Justice Hall (Hardcover)

It seems that Ali and Mahmoud aren't Middle Eastern at all. Their real names are Alistair and Marsh (Maurice). And they are not just British. Due to some heavy pruning of the family tree, Marsh is now to become the Seventh Duke of Beauville and is living in Justice Hall, the family mansion, with Ali residing down the road at Old Badger Place.

Holmes and Russell are invited to visit and are drawn slowly into the mysteries of the family and its bloodline. All of the classic British estate mystery novel cliches are here: the shot gone astray during a hunt, hidden staircases, obsequious servants, dressing for dinner, ne'er-do-well relatives, endless tromps through the estate grounds, and even a costume ball. Yet they seem vibrant and appropriate rather than tired and reheated.

Since this series is based on the author's claim of being an editor to a set of notebooks purportedly left by the mysterious Mary Russell, the reader expects these stories to be grounded in historic fact. Yet there seems to be no real Duke of Beauville, no Justice Hall, not even the local towns seem to exist in any online search. This is such a change from the previous book in the series, The Moor, where Russell and Holmes visit the very real Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould during his final year on earth. Also, when it turns out that Marsh's marriage was one of convenience for his lesbian wife, I kept waiting for Marsh and Ali to "come out" - which never happened. Instead we are left with them appearing to be sexless middle-aged Peter Pans wishing to return to their life or adventure rather than growing up.

It takes a while for a plot to develop, but for those patient enough to wait, the story is wonderfully rich and satisfying.

There he is, improbable guest at a shooting party, camouflaged in fancy dress at a fancy-dress ball, quietly tucking tobacco into pipe or quietly tucking into his dinner, the great detective of the gaslight era, at a country house for a week-end, looking into the mysteries enfolded in that tight, wound society.

Mary Holmes was a great, gracious lady; one who brought out the best in people, and through art drew light out of the dullest material. Yes, that was Mary Holmes, professor of Art at Cowell College, Santa Cruz. Mary Russell, the fictional Mrs. Sherlock Holmes, shares some of these qualities, certainly in her generous, transforming contacts with young people.

There are certainly young people to be transformed in this story, and Mary Russell takes a hand with some of them. There are a pair of young Irregulars, not yet formally pressed into service, but already in a sort of training as they tail Holmes & Russell through the rooms of the great mansion. And there is the memory of a young man to be un-tarnished, a young man who died "under a cloud" during the Great War of 1914-1918.

We have visited that territory before, most of us through the memories of others, from popular imagery, and from what we have read-in Pat Barker's trilogy, Japrisot's book, memoirs saying "Good-bye to all that" and novels declaring "All quiet on the western front" at last-or perhaps in letters from Sgts. Scofield & Leech, or stern faces filled with memories.

Justice Hall stands its ground where its family raised it, on land they have held since William the Conqueror. Their name inscribed in the Domesday book, their motto bestowed by the Duke himself: "Righteousness is my strength." And they live by it, and die by it.

The last duke left behind him a confused succession. The war has destroyed so many connections, and this great house could pass into uncertain hands.

The heir apparent is M-- Marsh: an old friend of Mary's from "O Jerusalem" days. In the first of many revelations, that ease our way into the golden age story to come, we discover that as a truly Holmesian character, the English adventurer has brought home some of the mystery and romance of the East. Marsh served in Palestine, and Arabia, for many a year, as did his cousin Ali -to be more formal, Alistair.

The young man who died on the Front Line was to have been the 7th Duke. But he is gone. Why?

Holmes & Russell investigate.

The author leads readers gradually deeper into the mystery, building her book without undue haste. She anticipates us-just as we begin to wonder if Aircraftsman Shaw will put in an appearance, a flicker of yellow hair disappears around a pillar, and (we imagine) the exhaust of a departing Broughton Superior 1000 reverberates in the still air. Set pieces-the party in the Hall, a rooftop chase with trusty service revolver in hand (the wrong hand, actually, this time)-introduced quietly.

Thoroughly satisfying, and accomplished in its storytelling, "Justice Hall" is the new "best" of the Mary Russell series.

I only recently discovered the Russell-series, so I had the advantage to read all the books in short order. I would wholehearteadly say that I like Justice Hall most of all but not for Holmes, Russell or the interaction between the two of them.

I like it for another resson: Ali and Mahmoud or in this case Alistair and Marsh (and also in addition Iris) are the best "guest"characters Laurie R. King wrote in the whole series. They are vivid, believable, interesting and the relationshsip between them is just fascinating (a shame-marriage between Iris and Marsh on one side, a strong subtext between Marsh and Alistair on the other). I definitely hope there will be more of them in future books.

But there is too less Russell in the book and even lesser Holmes. And Holmes is - at least for me - the reason why I buy the series. I don't necessary expect him to be more involved in the mere "action", after all he si over 60 int hsi books. But at least he should reflect more on the events and persons involved. For example I would have liked to read his opinion about the relationship between Marsh, Iris and Alistair. But he only gives a smile as answer of Russells (therefore the readers) question. I miss his (and Russell's, too, to some degree)skills of observing and deduction.

At the first sight the plot seems exciting but on the second thought there are too many and too big wholes and contradictions in it. Mrs. King even seemed unably to remember the names she gave Ali and Mahmoud at their first mention in The Beekeeper's Apprentice (which were Albert and Mathew at this time not Alistair and Maurice called Marsh like now).

In the end things were rushed too much as in most of the series'installments and questions especially about the motivations behind the events remain unanswered (or are at least not satiesfying answered).

So my fazit are mixed feelings about the books: it's great for the "guest"characters but it misses a lot of things when it comes to the main protagonists and the plot as a whole. Neverthless: if you like the series or at least if you liked O Jerusalem you should read it.