I have read many pastiches of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, but I think I enjoyed this one the most. Sherlock Holmes has retired to the country where he keeps bees and takes on the occasional job. One day, while out on the moor, he stumbles across Mary Russell, and they somehow develop a friendship. Holmes teaches her the art of detection and she becomes an apprentice of sorts. As their relationship develops, Holmes involves her in one of his cases, a kidnapping, and then strange things start to happen to Miss Russell! Mrs. Hudson and Doctor Watson are here in supporting roles.
The Beekeeper's Apprentice is not an exact imitation, more a migration of characters to another time and place—Sussex Downs during WWI—with the wonderful addition of Mary Russell. She is the aforementioned apprentice who takes center stage in the story line and I'm glad she did!