Rating: 
Summary: Holmes and Russell are an unbeatable pair
Review: In this third book featuring Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell, the pair have become partners, in matrimony and sleuthing.
After the death of a friend, Holmes and Russell follow several red herrings before, inevitably, finding the culprit.
As usual, London provides the appropriate background for disguise and detection. But, it is the interaction between Holmes and Russell that keeps me coming back for more.
Like Peter and Harriet Wimsey, another pair of detectives endowed with great minds, Holmes and Russell are so pleased to have found intellectual soul mates that the text hums with their discusions.
I like the juxtapostion of the familiar Holmsian elements with the more modern views of Russell.
Appearances by Mycroft, Mrs. Hudson and the Baker Street Irregulars (even Lestrade, Jr.)anchor me to the story as the thoroughly modern Mary Russell livens the previously misogynistic formula. I recommend all lovers of Dorothy L. Sayers and Doyle to dive into Laurie King. You are in for a delightful surprise.
Rating:
Summary: the humanization of Holmes
Review: It is the summer of 1923. England is recovering from the First World War, and the Second is not yet on the horizon. Russell and husband Holmes are busy with their various pursuits in the quiet Sussex countryside when an old friend's afternoon visit and subsequent murder get them embroiled in a mystery with lots of red herrings. Mary and Sherlock, assisted by Inspector LetradeJr., Mycroft and Billy of the Baker Street Irregulars, go undercover to investigate suspects. Again, as in earlier instalments, interactions and dialogues between Russell and Holmes are the high points of the book, so their working separately unfortunately limits their time together. King writes about Holmes in love so delightfully and so plausibly. It's wonderful to think of him having this charming and affectionate relationship with a strong and intelligent woman. Who'd have thought Holmes would become the romantic hero of the 21st century? King has also created a terrific heroine in Mary Russell, with wit and intelligence shining through her turbulent adolescence, her blossoming young adulthood, and now her early marriage and academic career. I look forward to further books in the series, and hope there will be children! If you demand an intriguing and difficult mystery, you will probably not be satisfied, but if you are a Holmes fan with a heart, you should enjoy this third book in the Mary Russell series.
Rating:
Summary: the humanization of Holmes
Review: It is the summer of 1923. England is recovering from the First World War, and the Second is not yet on the horizon. Russell and husband Holmes are busy with their various pursuits in the quiet Sussex countryside when an old friend's afternoon visit and subsequent murder get them embroiled in a mystery with lots of red herrings. Mary and Sherlock, assisted by Inspector LetradeJr., Mycroft and Billy of the Baker Street Irregulars, go undercover to investigate suspects. Again, as in earlier instalments, interactions and dialogues between Russell and Holmes are the high points of the book, so their working separately unfortunately limits their time together. King writes about Holmes in love so delightfully and so plausibly. It's wonderful to think of him having this charming and affectionate relationship with a strong and intelligent woman. Who'd have thought Holmes would become the romantic hero of the 21st century? King has also created a terrific heroine in Mary Russell, with wit and intelligence shining through her turbulent adolescence, her blossoming young adulthood, and now her early marriage and academic career. I look forward to further books in the series, and hope there will be children! If you demand an intriguing and difficult mystery, you will probably not be satisfied, but if you are a Holmes fan with a heart, you should enjoy this third book in the Mary Russell series.
Rating: 
Summary: The letter of Mary does not relate to the mystery at all.
Review: It was just a way of bringing the death to the Holmes' doorstep -- I found it a bit of a letdown. Also thought there was a little too much empathy on the part of Russell in relating her trauma to their lone witness. However, it was fun to meet Lord Peter Wimsey right in the middle of the story. The plot could have been better.
Rating: 
Summary: interesting novel
Review: Laurie king has taken the old holmes and provided a new spin. these are not for everyone, but the heroine is not sloppy nor precious, but intelligent and interesting. A good match for holmes. the book is an interesting one, when a letter is recieved by Mary Russell claiming to be one written by the virgin mary. the tail takes them to the holy land and other interseting places. if you liked anything Sherlock Holmes like, you will enjoy this book!
Rating:
Summary: A "Letter" worth reading.
