Knave of Diamonds is another entry in the long running Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes mystery series. It has a more character-driven focus than other recent entries in the backlist.
Mary’s ne’er do well Uncle Jake arrives in her life after being absent for decades. He needs a favor that will pull Mary away from her beloved husband, Sherlock Holmes. How Mary deals with the conflicting needs of her loved ones is the meat of the plot. There is also a mystery about the theft of the Irish Crown Jewels years earlier that acts more as a subplot.
If you enjoy character studies and have read many of the books in this series, you will probably love Knave of Diamonds. For me, I prefer more brain busting mysteries and faster pacing as seen in some earlier books in this series. 3 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for providing me with an advanced review copy.