2.5 Stars

This book was a bit of a mixed bag. While I loved Mary as a determined mom and a detective sharper than Sherlock, the heavy reliance on corrected Peter Pan plot points just didn't quite click for me. The SherlockxPeter Pan mashup never fully landed, and I think I was really craving more banter and a whimsy tone throughout.

Charlotte Flyte did a fine job narrating, but I think a full cast would've really elevated this one.

Ultimately, I can see the appeal for others, but it just wasn't the right fit for my reading taste.

Thanks to HighBridge audio for the eALC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you @NetGalley and @RBmedia for the ALC. This was so nostalgic to read. It had my love for Sherlock Holmes, Peter Pan and Mary Darling point of view. This takes place when Mary's children disappear to Neverland with Peter Pan and she knows that might end in tragedy. Mary is a mama bear and she seeks the help of Captain James Hook to fetch her children. I loved the back history on all the characters and how all of them have been touched by pixie dust.

✨ Review ✨ The Adventures of Mary Darling by Pat Murphy; Narrated by Charlotte Flyte

Thanks to HighBridge Audio and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

We enter this feminist, anti-colonial retelling of Peter Pan through the perspective of Mary Darling. It's a mash-up of Peter Pan and Sherlock Holmes with Watson being Mary’s uncle. As the kids disappear and Mary remembers her own history on the island, she creates a plan to get the kids back.

This had delightful explanations of how Indigenous people were on the island (like Tiger Lily), how Captain Hook came to be the captain of the Jolly Roger and lost his hand, etc. etc. I had so much fun listening to it!

Note that this is told through multiple POVs with intersecting/overlapping timelines, but I love complex books like this. I appreciated the geographic diversity in the book - Pacific islands, Australia, Madagascar, etc. While retellings aren't normally my jam, I found this one a total delight!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: historical fiction, fantasy
Setting: Pacific islands, Australia, Madagascar, London, etc.
Length: 14 hours 22 minutes
Pub Date: Jun 03 2025

Read this if you like:
⭕️ feminist and anti-colonial retellings
⭕️ historical fiction
⭕️ multiple POVS
⭕️ Peter Pan

Thank you to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy of the audiobook for The Adventures of Mary Darling.

This one is hard for me to land my opinion on. I will preface this with the fact that I am not an avid reader of the Peter Pan stories or their retellings. I haven’t ever sought one out. I was surprised by how much this story involved Peter Pan. So, take my thoughts with a grain of salt, especially if you tend to love all things, Peter Pan.

The story overall was fine. It had its ups and downs. The audio narration was very well done. I enjoyed the feminist undertone and the historical elements of what it was like to live as a woman during this period. I liked that the story touched on racism as well as sexism. I loved hearing about Mary’s (and Ruby’s) thoughts about the benefits of presenting as a boy. I enjoyed Watson’s perspective most of the time, particularly his growth arc.

I think the main problem I had was that everyone and everything got a perspective. Not a designated chapter, just throughout each chapter it would switch to whomever was being referred to. The dog, the husband, a lost boy, the landlord, Mary, Watson, Sherlock, and many more. It felt like the story was being spelled out instead of slowly unfolding. I love multi-perspective books typically, yet this was done in a way that felt like it was too much for me. I like to be able to guess what some characters might be thinking or feeling, their motivations, etc., but no guesswork was needed at any point for this book.

There are far too many Peter Pan retellings out there, yet authors keep trying despite the fact that it doesn’t usually go all that well. There are exceptions of course (Hook’s perspective novels seem to work the best) but unfortunately this book isn’t one of them.

A lot of this feels like an attempt to wash Barrie’s original novel of its problematic elements. While we all have to acknowledge (whether we love the original or not) that the Barrie novel has some significant issues for a modern reader, I don’t think this is the right approach to take to educate readers about that. A lot of the problem is that this particular aspect of this book is all tell, no show, and that’s a shame because some of Murphy’s ideas for how to do this were quite good and might have been successful had they been more subtly deployed.

Another problem here is that so much of this book is essentially just the exact same plot points from Peter Pan but “corrected” for modern readers. It’s a tedious way to reimagine this world, and it also prompts very direct comparisons between the author’s writing and Barrie’s. Though Murphy is, for the most part, an objectively good writer, she can’t touch Barrie and she’s made that all too apparent by building plot this way.

Also a tough hang: Literary mash-ups, both in general and in this particular instance. It’s a bit ham-fisted plot-wise how Sherlock Holmes and Peter Pan are melded here, and I’m not sure the Holmesean elements added anything at all to the story. As the blurb suggests, Mary is both more likable and in many ways a better detective than the bombastic, eye roll-inducing Holmes, and she didn’t really need a foil in this regard.

