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A Letter of Mary
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A Letter of Mary
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A Letter of Mary
Audiobook10 hours

A Letter of Mary

Written by Laurie R. King

Narrated by Jenny Sterlin

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

Mary Russell, assistant and protegee of the great Sherlock Holmes finds herself and her partner once more mired in mystery. When Mary is given a scrap of papyrus by an old archeologist friend, she has no inkling of what it contains. Written in Greek, it could be a letter from a previously unknown apostle - who just happens to be female. However, the situation moves from being curiously exciting to chillingly perilous, as the archeologist is murdered and Mary and Sherlock's home is ransacked. Given the possible implications of the fragment, the list of suspects and motives seems endless."
LanguageEnglish
Release dateNov 13, 2017
ISBN9781407493756
Unavailable
A Letter of Mary
Author

Laurie R. King

Laurie R. King has won many awards The New York Times Bestseller for her work including the prestigious John Creasey Dagger, the Edgar, the Nero and Macavity Awards. In 2022 she was named Grand Master by Mystery Writers of America. King is the author of highly praised stand-alone suspense novels and a contemporary mystery series, as well as the Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes series. She lives in Northern California.

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Rating: 3.907568129280397 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I'm completely in love with Mary Russell! Sherlock Holmes is kinda nifty too, for a guy :-)
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I liked this one quite a bit more than the second book. I'm still on the fence with the whole Mary/Sherlock relationship. Thankfully it's less of a 'romance' aspect and more of a 'just a fact' aspect. I'll take that. This one had a lot of very sly references and name drops (Tolkien anyone?) that really tickled me as well. I'm looking forward to the next one again.Edit - I'll say the audio books on these are lovely. I don't like audio books as a rule but this particular narrator is fantastic, at least for me. So if you're interested in the audio it's worth giving a go.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The year is 1923 and Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell receive a visit from Dorothy Ruskin, an amateur archaeologist. She shows them a scrap of ancient writing that is supposedly Mary Magdalene's. Soon afterwards she is murdered — but why?
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Far more of a cerebral read than expected, with Mary's investigation of the letter's origins and internal dialogue.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Very well written. No big surprises but never feels like a formula. Glad I still have more adventures to read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Wonderful book, great characters, amazing foundation. Can't recommend it too highly.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This mystery begins with a visit from an old friend. Miss Dorothy Ruskin is an amateur archaeologist that Mary and Sherlock met when they were in Palestine. Miss Ruskin has an interesting gift for Mary. She has brought her a papyrus that is purported to me written by Mary Magdalene which shows that she was one of Jesus's apostles. This would be epic if it were true. The changes to the Christian churches would be immense. Miss Ruskin had shown it to two experts who declared it false but neither Miss Ruskin or Mary are willing to dismiss it. The papyrus is in an old Italian inlaid box which presents a mystery of its own.A couple of days later, Sherlock reads a notice in a London paper asking if anyone knows the identity of a woman dead in a hit-and-run. It is Miss Ruskin which involves Mary and Sherlock in trying to find out if it was an accident or murder. And, if it was murder, finding out who murdered Mary's friend.The suspects range from her family to the potential supporters of her next archaeological dig and may involve politics in Palestine. Mary and Sherlock call in Mycroft and the latest Inspector Lestrade to help them and each goes undercover to uncover the clues. I enjoyed the setting. Many of the characters were interesting people including Colonel Dennis Edwards who is one of the group who were planning to support Miss Ruskin's next dig. Even though he couldn't be more misogynistic, Mary finds him attractive and somehow likable. I liked some of the walk-ons like a brief mention of Tolkien and possibly Lord Peter Wimsey. I also liked seeing how Holmes and Russell's marriage is progressing.