Publisher: Wednesday Books

ISBN: 9781250822956

A teenager follows in her famous big brother’s footsteps and turns sleuth when a woman goes missing. Undaunted by society’s expectations of her gender or her age, the teen uses her wits and her resources to work on the case. Author Nancy Springer continues the wonderful adventures of her spunky, refreshing young heroine in her newest book Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche.

Despite what London naysayers might think, Enola Holmes is quite capable of taking care of herself. Never mind that she’s only 15; as the younger sister of the world-famous Sherlock Holmes, Enola has the smarts, the charm, and the determination of her older brother. She also has something he doesn’t: the advantage of female wiles. When it comes to solving cases, Enola doesn’t hesitate to use any combination of all of it.

Of course, Sherlock would rather she not solve cases at all. Since he and Mycroft, the other Holmes sibling, found Enola after the disappearance of their mother, Enola seems bound and determined to stick her nose into his business. While he doesn’t mind admitting that she does have a keen eye for detail and a sense of bravado necessary for sleuthing, Sherlock is constantly battling with Enola on her impetuousness.

It’s this very quality that lands Enola her next case. A woman shows up on Sherlock’s doorstep one day while Enola is checking on her brother who seems a little out of sorts. The woman, Letitia “Letty” Glover, is worried about her twin sister, Felicity. Not long ago, Felicity married the Earl of Dunhench. Now word has come that Felicity has died and already been buried. Nothing for Letty to do now, the earl says. 

Letty refuses to believe the letter, however. She and Felicity shared everything with one another, and Letty suspects foul play. The woman’s story touches Enola’s heart, and she promises that she’ll do what she can to find out what happened to Felicity. 

Sherlock agrees to join forces with Enola, and together brother and sister start sifting through clues and interviewing people close to the earl. What follows is a case that involves Enola’s dear friend, the Viscount Tewkesbury, several changes of hats, and a strong-willed horse with a mind of its own. Enola finds herself in danger and the strangest of circumstances more than once, but like her brother she refuses to give up until she solves the case.

Author Nancy Springer recreates London in the 1800s with precision. She balances all of the elements of high society and fashion with the challenges a young woman faced back then to pursue acts of substance. Through it all, she also establishes the bond between Enola and Sherlock with ease. Brother and sister frequently get in each other’s way but also rely on one another when the stakes matter most, which will endear them even more both separately and as a unit to readers.

Springer offers modern readers the best of classic novels in fresh, exciting prose. Readers will have no trouble cheering on Enola as she outwits the earl, his henchmen, and even Sherlock from time to time. The Viscount Tewkesbury’s presence provides friendship without the pressure of a romantic entanglement. Clearly Enola is having way too much fun solving cases to put her heart on the line for anyone, and she doesn’t mind it. Neither will readers.

In addition to being a satisfying look at life in that time period, the mystery also builds and will hold readers’ attention. Young adult and adult readers who enjoy old-fashioned stories with a modern feel will definitely enjoy this one. I recommend readers Binge Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche.