In many cases, I would proclaim myself to be a literary purist. I’m not usually one for adaptations, such as the tragedy that is Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Please, do not even get me started.

However, there are certain adaptations that I like. In fact, there are several Sherlock Holmes adaptations in particular that I think are brilliant.

Late last year, I began reading the novels of Laurie R. King. Her heroine, Mary Russell, is often described as a female Holmes. She is in many ways, but she is also a brilliant character for her own sake. There is a whole group of folks on the internet who claim she is a Mary Sue, but I will hear none of that. She exhibits the same intellectual capacity of her husband, but she has better people skills. I have never once heard any of the hateful comments directed her way fired at Holmes. One cannot help but think that such comments are a case of misogyny run rampant on the Internet. Sadly, the Internet is full of trolls.

Oh, Russell is also a feminist.

Which is quite excellent, thank you very much.

Lest you think Russell is without fault, which would indeed make her a Mary Sue, she does have two distinct character flaws:

1) Her opinion of John Watson.

She adores Watson, even calls him Uncle John, but she dotes on him in the way someone would a child. She consistently underestimates him, as many Holmes fans do, really. Which is a mistake. Watson is not the bumbling sidekick. He is a doctor and a soldier, and he can keep up with Holmes in his own way. He is an intelligent man. He just gets sidelined because well, who wouldn’t when they’re running with Sherlock Holmes? One thing I appreciate about current adaptations is their treatment of Watson. Martin Freeman, Lucy Liu, and Jude Law are excellent Watsons. They are portrayed as equal to Holmes, and it is so refreshing. (I would also like to note that Benedict Cumberbatch, Jonny Lee Miller, and Robert Downey Jr. are wonderful Holmeses, in their own ways.)

2) She can be too forgiving.

No, really. She lets nasty people get away with far too much sometimes. Because she learns what motivates them, and she more often than not finds it within herself to pity them. It makes her a truly wonderful human being, but it’s not very satisfying when we readers want to see the bad people punished.

As far as Holmes goes, King does an excellent job writing him. He reminds me of the Jeremy Brett Holmes, and there is also a touch of Miller’s interpretation of the character.

I’m currently three novels in, and there are many more to go. We’ve still got some winter to get through, so while it keeps on snowing out there, this is an excellent series to turn to once you get back inside from shoveling that wintry mess.