Laurie R. King

The Beekeeper's Apprentice (1997)
Story Type: Pastiche narrated by Mary Russell
Canonical Characters: Sherlock Holmes; Mrs. Hudson; Dr. Watson; Mycroft Holmes; Billy
Historical Figures: (Preface: Laurie R. King)
Other Characters: (Preface: UPS Delivery Woman; UPS Agent; Young Man); Mary Russell; Taxi Driver; Mary's Aunt; Miss Sim; Dying Soldier; Lady Veronica 'Ronnie' Beaconsfield; Conductor; Mr. Thomas; Patrick Mason; Mrs. Barker; Richard Barker; Ronald Woods; Terrence Howell; Sally Woods; Mr. Jones; Mr. Smith; Ambulance Attendants; PC 'Jammy' Rogers; Tillie Whiteneck; Monk's Tun Staff; Monk's Tun Guests; Tony Sylvester; Land Girls; Shell-Shocked Soldier; Will Thompson; Jessica Simpson; Senator Jonathan Simpson; Mrs. Simpson; Seaford Ticket Agent; Cardiff Constables; Police Matron; Miss Carter; Chief Inspector Connor; Sergeant Donaldson; Gwilhem Andrewes; Andrewes' Men; Shepherds; Welsh Children; Constable; Maddie; Kidnappers; Owen; Publican's Wife; Cab Driver; Old Woman; Farmer; Diogenes Doorman; Blind Pencil Seller; Child; John Dickson; Cab Driver; Building Attendant; Department Store Doorman; Policemen; Inspector Lestrade; Ronald MacReedy; Constable Tom Fowler; PC Mitchell; Scotland Yard Constable; Bomb Squad Man; Police Driver; Scotland Yard Inspector; Woman With Pram; Policewoman; Forensics officer; Wharf Gateman; Captain Jones; Brian; Jones's Crew; Ali Hazr; Mahmoud Hazr; Arab Merchants; Billy's Attackers; Young Man; Bodleian Librarian; Mary's Solicitor; Mary's Watchers; Doctor; Dorothy; Dorothy's Friend; Patricia Donleavy; Mr. Douglas; Dianne; Garage Man; Doctor; Nursing Sister
Date: April, 1915 - 1917 - 1918 - July, 1919
Locations: (Preface: Laurie R. King's Home); The Sussex Downs; Holmes's Villa; Emergency Medical Station; Oxford; Russell's Rooms; Train; Oxford Station; Russell's Farm; The Manor House; Patrick's House; Seaford; The Monk's Tun; Sylvester's House; Seaford Station; Train; Bristol; Wales; Cardiff; Cardiff Station; Police Van; Police Station; Andrewes Stables; Gypsy Caravan; The Brecon Beacons; Welsh Villages; Kidnappers' House; Cardiff Hotel; Train; Banbury Road; Farm Wagon; Pall Mall; The Diogenes Club; Mycroft's Rooms; The Storage Room; Department Store; Holmes's Four-Wheeler; Covent Garden; Park Toilets; New Scotland Yard; Police Car; Wharf Near Greenwich; Jones's Boat; The Thames; off the Coast of France; off Crete; Jaffa; Palestine; Jerusalem; Esdraelon; Acre; Bodleian Library; Oxford High Street; Covered Market; Turl Street; Broad Street; Russell's Morris Oxford; Hospital
Story: Laurie King receives a metal trunk full of artefacts and manuscripts. Attempts to trace its sender fail. Suffering writer's block she rewrites one of the stories and sends it to her publisher.

Fifteen-year-old Mary Russell encounters Holmes on the Sussex Downs. After initially trading insults he recognises a sharp mind and invites her to tea. Over the next two years she receives a detective's training from Holmes, a more general education in the village, and tends to wounded soldiers sent home from the trenches, eventually going up to Oxford in 1917, where she indulges in amateur dramatics & pranks (of a Victoria Woolfian mold). Returning to Sussex for the holidays, Russell is drawn into a case with Holmes. Mrs. Barker from the Manor House tells them how her husband, Richard, a government officer is falling victim to bouts of illness, each lasting a few days, and coinciding with periods of clear weather. Having seen flashing lights on their rooftop, she has come to believe that he is a spy. Later Russell investigates a series of robberies at inns in Eastbourne, with a little help from one of Mrs. Barker's seventeen dogs, and Holmes uses an old trick to locate the stolen money. Their next case together involves traveling to Wales, disguised as gypsies, to investigate the kidnapping of the American Ambassador's daughter. Although they rescue the child, they fail to capture the brain behind the kidnapping.

