Ever since Laurie R. King wrote her first novel about Sherlock Holmes and his new partner, a young Canadian Oxford girl, Mary Russell (the book was The Beekeeper's Apprentice), I've been a fan of King's books. There are now seven Holmes and Russell books, nearly all very good. King has also written four books about Kate Martinelli, a detective in San Francisco and three others. I've read all but one and liked them all. The Game is the newest Holmes and Russell story. King not only appropriates Holmes for her book, but Kipling's Kim as well. I've tried reading a couple other neo-Holmes novels and I didn't think either was as close to the spirit Conan Doyle created. (I have read all the Conan Doyle Holmes books and stories.) This story takes Holmes and Russell to India and explains some of what happened to Holmes in that interregnum between his apparent death and Conan Doyle's reincarnation of the great detective. It's a fine and quaint portrait of British India. It's a well-told tale. Some adventure. Great plot twists near the end. And, of course, the good people win. I'm going on to the King novel I haven't read, Keeping Watch. I recommend Beekeeper's Apprentice if you haven't read Holmes and Russell. I recommend A Letter of Mary if you haven't read it. And this one is worth the time as well. If you'd prefer something more contemporary, try To Play the Fool about Kate Martinelli or Folly, which is probably my favorite of all King's books. And if you've read Keeping Watch, let us know what you think about it.