I have been reading this series about Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell ever since the first book, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice was published in 1994! This is entry number seventeen. Ms. King continues to keep this long running series interesting and engaging.

When this book opens, Russell and Holmes are getting ready to travel to Roumania. The daughter of Maria of Roumania is under threat. Why? Is it to do with her or with someone wanting to get at Marie. Marie is herself connected by blood to Queen Victoria; she is related to both her and the Russian Tsar. Readers learn about Marie’s history, dynastic marriage and move to Roumania. They learn, too, about the decisions that she has made for her country and her devotion to a place that she has come to love.

Along the way, readers also learn about Dracula and the many legends and superstitions that existed at the time. This is all quite fascinating.

When Holmes and Russell get to Roumania, their work intensifies. There are many strange occurrences along the way. There are also welcome creature comforts that Mary had not been expecting.

I enjoyed the setting of this novel and the rich history that was presented. I also liked following Russell and Holmes as they talked, sparred and worked together.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

Mary Russell is the right hand of one Sherlock Holmes, but she is definitely not excited about their most recent travel arrangements. Bound for Roumania, the two are to assist Queen Marie, the royal granddaughter of Queen Victoria, as well as that of Tsar Alexander II of Russia.  At the infamous Bran Castle, the two need to find a way to clear the name of both Queen Marie and her daughter before the strigoi, or vampires, ruin their names.

Castle Shade is a fun read for lovers of Sherlock Holmes and vampire tales. Author Lori R. King creates a wonderful character in Mary Russell. She seems to respond the way most would in her situation, though her loyalty keeps her in the middle of the mystery.

Castle Shade is now available from Random House.

The review of Castle Shade by Laurie R. King is in the August 2021 issue of Gumshoe Review and is exclusive to them until September 1, 2021.

You may read the review using this link:
<http://www.gumshoereview.com/php/Review-id.php?id=6798>

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

I have read many of the books in Laurie R. King’s wonderful series of pastiches about Sherlock Holmes and his wife Mary Russell. The events in Castle Shade revolve around Queen Marie of Romania, who was instrumental in enlarging her country to include Transylvania. There are rumors of vampires at Castle Bran, Queen Marie’s “hideaway” in Transylvania. Obviously, to Holmes and Russell, the culprit in these activities must be mortal. King has researched this book well and integrates the story perfectly with the background of the Queen, the historic era, and the area.

I've adored the Mary Russell books since I stumbled across 'The Beekeepers Apprentice" many years ago at the library. I've purchased every volume as soon as it is published but have unfortunately not read past "Justice Hall" I believe because of well, life....

Was overjoyed when my request to view 'Castle Shade' was granted and leapt right in.

Surprisingly for the amount of books published Mary and Sherlock have only been married 4-/2 years when Castle Shade takes place. Otherwise everything that I loved about the earlier books are still evident in this later story. I'm going to have to go back and catch up now!

Castle Shade is in fact, Castle Bran in Roumania. Otherwise known today as Dracula's Castle. Yes, 'that' Dracula.
Sherlock has been called in by Queen Marie because of a threat she has received to her daughter Isabella.

Upon entering Castle Bran they are swept up in a whirlwind of political intrigue courtesy of Mycroft and also the uncanny happenings in the village surrounding Bran. Are these occurences actually supernatural in origin or is someone attempting to use native superstitions to set the villagers against their beloved foreign queen.

I"m not going to spoil the story. Just read it yourself and enjoy!

I just LOVE the Mary Russell books by Laurie R. King! Mary Russell is so intelligent and clever, along with being quite plucky, and she gives her husband Sherlock Holmes a run for his money in terms of intellect. The mysteries are always well-plotted but I delight in these books primarily due to the unique and wonderful voice of Mary Russell. If you enjoy women sleuths and/or Sherlock Holmes, do check this series out! Each one is a stand-alone.

I should add that I think Laurie R. King captures Sherlock Holmes better than any other interpreter outside of Sir C-D himself!

Thanks to NG and the publisher for my copy!

