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kiminindy's review against another edition
4.0
Another good Mary Russell Holmes mystery. I just love this series.
purrlock's review against another edition
2.0
I love these books, they are typically a great escape. I definitely have favorites. However, Riviera Gold is a great example of some of their short-comings; a continuation of the last story that feels daunting, travelogue overshadowing mystery, and Mary being away from Holmes for...reasons?
I wasn't able to finish the book. A first for me in the series.
I wasn't able to finish the book. A first for me in the series.
bookminx's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rebroxannape's review against another edition
4.0
[Holmes] shot me a look of long-suffering impatience. "Russell, you do have the most disconcerting habit of stepping into the centre of things."
Laurie R. King’s Russell/Holmes series is one of the series of books that I am really invested in and I am in it for the long haul. I buy them in Hardback, even though I prefer to read e-books. It’s a "till death do us part" kind of commitment. Literally. Since I knew that this one brought back Mrs. Hudson last seen 2 books and 4 years ago (a couple of months in book-time) I picked up [b:The Murder of Mary Russell|25177005|The Murder of Mary Russell (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, #14)|Laurie R. King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441369046l/25177005._SY75_.jpg|44883206] to refresh my memory of all that was revealed about her history in that installment. I’m glad I did re-establish that foundation because this book builds on what was revealed and, to me, can only be given a fair reading in the context of that novel.
In May, I had learned that my beloved Mrs. Hudson possessed a History that was scandalous, adventurous, and criminal. Mrs. Hudson, who had looked across her kitchen at a truculent fifteen-year-old girl…and perceived not the ink-stains of education and the accents of an upbringing, as Sherlock Holmes had seen, but the clear signs of pain and hunger and emptiness….But I was very young when I lost my family. The loss of Mrs. Hudson felt like a second abandonment…I realized…that what I wanted most was not to tell her that I forgave her. What I wanted was for her to forgive me, for having judged her.
Riviera Gold concerns the establishment of a new chapter in Mary Russell and her surrogate grandmother, Sherlock Holmes’ Mrs. Hudson’s relationship. Is it the final chapter? I doubt it. This book ends with some unresolved questions that will be more than likely be satisfied another day in another installment.
As with all of the books one of the strengths of this one was the exotic locale and meeting the historical people King’s books are peppered with. In this one we are gifted with Sara and Gerald Murphy, Pablo Picasso, Basil Zaharoff, and, most prominently, Lily Langtry. We also get a passing glimpse of Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald, John Dos Passos, and a mention of Sidney Reilly (Ace of Spies). The reader is truly transported into the foreign country that is the past. And they do indeed do things differently there. The primary attraction of these books is not, for me, the adventure and the intrigue but the complex and deeply drawn personalities of Mary Russell, Sherlock Holmes, and their intriguing and sometimes titillating relationship.
“…if I’m to face a taxi drive back along the coast, maybe I should drink myself unconscious.”…”As you like. Although when I checked in, I did mention that my wife might be joining me.” Nothing about him suggested that it mattered one way or the other to him-nothing but the quiet humour in the back of his eyes that traced a feather-light finger all the the way down my spine. I cleared my throat. “Well. I should hate to disappoint the management.”
I did not fool him one whit. But then, neither did I believe his apparent lack of interest in my preference.
So in Riviera Gold, besides relationship development of fascinating people that we also care for, we are immersed in a murder mystery with our Mrs. Hudson briefly jailed and under suspicion, lost Romanov gold, smugglers, casinos, being too close for comfort with a ruthless and powerful arms dealer, conspiracy and betrayal, Jazz Age society, and the daring and dramatic last-minute rescue of a principal in the stories.
On to the next adventure which will apparently involve Vampires in Romania! I’m all in.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings.com/
mjrussell221b's review against another edition
5.0
Love these books! Always enjoy a good mystery story.
marigale's review against another edition
Holmes's behavior towards Mrs. Hudson in this book and The Murder of Mary Russell is so ridiculous. It's the worst.
vorpalblad's review against another edition
5.0
Probably my second favorite reboot of Holmes next to BBC's Sherlock, the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes novels of Laurie King are always a delight, but in emphasizing the historical fiction aspect of the book while backing down on some of the more extreme suspense elements, King is at the top of her game with Riviera Gold.
