Paris, India, England —

a case from the past of Sherlock Holmes, which even the detective himself hasn't suspected.

About Laurie

Laurie R. King is the New York Times bestselling author of 30 novels and other works, including the Mary Russell-Sherlock Holmes stories. She is probably the only MWA Grand Master to also have an honorary doctorate in theology.

30th Anniversary in 2024

The Beekeeper's Apprentice turns 30 in 2024, and we'll celebrate in all kinds of ways. Contests, library talks, book club meet-ups (virtual and live) and—events! Four day-long Russell & Holmes events during the year, in Santa Cruz, Seattle, Bethesda, and Nashville. Talks, demonstrations, games, and all things Russellian. Details and registration here.

A cold case heats up for
SFPD Inspector Raquel Laing…

First in a New Series

Praise

“A brilliant and extraordinary book.”

—Madeleine L'Engle

“Funny and fearless.”

The Houston Chronicle

“The most sustained feat of imagination in mystery fiction today.”

—Lee Child

“Mesmerizing—another wonderful novel etched by the hand of a master storyteller.”

—Michael Connelly

“Historical fiction doesn’t get any better than this.”

—The Denver Post

“Fabulous reading, breathless excitement, and the myriad pleasures of watching great minds at work.”

—Booklist, starred review

The Series

Russell & Holmes

Raquel Laing

Kate Martinelli

Standalone Novels

Other Books

Stuyvesant & Grey

Latest Blog Post

Judith’s Brooch?

One of the joys of writing a long-lived series is the community that grows up around it. Which means I get letters like this one—a particularly appropriate post, since June, 2024 is the centenary of when Russell & Holmes were in San Francisco working on the events of Locked Rooms: Hi Laurie, sort of an…

Read More

Maryorama

The endless delight of the Victorian card game called Myriorama, where a few cards of scenery join at the edges to create a thousand different landscapes, now has a video interpretation. The Maryorama (formerly “Russellscape”) literally brings the LRK community together, with fan images from the Memoirs make a visual record of the travels of Russell & Holmes.

Reader Tools

Book Club Tools

One of the pleasures of novels is learning about different times, other places, unexpected ways of seeing the world. View book club kits and discussion guides to explore the worlds of Laurie R. King.

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The Beekeeper’s Apprentice
Classroom Study Guide

A free 7-week study unit—vocabulary, spelling, comprehension, and related materials—for The Beekeeper’s Apprentice.