In December, 1918, Russell returns home from the Bodleian library to find a disguised Holmes and a bomb in her rooms. An attempt has also been made on Holmes's life in Sussex. They take refuge in Mycroft's rooms, where they are tracked down by Watson. They learn that the bomber responsible has been killed in an attack on Watson's house, but when they visit Covent Garden, Billy is attacked and their cab torn apart. From a smear of clay Russell deduces that their opponent is a woman, and realises that a note that arrives at New Scotland Yard (where they are shot at in Lestrade's office) was typed on the same machine as that used in the Simpson kidnapping. They leave London on a mission for Mycroft in Palestine. When they return they make a show of a falling-out, hoping to force their opponent's hand. Russell finally deciphers a cryptic message in the Bodleian library, and realises that their adversary is someone closer to her than to Holmes. They drive down to Sussex, where their adversary is lying in wait for them and reveals that her motives for revenge lay in Holmes's past.

A Monstrous Regiment of Women (1995)
Story Type: Pastiche narrated by Mary Russell
Canonical Characters: Sherlock Holmes; Mrs Hudson; Billy; Dr Watson; (Holy' Peters; Mycroft Holmes; Inspector Lestrade; Irene Adler)
Historical Figures: (Arthur Conan Doyle; The Cottingley Fairies)
Other Characters: Mary Russell; Cook; Cook's Helper; Cab Agency Owner; Annalisa; Holmes's Passengers; Constable; Ladies of the Evening; Club Members; Drunk; Bobbies; Street Urchin; Eastenders; Tea Shop Customers; Waitress; Lady Veronica Beaconsfield; Navvy; Margery Childe; Temple Members; Doorman; Marie; Inner Circle Members; Miss Corcoran; Iris Fitzwarren; Tonio; Taxi Drivers; Russell's Landlady; Mr & Mrs Elf; Simpson's Maitre D'; Urchins; Veronica's Families; Veronica's Assistant; Edmund Marshall; Miles Fitzwarren; Sicilian Street Vendor; Oxford Informant; Great Man; Duncan; Duncan's Children; Duncan's Wife; Baritsu Teacher; Refuge Worker; Temple Women; Mr Arbuthnot; Sussex Workmen; Patrick Mason; Tailors' Grandsons; Organ Grinder; Pie Seller; Deliveryman; Temple Secretary; Dominic's Maitre D'; Masters; Waiter; Palestinian & Babylonian Antiquities Expert; Rachel Mallory; Telegraph Boy; Pub Clientele; Phoebe; Reggie; Baronet; Baronet's Scout; Innkeeper; Billy's Brother; London Bridge Constable; Arbuthnot's Secretary; Freddy Bell; Vicissitude Manager; Delivery Man; Chauffeur; Quimby; Mrs Quimby; Scotland Yard Officer; Mallow; Inspector John Lestrade; Bell & Bugle Customers; Inspector Tomlinson; Thomas; Knifeman; Bobbies; Inspector Richmond ; Chief Inspector; Claude Franklin / Calvin Franich / Claude de Finetti; Franklin's Thugs; Uniformed Constable; Inspector Dakins; Mr Bigley; Bloomsbury Constables; Doorman; Pie Vendor; Child; Streetwalkers; Whitechapel Men; Buskers; Acrobats; Pavement Vendors; Ruby Hepplewhite; Temple Nurse; Eddie; Billy's Relatives; A Bobby; Barge Crew; (Russell's Aunt; Russell's Relatives; Emily; Chestnut Seller; Major Thomas Fitzwarren; Elizabeth Fitzwarren; Dr McDaniels; Italian Priest; Ivy; Delia Laird; Bunny Hillman; Gertrude P.; Helen; Susanna Briggs; Francesca Rowley; Queenie; Tillie; Patrick's Sister; Veronica's Parents; Nurses; Watcher; Mycroft's Clerk; Lillian McCarthy; Murder Victims; Tommy Buchanan; Beat Constable; American Academics; European Academics; Cynthia Goddart; Miss Archer; Police Matron; Penworthy; Retired Cracksman; Cat Burglar; Cracksman; Major Thomas Silverton; Temple Night Guard; Station Master; Portsmouth Landlady)
Date: Sunday, 26th December, 1920 - Sunday, 6th February, 1921
Locations: Sussex; Russell's House; The Sussex Downs; Holmes's Cottage; London; Cab Agency; Gladstone Terrace; Limehouse; A Club; Spitalfields; Tea Shop; Veronica's House; The New Temple In God; Holmes's Bolt-Hole; Vicissitude Club; British Museum; Tonio's Restaurant; Oxford; Bodleian Library; Russell's Lodgings; Tailors Shop; Simpson's; St John's Wood; The Fitzwarren House; Pub; Great Man's House; Duncan's House; Headington; Converted Laundry; Offices of Gibson, Arbuthnot, Meyer and Perowne; Dominic's; The Embankment; Oxford Pub; Baronet's Rooms; Inn; Guys Hospital; London Bridge Station; Bloomsbury; Russell's Flat; Turkish Baths; Scotland Yard; The Bell and Bugle; Police Station; Train; Country House near Little Waltham, Essex; Regents Park; Warehouse; Portsmouth; Boarding House
Story: Russell visits Holmes on Boxing Day, but finding him absent, deduces he has gone to london, and travels up to find him driving a cab. They fall out over his interpretation of her motives - he suggests she has come to ask him to marry her. She meets Lady Veronica, an Oxford friend, in the East End, who tells her about Miles, her shell-shocked, drug addict, ex-fiancée, and invites her to a talk given by feminist preacher Margery Childe, at the New Temple In God, who is intrigued by her work on the female aspects of God. She re-encounters Holmes and asks for his opinion on Childe and advise on Miles. The following day, Ronnie tells her that Miles's sister, a member of Childe's temple, has been murdered. Russell visits the Fitzwarren's with Ronnie, Holmes, who knows the family, arrives, and takes Miles away to work on curing his addiction. Russell sees more of the work the Temple does for women, wonders about its growth over the past four years, and is told of Childe's ambition to stand for Parliament.