The best moments of this are those with Sam or on the pirate ship, where Murphy finds some originality and some very compelling moments. I wish we had gotten more like this and less of the rest, which caused the book to drag more often than not.

All of that said, the book does have bright spots, and I loved the tone. And while I didn’t find the attempt successful, I appreciate the intent of what Murphy was trying to do here in attempting to create a Peter Pan tale that is truly for everyone.

Loved Mary's story, not sure about Holmes and Watson.

This grew and grew on me as I listened (audiobook version was very good). The Peter Pan story, but from the viewpoint of the mother left behind... who isn't just the picture-perfect Victorian mother sat weeping by the open window.

I love that the author shapes an entire backstory for Mary Darling, bringing in other characters familiar from Barrie's books, and fleshes out a culturally-possible history taking in real-life characters, pirates and social norms (and aberrations) and giving a fresh look to a minor character in literature.

What I didn't really like was the inclusion of Holmes and Watson. When Mary's three children go missing one night, she calls on her uncle, John Watson, for help. Being a colleague to that famous detective Sherlock Holmes, the two are soon on the case, helping the Darlings look for Wendy, John and Michael.

Only, to me.. it was a step too far and completely unnecessary. I was happy to enjoy Mary's company and follow HER story. I didn't see what the rational detective actually added to proceedings, other than a mash-up of literature and creations that didn't seem to me to further the plot particularly.

Maybe just my slant on things. But I loved Mary, Ruby, getting to know George, being introduced to Sam and James (not going to give anything away here about any of these names).

Of particular interest was the view I'd never taken on Neverland - that it takes days to get there, you might get lost, that once there the Lost Boys scrape around for food in the dirty clothes they've arrived in, that some die and are replaced, and that Peter is less the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up as a slightly malevolent spirit stealing children and who may get them killed. Changed my view of childhood reading, that did.

Very easy to listen to, though the narrator has a slight accent that grated on certain words and in some of the voices.

Such a great idea, very enjoyable modern look at a minor name from literature who would possibly have had much more to say for herself, had she been asked.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.

This is a seriously fun story!!! The way the original story from Peter Pan has been woven and fitted together like puzzle pieces with the characters of Sherlock Holmes is beautiful.

The plot was incredibly enjoyable and well thought out, and reading it all with these well known characters who you never would have thought to throw together from two classics in two totally different genres is completely dazzling!

Narrators and audio production were wonderful as well, this was just an all around fun experience to listen to, and definitely one I will come back to for a re-listen, it’s just that fun and cozy!!

Thank you to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy of this audiobook, I’m so grateful and enjoyed it so much!!

'The Adventures of Mary Darling' by Pat Murphy starts with a truly imaginative premise. I’ve enjoyed the clever reimagining of beloved stories with a mystery before, so this creative mashup of Peter Pan’s world with Holmes and Watson, all set against the social and political backdrop of Victorian-era England intrigued me.

That said, I struggled to stay engaged with the narration—the diction was soft and it lacked the kind of energy that draws me into an audiobook. More significantly, I found the tone of the story’s commentary on gender to be a bit heavy-handed. While I appreciate stories that shed light on injustice and uplift marginalized voices, this one leaned too far in a direction that felt like it was flipping the script by diminishing men rather than promoting balance. That approach to women's empowerment isn't quite my style.

Though the book clearly has a lot of ambition and originality, I’ve decided not to finish. Of course, that may just come down to personal preference—others may find it exactly to their taste.

Special thanks to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for access to this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

An intriguing concept that doesn’t quite land, The Adventures of Mary Darling is an ambitious and inventive retelling that blends the worlds of Peter Pan and Sherlock Holmes, but ultimately, it didn’t fully work for me. The writing has a very classic, old-fashioned style that may appeal to some readers, but I wish this had been made more clear in the book's description, it definitely shaped the reading experience.

The novel feels more like a historical retelling than an adventure, and while parts of it were compelling, it also dragged in places and felt overly long. I often found myself wanting the story to move along more quickly.

That said, I really appreciated the depth given to some of the supporting characters. Captain Hook and Sam, Mary’s ally from the Solomon Islands, were standouts for me, their backstories were rich and layered, and I found myself far more invested in their arcs than in Mary’s. Their perspectives brought some much-needed texture and heart to the narrative.

Overall, The Adventures of Mary Darling has moments of brilliance and an admirable aim in spotlighting marginalised voices, but it fell short for me in execution and pacing. Worth a read if you're drawn to literary retellings and classic prose, but go in expecting something more reflective than action-packed.

