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Book reviews for "King,_Laurie_R." sorted by average review score:

Keeping Watch
Published in Audio Cassette by Recorded Books Unabridged (March, 2003)
Author: Laurie R. King
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A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT
KEEPING WATCH is a remarkable achievement. Laurie King intertwines a first-rate story of war in Vietnam with a contemporary suspense story about rescuing a twelve-year old from his abusive father. Both stories gain harmonic richness from their conjunction. This reader was utterly enmeshed in the complexity of thier gradual unfolding.

Allen Carmichael returns from Vietnam haunted by terrible memories and nightmares. After seven years of wandering in a wilerness of alcohol, memory gaps, and petty crime he rurns home to Washinton's San Juan Islands to begin reconstructing himself. He spends the next two decades rescuing abused women and children for an underground network run by a woman named Alice. He has finally decided to retire and marry his lover, Rae Newborn (central figure of King's last novel FOLLY), but Alice persuades him to take one last case. It turns out to be the most challenging in his career, threatening the network and the lives of Allen and Jamie -- the boy he is trying to save.

King has never written a book with a male protagonist before. The most vivd sections of the book are Carmichael's flashbacks of Vietnam. King credits "the stories" of Vietnam vets in helping her accomplish this feat. It is a measure of King's skill that those scenes have the flavor of first-hand observation. The suspense story has enough twists and turns to satisfy the most jaded mystery reader.
Highly recommended.

King's best book yet!
Since there are already several glowing and wonderfully written reviews here, I will keep mine short and sweet. This is Laurie R. King's best book yet and that is saying a lot given the excellent caliber of her other work. Her descriptions of Vietnam affected me more than any others I have read and her presentation of a horribly abused boy is both restrained and heartbreaking.

I do think the ending is wrapped up a little too neatly, but that is really nitpicking. You don't need to be a mystery buff to enjoy this book, just someone who enjoys a good read.

Thoughtprovoking
If I were as good a writer as Laurie King, I would have the right words at my fingertips to do this novel justice. The book is still resonating in my mind a week after I finished reading it. The book is really two-in-one, and neither is easy to swallow. The images of Vietnam are not new to me, but they were told in a way that put me there, and I was as glad as Allen to leave the country. The second part is about redemption -- how to save yourself through the search for it, and the final accomplishment. Many of my generation treated the returning vets in deplorable ways. I would hope that this book would remind them. It was a no-win situation for everyone. To read of someone who managed to overcome his demons, and the way it which he did it, was fascinating. One reviewer said for a reader to stick with it. I second this and add that the rewards will astound you. We do not pay enough attention to the abuse of children. I believe that we all MUST be our brother's keeper. Great book, Laurie King.


Irreconcilable Differences
Published in Mass Market Paperback by Harper Mass Market Paperbacks (03 April, 2001)
Authors: Lia Matera, Joyce Carol Oates, Amanda Cross, Jeffery Deaver, John Lutz, Edna Buchanan, Bill Pronzini, Marcia Muller, Laurie R. King, and Sarah Lovett
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A great short story anthology
This short story collection centers on the impact of separations and divorce on the participants including extended family members. However, the twenty tales share a dark look at IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES as the audience is treated to situations that do not end as peacefully as our current legal system expects.

Lia Matera has put together a remarkable anthology that has several excellent stories, some very good tales, and no poor entry. The cross-genre contributors are a modern day who's who with such noted authors like Oates, Cross, Deaver, Lutz, Buchanan, and Muller, etc. None of the writers are lightweights as they all hold their own with the heavyweights. Anyone who enjoyed the Battle of the Roses will fully relish each tale that paints a very dismal look at broken relationships.

Harriet Klausner


With Child
Published in Hardcover by Ulverscroft Large Print Books (March, 1998)
Author: Laurie R. King
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More Martinelli, less mystery in this book
Before I nitpick, let me say that I enjoyed reading this book. It's well written with interesting characters. It just isn't quite the masterpiece that the first two Martinelli books are.

