Island of the Mad

 

Island of the Mad is the fifteenth book in Laurie R. King's Mary Russell series. Mary Russell narrates the series; she is the "I" in this first sentence. 

This sentence feels polished and assured to me. Earlier books in the series started with an editor's note, explaining how Laurie R. King had come upon Mary Russell's journals on various cases. By this point, King has dropped that device. She starts right with the story, confident that we will follow. 

Is she right to be? She has crafted a strong hook. We have two characters. One of them is Sherlock Holmes, which will appeal to anyone who appreciates one of the 19th century's most enduring characters. Then she drops the strong, ominous word "corpse" as the last word, where it gains extra emphasis. 

Both the name "Sherlock Holmes" and the word "corpse" place this story in the mystery genre. These two terms start and end the sentence. Interestingly, by placing a man and a woman together, standing "shoulder to shoulder" there is also a lighter call to the romance genre. 

What about the remaining words? There is something a little strange there. "Gazing down sadly at the tiny, charred" has a slight twist to the situation. It's not usual for the famous detective to pause to gaze sadly – we expect more dramatic action from Sherlock Holmes, such as examining or taking samples. We also expect him to contain his emotions. Then this corpse is "tiny, charred" – a burnt baby? Without stirring greater attempts to solve the mystery? We have a direct hook from beginning and ending and a more subtle one from the misfit in the second half. The sentence invites our curiosity in two ways. 

Another way to look at a first sentence is as a promise. Genre is a promise, too. Elements of mystery promise us a puzzle and its solution. Elements of romance promise us a chance to watch two characters developing their relationship. By naming Sherlock Holmes, King promises that I will have more time with a character I already like. 

All these promises appeal to me. This sentence draws me in to see if the rest of the book can keep them. By book 15 of the series, I trust it can. 

Graphic design by Ken Silbert