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

What a ride!

What an exciting ride! You can’t help but fall in love with the characters, old and new. This narrative fits like a favorite pair of boots, carrying you on an adventure. And a thrilling one, too! I thoroughly enjoyed this. Of the audiobook, i do have to admit that I did not enjoy the voice given to Holmes. It was so droll and drab and reeked of boredom that it almost totally turned me off. The narrators long pauses often made me think I was at the end of a chapter when it was just the middle of a scene. So, if you listen to the audiobook, I hope you are able to move past that!

The craft of the author and original presentation

I was crying and looking into my coffee cup to hide it. No other beverages or pipe needed. Thanks 😊

Everything was wonderful

Everything was wonderful. Story, narration, characters. Going to download all of them in the series.

Great mystery!

Would you listen to The Beekeeper's Apprentice, or On the Segregation of the Queen again? Why?

I don't tend to re-listen (re-read) books because I want to read something new. That said, I couldn't put this one down. I tend to listen while walking the dog or on longer drives; this book made me want to extend the walk or plan a long car trip, just to be able to keep listening!

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character was Mary Russell, of course, although I thoroughly enjoyed Laurie King's version of Sherlock Holmes. Mary (or I should say Russell) was written as an independent girl/woman, which I will attribute somewhat to her US upbringing. I liked the way she played off of Holmes. Their camaraderie was very nicely portrayed, as well as the influence Holmes has on her development.

Which scene was your favorite?

I don't know if I can pick one favorite scene. The description of their first meeting sticks vividly in my mind - I can almost see the hill, and the bees with their spots of color, and Mary carefully taking it all in, figuring out what is happening, and then surprising Holmes with her understanding.

Any additional comments?

The narration/performance was marvelous. I left wanting more - and was delighted to find that here is more!

My All Time Favorite Book!

I have read this book more times then I care to count. As an audiobook, this is one of the best I've ever heard. It also serves as a great example of how to correctly narrate an audiobook.

One of my favorites scenes takes place as they race along roads to solve a crime:

"Russell, if you decide to take up Grand Prix racing, do ask Watson to do your navigating. This is just his métier."

"Why, Holmes, do you have doubts about my driving?"

"No, Russell, I freely admit that when it comes to your driving abilities, I have no doubts whatsoever. The doubts I have are concerned with the other end of our journey. The question of our arrival, for one thing."

"And what we shall find when we get there?"

"That too, but it is perhaps not of such immediate concern. Russell, did you see that tree back there?"

"Yes, a fine old oak, wasn't it?"

"I hope it still is," he muttered.

Now imagine that in a "high, biting voice" for Holmes and an almost sarcastic, blasé, lower female voice for Russell and you have an inkling of how funny this section is.

If you love mysteries, Sherlock Holmes, and historical settings; I'd give this series a try. Jenny Sterlin gives the perfect voice to so many of these characters. She captures Holmes' voice just as the author describes it and is also able to fill in the right accents and more. No matter how many times I've read or listened to this, I can't wait to turn the next page or listen to the next minute - even though I know exactly what's going to happen.

Great book, good narrator,somewhat bad production.

What did you like best about this story?

Great fresh take on Sherlock Holmes. Mind you, the lead character is not Holmes, but a teenage girl befriending him and becoming his (sort of) apprentice. The development of the the characters is spot on. Thoroughly enjoyable story.

Which scene was your favorite?

The opening scene is great.

Any additional comments?

Pretty bad production. I use a pair of quality "over the ear" headphones when listening and since they dont let much noise in, some flaws in the production stands out. Most noticeable is a faint analog echo of the readers speech, that gets more and more pronounced as the book progresses. (At first I thought it was outside voices form a poorly soundproofed recording studio). It's a very annoying immersion breaker.

Well...

Which character – as performed by Jenny Sterlin – was your favorite?

I enjoyed Jenny Sterlin's performance for all characters, and suspect that when I listen to the next book in the series (yes, it is in my cart awaiting an Audible credit!), I will be truly disappointed if Ms. Sterlin is not the narrator. Like Barbara Rosenblat for Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody, Kate Forbes reading Rita Mae Brown's Mrs. Murphy series, and Justine Eyre giving voice to Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce, it will be Ms. Sterlin that I hear whenever I think of Laurie R. King's Mary Russell.

Any additional comments?

I don't like it when other authors take liberties with a beloved character created and brought to life by another author. Most often, the other author brings very little to the table and I can see clearly that the book is riding on the coattails of the original author, that the book used the familiar character just to make money. I did not expect to really like this book- I am listening to it 20 years after it was first released in print! - but the tale is enjoyable and I did not figure out who was the bad guy until nearly the end. That makes a good mystery in my book.

A great, fun novel - first in a series

What if Sherlock Holmes was a woman (Charlotte)? I got it to listen to because I love Sherlock Holmes related stuff and the idea seemed clever. I realized halfway through that I'd been tricked into listening to a Victorian romance novel, but I liked it nonetheless......still, I don't recall Doyle spending so much time talking about people's bosoms and dark brooding eyes.

Holmes but Not Holmes

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Although Mary Russel works storywise as a sidekick to the immortal character of Holmes she does not work at all as an interesting pairing for any Sherlock Holmes fan. The character is as unemotional and dry as Sherlock so the dichotomy between Sherlock and Watson, that creates an interesting relationship for the reader, is missing from this new match. There is no dynamic in getting to see Holmes work with what amounts to a female version of him. As a strong female character Mary Russel works very well, but this is because she is simply Sherlock Holmes in a young girl form. The story drags far too long and the interesting parts of "the game" are distanced so much from each other that turning the book back on became tedious. Details of irrelevant minutae also occupied far too high of ratio of the pages. They did nothing to make the book more interesting nor the characters. Overall, captures the character of Holmes well, but not a good Holmes read.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

King seemed angry the whole read. May have contributed to my disconnect with the main character

Was The Beekeeper's Apprentice, or On the Segregation of the Queen worth the listening time?

Glad to have it out of my way so I can listen to something else. Wouldn't recommend, mainly due to its length not being justified or worthwhile

eh.

Eh. That's about all I can give this one. I love most things Holmes but this book did not quite live up to the genre. I was hooked by the introduction and was perfectly willing to except the perspective of a young intelligent woman towards an aging and retired Sherlock Holmes. But none of the characters we know from the original Doyle stories behave as we expect them to. I expected, and was willing to except, some evolution in Holmes himself since the premise of the book is that he befriends an exceptional young woman and eventually includes her in his adventures. He simply does not speak or behave as Sherlock Holmes should. The same goes for John Watson, and goes double for Holmes' corpulent brother Mycroft.
If you have not been exposed to much Holmes literature, or are not a frequent reader of the original Doyle stories, this anacronysm is unlikely to prevent you from enjoying this book which, in all other ways, was quite a fun listen. A bit too long perhaps with a bit of meaningless wandering to the holy land in the middle, but a fun listen all the same.
I would not recommend this book to serious Sherlock Holmes fans, but to readers of light mysteries or to those who enjoy strong female leads this book is for you.