Pirate King

By: Laurie R. King

Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin

Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

In England’s silent-film industry, Randolph Fflytte is king. Mary Russell is dispatched to investigate the criminal activities that surround Fflytte’s movie studio, but nothing seems amiss until the company starts rehearsals in Lisbon.

There the 13 blonde-haired, blue-eyed actresses whom Mary is bemusedly chaperoning meet the swarm of real buccaneers Fflytte has recruited to provide authenticity. As movie make-believe becomes true terror, Russell and Holmes themselves may experience a final fade-out.

©2011 Laurie R. King (P)2011 Recorded Books Inc

Chaotic fun

And a good break from the seriousness and heartbreak of several preceding books. Fun to see a strange view of the British film industry, pirates, and non-binary characters. I,as a faithful reader, needed this. Now, on to the next.

I usually LOVE Kings stories but

Pirate King took much longer to develop, and I missed Homes in the early parts. Usually King creates such a wonderful sense of place but it wasn’t as strong for me in this book. I couldn’t feel Lisbon, there was more to it once arriving in Morocco.

I tried but...

I couldn't stick with it. The plot wasn't very interesting. I missed the collaboration of Mary and Sherlock. The books are so much better when they work together. But I always love listening to Jenny Sterlin.

Mediocre & disappointing coming from King

I have quite enjoyed the Russell-Holmes novels (in order) ti this point. So, I am very disappointed with Pirate King (or Queen?); it just doesn't meet up to the expectations I had for LK's next in the series. Don't get me wrong, I still mostly enjoyed it, but certainly not as much as the rest. It is slow, plodding, & predictable all the way through. It reads as though King was writing to meet a publisher's deadline while her muse was on vacation, rather than because she was interested in any of her characters -- or readers. I hope future books with these chararacters -- which I will read regardless -- return to the standard of her first ones. Until today, I have considered King to be the closest to the Doyle canon in a large field of contemporary Holmes tribute authors. I hope her next novel reclaims that status. After all, it's next in my Audible library.

Russell and Holmes, always amusing.

I have enjoyed every book about these two characters. The tête-à-tête between them and the twists of the plot are very entertaining. A very good listen.

Not the usual

This is the only book, so far, in the Russell series that was disappointing. In many places it was disjointed and the story overall seemed frivolous.

Less than stellar

I’ve read every story in the Mary Russel series. Not to say I didn’t enjoy this one, but it’s not at the top of the pile to recommend. Slow development of story dragged. A bit ridiculous premise. Ended flat. Always stellar performance by Jenny Sterlin.

It was ok?

I’m a huge Sherlock fan, as in I’ve read every one numerous times…this book was just fine. But nothing amazing at all. I was pretty disappointed.

Not nearly as compelling as other Laurie R King bo

I'm at Chapter 8 and having great difficulty getting into this book. Perhaps it is the fanciful nature of the story. I wouldn't recommend it at this point.

A relief after God of the Hive

I fully disagree with some of the reviews that decry this book as not worthy of the Holmes & Russell series—it has levity, frivolity and ridiculous drugs ex machinas worthy of any 1920s film, and appropriately so! The two precious books were heavy and sad enough to warrant some melodrama. While Lisbon as a city may not be fully fleshed out, the ship life and small amount of time in Morocco do feel authentically rich and colorful in much the same way that O Jerusalem did. It was not as much of a plot twist or hidden scheme as previous books, but it was satisfying to find the Gilbert and Sullivan opera playing out in what seemed like real time with Russell’s experience. While not as deep or complex, it was refreshing and light and therefore enjoyable.