While there are some callbacks to previous books this is one of those rare series where I don't feel that you have to read the series in numerical order to enjoy it, that said the series is always very interesting so I would recommend any of the books in the series. As always fearless females for the win! This was a fun quick read and is highly recommended!

My teenage daughter and I watched the Netflix movie based on these books, and we thoroughly enjoyed it, so that was part of the reason I was eager to read this book. I am already of fan of British history, so that was an additional appealing factor. The book did not disappoint! As I had previously watched the movie, I could easily picture the clothing, the surroundings, the and the sounds that complement the story, which made it even more enjoyable. Enola is crafty, resourceful, and wise beyond her years, and I relished the ways in which she nimbly outsmarted the villains. The clues given are clever and the "ah-ha!" moments when they are figured out are quite fun. I will be adding these books to my school library.

I do like Enola. She is full of energy and comes up with original ideas to help her friend. She goes to great lengths to keep her friend safe. Sherlock, her brother, is looking for Enola's friend too. But he is working for the father, a loud dominating man. I do like the sibling rivalry. Nice story, nice ending.

Enola Holmes fans rejoice! Everyone’s favorite young sleuth is back with another mystery that readers both young and old will enjoy. The newest installment in Nancy Springer's series, Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade, is set to be released on September 6th and will have readers flipping the pages to see what’s going to happen next!

Enola Holmes is back with another thrilling and endearing adventure! If you’re wondering “Wasn’t this a movie with the girl from Stranger Things?” then you’d be correct! This is the 8th book in the series that inspired the Netflix movie and it’s the perfect book to engage young adult readers!

Enola is a feisty and headstrong character and her strong belief in fighting for what is right and helping those she cares about is inspiring to read about. Featuring cameos from Sherlock Holmes himself and a cast of fun supporting characters, this read will have you flipping the pages to see how Enola will manage to help her friends and solve the mystery!

For younger readers or anyone who loved Nancy Drew as a kid, this book is for you!

*I received an ARC from Wednesday Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

While this one feels a bit like a retread, it was still pretty enjoyable. Ms. Springer should keep making Enola books for as long as she wants. I will sign up to get them they day they come out. They are fast, funny and full of joy.

The Left-Handed Lady is in dire straits, and the ebullient, forthright and always clever Enola Holmes must come to her aid.

Lady Cecily (the Left-Handed Lady), who appeared in books 2 and 4, is again imprisoned by her tyrannical father. Enola, who feels a kinship with Cecily, is wondering what’s up with the young woman, and attempts to contact her. To her surprise, Cecily takes off with her, bringing unintended consequences to Enola’s door, in the form of her stern brother Sherlock. Enola attempts to educate Sherlock further on the way women can easily be abused by their respectable families. Though he has to locate Cecily for her mother, he mostly stands aside whilst Enola finds ways to extricate Cecily from her circumstances.

It’s lots of fun, as Enola continues to build on her previous endeavours and connections to find the means to stop Cecily’s father. I loved how she kept showing up Sherlock, though felt a little sad for her as her one friend takes off on her own journey. Enola may be resilient, but she's also, like her name, alone. I really hope Nancy Springer eventually gives her more friends.

Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review

In this eighth book of the series, Enola (Sherlock’s younger sister) helps Cecily escape the clutches of her overbearing father. The only problem is Cecily has left her hiding spot and has mental health issues that could get Cecily into trouble. Sherlock has been hired by the girl’s father to find her. Will Enola be able to track Cecily down before Sherlock finds her?

This is a very intriguing, adventure around-every-corner story that is filled with new words I had to use a dictionary to look up the definition. I loved the race between the siblings to find Cecily and how they were able to work together to solve the problem. I had a hard time putting the book down because the storytelling was so great!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press-Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is a delightful Middle Grade read!

I adore Enola and her adventures. Her vigilante style of scheming and investigating is so fun. I definitely think I would've been more into this story if I was a bit younger because it doesn't have too much investigative work that would keep an adult captivated, however the themes are great!

In addition to the typical women's rights themes there's a prominent comment on those left-handers who were forced to be right-handed in the past (I'm not sure if this still happens today but it definitely translates to some modern oppression).

One of my favorite parts of this book are the side characters Lady Vienna and Sherlock (of course), they both support Enola tremendously but still make her take the reins and see her venture through!


Thank you so much Netgalley and Nancy Springer for the ARC :)

Nancy Springer has once again given us a peek into the clever mind of Enola Holmes, the younger, eager, and (more?) talented sister of the notable Sherlock Holmes. Her adventures in Elegant Escapade continue to highlight her precocious nature and ingenious insight into solving mysteries.

Seeking to visit her best friend, Lady Cecily, Enola finds Cecily confined to her rooms by her father, Sir Eustace. Enola assists Cecily with her grande escape - only to have Lady Cecily slip away and go on the run alone!

With Sherlock’s help, Enola begins to unravel the sordid details of Sir Eustace’s past and figure out ways to use the information to finally free Lady Cecily.

As always, Springer does a magnificent job highlighting Enola’s incredible investigative skills and finding ways to show that her keen problem solving skills match (if not exceed) her brother’s. A fun, fast, read from beginning to end.