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Mary Russell has noted the tell-tale signs of boredom in her husband, Sherlock Holmes, when his mind is not being stimulated with a case. His malaise ends when the couple receives an unexpected visit from a former acquaintance, Dorothy Ruskin, an amateur archeologist. Ms. Ruskin is seeking Mary's assistance in authenticating and translating a 1st century papyrus letter reportedly written by Mary Magdalene. Leaving the letter with Russell, she returns to London only to be killed in an apparent hit-in-run accident. However, when the couple begins looking into the accident they begin to believe that it was murder.Although I do enjoy Laurie King's writing and the relationship between Holmes and Russell, I believe that Sherlock Holmes himself summed up this novel at the end when he tells Russell, "I had such hope for this case...it's hardly worthy of any attention."
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    enough of this series for now....
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the third book in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. I loved the first book, was incredibly disappointed in the second, so I was hesitant to read this one. I’m so glad I decided to dive in! The writing was excellent. The characters showed growth. We revisited familiar faces but without dwelling so them for so long that it was just an attempt to recreate Doyle’s work. Mary is the star of the series and seeing Sherlock through her eyes is interesting enough. This particular mystery has Mary and Sherlock attempting to solve the unexpected murder of a good friend recently returned to England from an archaeological dig in the Middle East.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Summary: Settling into married domestic life is proving a little challenging for Mary Russell – it’s not a lifestyle that she’s particularly used to, and she definitely senses that her husband, the great Sherlock Holmes, is getting a little bored with the lack of intellectual stimulation. So when an old friend of Mary’s comes to visit, bringing with her something extraordinary, both Russell and Holmes perk up. Dorothy Ruskin is an archaeologist working in Palestine – interesting enough, but she’s also a woman. She also claims to have found something fascinating: a letter from Mary Magdalene to her sister Rachel, referring to herself as a disciple of Jesus. The experts have already dismissed the letter, but she turns it over to Mary, knowing what an impact such a finding could have on the church if it were verified as authentic. This puzzle enough might have been enough to keep Mary interested, and maybe even Holmes as well, but the very next day they learn that Miss Ruskin has been killed in a traffic accident in London. Now up to the pair of them to determine whether it really was an accident, or if something more sinister is afoot – and if it was murder, who could have been behind it, and did they want Miss Ruskin’s silence, or something else?Review: Oh goodness, I am enjoying the heck out of this series. The premise for this one is fantastic – I love the idea of an early feminist shake-up of the foundations of the Christian church, and the letter provides a good variety of plausible suspects – was it something to do with the church? Was it to do with Miss Ruskin’ss archaeological work, or the fact that she was a woman? Was it something else entirely? The clues in this story were doled out at the perfect pace, and I figured out a few things at the same time as the characters do, which always makes me feel smart. There was also some nice character development in this story, especially of Mary, and especially following her involvement with the church of bluestockings in the previous installment. The solution to the mystery, although entirely appropriate, was a little disappointing, but even that didn’t really bother me, I was enjoying the ride so much. I like Jenny Sterlin’s narration, although it’s a touch slow, but at 1.25x speed (hooray for the Audible app!) it’s just about perfect. 4.5 out of 5 stars.Recommendation: This series is fantastic, great for anyone who likes Sherlock Holmes and feminism. Each of the books works fairly independently, but there is some slow build on the characters that I think it’s worth reading them in order.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is absolutely my most favorite series ever! Every book in the series is fantastic-5 star! If you like Sherlock Holmes, you have to read this pastiche. It's the best one I've read yet.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    trite and as bad as the last one, I shall probably not bother continuing the series. A friend fleeting mentioned in the first book, calls to visit and leaves Mary with an ornate box containing a letter from the previously unknown as a disciple Mary of Magdalene. Shortly after the friend dies and Holmes' immediately spots that it could have been murder - this is the only interesting bit of the whole book as we get a bit of deductive reasoning and some banter with the young LestradeII. There are a few possibilities of perpetrators but rather than try and be clever about it they just brute force a solution by watching all of them. Which is dull. The original religious pamphlet bears no influence on the plot and is only there as I presume another step in the road to King attempting to convert SH. I shall read no more as they are irritating rather than enjoyable, but a shame because the first was so good.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The third book in the Mary Russell series, I really enjoyed A Letter of Mary. On audio it is excellent and I highly recommend it to those who enjoy listening to their books when it suits. A brief summary (which I just copied from BL new book page!): The quiet in the Holmes household in Sussex is shaken when Dorothy Ruskin, an amateur archaeologist from the Holy Land, appears with an exquisite inlaid box containing a scrap of ancient writing. Miss Ruskin soon dies in a traffic accident that Holmes and Mary prove was murder. But what was the motivation? Was it the little inlaid box holding the manuscript? Or the woman's involvement in the volatile politics of the Holy Land? Or could it have been the manuscript itself - a letter seemingly written by Mary Magdalene that contains a biblical bombshell. Generally speaking, I avoid books where religion is a theme; rarely do they avoid being preachy. Even more rare is the book that pulls it off without reducing religion and faith to a simplistic, one dimensional "God will make everything ok" mentality. But I do really enjoy books that look at religion and faith from an academic, historical or theological perspective. These type of books, even if you don't agree with everything said, come across more often as well-thought-out and thought-inspiring. A Letter of Mary does not use religion as a major plot point, but it is a theme, from an academic p.o.v., and it is thought provoking (although probably less so for atheists). Sherlock Holmes is more "Sherlockian" in this third book than he was in A Monstrous Regiment of Women. He was also a much bigger presence in this book; I appreciated that; I like Mary, but I'm in this for Sherlock! Mary Russell seems to have become slightly contrary though. The first two books had her fighting for her right to take part in investigating cases and to be an equal partner. But in this third, she resents it; she fights against it adamantly at first. I'd call it a one-off, but I've started the fourth book The Moor last night, and she starts off even more irritated at being pulled into an investigation. Perhaps as the series progresses this sudden reluctance will be explained. I loved the plot of this one; it might be my favorite so far. Ms. King didn't try to outdo herself with über criminals, or genius masterminds. The crime is clever, the story is well-plotted and the criminal is cunning, but in the end it's almost as much circumstance as Sherlock/Russell that ties it all up in the end. I liked it quite a bit as it makes a nice change from the "extraordinary ordinary". These books have made driving something to look forward to and I'm really anticipating the next errand to run, the next drive-across-town, so I can continue with The Moor. The game is afoot! ;)
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Technically I would give this 2.5 stars, and I ought to be generous and round it up to 3, but I'm too annoyed at the ending. The ending she wrote for this book MAY have solved the crime (with an after-the-fact resolution reminiscent of Hercule Poirot at his worst -- without even the drama of having all the players present), but the story leading up to the ending was only tangentially connected to it! It is BAD when the red herrings comprise nearly the entire story! It makes us distrust the actual ending, because there's no THERE there to support it. /grouse.

