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The queen is Marie of Roumania: the doubly royal granddaughter of Victoria, Empress of the British Empire, and Alexander II, Tsar of Russia. A famous beauty who was married at seventeen into Roumania’s young dynasty, Marie had beguiled the Paris Peace Conference into returning her adopted country’s long-lost provinces, singlehandedly transforming Roumania from a backwater into a force.
The castle is Bran: a tall, quirky, ancient structure perched on high rocks overlooking the border between Roumania and its newly regained territory of Transylvania. The castle was a gift to Queen Marie, a thank-you from her people, and she loves it as she loves her own children.
The threat is . . . well, that is less clear. Shadowy figures, vague whispers, the fears of girls, dangers that may be only accidents. But this is a land of long memory and hidden corners, a land that had known Vlad the Impaler, a land from whose churchyards the shades creep.
When Queen Marie calls, Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes are as dubious as they are reluctant. But a young girl is involved, and a beautiful queen. Surely it won’t take long to shine light on this unlikely case of what would seem to be strigoi?
Or, as they are known in the West . . . vampires.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
June 8, 2021 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780525620877
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780525620877
- File size: 3981 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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April 19, 2021
Set in 1925, King’s thrilling 18th adventure featuring Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes (after 2020’s Riviera Gold), takes the couple to Bran Castle in Transylvania, home of Marie, Queen of Roumania, who’s in need of their services. The queen, whose arrival at the castle is delayed, is worried about her 16-year-old daughter after receiving a letter warning her not to bring the girl back to the nearby village of Brasov “or she will die.” While awaiting Marie, Mary and Holmes, who’s masquerading as an architectural consultant for the castle’s restoration, explore Brasov, which has been rife with rumors of “mysterious figures and men risen from the dead,” and mingle with the members of the queen’s household. The disappearance of a servant girl raises the ante. King smoothly slips in fascinating historical details about the life of Marie of Roumania, all the while keeping the plot galloping along at high speed. This is a treat for old fans and newcomers alike. Agent: Zoe Quinton, Zoe Quinton. -
Starred review from June 1, 2021
Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell journey from the sunny beaches of their previous adventure (Riviera Gold) to the Carpathian Mountains, home of Count Dracula and Elizabeth B�thory. Holmes has been engaged to help Queen Marie of Roumania protect her daughter Princess Ireana and put a stop to rumors that the queen is following in the bloodthirsty steps of her real and fictitious predecessors. While Mycroft Holmes believes Marie's troubles are an attempt to destabilize the country politically, Sherlock and Russell are convinced that someone closer to home wants the queen out of her castle so they can take possession of it themselves. Russell and Holmes must solve the case before the perpetrator turns from threats to murder. King mixes a bit of real history with a case of misdirection and mayhem that goes back to basic detective principles, while her protagonists deal in their inimitable style with secretive locals, politics going awry, and trust issues that won't stay on the back burner. VERDICT Highly recommended for historical mystery fans who have followed the series, as well as readers looking for historical heroines with agency such as Maisie Dobbs, Bess Crawford, or Phryne Fisher.--Marlene Harris, Reading Reality, LLC, Duluth, GA
Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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