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Think of Nothing with Mary

A Letter of Mary by Laurie King

Would it change your outlook on Christianity if you discovered Mary of Magdala was an apostle? Other than the question of the all-male priesthood, such a revelation wouldn't shake faith's foundation for too many people today. In A Letter of Mary, Laurie King has built a plot on the assumption that such a fact would devastate many. While that may have been more true in the 1920s, the period in which this book is set, it still makes the book less compelling for readers today.

A Letter of Mary is the third book in the Mary Russell-Sherlock Holmes series. If you haven't read the first two books in the series, I would strongly suggest starting with them. This book gives a too-important spoiler that would ruin some of the suspense of the first two novels. I'll avoid telling you what that is in this review.

What's The Buzz?

A Letter of Mary begins with Russell and Holmes receiving a letter from Dorothy Ruskin, an archaeologist that they met in Palestine. She brings them a letter from Mary of Magdala, who calls herself an apostle of Jesus. The opening of the novel is almost satirical in nature, and it is a scene to which most Holmes fans will delight.

There are two moments of revelation-one in the beginning and one at the end. The first one is the revelation that gets the plot rolling. It is supposed to make us sharply intake our breath and begin the building of suspense as we wonder how the issue will resolve and whether anyone will be hurt over it. The ending revelation is in the climax of the plot where all is revealed and the mystery is "solved." Both of these revelations fall flat. The first one failed to interest me, and the second one seemed contrived and came out of nowhere.

Throughout the novel there were distractions and red herrings strewn everywhere. Even though the telling of the story was interesting and the interaction between characters amusing and entertaining, it didn't feel like the book was going anywhere.

Tell Me What's A-Happening

Laurie King is one of my favorite writers because she is able to deal so adroitly with many layers of themes. Her books are usually complex and engaging. A Letter of Mary lacked the over-arching themes that require more than a moment's thought. The theme here seemed obvious and one with which few people today would argue. Where her other books are richly textured examinations of contradictions and false images, this book treated its subjects more crudely.

Also, Russell and Holmes spend most of the novel in entirely different geographical locations so their interaction-one of the highlights of the books in the rest of the series-is limited. It is almost as if the two characters resolved too many details about their relationship in the earlier books for the tension and banter was largely missing from this book.

Everything's All Right

It's not a fantastic book, but even a poor book by Laurie King is worth reading. It's just not worth re-reading or spending a lot of money on. If you've read the first two books in the series, borrow this one from the library. If you haven't read them, DON'T start with this one.

The good things in the book: The characters are as richly drawn as ever and Mary Russell remains a fascinating character. Holmes is as witty and sharp as ever and his fans will enjoy the opportunity to watch him in action again.

The best part about this book, is that it represents only a momentary low-point in the series. The next in the series, The Moor, returns to the quality level of Beekeeper's Apprentice and A Monstrous Regiment of Women, as does the book after that, O, Jerusalem.

-- B. Redman