Member Reviews

I watched the movie of Enola Holmes on Netflix last year and I enjoyed it very much. When I found out it was based on a book series I wanted to find them and read them but due to covid we haven't done much shopping for books or going to the library so when this came to my email I jumped on the chance to read it. I enjoyed this book and would love to read the others that I have yet to read.

This book started with a reminder of who Enola was and then took off from there. I was surprised to see these listed as Young Adult although I've only seen the movie and read this book so maybe there is more to the books in between. I thought they were more of a middle grade book. I enjoyed the story but it seemed really short or maybe the book was just that much of a page turner. I enjoyed reading this book but they do go by quickly.

I love that Enola takes charge. In this book Enola is on the case to help a twin figure out what happened to her sister. She and Sherlock work together to solve this case each doing what they think is best along the way and teaming up at the end to solve the mystery.

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SO GOOD> Anyone who has even a smidgen of interest in the Sherlock Holmes stories, or that style of mystery,:
you have GOT to read this. A detective worthy of being toe to toe with her older brother Sherlock, Miss Enola Holmes would make Sir Arthur Conan Doyle proud, as Nancy Springer has done here. Best companion to the original Sherlock Holmes stories that I have ever read.

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Enola joins forces with her brother Sherlock to investigate the disappearance of the twin sister of their client. The search places Enola in danger (of course!) and leads the two plus Dr. Watson into seedy asylums and dark mansions. Enola no longer runs the streets, but has grown up and now wears lady-like colorful clothing in the latest fashions (described in detail in the book--probably better when one can see them in the film version). She retains her independent and quirky character. In some ways, I felt as if this book was being written for film rather than to be read as a book, but I still enjoyed it immensely, especially the disguises and theatrics.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

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I really enjoyed this addition to the Enola Holmes books. I reread all of them when the movie came out and they do hold up. I liked how Sherlock was included in this one, it let Enola have an adventure without going back on the growth in the previous books.

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First time reading Enola Holmes and I LOVED it! Yes I did read the books out of order. I feel like you don't need to read the books in order to understand what is going on because the author gives a back story which helped me as a reader understand. The chapters were not long, so I was able to finish the book pretty quickly! I would definitely recommend this book especially to teens or young adults. I will definitely be reading more Enola Holmes!!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

I requested this not realizing it was the seventh in series but that was easily remedied by reading all the others first. :D This was another lovely addition to the Enola Holmes series. I really enjoyed the story and seeing Enola actually to work with Sherlock and Watson, rather than hiding from them.

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I was so glad that they continued the series! I really enjoyed the series a lot. They are quick and simple reads, totally appropriate for younger audiences. I also love the concept of a female Sherlock, even though it is much more simplified,.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely go back and read the previous Enola Holmes’ books written by this author. I saw the Netflix movie about Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister and liked it a lot so I thought I would try this book and see how the author drew Enola as a character. She did a wonderful job and the character came to life in vivid color. Her prose is delightful and the story moves at a fast clip with an intriguing plot and other memorable characters. Sherlock also has a pretty large part in the story which is cool. His relationship with his sister is fun to watch. The trials and tribulations of women in England in the 19th century is made clear in this book including the horrific way normal everyday women were institutionalized in insane asylums and left for dead simply because they sang too much or their husbands got tired of them. I love Enola Holmes and highly recommend this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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As a fan of all kinds of Sherlock Holmes reimaginings, I was delighted to find that he now has a sister! My family thoroughly enjoyed the Netflix adaptation so I knew I needed to read the series. Enola Holmes is a strong willed young woman and fits right in with her older brothers, even when she annoys them. Smart, brilliant and charming, she has probably more of a brain to solve mysteries than her much more well know sibling.

In this installment, she sets out to solve one of her brother’s cases when he has found himself in a funk. A woman’s sister has gone missing, presumably dead, and Enola is determined to solve the case and drag her brother out of his funk at the same time.

This was such a delightful read. It’s refreshing to find a strong and intelligent young woman be the central character even though she has her famous brother tagging along with her. Just the right amount of mystery and humor. Thank you MetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and give my honest review.

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Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche is a wonderful adaptation of the classic Sherlock Holmes story. As Sherlock's little sister, Enola brings a sense of whimsy as well as her on point logical thinking to this caper. I enjoyed having a different perspective (and narrative) compared to older Holmes stories. This novel is perfect for the middle grade and YA set.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this advanced copy of the novel.

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So glad I got to return to the world of Enola Holmes. She is feisty and clever as ever. As an added bonus, this time she is no longer hiding from her brothers but rather is actually working in tandem with Sherlock.

A handy prologue recapping the previous six books (written by Enola’s brother Sherlock) helps make this story accessible to new readers to the series. I still think starting with the first book would be more enjoyable, but not actually necessary.

I still think some of the content in this series is a little dark for middle grade, but I guess it would depend on the reader.

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Enola Holmes is every bit as clever as her more famous older brother Sherlock, only with better people skills. These books are great fun to read for our middle readers, equally fun for grown ups as a light, cozy, mystery and are easy to hand sell,

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Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche
by Nancy Springer
Publish Date August 31, 2021

I was so glad to get this #7 in the series ARC from the publishers and NetGalley. I had watched the show on Netflix and ordered it! Now I can look forward to reading the other six books that came before this one.
This is a great book and I highly rated it. It reads great as a stand-alone as well.

