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Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes #14
The Murder of Mary Russell
Mary Russell is used to dark secrets—her own, and those of her famous 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.
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.
384 pages, ebook
First published April 5, 2016
1005 people are currently reading
11888 people want to read
About the author
Laurie R. King
131 books6,814 followersEdgar-winning mystery writer Laurie R. King writes series and standalone novels. Her official forum is
THE LRK VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB here on Goodreads--please join us for book-discussing fun.
King's 2018 novel, Island of the Mad, sees Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes travel from London's Bedlam to the glitter of Venice's Lido,where Young Things and the friends of Cole Porter pass Mussolini's Blackshirts in the streets. The Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series follows a brilliant young woman who becomes the student, then partner, of the great detective. [click here for an excerpt of the first in the series, The Beekeeper's Apprentice] The Stuyvesant and Grey series (Touchstone; The Bones of Paris) takes place in Europe between the Wars. The Kate Martinelli series follows an SFPD detective's cases on a female Rembrandt, a holy fool, and more. [Click for an excerpt of A Grave Talent]
King lives in northern California, which serves as backdrop for some of her books.
Please note that Laurie checks her Goodreads inbox intermittently, so it may take some time to receive a reply. A quicker response may be possible via email to info@laurierking.com.
THE LRK VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB here on Goodreads--please join us for book-discussing fun.
King's 2018 novel, Island of the Mad, sees Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes travel from London's Bedlam to the glitter of Venice's Lido,where Young Things and the friends of Cole Porter pass Mussolini's Blackshirts in the streets. The Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series follows a brilliant young woman who becomes the student, then partner, of the great detective. [click here for an excerpt of the first in the series, The Beekeeper's Apprentice] The Stuyvesant and Grey series (Touchstone; The Bones of Paris) takes place in Europe between the Wars. The Kate Martinelli series follows an SFPD detective's cases on a female Rembrandt, a holy fool, and more. [Click for an excerpt of A Grave Talent]
King lives in northern California, which serves as backdrop for some of her books.
Please note that Laurie checks her Goodreads inbox intermittently, so it may take some time to receive a reply. A quicker response may be possible via email to info@laurierking.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,412 reviews
May 29, 2017
THE MURDER OF MARY RUSSELL is the fourteenth book in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series, and I have read every single one of the books. This series is actually one of my absolute favorites, and to say that I've been waiting to read this book is an understatement.
READ THE WHOLE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE WHOLE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
March 31, 2016
When Mrs. Hudson arrives home from her shopping, she is shocked to find trails of blood, but even more shocking is that Mary Russell is nowhere to be found. Putting an ad in the paper, the signal she uses when she needs Holmes to come as soon as possible. So here it begins.
Long readers of this series are in for a treat because for the first time we are taken into Mrs. Hudson's past, a past that quite frankly I found amazing. After many years as Holmes's housekeeper, she has just always been there, lending a helping hand when needed, keeping the home front functioning and steady but oh what a past this lady has. We learn how she and Billy first met and how she came to know the much younger Sherlock Holmes.
Of course the past and its secrets always seems to come back to haunt and so it is in this case which will take them all back many, many years before arriving once again in the future and the answer it provides. As always extremely entertaining, even if in this one Sherlock is not the main star. Love this series, it is never dull.
ARC from Netgalley.
Long readers of this series are in for a treat because for the first time we are taken into Mrs. Hudson's past, a past that quite frankly I found amazing. After many years as Holmes's housekeeper, she has just always been there, lending a helping hand when needed, keeping the home front functioning and steady but oh what a past this lady has. We learn how she and Billy first met and how she came to know the much younger Sherlock Holmes.
Of course the past and its secrets always seems to come back to haunt and so it is in this case which will take them all back many, many years before arriving once again in the future and the answer it provides. As always extremely entertaining, even if in this one Sherlock is not the main star. Love this series, it is never dull.
ARC from Netgalley.
February 13, 2025
I read this book in a way that can only be described as “slowly chipping away at it.” It wasn’t bad at all, but I think it’s a bit of a odd choice to have half of the book entirely in an in-depth flash-back on Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock Holmes’ housekeeper. I mean, this is the fifteenth installment in the series and I haven't read any of the others, so maybe this is a "scraping the bottom of the barrel" kind of thing. Well, maybe that's too mean, because the quality of the writing genuinely spectacular, but the truth is that generally in mysteries, I mostly enjoy learning information at the same time as the characters, because otherwise, it just ends with all the characters playing catch-up on information that we already know!
More importantly, let's talk a little bit about Sherlock Holmes! I’m always really interested in reading retellings of iconic characters, and then examining them through a different lens by taking away everything that makes them iconic. Who are they without the gimmicks? Take away Victorian London and his lover Dr. Watson, and let's see what's at the core of Mr. Sherlock Holmes!? What's going on in there!?!? Well, according to this book, he’s the same… he’s literally the same guy! Boo~ooring!!! Now look, I know that he’s a beloved character and people don't like it when our heroes are changed, but this was such a great opportunity to show what he could be if he had the tiniest bit of character development. Maybe he grew up a bit? This book is supposed to be decades on and he hasn’t even changed a little? We're in the new century by now and he hasn't changed his opinions on anything!? I don't know, maybe this wouldn't have been such a big issue for me if it didn't feel like Mary Russell was the same exact character as Sherlock Holmes was. Quick, smart, and knows everything that's about to happen... yeah, we've already seen that before. And then with Mycroft’s inclusion, there’s at least threeevery character is Sherlock Holmes. Nobody ever appreciates Watson's use in Sherlock Holmes stories, but he's there for a reason, and there's something missing when he's not. I’m sorry, but my favorite iteration of Sherlock Holmes will always be in The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club series, where he's a little older, a little kinder, and thus, a little more tolerable.