Amelie marries Ned for auspicious reasons. Little did she know that becoming captive as a kidnap victim fared better than the life she was living with Ned. In fact, Amelie agreed to just a 30-day marriage, with a settlement once that time frame has passed. However, neither Amelia nor Ned are able to live the days of their agreement when they both become part of a scheme that neither of them understands.

Amelie's life before being married to the billionaire was full of troubles. She thought she knew troubles, but now they are of an entirely different sort. The fact that Ned was also kidnapped is something that is confusing to both of them. With a slow-burning mystery, readers see what circumstances brought Amelie and Ned together. It was at the point Ned lost a few points in my books because of something about his past. In fact, it was Ned's past as to why he wanted to marry Amelie and for such a short period of time.

With past and present colliding more than once in this intriguing story by B. A. Paris it was impossible not to feel for Amelie and all that she experienced in the pages of this book. The question as to whether either Amelie or Ned would be released was more than enough to keep me invested in this story.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Enola Holmes is such an entertaining character who does not conform to the standards of the time, in this case, 1889. Or rather, she uses the standards to hide in plain sight while she practices as a perditorian and gets her education. In this book, she is living in the Women's Professional Club, with some more non-conforming characters. Her brother Sherlock is involved in her current case, creating some interesting situations and banter.

This is only my second of the series (it is book 8) but I am looking forward to reading more of them.

Enola Holmes is back with a different kind of mystery. Instead of a crime to solve, this time Enola must help a friend navigate her way out of an awful home life. Her best friend Lady Cecily Alistair has been essentially imprisoned by her father, who controls the house with an iron fist. Enola must think of a way to solve the problem for good before her friend Cecily comes to harm, while also stopping Sherlock from taking her back to imprisonment.

This book is told from the perspective of a a young woman in the Victorian era, and perfectly shows the oppression and control men had over women in their households. While not the traditional format of a Holmes mystery novel, I felt like it was an interesting addition. Since the focus was more interpersonal, I was glad to see how well the supporting characters were developed, from Lady Cecily, Lady Vienna, and how Enola herself grew. We all need someone to support our true selves, and Enola Holmes shows us why. This is a wonderful addition to the series, and I am excited to read more!

I thoroughly enjoy Enola Holmes. Enola is Sherlock Holmes younger sister and is trying to make a life for herself as an independent young woman. Springer has an interesting writing style that I just find delightful. This is a quick read full of nonstop adventure as Enola tries to help her friend, Lady Cecily.

4 stars = Great! Might re-read.

This was a fun outing for Enola and Sherlock. The mystery was fascinating as were the extra layers to the story brought on by the dual personality part of the plot. I loved how Enola and Sherlock's relationship developed here as well as some of the new characters in this story.

Series fans should absolutely pick this one up. This story involves a character from an earlier adventure - I haven't read the early books in years, but I had no issues following along with this story without that background information fresh in my mind.

I am getting caught up on my book reviews this week! Here is another!

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade by Nancy Springer is a great read for YA mystery fans. This book is part of a series and I had not ready any others from the series but not to worry, you can read it as a stand alone. This book and series take the reader on a fast paced adventure and mystery. Enola's interactions with her crime solving brother are interesting and I enjoyed the banter between both.


Thank you to NetGallery and St. Martin's press for the advanced copy.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

I was so lucky that I was able to read the 7th Enola Holmes book early, so when I had the opportunity to read this one I jumped at the chance. This book is great - Nancy Springer really draws in the reader to the 1800s while making the language still accessible. This book follows Enola as she tries to help her best friend, Cecily, escape from the confines of her father, though Cecily suffers from a "split personality." Let me explain - split personality in the sense that when she is right handed (literally when she is using her right hand) she is the docile girl that she is expected to be in polite society. When she is left handed (meaning she is using her left hand, as she was born left handed and that is frowned upon in society, and forced out of people), she is "wild" and "clever," being the girl Enola knows her to be and unable to be controlled by her father.

This was a fascinating look at a psychiatric problem that we today (in 2022) would be curious about studying, but in the 1800s would be treated with an asylum. Enola takes it in stride and just tries to help her friend and it is a mystery that really keeps you on the edge of your seat. Is it the docile Cecily who doesn't know how to do any work? Is it the clever Cecily who knows how to disguise herself? I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and struggled to put it down.

As a bonus, I was reading this as I was in a performance of The Importance of Being Earnest, so I was "living" in the 1800s with a character named Cecily who was "wild" and "untamed" so it felt really appropriate. This is a great book and you should definitely pick it up!

Enola Holmes is the younger sister of Sherlock Holmes. She lives independently and is a finder of things and persons. This not the normal way for young women as they are under the almost absolute control of their nearest male relative until adulthood in the Victorian period. Sherlock is asked by Lady Cecily’s father to find her. Lady Cecily escapes with Enola’s help only to be found by the person (Sherlock Holmes) hired by Lady Cecily’s mother to find her. Somehow the girl has disappeared again. How? Lady Cecily has a secret that few know. She has dual personalities. One personality is independent and competent while the other is mild and meek. Enola is on the case to find her, before she gets herself in trouble. Will Enola be able to fin her? Where is Lady Cecily?

