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The God of the Hive: A novel of suspense featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes Audiobook
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(4.00) - 4,559 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, have stirred the wrath of a murderous secret organization bent on infiltrating the government. Now they are separated and on the run, wanted by the police, and pursued across the Continent by a ruthless enemy with limitless resources and powerful connections. Unstoppable together, Russell and Holmes will have to survive this time apart, maintaining contact only by means of coded messages and cryptic notes. But has the couple made a fatal mistake by separating, making themselves easier targets for the shadowy government agents sent to silence them? A hermit with a mysterious past and a beautiful young female doctor with a secret, a cruelly scarred flyer and an obsessed man of the cloth: Everyone Russell and Holmes meet could either speed their safe reunion or betray them to their enemies-in the most complex, shocking, and deeply personal case of their career
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"I'm thoroughly enjoying Ms. King's work and this book does not disappoint. Russell and Holmes are on the run with Holmes' son Damian Adler and his granddaugher Estelle, trying to prove their innocence all the while avoiding capture from Scotland Yard and an all-too-shadowy Other Force. The aging Mycroft Holmes, a sure relic of the Victorian Age in post-War Britain, is central to the plot. The writing can get a little confusing at times, as it attempts to weave at least four, sometimes five, separate narratives together into one uber-story, but the confusion does settle down once you get into the swing of things, so to speak. Of all the post-Doyle "non-canon" Holmes writers out there, Laurie King does an admirable job of giving us the further adventures of Sherlock Holmes and this volume of her work is indicative of the author's love of the subject."
— Michael (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“The God of the Hive is mesmerizing—another wonderful novel etched by the hand of a master storyteller. No reader who opens this one will be disappointed.”
— Michael Connelly -
“The Mary Russell series is the most sustained feat of imagination in mystery fiction today, and this is the best installment yet.”
— Lee Child -
“Without a doubt, King is the master of Sherlockian authors.”
— Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Spies -
“A dazzling continuation of the adventures of the world’s most famous beekeeper and his equally daunting ‘apprentice,’ The God of the Hive will astonish and delight even the most seasoned of Holmes’ devotees.”
— Katherine Neville, New York Times bestselling author -
“The writing of new Holmes stories is a thriving cottage industry within the mystery-fiction genre, but King’s series stands out for several reasons. Her storytelling is robust, confident and lightly sprinkled with grace notes reflecting the author’s background in theology. Her characters, major and minor alike, are always vivid. Moreover, the partnership between Holmes and Russell is satisfying, intelligent, and affectionate. And then there’s King’s ability to merge two-fisted action with scenes of tenderness.”
— Seattle Times -
“All it takes is the very first page of the newest installment in Laurie R. King’s brilliant series and you’re gone…disappearing into an artfully crafted, creative, and craft world…This is historical suspense at its best, rich with atmosphere, mystery, psychological insight, and complex, fascinating characters. But it’s not just the plot of Russell’s world, or how she matches wits with Holmes that makes King’s books such standouts, it’s how she brings heart and soul to great detective novels.”
— M. J. Rose, author of The Hypnotist -
“Those who enjoyed the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey, Jr., may appreciate bestseller King’s heavy-on-action, light-on-deduction tenth novel featuring Mary Russell and her much older husband, Conan Doyle’s iconic detective…Cliffhanging situations abound.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“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…How Mary, Holmes, and Mycroft solve [their] conundrum—usually while separated from one another—is delineated in resplendent prose. The nascent and rocky development of air travel and international telephone lines; the effect of a winsome and intelligent child on perhaps overintellectual adults; descriptions of locales and places via scent, texture, and color—all of it makes for utterly absorbing reading.”