Much of this book focuses on Kate's personal life crises - Lee has left to recover with a long lost aunt and Kate doesn't know where she stands. She spends more and more time with Jules, the soon to be step-daughter of her partner, Al Hawkin. (Readers of the previous books will remember the child genius.) She spends some of the time tracking down a runaway friend of Jules. In the second half of the book, Jules disappears during a road trip to Seattle. Still, Kate isn't allowed to participate in the the active search and acts policelike only on the fringes.

Bottom-line: Probably a worthwhile read for existing fans of the series but wouldn't be the best book for starting the Martinelli series (which is terrific overall).

Good, but Laurie King can do and has done better
This book left me a little frustrated. I think Laurie King is great writer. What I believe sets her apart from other writers, mystery or otherwise, is her ability to cleverly weave research into an interesting plot. We've all read books where the authors have obviously researched--and I mean obviously. They may as well present their information in the form of a numbered list titled "Things I've learned about..." Laurie King, on the other hand, feeds us information on cults, obscure religious movements, the Bible while building strong characters and a riveting plot. Now the complaints--what happened in this Kate Martinelli book? In the first, I learned about art and about "the high-extracting personality." In the second, I learned about a religious movement called "the fools." In this one, she seemed to have fallen into the Patricia Cornwell trap. I didn't learn about anything except how Kate Martinelli always ends up being the next victim just like Cornwell's Kaye Scarpetti. Having said this, I should add that I still give the book 4 stars. It's a quick read and kept my interest, I just expect more from Laurie King. I know she can do better--I've read the proof.

<P>ANOTHER WONDERFUL BOOK FROM A BRILLIANT AUTHOR

Sensitive, intense, and at times absolutely gut-wrenching, this book, the third in the Detective Kate Martinelli series, is my favorite to date. Even more so than in the previous two books in the series, Kate emerges as a strong, complex woman who is now fighting to reclaim herself after her life partner leaves to spend some time alone. Just as Kate gets her feet back underneath herself, the special bond she has been forming with Jules, a smarter-than average twelve year old, is threatened when Jules disappears while in Kate's care. The ensuing search is surrounded by accusations and strong emotions, climaxing in a thrilling rescue attempt. I encourage fans of King's Mary Russell books to check out her present-day heroine, as well.

Just a small warning--make sure you have plenty of time to read when you begin any of King's books--they are impossible to put down!

The two books preceding "With Child" in this series are "A Grave Talent" and "To Play the Fool," both excellent reads.


The Beekeeper's Apprentice
Published in Paperback by Bantam Doubleday Dell Pub (Trd Pap) (26 March, 2002)
Author: Laurie R. King
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For feminist Holmes-lovers, it's pure nectar.
If you love Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, then you'll enjoy King's first book in her series featuring Mary Russell, a newly-invented partner for Holmes. Though, you may wince a little at some wayward departures from Conan Doyle's original vision, like King's portrayal of Watson as stupid. (Conan Doyle's Watson isn't stupid, he's of average intelligence. He is simply a 486 PU in comparison to Holmes' Pentium.) Reading The Beekeeper's Apprentice, you get the feeling that King didn't actually read Conan Doyle, but rather watched Basil Rathbone movies. King's use of language and her evocation of the Edwardian psyche aren't bad and are somewhat reminiscent of Conan Doyle, although far from a perfect emulation. Nonetheless, her overall characterization of Holmes is good enough that Conan Doyle's fans will be more than satisfied. Afterall, it's been a few decades since someone wrote a Sherlock Holmes story of this calibre. I think there's an added bonus if you're a female reader, or a liberated male, or I suppose, just a male turned on by a girl-Sherlock.

Highly Recommend....Lovely, textured writing
What a great find! Laurie R. King has a wonderfully nuanced voice. I'll admit I usually enjoy first person narratives with female protagonists. Mary Russell is one of the great protagonists.
It's refreshing how Laurie R. King emphasizes Mary Russell's rational, logical intellect. Kudos. Sherlock Holmes has met his counterpart in Mary Russell. I enjoyed the growing relationship between Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes (Please note this story is not a romance.). I particularly enjoyed the format of the novel with a number of cases, rather than just one. That format effectively charts the development of the characters.
However, in the story, Holmes was portrayed as a brilliant and empathetic person. I didn't think it realistic that his intellectual arrogance would be tempered by a high degree of empathy. In my experience, that's not very common. Maybe he shows understated empathy. King does drop enough clues late in the book for the reader to piece together the identity of the villain. But the hints are deliberate and do not detract from the storytelling.
I've read the second book in the series, A Monstrous Regiment of Women and liked it almost as well as this one. This novel, set for the most part in Britain, uses British language and spelling. If you like Agatha Christie's mysteries you will like Laurie R. King's.
Thanks Ms. King for adding a fresh, feminist perspective to the the Sherlock Holmes canon!

WoW! My favorite book!
This is my favorite book. I really mean it. I have only had two favorite books... Ever. And this is one of them. The prose in this book is stunning! I love the flavor and the language. This is an alternate Sherlock Holmes book. People who found the original stories by Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle a little dry will not be able to say the same about this book. Although Holmes is a main character in the book he is not the main character. The protagonist is a young woman named Mary Russell haunted by the death of her family and by the intelligence that sets her apart from normal people. When this young woman stumbles, "literally," across an ageing Sherlock Holmes her life is changed forever. Surprised by her discerning eye he takes her on as an apprentice and trains her in the ways of the detective. The book's climax occurs when an enemy of Holms tries to kill everyone important to him, including Mary Russell. What happens? Who dies? You have to read the book to find out. But I can tell you this; if you do not like the first page of the book then don't bother reading it.


To Play the Fool
Published in Hardcover by St. Martin's Press (February, 1995)
Author: Laurie R. King
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The Lone Reader Reviews "To Play The Fool".
"Good nuncle, in, and ask thy daughters' blessing: here's a night pities neither wise man nor fool." (King Lear, Act 3, Scene 2)

One supposes, after reading (and rereading) this superb example of a mystery, that Laurie R. King would be just as formidable an academic as mystery novelist. Her scholarship is profoundly relevant, accurate, and, most impressively, INTERESTING. This is a book that pities neither wise man nor fool, whether the fool be wooden-headed or more delicately balanced, as in King's story.

This book, second in the "Kate Martinelli" series of mysteries by Laurie R. King, presents the reader with two challenges: the complexity of the narrative and the complexity of the intellectual challenges in the narrative. I admire King's risk-taking with this novel; she neither condescends to nor makes allowance for any laziness on the part of the reader. Simply put, you'll either make the effort to keep up with her, or just bobble along in the wake of her prodigious imagination, wishing you spoke Latin and weren't so lazy. Either action is rewarding.

As in "A Grave Talent", King establishes characters as the driving force behind her narrative. Her protagonists return, slightly more careworn in the intervening time but just as fiesty, and she introduces new characters of towering believability. Anyone who has spent any time aimlessly wandering the streets of San Francisco has encountered the street denizens she describes.

Brother Erasmus, on the other lapel...Brother Erasmus is a quintessential distillation of what we might hope to be, but are gladly not. Tormented, suffering both spiritual and emotional turbulence, fallen from grace in the classical manner, undeniably brilliant in the same way as the actinic flash of magnesium underwater.

With characters such as Erasmus, a narrative writes itself. Or so it's convenient to believe. In reality, King must have worked extraordinarily hard on this narrative, to judge by the esoteric depth of her data. And still, even in the labors she goes through to present her story, it reads effortlessly.

"To Play The Fool" surpasses "A Grave Talent" simply by dint of possessing one of the most memorable characters in recent mystery (Erasmus), and, for that reason, I evaluate it as a four-and-a-half star novel. Very nearly but not entirely an example of perfection in its genre.

I recommend this book wholeheartedly, and believe that it reads best in small coffeeshops in San Francisco.

And I still envy the house.