On a positive note, I thought this book was fantastically written and the mystery aspect was incredibly well crafted. Despite my minor complaints, all of the characters, especially Clarissa Hudson, were fascinating, and contrary to what the punchy title might have you believe, this was very much her story.
“‘Why do women find relief a greater burden than fear.’ His exasperation made for a blessed note of normality, and Mrs. Hudson responded in kind. ‘Perhaps because we have so little experience with relief.’”
More importantly, let's talk a little bit about Sherlock Holmes! I’m always really interested in reading retellings of iconic characters, and then examining them through a different lens by taking away everything that makes them iconic. Who are they without the gimmicks? Take away Victorian London and his lover Dr. Watson, and let's see what's at the core of Mr. Sherlock Holmes!? What's going on in there!?!? Well, according to this book, he’s the same… he’s literally the same guy! Boo~ooring!!! Now look, I know that he’s a beloved character and people don't like it when our heroes are changed, but this was such a great opportunity to show what he could be if he had the tiniest bit of character development. Maybe he grew up a bit? This book is supposed to be decades on and he hasn’t even changed a little? We're in the new century by now and he hasn't changed his opinions on anything!? I don't know, maybe this wouldn't have been such a big issue for me if it didn't feel like Mary Russell was the same exact character as Sherlock Holmes was. Quick, smart, and knows everything that's about to happen... yeah, we've already seen that before. And then with Mycroft’s inclusion, there’s at least threeevery character is Sherlock Holmes. Nobody ever appreciates Watson's use in Sherlock Holmes stories, but he's there for a reason, and there's something missing when he's not. I’m sorry, but my favorite iteration of Sherlock Holmes will always be in The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club series, where he's a little older, a little kinder, and thus, a little more tolerable.
On a positive note, I thought this book was fantastically written and the mystery aspect was incredibly well crafted. Despite my minor complaints, all of the characters, especially Clarissa Hudson, were fascinating, and contrary to what the punchy title might have you believe, this was very much her story.
“‘Why do women find relief a greater burden than fear.’ His exasperation made for a blessed note of normality, and Mrs. Hudson responded in kind. ‘Perhaps because we have so little experience with relief.’”
June 21, 2016
3.5 stars
Let me get a couple of things out of the way. First, I'm a huge fan of this series & wait impatiently for each instalment. Second, this is a well written book. So you may ask why 3.5 stars?
It begins with a bang when Mary opens her door to a stranger. But despite the title, this is a book about Mrs. Hudson. What follows is the extremely detailed story of her life from birth to present day. And while I've always found her an engaging secondary character, she is not why I read these books.
With the bulk of space devoted to her history, Mary & Holmes are reduced to minor characters. There are initially a few short chapters that detail Mary's encounter with someone from the housekeeper's past but Holmes doesn't appear until the halfway mark.
I read these because I love following our intrepid couple on their adventures. For me, everything revolves around the fascinating relationship between the famous detective & his young, bookish wife. Their shared intelligence & witty dialogue are the foundation of each mystery they solve & I missed that here. The book finally took off at the 70% mark (IMHO), going from tough slog to page turner with the injection of Mary & Holmes into the story.
Mrs. Hudson has led a surprisingly colourful life so if you've ever wondered about her & how she ended up with Holmes, give this a try. Just know it's a departure from previous books in the series.
Let me get a couple of things out of the way. First, I'm a huge fan of this series & wait impatiently for each instalment. Second, this is a well written book. So you may ask why 3.5 stars?
It begins with a bang when Mary opens her door to a stranger. But despite the title, this is a book about Mrs. Hudson. What follows is the extremely detailed story of her life from birth to present day. And while I've always found her an engaging secondary character, she is not why I read these books.
With the bulk of space devoted to her history, Mary & Holmes are reduced to minor characters. There are initially a few short chapters that detail Mary's encounter with someone from the housekeeper's past but Holmes doesn't appear until the halfway mark.
I read these because I love following our intrepid couple on their adventures. For me, everything revolves around the fascinating relationship between the famous detective & his young, bookish wife. Their shared intelligence & witty dialogue are the foundation of each mystery they solve & I missed that here. The book finally took off at the 70% mark (IMHO), going from tough slog to page turner with the injection of Mary & Holmes into the story.
Mrs. Hudson has led a surprisingly colourful life so if you've ever wondered about her & how she ended up with Holmes, give this a try. Just know it's a departure from previous books in the series.
April 5, 2016
The title of this latest Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes is enough to make long-time fans, including me, of this series wring their hands and bite their nails. Murder of Mary Russell? Has author Laurie King lost her mind? Have fans not shown how much they love Mary? Well, there was nothing to do but read the book and hope for the best.
So, what to tell those who haven’t read The Murder of Mary Russell. I can tell you that Laurie King has written a brilliant book, one of the best in the series. There is so much of the unexpected and it’s all so beautifully written that I can only conclude Laurie is a genius. The characters are all cleverly written, creating a sustained interest in the scoundrels as well as the more admired, Mary Russell and her husband Sherlock Holmes. But, it is Mrs. Hudson who steals the show in this book. It so happens that Mrs. Hudson has a past, and, what an interesting past this quiet, efficient woman has. She didn’t just appear at 221 Baker St., a grown woman with no history. Her story is quite worthy of its own telling.
And, now I have to stop short of revealing the plot of this gripping story, as that would diminish the joy for others of discovering every savory, surprising tidbit that makes this book one of the best books I’ve had the pleasure of reading. The only final information that I dare impart is that there is blood, quite a substantial bit, on the floor of the parlor in the Sussex house shared by Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell, and Mary Russell is missing. Ready, set, read!
