Riviera Gold: A Novel

Written by Laurie R. King

Narrated by Jenny Sterlin

Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes turn the Riviera upside down to crack their most captivating case yet in the New York Times bestselling series that Lee Child called “the most sustained feat of imagination in mystery fiction today.”

It’s summertime on the Riviera, and the Jazz Age has come to France’s once-sleepy beaches. From their music-filled terraces, American expatriates gaze along the coastline at the lights of Monte Carlo, where fortunes are won, lost, stolen, and sometimes hidden away. When Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes arrive, they find their partnership pulled between youthful pleasures and old sins, hot sun and cool jazz, new affections and enduring loyalties.

Russell falls into easy friendship with an enthralling American couple, Sara and Gerald Murphy, whose golden life on the Riviera has begun to attract famous writers and artists—and some of the scoundrels linked with Monte Carlo’s underworld. The Murphy set will go on to inspire everyone from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Pablo Picasso, but in this summer of 1925, their importance for Russell lies in one of their circle’s recent additions: the Holmeses’ former housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, who hasn’t been seen since she fled England under a cloud of false murder accusations.

When a beautiful young man is found dead in Mrs. Hudson’s front room, she becomes the prime suspect in yet another murder. Russell is certain of Mrs. Hudson’s innocence; Holmes is not. But the old woman’s colorful past has been a source of tension between them before, and now the dangerous players who control Monte Carlo’s gilded casinos may stop at nothing to keep the pair away from what Mrs. Hudson’s youthful history could bring to light.

The Riviera is a place where treasure can be false, where love can destroy, and where life, as Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes will discover, can be cheap—even when it is made of solid gold.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781501998867

Laurie R. King

Laurie R. King is the Edgar Award–winning author of the Kate Martinelli novels and the acclaimed Mary Russell-Sherlock Holmes mysteries, as well as a few stand-alone novels. The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, the first in her Mary Russell series, was nominated for an Agatha Award and was named one of the Century’s Best 100 Mysteries by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association. A Monstrous Regiment of Women won the Nero Wolfe Award. She has degrees in theology, and besides writing she has also managed a coffee store and raised children, vegetables, and the occasional building. She lives in northern California.

Reviews for Riviera Gold

[Jenny Retief · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The layers of detail bring the period and place to life without ever being too much. Absorbing, enjoyable story.

[Nan Lefebure · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Extremely poor quality. Impossible to listen to. Can you improve this?

[jennybeast · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Oh, delight! A check-in with Mrs. Hudson in her new life in Monte Carlo. Well, and also a murder mystery, a history of a fascinating place, some reconciliation, some further reveals. I, with my terrible memory, went and re-read The Murder of Mary Russell before embarking on this journey and was glad I did.

Advanced Reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.

[hemlokgang · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I think this 16th installment of the Mary Russell/ Sherlock Holmes series will appeal most to readers who have followed the entire series and become attached to their housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson. Set in Monte Carlo, the married detectives try to get to the bottom of the dangerous mystery surrounding Mrs. Hudson's past. Sedately paced, including a surprise appearance by none other than Lily Langtry, the plot is, nonetheless, quite enjoyable, with a particularly enjoyable episode which took place on two ships, with Mary & Mrs. Hudson in dire peril. Good read!

[kathy89_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mary minus her husband is hanging around a rich, bored sophisticated set yachting and sunbathing on the Rivera. They all decide to go to Monte Carlo when by chance she runs into a revised Mrs. Hudson and her friend, Lily Langtree with whom they are associating with some shady characters. A couple of days later, a dead body turns up in Mrs. Hudson’s living room. Sherlock shows up to help unravel the mess and clear Mary’s beloved Mrs. Hudson. There was a lot of snobby talk at the start but exciting boat chase at the end.

[fuzzi_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Extremely satisfying entry in a series that seldom fails to delight me. The mystery was not simple, the guilty were not obviously so, and the methods of investigation weren't preposterous or far-fetched. Enjoy.

[francesmcnama-876774 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love the Mary Russell books for the voice of the character, and the time period of the stories. In this one, Mary meets the real American couple, Gerald Murphys, who hosted Fitzgerald, Hemingway and others at the Riviera mansion. My books are getting to that era so I enjoyed the setting. But I always get the next Laurie R. King book as soon as it's available. I liked this one.

