I’ve followed Mary Russell across England and America, to Japan and Jerusalem, and now into the estimable Mrs. Hudson’s past, and it’s always interesting. I think a large part of it is the continued obsession the public has for the figure of Sherlock Holmes – he’s absolutely fascinating. There are currently two different TV shows and a fairly recent movie series (along with Ian McKellen’s fabulous movie Mr. Holmes) that I know of, and probably quite a few more that I don’t. Each one gives a slightly different take on the story, and the Mary Russell series is no different. Instead of focusing on Holmes himself, everything is shifted ever so slightly to someone who sees the same way, but doesn’t have the experience. Unlike Dr. Watson, she’s just as observant as Holmes, and has some of the same character flaws, coupled with, at least in the beginning, loneliness and despair from losing her family, hidden behind a snarking exterior.
She is his equal, not his biographer.
Told from Russell’s point of view, the series begins with a young Mary Russell stumbling over a man lying out in the fields, and astonishes him with their conversation:
“I beg your pardon, are you hard of hearing?” I raised my voice somewhat and spoke slowly. “I said, if you want a new hive you’ll have to follow the blue spots, because the reds are sure to be Tom Warner’s.”
“I am not hard of hearing, although I am short of credulity. How do you come to know of my interests?”
“I should have thought it obvious,” I said impatiently, though even at that age aware that such things were not obvious to the majority of people. “I see paint on your pocket-handkerchief, and traces on your fingers where you wiped it away. The only reason to mark bees that I can think of is to enable one to follow them to their hive. You are either interested in gathering honey or in the bees themselves, and it is not the time of year to harvest honey. Three months ago we had an unusual cold spell that killed many hives. Therefore I assume that you are tracking these in order to replenish your own stock.”
The series takes place after the turn of the century, and follows Holmes and Russell throughout their years together, first as mentor and apprentice, then as equals, and later as husband and wife. Russell has no trouble admitting that Holmes generally knows more than she does, that he still has more to teach her, even after she is no longer under his tutelage. She becomes a strong, independent woman, studying theology at Oxford, taking cases on her own, and establishing her presence in the world.
The series is a wonderful feminist look at the classic idea of the consulting detective. The combination with theology leads the couple to interesting places, from, as I said before, Jerusalem to a feminist Christian sect in London. Russell is caring and sympathetic, but overly ruled by logic. She’s no damsel in distress, but holds her own both against Holmes and what else the world throws at her. Between the two, I think she’s the stronger character, able to step back from the mystery and just live, overcoming her past and pain, and using the combination of logic and heart to make her way in the world.
The entire series is wonderful. Seriously, if you like historical mysteries, or if you are a fan of the famous consulting detective, go get a copy of the first book. Trust me, as soon as you are done, you’ll be chomping at the bit for the next.
Melanie
I just picked The Murder of Mary Russell. I haven’t read any books in this extensive series. Will I be totally lost if I read this book first?
I’m so excited to see that Sherry Thomas’ next book is a rewrite of Holmes with Holmes as a woman. A Study in Scarlet Women comes out in October.
I very much enjoyed the first three books but my interest waned with Oh Jerusalem, then Justice Hall. I fell off the wagon and never went back. Perhaps I should start again….
My question is, if you didn’t want to read the whole series, what book should you read?
I can’t quite imagine reading the series out of order, but my three favorites are the first three, starting with The Beekeeper’s Apprentice (in this one Mary is in her teens). But I truly loved the next two (A Monstrous Regiment of Women and a Letter of Mary) when Mary is in her early 20s.
I wonder, for me, about the age gap. That tends to be slightly repulsive for me. (It may be having a teen daughter!)
I didn’t find it a problem – I think partly because there is no romance while she’s a child, partly because they are intellectually matched and it feels feasible that for people that brilliant that connection would be what mattered in an intimate relationship, partly because canon Holmes is not a womaniser and partly because of the way King’s version of Holmes approaches the relationship.
Four partly’s make a whole?
(I did have three teenage daughters at the time, though my last graduated from teenagerhood last year.)
I agree – I think it’s a start at the beginning type of series. Much as I love the first book – and I really do – it’s a little episodic; the subsequent books flow better. However the first book shows the founding of the relationship, and their intellectual connection – and that does underlie the rest of the series.
Apart from that, if you are a Sherlock Holmes reader ‘The Moor’ takes you to Hound of the Baskervilles territory or if you read Kipling ‘The Game’ draws on ‘Kim’.
My personal favorites:
1) The Beekeeper’s Apprentice – the first in the series, so it introduces the whole thing.
2) The Moor – back to the Hound of the Baskervilles (like Marianne said), mainly cause I’m a big Holmes fan, and I enjoyed the nod to the classic.
3 and 4) A Monstrous Regiment of Women and A Letter of Mary
5) O Jerusalem – personally, I loved the setting and the characters Russell and Holmes worked with.
and 6) Locked Rooms – you get to revisit Russell’s past and the source of her nightmares.
Of course, that’s from someone who has read (and enjoyed) all the books, so there’s that. Like Linniegayl said, I’d read them in order, since many of them build on the previous stories.
Oh, I’d also read Beekeeping for Beginners, which is their first meeting from Holmes’ point of view. I’d keep that for after you’ve read, at the very least, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. Personally, I’d wait until you’ve read a couple – there are some tidbits about Holmes in it that are more powerful and interesting if you’ve read more of the series.
Thanks for posting the list. I love historical mysteries, anything Sherlock Holmes, and a feminist protagonist. Sounds like this is right up my alley!