Mary celebrates her twenty-first birthday, and gains control of her inheritance, sends her aunt away, and redecorates her Sussex home. She also makes a large donation to the Temple. Holmes goes to France on business for Mycroft. Childe is apparently attacked at the Temple, but a short time later bears no sign of her wounds. When Ronnie is almost killed on the Underground, Holmes puts her into Watson's care, and sends Billy to call Russell back from a walking trip in Oxfordshire. Holmes passes on a package of information which suggests that Mycroft has been interested in the Temple for some months - three women have died in accidents, all have left money to the Temple. Russell rents a flat in Bloomsbury and hires servants, setting herself up as bait, meanwhile sending Ronnie and Miles away to a hunting lodge in Scotland. She meets Lestrade who tells her that the girls deaths have been linked to three murders related to a drug-smuggler named Buchanan. Russell suggests that the connection may be less concrete than the police believe. She and Childe are attacked in the street, and later she is taken prisoner while travelling to Oxford, locked in a cellar and injected with heroin.

Holmes effects a rescue, and discovers that a forged will has been lodged at Somerset House. Russell returns, disguised, to the Temple to learn its secrets.

A Letter of Mary (1996)
Story Type: Pastiche narrated by Mary Russell
Canonical Characters: Sherlock Holmes; Mrs Hudson; Mycroft Holmes; Billy; (Dr Watson; Jew Broker in Tottenham Court Road; Inspector Lestrade)
Fictional Characters: Lord Peter Wimsey
Historical Figures: (Mary Magdalene; Jesus Christ; T.E. Lawrence; Howard Carter; Lord Carnarvon; Arthur Conan Doyle; J.R.R. Tolkien)
Other Characters: Mary Russell; Dorothy Elizabeth Ruskin; Farmer's Son; Morgue Policeman; Post Box Woman; Murder Scene Onlookers; Hotel Desk Clerk; American Family; Sally Wells; Café Waitress; Mycroft's Housekeeper; Patrick Mason; Chief Inspector John Lestrade; Tony Ellis; Erica Rogers; Telephone Operator; Night Vendor; Mycroft's Doorman; Colonel Dennis Edwards; Rosie; Young Couple; Pig & Whistle Clientele; Pig & Whistle Publican; Publican's Wife; Edwards' Servants; Gerald Andrew Edwards; Pub Clientele; Alex; Jason Rogers; Isabella; Churchgoers; Priest; Southern; Mrs Southern; Westbury's Guests; String Quartet; Mrs Westbury; Westbury's Maid; Oxford Students; Oxford Don; Sarah Chessman; Tommy O'Rourke; Timothy Coogan; Policeman; Police Matron; Lestrade's Driver: (Mrs Hudson's Daughter; Postal Delivery Boy; Ruskin's Mother; Provence Winemaker; Arab Sheikh; British Museum Expert; Papyrus Experts; Bedouin; Bedouin's Wife; Bedouin's Mother; Bedouin's Father; Newsagent's Boy; Police Constable; Driver; Nell; Mr Lockhart; Restaurant Maitre d'; Waiter; Chessman's Neighbour; Diogenes Club Member; Mrs Hudson's Nephew; Russell's Aunt; Tillie Whiteneck; Ruskin's British Museum Friend; Russell's Friend in Marston; Old Will; Academy Dircetor; Academy Guests; Sussex Neighbours; Constable Perkins; Judith; Rachel; Mary Magdalene's Husband; Mary Magdalene's Brothers-in-Law; Lestrade's Lady Friend; Old Will's Grandson; Lestrade's Men; Jedediah; Mrs Edwards; Nurse; Edwards' Man; Man's Wife; Lawson; Erica's Neighbours; Ruskin's Father; Ruskin's Solicitor; Ruskin's Driver; Zionists; Zionist Doctor; ibn Ahmadi Family; Inspector Jack Rafferty; Victoria Station Left-Luggage Attendant; Bank Manager; Mary Small; Khyber Pass Missionaries; Shopkeeper; Edwards' Secretary; Manufacturing Business Managers; Edwards' Shooting Friends; Edwards' Bank Manager; Brooks; Lawson; Dr Leah Ginzberg; Billy's Aunt's Cousin-in-Law; Erica's Nighbour's Lad; Erica's Maid; Westbury; Westbury's Servants; Westbury's Cook; Lestrade's Nephew; Headmaster; Mrs Edwards' Nurse; Annie Graves / Amanda Pillow; Mrs Edwards' Daughter; Mother Timkins; Edwards' Neighbour; Restaurant Doorman; Two Knifed Women; Murdered Boy; Erica's Sons; Erica's Daughter-in-Law; Erica's Grandchildren; Erica's Great-Grandchild; Emily Rogers; Mycroft's Agent; Taxi Driver; London Zionists; Rabbi; Jedediah's Mother; Scrap Dealer; Todd Rogers; Cab Owner; Soup Kitchen Men; College Dean; Ruskin's Friends; Constance Lessingham; Lessingham's Neighbour; Matty; Solly; Solly's Friends; Solly's Neighbours; Paris Hotel Guests; Thomas Rand; Hikers; Jason's Wife)
Date: Tuesday, 14th August, 1923 - Saturday, 8th September, 1923
Locations: Sussex; Holmes's Cottage; The Downs; Eastbourne Railway Station; London; Morgue; Street Corner; Hotel; Café; Mycroft's Rooms; Russell's Farm; Southwark; Scotland Yard; Cambridgeshire; Erica's House; Rosie's Tea Shoppe; The Pig & Whistle; Billy's Cousin's Boardinghouse; Edwards' House; Pub; A Train; Jerusalem; Edwards' Church; Church Hall; Kent; Westbury's House; Oxford; Bodleian Library; The Eagle & Child; Soup Kitchen; Ruskin's College; Woodstock Road, Oxford; Radcliffe Infirmary; Chessman's Rooms; Lestrade's Office; A Train; france; Paris
Story: Russell receives a letter from Palestine-based archaeologist Ruskin, asking for a meeting. She asks Russell's opinion on a papyrus that has been found in Palestine. On reading it, she discovers that it purports to have been written by Mary Magdalene. Ruskin leaves the papyrus, and the box it came in with Russell, and a couple of days later Holmes reads in the Times that she has been killed by a car in London. He and Russell travel to the City to identify the body. On Ruskin's boots and at the scene of her death, they discover evidence of murder. Russell discovers that Ruskin's hotel room has been searched, while Holmes traces her dinner partner, and learns that her briefcase has disappeared. A letter from Ruskin's sister suggests that they might be the next targets, and after consulting with Mycroft, and passing the letter on to Lestrade, they return to Sussex to find the cottage ransacked. Lestrade and Russell visit Ruskin's sister, who has been visited by two Arabs.

Holmes and Lestrade investigate Ruskin's last few days, and while Holmes visits the sister, Russell finds work with Edwards, Ruskin's dinner appointment on the night of her death. Edwards' son pushes his attentions on her, and she discovers a stash of mysogynistic literature and a parking ticket, and Holmes changes a tyre and learns about Ruskin's sister's mental imbalance. Edwards takes Russell to a strange house party where she encounters Peter Wimsey. Lestrade, Mycroft and Russell deliver their findings on the suspects, but it is Holmes who delivers evidence in the form of car parts. Russell continues her research into the manuscript, and hypnotises a witness. With the culprits revealed it still seems impossible to make an arrest, but Dorothy Ruskin has one more secret left to reveal.