[herenya_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This Russell and Holmes mystery takes place in July 1925, immediately after Island of the Mad. Mary Russell leaves Venice for Monaco, hoping to see her former housekeeper -- and discovers that Mrs Hudson has been accused of murder.As always, I love Russell's first person narration and her observations of the world around her. The historical scenery is particularly vivid here: cliffs and ocean views, the Monte Carlo casino, expats with questionable pasts and connections, smugglers, Jazz Age artists, and bronze casting. Moreover, these are not just the scenic sights of Monaco, they’re all relevant to the mystery Russell is unravelling. I also liked the indications that Russell and Holmes’ unconventional marriage works for them. They respect and support each other’s independence -- to travel separately, pursue their own interests, make their own decisions and hold conflicting views. They’re not demonstrative, at least not in public, yet it’s clear they care deeply about each other, and when reunited they slip comfortably back into working together. I resented Mrs Hudson’s lies, the false face she had deceived me with. And I resented Holmes, for keeping it from me, his wife and partner. As if I had any right to require a full confession from her -- from either of them -- for a thing that had happened long before I was born. But I was very young when I lost my family. The loss of Mrs Hudson felt like a second abandonment. [...] I realised, during those silent nights on the Stella Maris, that what I wanted most was not to tell her that I forgave her. What I wanted was for her to forgive me, for having judged her.

[jamespurcell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Set in Monaco and featuring Mrs. Hudson and her mysterious past, this story has many moving parts including flashbacks; the artistic, the rich, and the famous from the early days of yachts and parties in this very minor monarchy. Mary is at her detecting best with a little help from Sherlock. Smuggling seems to have preceded the casino as the raison d'etre for living in this tiny country nestled between France and Italy' It will still play an important role in the current crimes. Another good entry in this very fine series. Long live Sherlock.

[phyllis2779 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For some reason I didn't like this book as much as others in the series. Some things that should have added to the mystery seemed too obvious from the start or whenever they first came up. Some things were left hanging. Why the emphasis on the Murphys or were they just meant as part of the scenery? Some things seemed very hard to believe, such as Sherlock being able to find Mary and the yacht in time. Overall, the book was well worth reading but I seemed to have missed the Murder of Mary Russell book and that may have been a mistake in reading this before that one.

[judiex · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mrs. Hudson and the Riviera, particularly Monte Carlo, Monaco, are the foci of RIVIERA GOLD.While this book can be read alone, it’s much better to be aware of previous books in the series since they are referred to often. After working as a housekeeper plus for Sherlock Holmes for more than twenty years, Mrs. Hudson decided to leave after falsely being accused of murder. As she departed, she mentioned, “I’ve always been fond of Monte Carlo.” When an opportunity arose for Mary Russell Holmes to sail to the Riviera in May 1925, she decided she would go and see if she could find Mrs. Hudson. It turned out that Mrs. Hudson was trying to use some objects from her past to secure her retirement. Find her she did, and soon learned that Mrs. Hudson was not the grandmotherly person she had known for the past decade. Mrs. Hudson had lived a life before she arrived in the Holmes’ household that was quite different from that woman.In Monaco, Mary met up with very mixed groups of people, primarily English ex-patriots and Russians along with some famous real people, e.g., Pablo Picasso and Zelda Fitzgerald. She also learned about the history of the country and how it managed to survive, a tiny land built on cliffs surrounded by strong neighbors. Soon after meeting most of those involved in the story, the body of one of the men was found in Mrs. Hudson’s sitting room. She was immediately arrested for his murder. Mary, with the somewhat reluctant assistance of her husband, were determined to prove her innocence. Her youthful history has tentacles reaching into her new life.In the process, they discovered a thriving illegal industry involving many of Mary’s new acquaintances.Tidbits: “He seemed to feel that genius raised a man above the need for tidy dress and good manners, and wore an air of superiority in place of jacket and tie.”The story explains how bronze sculptures are created.The book is has interesting characters, is well-written, witty, follows a logical path, and is a quick read.

