‘The Adventures of Mary Darling’ by Pat Murphy | SFF Pick of the Month

by Marlene Harris
Feb 05, 2025 | Filed in Reviews+

Mary’s story is a dangerous and delightful adventure that turns the bigotry and misogyny of Victorian England on its head as she takes charge of her own life and rescues everyone with the help of her friends. Highly recommended for readers caught up in the recent trend of feminist retellings of well-known tales.

★Murphy, Pat. The Adventures of Mary Darling. Tachyon. May 2025. 320p. ISBN 9781616964382. pap. $18.95. FANTASY

Everyone thinks they know the stories of supposed heroes Peter Pan and Sherlock Holmes, but Mary Darling knows them better than most, because once upon a time she and her brother were the children Peter enticed with promises of adventure that turned out to be feckless and reckless for everyone but him. Intelligent, practical, even piratical, Mary made a plan to escape and did. Now, Peter has enchanted her children with the same promises, and Mary plans a journey back to Neverland to stage yet another daring escape. But Mary’s well-planned trip is followed by well-meaning, meddling men who are certain she needs their help: her husband George, her uncle John Watson, and Watson’s famous friend Sherlock Holmes. VERDICT Mary’s story is a dangerous and delightful adventure that turns the bigotry and misogyny of Victorian England on its head as she takes charge of her own life and rescues everyone with the help of her friends. Murphy’s (Women Up to No Good) latest is highly recommended for readers caught up in the recent trend of feminist retellings of well-known tales.

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Shirl Wagner

Grandma's car was her late husband's and now it’s her late brother's??

Posted : 2024-02-12 21:17:30

Lon Neidigh

I read Hardcore24 , 25,26, 27 ,28 in 24 Grandma M. Gets a dog named Henry on page 213 Putmans ed. But the dog is never mention again inthe next stories all the way to 28 , did you forget about adding a dog to the cast?

Posted : 2023-12-25 04:38:39

Sandra Weaver

Will there ever be a final wrap up for the Stephanie Plum books and her forever after?

Posted : 2022-09-20 18:50:14

Sandra Weaver

Will there ever be an ending wrap up to the Stephanie Plum books?

Posted : 2022-09-20 18:47:56

Glenda Manuel

I met Ms Evanovich at a library in St Louis when she was touring. I'm retired now but I told her when I was working I very seldom took a sick day.. until one night I started reading One For The Money. I called in work the next day so I could finish the book. She's an amazing writer and person. She was so nice to me. Thank you for always making me smile.

Posted : 2022-08-10 23:22:30

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