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  • The Beekeeper's Apprentice

  • Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, Book 1
  • By: Laurie R. King
  • Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin
  • Length: 13 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (77 ratings)
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The Beekeeper's Apprentice cover art

The Beekeeper's Apprentice

By: Laurie R. King
Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin
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Summary

It's 1914, and a bold, young American called Mary Russell is about to experience a rather dynamic change of life. Deep in the rural English countryside, she meets a retired beekeeper by the name of Sherlock Holmes. Although many years have passed since he astonished Watson by solving Scotland Yard's most baffling crimes, The Great Detective is still very much in possession of his excellent faculties.

Surprisingly for both of them, he sees Mary's untapped potential for his old line of work. When Holmes' greatest enemy returns with a diabolically resourceful plan of revenge, Holmes realises he's facing the case of his lifetime - and that he needs Mary's help to solve it.

©1994 Laurie R. King (P)2002 W F Howes Ltd

What listeners say about The Beekeeper's Apprentice

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing book really well read

I love this block of work by Laurie King and having read them all I was worried that hearing it read by someone couldn’t possibly match that, but apart from the first chapter (which is disconcertingly read in the authors American voice) the book has been completely enthralling, delivered at a perfect pace and with great characterisation. Looking forward to listening to more.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love the story but can’t stand the narrator

I’ve read these books and enjoyed everyone but I just can’t continue the series with this dreary monotone voice with not a hint of humour . All of Mary’s character and the wit and banter between her and Holmes is reduced to a tedious recitation with no tension. It really is awful and very disappointing as I would have gradually worked my way happily through the entire series but I have given up half way through book two.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • GD
  • 10-01-18

Mary Russell is marvelous.

I very much enjoyed this book. However I do find that the readers voice is too harsh for the voice of Mary that I have developed in my head and Holmes sounds utterly sanctimonious, which I think he must be at times, but surely not 247!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Ruined by the narrator

The narrator's voice is just awful. She's so pedantic about her pronunciation that it's ridiculous - nobody talks like this! Her patronising tone sounds like she isn't enjoying the book she's reading - which is a total turn-off for listeners! A good book ruined.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

I'm unsubscrbing from Audible

This is dreadful. I could say it better and certainly more eloquently, but that will suffice.
For reasons entirely unapparent, the narrator has attributed a high-pitched, monotonous voice to a fictional legend. It is deeply irritating. She is also one of those narrators who reads the story with clarity of speech but is never actually 'in' the story, therefore it is a flat, distant reading that damages an otherwise averagely entertaining book. And, unforgivably, the recording quality is poor with a constant echo of the reader's voice on a time delay, as though speaking on a landline to someone in Australia. This makes it impossible to listen through headphones, which is my preferred method of listening in order to diminish surrounding noise.
Where do they find these narrators and what is the criteria employed? Given one is required to produce a CV to apply for part time employment in a newsagent these days, I can only wonder.
Well, I can see I am being harsh here but oh my, I am fed up of listening to badly written, badly narrated books on Audible.
The story? It's average. Holmes has morphed into a benevolent, avuncular version of his younger self. Improbable. I am a Holmes/Conan Doyle purist so I have really no business listening to such a stretch on the original author's canon, but I have enjoyed many other Holmes and Watson novels written by authors in contemporary times.
As the title says, I am unsubscribing once I have used up my remaining 2 credits. And knuckling down to writing a book myself, so I can get paid a small fortune for churning out a grim offering of my own.
If you love Sherlock Holmes, you will not enjoy this but perhaps ypu are a far less crabby, exacting listener than I, in which case, enjoy.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Holmes' later years.

Note: The characters have English accents. Only the introduction is in an American one, which you hear in the clip.

This first in a series introduces a new character Mary Russell who is to become the retired Holmes new partner in the adventures ahead. The first part of the book covers the building of this partnership which needs doing when you're introducing a new character into the very established world of Sherlock Holmes. I found Mary an interesting character in her own right which is a credit to the author. Mrs Hudson is involved as is Watson which was a nice touch. It's different to the Conan Doyle original in that there is a lot more about the characters and the plot develops at a slower pace. I really enjoyed it, I was very impressed by the writing and Jenny Sterlin's Holmes voice was okay.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

I wanted to like this book

Droning narration - exceedingly flat. The narrator must have a three pack a day habit.
Absolutely pointless story off shoots. Why send the characters to Palestine if the author isn’t going to describe 1920s Palestine?
Absolutely horrified by the budding romance that is so atypical of the character of Sherlock Holmes. This really was too much!
Why insert the wicked aunt and then leave the character completely one dimensional. Same with Mycroft and Dr Watson.
I found this book frustrating and yelled at my iPad, “Oh for the love of all that is holy, do get on with it”!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A must for all home's fan's

Absolutely brilliant, I ended every minute. Just imaging Home's taking on an apprentice and a woman at that.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What a brilliant book

Laurie King is a wonderful writer. To take such an iconic literary figure in a completely new direction is one thing, but then to create a completely new partner who is at least the equal of him, words fail me. Fortunately Ms King is not so affected. I loved these books in print, to have them read to you is a delicious delight.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Books using the Sherlock Holmes zeitgeist can be iffy. Laurie R King pulled it off exceptionally well. This is actually my 2nd time through the series.

I highly recommend.

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1 person found this helpful