— Booklist (starred review)
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
The God of the Hive Listener Reviews
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" A nice fun book to read. Nothing heavy here. "
— Peggy, 2/17/2014 -
" Great sequel to The Language of Bees, and you really need to read them together for this one to make sense. Again the flavor of the original Sherlock Holmes canon is perfect. A fun read. I look forward to more. "
— Beryl, 2/9/2014 -
" This book lived up to expectations, I am a huge Laurie R. King fan! It got a little wordy toward the end, as characters tried to explain the mystery to one another, but it was never boring, and I read it in two days, could not put it down! I especially appreciate King's use of creative and unusual words throughout her novels. "
— Michele, 1/28/2014 -
" Excellent tale as always! "
— Mary, 1/26/2014 -
" I really enjoy this series. The author does a great job of keeping the character of Sherlock Holmes similar to the original. "
— Kassie, 1/21/2014 -
" I thought the previous part of this, The Language of Bees, was rather slow and clunky - this was the bit where the story having been slowly wound up, it finally starts moving, and was far more gripping "
— Lesley, 1/20/2014 -
" Good continuance of The Language of Bees. Kept my interest completely and I am looking forward to the next book. "
— David, 1/13/2014 -
" Laurie King added it: right after language of bees "
— Wyma, 1/7/2014 -
" Wow! Darker than some if the previous in the series! Surprising in many ways. Good read. "
— Emily, 12/26/2013 -
" I just realized why it took me a while to understand what was going on ... I missed the book right before this one (Language of Bees). Even so, I still enjoyed it. Mary Russell is back to form, and King's Holmes (both Mycroft and Sherlock) are spot on. "
— Candy, 12/19/2013 -
" Laurie King excells in bringing new characters into the novels to interact with Holmes and Russell. She develops their characters until they too become old friends and add to the suspense and mystery. This time we get to know Mycroft Holmes much better and watch a threatening conspiracy develop. "
— Pat, 12/10/2013 -
" good writing but drifting away from the mystery genre. Very much into suspense and angst. Not my cuppa. "
— E, 12/6/2013 -
" How I love a book whose every twist or nuance of plot is not easily predictable, yet familiar enough to be comfortable. "
— Ami, 9/13/2013 -
" Not my favorite of the series "
— Debra, 8/12/2013 -
" One if the best of the Mary Russell series, in my opinion. It is part two of the previous book. I read them one right after another but i agree with another reviewer that f I hadn't, it would not have been as enjoyable. "
— Joanne, 7/24/2013 -
" Continuation of the last book. Loved it. "
— Loveeac, 5/26/2013 -
" This is such a wonderful, smart mystery series. "
— Heather, 2/27/2013 -
" As always, a great read. Interesting new characters and plot twists. And of course it left me wanting more. "
— Merry, 6/27/2012 -
" The continuation of The Language of Bees this book was everything I anticipated it would be. If I write any more I'll give too much away, but like all Laurie King's books I found this one to be well paced and full of all the twists and turns a good Holmes mystery should have. "
— TeresaFL, 6/4/2012 -
" Very satisfying sequel! "
— Mkotch, 6/3/2012 -
" I sought entertainment, and I was entertained. "
— Zigforas, 5/20/2012 -
" It's such a pity that the Green Man had to die. He was definitely my favorite character. "
— Barbara, 10/30/2011 -
" Much as I like this series, this was one of my least favorites. I thi8nk because the two main characters spend so much of the time apart. There is a focus on action - and it certainly keeps moving - but I remembered a more thoughtful pace in earlier volumes. "
— Mark, 9/15/2011 -
" I should have checked this book out sooner since it is a continuation of the previous book in the series. I was a bit lost through the first disc, but then my memory was jogged enough to be able to get it. The characters are interesting and there are plot twists. I liked it quite well. "
— Bonnie, 7/9/2011 -
" I love this series. It's consistently enjoyable. "
— Ea, 7/7/2011 -
" Love Jenny Sterlin's narration. The Mary Russell books are my least favorite of Laurie R King's . "
— Elizabeth, 5/24/2011 -
" I really enjoy this series. The author does a great job of keeping the character of Sherlock Holmes similar to the original. "
— Kassie, 5/16/2011 -
" Just wonderful. The flavors found in the scenery and characterization is delicious! Can't wait for the next in the series to come out! "
— Vanessa, 5/2/2011 -
" Love the Mary Russell mysteries! The only bad thing about this book is that it's the last in her Mary Russell series. "
— Kimkg, 4/10/2011 -
" Very Clever and engaging! A great new find. "
— Donna, 4/4/2011 -
" The best Holmes and Russel novel yet. King is brilliant! Left me wanting more. "
— Suzanne, 4/2/2011 -
" Not my favorite in the series, but still thoroughly enjoyable. "
— Kat, 3/12/2011 -
" Very good. I've read them out of order but enjoyed it. Good story line and I like the characters. "
— Jandblock, 2/22/2011 -
" Mary Russell - Sherlock Holmes series "
— Margery, 2/19/2011
About Laurie R. King
Laurie R. King is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous books, including the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes stories. She has been nominated for a multitude of prizes, and her fiction has won the Edgar, Creasy, Nero, and Macavity awards. She has been guest of honor at several crime conventions, and she was inducted into the Baker Street Irregulars in 2010.
About Jenny Sterlin
Jenny Sterlin, winner of several Earphones Awards, has more than ninety audio titles to her credit, including Laurie R. King’s popular Sherlock Holmes / Mary Russell series. Before beginning her narration career, she helped found England’s experimental Living Theatre.