The Recurring Cast
Character · Russell and Holmes · 19 books

Mary Russell

Oxford theology student turned detective, Holmes’s partner and wife · Laurie R. King

Mary Russell is an Oxford theology student turned detective, Holmes’s partner and wife.

Spoiler-free profile written for The Recurring Cast.

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Character facts

First appearance
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice (1994)
Latest appearance
Knave of Diamonds (2025)
Books
19 (19 as lead)
Series
Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes
Author
Laurie R. King
Circle
Russell and Holmes

Where to meet Mary Russell

Mary Russell first appears in The Beekeeper’s Apprentice (1994), as the lead, book 1 of the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series.

Buy The Beekeeper’s Apprentice

Every book with Mary Russell

In publication order, with the size of their role in each.

  1. 1994LThe Beekeeper’s Apprenticelead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesMeets Holmes in 1915, aged fifteenBuy
  2. 1995LA Monstrous Regiment of Womenlead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  3. 1997LA Letter of Marylead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  4. 1998LThe Moorlead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  5. 1999LO Jerusalemlead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  6. 2002LJustice Halllead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  7. 2004LThe Gamelead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  8. 2005LLocked Roomslead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  9. 2009LThe Language of Beeslead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  10. 2010LThe God of the Hivelead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  11. 2011LPirate Kinglead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  12. 2012LGarment of Shadowslead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  13. 2015LDreaming Spieslead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  14. 2016LThe Murder of Mary Russelllead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  15. 2018LIsland of the Madlead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  16. 2020LRiviera Goldlead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  17. 2021LCastle Shadelead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  18. 2024LThe Lantern’s Dancelead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy
  19. 2025LKnave of Diamondslead · Mary Russell and Sherlock HolmesBuy

Appears most often with

CharacterBooks together
Mrs HudsonHolmes’s housekeeper19
Mycroft HolmesSherlock’s brother19
Sherlock HolmesRetired detective keeping bees in Sussex19
Damian AdlerHolmes’s son, an artist3
Mahmoud and Ali HazrBritish agents in Palestine3