The Beekeeper's Apprentice

For the third consecutive month my book club chose to read a mystery.  (Blaa - mysteries.  Just tell me the story without trying to confuse me please).  This month was The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King.  This book is one of a series about Sherlock Holmes.  This is when Holmes is older than all the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories.  A couple people in the book club have read all the Laurie King books about Sherlock and his new friend Mary.  These two book club members were throwing titles and character names around and it was impressive to listen to them. In this story Mary is 15 and is walking through a moor reading a book when she almost steps on Sherlock who is resting under a tree  This would be a good book for a teenaged girl because Mary is a strong female character.  She's so smart she's equal to Sherlock.  As their friendship advances Sherlock allows Mary to take the lead on solving some crimes. At the end of the story Mary is 19 and in some danger from hanging out with the great Sherlock Holmes. I read the book but didn't really enjoy it.  I read it because I'm in the book club.  Laurie King may be a successful writer but she's no Arthur Conan Doyle.  Everyone else in the club seemed to love it though.