This is my first book in this series. I love anything related to Sherlock Holmes, and I have written an entire novel that's a revisionist version of Dracula (DRACULA, MY LOVE), so I couldn't resist checking out this novel. The plot: A villain is working hard to turn the residents of Bran against the Queen of Romania. Can Mary and Holmes prevent this from happening? The novel includes some classic horror tropes, post-WWI European politics, worries about vampires, and disappearing young women. I loved the read and the ride -- it was a good mystery and I enjoyed my introduction (however belated) to this team of detectives.

This is the 14th installment of Laurie R. King's "Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes" series. These are all complex mysteries that cause your brain to hurt and this one is the same. You can get lost very easily in the excessive detail and complicated plots.

I read as both an audio book and e-book. This installment held my interest a little easier than previous books because the mystery involved vampires in Transylvania. I still had to re-read chapters many times because my brain wandered off during the audiobook. I think it's the lack of emotional attachment I have to these characters even after reading seven of these books. I just don't care what happens to them. King is extensive with her historical research and explanation in this series. You will definitely learn something when you read these books.

I would've loved some PDA from Mary and Sherlock but they are still very prudish (do they even like each other physically?) and their age difference is still pretty cringy (38? years!). They also come off as acting superior and looking down their noses at just about everyone which is off-putting. Mary is book smart, but has no common sense and always gets herself into dangerous situations that could be easily avoided.

If you are still loving this series after 14 books, you'll enjoy this one too. I have to see the characters in series have personal growth and evolve to stick with it and these two are stuck in a socially-awkward, romance-less rut.

This is the only Mary Russell book I have not yet listened to (I've both read and listened to all the other ones at least twice), and although it took my brain some time to readjust, I really enjoyed this one. Perhaps it's because I've always been fascinated by the legends of Dracula, but I really enjoyed this one more than some of the most recent ones, partly because it felt more like the old Holmes/Russell partnership. There is definitely a shifting of perspectives from one to the other, although Russell's portions are written in first-person POV and Holmes' sections are written in third-person POV. This book continues on from their adventures in Monte Carlo and the Riviera (two previous books) and the situation in this book is alluded to in the last one. Queen Marie of Roumania is having some unusual things happening in Castle Bran (a gift to her from the residents) that potentially threaten her or her daughter. If it were just herself, she might not even bother, but her daughter seems to be in potential danger. I absolutely loved the feel of this book, with the history of the people and the country, and even the politics of the time were not annoying distractions. The castle sounded like something that would be fun to explore and the inclusion of some of the modern amenities in Russell's suite was rather fun to imagine. I loved the investigative parts they each did on their own as well as the parts they did together. Without revealing any spoilers, I loved the midnight ride at the ending! It was fun to imagine the entire scene up to and including the ending, haha! Overall, this one felt a lot more like the early adventures that I loved so much, except Mary and Sherlock know each other so much better!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“Shadowy figures, vague whispers, the fears of girls, dangers that may be only accidents. But this is a land of long memory and hidden corners, a land that had known Vlad the Impaler, a land from whose churchyards the shades creep.”

Unless it’s that certain time of year, where the ghouls and ghosts are celebrated, you probably won’t find fiction books thematically linked to the Dracula tale grouped together in a library or bookstore. Being a reader who loves a good theme and enjoys a well-written Dracula connected book, I would like to see such a grouping on a permanent basis. I adore different takes on the Dracula theme, but I am especially fascinated by those that are uniquely clever. Castle Shade by Laurie R. King is that. Mixing history, Queen Marie of Romania, with the atmosphere of Transylvania appeals to my love of history and legend combined, and the sleuthing of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes is a thrilling treat.

But, don’t imagine that Castle Shade is a vampire story; it’s not. However, it is very much about the folklore and myths surrounding that tale, how the local people are rather easily swayed to believe in the possibility of a darkness that seeks out the blood of young women. And, this story is set in Romania, with Castle Bran being the summer residence of Queen Marie and where Russell and Holmes are visiting. Readers of this series will remember that Holmes had traveled to Romania by himself when Russell was in Monte Carlo pursuing Mrs. Hudson. Now, Russell is accompanying Holmes back to the area of Romania known as Transylvania (I wonder how many people can read that name and not say it in their heads as Dracula pronounces it). They are there at the request of Queen Marie, beloved Queen of Romania and granddaughter to the iconic Queen Victoria of England. Queen Marie has received a threat that involves possible harm to her youngest daughter Ileana, a girl still in her teens. It is this, the danger to a young girl, that has Russell and Holmes eager to help find answers quickly. But, they must also be surreptitious in their mission, as the Queen wants to keep it quiet, so they are presented as architectural consultants in the ongoing work being done to Castle Bran.