So, what to tell those who haven’t read The Murder of Mary Russell. I can tell you that Laurie King has written a brilliant book, one of the best in the series. There is so much of the unexpected and it’s all so beautifully written that I can only conclude Laurie is a genius. The characters are all cleverly written, creating a sustained interest in the scoundrels as well as the more admired, Mary Russell and her husband Sherlock Holmes. But, it is Mrs. Hudson who steals the show in this book. It so happens that Mrs. Hudson has a past, and, what an interesting past this quiet, efficient woman has. She didn’t just appear at 221 Baker St., a grown woman with no history. Her story is quite worthy of its own telling.
And, now I have to stop short of revealing the plot of this gripping story, as that would diminish the joy for others of discovering every savory, surprising tidbit that makes this book one of the best books I’ve had the pleasure of reading. The only final information that I dare impart is that there is blood, quite a substantial bit, on the floor of the parlor in the Sussex house shared by Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell, and Mary Russell is missing. Ready, set, read!
April 8, 2016
This was...not great. Ms. King can do better.
**** I'm editing this review because after thinking about it for 12 hours this book is still making mad and I have thoughts.****
I stayed up way past my bedtime to read this book, so the fact that it was so...not good...ticks me off. And it's not that the book was "bad", it was just extremely boring. I will now present my complaints in a list:
1- Mary Russell isn't murdered. This isn't a spoiler by the way, because the author (well, "Mary Russell" has been saying on Twitter for months now that she doesn't die in the book. Why she would give the book this title and then repeatedly deflate the suspense is beyond me.
1B- Speaking of "Mary Russell", I am so so SO over Ms. King's schtick of Tweeting as "Mary Russell". I tend to follow authors because I want to get info on releases, bonus chapters, etc. I don't care that "Mrs. Hudson provided us a lovely tea in rainy Sussex today." Remember this point because it will be salient later.
2. Speaking of Mrs. Hudson, was ANYONE asking for a novel about her, especially from Ms. King? I generally like the books-re-told-from-the-POV-of-a-minor-character genre, but this wasn't that. Two thirds of this book is the backstory of Mrs. Hudson, her mother, her father, and her sister. Somehow Ms. King manages to take what could be an interesting idea (how and why the segments of the British population ended up in Australia in the 1800's) and make it EXCRUTIATINGLY boring. For over a hundred pages it's "So and so went here and did this. Then they went to there and did that." The backstory invented in this book for Mrs. Hudson is thin, and it doesn't do justice for that fine lady.
3. The villian(s) are never fully developed. They are villianous just because they woke up that way, I guess?
4. For a Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell book, Holmes and Russell are given very little screen time. It's all Hudsons, all the time. The time that Holmes and Russell are around, they are acting very out-of-character, especially Sherlock. (Lots of panicking, not thinking things through, generally acting like a third-rate village constable that regularly earn scorn from the Holmes' brothers.)
5. The ending is ambigous, and annoyingly so. You are lead to believe that Mrs. Hudson is going away, probably forever, because reasons (dumb ones, IMO). Mary is distraught. I'm not marking this as a spoiler because remember what I said earlier about "Mary Russell" and her Twitter feed? Yeah- deflated suspense all over again.
Look, I bought this book in hardback. I'll buy the next one in hardback. This is a great series overall. This book isn't worthy of the series. It can't even fall back on the "silliness" excuse used to explain the nonsense in THE PIRATE KING. I appreciate that Ms. King works hard to keep writing new books in her various series and releasing them in a timely fashion. But honestly? I'd rather have a really good (or even great) book every two or three years than mediocre banality every year. Take some time off, Ms. King! It's ok! We'll wait.
**** I'm editing this review because after thinking about it for 12 hours this book is still making mad and I have thoughts.****
I stayed up way past my bedtime to read this book, so the fact that it was so...not good...ticks me off. And it's not that the book was "bad", it was just extremely boring. I will now present my complaints in a list:
1- Mary Russell isn't murdered. This isn't a spoiler by the way, because the author (well, "Mary Russell" has been saying on Twitter for months now that she doesn't die in the book. Why she would give the book this title and then repeatedly deflate the suspense is beyond me.
1B- Speaking of "Mary Russell", I am so so SO over Ms. King's schtick of Tweeting as "Mary Russell". I tend to follow authors because I want to get info on releases, bonus chapters, etc. I don't care that "Mrs. Hudson provided us a lovely tea in rainy Sussex today." Remember this point because it will be salient later.
2. Speaking of Mrs. Hudson, was ANYONE asking for a novel about her, especially from Ms. King? I generally like the books-re-told-from-the-POV-of-a-minor-character genre, but this wasn't that. Two thirds of this book is the backstory of Mrs. Hudson, her mother, her father, and her sister. Somehow Ms. King manages to take what could be an interesting idea (how and why the segments of the British population ended up in Australia in the 1800's) and make it EXCRUTIATINGLY boring. For over a hundred pages it's "So and so went here and did this. Then they went to there and did that." The backstory invented in this book for Mrs. Hudson is thin, and it doesn't do justice for that fine lady.
3. The villian(s) are never fully developed. They are villianous just because they woke up that way, I guess?
4. For a Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell book, Holmes and Russell are given very little screen time. It's all Hudsons, all the time. The time that Holmes and Russell are around, they are acting very out-of-character, especially Sherlock. (Lots of panicking, not thinking things through, generally acting like a third-rate village constable that regularly earn scorn from the Holmes' brothers.)
5. The ending is ambigous, and annoyingly so. You are lead to believe that Mrs. Hudson is going away, probably forever, because reasons (dumb ones, IMO). Mary is distraught. I'm not marking this as a spoiler because remember what I said earlier about "Mary Russell" and her Twitter feed? Yeah- deflated suspense all over again.