    Book #1 was good. I still like the 'verse. I still find myself far more interested in feminist Judaism than in the actual solving of these crimes...which is perhaps a clue that I'm reading the wrong book and should go find something catalogued under Thealogy instead. But I want to love a book in this 'verse. I want to be fully satisfied by a fluffy Mary Sue Holmes!fic fan novel. And I know from reading fanfic that it's entirely possible, and these things are fast reads that require little concentration, so I suppose I'll keep reading them.

    Also annoying: I found all characters not Mary and not the colonel sadly two-dimensional. Even Holmes, who wasn't remotely bitchy enough. I haven't actually binged on ACD in about 25 years (it was an epic binge, though), so maybe it's time I dive back into that, too. *g*

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Another successful installment of the Mary Russell series. Those who already love the series will not be disappointed, and although it is fine as a stand-alone novel, I don't know that I could recommend it as an introduction to the series.Although this story doesn't take Holmes or Russell very far outside of London in terms of travel, it nonetheless has all the hallmarks of every book thus far in the series: an excellent portrayal of an older Holmes, an intriguing puzzle to be solved, wonderfully vivid characters, and an absorbing narrative. However, I with this book would have shed a bit more light on Russell's scholarly theological work. Her interest in theology serves as a nice counterpoint to Holmes' disregard of it and deserves to be explored more in depth.This is especially true given that much of the plot centers around Mary's growing fascination with a Margaret, a woman who draws her deeper into a cult-like group that seems to have mystical powers.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    For some reason, I thought the book that revealed Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes to be married would have a bit more fanfare surrounding the event, but it is stated as a matter of fact. (Those of you who think I just fell headlong into the spoiler pit, think again. The marriage is mentioned in the very first line of the synopsis.) Although there is no celebration, readers do see the two trying to become accustomed to being a pair, such as when Holmes says "I am not criticising, Russell. There is nothing wrong with the way you gather information-- far from it, in fact. It is only that I still find it difficult to accustom myself to being half of a creature with two brains and four eyes. A superior creature to a single detective, no doubt, but it takes some getting used to."A Letter of Mary is filled with witty repartee, and an entire section is given over to Mary's undercover work as a private secretary to two possible suspects: a wealthy man and his lecherous son. (The scene in which Mary takes care of the son is well worth the price of admission.) In addition to the two suspects, readers see this formidable pair of detectives working with the son of Inspector Lestrade, Mycroft Holmes, and one of the Baker Street Irregulars, among others, making this third book in the series have the best cast of secondary characters so far.With a manuscript of such incendiary potential, I was hoping for some fireworks by book's end, but they didn't really materialize. What does materialize is the continuing "humanization" of Sherlock Holmes. Laurie R. King does a superb job of "appropriating" the world's greatest detective that we all know and love and showing that he is capable, not only of great love and affection, but of a relationship with a very strong and intelligent woman who is every bit his match. Conan Doyle allowed us a glimpse of Holmes' heart in his stories, and in King's series, we see it beating strongly. Is it any wonder that I'm hooked?
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Another Holmes / Russell mystery. This book could have been a similar book to The DaVinci Code, but takes a turn into figuring out the murder of an archaeologist rather than the details of an ancient papyrus, reportedly authored by Mary Magdalene. This book doesn't go far enough into DaVinci land, but the possibility is distinctly there. It was published in 1998, well before the DaVinci phenomenon and I wonder if Ms. King is kicking herself for not taking that element of the story farther?
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is the third in the Mary Russell series and projects the reader about two and a half years forward into the life of the Russell/Holmes partnership. It is amusing and occasionally startling to see the adjustments they've made. In many ways it's as much about that evolution as about the plot.(I'm valiantly avoiding spoilers in what follows!). A beloved secondary character from BEEKEEPER turns up with a metaphorical and literal puzzle, enclosed in beautiful inlaid box. A terrible murder follows and it's up to Russell and Holmes to figure all of it out, at considerable cost to themselves.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    **This is the third book in a series and may have spoilers for the previous two**Mary Russell, happily married to Sherlock Holmes, is working diligently on her theology papers, but both she and her husband are bored until archaeologist Dorothy Ruskin drops in with a letter that may affect both the Christian church and how women are perceived. Miss Ruskin's subsequent murder has both Russell and Holmes on the case to find her murderer and the motive.I continue to enjoy the Mary Russell series set in 1920s England with a semi-retired Sherlock Holmes and his young wife. Actually, she's very much younger, which is a little weird. I wasn't quite as taken with this one as I was with A Monstrous Regiment, perhaps because Russell and Holmes worked apart for much of the story which resulted in less banter, and also because the letter isn't as groundbreaking to my mind as it would have been in the historical time period (also, I know this book was published first, but it definitely loses in comparison to the "revelations" of The Da Vinci Code). An entertaining entry in the series, just not my favorite.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Another rollicking good ride with Russell and Holmes.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I think I was disappointed in Mary Russell at the end of this book. (Kind of spoilery...)

    I know that the author couldn't have her character make a big revelation that would shake-up society (at least, not do so and keep the premise that this is a biographical retelling) but I expected more courage from the character. Yes, she deals with danger well, but standing up for the truth seemed like an inescapable element of her character as well. To have that lacking was a let-down for me.

    I enjoyed the book, but the ending felt weak.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed this one far more the second time than I did the first time I read it. Perhaps it is the experience of the audio book. It still isn't the strongest mystery of the series. Certainly the puzzles are, to me, less intriguing, and there is a marked difference in the level of action as compared to the first two books. This is more of a cozy, lacking some of the energy of the earlier books (and of the later books).

    This one is more of a character study, an analysis of the relationship between Mary and Holmes as it matures and develops. Many of the scenes in the novel are only tangentially related to the central mystery, but they allow us to see what is going on with Mary and, to a lesser extend (because this is told in first person from Mary's point of view) with Holmes.