Mary is ready to leave Venice, so as Holmes heads into Romania, she tags along with friends to the French Riviera, where an expat American couple have started the crazy trend of staying over the summer. Even more than Island of the Mad, King's historical setting felt both natural and fascinating. In Cap d'Antibes Russell meets Gerald and Sara Murphy along with their artist friends of the Lost Generation. In Monaco she also runs across professional beauty, Lily Langtree, and Basil Zaharoff, arms dealer.
King brings these real characters; the time between the wars; and the French Riviera, a melting pot of every kind of artist, gambler and thief, to life. Noting with a bittersweet touch that the peace, and the specialness of the time and place, cannot last.
Aside from the amazing setting and characters, Riviera Gold has an intricate, mysterious plot with good-sized dollops of danger. I was pretty sure I knew who didn't do it, but was surprised by who did! And that involves another real-life mystery solved only in the last couple of years! I won't give it away, but you'll definitely want to do some research on this one. To date, I would consider Riviera Gold as the most interesting and satisfying of the series.
Mary is ready to leave Venice, so as Holmes heads into Romania, she tags along with friends to the French Riviera, where an expat American couple have started the crazy trend of staying over the summer. Even more than Island of the Mad, King's historical setting felt both natural and fascinating. In Cap d'Antibes Russell meets Gerald and Sara Murphy along with their artist friends of the Lost Generation. In Monaco she also runs across professional beauty, Lily Langtree, and Basil Zaharoff, arms dealer.
King brings these real characters; the time between the wars; and the French Riviera, a melting pot of every kind of artist, gambler and thief, to life. Noting with a bittersweet touch that the peace, and the specialness of the time and place, cannot last.
Aside from the amazing setting and characters, Riviera Gold has an intricate, mysterious plot with good-sized dollops of danger. I was pretty sure I knew who didn't do it, but was surprised by who did! And that involves another real-life mystery solved only in the last couple of years! I won't give it away, but you'll definitely want to do some research on this one. To date, I would consider Riviera Gold as the most interesting and satisfying of the series.
persistent_reader's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning dragged a little bit. It helped to have previously read "The Murder of Mary Russell" to situate the story. But I did get hooked by the plot and stayed up far past my bedtime listening to the end. The introduction of historical figures, some only identified by their first names, made me smile.
melohpa's review against another edition
4.0
See my full review https://topplingbookpile.wordpress.com/2022/05/31/riviera-gold-by-laurie-king/
amibunk's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
While I still enjoy these Mary Russell books, I have noticed a change in them over the last few years. The earlier books focused more on an actual mystery and the deepening partnership between Mary and Sherlock. Lately they've become more of Mary's travel documentary with some random famous people thrown in while Sherlock dances around the edges of the story.
This does not make them a bad read- the writing is still topnotch and Mary is just as delightful, but they don't thrill me the way they used to.
Still, this installment focused on Mrs. Hudson, whom I've only come to love more and more since her youth escapades have come to light. So that was a definite positive. And the special location du jour in this novel was the sunny south of France and elegant Monte Carlo, which was quite lovely to read about during a dreary and cold February.
If you're a fan of the series, you'll probably enjoy it.
While I still enjoy these Mary Russell books, I have noticed a change in them over the last few years. The earlier books focused more on an actual mystery and the deepening partnership between Mary and Sherlock. Lately they've become more of Mary's travel documentary with some random famous people thrown in while Sherlock dances around the edges of the story.
This does not make them a bad read- the writing is still topnotch and Mary is just as delightful, but they don't thrill me the way they used to.
Still, this installment focused on Mrs. Hudson, whom I've only come to love more and more since her youth escapades have come to light. So that was a definite positive. And the special location du jour in this novel was the sunny south of France and elegant Monte Carlo, which was quite lovely to read about during a dreary and cold February.
If you're a fan of the series, you'll probably enjoy it.