Look, I bought this book in hardback. I'll buy the next one in hardback. This is a great series overall. This book isn't worthy of the series. It can't even fall back on the "silliness" excuse used to explain the nonsense in THE PIRATE KING. I appreciate that Ms. King works hard to keep writing new books in her various series and releasing them in a timely fashion. But honestly? I'd rather have a really good (or even great) book every two or three years than mediocre banality every year. Take some time off, Ms. King! It's ok! We'll wait.
May 18, 2016
Well written, as always; the mystery itself is decent and Holmes and Russell are everything I have come to expect.
However.
(The following contains spoilers.)
I do not like the backstory King has chosen for Mrs. Hudson. Making her a criminal beholden to Holmes' generosity weakens rather than strengthens the character. In my headcanon she has never owed him a thing, but as an independent human came into his life by her own free choice. Worse, Mary too is now beholden to the brothers to hide her own act - one that would have been fully justified, if allowed to come honestly to light. What was a household of mutual appreciation and shared intelligence has become one of secrets. Instead of acting together, these characters now act alone for what they each perceive, mostly wrongly, as the others' benefit. It serves no one and makes for an unpleasant story.
Beyond that, I enjoy this series primarily for Russell's voice, and an occasional glimpse from Holmes' POV. I got too little of that here. The journey through the past I found mostly dull, until those startling grey eyes showed up - and afterwards, I found only disappointment. So while King's writing remains as excellent as ever, her storytelling choices in this case left me wanting better.
However.
(The following contains spoilers.)
I do not like the backstory King has chosen for Mrs. Hudson. Making her a criminal beholden to Holmes' generosity weakens rather than strengthens the character. In my headcanon she has never owed him a thing, but as an independent human came into his life by her own free choice. Worse, Mary too is now beholden to the brothers to hide her own act - one that would have been fully justified, if allowed to come honestly to light. What was a household of mutual appreciation and shared intelligence has become one of secrets. Instead of acting together, these characters now act alone for what they each perceive, mostly wrongly, as the others' benefit. It serves no one and makes for an unpleasant story.
Beyond that, I enjoy this series primarily for Russell's voice, and an occasional glimpse from Holmes' POV. I got too little of that here. The journey through the past I found mostly dull, until those startling grey eyes showed up - and afterwards, I found only disappointment. So while King's writing remains as excellent as ever, her storytelling choices in this case left me wanting better.
February 1, 2018
This turned into a really good murder mystery. Sherlock is not the central character, instead its the women in his life, his young wife and the indomitable Mrs. Hudson. In this book we learn about Mrs. Hudson’s background. It’s written intermittently with the current murder in progress. Not one of my favorite story techniques, but it seemed to work well.
I’m usually picturing the characters standing by, checking their watches while the scenes on the next stage progress. 🤷🏼♀️
I’m usually picturing the characters standing by, checking their watches while the scenes on the next stage progress. 🤷🏼♀️
January 28, 2016
I am not a huge fan of novels that jet set between continents and leading readers through a whirl-wind tour of exotic locales. This is unusual, I know, but I want my novels to be based in one location, preferably the USA. With that being said, I became a HUGE fan of Laurie R. King when I read “Keeping Watch”, a standalone novel that moved me in ways I can’t explain. Of course, I immediately dove into “Folly”, and followed up with “A Darker Place”. Her Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series never grabbed my attention enough, although I know her writing is fabulous. Russell and Sherlock visited too many foreign lands for my taste, and I wasn’t that excited about a detective that has already been written, re-written, and exhausted. However, the ARC from Netgalley for “The Murder of Mary Russell” caught my eye and I thought, “Why not, maybe it’s time to dive into this series. After all, it appears that Mary is dead. Perhaps this is the end and King will return to the standalone books I so love.” And then, I started reading…
Mary Russell is caught home alone when a mysterious male visitor who identifies himself as Mrs. Hudson’s son arrives. Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock’s housekeeper of many years, has had little to no contact with her son since leaving him with her sister to raise many years ago. Already on high alert, Mary allows the man inside to wait for Mrs. Hudson, who is out of the house on a grocery trip. Things quickly go from concerning to violent, and the reader is left guessing what happened during a deadly physical struggle until the last few chapters of the book.
Sherlock is quick to unlock keys to the mystery, set keenly into how the house was left after the absence of Mary is discovered. He has little to go on other than descriptions and pictures Mrs. Hudson and the police have taken of the scene. He understands from the blood left behind that time is running out for Mary, if it isn’t already too late.
Holmes must use all his resources, calling on friends and foes from years past to unravel the clues which may save Mary’s life and will absolutely alter that of his dedicated housekeeper. As the pieces fall into place, will a shipwreck from 30 years ago be the key which brings Mary home alive?
King is very clear in her intentions for the Russell/Holmes series. She introduced a wickedly clever, young woman into the Holmes stories. Mary is the female counterpart to Holmes, first as his apprentice and shortly thereafter as his partner in mysteries and life. In a time when females were barely considered more than property, Mary earned Holmes’ trust, faith, and admiration.
Now that I have finished “The Murder of Mary Russell”, I have already torn through “The Beekeeper’s Apprentice” and am trying to pace myself through the rest of this series. I’m kicking myself for having waited this long for such a wonderful series.. I highly recommend this book to all fans of Laurie R. King and/or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Mary Russell is caught home alone when a mysterious male visitor who identifies himself as Mrs. Hudson’s son arrives. Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock’s housekeeper of many years, has had little to no contact with her son since leaving him with her sister to raise many years ago. Already on high alert, Mary allows the man inside to wait for Mrs. Hudson, who is out of the house on a grocery trip. Things quickly go from concerning to violent, and the reader is left guessing what happened during a deadly physical struggle until the last few chapters of the book.
