Knave of Diamonds

Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, Book 19

By: Laurie R. King

Narrated by: Amy Scanlon, Steven Crossley, Jefferson Mays

Mary Russell’s allegiances are tested by the reappearance of her long-lost uncle—and a tantalizing case not even Sherlock Holmes could solve.

When Mary Russell was a child, she adored her black sheep Uncle Jake. But she hasn’t heard from him in many years, and she assumed that his ne’er-do-well ways had brought him to a bad end somewhere—until he presents himself at her Sussex door. Yes, Jake is back, and with a load of problems for his clever niece. Not the least of which is the reason the family rejected him in the first place: He was involved—somehow—in the infamous disappearance of the Irish Crown Jewels from an impregnable safe in Dublin Castle.

It was a theft that shook a government, enraged a king, threatened the English establishment—and baffled not only the Dublin police and Scotland Yard, but Sherlock Holmes himself. And, now, Jake expects Russell to step into the middle of it all? To slip away with him, not telling Holmes what she’s up to? Knowing that the theft—unsolved, hushed-up, scandalous—must have involved Mycroft Holmes as well?

Naturally, she can do nothing of the sort. Siding with her uncle, even briefly, could only place her in opposition to both her husband-partner and his secretive and powerful brother. She has to tell Jake no.

On the other hand, this is Jake—her father’s kid brother, her childhood hero, the beloved and long-lost survivor of a much-diminished family.

Conflicting loyalties and international secrets, blatant lies and blithe deceptions: sounds like another case for Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes.

The audio-exclusive short story "Two Kids on a Grift" features Uncle Jake, Mary Russell's ne'er-do-well uncle who comes back into her life in Knave of Diamonds. Uncle Jake has made a career out of swindles and scams. So when he spots a couple of kids on the street one day fleecing passers-by in a clever game of three-card-monte, he needs to take a closer look. Why do the kids remind him so much of his niece and her brother … ?

©2025 Laurie R. King (P)2025 Recorded Books

Different

changes in narrator was a bit confusing because they both had the same speaking style.

Another Good Listen

The story itself is first rate. Holmes and Russel are off searching for treasure although a bit unwittingly. I thought weaving the characters in around the theft of the Irish Crown Jewels was well done and made for great entertainment. As for narration. With the loss of Jenny Sterlin, obviously new narration was necessary. By the end of the book, I found myself used to the new Russel and thought the transition was done well. Holmes, not so much. Could I get used to this Holmes? Sure…but Ms Sterlin’s version was missed here.

Too many voices were distracting from the story

I found that having 9 voices instead 3 for the 3 characters was incredibly distracting. I wish that just one of the 3 narrators had been chosen to do this, or, that the three had always narrated for their character. Instead, each time Mary reads, there are her version of Jake and Holmes. Each time Holmes read, you have his version of Mary and Jake, and each time Jake read, you have his version of Holmes and Mary. It was very confusing as they were all pretty different. Holmes actually did the best of the 3 in my opinion, but having them all trading off frequently was very distracting and really took away from the story. I would love to see this one re-done with just one narrator, or with the 3 narrators always voicing their character!

Another winner from a prolific writer and a delightful series

Laurie King’s Mary Russell series of books are so much fun. They are brilliantly researched and she captures details of the period that inform the reader of the context in which Russell and Holmes live and work.

multiple voices as opposed to Jenny Sterlin, in previous Mary Russell/Holmes books, so viewpoints also differ

some difference between Jake voiced by Jefferson Mays and the others. I really like Jefferson from the fabulous Expanse series