The Murder of Mary Russell

A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes

By: Laurie R. King

Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin, Susan Lyons

Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Laurie R. King's best-selling 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, 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.

©2016 Laurie R. King (P)2016 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Be forewarned - Jenny Sterlin and Susan Lyons's amazing joint narration of King's newest Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell mystery will keep you absolutely hooked." (AudioFile)

very best of this wonderful Mary Russell series

i absolutely hated that it ended. Ms King, please create more interesting and complex plots.

Mts. Hudson's story

I won't give away anything about the title of this book and what happens to Mary. But most of the book is the story of the life of Mrs. Hudson, who turns out to be much more than a housekeeper. It's actually quite clever that Laurie R. King tied her together a character from an early Holmes story with the same last name, and with a young Sherlock, But the parts of the story without Sherlock or Mary just aren't the same. Jenny Sterlin is great as usual but gets a smaller part of the book. Susan Lyons, who does the Hudson section is also very good.

Another view at Sherlock's past

Would you consider the audio edition of The Murder of Mary Russell to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but I love the audio version.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I wouldn't exactly say "on the edge of my seat" but it was interesting to see Mrs. Hudson's life before she came into the employ of Sherlock and it certainly wasn't a dull life. It was like a time capsule trip into the past to get a clearer view of the present. But it isn't all about the psst. Mary and Sherlock do have significant roles in this story, as well.

Which scene was your favorite?

I never know how to answer this question, as it seems if I answered it I would be giving spoilers.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I am always delighted when a long time peripheral character gets some recognition. I think Clara Hudson needed to be understood as more than just a "housekeeper". Older people are often thought of as "one dimensional" as if they never did anything interesting in their lives. LRK did a great job of giving an intriguing and exciting past to Mrs. Hudson and showing her strengths as well as her weaknesses. She became a very interesting person. One of the things this writer is so skilled at is to get into the heads and emotions of her characters and make them more human and people we can all relate to in one way or another. Clara is not just a "black and white" character and you can see how she grows in consciousness as she ages. Very well done!

Any additional comments?

I had been getting a bit bored with the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmse stories and didn't even finish the last 3 books. This was a pleasant departure from the political spying and included an interesting mystery that I didn't guess until the end. The ending was totally unexpected and that makes it even better. I love books whose ending I don't anticipate ahead of time. Lots of good "cliff hanging" moments throughout the story, too.

The Best One Yet!

The best one yet! Really enjoyed this one! I hope there will be more to come in the series?

The Best of a Good Lot

Laurie's best foray into the post Baker Street realm, by turning a slice of the genre into a full blown story.

Don't miss this one!

This story is one of the best of the series and quite different overall. The storytelling never slows as the story unwinds. you won't be disappointed!

Engaging story and structure

Engaging story with sufficient plot twists and surprises. Character development is sufficient and accomplished through an interweaving of the present story and the history of it. This technique was somewhat disconcerting at first - jumping back and forth, but it served it's purpose of providing a complete tale and developing the primary characters. In doing so, the tale opens and enlivens Mrs. Hudson, and her relationship with Holmes.

Mycroft remains a secondary and underdeveloped character, almost a flat caricature in this story. The primary three characters enjoy more and adequate development, as do another two or three supporting roles.

The performance was good with vocal distinctions appropriate, helping to display both three characters and the scenes.

Well done. Recommended.

Excellent story

I’m not a fan of most Sherlock Holmes stories, but this was very cleverly written. Characters are well developed and their idiosyncrasies revealed over time. Plots and subplots were interwoven smoothly. And the narrators did pretty well maintaining accents, not flawless but usually easy to recognize the speaker. And it was a long book, so I had many hours of entertainment. Well done!

I was enthralled.

I accurately predicted the answer to my big question going in to the book, but there were many more twists, turn and surprises than I would have dreamt. This was great fun and well worth the time. A complete back-story and very satisfying stand-alone novel as well. Wouldn't it be fun to be a neuron in King's brain to watch the synapses making connections and the fireworks of inspiration?

always a great read

I miss Jenny Sterlin! her voice is magical. looking forward to further adventures with Russell and Holmes.