Sherlock is quick to unlock keys to the mystery, set keenly into how the house was left after the absence of Mary is discovered. He has little to go on other than descriptions and pictures Mrs. Hudson and the police have taken of the scene. He understands from the blood left behind that time is running out for Mary, if it isn’t already too late.
Holmes must use all his resources, calling on friends and foes from years past to unravel the clues which may save Mary’s life and will absolutely alter that of his dedicated housekeeper. As the pieces fall into place, will a shipwreck from 30 years ago be the key which brings Mary home alive?
King is very clear in her intentions for the Russell/Holmes series. She introduced a wickedly clever, young woman into the Holmes stories. Mary is the female counterpart to Holmes, first as his apprentice and shortly thereafter as his partner in mysteries and life. In a time when females were barely considered more than property, Mary earned Holmes’ trust, faith, and admiration.
Now that I have finished “The Murder of Mary Russell”, I have already torn through “The Beekeeper’s Apprentice” and am trying to pace myself through the rest of this series. I’m kicking myself for having waited this long for such a wonderful series.. I highly recommend this book to all fans of Laurie R. King and/or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
August 6, 2016
Mary Russell is confronted by an unknown man at her home in the Sussex Downs. Sherlock Holmes is away for a few days and Mrs. Hudson is in town at the market. Mary figures out this man appears to think Mrs. Hudson is his mother and from there, the past becomes alive as the reader discovers the entire backstory of Mrs. Hudson and how she came to work for Sherlock Holmes. Fascinating story building about a beloved character.
March 21, 2021
After a strong start, this series lost its way a bit but has returned to its roots, beginning with Dreaming Spies. Most fans should find this volume, though not without its faults, a solid addition to the continuing story of Sherlock Holmes, Mary Russell, and their extended circle of family and friends.
Mrs. Hudson, loyal landlady and later supportive housekeeper, takes center stage here. Neither in the original Conan Doyle stories nor in the earlier books in the Russell-Holmes series are we told anything of how she came into Sherlock’s life. That omission is corrected here, in great and fascinating detail.
I must acknowledge that at times all that detail wore on me. The basic elements were necessary to drive this plot, but paring down some of the details would have kept me more fully engaged at points where the story seemed to stagnate a bit.
The plot is cleverly built around one of the Conan Doyle stories, providing a resolution that was missing from the original. Because of all the space devoted to Mrs. Hudson’s backstory, less than normal is available to Sherlock and Mary, but King makes the most of their time on the scene.
The conclusion of the book gave me an additional appreciation for the all the chapters spent on the backstory. I would still have preferred they had been shorter, but they definitely explained and leant credibility to the ending - and to Mrs. Hudson, the woman. I’m hoping that in future volumes we will revisit this fascinating element of her life. (Quite honestly, I’d like to comment more on what all these allusions mean, but there’s no way to do that without spoilers.)
Mrs. Hudson, loyal landlady and later supportive housekeeper, takes center stage here. Neither in the original Conan Doyle stories nor in the earlier books in the Russell-Holmes series are we told anything of how she came into Sherlock’s life. That omission is corrected here, in great and fascinating detail.
I must acknowledge that at times all that detail wore on me. The basic elements were necessary to drive this plot, but paring down some of the details would have kept me more fully engaged at points where the story seemed to stagnate a bit.
The plot is cleverly built around one of the Conan Doyle stories, providing a resolution that was missing from the original. Because of all the space devoted to Mrs. Hudson’s backstory, less than normal is available to Sherlock and Mary, but King makes the most of their time on the scene.
The conclusion of the book gave me an additional appreciation for the all the chapters spent on the backstory. I would still have preferred they had been shorter, but they definitely explained and leant credibility to the ending - and to Mrs. Hudson, the woman. I’m hoping that in future volumes we will revisit this fascinating element of her life. (Quite honestly, I’d like to comment more on what all these allusions mean, but there’s no way to do that without spoilers.)
May 17, 2016
This story was excruciatingly boring and disappointing. I love Mary Russell and have read them all & recommended them to others. I've even emailed Laurie King in the past to thank her for Russell & Holmes. The stories were so fresh & imaginative, well-written, clever and entertaining.
Not this one, sad to say. When I first saw the title (which is completely misleading), I gasped, then quickly realized Laurie would not kill off Russell. Still, it left me with a queer feeling so I dived right into it. The title made me anticipate that Russell & Holmes would be separated in this plot. And they were, to my disappointment. I read these for the interactions & ingenious sleuthing of Russell & Holmes as a team.
I'm not suggesting that Laurie did not write this book, but it absolutely does NOT read like her typical Mary Russell stories. The style is way off. The dialogue, pacing, phrasing, interactions, cleverness of plot line are all off the mark. The characterizations of Mary & Sherlock were so off that I barely recognized Holmes. There was NOTHING in this story that was interesting to me. I was literally slogging through it wondering when Russell & Holmes would show up. It went on and on, very repetitively, about Mrs. Hudson's past. That might have been interesting for a chapter, not a whole book.
I finished the book because I'm a diehard fan & hope springs eternal, but I do not recommend it at all. I need to go back and re-read one of the earlier books that I love, in order to settle the ache in my heart.
Not this one, sad to say. When I first saw the title (which is completely misleading), I gasped, then quickly realized Laurie would not kill off Russell. Still, it left me with a queer feeling so I dived right into it. The title made me anticipate that Russell & Holmes would be separated in this plot. And they were, to my disappointment. I read these for the interactions & ingenious sleuthing of Russell & Holmes as a team.