Content Guide:
🤬Mild British swearing
🌶️Implied sex. References to “whoring”. Brief vague nudity.
🗡️Adventure violence with swords and knives. References to deaths.
🍺Some excessive alcohol use. Brief reference to cocaine and vague references to other drugs.
TW: kidnapping, prostitution, female and transgender nudity (vague & nonsexual), racism, and sexism.

What drew me to this book is the combination of a strong female lead, the fantasy of Peter Pan, and the mystery of Sherlock Holmes. That, and I love the idea of a mother fighting for her children! All things I love! I really enjoyed listening, I just wish the execution of this was a little more focused.
I really enjoyed the fresh perspective on James Hook, Princess Tiger Lily, the Lost Boys, and especially Mrs. Darling! I loved how the author incorporated the suffragist movement and other historical events into the story.
However, I felt that the book was a bit too long, and I would have liked more focus on Mary’s adventures to Neverland, and more struggle to rescue her children. I would have liked less time on the bumbling side characters, which made the story drag a bit. I’m all about character development, and I did see good development with James, Watson, and George. I wanted more internal character development from Mary, especially since she is the main character.
The narration was clear and easy to understand, with a matter-of-fact tone of voice. However, the English accent wasn’t quite believable.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a more progressive perspective on the Peter Pan story. However, if you are looking for a Sherlock-Holmes-style mystery, you will be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the audiobook arc in exchange for my honest review.

I can honestly say I would have never thought to combine Peter Pan with Sherlock Holmes, and that combination was truly intriguing. The mix of the dark wildness of Barry's original Peter Pan with the cool logic and deduction of Sherlock made for a fascinating combination, and the different perspectives that those two stories brought when tied together was a really fun decision. I have to hand it to the author--she has a lot of creativity. I've been thinking up fairy tale mashups for most of my life, and this combination has truly never occurred to me.

I also really appreciated the way the author handled the Peter Pan part of the story (I know less about Sherlock, so I can't say much about whether that was handled well). One of the often-forgotten things about the J. M. Barrie's original Peter Pan is just how dark it is, and I think this story captured that grittier feel very well without ever being too graphic or overwhelming. Peter Pan felt correctly incorrect, and the Lost Boys' situation felt appropriately realistic.

I do feel that the author might have gotten a little carried away with the execution. This is a highly character-driven story, and almost every character (whether significant or minor) is introduced by a long backstory where you learn exactly how the character got to that point and all the character's significant motivations. At times this was an enjoyable and interesting experience, but at other times it slowed down the pace significantly and didn't seem to add much to the overall plot. It seemed a bit like the author found out something fascinating or horrifying in her research of the era or thought of a brilliant reason why x person was in y place and wanted to make sure that all those details made it into the book--whether or not it truly fit the narrative arc. As a result, the main story often felt choppy as we would stop following Mary Darling or one of the other primary characters and suddenly follow someone else's story for chapters before reconnecting to the main story and sometimes never seeing that side character again. The constant build-up and character work with the side characters meant that I often lost track of the main thrust of the story and the conclusion was not nearly as gratifying as I had hoped since by that point I had largely lost track of whose story I was supposed to be invested in. To be honest, I think that was part of the author's point--to show how many different unique stories intersect at any given point in time--but the execution just didn't work for me. With so many stories being told in such detail all at once, it was hard for me to feel truly connected or invested in any one of them.

That being said, this was clearly a very well-researched book that provides insights into much of what was happening in the world around the time period of Peter Pan. If you love history and love heavily character-based books, this might be just the thing for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Highbridge Audio for the opportunity to read and review this audiobook ARC.

I adored The Adventures of Mary Darling! This book felt like the perfect blend of a retelling of Peter Pan and Sherlock Holmes, but with a slant where women are heard and appreciated for their views and talents.

The characters (both old and new) were beautifully explored, and I especially loved learning more about the background of Mary Darling, who I realise now that I have never really recognised as more than a 2D cutout of a character. Pat Murphy makes her so much more than “just” the mother of Wendy, John and Michael.

This story returns us both to Victorian London and we discover the after effects of Wendy and her brothers’ disappearance, but more than that - it helps us to see previously unexplored weaknesses in otherwise favourably seen popular literary characters, putting a new spin on classic stories and creating the fantastic backstory of Mary.

The narrator was clear and easy to listen to.

I would love to read more of Pat Murphy’s work, especially any further fairy tale/classic hybrid books!

When her children disappear from her home, Mary Darling goes straight to her uncle, Dr. John Watson. She knows from the beginning where they have gone and realizes that only she can rescue them. This book looks at the classic Peter Pan from Mary Darling's point of view while also making her courageous, intelligent, and resourceful. The author also gives possible backstories for many other main characters in the classic Peter Pan tale, originally written in racist and stereotypical ways.