Thanks for reading,

Ashton

An excellent read, more of a novel than a mystery
For those of you who have read all of the Mary Russell books by King, you might be pleasantly surprised that she writes other, more modern books. For those of you who live in the SF Bay area, you will also be excited by the locations that are described in this book. I had read many of Laurie King's other books before reading this one and I will say that it was one of the most interesting and best written. The novel is based on the mystery surrounding the murder of a homeless man, but the story actually told is of Brother Erasmus, a Fool, who only speaks in quotes from Shakespeare and the Bible. The real mystery is who Brother Erasmus really is, what he is hiding, and why he speaks only in quotes. There are some other homeless characters in the book who are also well characterized. This book has a lot of metaphysical discussion on those who live outside society in this way. And there is a lot of suspense and mystery involved in finding Brother Erasmus's secrets. Eventually the detective Kate Martinelli founds out who the murderer was, but she is more interested in the life of the characters she meets. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes your mysteries to be a bit more literary. King has been compared a lot to PD James, and I think that comparison holds true.

The Best of Martinelli
This book has made me a huge fan of Laurie King. I really liked her other Martinelli books and love the Russel series, but this book is far and above her best. It was very hard to put down and when I finished, she kept me wanting more. Readers who love interesting characters will love this book. Brother Erasmus is the best of the supporting cast. I just wish we could have more of him! The plot is exciting and unique as well. A great read!


The Birth of a New Moon
Published in Audio Cassette by ISIS Publishing (01 January, 2000)
Authors: Laurie R. King and Liza Ross
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Plan to do Nothing Else That Day...
This book was one of Laurie King's best written works...and she's no slug to begin with. Her heroine is so very human, full of inconsistencies and faults, but so brave and ready to sacrifice herself for innocents that you find yourself admiring her even if you wish you didn't. I was mesmerized by the book. I wanted so very badly for all to end well - my idea of "well", which would be for Anne to survive and adopt both children and live happpily ever after. This is, of course, not exactly Laurie King's style. So I began to experience a sense of forboding, that went something like this - ohmygod, don't tell me she's going to die, that would be so unfair, that would be so awful, ohmygod, don't let those kids die, that would be so unfair...well, you get the picture. And I read faster and faster, hoping for the best, because I certainly wasn't going to get to sleep until I KNEW.

And after all that agony and suspense, the ending was NOT GRATIFYING. It didn't fulfill my worst fears, nor my fondest hopes. It was, in fact, a bit on the lukewarm side, which was quite surprising since the book absolutely sizzled until the very last paragraph! Laurie, wherever you are, I would have given a lot for an "afterword" telling us what happened to Anne and the kids! (And I'd love to read a sequel!)

From the "cultist's" point of view
Reading the reviews, I realized that this is a book of hers I have read. I don't do titles on the memory chache... I was interested in seeing that other people found flaws where I found gratifying realities in the book.

Anne Waverly is a very believable character to me, at 43, and a long time member of one of those "odd" cults. (I am of the Wicca.) I found her outsider's view very consistent with that of many others I have known that have tried to understand WHY I am what I am.

It has to do with emotions, the physical alchemy is supposed to be allegorical, but I know many hollow people who cannot handle the multi-tiered reality we work with and therefore desperately try to find a physical manifestation that will fill the need they have.

The criticism of the ending of the book surprised me. Whether Anne survives or not is not germane to the needs that drove her there and the resolution she obtained. The end is implicit in the beginning. I won't spoil it, but that IS the ending of that part of her story. Anything else that may happen will be another woman, another story.

Honestly, I hope Laurie revisits her. How she changes and does would be a very interesting story.

Laurie King "The birth of a new moon"
My adventure with Anne Waverly and the world of Laurie King, came about because of my school assignment, I was dragged into reading a piece of prose fiction. I went to my local store and looked around at the selection of books, reading many back covers and still not becoming interested I saw the black cover from the corner of my eye. Reading the back I bought it and walked out the door reading. I loved King's character development, the way she is so feminine with her style and the was she potrays her own culture through the characters. The book was hard to put down and I was reprimanded several times in Maths for reading fiction instead of doing my calculus. Anyway a great read that will stay with you and change the way you feel toward America and all it's hidden secrets...


Folly
Published in Hardcover by Bantam Doubleday Dell Pub (Trd) (27 February, 2001)
Author: Laurie R. King
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Folly/Sanctuary? Not quite--
This venture into the world of clinical depression is also an overburdened plot with too many incomplete digressions.

