Mary Russell is finally going home. Ten years ago her family was killed in an auto accident that has haunted her ever since. Like any young child would she blamed herself for causing the accident and having the poor grace to survive. But these ghosts of her past are far more real and complicated than she ever imagined. It is a good thing that she’s married to Sherlock Holmes because the game is indeed afoot.

Ms. King never lets up on her characters or her plot. The couple has to deal with everything from Mary’s sudden lack of skills to flappers, to the history of the San Francisco earthquake and fire. But it is not just the mystery of events that keep us reading but the complexity of the characters. Mary has always been brilliant but now plagued by recurring dreams and a genuine dread of her past she will have to summon the fortitude and character the face the truth

  Ms King makes her characters very real and compelling. Her plots are tense and the dialogue is quick. And, along with all this she has a light touch with a sense of humor. We’re in San Francisco so of course we have to meet Dashiell Hammett. And does Holmes really say “The games a foot” Well only to annoy Mary.