[beamis12 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Since I started reading this series done ago, King's books have changed. They seem to be a historical travelogue through time and places. The mystery seems weaved into the story instead of being the actual focus.This one finds us in Monaco, with a virtual who whose of the times. The Fitzgerald's, Dos Passo, get honorable mentions, Picasso a bit more. It is, however the Murphys, Sara and Gerald, who we hear from the most. They are of course staying at Villa America, hosting dinners, beach outings and it is here that Mary will once again see Mrs. Hudson. This is where the mystery begins it's weaving, threading it's way around the descriptions of places, names. Since, I'll never visit Monaco, it was interesting to learn the history and visit the campus casino. Sherlock once again takes a backseat, though he is sporadically present. This is Mary's show and it involves a dangerous Russian who managed to escape the revolution. Sherlock though does come through in s big way at books end. King is a fine author, her novels very well written. This one though had me rolling my eyes, it required a suspension of belief I was getting obtaining. ARC from Edelweiss.

[brangwinn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Every time I pick up one the Mary Russell mysteries, I imagine her as Eleanor Roosevelt. Both are strong, intelligent women and were married to challenging men. Mary Russell is married to Sherlock Holmes. She’s lot younger than he is and manages to hold her own. The latest book, Riviera Gold, follows Mary as she leaves Venice in 1925, the setting for the last mystery, on a sailboat heading for the French Riviera and Monaco. Of course, where Mary goes, ill winds will follow. This time she finds herself helping the Holmes former housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, who has been arrested for the murder of a young man. Of course, Holmes is there, but Mary is quite capable of solving mysteries herself. I loved the further development of Clarissa Hudson into an unexpected force in her own right with a history no one know about. I recommend that readers first read The Murder of Mary Russell. One of the things I like about Laurie King’s series is her lack of reminding people what happened in previous books.

[cyderry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I look forward to each new Mary Russell novel with great anticipation and I have yet to be disappointed. This newest adventure has Mary sailing off from Venice (leaving Holmes behind) destination Monte Carlo. Mary is hoping to track down Mrs. Hudson but when she does find her former housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson is barely recognizable. Now Miss Hudson is a friend of Lily Langtree and has been transformed with new hairstyle and fashionable clothes. Mary knows that something is up because her friend gives her only a mild nod and indicates that she is not free to communicate. When Miss Hudson is "detained" after a body is found in her rented flat, Mary knows that it is time to get Holmes involved but before she can send a telegram, he is there.The twists and turns that are incorporated in this story had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Even though there are a few harrowing moments, this reader was far more interested in finding out the details of why and what then worrying about our friends - Russell, Holmes, and Mrs. Hudson.A great addition to the series!

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After their adventures in Venice, Sherlock and Mary split up for different destinations. Holmes is off to Romania for something to do with vampires while Mary sails to the South of France with the Honorable Terry and some friends. Mary wants to see if she can locate their former housekeeper Mrs. Hudson who left a clue that Monaco was her destination when she left them.Clarissa Hudson is in Monaco with some plans for her retirement that means she needs to interact with some of the shady characters who are making Monaco their home base in 1925. From smugglers to arms dealers to White Russians who fled the revolution, Monaco is filled with shady characters. Monaco is also the home of a growing group of American ex-pats led by Gerald and Sara Murphy who are gathering a group of artists of all kinds from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Pablo Picasso.When the body of a handsome young man is found in Mrs. Hudson's sitting room, Mary and Sherlock get involved in finding out what happened since Mary, at least, is certain that Mrs. Hudson had nothing to do with the murder. I loved the setting and characters in this story and the way real historical characters are included in the story along with the fictional ones. The historical detail in intriguing. The story moves at a fast pace and was engaging. I can't wait for more adventures starring Mary Russell and her husband Sherlock Holmes.