I'm not suggesting that Laurie did not write this book, but it absolutely does NOT read like her typical Mary Russell stories. The style is way off. The dialogue, pacing, phrasing, interactions, cleverness of plot line are all off the mark. The characterizations of Mary & Sherlock were so off that I barely recognized Holmes. There was NOTHING in this story that was interesting to me. I was literally slogging through it wondering when Russell & Holmes would show up. It went on and on, very repetitively, about Mrs. Hudson's past. That might have been interesting for a chapter, not a whole book.
I finished the book because I'm a diehard fan & hope springs eternal, but I do not recommend it at all. I need to go back and re-read one of the earlier books that I love, in order to settle the ache in my heart.
December 25, 2017
It’s like the series has got its second wind with the last couple of books.
I should have expected that King knew what she was doing when Mrs Hudson got her own short story, a while back, it was obviously a prelude to this book where she’s the undisputed main character.
With pure genius King digs back to the very start of the Sherlock Holmes legend and weaves in Mrs Hudson in a very convincing tale.
Even Sherlock himself who in the last couple of books has taken a back seat gets a real role in this one.
However it’s the strong independent female characters of Mary Russell and to some extend Mrs Hudson who makes these books a real pleasure to read.
I should have expected that King knew what she was doing when Mrs Hudson got her own short story, a while back, it was obviously a prelude to this book where she’s the undisputed main character.
With pure genius King digs back to the very start of the Sherlock Holmes legend and weaves in Mrs Hudson in a very convincing tale.
Even Sherlock himself who in the last couple of books has taken a back seat gets a real role in this one.
However it’s the strong independent female characters of Mary Russell and to some extend Mrs Hudson who makes these books a real pleasure to read.
July 17, 2023
One of the best in the series so far.
A must read. Laurie R King exercises her imagination to its limits with this story.
A must read. Laurie R King exercises her imagination to its limits with this story.
August 12, 2017
This was a new author for me. The characters were real-to-life. I did enjoy this story with its many twists and turns. I did not loose interest in this story and there were times it was hard to put the book down. I am planning to read some of the stories that came before this one. I may have discovered another author that I really enjoy.
February 28, 2016
I love all of Laurie R. King's books (she is a very fine writer), especially the Mary Russell series, and THE MURDER OF MARY RUSSELL is one of the very best additions to the series. It's hard to talk about the plot at all without possibly giving away one iota of pleasure that the reader will luxuriate in while returning to the (1920s) world of Mary Russell, an academic and a detective, and her husband (a retired beekeeper in Sussex, England), but I will say that Ms. King knows how to keep the series fresh and entertaining without retracing her steps. Enjoy every morsel. You don't often find work as delightful, humorous and suspenseful as this.
August 11, 2018
I’m really enjoying this series and this was a solid addition. Most of the book covers the back story of Holmes’ housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson. I doubt anyone could have come up with a more unique and intriguing premise.
April 28, 2020
The best story I have listened to all year! Thank you, Ms. King.
June 1, 2021
This was a hard one for me to rate. On the one hand, Mary and Sherlock are not really the focus of this one so we don't get as much about their relationship/partnership as I would prefer. In fact, the story focuses almost completely on Mrs. Hudson's past with just a bit on the present. Billy's story is also partially covered. But yeah, on the other hand, you get to find out a lot more about Mrs. Hudson's origins and it's pretty complex. If this had been a standalone novel, I think I would have loved it. But in the context of the entire series, I kind of waffled whether it really fit in the context of the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes world or if the revelations came out of nowhere. It's hard to think back that far because up until now, Mrs. Hudson, though she's been a wonderful mother figure for Mary, has had her past only hinted on, and this back story is pretty different from other versions of Mrs. Hudson. I've grown to really love the version of Mrs. Hudson in the BBC Sherlock story with Benedict Cumberbatch, and this definitely does not follow that narrative. Is it believable? After sleeping on it overnight, I think it is, but it definitely required adjustment on my part. In the end, if I hadn't read any of the other books, I would have thought this to be a really interesting take on Mrs. Hudson. So I'm going to go with 4 stars on this one.
June 17, 2018
What don't we know about the people safely in our backgrounds – parents, teachers, caregivers, etc. Laurie King asked this question in The Murder of Mary Russell. Like Ms. Russell, "I was astonished, and fascinated, and—yes—somewhat troubled by what I learned of Mrs Hudson, those days and the time that followed. But mostly, I was ashamed, that I had never even asked (pp. 297-298). We are curious about Sherlock Holmes and Ms. Russell, but a servant? She can stay safely in the background.
I was initially intrigued by this question of unknown backstory, as we saw the murder from both Ms. Russell's and Mrs. Hudson's viewpoints, discovering a much broader backstory than we had previously known. It was also interesting to see the characters tricked and fallible: "Trust was a snare, safety a delusion; together they led to blood drying upon the floor" (p. 19).
As the murder got resolved and Ms. King moved from the murder itself to related issues, my interest flagged.
I've enjoyed King's mysteries. This was not a favorite of mine, though. Try another.
I was initially intrigued by this question of unknown backstory, as we saw the murder from both Ms. Russell's and Mrs. Hudson's viewpoints, discovering a much broader backstory than we had previously known. It was also interesting to see the characters tricked and fallible: "Trust was a snare, safety a delusion; together they led to blood drying upon the floor" (p. 19).
As the murder got resolved and Ms. King moved from the murder itself to related issues, my interest flagged.
I've enjoyed King's mysteries. This was not a favorite of mine, though. Try another.
