Very Entertaining Homage to Kipling's Kim (and Sherlock Holmes)

The Game (Mary Russell, #7) - Laurie R. King

This is the seventh book in the Mary Russell series, which involve partnering Sherlock Holmes, professionally and romantically, with an unlikely female counterpart: and I love them--ever since I discovered one of the middle books in the series, <i>A Letter of Mary.</i> Well, this particular book is a twofer. As King states in her <i>Author's Thanks</i>, "<i>The Game</i> may be read as a humble and profoundly felt homage to Rudyard Kipling's <i>Kim</i>, one of the great novels of the English language. If you, the reader, do not know the book, please do not delay that acquaintance." I hadn't read the book, and it's probably not necessary, but once I realized that <i>The Game</i> was based on that novel, I put this book down for a little detour to read <i>Kim</i>. I'm glad I did, not only because it was a great read in its own right, but I think doing so made this only more fun. And it seems a natural combination--Kipling's Kimball O'Hara and Doyle's Sherlock Holmes--two immortal characters of the British Empire, both with links to the "Great Game" of espionage.

A friend who also loves the Russell series says one thing she appreciates is how each book is so different, in theme and setting, so the books don't get stale. The last one, <i>Justice Hall</i>, was set in England, this one certainly developed a very rich and different setting--that of India during the British Raj. I didn't perhaps love this quite as much as <i>Justice Hall</i>, but then so far that's my favorite of the lot. This one was certainly entertaining from beginning to end--a gripping and suspenseful read. And as my friend also pointed out in her own review, I think the Holmes/Russell relationship is even more to the fore here than usual--I love the chemistry between them--and yet Holmes never seemed to me out of the bounds of the character Conan Doyle created. Now the only thing I have to decide is whether or not to go on to the next in this series immediately or begin to space them out. At this rate I'll run out of the books soon, and sadly go into withdrawal until King writes the next one.