The Game (2004)
Story Type: Pastiche narrated by Mary Russell
Canonical Characters: Sherlock Holmes; Mycroft Holmes; Mrs. Hudson; (Dr. Watson)
Fictional Characters: Kim / Kimball O'Hara; (The Lama)
Historical Figures: (13th Dalai Lama)
Other Characters: Sacrifice; Sacrificer; Villagers; Mary Russell; Russell's Solicitor; Patrick Mason; Eastbourne Station Master; Baggage Handlers; Italian Priest; Priest's Sister; P&O Officials; Sybil "Sunny" Goodheart; Mrs. Goodheart; Tom Goodheart; Steamer Passengers; Purser; Maid; Crewman; Boys at Aden; Aden Bazaar Crowds; Suleiman 'Solly' Lal; Lal's Turkish Guard; Jeweller; Child; Three Robed Matrons; Rescuers; Shopkeeper's Assistant; Toilet Woman; Carpet Seller; Shopkeeper's Wife; Women & Infant; Lascar; Mr.Cook; Dock Crowds; Dock Guards; Two Chuprassis; Station Crowds; Delhi Hotel Manager; Beggars; Cab Driver; Officers; Rickshaw Puller; Sikh Guard; Hari; Captain Geoffrey Nesbit; Hotel Waiter; Hotel Servants; Bindra; Mechanics; Countryside Residents; Samosa Seller; Caravanserai Rajputs; Caravanserai Sikhs; Lhassi Seller; Farmer; Old Man; Villagers; Kalka Innkeeper; Simla Children; Simla Strollers; Lodge Servants; Durzi; Shoemaker; Chuprazzi; Driver; Tea Shop Patrons; Shopkeeper; Mountain People; Durzi's Assistant; Hotel Staff; Umballa Station Sleepers; Khanpur Coolies; Children; Maharaja "Jimmy" Jumalpandra; Tonga Drivers; Railway Workers; Rolls Driver; Pilot; Maharaja's Servants; Musicians; Guests; Gayatri Kaur; Captain Simon Greaves; Syce; Shikaris; Faith Hopkins; Lyn Fford; Harry Koehler; Trevor Wilson; Vikram Reddy; Taran Singh; Entertainers; Robbins; Mrs. Robbins; Guards; Dwarf Zookeepers; Field Workers; Shopkeepers; Beggars; Sadhu; Water Seller; Farmer; Villagers; Village Headman; Watchman; Border Guards; Hijarkot Syce; Khansama; Maharaja's Majordomo; Old Fort Guards; Sanji; Bungalow Servants; German Girl; (Agent in Tibet; Scandinavian Explorers; Tibetan Border Guards; French Lady; Parsi; Goodhearts' Porters; Sweeper; Cook)
Date: 1st January, 1924 - ?
Locations: A Village; Holmes's Sussex Villa; A Train; Mycroft's Rooms; Victoria Station; Eastbourne Station; Trains; Kent; Cross-Channel Ferry; France; A Steamer to India (The Mediterranean; Port Said; The Suez Canal; The Red Sea); Aden; Post Office; Bazaar; India; Bombay; Delhi; Hotel Room; Nesbit's Bungalow; Room behind Spice-seller's; Ram Bachadur's Shed; The Grand Trunk Road; Roadside Café; Roadside Tea Shop; Caravanserai; Small Town; Gur Factory; Village; Kalka; An Inn; Train to Simla; Simla; Native Bazaar; Hotel; The Viceregal Lodge; Tea Shop; Skating Rink; Restaurant; Jakko; Goodhearts Hotel; The Mountains above Simla; Simla Station; Kalka; Umballa; Maharaja's Saloon Car; Amritsar; Khanpur; Maharaja's Plane; Khanpur City; New Fort; Maharaja's Zoo; Bazaar; Khanpur Villages; Hijarkot; Old Fort; Dak Bungalow; (Tibet)
Story: A dangerously ill Mycroft receives a package of papers relating to Kim. Contact has been lost with the British agent. Holmes and Russell head to India to find him. On the journey Holmes tells Russell of his encounter with Kim in Tibet during the Great Hiatus, and they encounter the Goodheart family. Going ashore at Aden they are imperilled by a falling toilet in the bazaar.

In India they learn more of a northern maharajah friend of the Goodhearts, and that four agents have disappeared and three been killed over the previous months. After their hotel is set fire to, they set out for Simla, disguised as Indian conjurers, and accompanied by the orphan donkey-handler, Bindra, who attaches himself to their party. In Simla they encounter the Goodhearts again, and Russell accompanies them to Khanpur to investigate the activities of their friend the Maharaja. There she takes part in a pig-sticking session and seems to win the favour of the Maharaja, "Jimmy", who nonetheless demonstrates a cruel side to his nature.

Holmes arrives in Khanpur in his magician disguise, and Russell, after exploring storage sheds owned by the Maharaja, and fearing that she will not be allowed to leave, rejoins him, again disguised as his assistant. The Maharaja, looking for entertainment, catches up with them and abducts Holmes the magician. Russell sets out for help, returning, again in disguise to Khanpur with Nesbit. There they find Holmes and Kim, who both prove reluctant to be released from their prisons. The Maharaja, who appears to be becoming increasingly disturbed, takes Russell and Nesbit on a hunt where the quarry proves to be something totally unexpected. After escaping again, they return once more to the Maharaja's fortress to bring him to justice, and there meet with an unexpected ally.