July 9, 2024
I felt King unfurling her beautiful wings in this book. Not as much of the “cozy mystery” vibe but loved the slightly different historical context bits and love the Laurie R. King-esque “back story” for these characters!
July 20, 2025
Here is somewhat of a departure in Laurie R. King's impeccable "Russell and Holmes" series, wherein we get a glimpse of Mrs. Hudson's past, which is entirely different than you might expect. Although I'm not familiar with Conan Doyle's version of the "Gloria Scott" case, Ms. King ably and deftly creates a twisty, satisfying tale. Admittedly, however, I wouldn't mind if the next case shifts back to Mary and her husband!
April 5, 2024
I love the character Mary Russell, and this series of mysteries in general. They are well written, nicely plotted with plenty of details and red herrings. Mary and Holmes's relationship is more an intellectual companionship (though a very adventurous one!) and I love how international it has become. I was not sure I would be as keen on this story since Mary is mostly on the sidelines and absent in most of the telling of the story, but it turned out to be nicely twisty and surprisingly good. Now I am eager to continue on with the few remaining stories.
April 12, 2016
I've just finished The Murder of Mary Russell. Wow. It's ... fantastic. I get nervous with Laurie R King's new books in her beloved Mary Russell - Sherlock Holmes series. This is book 14 of the long running series. Sure, I love some books of the series better than others ... but this book was marvelous and absolutely the follow up I needed (as a fan) after Dreaming Spies, Garment of Shadows, and (deep breath), The Pirate King.
After a deadly confrontation, readers are drawn through the history of one of Sherlock Holmes's earliest cases and the true background of the fascinating Mrs Hudson(!), and the true nature of her relationship to Sherlock. We even get a bit of King's take on a Sherlock Holmes not long before his arrival at Baker Street. I know I could read a *lot* more in that vein. Maybe someday King will give us a little more.
About half-way through this latest of the series, I had an idea that though I was enjoying it, The Murder of Mary Russell would only appeal to the die-hard fans of Mary Russell and maybe those true completists of Sherlock pastichery. And a few unbranded #histofic mavericks. After all, we're delving deep --- real deep, into the supporting cast of the series, usually territory for only the most devout readers of fanfic and scholars of minutia. However, after that half-way mark (or so), all that build up became more and more meaningful, reaching deep into the story of King's Sherlock, which incidentally, is among my favorite interpretations.
We're also (mostly) but not entirely back in London and Sussex for this tale. If you're among the legions of King's readers who love the globe-trotting nature of Russell and Holmes's lives, you shouldn't feel too cooped up, after sojourns at sea and a bit of time in Australia during the days of Transportation and gold.
So, a spoiler free review, given how little I can tell you, given that title. Yikes. Read The Murder of Mary Russell and see how the world of Sherlock and Mary Russell is changed forever.
After a deadly confrontation, readers are drawn through the history of one of Sherlock Holmes's earliest cases and the true background of the fascinating Mrs Hudson(!), and the true nature of her relationship to Sherlock. We even get a bit of King's take on a Sherlock Holmes not long before his arrival at Baker Street. I know I could read a *lot* more in that vein. Maybe someday King will give us a little more.
About half-way through this latest of the series, I had an idea that though I was enjoying it, The Murder of Mary Russell would only appeal to the die-hard fans of Mary Russell and maybe those true completists of Sherlock pastichery. And a few unbranded #histofic mavericks. After all, we're delving deep --- real deep, into the supporting cast of the series, usually territory for only the most devout readers of fanfic and scholars of minutia. However, after that half-way mark (or so), all that build up became more and more meaningful, reaching deep into the story of King's Sherlock, which incidentally, is among my favorite interpretations.
We're also (mostly) but not entirely back in London and Sussex for this tale. If you're among the legions of King's readers who love the globe-trotting nature of Russell and Holmes's lives, you shouldn't feel too cooped up, after sojourns at sea and a bit of time in Australia during the days of Transportation and gold.
So, a spoiler free review, given how little I can tell you, given that title. Yikes. Read The Murder of Mary Russell and see how the world of Sherlock and Mary Russell is changed forever.
April 5, 2016
The fourteenth novel in the Sherlock Holmes/ Mary Russell series opens on a quiet summer day on the Sussex Downs. Mary Russell is home alone, as Mrs. Hudson, the longtime landlady, then housekeeper, to Sherlock Holmes is doing her regular marketing. Sherlock Holmes is away doing whatever Sherlock does: probably a mission for Mycroft Holmes. At the door is a man, claiming to be Mrs. Hudson's son. All of Mary's alarm bells are ringing, as she knows nothing of a son. She,however, does know about a nephew in Australia. Samuel Hudson has an Australian accent and the oily charm of a used-car salesman. Despite her misgivings, Mary admits him because she wants to hear his story and has confidence in her own ability to handle anything that comes her way. In this situation her confidence is misplaced: Mrs. Hudson arrives home to find an empty cottage and a very large pool of blood on the floor. More blood in fact than anyone could survive losing.
I think anyone who is familiar with the original Sherlock Holmes stories and the Holmes/Russell novels has always suspected that there is more to Clara Hudson than meets the eye. Her story, as Clarissa Hudson, is quite different from what might be expected. Mrs, Hudson is a woman of many parts; she and Sherlock have known each other much longer than disclosed. The Murder of Mary Russell gives us all the answers about Clara and former irregular, Billy Mudd. Sherlock is able to solve the mystery of what has happened to Mary even through his grief and worry; thanks to some overlooked clues left by Mary herself.
A new Holmes and Russell novel is always a red-letter day for me and The Murder of Mary Russell may well be a favorite. I was on tenterhooks since first seeing the title and when I got my hands on it, read it in one sitting. It is another worthy entry in this long-running series. Thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advance digital copy in return for an honest review.
