The Art of Detection

By: Laurie R. King

Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan, Robert Ian Mackenzie

New York Times best-selling author Laurie R. King captivates audiences with her irresistibly suspenseful novels. She has also won tremendous critical acclaim, earning Edgar, Creasey, Nero, and Macavity awards for her work. The Art of Detection is another spellbinding tale starring San Francisco homicide inspector Kate Martinelli. The victim is Sherlock Holmes aficionado Philip Gilbert, whose collection of priceless memorabilia is definitely worth killing for. It's up to Kate and her trusted partner Al Hawkin to follow the clues and bring a rather peculiar murderer to Justice.©2006 Laurie R. King (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"A tour de force and a great read." (Booklist)
"A fine, perceptive storyteller, King is particularly adroit at capturing the milieus in which her characters reside." (Publishers Weekly)

Wonderful find

This is the first Laurie King novel that I've read and it certainly won't be the last. And thank the goddess for the "pro-gay agenda" presented here. It was a refreshingly inclusive book. The story within a story aspect was quite well done. I am looking forward to reading more of her novels. Her characterization, humor and insight make the novel interesting and very believable. The mystery holds out until the very end unlike many current mystery novels.

Wow! This is a wonderful intertwining of past and current and was enthralling!!!

Amen loved all the twists and turns and superimposed plot lines and characters! Would that I could read many more fashioned like this!

Story within a Story

An inventive device of a story within a story defines "The Art of Detection". Enjoyable characters and a good narration make for a very entertaining murder mystery.

Holmes Story Saves the Novel

The Sherlock Holmes story inside the novel actually made it interesting. That part of the book is where Laurie R. King really shines. She truly understands how to create the perfect Holmes-style story. It was very believable, if easy to solve, and drew you into what was happening.

The overall detective story was okay, but this was a mindless listen for me. I've been through the entire novel and can't remember the main character's name. And figuring out the murderer was easy. As soon as the character was introduced, I thought, "It's him!"

Great narration

I enjoyed this story, incorporating Laurie R. King's two series in a plausible way and yet not letting the Holmes aspect take over Martinelli's tale. The characters are well composed, with as much attention on the supporting cast as with the main characters.

The use of the two narrators to follow what are essentially two separate stories seemed a bit odd at first, but it made sense after the first few minutes (an audiobook within an audiobook, as it were). Alyssa Bresnahan's narration won me over from the start - she injects a dash of wry humour into her reading that gives life to the story. A highly enjoyable and intelligent story to listen to.