The threatening letter is one mysterious occurrence, but there are others, including rumors of witches and ghosts and lurking shadows. Something or someone is stirring the pot, so to speak, and they are doing so only when Queen Marie is in residence at the castle, thus hoping villagers will connect the dots to Her Highness. A quick solution is needed before the tide turns against Marie. Villagers in Brasov are already hanging garlic in their doorways.

Russell and Holmes are at first leaning toward a political explanation to the troubling events, as Queen Marie has been an amazingly effective leader while her husband is in failing health. They think that there might be those wishing her to be a less popular and distracted Queen to push agendas of their own. The political angle also has Russell suspecting that Mycroft, Sherlock’s brother, is responsible for their involvement, something that does not sit well with Mary Russell. But, the welfare of the young princess is more important than Russells' grievances, and, as they investigate and uncover clues, the political culprit seems less likely and personal revenge more likely.

As per usual, Russell and Holmes don’t waste any time getting right on the case. The two outfit themselves for stealth in their black clothing on the very night they arrive and go cautiously about the village, looking for the unusual to happen. And, happen it does, as the sharp eyes of the pair discover an attempt to poison someone’s chickens and the deliberate placement of a witch’s hex bag on a local's front doorway path. Undoing these attempts to stir up the locals puts Holmes and Russell in control of the narrative, but it will require constant vigilance to maintain that control. When the misdeeds take a new direction of harm to a person, the urgency increases to find the way through the darkness and save lives. Hold on to your hats because the chase gets wild and woolly, including a premature burial experience.

There are several suspects considered by Russell and Holmes, and I was able to see a case for each of their guilt. But, I was surprised by the actual villain and the reason for wanting to drive Queen Marie away from Castle Bran. Laurie King does a good job of presenting red herrings while leading readers to the miscreant. I’m rather torn between thinking Russell showed great bravery and thinking she took some questionable risks. However, I am more convinced than ever that Mary Russell is a match indeed for the wily Sherlock Holmes. She is continuing to grow in her confidence, and Holmes is realizing that she is growing and their partnership and marriage is shifting. There will be issues to address in the near future.

Atmospheric is a word that often gets thrown around in describing books set in the countryside of Transylvania, but it is so brilliantly accomplished by King in Castle Shade that it must be noted in my review. The author has such a beautiful command of words in her description of the area and its inhabitants in achieving the spectra of darkness looming over the luscious gardens of the Queen. It’s the atmosphere created that keeps readers on the edge of their seats and believing that anything is possible.

I was delighted with the seventeenth book in the Russell and Holmes series. Castle Shade satisfied my love of historical connections in my fiction reading with the interspersing of Romanian history after WWI ended and the tale of how Queen Marie came to be Queen of Romania and an enormous asset to her adopted land. I’m always pleased when my fictional reading takes me to seek out more information about the real people and places in the story. And, as crime/mystery is my favorite genre of fiction, the cases that Russell and Holmes pursue continue to thrill me. I highly recommend Castle Shade, and I believe it can be read as a stand-alone, which is a great bonus. Laurie King is a true weaver of tales, who never lets a thread slip, and oh what fascinating threads they are.

Courtesy of Netgalley, I received the ARC of Castle Shade by Laurie R.King, my first novel to read in the Mary Russell series. It was very easy to become familiar with the characters in this revision of Sherlock Holmes and his talented young wife, a strong sleuth in her own right. She travels to Roumania in 1925 to assist Holmes as he investigates a mystery surrounding Queen Marie and Bran Castle. Rich in historical references and geographic detail, this suspenseful and compelling mystery held my attention!

