16th in the series. First off, I did enjoy it although I have some comments. I think this series has irretreviably shifted from a detective duo solving insolvable mysteries into a travelogue showing everything going on in the world in the 20s, with a mystery to provide the excuse for the location. I wasn't all that excited about another book featuring Mrs. Hudson, as THE MURDER OF MARY RUSSELL wasn't my favorite. And I think you have to have read that in order to make sense of what Mrs. Hudson is trying to accomplish in this book; there is some backstory but the explanation doesn't come until quite late. I'm happy we don't see all that much from her perspective, there are a number of very short flashbacks is all. Another thing about Mrs. Hudson - I don't understand Holmes' treatment of her. After all his experiences, and especially knowing the unsavoury methods his own brother has employed at times, why can't he forgive? Is he going to follow her for the rest of her life, ready to have the police haul her off to jail for any transgression? I really don't like that aspect of him, it seems quite vindictive. I am interested in what King is doing with Mary's character. The girl who spent all her free time researching theology at Oxford has disappeared, morphing into a Bright Young Thing who hobnobs with Picasso and goes water-skiing. Lots of description of Monaco, lots of real-life personages, and a lot more about pouring bronze than I needed to know. Nice fast read, and an exciting finish.

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