Stuff That Matters In Life

I borrowed another Mary Russell book from Kimberly, and it took me awhile to read it.

O Jerusalem by Laurie King was intriguing, but it wasn’t a book I couldn’t put down. In fact, I put it down so many times that I couldn’t quite follow the plot.

King depicts Sherlock Holmes and his partner Mary Russell as Bristish spies. They are in Jerusalem to uncover a plot that was threatening war in British-occupied Palestine. Holmes faced torture and gruelling physical demands, unlike the genteel life of a Bristish detective on Baker Street.

This book gives a good idea of the turmoil in Jerusalem in the early 1900’s. The author is knowledgeable about the history and cultural traditions in that area, and particularly versed in Jewish beliefs.

There are still hints of the old Holmes in the book – his amazing observation and deduction skills. I enjoyed the book overall.