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The Art of Detection
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780553588330
ISBN: 0553588338
Label: Bantam
Manufacturer: Bantam
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 528
Publication Date: May 29, 2007
Publisher: Bantam
Release Date: May 29, 2007
Studio: Bantam
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Editorial Review:
In this thrilling new crime novel that ingeniously bridges Laurie R. King’s Edgar and Creasey Awards—winning Kate Martinelli series and her bestselling series starring Mary Russell, San Francisco homicide detective Kate Martinelli crosses paths with Sherlock Holmes–in a spellbinding dual mystery that could come only from the “intelligent, witty, and complex” mind of New York Times bestselling author Laurie R. King….Kate Martinelli has seen her share of peculiar things as a San Francisco cop, but never anything quite like this: an ornate Victorian sitting room straight out of a Sherlock Holmes story–complete with violin, tobacco-filled Persian slipper, and gunshots in the wallpaper that spell out the initials of the late queen. Philip Gilbert was a true Holmes fanatic, from his antiquated décor to his vintage wardrobe. And no mere fan of fiction’s great detective, but a leading expert with a collection of priceless memorabilia–a collection some would kill for.And perhaps someone did: In his collection is a century-old manuscript purportedly written by Holmes himself–a manuscript that eerily echoes details of Gilbert’s own murder.Now, with the help of her partner, Al Hawkin, Kate must follow the convoluted trail of a killer–one who may have trained at the feet of the greatest mind of all times.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - What a relief!
I really love both the Martinelli and Russell/Homes series, but I found the last Martinelli outing disappointing. It was a great pleasure to see Kate back in grand form, with the added deliciousness of the Russell/Holmes tie-in. I love watching Kate deal with the peculiarities of reenactors and the "is it real or is it fake" manuscript market -- a nice change from more typical urban violence
While I agree that the pace is slower in this plot than is typical for this series, I didn't ... Read More
Rating:  - Just an Average Read
I've read several of Laurie King's books over the years. With the exception of A Grave Talent which was quite good, most of her books are just average, this one included. She is NOT a master of plotting. Her books meander here and there and eventually reach a conclusion that may be less than satisfying. So it is with The Art of Detection. The supporting characters are only vaguely drawn. Her protagonist, Kate Martinelli, is not that interesting. Now I'm a liberal Californian, but I could hardly stand ... Read More
Rating: - Less than the sum of its parts
I love Laurie King's Mary Russell novels, and I really like her Kate Martinelli mysteries, so I was very much looking forward to this meshing of those two worlds. But after reading it, I was left thinking, "Why bother?" Going back over it, I really can't find any one part of the book that was particularly bad, but it just didn't draw me in. The descriptions of the landscape in and around San Francisco are vivid; the details of the lives of the Sherlockian characters are fascinating (and it was amusing ... Read More
Rating: - Kate Martinelli meets Sherlock Holmes
Kate and Al are investigating a murder on the old gun emplacements outside of San Francisco. The victim is a fan of Sherlock Holmes, even going so far as to dress as he did and to decorate part of his home according to the description of Holmes' study. The investigation hinges on the question of a manuscript the victim supposedly purchased, said to be a long lost work of Conon-Doyle. Kate is especially interested in this as her partner is a Holmes fan. The ending was a surprise for me and I read all of Laurie ... Read More
Rating: - Quite possibly King's best book
I was looking forward to reading a Kate Martinelli/Sherlock Holmes novel, since I've enjoyed King's Martinelli and Mary Russell novels equally (for those who aren't familiar with her Mary Russell books, Sherlock Holmes is a major character in the series). _The Art of Detection_ was even better than I expected! What I liked best were the several threads that tie this novel together with some of her others; in particular, you might want to also read _Locked Rooms_ as it's a Russell/Holmes book set in San Francisco.
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