Mary's Christmas

Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes #0.25

by Laurie R. King

An original short story set in the world of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, “Mary’s Christmas” goes back to a time long before the two met on the Sussex Downs in the spring of 1915.

It begins one winter’s evening in late 1921 or 1922 when the two are seated by their fire, sharing stories about the unexplored portions of their past. Naturally, a person might expect the older Holmes to have a large collection of these—but tonight it is Russell who astonishes her husband with news of a previously unknown, even unsuspected, relation.

Uncle Jake: scoundrel, charmer, eternal youth, black sheep of the wealthy Boston Russell family. Jake is the kind of man who literally drops out of a cloudless summer sky, who makes a good if shady living from his wits, whose holiday specialty is a series of wildly inappropriate and passionately adored Christmas presents. Whose older brother loves him, and doesn’t trust him an inch.

What young girl could resist his charms? Even when his plots lead young Mary into some areas of questionable ethics and downright danger, under her parents’ very nose.

Note: Mary's Christmas is now also included in King's 2016 short story collection, Mary Russell's War: And Other Stories of Suspense .

Genres: Mystery, Christmas, Short Stories, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Audiobook

22 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 9, 2014

About the author

Edgar-winning mystery writer Laurie R. King writes series and standalone novels. Her official forum is
THE LRK VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB here on Goodreads--please join us for book-discussing fun.

King's 2018 novel, Island of the Mad, sees Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes travel from London's Bedlam to the glitter of Venice's Lido,where Young Things and the friends of Cole Porter pass Mussolini's Blackshirts in the streets. The Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series follows a brilliant young woman who becomes the student, then partner, of the great detective. [click here for an excerpt of the first in the series, The Beekeeper's Apprentice] The Stuyvesant and Grey series (Touchstone; The Bones of Paris) takes place in Europe between the Wars. The Kate Martinelli series follows an SFPD detective's cases on a female Rembrandt, a holy fool, and more. [Click for an excerpt of A Grave Talent]

King lives in northern California, which serves as backdrop for some of her books.

Please note that Laurie checks her Goodreads inbox intermittently, so it may take some time to receive a reply. A quicker response may be possible via email to info@laurierking.com.

Reviews

[Lela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun story introduces Mary's Uncle Jake, a charming scoundrel - one any smart, mischievous (as young Mary surely was) girl was bound to adore! As always with Laurie King, it was very well written and all the characters made real and easy to frame in thought. The story stands alone, but for fans of Mary & Sherlock, it's delightful to read a little more of Mary's life before the tragedy that left her alone in the world.

[Magdalena · Rating 3 out of 5]

In many ways was this story way better than I thought it would be. For instance I thought that a story taking place when Mary was a child, way before she meet Sherlock wouldn't be that interesting. But the story was really good. Not a mystery or a crime story but a glimpse into Mary's childhood, before her parents and brother died.

Review also posted on And Now for Something Completely Different and It's a Mad Mad World

[Sabrina Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful short story! And now I'm wondering if we'll ever find out what happened to Uncle Jake.

[Bailey Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.2)

I've read the first couple of books in the Mary Russell series and while they're not my favorite, I do enjoy them and this was no exception.

Recommended 11+ for mild language.

[Hanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story was set in Mary’s childhood, well before she lost her family and became associated with Sherlock Holmes, though there was a small segment that was set in “present time” when Mary and Holmes are together. Overall, this was a very wholesome story that gives details about Mary’s childhood and some of the background of how she came to be the way that she is.

Uncle Jake was such an iconic character, and I LOVE stories of children frolicking in the summer: there is something about it that just brings me so much joy. I also loved the backstory of Mary’s throwing knife, which was just super special, especially when tied into the rest of the series. Understanding Uncle Jake’s character and Mary’s childhood really lends to the development of her as a person, her interests, and her skills.

The story where Uncle Jake brings Mary and her brother to the bar was so fun! I was really confused and wary about how it was going to progress, but then the ending was super impressive (and while morally grey, makes for a good read), especially with Holmes figuring out what happened.

Altogether, this wasn’t *that* unique of a novella, and while the plot was fun and more involved than other Mary Russell novellas, it didn’t contain as much of the standard Holmes-Russell partnership as I would have expected, which is why I’ll be giving it three stars.

[Corrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My very first book this year is a short story in the highly regarded Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series by award winning mystery writer Laurie R. King. My late partner (a great Holmes aficionado) absolutely loved this series and so I have promised myself this year to dive in and see what all the fuss is about ;-)

And we are off to a marvelous start! Even though the story is short, it gives me an idea of what’s in store for me. In Mary's Christmas we go back to Mary Russell’s youth, where she recalls a particular Christmas when scoundrel and black sheep of the family, Uncle Jake, came to visit Mary, her parents and younger brother Levi. It was very charming and I am looking forward to learn more about Mary Russell, her adventures and her relationship with Sherlock Holmes.

4 stars

[Linniegayl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short story in the Russell and Holmes series in which Russell tells Holmes stories about her Uncle Jake. The story was entertaining, and I look forward to the next full-length book in which Uncle Jake apparently makes an appearance.

[Tom Petit · Rating 5 out of 5]

25 pages, .25 in a series.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every child needs an Uncle Jake: a charmer and a scoundrel, Jake lives by his wits and loves to swoop in with wildly inappropriate gifts. Mary and her brother adore him-- especially when one of his plots leads them into questionable ethics and a bit of danger.

