Alarming Female

Laurie R. King writes some great fiction. Smart, fun, and sexy in a very cerebral way. It’s because of her Mary Russell series (The Beekeeper’s Apprentice starts them off) that I’m crushing on Sherlock Holmes right now. As a wise young man once said,

“you know what’s sexy? A woman interested in etymology –that’s what’s sexy.”

You know what else is sexy? A man who finds an intelligent woman sexy. And King’s Holmes is just that man.

The book I just finished, The Art of Detection, is from her Kate Martinelli series, from which I’d not read before (I likes me some historical detective fiction–must be all that Agatha Christie in high school). It’s set in modern day San Francisco; Martinelli is a police detective. But guess who shows up? Mary Russell’s sexy husband, Sherlock Holmes. Yes, indeedy.

If you’ve not read any of King’s books, you’re going to have to start with The Beekeeper’s Apprentice and work your way through the Russell books before you read The Art of Detection. That’s just the way it is. Trust me.

Here are a few Sherlockian quotes for your perusal and, perhaps, enjoyment—

I cannot agree with those who rank modesty among the virtues. To the logician all things should be seen exactly as they are, and to underestimate one’s self is as much a departure from truth as to exaggerate one’s own powers.

How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?

Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons with the greatest for the last.