There is a lot of historical research that went into this text while also weaving it together into a thoughtful, moving story. There were many jumps forward and back in time as we experienced each of the personal and reflective backstories, which sometimes felt like their own individual short stories. It also seemed to drag in some places as the reader is waiting for the children to be rescued. But the goal of the story does not actually have anything to do with the children. They are a very minor detail that thrusts Mary onto her own adventure.

Although Sherlock and George Darling also come along for the ride, it is Mary and the connections she has made over her life that enable her to be successful in her journey. Sherlock is never able, or willing, to discover the true magic of the adventure as he logically attempts to explain away everything that happens. And George, well, there isn't anything nice I can say about George in this version of the tale. His choices and motives are all at fault, in my opinion.

Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to jump the line at my library for this audiobook.

3.5 rounded up to 4

The Adventures of Mary Darling is a brilliantly imaginative reworking of Peter and Wendy by J. M. Barrie, told through the eyes of a character often relegated to the background, Mary Darling, the mother of Wendy, John, and Michael. Pat Murphy brings her front and center, turning her into a rich, compelling protagonist whose story blends whimsy with sharp, subversive commentary.

What begins as an adult fairy tale soon deepens into something far more layered. Murphy infuses the narrative with real historical context, interweaving elements of feminism, colonial critique, and the experiences of Indigenous Americans with literary flair. The inclusion of Arthur Conan Doyle’s characters - Sherlock Holmes and John Watson - adds yet another surprising dimension, creating a genre-crossing adventure that feels both playful and profound.

Mary Darling herself is a standout. She's a mother, yes, but not a passive one. She drives the story, pushing against the limited roles expected of women in her era. Her journey is one of self-discovery, agency, and connection with other women from diverse backgrounds. Watching them collaborate and support one another is a powerful and refreshing theme throughout the book.

The prose is beautiful, the tone balanced between whimsy and emotional depth, and the characters feel fully realized, complex, flawed, and vibrant. This novel doesn't rely on nostalgia or stereotypes. Instead, it breathes new life into a familiar tale by exploring the unseen and unspoken beneath the surface.

Pat Murphy’s The Adventures of Mary Darling is a masterful example of how retellings can both honor and transform their source material. It’s thoughtful, beautifully written, and delightfully unexpected. A must-read for fans of literary reimaginings with something real to say.

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sherlock Holmes & Peter Pan put together? Sign me up! This one looked adorable just by the cover! I loved getting to read familiar names but spun in a new light!

A fun and entertaining adventure story. I enjoyed every bit of Mary’s adventure a new view on Peter Pan.

4.5 stars rounded up

This was surprisingly great! I was curious, but unsure what to expect from a mashup of Peter Pan and Sherlock Holmes centering Mrs. Darling. As it turns out, The Adventures of Mary Darling is a smart historical fantasy that reexamines classic texts through a feminist and intersectional lens. What strictures constrained the lives of women? What about people of African descent or indigenous peoples? How does taking that into consideration change the way we read a text like Peter Pan? And for all his observational brilliance, what blind spots does Holmes have, particularly in light of something mystical going on?

For all that, it's also an entertaining story with great characters. Mary Darling is is an inimitable heroine with secrets of her own, determined to rescue her children. Told through interweaving timelines, it's a lush and satisfying story that is really quite impressive. It seamlessly blends real history with the fantastic in a way that is more believable than you might expect. I definitely recommend it. The audio narration is excellent, capturing a diverse cast of characters in a historical time period. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher all opinions are my own.

This author was new to me. At times this story was intriguing, more of the time it wasn’t. I enjoyed the characters. Outstanding narration.

I was blessed with an audio ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.

This is an interesting mash up of Sherlock Holmes and Peter Pan.

Mary Darling and her husband return home from a party to find their children are missing. Her Uncle asks his partner Sherlock Holmes for help. With Holmes and Watson on the case, what could go wrong?

I enjoyed this, but more so the Sherlock Holmes aspects and not so much the Peter Pan. As always, I love it when women of this era buck the societal system.

The narrator was great, the story was just a bit boring in spots.

Peter Pan came to the Darling house and left with the three children. Mary was distraught and would do all necessary to get her children back. Her uncle John Watson would involve Sherlock Holmes. The adventure begins and we will travel to Neverland to times past and present.

A very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Good characters in this well paced fantasy story of Mary, Peter Pan, Lost Boys, children, pirates and adventure. Mary had knowledge of Neverland and knew what she must do, no matter the danger. Very enjoyable.