Locked Rooms (2005)
Story Type: Pastiche narrated by Mary Russell
Canonical Characters: Sherlock Holmes; (Mrs Hudson; Dr Watson; Mycroft Holmes; Mrs Turner)
Historical Figures: Dashiell Hammett; (Paganini; F. Scott Fitzgerald; Josephine Hammett; Hammett's Daughter)
Other Characters: Mary Russell; Henry Norbert; St Francis Desk Clerk; Howard Auberon; St Francis Concierge; Doorman; Fishermen; Telephone Girl; Policemen; Miss Rand; Fish-Seller; Mr Long; Waiter; Chinese Diners; St Francis Lift Operator; White Woman; White Man; Mr Russell; Mrs Russell; Miss MacPherson; Russell Servants; Doctor; Driver; Mai Long Kwo (Micah); Mah Long Wan; Long's Neighbour; Dee Greenfield; Mr Jeeves; Mrs La Tour; Florence Greenfield; Sales Girl; Italian Waiter; Taxi Driver; Ms Garbon; Estate Agent's Receptionist; Nurse; Mr Braithwaite; Braithwaite's Secretary; Donny; Club Valet; Holmes's Taxi Driver; Doorman; Policemen; Jimmy; Hammett's Taxi Driver; St Francis Waiter; Newsagent; Russell's Neighbour; Hermione Adderley; Hymes; Mimi; Chinese Restaurant Doorkeeper; Waiter; Cook; Greg Tyson; Bread Truck Driver; Picnickers; Telegraph Office Proprietor; Chop House Waitress; Dabs; Belinda Birdsong; Blue Tiger Singer; Mrs Gordimer; Wilson Gordimer; Mr Hoffman; Hoffman's Nephew; Russell's Taxi Driver; Irregulars; Italian Café Owner; Ricky Garcia; St Francis Bellman; Maître d'Hotel; Waitress; Bus-boy; Dr Ming; Soldiers; Firemen; Micah's Friend; Taxi Drivers; Mick; Robert Greenfield; Rosa Greenfield; Embarcadero Policemen; Chinatown Police; (Child; Nurse; Purser; Tom Goodheart; Dr Leah Ginzberg; Agatha Grimly; Grimly's Nephew; Greengrocer; Philips; Russell Neighbours; Postman; Man with Burns; Hammett's Pinkerton Friend; Milkman; Maxwell Dealer; Dick Hoffman; Lily Montera; Marguerite Purser; Thomas Octavio Hodges; Martin Sullivan; Laurence Goldberg; Calvin Francis O'Malley; Russell's Rescuers; Telephone Exchange Girl; James Roley; Soldier; Cops; Rudy; Kurt)
Date: April, 1924 / 1906 / 1914
Locations: Ship to Japan; Ship to Hawaii; Ship to California; San Francisco; St Francis Hotel; Union Square; Waterfront; Pacific Height's The Russell House; Norbert's Office; Chinatown; The Presidio; The Greenfield House; Post Street; Ginzberg's Old House; Estate Agent's Office; Hospital; Dive; Jimmy's Pub; Eddy Street; Hammett's Rooms; The Adderley House; Grant Avenue; Chop House; The Blue Tiger; The Gordimer House; The Lodge; Serra Beach Garage; Italian Café; Larkin; Lafayette Park; Market Street; The Embarcadero; The Ferry Building; (Japan; Hawaii; Aden; Boston)
Story: Russell suffers a series of bad dreams while travelling from Bombay to California to dispose of some family property there. Holmes continues to worry about the events that occurred in Aden. In San Francisco she finds the family home in a run-down state, and learns that her father's will states that no one, unless accompanied by an immediate family member, should be allowed to enter. When she does so the house drags up lost memories of her childhood and reveals signs of recent intruders. She is shot at after searching for the family servants in Chinatown, but is rescued by their adopted son, and learns of their murder, and of how they came to work for the Russells. The following day she is sought out by Aunt Dee, an old family friend, and in turn seeks out Ginzberg, her old psychiatrist, only to find that she, too, is dead. While following Russell that evening, Holmes finds himself being followed by Hammett, and hires him away from his employer to help investigate Russell's family history. He sends Russell off with friends while he visits the site of the crash that killed her parents and learns from Hammett the details of the accident, while Watson carries out investigations into a fellow passenger on the voyage to Aden back in England. Russell's few days at the family summer house, the Lodge, leads her to the same realisation about her family's death as Holmes. Back in San Francisco, Holmes recruits a new troop of Irregulars and a feng shui expert. What they find in the garden provides an unwelcome solution to the mystery, and they still have to face their adversary.

