Book Review: Enola Holmes and the Case of the Missing Marquess

Official synopsis for: Enola Holmes and the Case of the Missing Marquess: When Enola Holmes, sister to the detective Sherlock Holmes, discovers her mother has disappeared, she quickly sets off to find her in London - but nothing can prepare her for what awaits. For when she arrives, she finds herself involved in the kidnapping of a young marquess, and must flee murderous villains and elude her shrewd older brothers - all while trying to piece together clues to the mother's disappearance. Amid all the chaos, can Enola find the marquess and her mother?

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I first decided to pick up Nancy Springer's introductory novel into her character, Enola Holmes. Though just a few pages into the world of Enola and her famous family, I was quite taken, and would follow Enola all through London and anywhere else her adventures would lead.


Enola Holmes and the Case of the Missing Marquess is a marvelous example of an author taking an existing literary world, along with its characters, and transforming it into something wholly new and exciting. In the case of Enola, this would of course be that she is the 14-year old sister of the world famous fictional super sleuth Sherlock Holmes. With this kind of pedigree weighing heavy on our author, one would think that you'd have to be mad to attempt resurrecting, and, elaborating on one of literature's greatest heroes. However, Springer shines as the driving creative force behind a brand new spin on the old formula of who-done-it.

While I did find this novel inside the Young Adults section of my book store, I'm not entirely certain that I would recommend it to anyone under the age of perhaps 14. Due to it's extensive use of English terminology and excruciating attention to detail when concerning fashion and proper manners, I would imagine that anyone younger would most certainly need the aid of the internet (or, heaven forbid a dictionary) in order to find out just what was being talked about throughout the tale. That being said, I found myself entranced in the old ways of a murky, wretched London city filled with psychics, cut-throats, and pick-pockets. The smart writing style drips with dedication to the subject matter and its characters, pulling you into the intrigue and shadiness of a sorted missing persons tale.

More than enthusiastically I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery. With the source material being so cleverly used when creating Enola, her family, and the rag-tag cast of bandits and noblemen that run wild through the pages of this first installment, I can't think of a single reason why you wouldn't want to embrace Enola and the many adventures that are sure to come her way. Cheers!