[eyes92c · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another gutsy performance by Mary Russell!Before my eyes Mary Russell, investigator, intellectual/prodigy, wife and partner to Sherlocke Holmes, a derring do sailor (despite her dislike of sailing), art critic and avenging angel sails into Monte Carlo without Holmes. Of course she's never sure when, or if, Holmes will join her. Is already there, or off somewhere else?Mary sails off from Venice with the Hon. Terry and gang, and after twenty-two days of hard work and avoiding sea sickness she arrives in Monte Carlo.Mrs Hudson, now Clara not Clarissa, has left the Holmes abode. The last Mary heard (whilst in Venice) was that she'd been seen in Monte Carlo.When Mary does see her, Mrs. Hudson is at a beach party with some of Mary's new and reasonably wealthy, avant garde friends, she's lending a hand minding the children.All I can say to King is, "What did you do with Mrs Hudson?" Last I saw of her was in "The Murder of Mary Russell" leaving the Holmes' residence for--maybe Monte Carlo.And now here's a new or rather evolving chapter in Mrs. Hudson's life, along with Mary and Holmes. Gone is the housekeeper. Now we have an older, more elegantly dressed woman, and as it turns out, a close friend of Lily Langtree.This is a time charged with artists, arms dealers, old scores to be settled, smugglers, White Russians and more against the background of the Mediterranean.It seems Mrs. Hudson touches all these concerns in some way or another. What is her end game? Well that's completely shrouded in mystery.When Holmes arrives, he finds things have moved quickly and when Mary is threatened he moves like lightning.I was glued. Throughout there is a feel of the giddy times of the 1920's--1925 to be exact. Picasso turns up and there's a nod given I felt to his future works, in the descriptions of the scenes Mary and the group saw en route to a metal foundry for a pouring for bronze sculptures. "Picasso would stand for a moment in admiration, then return to the conversation—leaving one with the conviction that the flowers, the boys, the shadow had been etched into his visual memory forever."This was another cracker of a read!A Random House - Ballantine ARC via NetGalley

[readinggeek451 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is 1925, and 25-year-old Mary Russell--the wife of Sherlock Holmes--is on her way to Monoco with friends, hoping to find their erstwhile housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, who is not who Mary thought her all these years. She does find her quarry, also danger, arms dealers, smugglers, and the satisifaction of figuring a few things out before Holmes does.This series has been going on for quite a while now. If you liked the earlier entries, you'll probably like this one, too.

[kimkimkim-7 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Slow going, slightly humorous and way too descriptive. I had little or no interest in the ins and outs of bronze castings and there were pages devoted to this artistic, sweaty craft. There is a plot, there are glamorous people, the beach, house parties and the high life of the Riviera. In the center of the glitter, the Russian ex-pats and the criminals, is Mrs. Hudson, her new life and troubles. The story assumes the reader has a background with Mrs. Russell, Sherlock Holmes and his former housekeeper and I am unsure how a newbie would handle coming to this dance without any previous history of relationships and events. The marginally unbelievable chase scene was yet another “oh really”?! Not a great hit nor a total miss, just sort of blah. Thank you NetGalley and Random House – Ballantine/Bantam for a copy.

[jillrhudy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It’s been 26 years since the first book in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series, “The Beekeeper’s Apprentice,” and Mary Russell is no longer glam enough for her own series. For one thing, Russell can’t be on the cover, because she is a defiantly unfashionable bookworm with glasses. So who is the person on the cover? In my opinion, this series peaked with “The Game” and “The Moor” but, as with any long-running detective series, a reader is in mostly it for those beloved familiar characters.My beloved familiar characters are part of a regular Ziegfeld Follies in this novel. “Glam and glitz it up,” you can imagine some cigar-chomping publishing exec saying to the brilliant Laurie R. King. “Sherlock and Mary are getting old and boring. What year is the series up to now? Find all the sexy famous people who are or might be in Europe plus some royalty, people that the reader has heard of, and put them ALL in the book. And the setting needs to be somewhere sexy. Not England.” Mrs. Hudson has a secret past (seriously), and in this novel, Mrs. H. scarpers off to the Riviera and Mary Russell (Mary Russell!) chases her down and then lazes about for a good fourth of the novel, rubbing elbows with dozens of famous people before Mrs. H. (Clarissa/Clara) gets herself into trouble and must be rescued by Sherlock and Mary. I had to force myself to keep reading when my Kindle said I was 20% of the way through.There are numerous throwbacks (with boring dialogue) to Mrs. H.’s young and wild years in ballrooms and such. The girlfriend she is talking to during the throwbacks is kept a secret at first, but turns out to be yet another glamorous period character that the reader has heard of. Sherlock reveals her name at the conclusion of a chapter, as if it’s exciting. The constant character-name-dropping of famous people feels extremely forced.The author pulls off a thrilling denouement, which she certainly has the talent to do. On the strength of the conclusion to the mystery, “Riviera Gold” is about as good as most other titles in the historical mystery genre, or not quite half as good as this series was at its peak 15 years ago. But hey, it comes with animated memes!I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley and was encouraged to submit a review.