NOTE: The instrument of Leah Ginzberg's death, "Some kind of bird carving, an owl maybe, from Rhodes or Crete or something in the Mediterranean" (P.334) is presumably the Maltese Falcon.

The Language of Bees (2009)
Story Type: Pastiche narrated by Mary Russell
Canonical Characters: Sherlock Holmes; Mycroft Holmes; Mrs Hudson; (Dr Watson; Mrs Turner; Irene Adler; Godfrey Norton; Baker Street Irregulars; Billy)
Fictional Characters: (Kim; Lord Peter Wimsey)
Historical Figures: Augustus John; Betty May Loveday; (André Breton; Emperor of Japan; Aleister Crowley; Raoul Loveday; Jacob Epstein; Margaret Epstein; Kathleen Garman)
Other Characters: Mary Russell; Patrick Mason; Lulu Whiteneck; Damian Adler; Paris Bellboy; Monsieur Cantelet; Cantelet's Secretary; Ste Chappelle Gendarme; Monsieur Clémence; Hélène Longchamps; Beach Children; Boy and Girl with Dog; Women Hikers; Man in Boater; Rebecca; Glen Miranker; Holiday-Makers; Jevington Woman; Gallery Woman; Burton Place Maid; Burton Place Man; Virginia; Virginia's Mother; Jim; Stationers Woman; Children of Lights Members; Cab Driver; Millicent Dunworthy; Café Royal Clientele; Café Royal Porter; Maître d'; Waiter; Alice Wright; Ronnie Sutcliffe; Victoria Station Conductor; Harry Weller's Brother; Taxi Passengers; Dr Huxtable; Mrs Huxtable; Yolanda Adler; Eastbourne Station Staff; Vicissitude Manager's Sister-in-Law's Cousin; Burton Place Crowds; Burton Place Police; Burton Place Servant; Chief Inspector John Lestrade; Harrods Saleswoman; Dunworthy's Neighbours; Bookmaker; Newsman; Adler House Constable; Mrs Cowper; Sally Blalock; Chemist; Fortnum & Mason Assistant; Old Woman on Bus; Bus Conductor; Estate Agent; The Master / The Reverend / Thomas Brothers / Reverend Smythe / Reverend James Harmony Hayden / Reverend Harris / Jonas Algier; Marcus Gunderson; Estelle Adler; Lestrade's Man on Pall Mall; Save the Soul Director; British Museum Guard; Employment Agency Man; Inspector Kursall; Taxi Driver; Lestrade's Men; Café Waitress; Mr Jones; Nicholas Lofte; Clarissa Ledger; Ledger's Grand-daughter; Punters; Swimming Boys; Undergraduates; Print Shop Owner; Customer; Marcus Tolliver; Mycroft's Agents; Concierge of Mycroft's Building; Holmes's Driver; Aeronautical Society Members; Cash Javitz; Carver; Yorkshire Man; ; Cow-herds; Farmer; Aerodrome Men; Edinburgh Waitress; MacDougall; Inverness Farmer & Son; Mungo Clarty; Inverness Boarding House Owner; Inverness Driver; Magnuson; Magnuson's Friend; Thurso Telegraph Clerk; Steamer Ticket-Seller; Thurso Pub Clientele; Fisherman; Mrs Magnuson; Brigid's Son; Kirkwall Residents; Brigid Ross; Coach Driver; Tourists; Anglers; Fishing-Boat Captain; (Vicar; Rescued Child; Mycroft's French Acquaintance; Drug Seller; Jules Filot; Cantelet's Private Detective; Shanghai Girls; Shanghai Landlord; Girls' Clients; Bhang Seller; Missionary School Head; Yolanda's Family; Missionaries; Artist; Sally; Yolanda's Friends; Lady Veronica Beaconsfield; Mary's San Francisco Lawyers; Mary's Oxford Friend; Dorothy Ruskin; Johanna; Miranker's Housekeeper; Wiltshire Farmer; Druids; Fiona Cartwright; Cerne Abbas Visitors; Billy's Cousin; Piccadilly Circus Man; Bunny Sutcliffe; Bunny's Parents; Bunny's Children; Harry