NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell–Sherlock Holmes series weaves rich historical detail and provocative themes with intriguing characters and enthralling suspense. Russell and Holmes have become one of modern literature’s most beloved teams. But does this adventure end it all? Mary Russell is used to dark secrets—her own, and those of her famous partner and husband, … partner and husband, Sherlock Holmes. Trust is a thing slowly given, but over the course of a decade together, the two have forged an indissoluble bond.
And what of the other person to whom Mary Russell has opened her heart: the couple’s longtime housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson? Russell’s faith and affection are suddenly shattered when a man arrives on the doorstep claiming to be Mrs. Hudson’s son.
What Samuel Hudson tells Russell cannot possibly be true, yet she believes him—as surely as she believes the threat of the gun in his hand. In a devastating instant, everything changes. And when the scene is discovered—a pool of blood on the floor, the smell of gunpowder in the air—the most shocking revelation of all is that the grim clues point directly to Clara Hudson.
Or rather to Clarissa, the woman she was before Baker Street.
The key to Russell’s sacrifice lies in Mrs. Hudson’s past. To uncover the truth, a frantic Sherlock Holmes must put aside his anguish and push deep into his housekeeper’s secrets—to a time before her disguise was assumed, before her crimes were buried away.
There is death here, and murder, and trust betrayed.
And nothing will ever be the same.
Praise for The Murder of Mary Russell
“Leaping narrative energy has always been a hallmark of this series, and it reaches something of a peak in this latest volume. . . . The lean momentum of the story never falters. . . . It’s a stunning prolonged feat of storytelling, and it succeeds in making The Murder of Mary Russell the best installment so far in an excellent series.”—The Christian Science Monitor
“[A] sharp, inventive and rewarding series.”—The Seattle Times
“Delightful . . . a triumph of plotting . . . Fans, always hungry to know more personal details about King’s iteration of Sherlock Holmes and his world, will get a few more delicious tidbits this time around.”—Booklist (starred review)
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I have read all of the Mary Russell series by Laurie King. I have found this book to be as wonderful as our first introduction to Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes in Beekeepers Apprentice.
I am just floored at Ms. King’s ability to unlock another door and create a whole other story about Sherlock Holmes and the people in his universe’s orbit.
This time we are peeking into the life and times of Mrs Hudson. I’m gushing at the whole adventure. I highly recommend this book. With all due respect if only “Mr. Watson” had the turn of phrase as well as Laurie King. The historical England and Australia shown through the life of Mrs. Hudson and her back story kept me reading throughout the night.
PS: I am really missing Kate Martinelli and hope that her story series can also continue.
PSS: Keep giving us this wonderful look into Mary and Mr. Holmes life and I’ll get over my grief of missing another beloved character.
It doesn’t get much better than another book in the saga of Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell by Laurie King! This book recounts the story of yet another beloved Holmesian character who has never been front and center before.
I recommend it highly!!
Have loved all of the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes books by Laurie R. King, but this last one was my favorite. A secondary character was developed fully, time was played with, and details were obviously thoroughly researched. Intelligent, interesting, fun, and kept you wondering and guessing.
Possibly Laurie R. King’s best Russell and Holmes yet! Holmes arrives home to find Russell gone, signs of a struggle, and a goodly amount of blood on the floor….. And what does Mrs. Hudson know of this? Shifting between past and present, we learn the events from Mrs. Hudson’s past that led inexorably to that blood on the floor. And indeed, the connection between Holmes and Mrs. Hudson did not begin on Baker Street. This is a marvelous addition to the Russell and Holmes saga that cannot be missed!
As ever, Laurie King writes a good, well-paced mystery. In this one she’s managed the shifts between present day dangers to Mary and 30 years old stories from Mrs Hudson’s life. The classic question, “how did they start?” gets the star treatment here.
Really enjoy all the Laurie King Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell books.
I love reading the series of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. This one was somewhat different than earlier volumes in the series, but I enjoyed how long it took for everything to fall into place.
While this is not the strongest book in this series, it is essential to the canon. Some of the early historical sections felt overly long and too detailed. Persevering brought me to the clever, intricately interlocking stories that Laurie King does so well.
This is a worthy entry to the Sherlock Holmes canon. Enjoy!
All the Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell books are great extensions of the Holmes canon and this is no exception. Deepens and humanizes Holmes and Mary is a worthy partner.
A new and enjoyable addition for all Holmes lovers. It fits without being slavish to the originals. Fun series!
As with all of Laurie R. King’s Sherlock/Mary Russell books, this one takes full advantage of the unique premises on which this series is based. It takes some surprising turns with a satisfying conclusion.
This series has been a favorite since I read book one. Part of that has been due to the strong cast of surrounding characters that support the fabulous twisting mysteries and the Russell and Holmes detecting team. This latest, The Murder of Mary Russell, takes for its theme the secret life and past of one Mrs. Clara Hudson, long time landlady and then housekeeper for her eccentric brilliant Mr. Holmes.
The book opens with a shocking opening scene involving Mary and a sinister guest. But then it begins dipping back into the past telling a story of Mr. James and Sally Hudson, their children, and young Clarissa Hudson’s life which was anything, but respectable.
Clarissa Hudson’s story intersects with a young Sherlock Holmes when he is working his first case, The Adventure of the Gloria Scott involving the mutiny aboard ship of sailors and men being transported to Australia, a certain lost fortune, and the survivors of a ship lost at sea.
This was an interesting addition to the series. I enjoyed it, but I had to change my expectations to do it. I was expecting a typical Russell and Holmes adventure where they are presented with a case or situation and work to solve it separately and together. There is a bit of that. However, the bulk of this story is more the fictional biography of Mrs. Hudson. Her history is detailed out and its a real humdinger. Readers who are impatient for Russell and Holmes might be tempted to rush through it- I know I was, at first, but be patient because her history does have strong baring on the present situation. Oh, lands, does it! It was only near the end when I the reveals started coming that I gasped at the brilliance of the story and started making the true connections.
So, in the end, this was another wonderful book from the Mary Russell world. Incidentally, I loved that the history also gave Billy Mudd’s origin story, too. And, sigh, a young Sherlock. The series just keeps holding strong and wowing me with the surprise twists.
Great character development and gave a great description of the time period. As a huge Sherlock Holmes fan I loved the fact that the housekeeper was not what she seemed all those years through all those stories!
I was a real Holmes purist but Laurie King changed my mind. Plus I love Mary Russell.
One of my favorites of this series.
Thoroughly engrossing!
All of Laurie King’s books are great, well written, imaginable, and a great reads
I love this book.
Ms. King bring back memories of Sir Conan Doyle in a way no one ever expected.