The protagonist, Rae Newborn, is a fascinating character, and her struggles with mental illness well developed. However, the villans of the piece seem to be fathers. Rae's grandfather, her father, her son-in-law (father of her granddaughter), Rae's first husband, and the abusive fathers of the "vanished" children are the demons whose influence causes pain, death, and misery. Although Rae's second husband (Alan) is supposed to be a "good" father, he is unable to "fill the black hole" in his son by a former marriage.

The subplots and sub-subplots complicate the book and leave the reader with some confusion. What happens between Jerry and Nikki (the sheriff and the park ranger)? What about Jerry's brother, Allen? And the disappearing (vanished) children who are victims of their fathers' abuse?

The book is worth reading, and some parts of it are lyrical and lovely. However, it is surely not King's best work and not nearly so much a psychological thriller as a study of being, literally and figurately, "new-born" after depression and trauma.

Anticipation and Gratification
I have read all of Laurie King's books and actually waited impatiently for the publication of "Folly." King seems to be many authors in one body. Her various series of books, all good, stress different writing talents. Consistently however she is a master of character development. She also doesn't hesitate surprising you occasionally by introducing suddenly a fact about a character that you thought you knew well -- but didn't.

Other reviews have outlined the plot of "Folly." I disagree with those that feel the plot was overburdened or that not enough issues were resolved by the end of the book. There are unresolved stories continuing every day in all of our lives. I feel comfortable knowing that the relationships that were not resolved in the pages of "Folly" are still out there continuing to a conclusion. The characters are real enough to let you do that.

I was not disappointed when I finally got my hands on the book and enjoyed entering the life of Rae and wondering with her whether she was still in the grasp of mental illness or whether there were people watching and there was danger lurking somewhere behind her. I can't really compare "Folly" directly with other King publications. Again she provides us with a new approach to story telling for her. The mystery is there just as in her other books -- but the presentation is different.

My only regret was that I didn't control my urge to read the book until I went on vacation. I longed for a good book to read in peaceful surroundings. This book is worth a read -- as are all of King's previous works. If you haven't read the Mary Russell series ( a totally different experience) you should.

A great book
A must read. As a fan of King's Mary Russell and Kate Martinelli series I almost went past her latest work. I'm very glad I didn't. It is a powerful glimpse into the fine line between sanity and mania, and into the world of depression that so many of our artists dwell in. Anyone who has had to stuggle with the demons of fear, both internal and external, will relate to King's depiction of Rae Newborn's state of being when she arrives at Folly. And will be equally exhaultant at her victory. The entwined historical and contempory mysteries of the Newborn family was almost secondary to the tale of catharsis they engender.


A Monstrous Regiment of Women
Published in Paperback by Bantam Books (January, 1997)
Author: Laurie R. King
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A Mixed Bag
This is the followup to "The Beekeeper's Apprentice". Mary Russell, the bright and wealthy young orphan who becomes the protege of the semi-retired Sherlock Holmes, is a strong and engaging main character. Also, the author seems to have a good grasp of London during this era. As a period piece, it works fairly well.

On the other hand, the plot here could be stronger. At times, the case seems to take a back seat to Miss Russell's personal life. Character development is good to an extent, but a mystery plot should never play second fiddle to the detective's emotions. Further, in one engaging part of the story, Margery (one of the main characters) appears to have been the victim of some physical violence under rather mysterious circumstances. The next morning, however, all signs of injury seem to be gone. This opens up some interesting possibilities in the plot and much is made of it. Subsequently, though, this apparently miraculous recovery has little bearing on events. Nor is it ever satisfactorily explained.

Finally, if you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, this isn't him. This Holmes is usually a step late and he is ruled by his passions to a degree that Arthur Conan Doyle would not have recognized.

In short, this is a nice period piece, but only a so-so mystery and only a pale shadow of a Holmes story. Much of it is spent dealing with emotions, and feminist concerns of that era are never far below the surface. In general, women will like this book much more than men will. I found it a mediocre effort.

Uneven, but still quite good
This is the second in a series of books, detailing the investigations of Sherlock Holmes and his assistant/partner, Mary Russell. The first book in the series (The Beekeeper's Apprentice) is, admittedly, a tough act to follow. This second novel falls somewhat short. Even so, it is well worth reading.