    Written several years before The Da Vinci Code, the titular "letter of Mary" refers to a papyrus purported to contain a letter written by Mary of Magdalene, who refers to herself as one of Jesus' disciples. Thus, it appears this letter and the huge effect it would have on Christianity were it proved to be authentic are central to the mystery, but -- rather disappointingly, to me -- it's just a red herring that diverts Mary away from the more mundane motive for the crimes at the center of this book. Once again, Holmes does all the interesting detective work that solves the mystery at hand, with Mary as an assistant, while her own endeavors are rather quickly summed up, dismissed, and left unseen after she (and we) discover she was on the wrong trail.

    Not a bad read, really. The audio book made painting an office and driving around on errands much more interesting.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The third Russell/Holmes book, populated by a whole shoal of red herrings and a bit of an anticlimactic ending (which is, to be fair, as disappointing to Holmes as it is to the reader). I wish a few of the plot threads had been tugged a little more, but the writing was still very good and I'm enjoying the development of the Holmes-Russell dynamic.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Third in Laurie King's Mary Russell / Sherlock Holmes series, this book begins with Russell married to Holmes (from the end of #2), who encounters the death of an archaeologist friend and a strange letter of possible antiquity. Murder is the theme, and the book is written with the same care as previous volumes. I'm hooked on this series as an old Holmes fan, and I find King's treatment refreshing.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I am not a fan of Arthur Conan Doyle. Perhaps it is Watson's adoration of Sherlock that bothers me, but I have never loved Sherlock Holmes, finding that self-satisfied arrogance simply irritating. The Russell/Holmes series, however, is fast becoming one of my favorite mystery series--which says a lot. Mary is a terrific character, and I thoroughly enjoy her voice and perspective. She seems to give Sherlock a humanity and humor that I wasn't expecting; it almost makes me want to go back to Doyle and give the original another shot. I just can't seem to read this series fast enough.However, in this installment, I found the mystery itself to be a bit of a let-down. There was so much leading up to it, but the denouement was, frankly, anti-climactic. I, at least, spent a while in the first third of the book thinking, "Well, was it--oh, no, that's too easy, there's got to be lots more to it than *that*." But there wasn't. The characters, though, are what makes it all worthwhile--and I was delighted that Sherlock was as disappointed in the reveal as I was. Can't wait to read book 4!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    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.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I'm a little torn over this series. I have made it through the first three books, but have had to slog through all of the them. They are well written, and I absolutely love the concept, but for some reason the characters and plot are only just barely drawing me in. Enough that I have read the first three books, but each book had to be renewed multiple times at the library, was punctuated by other books quickly devoured, and ultimately ended with a quick perusal of the ending in order to return the book to avoid an overdue fine. I want to like this series, but I just am not sure I can.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was the first Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes book I ever read, and of those first three I have read, this is still my favorite. I picked up the book intrigued that it involved a papyrus letter of Mary Magdalene and found so much more. Set in 1923, Russell and Holmes are a married couple in this book. I loved from the first the blend of genres--mystery, historical fiction, even a bit of romance in the relationship between Russell and Holmes. It's there, it's touching, King manages to even make Holmes sexy, yet the relationship is unconventional and unsentimental enough to ring true for him. And yet Holmes remains very much the Holmes of Doyle. Early on King has Holmes make one of his amazing string of deductions and I had to just smile widely. For me Mary Russell not only makes a great match and foil, but she's saved from being a Mary Sue by her own vulnerabilities and faults, even outright crankiness at times; I liked the voice King created for her, and found her style a pleasure to read. I thought King just hit her stride here. The previous book, A Monstrous Regiment of Women had I think not enough of Holmes, but this one came across more as a balance. There's even a delightful scene where you can recognize Sayer's Lord Peter Wimsey, and a brief mention of Tolkien as a young Oxford Don. In other words, this is a fun rump. Too well-written I think to describe quite as comfort food reading or a guilty pleasure, but truly a pleasure that made me eager to pounce on the other books in the series.