Enola is still hiding from her brothers and masquerading as a secretary. Her latest mystery hits close to home. Her landlady is abducted and it's up to Enola to find out why. In the course of her investigation, she meets an elderly Florence Nightingale, admires the many uses of embroidery, and brushes up on her Morse Code.
What I thought: Springer does not disappoint in this latest installment in the Enola Holmes series. It was fast paced and riveting. As always, I was on the edge of my seat wondering if she could continue to allude her brothers.
(New York: Philomek, 2009. Enola Holmes Book #5)
Showing posts with label Enola Holmes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Enola Holmes. Show all posts
Friday, January 1, 2010
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan by Nancy Springer
Springer, Nancy. The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan. New York: Philomel, 2008.
Enola Holmes is still enjoying her life in London though she is often forced to dodge her brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft, who are determined to find her. Enola encounters a person she never thought to see again, Lady Cecily. Lady Cecily is in a most awkward situation. She appears to be the prisoner of her two chaperones. She conveys to Enola that she needs help. The only clue Enola has is the pink paper fan Lady Cecily was carrying and discreetly dropped near Enola. The fan leads Enola to the fashion of hosting a pink tea. To gather information, she impersonates a society page reporter. Enola is soon embroiled in family secrets and arranged marriages. She is once again appalled at the lack of freedom ladies have in civilized society.
What I thought: I was not disappointed with the latest installment of the Enola Holmes mystery series. I eagerly await the release of the 5th book, The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline, on May 14th.
Enola Holmes is still enjoying her life in London though she is often forced to dodge her brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft, who are determined to find her. Enola encounters a person she never thought to see again, Lady Cecily. Lady Cecily is in a most awkward situation. She appears to be the prisoner of her two chaperones. She conveys to Enola that she needs help. The only clue Enola has is the pink paper fan Lady Cecily was carrying and discreetly dropped near Enola. The fan leads Enola to the fashion of hosting a pink tea. To gather information, she impersonates a society page reporter. Enola is soon embroiled in family secrets and arranged marriages. She is once again appalled at the lack of freedom ladies have in civilized society.
What I thought: I was not disappointed with the latest installment of the Enola Holmes mystery series. I eagerly await the release of the 5th book, The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline, on May 14th.
Friday, February 20, 2009
The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets by Nancy Springer
Springer, Nancy. The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets. New York: Philomel, 2008.
In this 3rd installment of Enola's adventures, her brother Sherlock's friend Dr. John Watson has went missing. Enola is soon on the case. But first she must concoct a disguise that will make sure her brothers never recognize her. She's been a widow, a secretary, a doctor's wife, and even a nun. Enola attempts her most daring disguise ever--she's going to be beautiful. This is no small feat considering she looks just like Sherlock. Enola's quest for an infallible disguise and her knowledge of flower language help her find Dr. Watson.
What I thought: The more I read about Enola, the more I like and admire her. Her plan to be beautiful is ingenious. It is a disguise that will be useful now and later. Enola's skill at being just who she needs to be is fantastic. I do wonder, however, if she will lose her true self in all these disguises.
In this 3rd installment of Enola's adventures, her brother Sherlock's friend Dr. John Watson has went missing. Enola is soon on the case. But first she must concoct a disguise that will make sure her brothers never recognize her. She's been a widow, a secretary, a doctor's wife, and even a nun. Enola attempts her most daring disguise ever--she's going to be beautiful. This is no small feat considering she looks just like Sherlock. Enola's quest for an infallible disguise and her knowledge of flower language help her find Dr. Watson.
What I thought: The more I read about Enola, the more I like and admire her. Her plan to be beautiful is ingenious. It is a disguise that will be useful now and later. Enola's skill at being just who she needs to be is fantastic. I do wonder, however, if she will lose her true self in all these disguises.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Nancy Springer
Springer, Nancy. The Case of the Left-Handed Lady. New York: Sleuth Philomel, 2007.
Enola Holmes is holding her own in London, though she is forever running into her brother Mycroft and Holmes. But she's become a master at alluding her pursuers. She's set herself up as Dr. Leslie T. Ragostin, the only scientific perditorian. In layman's terms, a finder of lost things. Naturally, no one ever sees the good doctor. They encounter only his secretary Miss Ivy Meshle. When needs be, Enola can also disguise herself as Mrs. Ragostin. She needs just such a disguise when she hears that Lady Cecily, a young woman not much older than herself, has disappeared without a trace. Enola wants to help. She visits the home, looks over Lady Cecily's room, and makes her assumptions. She then begins following the meager leads that she has. She soon realizes that she's not the only person in London with multiple identities. Department store owner's soon Alexander Finch moonlights as one Cameron Shaw, a supporter of the labor platform. He has a skill that allowed him to "borrow" Lady Cecily. He hypnotised her. Enola has no choice but to try and free Lady Cecily from his hold disregarding the danger to her own person.
