The Art of Detection

by Laurie R. King
Alyssa Bresnahan

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In this thrilling new crime novel that ingeniously bridges Laurie R. King's Edgar and Creasey Awards-winning Kate Martinelli series and her bestselling series starring Mary Russell, San Francisco homicide detective Kate Martinelli crosses paths with Sherlock Holmes-in a spellbinding dual mystery that could come only from the "intelligent, witty, and complex" mind of New York Times bestselling author Laurie R. King. Kate Martinelli has seen her share of peculiar things as a San Francisco cop, but never anything quite like this: an ornate Victorian sitting room straight out of a Sherlock Holmes story-complete with violin, tobacco-filled Persian slipper, and gunshots in the wallpaper that spell out the initials of the late queen. Philip Gilbert was a true Holmes fanatic, from his antiquated dEcor to his vintage wardrobe. And no mere fan of fiction's great detective, but a leading expert with a collection of priceless memorabilia-a collection some would kill for. And perhaps someone did: In his collection is a century-old manuscript purportedly written by Holmes himself-a manuscript that eerily echoes details of Gilbert's own murder. Now, with the help of her partner, Al Hawkin, Kate must follow the convoluted trail of a killer-one who may have trained at the feet of the greatest mind of all times.

Creators
Series

Kate Martinelli
Publisher

Recorded Books, Inc.

Edition: Unabridged
Release date

May 15, 2006
Formats
- OverDrive Listen audiobook
  - ISBN: 9781449895051
  - File size: 394953 KB
  - Duration: 13:42:49
Languages
- English
Reviews
- Publisher's Weekly
  
  October 2, 2006
  Echoing King's narrative, Bresnahan's reading takes the leisurely route, bypassing the thrills and chills of the average mystery-thriller in favor of a more scenic tour. Her voice—soft, mellifluous, eminently reasonable—provides a pleasing carriage for a listener's journey. King's novel merges characters from her two best-known series: San Francisco detective Kate Martinelli and Sherlock Holmes's wife, Mary Russell. Martinelli is conducting an investigation of the mysterious death of an avid collector of Holmesian memorabilia. Bresnahan is assisted by Mackenzie, whose plummy Oxbridge tones in the Holmes story chillingly echo the twists and turns of Martinelli's investigation. The admixture of Bresnahan and Mackenzie makes for an occasionally surprising but mostly enjoyable combination, as if King's novel, two different books conjoined into one, was also supplied with two paired readings. It is Bresnahan, though, who is the more pleasurable to listen to, her unorthodox delivery outshining Mackenzie's Masterpiece Theatre
  diction. Simultaneous release with the Bantam hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 24).
- Publisher's Weekly
  
  April 24, 2006
  Bestseller King (The Game
  ) meshes her two best-known series—contemporary police procedurals set in San Francisco featuring Kate Martinelli of the SFPD and the period stories of Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes—to create an intelligent, satisfying novel of suspense. Martinelli is investigating the death of Philip Gilbert, an obsessively avid Holmes collector (he's even transformed his San Francisco house into a replica of 221B Baker Street), when she discovers what could be the motive: a previously unpublished story from Arthur Conan Doyle, told from Holmes's point of view, a find that could be worth millions. The present-day narrative is interspersed with the purported Conan Doyle story, which resonates with the account of Martinelli's own domestic life. A fine, perceptive storyteller, King is particularly adroit at capturing the milieus in which her characters reside. Fans of both series will be well rewarded.
- AudioFile Magazine
  
  This Kate Martinelli police procedural, which involves a first-person narrative by Sherlock Holmes, cleverly combines King's two ongoing mystery series. Martinelli investigates a murder related to a newly discovered manuscript written by Arthur Conan Doyle on a visit to San Francisco. Alyssa Bresnahan excels in voicing Martinelli and the other female characters, but she's less successful with males, who often sound prepubescent. Robert Ian Mackenzie, who reads the Holmes sections, makes a plausible Sherlock. In fact, he so successfully lures listeners into the story-within-a-story that one often forgets about the "real" murder. Both of the interrelated stories are intriguing, though, and all in all, this is a satisfying production. R.E.K. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine
- Library Journal
  
  December 1, 2006
  The body of Sherlock Holmes expert Philip Gilbert is discovered at an abandoned missile site, and San Francisco police inspector Kate Martinelli and her partner Al Hawkin get the call. They find themselves in a world where dressing up in late 19th-century clothing is commonplace, Sherlock Holmes is a real person, and amateur armchair detection is a regular parlor game. Despite the general reticence of Philip's Sherlockian colleagues, Kate and Al solve the case. King has made excellent use of her own Sherlock Holmes expertise in setting the scene for an odd, semiliterary investigation. She even includes excerpts from a "lost Sherlock Holmes manuscript." While the eccentric members of the Sherlockian dining group may be drawn from the classic mystery tradition, the detective work is strictly 21st century. Alyssa Bresnahan's low-key reading of the main text contrasts well with Robert MacKenzie's dramatic recitals of the "lost manuscript." An entertaining audiobook, especially for fans of the cozy mystery genre. Recommended for moderate to large libraries (and all Sherlock Holmes aficionados).I. Pour-El, Des Moines Area Community Coll., Boone, IA
  Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
- Library Journal
  
  December 15, 2006
  The body of Sherlock Holmes expert Philip Gilbert is discovered at an abandoned missile site, and San Francisco police inspector Kate Martinelli and her partner Al Hawkin get the call. They find themselves in a world where dressing up in late 19th-century clothing is commonplace, Sherlock Holmes is a real person, and amateur armchair detection is a regular parlor game. Despite the general reticence of Philip's Sherlockian colleagues, Kate and Al solve the case. King has made excellent use of her own Sherlock Holmes expertise in setting the scene for an odd, semiliterary investigation. She even includes excerpts from a "lost Sherlock Holmes manuscript." While the eccentric members of the Sherlockian dining group may be drawn from the classic mystery tradition, the detective work is strictly 21st century. Alyssa Bresnahan's low-key reading of the main text contrasts well with Robert MacKenzie's dramatic recitals of the "lost manuscript." An entertaining audiobook, especially for fans of the cozy mystery genre. Recommended for moderate to large libraries (and all Sherlock Holmes aficionados).I. Pour-El, Des Moines Area Community Coll., Boone, IA
  Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.