other material, but having listened to most of the series, I find her renditions pitch-perfect for these books. She has become the voices of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes to me.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Edge of your seat Mystery

Yet another excellent Mary Russell novel. The pace, tension and suspense of this installment in the series comes close to equaling the edge of your seat reading contained in her stand alone novel "Folly".
Some have complained about the post script, but if you follow the author, this is not a surprise and was planned for.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Not Laurie King's Best

This novel is a bit odd. For one thing, it seems to be only half a story [and indeed, Mrs. King is writing what seems to be the sequel at present]. Secondly, it is really a Mary Russell novel with Sherlock Holmes a secondary character, and lastly, once again, and, I think, once too often, Mrs. King delves into the world of theological irrationality. I personally find the interactions between Holmes and Russell to be the most interesting aspect of their books, and it's largely missing here. Also, I found myself disappointed by the use of "chase" tactics to add suspense to the story [don't want to give too much away] instead of tighter plotting.

Jenny Sterlin, as usual, does an excellent job of narration; indeed, her effort is what made me give this 4 instead of 3 stars.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

3 1/2 stars. Is it me?

I love Laurie R. King, and particularly this series, but for the first time I wasn't able to get into one of her books. It was interesting, and any time spent with Russell and Holmes can't possibly be a waste, but this time I thought the plot was a bit overly melodramatic. At least the reading was. Jenny Sterlin (who is normally fantastic) read sooooo slowly, with so many pauses, that I felt myself getting frustrated.
She conveyed none of the action. What should have gone off like a rifle shot, instead felt like a slowly filling balloon. I have to wonder if I wouldn't have enjoyed it more if I had read it myself. (FYI: I did just finish listening to O'Jerusalem, which was fantastic -- so perhaps it's just the comparison that affects my opinion.) Love to know what you think.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

I Can't Quit Listening Now,

but I hope the next one in the series picks up the pace a bit. While I love to enter a completely furnished and populated 'world', these last few Mary books are tedious. The mystery parts are overshadowed by the narrative and that is not acceptable!

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

not to my taste

I've read all the previous Mary Russell novels, but I just couldn't induce myself to finish this one; ennui was overpowering. To my mind, the quality of both the writing and the plotting has deteriorated with each new book. Please... not another crazy religion. No more endless boring discourse on Hebraic minutiae. Annoyingly, Mycroft Holmes is all over the place in this one, not as a genuine character but basically as a shortcut for the author to provide things for Sherlock and Mary. By making things oh so easy for them, drama is garrotted. The narrator does a creditable job on the English characters, but tortures French accents to death. Maybe the ending made the beginning worthwhile, but I didn't stick around to find out.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

enjoyable; great reader

I am a L.R.King fan and before joining Audible had read all of her books save this one. Since I have read all those books silently it was a real novelty to be able to hear the voices of the by-now very familiar characters and remarkable how well they matched the ones I have heard in my head.

I had no problem with the scarcity of Holmes; to me this whole series has really been about Mary Russell all along, Holmes being more of a prop. And since his was about the only voice I didn't care for every much I minded it even less. Well, his and Estelle's and the American pilot's....but none were irritatingly bad; in the plethora of voices the reader did that's a pretty good success rate.

The reader was excellent; I am hoping when the second part of this book comes out she reads it as well; am looking forward to it.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Argh.

A caveat: if you are a fan of Jane Austen, you "may" like this book. For me however, it was Sherlock Holmes--poorly narrated, and as written by Jane Austen (but without Austen's considerable skills).

An hour into a 15(?) hour book I found myself wishing that the bees would swarm and attack the narrator. I don't think I have ever read a book where I started rooting for the villain if only to end the novel immediately. I don't give up on novels, so I listened to the end, and the only satisfaction I gained was in deleting it from my iPod immediately thereafter.

Cliche-ridden writing, tedious "clever" dialogue, and pretentious English characters. Save a credit, there has to be many better books out there.

I have no idea if the narrator is actually English or not, but if she is, her's is the first "British" accent I have heard that I do not like. Then when she tries to imitate a French MAN, speaking British English with a bad French accent . . . it's just painful.

I have no idea how this book has become so popular. I have to believe it is female Jane Austen fans who like the tedious digressions and pompous English society characters, and are willing to forgive the actual quality of the writing.

(FYI, after probably 30-40+ audible listens...I think this is my first one star review.)

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6 people found this helpful