Review: Laurie R. King's Sherlock Holmes pastiches are some of the most interesting and well written of that genre. This was the first one I read, and it made me an instant admirer of her Mary Russell series. King's great strength is her characterization. Her Sherlock Holmes is a perfect combination of brilliance, insecurity, passion (both intellectual and emotional), and skill. She also draws heavily on the real world to make her novels deeper, an effect I particularly enjoy. Some examples of this are: The short reference to a man named Tolkien at Oxford who is interested in runes. Those who know about J. R. R. Tolkien's professional life know that runes were a hobby of his, so this glancing note about him brought a smile to my face. The short sketch of a man called Peter. Fans of Dorothy L. Sayers will recognize her debonair sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey as he slides smoothly through the story. A few caveats: Though I like this book, it does tend to bog down a bit, especially with huge side trails. This characteristic of King's writing has become crushingly obvious in her later novels, such as "The Moor" and "Justice Hall." King's committment to radical ideas (like feminism, feminist theology, and tolerance of unconventionality) becomes obnoxious to those who don't share her beliefs. Though the issues here are not as persistant as those in "A Monstrous Regiment of Women" or "Justice Hall," they are there, niggling at the corner of one's vision. In the end, though, I would recommend this book highly (and the others in the series) to all those who enjoy Sherlock Holmes, mystery, character development, and good writing.
Rating: 
Summary: There Are Lots Better Out There for Holmes Fans
Review: Like two of the other books in this series, the plot construction of "Letter of Mary" is so poor that as a professional writer myself, I was stunned that it even got published. It is an amazingly large flaw. In this story, Russell and Holmes separate from each other in order to investigate two suspicious families. King then spends the bulk of the book discussing Russell's experiences. She doesn't let us know anything about what Holmes is doing-he's completely ignored during this part of the story. It all falls apart in the end when we learn in a rather offhand manner that the family that Holmes is investigating is harboring the perpetrator. King does not spend one word preparing us for that. Suddenly, we realize that we have spent 200 pages reading about nothing more than a wild goose chase! Russell's suspects turn out to have absolutely nothing to do with the crime! I was left with one question as I tossed the book away: "What on earth was the point of that?" I can understand having Russell as the main character, but why not have her solve the mystery instead of force-feeding the reader 200 pages of stuff that ultimately have nothing whatsoever to do with the plot? You could skip those pages and the story line wouldn't change at all. That tells me this book is just terribly written. Two other books in this series, "A Monstrous Regiment of Women" and "The Moor" suffer the same fate. Also poorly plotted, they are not worth reading. The other two books I found to rise up to the level of mediocre. It's as if the publisher figured they could sell any book written by anyone with the last name of King. If you're looking for some fresh, modern Holmes novels, try the series by Larry Millett. They are far, far better written and are much more enjoyable reads.
Rating:
Summary: There Are Lots Better Out There for Holmes Fans
Review: Like two of the other books in this series, the plot construction of "Letter of Mary" is so poor that as a professional writer myself, I was stunned that it even got published. It is an amazingly large flaw. In this story, Russell and Holmes separate from each other in order to investigate two suspicious families. King then spends the bulk of the book discussing Russell's experiences. She doesn't let us know anything about what Holmes is doing-he's completely ignored during this part of the story. It all falls apart in the end when we learn in a rather offhand manner that the family that Holmes is investigating is harboring the perpetrator. King does not spend one word preparing us for that. Suddenly, we realize that we have spent 200 pages reading about nothing more than a wild goose chase! Russell's suspects turn out to have absolutely nothing to do with the crime! I was left with one question as I tossed the book away: "What on earth was the point of that?" I can understand having Russell as the main character, but why not have her solve the mystery instead of force-feeding the reader 200 pages of stuff that ultimately have nothing whatsoever to do with the plot? You could skip those pages and the story line wouldn't change at all. That tells me this book is just terribly written. Two other books in this series, "A Monstrous Regiment of Women" and "The Moor" suffer the same fate. Also poorly plotted, they are not worth reading. The other two books I found to rise up to the level of mediocre. It's as if the publisher figured they could sell any book written by anyone with the last name of King. If you're looking for some fresh, modern Holmes novels, try the series by Larry Millett. They are far, far better written and are much more enjoyable reads.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad
Review: Mary Russell is now Mrs Holmes, though still an independant young woman. The only bit I don't like in this series is the religious theorizing, although there is not an excessive amount of it. The story is good, keeps the reader interested. Shows the harmony between Holmes and his wife, without his character changing, or him becoming too demonstrative or affectionate. It makes it believeable that Sherlock Holmes can play the role of a husband.
Rating:
Summary: It's All About View--Point of View
Review: Once again, Russell and Holmes are at it again in this third delightful book by Laurie R. King, which is a delight to read. And that's it. The charm has now been replaced with a deeper sense now, since they are married. It is a wonderful relationship, true, though rather unconventional. That's most likely why they enjoy it so much. You can't help but be pulled in by Russell's provoking and provocative thoughts, always either toying with someone else's mind or seriously thinking about one person or thing or another. It's really Ms. King's wonderful writing ability and the way she portrays Russell's thoughts in this limited-omniscient point of view that really catches your attention. "A Letter of Mary" is a great book with a wonderful author and my favorite theologian/chemist/detective.
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