Weller; Oxford Street Newsboy; Officer in Bar Fight; Detective Inspector Weller; Locksmith; Henry Smythe; Cartwright's Brother; Cartwright Coroner; Albert Seaforth; Seaforth's Student; Student's Parents; Mycroft's Agricultural Colleague; Seaforth Pathologist; Lofte's Shanghai Contacts; Dorothy Hayden; Shanghai Reporter; Harrison; Cumbria Farmer; Printers; Drug-Selling Doctor; Second Daughter of a Duke; Morton; Waverley Station Hotel Waiter; Stenness Hotel Owner & Wife; Wife's Family; Ship's Officer; Stenness Farmer)
Date: August, 1924 / August - March, 1920
Locations: Portsmouth; A Train; Sussex; Seaford; Cuckmere; The Downs; Holmes's Villa; France; Paris; Hotel; Ste Chapelle; Montpelier; Paris Bistro; Cantelet's Office; Ste Chappelle Gaol; Hotel; China; Shanghai; Alfriston; Hotels; Beach; Jevington; Miranker's House; Battersea Hotel; Piccadilly Circus; Café Royal; Pall Mall; Gallery; South Kensington; Chelsea; Burton Place; Fulham Road; Brompton Road; Stationers Shop; Holmes's Department Store Bolt-hole; Children of Lights Meeting Hall; Regent Street; Soho; Wright & Sutcliffe's Studio; Victoria Station; A Train; Eastbourne; The Wilmington Giant; Folkington; Huxtable's Surgery; Vicissitude Club; Tate; Gallery; Adler's House; Mycroft's Flat; New Scotland Yard; Harrods; Dunworthy's Apartment; Regent Street; Cleveland Row; Green Park; Queen's Walk; St James's; The Mall; Horse Guards Road; Birdcage Walk; St James's Park; The Embankment; Hyde Park The Serpentine; Blalock's House; Chemist Shop; Fortnum & Mason; Paddington Station; Bookshop; Estate Agent's; Inn; Country House; Save the Soul Prison Reform Offices; St James's Square; Jermyn Street; British Museum Reading Room; York; Station Hotel; Employment Agency; Central Police Station; King's Cross Station; Oxford; Ledger's Home; St Hilda's College; A Punt on the Isis & Cherwell; Printers Shops; Cromwell Road; Sloane Street; Tolliver's Shop; Brothers's House; Regent's Park; St James's Palace; Piccadilly; Dorchester Hotel; Mayfair; Burlington Arcade; Old Bond Street; The Aeronautical Society; Hendon Airfield; A Plane; Yorkshire Airfield; Cowfield; Farmhouse; Scotland; Edinburgh Aerodrome; Aerodrome Café; Inverness; Farm; Boarding-House; Thurso; Magnuson's Farm; Post and Telegraph Office; Scrabster Ferry Dock; Harbour Master's Office; Pub; The Orkneys; Kirkwall; Farm; Stones of Stenness; Ring of Brodgar; Stromness; Stenness Hotel
Story: Holmes and Russell return home to news of a druid suicide at the Cerne Abbas Giant and riots at Stonehenge, country house cocaine arrests, and the madness of Holmes's bees, which have taken to too frequent swarming behaviour, leading to dangerous depletion of numbers. They are also visited by Holmes's son, Damian Adler, whom they had first met when he was charged with the murder of a drug seller, in France in 1919. He tells them of his travels, and of his time spent living in Shanghai, his marriage, and the disappearance of his Chinese wife, Yolanda, and daughter, Estelle. Russell wakes the following morning to find both men gone. She reads Holmes's Practical Handbook of Bee Culture and sets herself to solving the mystery of the hives. She also looks further into the druid incidents.

