A Letter of Mary

Like others in this series, the author and reader offer tale and listening experience that draws you in and keeps you there. King's descriptions and development of the story team well with characters that seem real. My only criticism is that Ms. Sterlin's Holmes doesn't seem to quite hit the mark but, that might just be from watching too much Basil Rathbone and Jeremy Brett (smile). I heartily recommend the series. Now that more are available, try to follow the sequence if you can, starting with the Bee Keeper's Apprentice. You'll have many hours of listening enjoyment.

Loved this volume, especially seeing Mary Russell going "undercover." We see a few cameos from historical figures and Mycroft (hope to see much more of his character in the future). I enjoyed the historical subtext and getting to see some development in the relationship between Holmes and Russell. Sterin delivers her usual excellent character differentiation. I highly recommend for any mystery lover.

I so enjoy the presence of Sherlock Holmes again in our midst! I did not believe anyone could pull it off, but Ms King does. I enjoy the turbulance of emotion I sense just beneath the surface of Holmes' and Russell's relationship. It's fun to watch Holmes be himself while embracing a newness in life that he can't entirely solve with intellect. He obviously struggles with this unexpected dichotomy of life. Mary struggles less, but learns much. The plot is good, it's the characters which shine.

Interesting because Russel's thoughts and actions are organic and logical. Lots of investigative work here, and some dead ends too.

Jenny is a fine reader for Russel.

The Magdalene Code

The single line, uttered by Russel, to Holmes. "Woof." This line, in context, speaks VOLUMES and is wonderful. Thanks.

The mystery was not very compelling but I enjoyed the continuing maturation of the relationship between Holmes and Mary Russell.

"The Beekeeper's Apprentice" is the first book in this series and that was such a good listen I was sure that I'd like "Letter of Mary." Not so much.

The plot plodded along. The concept was just OK. It was just really slow going.

The book is saved by the development of the characters. The May/September marriage of Russell & Holmes is interesting and is developed in more detail than in the last book. There are possible cracks in the foundation. The curtain on the intimate relationship between husband and wife is raised, just a bit, and very circumspectly. Mycroft has a greater role, and it too, is interesting. Dr. Watson puts in a cameo, and it casts him in a more complex light.

Were it not for this, the book would be pretty boring.

I am a great fan of Sherlock Holmes and when I first saw what the Laurie King books are about I was not going to like them at all! After reading one of them I couldn't wait to read the rest of them and found them all very well written by, I believe, a scholar of the old Hebrew language and religion. The idea of an older retired Sherlock with a wife didn't set well with me but ms King uses such intelligence in her stories and ties them to the events that are familiar to me from reading the Sherlock Holmes stories for years that they seemed to follow the old stories without a hitch. There is a bit of tongue in cheek humor involved but not a whole lot-the stories are very serious. I think they are great!

I own most of Laurie King's works and always find them quite engaging, with gripping plots and well developed characters that appeal even to us male Tom Clancy fans but still atract my mom and sisters. If you're first getting into Laurie King, I recommend going for this and her other earlier works (of course, I'd recommend Beekeeper's Apprentice, this first in the series, for your first listen or read). As with others, I'm disappointed with her most recent works.

Yes. There are subtle allusions to historical events and other works of fiction that are not immediately obvious on a first listen.

This audio book is one of those real treats where good writing and a good narrator come together to form a marriage made in Heaven. I have enjoyed 8 of the 9 books in this series, and the narrator Jenny Sterlin brought every one of them to life for me.