5 star

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I was unaware the Netflix film was actually an adaptation of the series of young adult books written in this line, so finding it out and having the opportunity to review the next offering was stunning and exciting for me. I love all the iterations of Sherlock Holmes so seeing a strong female lead introduced into the lore was just what the doctor ordered.
This book follows Enola as she continues to work as a sort of female Sherlock-style detective to find what has happened to the twin sister of a young woman who comes to visit her. The author very adeptly mimics the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with ease.
Written in a very approachable and easy to read, fun, manner, this book was an absolute blast and I have to say I tore through it pretty fast. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, but mostly to young women because it shows that anything a man can do, we can do just as well or better.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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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.

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I always find it much harder to write reviews for books I absolutely love rather than books I didn't like as well. I enjoy reading Nancy Springer's writing, it flows very well and Enola's point of view brings me so much joy. I loved Sherlock and Enola's relationship in the first Enola Holmes book. Being able to continue to see that brother/sister relationship is amazing.

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This was a fun book. The prologue has Sherlock Holmes introducing his much younger sister, Enola Holmes, whom he did not really know as she was growing up (as he was out of the house making his way in the world), but whom caused him and their brother Mycroft considerable consternation when circumstances required them to see to her wellbeing. She disagreed with their plans and she proved herself as wily and as skilled in disguises as Sherlock.

Enola is at Sherlock's home/office, trying to rouse him from his melancholia, when a young lady (Letitia (Tish) Glover) arrives to retain Sherlock's assistance, and with her brother temporarily indisposed, she takes charge of the client and the case. Tish had received a letter from her sister's husband telling her that her twin sister, Felicity (Flossie), had died of a sudden illness and her body cremated. However, Tish does not believe that her sister is actually dead. Enola agrees that the letter and the supposed circumstances resulting in Flossie's death seem suspicious; even more so when they inspect Flossie's ashes, which are of the canine variety. Enola and Sherlock agree to help discover what really happened to Flossie.

The mystery of what happened to Flossie is enjoyable and quite fitting for the times. Sherlock and Enola utilize different investigatory methods and avenues of inquiry, almost in a contest of sorts, but their paths cross at times and situations arise where one of them has to help the other escape trouble. While Sherlock plays a significant role, the story revolves primarily around Enola and her investigatory efforts. Enola is interested in and knowledgeable about fashion (for a variety of reasons), and so detailed descriptions of outfits are included. This is not something one typically sees in mystery novels or from detective characters, but it adds a uniqueness to Enola and it works well with her utilization of her attire to present herself as older and more sophisticated, as well as her mastery of disguises. Enola is also rather resourceful, feisty, and determined. Enola Holmes is a fun character and I would be happy to read more stories featuring her.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

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When a series returns with a new book after 11 years it’s nothing short of a miracle! Nancy Springer is BACK with a new Enola Holmes mystery, releasing August 31st, 2020! Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for gifting me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.⁣

After such a long break, I wasn’t sure what to expect but Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche was a delight from start to finish and ended up being a 5 star read for me! I loved the Enola Holmes series when I was younger. It helped nurture my passion for Victorian history and was a contributing factor as to why I chose to go into history as a career. Unfortunately some of the original series has not aged well for me. The history was a bit unsteady with a ton of distressing Romani stereotypes.⁣

However, in the long decade since the 6th book in the series was published, Springer’s writing has matured and I didn’t have any of those problems with this book. Enola is a delight to follow and I loved that Sherlock played a larger role in this case. Some rather unnerving historical details are blended into a simply wonderful book for all ages. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the series, this is a great place to start. I can’t wait to see where Enola goes on from here and I’m beyond thankful that she is back at last!⁣

Summary: Enola Holmes, the much younger (and perhaps more clever) sister of Sherlock Holmes, teams up with her brother to solve the disappearance of Felicity Glover, now the wife of the Earl of Dunhench. Their investigation will take them into the heart of Victorian London.⁣

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I was very excited to see that Nancy Springer has released a NEW Enola Holmes mystery. After the huge success of the Netflix movie starring Millie Bobby Brown, it was a wonderful opportunity to reintroduce the world to Enola Holmes, Sherlock's much younger sister.

The latest entry, 7th in the series, has Enola living her own life in London, supporting herself as a perditorian and managing her affairs just fine one her own, thank you very much. She occasionally runs into her brother Sherlock, and even manages to involve herself, peripherally, in a few of his cases. I laughed at loud when SHE rescued Sherlock from a ditch that he'd fallen in as he attempted to rescue a stolen bride... then rescues the bride as well!

This mystery also involves a missing bride, Lady Felicity. Her husband, an Earl no less, claims she has died rather suddenly of a fever and he's had her cremated and the ashes delivered to her only living relative, her twin sister Leticia. Leticia FEELS in her BONES that Felicity is NOT dead and attempts to enlist the help of Sherlock to help her. Unfortunately (or maybe FORTUNATELY), Sherlock is in one of his fits of melancholy and Leticia visits him while Enola is there trying to snap him out of it. Enola offers to help immediately, and upon hearing more of the case from Leticia, even Sherlock comes around to aid in the investigation in to the "death" of Lady Felicity. Together they take on the case, enlisting the help of the good Dr. Watson, and even Lord Tewksbury, whom you may recall from one of Enola's previous cases.

Very entertaining, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to read again about Enola's adventures!

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I can only review this in the context of the previous books in the series, since I read those so many times as a young teen.

This book was a fun read, similar in style and pace to the previous books. I think this could be read as a standalone but will be best enjoyed in sequence.

Watching Sherlock and Enola work together on a case was enjoyable, but I do miss the element of their fraught relationship from the previous books. Enola no longer needs to hide from Sherlock, and that absence made this slightly less enjoyable for me to read.

Still, the characters hold true, and the mystery was fun to read, but not overly complicated. I think that readers within the age range will enjoy this.

***Netgalley provided me with a free copy for review***

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