Holmes and Damian travel to London in search of Yolanda and Estelle, but Damian also goes missing after meeting a man at Piccadilly Circus. Russell finds examples of Damian's surrealist art, and a portfolio of documents that reveal he was responsible for killing a fellow soldier during the war. She follows Holmes and Damian to London, talks to Damian's neighbours, attends a Children of Lights meeting, where she meets Millicent Dunworthy, and infiltrates Augustus John's table at the Café Royal, where she learns that Yolanda has been enquiring about Aleister Crowley. While being entertained by the Bohemian couple, Wright and Sutcliffe, she reads of the discovery of an Asian woman's body on the Wilmington Giant near Holmes's villa.

Returning to Sussex, she and Holmes examine the murder site, and the body, and liaise with Lestrade, not letting him know the nature of their interest in the case. Between them they search Adler's and Dunworthy's apartments. At the Café Royal they are told a story about Crowley. After reading the Children of Light's sacred book The Testament, Russell puts Mycroft's memory to work recalling curious incidents at the time of the full moon over the past months. She spies on a meeting of the Children of Lights and finally gets to see the Master, who departs with Damian and Estelle. She captures his right-hand man, Gunderson. An arrest warrant is put out by Lestrade for her and Holmes.

Holmes returns with evidence from prehistoric monuments around the country, and Mycroft's Shanghai agent arrives with information about Yolanda. After questioning printers and locating The Master's townhouse, Russell makes a connection to an eclipse in Scandinavia. Holmes travels to Norway, while Russell follows a trail, by plane, to the Orkneys.