Essay on the Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie L King

The Beekeepers Apprentice is the first book in the Mary Russell Series. It is one of the most read works by renown and celebrated author Laurie. L King. The author born in 1952 is a respectable authority on historical fiction and some of her best works won her accolades throughout her writing career. Some of the awards she won include the Nero Award, Edgar Award and John Creasey Memorial Award. The novel set in the backdrop of the early twentieth century infuses both a mixture of thriller and adventure as the legendary Sherlock Holmes lends insight to the young lass Mary Russell of American citizenry and Jewish roots.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

The book first introduces the reader to Mary soon after the tragic demise of her parents in a tragic motor accident forcing her to come live with her aunt in England. While walking through the streets of Sussex is when she met the famous detective and mystery solver Holmes who just retired at the tender age of 52 to pursue a more reclined past time of bee keeping. Ironic as it is, the master of disguise and espionage chooses to spend his days not chasing thrills.

The maestro is soon drawn back into the alluring world of espionage and mystery as he finds in Mary the perfect student and apprentice. Her sharp and eager mindset as well as her desire to solve mysteries inspires Holmes to train her. She is a quick and eager learner and soon becomes an excellent detective in a very short while and a master of disguise.

Her first achievement is the detection of an elusive spy of German allegiance who secretly transmitted sensitive information. It puzzles all, but Mary wraps her finger around it and unmasks a butler as the one behind the covert espionage operation. Soon after that, brilliance knocks again as she solves the puzzle of a break-in into a local pub. Using her wit and sharp analytical skills, she nabs the culprit.

Her big break comes amidst a very heightened situation with extremely high stakes after Jessica Simpson is kidnapped. Jessica is the daughter of a member of the United States Senate and the risk takes a political twist. The reason behind the kidnap and the prospect of a villain smart enough to outwit Sherlock draws him in, and soon enough he ventures out to solve the mystery.

The journey takes the two deep into Welsh territory, and their disguise is perfect enough to allow them to pass undetected. The fact that they dress as gypsies allows them the sneaky advantage of the element of surprise. Soon enough Mary and Jessica develop a bond so strong that what started as a mystery to solve gets personal and Mary intends to rescue her new friend. They however, fail to discover the minds behind the whole saga, a fact that deeply disturbs Holmes. The thought that the mastermind is far more superior and smarter than himself scares him to the core. He has to face some bomb attempts aimed at Russel which he skillfully defuses. One of them injures him, but he soon gets better and bounces back into the hunt for the villain whom he deduces as a woman far more formidable an opponent than he thought.

The answer to his question soon reveals itself as she leaves a clue engraved on the back seat of a cab. It seems the ghosts of Professor Moriarty follow him when he finds the name Moriarty carved in Roman numerals despite the fact that he threw the evil genius down a high cliff in the Austrian alps. Soon enough, he puts a name to his assailant who happens to be the professors daughter all in quest to seek much needed revenge for the death of her father. Sherlock escapes with Mary to Palestine where he knows she will have no possibilities of getting a hold on him.

The story ends in very scintillating action when Holmes decides that he will set a trap to catch Donleavy using both him and Russel as bait. The two travel to Sussex with the knowledge that upon finding out, Donleavy will also show up and there they will outsmart and capture her. The two are in for a rude shock when they arrive at Sussex only to discover that Donleavy is a step ahead of them and it is they who have been trapped. The folly of the hunter becoming the hunted takes shape and a struggle ensues. Holmes provokes Donleavy into making the first attack and his immaculate plan takes an unexpected twist. Russel intervenes and unfortunately gets severely wounded by the same bullet that eventually kills Donleavy.

A theme that clearly stands out in the book is the romanticism which the author presents to the reader. From the start, it is very apparent that a love story is brewing although war is fresh in the minds of the characters. From the time Russell nearly trips over Holmes in Sussex, the author primes the reader with thoughts of an attraction between the two main characters in the narrative. Mary is thrilled at the prospect of working with the man of such sterling repute, she is fascinated by his mind and passion. On the other hand, Sherlock finds in Mary a fellow adventurer and free spirited companion. The fact that she is younger and beautiful sets the tone for Holmes to be enchanted by her,

Looking at the theme of romance from a Historical perspective enables the reader to understand the shifting social norms. The book is conveniently set in the Edwardian period at the onset of the World War 1 when the perspective of how women ought to behave changed. As a man of the old Victorian era, Sherlock is quite the gentleman with mannerisms deemed appropriate at the time. The mindset of most men at the time is that women were eye candy and their role in society was to look pretty and handle domestic chores.

Upon engaging and spending time with Russel, Holmes comes to respect her as an equal partner in ability. He discards the mindset of male chauvinism and respects her as he would another man. Her wit and abilities make him view her as a partner rather than as a subordinate. The mutual respect soon grows and buds into a relationship that ultimately transforms into marriage.

CONCLUSION

It is safe to conclude that the novel is a perfect depiction of a sensational thriller which features a complex plot and some intriguing characters. By twisting the well-known traits of Sherlock Holmes, the author presents an entirely exciting side to Holmes that few would have imagined. The reader is therefore intrigued to read on since they are sure they will discover more.

WORKS CITED

King, Laurie R. The Beekeeper's Apprentice: Or On the Segregation of the Queen. Vol. 1. Macmillan, 2007.