Sherlock an Enola work together on this case. It was fun to see Enola repeatedly gets the “better” of Sherlock. I also enjoyed watching the interactions of Sherlock and Enola. The author has written suspense throughout the story. It is a great mystery that reads quickly. Even though this novel is the eighth book in the series, you can read this as a stand-alone story. I think as the author continues this series (at least I hope so), you you’ll start the series from here. It is one of my favorite series as I love reading Enola’s solving her cases (or Sherlock’s cases).

i really liked this one. i read the entire series before the last one, and i do think i enjoy the 'newer' ones better, not quite sure why. they are enjoyable, i like the characters, they are fun and easy to read.

I Admit it: I Love Enola Holmes

Why do I love her? Because she’s intelligent, independent, gutsy, funny, and cares about people. Because these books are delightful, fun, and often serious. Because growing up I loved reading Sherlock Holmes novels.

In those teen years, what I missed were female protagonists. I would have treasured these books. Heck, I love them as an adult. I celebrate that today’s teens have so many more book options.

Yes, I’m old.

Overview:

“Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade” by Nancy Springer is the eighth book in the Enola Holmes series.

If you’re unfamiliar with the books. Enola is Sherlock Holmes’ sister. In the first book, her mother disappears, and she runs away to search for her. She winds up in London, living on her own, which Sherlock and Mycroft are not happy about.

Each book deals with a fresh adventure. Don’t expect a Sherlock Holmes style mystery, but expect to learn about the seedy, dark side of Victorian England.

The books don’t have to be read in order, as each story is complete on its own. However, if you read them in order, you’ll recognize recurring characters and understand her circumstances better.

In “The Elegant Escapade,” Lady Cecily, from “The Case of the Left-Handed Lady” (book 2), is in trouble again, and Enola is determined to rescue her. Adventure ensues, and Enola evades Sherlock’s initial questions. She takes her own path to investigate.

What I Liked:

Nancy Springer's tone, language, and atmosphere recreate a Victorian setting that seems real. She shows both the formal polite side of society and the darker, sometimes shocking, hidden elements.

Enola is a compassionate, caring person who is loyal to her friends. Those qualities usually cause her to get embroiled in her adventures.

Some of the historical tidbits are fascinating like Lady Cecily’s left handedness, viewed as evil. It was common to force a child to use her right hand instead of her left. Enola views Cecily as having two personalities: she's strong when she uses her left hand, and weak when using her right hand.

From a psychological point of view, her analysis is interesting. Also, my mother was left-handed, and her family forced her to use her right hand, so I could relate to Cecily’s issue.

There are other, more gruesome Victorian tidbits, but discussing them would cause spoilers.

Enola’s solutions to the problems that arise turn into amusing and sometimes dangerous adventures. Plus, Sherlock pops in and out of the story.

What I didn’t Care For:

Actually, I got nothing for this section. I loved everything about this book.

However, if you haven’t read other books in the series, and you expect a rehashing or copying of Sherlock Holmes mysteries, that is not the case.

While Sherlock uses logic and his wit to solve crimes, Enola's motivation is to help people.

She is clever, funny, witty, and unafraid to tread into mischief to help a friend or someone in need. She uses logic to maneuver through her adventures.

I like both characters, but their approaches are different.

Recommendation:

If her story sounds fun, give her books a try. If nothing else, you’ll have a delightful, fun read with a satisfying ending.



A huge thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book.

Scheduled to post 9/22/22.

Another fun adventure with Enola Holmes! I do love these books. I have to go back and read them from the start of the series. I haven't done that yet and I feel like, with Cecily especially, that I'm missing some things with this dynamic. It's not enough to impede the story at all, but I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had the full story, as it were.

I have all the same joys in ELEGANT ESCAPADE as I did in BLACK BAROUCHE. I love Enola's voice, her persistence, her wit, her tenacity, how she operates within the confines of her current society and hates every second of it. It's all there. Also like BLACK BAROUCHE, the story, if you really look at it, is pretty dark. Cecily is being held prisoner by her father (who is also holding her mother prisoner). She's developed a psychological disorder (today known as DID, or disassociative identity disorder) from the trauma of having her southpaw tendencies basically beaten out of her. With Enola's help, Cecily escapes, but now the two need to dodge Cecil's father and Sherlock until they can come up with a plan to keep Cecily (and her mother) from having to live under the thumb of a tyrant.

Watching Enola problem-solve is a joy. So is watching her run circles around Sherlock, or at least trying to. She is somewhat selfishly driven to help Cecily, because the girl is her friend and she wants to retain access to her friend. But ultimately she's striving to save Cecily for Cecily's sake. Enola sees she's sick, she needs help, and she needs a caring, supportive environment. This is what drives Enola through the plot, and I loved watching it all unfold.

I really, REALLY should read the other books before moving on in this series. But how can I resist? I look forward to the next one, whether that be forward or backward.

5