What I thought: I can only second my estimation of the 1st Enola Holmes mystery. Wow! Enola certainly shows just how strong her can be in this book. The adventures she undertakes are fraught enough with danger, yet she runs the added risk of discovery by her brothers. How can she, now that she has tasted freedom, stand to be packed off to boarding school and turned into a proper young lady? She learns far more useful things in London. For example, a corset is not merely for improving one's appearance. It is quite good protection from knives and the like.
Enola Holmes is holding her own in London, though she is forever running into her brother Mycroft and Holmes. But she's become a master at alluding her pursuers. She's set herself up as Dr. Leslie T. Ragostin, the only scientific perditorian. In layman's terms, a finder of lost things. Naturally, no one ever sees the good doctor. They encounter only his secretary Miss Ivy Meshle. When needs be, Enola can also disguise herself as Mrs. Ragostin. She needs just such a disguise when she hears that Lady Cecily, a young woman not much older than herself, has disappeared without a trace. Enola wants to help. She visits the home, looks over Lady Cecily's room, and makes her assumptions. She then begins following the meager leads that she has. She soon realizes that she's not the only person in London with multiple identities. Department store owner's soon Alexander Finch moonlights as one Cameron Shaw, a supporter of the labor platform. He has a skill that allowed him to "borrow" Lady Cecily. He hypnotised her. Enola has no choice but to try and free Lady Cecily from his hold disregarding the danger to her own person.
What I thought: I can only second my estimation of the 1st Enola Holmes mystery. Wow! Enola certainly shows just how strong her can be in this book. The adventures she undertakes are fraught enough with danger, yet she runs the added risk of discovery by her brothers. How can she, now that she has tasted freedom, stand to be packed off to boarding school and turned into a proper young lady? She learns far more useful things in London. For example, a corset is not merely for improving one's appearance. It is quite good protection from knives and the like.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer
Springer, Nancy. The Case of the Missing Marquess. New York: Sleuth Philomel, 2006.
On her 14th birthday, Enola's mother goes missing. Enola searches their estate grounds in vain. She has no choice but to send for her much older brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft. (Yes, that Sherlock. As in Holmes.) The brothers soon realize that their mother has been hoodwinking money out of them to make just such an escape. Once Mycroft informs Enola that she will be going to boarding school to become a proper young lady, Enola understands how her mother felt. Enola has no rights except the ones her brother chooses to give her. She sees no alternative but to follow in her mother's footsteps. She will run away. With the aid of the cipher book her mother made for her on her birthday, Enola discovers several stashes of money, enough to make her independent for a time. She plots her escape with great intelligence. She will disguise herself as a widow. Surely no one would suspect that respectable widow is really a 14 year old girl. Enola's escape doesn't go as smoothly as she hoped. She's soon in the midst of a kidnapping and kidnapped herself. Can she get out of this mess? Will she successfully allude her brothers to be independent?
What I thought: Wow! Springer has gave life to a strong heroine. No obstacle seems too great for Enola. Enola's cunning in disguising herself shows that she shares more than looks with her famous detective brother. I can't say that I blame her for running away. Laws in the 19th century effectively made women prisoners of their husbands, sons, brothers, or other male relatives. Mycroft wouldn't listen to Enola for 1 reason--she's a girl. He, like most of his contemporaries, doubt that women are intelligent. I take gleefully amusement in his misconception of Enola. I am eager to read about her further adventures.
On her 14th birthday, Enola's mother goes missing. Enola searches their estate grounds in vain. She has no choice but to send for her much older brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft. (Yes, that Sherlock. As in Holmes.) The brothers soon realize that their mother has been hoodwinking money out of them to make just such an escape. Once Mycroft informs Enola that she will be going to boarding school to become a proper young lady, Enola understands how her mother felt. Enola has no rights except the ones her brother chooses to give her. She sees no alternative but to follow in her mother's footsteps. She will run away. With the aid of the cipher book her mother made for her on her birthday, Enola discovers several stashes of money, enough to make her independent for a time. She plots her escape with great intelligence. She will disguise herself as a widow. Surely no one would suspect that respectable widow is really a 14 year old girl. Enola's escape doesn't go as smoothly as she hoped. She's soon in the midst of a kidnapping and kidnapped herself. Can she get out of this mess? Will she successfully allude her brothers to be independent?
What I thought: Wow! Springer has gave life to a strong heroine. No obstacle seems too great for Enola. Enola's cunning in disguising herself shows that she shares more than looks with her famous detective brother. I can't say that I blame her for running away. Laws in the 19th century effectively made women prisoners of their husbands, sons, brothers, or other male relatives. Mycroft wouldn't listen to Enola for 1 reason--she's a girl. He, like most of his contemporaries, doubt that women are intelligent. I take gleefully amusement in his misconception of Enola. I am eager to read about her further adventures.
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