RATING- 4.5 Stars
I think anyone who is familiar with the original Sherlock Holmes stories and the Holmes/Russell novels has always suspected that there is more to Clara Hudson than meets the eye. Her story, as Clarissa Hudson, is quite different from what might be expected. Mrs, Hudson is a woman of many parts; she and Sherlock have known each other much longer than disclosed. The Murder of Mary Russell gives us all the answers about Clara and former irregular, Billy Mudd. Sherlock is able to solve the mystery of what has happened to Mary even through his grief and worry; thanks to some overlooked clues left by Mary herself.
A new Holmes and Russell novel is always a red-letter day for me and The Murder of Mary Russell may well be a favorite. I was on tenterhooks since first seeing the title and when I got my hands on it, read it in one sitting. It is another worthy entry in this long-running series. Thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advance digital copy in return for an honest review.
RATING- 4.5 Stars
April 3, 2016
A Tribute to Mrs. Hudson...
I'm a huge fan of the Mary Russell series so I've been not so patiently waiting for this next book, especially considering the title is "The Murder of Mary Russell." My imagination was running wild, wondering what happens to Mary so I was a little disappointed when the book started off as a recitation of Mrs. Hudson's past. It was quite a bit different from King's usual format of jumping right into the story. I really wanted to just hurry up and get to the present heart of the matter so it seemed like the past recital took forever to get through. I can't believe I'm saying this because I thoroughly enjoyed every other book in the series and I do like Mrs. Hudson and she deserves a little time in the limelight but the beginning of this one just dragged on way too long. However, once I got about midway through and the story moved into the present and back to King's tried and true style, the book started redeeming itself. The past and present story lines started aligning and I just enjoyed the second half a lot more then the first. I really hope though that in the next book, King doesn't take another departure from her usual style. I would much rather prefer to read about Mary & Sherlock and whatever trouble they get mixed up in, especially when that trouble takes them to some foreign locale.
*I received this ARC from NetGalley & Random House Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I'm a huge fan of the Mary Russell series so I've been not so patiently waiting for this next book, especially considering the title is "The Murder of Mary Russell." My imagination was running wild, wondering what happens to Mary so I was a little disappointed when the book started off as a recitation of Mrs. Hudson's past. It was quite a bit different from King's usual format of jumping right into the story. I really wanted to just hurry up and get to the present heart of the matter so it seemed like the past recital took forever to get through. I can't believe I'm saying this because I thoroughly enjoyed every other book in the series and I do like Mrs. Hudson and she deserves a little time in the limelight but the beginning of this one just dragged on way too long. However, once I got about midway through and the story moved into the present and back to King's tried and true style, the book started redeeming itself. The past and present story lines started aligning and I just enjoyed the second half a lot more then the first. I really hope though that in the next book, King doesn't take another departure from her usual style. I would much rather prefer to read about Mary & Sherlock and whatever trouble they get mixed up in, especially when that trouble takes them to some foreign locale.
*I received this ARC from NetGalley & Random House Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
January 20, 2016
Another great entry in the Russell series from Ms. King! A throwback to the story style from Locked Rooms where most of the story is told from perspectives other than Russell's (understandably!). It's tricky to write a review without spoiling the story, but I will say that the best part of this book is Mrs. Hudson. She's so much in the background in the series (and in Canon in general!), but she really shines in this story.
Fans of Russell will absolutely love this one. This would also be a great book to jump into for those new to the series, since none of the key events depend at all on previous books. It's kind of a stand-alone within the series.
I can't wait for this to come out so I can fully discuss with the LRK VBC peeps without worrying about spoilers. ;-)
Fans of Russell will absolutely love this one. This would also be a great book to jump into for those new to the series, since none of the key events depend at all on previous books. It's kind of a stand-alone within the series.
I can't wait for this to come out so I can fully discuss with the LRK VBC peeps without worrying about spoilers. ;-)
May 29, 2016
The title of this book alone was enough to make me eager to read it. The novel starts off with a bang and never lets up. I couldn't get through the pages fast enough, as you are desperate to know if Mary Russell is indeed dead. We get the back story of one of the most famous housekeepers in literature in this edition of the series, and we see Sherlock lose some of his stone cold reserve with the loss of his wife. It's a touching and fantastic story that incorporates one of Arthur Conan Doyle's original short stories. The worst part about finishing this novel, was that there aren't anymore to be had at this time. There were several loose plot threads, that I'm eager to see where they will go in future installments.
March 23, 2016
My ARC courtesy of Random House/Net Galley; much thanks. My opinions are my own.
3.5 stars. This is principally a novel about Mrs. Hudson, who walked into 221 Baker St. in 1880 with a backstory. That story takes up at least half the book, perhaps more. (Mary Russell is present only briefly in the first half, and I believe the Sherlock Holmes of 1925, only in the second half.)
I'd refresh myself with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Adventure of the Gloria Scott" (it's in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes) before reading this one, as it's much referenced here.
3.5 stars. This is principally a novel about Mrs. Hudson, who walked into 221 Baker St. in 1880 with a backstory. That story takes up at least half the book, perhaps more. (Mary Russell is present only briefly in the first half, and I believe the Sherlock Holmes of 1925, only in the second half.)
I'd refresh myself with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Adventure of the Gloria Scott" (it's in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes) before reading this one, as it's much referenced here.
December 9, 2019
Do I really want Mrs. Hudson to have a back-story? After reading a hundred or so pages of this, I can definitely answer: No, I prefer her to be enigmatic. She always was to me. And such a soap opera of a back-story. It feels so made up. I mean, it is of course made up, but authors should make things up in a way that doesn't feel made up. I give up.
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