The God of the Hive

A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes

By: Laurie R. King

Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin

Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Laurie R. King enjoys immense popularity and a resounding chorus of critical acclaim for her exquisite mysteries. The God of the Hive continues the thread King began in The Language of Bees, in which Mary Russell and her famous husband, Sherlock Holmes, face trouble with Scotland Yard and the deadliest of adversaries.

Listen to another Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes.

©2010 Laurie R. King (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Using short chapters and wielding her virtual pen like a burnished sword, King allows readers to race through this gloriously complex second half of last year’s Language of Bees. Sherlock Holmes is trying to get his gravely wounded son, the artist Damien Adler, out of England. Holmes’ wife, Mary Russell, is trying to protect Estelle, Damien’s small daughter. Mycroft Holmes, recovering from a heart attack, suddenly goes missing....all of it makes for utterly absorbing reading." ( Booklist)

“The great marvel of King’s series is that she’s managed to preserve the integrity of Holmes’s character and yet somehow conjure up a woman astute, edgy, and compelling enough to be the partner of his mind as well as his heart.” ( Washington Post Book World)

Very Entertaining

Quite complex and a little hard to understand at times, but thoroughly enjoyable. Definitely recommend.

A Wonderful Read

I love Laurie King's books. She is a great writer. The narrator is very good.

Masterpiece!

The complexity really adds to the mystery, as Ms King slowly reveals the various narrators. I’ve listened to this series many, many times, and over the years, God of the Hive has become one of my favorites.

Imaginative and engrossing listen

I don't think anyone new to the characters (Russell along with King's casting of M & S Holmes) would find this a 5 star listen, but King fans may. There's not much new to the characters, but after a slow start, there is enough atmosphere and winding plot to completely absorb the listener.

You need not have read part 1 - "The Language of Bees" because that plot is nicely summarized in bits distributed through the first quarter of the present work; however, I think to appreciate this listen you need to have gotten to know Mary Russell and the aging Holmes through at least a couple of the previous instalments. Also, you must like Sterlin's narration style because more characters wind their way into the tale than usual.

I think this the strongest in the series next to the first book, "The Beekeeper's Apprentice."

I love Robert Goodman.

One of the best yet of the Mary Russell series. Robert Goodman is a character for the ages. Though only appearing in brief snatches, he steals the show from Mary Russell and the Holmes brothers.

King's Most Suspenseful Mystery

Would you consider the audio edition of The God of the Hive to be better than the print version?

Haven't read the print version

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

From the first few words this plot kept me on the edge of my seat. Each character that was introduced brought with him a piece of the story that was crucial to its resolution. Unlike most of Laurie King's books, this one told the story from many viewpoints which was as intriguing as it was, sometimes, frustrating. I couldn't begin to guess how the stories would resolve themselves. Listening to this book was like being on a wild rapids ride.

So very witty!

I have loved this whole series of stories.

I am also a collector and appreciate great quotes. This book is the series is especially clever.

The only bad thing, is that I enjoy them so, I listen nearly nonstop.

Another Great One!

Such a satisfying story in every way. King and Sterlin, like Holmes and Russell, are an unbeatable duo. Sterlin IS Mary Russell, as she brings out every delicious morsel of the story for us all to savor - like one of Mrs. Hudson's famous scones.

Entertaining

This is a very entertaining series. Good to keep interest but not too deep to require a lot of attention.

Thought Provoking

I found this book and the previous, The Language of Bees very well written and
thought provoking. You'll want to read the in order to get the full story, with God of the Hive being a continuation of the previous book's story.