In this second outing, Mary Russell is writing her thesis at Oxford, while eagerly anticipating the day she will turn 21, come into her inheritance, and rid herself of her horrible aunt and other assorted hangers-on. She happens to run into a friend of hers from her early days at Oxford. Veronica has given up the life of wealthy, pampered lady, and now works for an organization dedicated to helping the underprivileged women of London. Strangely, wealthy members of this group have been dying under mysterious circumstances, leaving money to this group. This, of course, piques Russell's interest, and she investigates the group, its leader, and the deaths.

The middle portion of this book is largely given over to study of the feminist leader of the group. She is both a feminist, and an untrained theologian. She gives public sermons that mainly center around the meaning of "love" and the unequal power balance between men and women. To be completely honest, I found a good portion of these sermons to be tedious and a bit muddled. Although I understand Russell's interest, since she is studying theology at Oxford, these meandering sermons and instruction periods really did nothing to advance the plot.

But persistence has its rewards. In the final quarter of the book, attention is returned to the mystery at hand, and it becomes a 5-star book again. Russell gets to do a wonderful bit of undercover work, aided by Holmes' training in the art of disguise. If only the middle had been as good as the beginning and end, the whole would have earned another 5-star rating. As it is, a solid 4 stars.

Monstrous Regiment A Fit Successor To Beekeeper's
I,as an avid reader of all Victoriana,was enchanted by Laurie King's Beekeeper's Apprentice. Her grasp of the Victorian world is quite remarkable. Upon reading the next in the series,A Monstrous Regiment of Women,I was ,once again,transported into the world of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. A reader of Holmesian fiction,but not an absolute purist,I was engaged by seeing Holmes in situations not entirely of his own making. The age difference between Holmes and Russell was not uncommon for the Victorian period and,so,was not as uncomfortable for me as it has been for some readers. Their involvement with aspects of the women's Suffrage Movement was interesting in that Holme's views on women have always been somewhat misogynistic. To plunk him down in the middle of the Movement presented some interesting moments. Some of the plot devices were predictable but it was still a book with enough twists to make me keep turning pages long after I should have been asleep. I recommend it to anyone interested in the Victorian period as well as those who can take their Holmes with a grain of salt.


O Jerusalem
Published in Hardcover by Bantam Doubleday Dell Pub (Trd) (01 June, 1999)
Author: Laurie R. King
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Excellent read, not quite up to par with BEEKEEPER'S
I've been reading along with the Mary Russell books from the beginning, after being intrigued by a review of THE BEEKEEPER'S APPRENTICE, and promptly reading each one of the others as it came out. I have enjoyed every single one of them, though somehow, none of the later books were quite as good as the first, and A LETTER OF MARY was my least favorite of the series. O JERUSALEM has some of the qualities of the first book (e.g. their earlier, non-romantic relationship), but not the spark that made the first one one of my all-time favorite books. The story is a little bit lacking in places, as the author concentrates more on Jerusalem then on the characters. I will always look forward to new books in this series, and wistfully hope with each addition that King will somehow regain that special something.

King's Best!
When I first discovered that the latest adventure of Holmes and Russell wasn't in chronological order with Kings' previous novels in the series, I wasn't sure I'd enjoy it. That thought didn't last long. Kings' latest is, in my opinion, her best. . She always writes well, but she out did herself with this latest edition to this very enjoyable series.

This is a story rich with history, imagery and wonderful characters you really care about. Set in the Holy Land, the historical references meld neatly with Holmes' and Russell's present. Ancient history and post-WWI history is anything but dull as King paints a picture both realistic and captivating.

Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell are, as always, strong characters, but the other central characters are well rounded and real as well. I came to care about them and hated to come to the end of this novel. I hope that we'll meet up with Ali and Mahmoud, the odd detecting duos reluctant cohorts, again soon.

If you're uncertain about whether or not to buy this novel, don't be. Buy it now and feel the heat of the ancient desert between your toes. :o)

I Don't Care What Others Say: I Loved It!
I don't understand why I've seen so many reviews that put this book down so horribly! I loved this story personally, rivalling it with "The Beekeeper's Apprentice." The setting makes you feel like you're really there and adds to the tension of the story. The plot is superb, with enough red herrings all over the place to make your skin crawl with delight!

