Part of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, book 7
First published 2004
Mary Russell finds herself in India alongside her partner Sherlock Holmes, far from the familiar streets of London. The detective duo has traveled to the subcontinent on another case, but their investigation takes an unexpected turn when they cross paths with a figure from literature made flesh. Kim, the street-smart boy from Rudyard Kipling's famous novel, now walks before them as a man. The meeting transforms their mission as Russell and Holmes navigate the complex world of British colonial India. Russell must adapt her deductive skills to unfamiliar territory while working alongside both Holmes and this legendary character who has stepped from the pages of fiction into their reality. The case demands more than solving puzzles and following clues. It requires understanding a culture caught between empires and traditions, where Kim's unique position as someone who bridges multiple worlds becomes crucial to their success.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, mystery, thriller
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: India, London
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century
Hardcover · Turnaround