This is just the sort of story to share on a cold winter's night by the fire. Listening to the logs pop and crackle is the perfect time to read a bit more about the sort of little girl Mary Russell was. You'll find out that she hasn't changed much over the years, and I just have to admit that there's something about Uncle Jake that makes me smile and want to join in the fun.

When you have favorite literary characters, you always want to learn more about them, and "Mary's Christmas" satisfies that craving.

[❂ Murder by Death · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick short story that doesn't seem to really need to be read before or after any of the books beyond book 2 or 3 (they are obviously married here). Not at all Christmassy, but entertaining, as Mary tells Holmes about one of her more colorful relatives and her first stroll down the less law-abiding side of life.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read about Mary Russell and her family. They are living in Sussex, England when their Uncle Jake came to visit. He flew in on an Air Balloon, right into their neighbor's garden, the whole neighborhood came out to watch. It was a fun cute story and i recommend reading it.

[Sheila Beaumont · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun short story in which Mary Russell tells Sherlock Holmes about her "black sheep" uncle Jake. Great fun for Russell-Holmes fans!

[Katie Seehusen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this one because Jake is in the current Mary Russell and I wanted to see when he was introduced.

I don't think there will ever be a story in the Mary Russell universe that I don't love. King's writing is just so good, even in short story form she can pack so much in.

I loved seeing the relationship between niece, nephew, and uncle. Jake sounds like a super fun uncle and definitely one to get you into trouble. I like that Jake gave Mary her throwing knife and it's something she really treasures and still holds close.

I'm trying to savor these short stories and sprinkle them throughout the rest of the series.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story where Mary Russell recalls tales from her childhood to Sherlock Holmes, her good friend. She tells him about her beloved Uncle Jake who was a free spirit with a somewhat adjusted view of the law and who drifted in and out of their lives while she was young. There's a series of books with Mary and Sherlock though I haven't read any yet. She's a young woman who matches his intellect and becomes an assistant to him in crime solving apparently. I shall have to investigate.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the Mary Russell series so of course I really enjoyed this sweet short story. It isn't often that the books in the series are referred to as sweet, but in this case, since there's no real mystery (and no Sherlock Holmes - except as a character in stories young Mary enjoys), and since Mary is a young girl, it really is rather sweet. We also get to learn a lot more about Mary's family.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This probably wasn't the best Mary Russell story to start with, because there's a framing sequence that I probably would have understood better if I'd read at least the first novel. But the bulk of the story takes place before Mary met Holmes and it stands well by itself. It's not much of a mystery, but I like Mary and the descriptions of her childhood, especially around Christmastime. I'll be reading more of King's Mary Russell stories.

[Terry Bourbon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one. It is a short story, although I read it as a read-alone, it comes in a book of such stories giving insight into Mary's past. In this one, she tells Holmes of a favorite Uncle, Uncle Jack. I would have liked a longer story, but now I will have to get the collection of stories to see what else I can discover about Mary.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally started picking up the short stories for this series. I really liked hearing about her past. Mary has such an interesting back story that is just dripped in through the novels. I hope to meet uncle jack alive and in some mischief that Mary can pull him out of and provide some closer with good relations.

[Emilye · Rating 5 out of 5]

MaryRussell.25

An interesting introduction to the principal characters of this series. A grouping of anecdotes about her Uncle Jake, and the skills Mary acquired under his tutelage, we are also given some insight into her childhood.

This was my first foray into this universe. I doubt it will be the last.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little short story set somewhere in King's Sherlock Holmes series. I had given up on the series after The Language of Bees, but this makes me want to go back. It's largely unconnected from the rest of the books--Mary, telling Holmes of a Christmas with her black sheep uncle, but it gives a brief glimpse into her childhood.

[Drew Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Russell and Holmes are sitting by a fire and Mary tells a story from her childhood before the San Francisco fire. She gives the tale of her Uncle Jake, who breaks every rule, gives inappropriate gifts to children, and generally creates mayhem wherever he goes. This story involves some card game antics, and a gift that Russell still treasures to this day.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary reveals the secret of her Uncle Jake who does not have a character of the greatest repute.. Fun to hear the background stories to the great Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series... Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little story fills in a bit of Mary's family background, including the origin of the knife she always carries in her boot. It's pleasant to read if you're reading the entire series, but there's no reason to hunt it out other than that.

[Rebecca D’Harlingue · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a Sherlock Holmes fan, you should check out this series, in which Mary Russell collaborates with Holmes. This one is short, with just enough Christmas atmosphere to qualify for a fun read at Christmas.

[Darlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven’t read any of the other books in this series. I chose this one because it was included in the Audible Plus catalog, and I was looking for Christmas reads.

I was underwhelmed. Perhaps, if I had read other books in the series, I may have enjoyed it more.

[Jennifer Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very short story told through the eyes of Mary Russell about a much beloved Uncle Jake. Although it is set at Christmas and is told to Sherlock Holmes, the story has very little to do with either Holmes or Christmas.

[Cybercrone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is actually also part of the compilation Mary's War and Other Stories.

So I had read it before but never mind reading a bit about the evil uncle again.

[Neeuqdrazil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful little gem.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look into Mary's childhood.

Read within: Mary Russell's War: And Other Stories of Suspense (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes)
by Laurie R. King (Goodreads Author); 2016.

[Geri F · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, quick read. It's a short story that provided a bit of background about Mary Russell's knife and her accurate aim.