The Beekeeper's Apprentice, or On the Segregation of the Queen

Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, Book 1

By: Laurie R. King

Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin

Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

The Twentieth-Anniversary Edition of the First Novel of the Acclaimed Mary Russell Series by Edgar Award–Winning Author Laurie R. King.

An Agatha Award Best Novel Nominee • Named One of the Century's Best 100 Mysteries by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association

In 1915, Sherlock Holmes is retired and quietly engaged in the study of honeybees in Sussex when a young woman literally stumbles onto him on the Sussex Downs. Fifteen years old, gawky, egotistical, and recently orphaned, the young Mary Russell displays an intellect to impress even Sherlock Holmes. Under his reluctant tutelage, this very modern, twentieth-century woman proves a deft protégée and a fitting partner for the Victorian detective. They are soon called to Wales to help Scotland Yard find the kidnapped daughter of an American senator, a case of international significance with clues that dip deep into Holmes's past. Full of brilliant deduction, disguises, and danger, The Beekeeper's Apprentice, the first book of the Mary Russell–Sherlock Holmes mysteries, is "remarkably beguiling" (The Boston Globe).

This program includes a preface read by the author.

©1994 Laurie R. King (P)2007 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

• Agatha Award, Best Novel Nominee

“Wonderfully original and entertaining . . . absorbing from beginning to end.” —Booklist

“King has stepped onto the sacred literary preserve of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, poached Holmes, and brilliantly brought him to life again.” —The Washington Post Book World

“A fascinating and often moving account of a friendship so unusual and so compelling that one almost accepts it as being historically real.” —The Denver Post

Very good base story

The underlying base i liked very much...but, yes there is a but, is that for me the story should have been told in half the time, not referring to the performer. Holmes (like)stories should be imho more clean, not the while time hinting on what has yet to cone, especially as the head person in the book tells the story from first perspective and presents herself as a kind of heir of Sherlockian ways. But as said the base was good, so maybe I will try another book from this writer.

The Beekeeper's Apprentice

I found this book a lot of fun and interesting. I'm glad I got this book.

An admirable attempt at Holmes but another miss...

The overall plot wasn't bad. I didn't think that the nature of Sherlock Holmes was fully captured; there were elements of him in the deductions made and the sneaking about but the character sounded wrong. The protagonist was a young woman so one may say that it isn't essential but if one is going to put such a character in to a book they should at least sound right. This was exacerbated by the rather odd male voice that the narrator did for Holmes, though she did excellent voices for other characters and the main narration.

My absolute, all-time favorite!

After having read the Beekeeper’s Apprentice three or four times over the years, I now happily own this audible on my iPad. I know I will revisit it yet again in the future and enjoy its excellence. Thank you Laurie R. King and Jenny Sterling for such a fantastic collaboration!

Jbryan

I truly enjoyed this book. It kept me wanting to get back in the car and go for another trip. Narrator was fabulous!

First half is good

This is the first Mary Russell book I've read. The first half of the book was good. Interesting stories and characters. But midway through the main "mystery" of the book, the whole story goes flat and seems to lose its way.. It becomes more of a treatise on the complex relationship between Mary and Holmes. For me, the book pretty much ended with the trip to Palestine. Even the climax of the story, when it finally came, was dull.

I see that the author studied theology. So some of this book is probably autobiographical. Certainly the description of the travels through Israel sounded like the personal experience of the author.

I am not tempted to try another book in this series.

i ended up loving the story. the reader was ok.

i loved it. had to pish through the first 2 chapters, until i got used to the readers voice and after she got tired of faking her voice so harshly.

Worth a credit

Young adult, crime, mystery drama. I loved it. I have been a long time fan of books/movies/series about Sherlock Holms, and this book doesn’t disappoint. It was told from the point of view of the girl who is smart enough to become Sherlock’s apprentice and a friend, and the adventure begins. Highly recommended.

great book

A great story and the reading is lovely. One gets deep into it and does not want to press pause :)

Satisfying for a Holmes enthusiast

Wonderful characters with a plot worthy of the classic Holmes. Can't wait to read on in the series.