RIVIERA GOLD is Laurie R. King’s 16th book starring Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes. This is one of the best series out there featuring the most famous inspector of all time --- and there are plenty of them.

In this latest entry, we get to see the famous couple relaxing and having fun in different locations. Russell is planning to spend time with jetsetters from all around the globe, and it is a thrill to see her interact with world-famous figures like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Pablo Picasso. Holmes has taken his “vacation” somewhere in Romania. He isn’t very open about his plans to relax, only indicating that it may have something to do with vampires.

"RIVIERA GOLD is a refreshing summer breeze of a mystery novel that is so cool you can practically hear the jazz dripping right off its pages."

While cruising to the Riviera, Russell enjoys time with some friends who accompany her, but she also has a specific mission in mind. Mrs. Clarissa Hudson, Holmes’ former housekeeper, departed London rather abruptly and, in her wake, left behind rumors of being mixed up in a murder case. Russell heard that she was possibly involved with smugglers based in Monaco and wants to see if she can locate her and find out the truth. On the way, Russell befriends Gerald and Sara Murphy, an American couple who always know where the happening parties are.

The Jazz Age has made its way to the Riviera, and it is a fun time for all. That is, until Mrs. Hudson discovers the dead body of a young man in her sitting room. Instead of enjoying a planned retirement, she is now once again the subject of inquiries concerning a murder. She must rely on the assistance of Russell and Holmes if she wants to get out of this jam.

Fortunately, Holmes arrives to the Riviera and Monte Carlo just in the nick of time. Russell is quite good on her own, but she has gotten in over her head going up against not only smugglers but also arms dealers with whom Mrs. Hudson has involved herself. Holmes is not the spry young man he once was, and it is going to require all of his superior mental acuity to think their way out of one dangerous turn after another before the three of them are sunk somewhere off the coast of one of south France’s beautiful beaches.

RIVIERA GOLD is a refreshing summer breeze of a mystery novel that is so cool you can practically hear the jazz dripping right off its pages. Laurie R. King continues to take Sherlock Holmes, who is arguably the most written-about character in all of mystery fiction, and imbue him with new experiences while always keeping him as fresh as the master sleuth we all fell in love with.