I simply loved the way Laurie R. King (and because of this, Russell) really and truly understood and recognized these people as who they are and what they are, not trying to hide or disguise it at all. It is refreshing, truly.

This fine piece of work was wrought well by the master story-teller Laurie R. King, and is sure to delight you. Just as Russell had to show she was competent to Holmes, so she does now once again, this time to two Arab males that believe women to be inferior to everything else in the world, especially them. It is comic yet heart-wrenching, serious yet light. A hard thing to explain, true...but if you read the book, you will understand.


Night Work
Published in Audio Cassette by Recorded Books (January, 2001)
Author: Laurie R. King
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I wish I had started with the first one....

I liked this book about Kate Martinelli, a San Francisco cop with a penchant for getting in over her head.

I probably would have liked it more, however, if I had done what I advise my readers to do: read the series in the order they are published. I would be more familiar with Kate and Lee and the life they're trying to make for each other.

A lot of the author's time and ink are spent on internal issues like relationships; family; theology; and there is a more than occasional feminist theme in her work.

Spousal abuse and the overall degredation of women are this story's themes, and it sometimes seems the author feels obliged to club her reader over the head time and again with how UNempowered (is there such a word?) women still are.

I'll probably read more Kate Martinelli books...I'll just go back to the beginning and play catch up first.

Enjoy!

Laurie King Does it Again
Night Work is every bit as complex, compelling and relevant as Laurie King's other Kate Martinelli novels. She has woven some intelligent notions about religious mythology, Jungian Psychology, feminist politics, moral dilemmas justifiable rage, and intercultural conflict into a story that holds you from beginning to end. There is enough humor and perspective to keep it from reading like a political statement.

The exploration of Indian marriage, caste and gender oppressive traditions, seen through a family which Lives in San Francisco and arranges a marriage for an undesirable brother to a "mail order" peasant girl from India, is timely and well done.

The characterization of the complicated personalities and combinations of the "regulars" relies a little too heavily on the past Martinelli novels. I would have liked more dynamic interaction within and between the complex individuals, relationship formations and clusters. They were a little flatter than before. All in all, a great read.

An invocation to Laurie R. King
The fourth book in the Kate Martinelli series, "Night Work" is a suspenseful, dark, briliantly written mystery. The story centers around a series of murders with only one apparent connection-the victims are all perpetrators of violence against women. However, like "A Grave Talent," the story is far more dense and complex than it seems.

This was the last book I read for a Women's Studies class entitled Murder Mysteries, and the second by Laurie King. The class focused on gender and violence, and I think this book was a fitting end to the class because it focuses on crimes that are specifically gendered, namely rape and wife battering. The book poses a number of hard questions for those of us readers who consider ourselves opposed to violence. First, when, if ever, is violence acceptable? What kind of violence? Perpetrated by whom, and for what reasons? Violence against women is clearly unacceptable, but is violence against those who are violent acceptable? I am 100% opposed to capital punishment and other forms of violence, but I found myself unwittingly tolerating, and almost agreeing with, the vigilante type murders of violent men who escaped the criminal justice system. When I realized this, I was shocked at myself.

I found the use of Kali and indeed the idea of Kali herself fascinating. First, King's use of Kali creates a somewhat mystical, mysteriouis atmosphere to the book, which I found very effective. From reading the Introduction, in which Kali is described, we know that she must have something to do with the novel, but we are not sure what, until the very end of the book. King keeps us guessing, with a quote from "The Invocation to Kali" at the beginning of every chapter. We know that there must be some connection between Kali and the murders, but we are never sure exactly what it is. I was captivated by this book because I wanted to know the truth about the murders, and what Kali had to do with it all. I had a hard time putting the book down, fascinated by this aspect of it.

This book had a profound effect on me. At one point, Kate reluctantly realizes that there is an energy force present in all of us-a force of both destruction and creation. Perhaps that explains why I did not disagree with the violence in this book. Though, once revealed, the symbolism of Kali seems somewhat heavy-handed, it made me question myself, and the nature of violence overall.


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