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

Enjoyable and consistent in its characters and world building. A bit rushed in the end though. Not as seemless as the one first two books in the series.

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.

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.

A Letter of Mary opens with Holmes and Mary enjoying a quiet day at home when archeologist Dorothy Ruskin, an old friend, suddenly appears at their door. In England for a short time on business, Dorothy has stopped by primarily to give Mary an ancient manuscript that, if proven real, would cause a serious biblical ruckus. A few days later, Mary and Holmes receive word that Dorothy has died in a hit and run accident. Suspicious of the circumstances surrounding her death, Mary and Holmes set out on an investigation that leads them to believe Dorothy's death was per-meditated murder. Soon the investigation leads to them going separate ways while they work undercover inspecting their two main suspects.This installment was good, but definitely my least favorite out of the Mary Russell series so far. I find the stories that focus primarily on religion bore me. Since a major portion of this one's plot revolved around an item with possible biblical roots, I ended up extremely bored at times. It also doesn't help that Mary tends to nerd-out on religious theory.Also, I wasn't into the undercover bit of this plot. Mary's work while incognito just seemed really... useless. I didn't understand her fear of becoming too much like the person she was pretending to be. Mostly because the woman Mary was impersonating was so opposite to who she actually is, that I didn't believe she would have a real fear of keeping herself separate. In addition, I couldn't comprehend her attraction to the man she was investigating. It's made clear that the person she was pretending to be would be attracted to him, but seriously? The guy was a misogynist douche and Mary noted being put-off by a lot of what he said and did, so I just didn't get her turmoil. However, the resolution of Mary coming to terms with what she felt while undercover was nicely done.The other issue I had with this book came from feeling a little cheated at how much of the main mystery happened off page. I understand what King was trying to do by having it play out this way, but I didn't derive the same thrill from the "who did it" revelation at the end.From this review, it sounds like I didn't like A Letter of Mary at all, but I did enjoy it. There's something comforting about King's writing and her characters are always entertaining. I just didn't click very well with the main plot of this book. All in all, it was a good addition to the series, but not one that I'll be revisiting anytime soon.

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.

Here we have very young Mary (c 21/22) married to Sherlock in his 60s. An apparently contented and cerebral marriage but, maybe, with a touch of weariness, or mixed feelings on Holmes' part in relation this latest case involving an apparently ancient letter and many confusing messages. Why they have to be quite so confusing and obscure in some instances as the case unfolded was lost on me. Sure...the style is engaging and feels authentic for its time. BUT...here is a character that 'tells the story' (supposedly) of academic integrity and just blows it. I shall not spell it out here, as, in the event you love this book, it would spoil it for you. But it just did not ring true for me. Sorry. Laurier King. I think you lost sight of your guiding star here, for me.

I am enjoying this series, even though at times Holmes is frustratingly Doyle-ish....by which I mean the clinging to the "elementary" and use of interpreting minutiae. There is a faint move to allow of his becoming open to intuition, but merely a whisper, not followed up. I enjoy the scholarly bent, although more of a leaning towards actual historical fact and less academic (almost rabbinic) musings would be nice. I disagree with other reviews who label this novel as a bit slow. The solution may have been disappointingly realistic, but the nuances and emerging feminism are quite fascinating. Mary, despite her rational writing, is undoubtedly eccentric, and therefore not that easy to identify with.

I love this author, so very good, I have only just discovered these books first reading Jerusalem and now this one /Aletter from Mary. I must find more titles.

I love this series of books and had by accident started with the 10th. I have read 7 of them now and I felt this is perhaps the weakest for me. The plot subject was excellent and could have been much more explosive. The book certainly began with all the promise of another excellent book from L King but at the end I felt 'well is that it...'. I had guessed the perpetrator half way through, and the plot began to loose pace. I persevered for the 'why' but was left with a vague sense of disappointment. However , because I have already read some of the later books I would say anyone starting out with this series persevere it does get much, much better.