A Letter of Mary: A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes: The Mary Russell Series, Book 3

Laurie R. King's titles include several stories about Mary Russell, wife of Sherlock Holmes. This is the only one (a mass-market, used paperback) I've read. Set in 1923, Sherlock Holmes has retired to a farmhouse in the south of England with his much younger wife, Mary Russell, a scholar of history and theology. Dr. Watson is off writing stories for The Strand Magazine of the cases of the famous consulting detective and does not appear as a character. The couple receive a guest for tea -- a highly-regarded Egyptologist/archaeologist -- who gives Russell (as Holmes call his wife) a rare box containing a scrap of papyrus with a letter purported to be written by Mary Magdalene. Within hours their exotic guest is killed. Collecting clues, unraveling riddles, sorting suspects, all with the help of Inspector Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson, various disguises, careful laboratory work are well laid out. Voila! The bad guys are captured and justice is served. Oddly (or gladly) the letter of the Magdalene remains an enigma set aside to be dealt with later. The box that contains it proves much more important. Two passages are particularly pleasing: one tells of an encounter between Russell and a perfectly-described and recognizable Lord Peter Wimsey, the detective/aristocrat authored by Dorothy L. Sayers, and a brief meeting between Russell and J.R.R. Tolkien at Oxford's The Eagle and Child pub. The time frame for both fictional and real-life personages is exactly right. Including these two adds an interesting depth to the tale that I enjoyed. Following Conon Doyle's time-line for Sherlock Holmes makes him a little too old for a young wife, but Kiing has his behavior, voice and attitude absolutely right, in my view. I intend to read more in this series. For those with a taste for a creative and respectful spin on a beloved literary presence that lives an breathes in many media, I say 'read this book.'

I continue to adore the Mary Russell series, although A Letter to Mary turned out to be a weak link for me. Partly because the meaty, intellectual subject that Mary Russell chews on through the book is the historical Mary Magdalene's role in the early Christian church, and even though it's more interesting, more intelligent, more thorough here than in Dan Brown...the subject feels a little tired to me right now. What can I say, I'm not a fan of the Da Vinci Code and anything that reminds me of it is a turn off.Now that I've got that off my chest...Lord Peter Wimsey has a cameo! A wonderful one! That was very exciting.Watching the developing relationship between Holmes and Russell continues to be fascinating. Holmes is still, by a large margin, the more competent detective - is this because we are still so early on in the series, or because Holmes will always reign supreme? Something to watch in the next books. I love their relationship, not just the closeness they share but their separations, too, the way two largely solitary individuals navigate a companionship.The other thing that sort of dampened my excitement about the plotting was a particular red herring that I thought went on too long.All quibbles aside, I love this series and I've already bought the next book, which I will read with great relish.

In this 3rd book in the series, Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes have returned home to Sussex Downs from France. Mary has been exhaustedly studying for the last year and Sherlock is nearing boredom, when Mary receives a letter from Dorothy Ruskin, an acquaintance, whom they met on one of their journeys in the Middle East. Dorothy is an elderly archaeologist, who has spent most of her time on digs in Palestine, and is coming home too settle some family affairs. She tells them that this is a short visit and they agree to meet for a day at their home. When she arrives, she gives them a present, a small intricately carved box that holds an ancient papyrus scroll. What that scroll is, and the implications of its contents is a mystery, and what happens after Dorothy leaves, sends Mary and Sherlock out on a investigation that challenges them and their relationship. A Letter of Mary is another entertaining book by Laurie King, sure to please those who love Sherlock Holmes and enjoy mysteries in general.

I like the Mary Russell series. The characters are fun and the relationship between Mary and Holmes is a wonderful blend of brains and heart. The plot for this novel was intriguing since it touched on the biblical character of Mary Magdalene. I found the story to easily hold my interest.

Another excellent book of the partnership of Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell. An elderly female archaeologist, Dorothy Ruskin, has travelled from Palestine to Sussex to visit her friend Mary, and she comes bearing a gift. Dorothy has discovered a papyrus scroll written just after the death of Jesus that appears to be from the hand of Mary Magdalene, who identifies herself as an apostle rather than just a follower. The implications of the scroll, if authenticated, will change the face of Christianity forever.Shortly, however, Dorothy is killed in an apparent hit-and-run accident in London. Of course, Sherlock and Mary are highly skeptical that her death was an accident and set out to find her killer(s).With their usual flair for investigation and deduction, the pair follow several promising leads. Two of my favorite characters, Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard, and Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s brilliant and powerful brother, are brought into the investigation, making it even more entertaining.The plot has plenty of twists and turns to challenge our intrepid detective couple, with a conclusion that doesn’t become apparent until the very end. Another great read in this series, which I will continue to read as long as the author keeps writing them.

A good read..

The original premise of the Mary Russell series annoyed me so much I sat down to read fully intending to denigrate. I have not been able, and am approaching the 6th novel, trying to ration myself. The strictest of Holmes' fans may object but the rest of us (particularly the females) just enjoy the atmosphere, engaging prose, and worthy protagonists with integrity, who generally stay within character. Having visited Jerusalem a while back, I found the narrative spot-on and the history fascinating. I love the 'Wimsical' cameos and the humorous Sophie's World convolutions. The author is leading us a merry dance but at the same time giving us real issues to ponder.

A great book and the author always does a great job with her writing and the relevance to Sherlock Holmes.

This is the third novel in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series of detective novels written by Laurie R. King. I love the entire series, but this is one of my favourites, and I've found myself returning to it again and again.King's depiction of Mary Russell is compelling - she gives her character a unique, feminist, intelligent voice which is often hard to find in contemporary fiction. Mary Russell is a woman you feel you'd like to get to know better. King's genius is in making Sherlock Holmes into a supporting actor in the stories - he is the same Holmes that Conan Doyle wrote, but he is humanised in his retirement, and his under-stated love for Mary Russell. The central relationship between the two is beautifully drawn, and King displays a deftness of touch which keeps you coming back for more.The mystery at the heart of the book is worthy of Conan Doyle, and is solved in appropriate fashion, with Holmes and Russell working in partnership. King enjoys showing off her erudition here, and the themes of an Apocryphal document purportedly from Mary Magdalene, containing explosive information about Mary Magdalene's status, is handled with such aplomb that Dan Brown ought to weep into his coffee.Highly recommend this engaging, intriguing, and fantastically well written book.

I am working my way through this series of novels, which takes the Sherlock Holmes story forward in an unexpected yet totally believable way. The books are told through the eyes of his new partner, the much younger Mary Russell, who unlike Watson is Holmes' intellectual match. I have really enjoyed the three I have read so far and am now looking forward to beginning the fourth. It's refreshing to find such imaginative and well-written "period" novels, worthy to take up where Conan Doyle left off.