I swear I had no idea what I was reading the entire time. I really tried, but I just couldn't understand what was going on! It wasn't very entertaining either. Maybe it's just me, but I'd have to give this one a NO. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Another riveting romp featuring the "before her time" Mary Russell, wife to the famous Sherlock Holmes. This unique mystery is centered in a castle located in Transylvania. Queen Marie of Roumania was gifted the castle Bran and has set to restore it, to its former glory. Tall, stately, and mysterious, the castle fits well in the landscape. Queen Marie loves this castle, and visits quite often. Mysterious and terrifying happenings cause the queen to contact Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell to investigate a missing girl, ghosts and rumors of the undead. Do vampires truly exist? This may be the most daunting mission Holmes and his brilliant wife have ever been on. I highly recommend this story of intrigue and mystery. Happy reading! Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book for my reading pleasure.

I thought this might be a fun read, but it wasn't what I thought it might be. Some of the descriptions were long and cumbersome. It was good but not one of my favorite books.

Mary Russell has been persuaded by her husband Sherlock Holmes to join him at Castle Bran in Transylvania, Roumania to help figure who is threatening Queen Marie and her daughter. Are the threats political or personal? Is the Castle and its staff involved or just bystanders? Are the images portrayed in Stoker's Dracula real or just being used to make the villagers and surrounding countryside nervous hostile? Will the Queen been driven away or worse?

It was so interesting to see the Transylvanian village both support their Queen while at the same time bee overcome by the superstitions of their ancient folklore. Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes never fail to solve the issues being addressed, but this time they also started addressing issues of their own.

Looking forward to Mycroft's reactions!

For me, the difference between a good Mary Russell novel and a great Mary Russell novel is the setting-- and Transylvania made an excellent setting for this mystery. I also enjoyed the cast of characters and that everyone from the Queen on down to the villagers who worked in the castle were complex, nuanced individuals. There were some very tense scenes and, despite knowing that this was certainly not going to be the end for Russell and Holmes, I was uneasy in all of the right places.

King has crafted another thrilling case for Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. Russell and Holmes are called to Roumania in 1925 by Queen Marie, one of Queen Victoria's granddaughters, to her summer home in Transylvania, Bran Castle (yes, that castle, famed as Dracula's home). Queen Marie has discovered a threat to her daughter, Princess Ileana. Strange things have been going in the village and Castle Bran - girls disappearing, possible ghosts, even rumors of strigoi. Russell and Holmes mean to get to the root of the problem, using logic and reason, despite the supernatural overtones of vampires and curses in an ancient castle complete with secret passageways and secretive servants. Mary, reckless of her own safety, pursues clues in Holmes' absence on business related to his brother Mycroft, Who is trying to discredit Queen Marie? Is there really a vampire on the loose? All is resolved in the end, but not without some bumps and bruises and abject terror for Mary.

King is a master at creating detailed setting and atmosphere, but she excels at portraying the very believable and emotionally authentic relationship between Mary and Holmes. King's fans and Sherlockians will not be disappointed in the latest adventure of Russell and Holmes. .

Laurie R. King at her historical best!!

Russell and Holmes find themselves helping Queen Marie of Romania, who is possibly being threatened by an unknown adversary. Or is it her daughter, Princess Ileana, who is the target? The list of possible suspects is not very long, but each person is such a unique character that it will take time for them to figure out who is responsible and what they are after.

This book is quite different from her last - the previous book in the series, "Riviera Gold", was lighter and had more action. This next book, "Castle Shade", is more similar to her earlier book, "O Jerusalem", in that it tackled a less-widely-known part of the world (Transylvania) and it contained deeper descriptions.

I found it a little hard to get into, but once I did, I found it engrossing. I highly recommend reading the Castle Bran official website, and a little about the history of Queen Marie herself (even if it's just on Wikipedia), before reading the book, as it will really help you understand the characters and history. Once I read about those, I found the book a lot easier to understand, and I also became entranced by Queen Marie herself!!

All in all this was a 5 star book - I absolutely love Laurie R. King and I found this book to be a wonderful addition to her Russell series.

I received an ARC of this book as a reviewer for NetGalley.

What a fun series to discover! I would log this under “cozy mystery”- the setting is intriguing and full of memorable characters, the detectives are lovable and relatable, and the crime is a slow burn, good old fashioned whodunnit. I highly recommend this if you enjoy Victorian era vibes and a great mystery!

Another fun read by Laurie R. King. If Bram Stoker, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Charles Perrault collaborated on a book, it still would not have the page turing ability Ms King has achieved. As aways, I learn additional history about the factual people Ms King adds to her books. I can't wait for the next installment of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes.