Enola Holmes, the much younger sister of Sherlock, is living independently in London and working as a scientific perditorian (a finder of persons and things). But that is not the normal lot of young women in Victorian England. They are under the near absolute control of their nearest male relative until adulthood. Such is the case of Enola's friend, Lady Cecily Alastair. And when Enola is turned away at the door of the Alastair home it becomes apparent that Lady Cecily needs her help. Affecting a bold escape, Enola takes Lady Cecily to her secret office only to be found by the person hired by Lady Cecily's mother to find the missing girl—Sherlock Holmes himself. But the girl has disappeared, now on her own in the unforgiving city of London. Even worse, Lady Cecily has a secret. She has dual personalities—one, which is left-handed, and independent and competent; the other is right-handed and meek and mild. Now Enola must find Lady Cecily before one of her personalities gets her into more trouble than she can handle and before Sherlock can find her and return her to her father. Once again, for Enola, the game is afoot.
This historical mystery is a fun read that will keep you turning the pages until the end. Enola is on equal footing as a sleuth as her older brother, Sherlock. She is clever, resourceful, daring, and understands people more than she should for her age. Like her brother, Enola also has informants and helpers, such as a cab driver and the other ladies at her lodgings. These characters are fully formed and add nuance to the historical setting of this story. The plot is interesting and shows the need that Enola has to connect with people. The ending seemed a little sad and felt like a conclusion. I certainly hope that there are more stories coming in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

This is another great addition to the Enola Holmes series! I don’t think there is much to say without spoilers but this was a fun one. The characters were great as always and the plot was fantastic. I don’t love one particular element about one character that was the focus of this novel but it was a great plot point that was effective. Everything else was what I wanted and I can’t wait for more Enola books!

I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade is a triumphant return to the mysteries of London. Enola and her friend Cecily are forever bonded after their experience in The Black Barouche. Yet Cecily still isn’t out of danger- her villainous father is horribly controlling and keeping her trapped. It will take Enola and all her disguises to help Cecily and her family in time!

Enola is as independent and resourceful as ever, having learned more from her many successful cases. While she still mourns her mother, Enola has accepted her mother is gone and instead tries to think through how her mother would approach problems. In The Elegant Escapade, Enola learns to leverage a connection to her mother and must outwit her brother Sherlock to prevent him from interfering. Both Cecily and Enola gain confidence, while working to escape and blackmail Cecily’s father. The ending was satisfying and I am curious to see where Cecily and Enola find themselves next! Thank you to Nancy Springer, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, Wordpress blog, and Barnes & Noble etc

This is another wonderful adventure with Enola! The characters, setting, and circumstances all sing. Enola's adventurous spirit and fantastic disguises make for an absolutely riveting story that will leave you with a smile. Lady Vienna was an absolute hoot! I like how Sherlock does not try and solve all of Enola's problems and lets her handle them herself.

I love how the dependable Harold and his horse Brownie are usually around to lend a hand.

Delightful, funny, and filled with escapades, this is a quick but thoroughly enjoyable read. Buy it. Read it. Enjoy it.

I received a free copy of this book from Wednesday Books via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

I always love reading a new Enola Holmes story & this newest story by Nancy Springer was no different! I started this series with the Black Barouche story and I can’t even begin to say how much I fell in love with this world!

This newest installment brings us a crazy new story wherein Enola gets herself stuck sometimes literally in a host of new problems as she aims to help her friend Cecily.

These are short reads but they are the most enjoyable mini mysteries I’ve read in quite a while and I cannot recommend them enough!

In her book Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche, Nancy Springer first exposed me to the Enola Holmes character. I recently had the pleasure of reading Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade, the eighth book in the series, courtesy to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Ms. Springer.

Sherlock Holmes' younger sister Enola occasionally seems to upset, bother, and confound her much older brother, who does not in any way conform to Victorian social norms. Enola is not at all like her brother. She is an expert at disguising herself, much like her seasoned detective brother. She is cunning, inventive, brave, athletic, and not afraid to take risks. Her goal in this quest is to free Lady Cecily, a friend who her own father has imprisoned for audaciously disobeying his orders.

Enola valiantly tries to enter the estate, but her efforts wind up being more of a farce. But she must try, and in the end, she succeeds. But that's just the start. The reader gains extensive new information about Lady Cecily and her father.

Enola and Sherlock's interactions are occasionally quite funny. Enola has a strong personality, can hold her own, and appears to enjoy engaging in debates with her extremely intelligent, accomplished elder brother. Will he leave her on her own in this situation, or can she enlist his help?

This novel exceeded my expectations in terms of enjoyment, and I believe that readers of all ages—from elderly people to young adults like myself—will agree. It's a cleverly crafted escapade that also makes you laugh a little.

Enola Holmes is settling into living at the Women's Club in London since she and her brothers have made their peace. But when she is turned away from visiting her friend, Lady Cecily Alastair, she is out of sorts. Then her attempt to establish communication via arrow led to Cecily escaping down the rope instead. So now Enola and Cecily had to make their way to Enola's safe house only to be confronted by Sherlock Holmes! When Cecily disappears into the London streets in disguise, Enola and Sherlock have to team up to locate her and find a way to keep her out of her father's clutches. Plenty of close calls, chases, codes, and sibling rivalry to entertain the reader in this installment of the Enola Holmes saga!

Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title!

Another wonderful installment of the Enola Holmes series.
Cecily is back and Enola is trying to help her friend get out from under the thumb of her father, Sir Eustace. Lady Vienna is a wonderful character and I love the growing relationship between Enola and Sherlock. Watson even pops up!

Enola Holmes lives on her own in a women-only club in London. This allows her to sit in on some classes to help her become a professional finder of lost persons or things. She also enjoys dressing well and shopping. She has calling cards and while she only occasionally has a client, she feels confident that she'll achieve her goals.

When she visits her friend, Lady Cecily Alastair, she's turned away. Since she'd aided Cecily twice before when her overbearing father was trying to force her to bend to his will, Enola knows she needs help. She manages to rescue Cecily from her home and take her to her office. She hasn't been able to get information from Cecily because the Cecily in her office is the one who is compliant and afraid; she needs to wait for the strong forceful Cecily to appear. Meanwhile, she learns that Cecily's mother has hired Sherlock Holmes to find her daughter. When Sherlock appears at Enola's office he isn't willing to listen as he has a job to do and knows Enola has Cecily. Only, Cecily has disappeared.

Enola needs to find her again without letting Sherlock know where she is. The issue for Enola is, to find her, she needs to know which personality is in control. Meanwhile, she's made a friend at her club who knows Cecily's mother and her father and is willing to share information.

Things are quite complicated. Enola is very clever, yet still learning the limits of her skills and abilities. Sherlock is ... well, Sherlock, but with a bit more ability to bend to justice rather than law when needed. The characters are well drawn and the problem that Cecily is dealing with is not out of the norm for the time period. The solution was a surprise, but not out of the norm for Alastair's character.

Another delightful and tense adventure for Enola Holmes.

This book, unfortunately, didn't quite live up to the previous book in the series. While it was charming to learn more about life in 19th-century England, Enola didn't have the same sparkle or single-mindedness that she did in _...the Black Barouche_. For much of this book, in fact, I felt like Enola was spending her time thinking about how to help Cecily or chasing her down rather than solving different elements of a case. Gone were the quick witticisms and Enola's dedication to fabulous hats. This last point is explained away with a mention or two of changing fashion for women at that time, but part of what made Enola so fun in the previous book was the fact that she could be independent and look fabulous all at the same time -- and that she didn't apologize for either or find them at odds with one another. The title's reference to elegance is all the more confusing; I would have expected way more mentions of high society and fashion. Instead, there's not much of either.

The plot seemed to trudge along instead of move at a good clip, and even though Nancy Springer made sincere efforts to show Enola interacting with Sherlock even more I wished that we got to watch her solve the case all by herself with occasional help from her famous big brother. Here it seems like she was relying on him during key moments instead of him offering to help during those turns in the story. Enola was a breakout character in the previous book, proactive at every turn, not willing to let convoluted information keep her from solving the case in the end. In this book, all of the things we love about her have been stripped away. As much as I hate to say it, Enola sounds and comes off as quite ordinary in this novel.

Readers may want to give this one a miss, but definitely check out the previous Enola Holmes book.

Here we are with the 8th mystery featuring Enola Holmes, younger sister of the Great Sherlock Holmes and it didn't disappoint this reader. Enola is, yet again, trying to rescue her friend Lady Cecily from the clutches of her controlling father. Once she has managed to do so and has Lady Cecily safely harbored in a location that Enola thinks is secure, the lady vanishes. If that isn't enough to deal with, who should appear, looking for her but someone hired by Cecily's mother. Yes, Sherlock himself. The interaction between these two sharp minds is a reading pleasure. Add to the well crafted mystery a vivid Victorian backdrop and well developed secondary characters and you have a must read series no matter if you are a YA fan or a more senior reader. It's a series that makes for a great reading escape.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Wednesday Books and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another fun installment in the Enola Holmes series! In this one, Enola's friend Cecily has been locked away in her room by her father, with no provisions. Enola comes to save Cecily, and as they run away, Cecily takes matters into her own hands. With a surprise visit from her brother Sherlock, all of Enola's plans go up in smoke, and now she has new problems to solve!

This is a really quick read, with short chapters in a short book. It's a fairly cozy story, with some mystery, but not too intense. It's more a small adventure with some questions set in, and a nice quick resolution as well.

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the e-ARC!

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade by Nancy Springer is a fun romp sure to engage the young adult crowd. I read both the advance copy and listened to the advance audio version so will borrow heavily from the audio review for this recap. The book is so descriptive that it is almost a surprise to look up and find oneself back in the current century.

Enola is the intrepid younger sister of Sherlock Holmes, who uses her keen observation and analytical skills to assist others in resolving personal matters. In this book, Enola assists Lady Cecily, who is under the total control of a father who cares more for social standing than the wellbeing of his daughter. Enola to the rescue!

I enjoyed the quirky characters, especially the other ladies from Enola’s boarding house. I did like the first book better but still enjoyed this installment and look forward to the next in the series. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.)

After realizing her best friend, Lady Cecily Alistair, might be back under her evil father’s control, Enola Holmes decides she will do everything in her power to free her.
However, Cecily disappears soon after their first encounter and Enola -enlisting her brother Sherlock’s help- fears for the well-being of her dear friend.

Once again, Enola proves to be a very smart and lovable character, with a heart of gold and a distant brother who despite his upbringing, is slowly starting to see in his little sister an excellent companion.

Five stars! I absolutely recommend this series!

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade was a delightful little read that I enjoyed tremendously. Enola’s best friend, Lady Cecily Alastair has gone missing. Enola goes to visit her friend in her home only to be told that she is not receiving visitors at this time. Well, Enola can only summarize that her friend in is in need of being saved from her father once again.

Enola takes Lady Cecily to her home and almost the moment they walk in the door low and behold who just happens to show up at her door but dear old brother Sherlock. Sherlock has been hired by Lady Cecily’s mother to find her. Sherlock searches Enola’s home from top to bottom but Lady Cecily is nowhere to be found. She has disappeared once again. Sending Enola and Sherlock on the search for her once again.

Lady Cecily has dual personalities, one, which is left-handed, is independent and competent; the other, which is right-handed is meek and mild. Enola must find Lady Cecily quickly before her personality gets her into deep trouble.

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade was fun and delightful to read. Enola is a great person with a great demeanor about her. She is a fun and witty person that will make you smile on occasion. I kept seeing her in my mind the whole time as she was running around following all the clues that were leading her closer and closer to her friend.

I highly recommend reading Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade to anyone looking for a fun and lighthearted read. Grab your copy of Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade today for an adventure of a lifetime.

I greatly enjoyed the latest in Enola’s adventures! This book just zipped right by until all of a sudden, I was at the end.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade by Nancy Springer is the latest case for the incorrigible sister of one, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. She must find where her missing friend is hiding and make that friend's living conditions one she can return to.

Initial Expectations (before beginning the book):
I adore Enola Holmes. She is so fun because she is independent and determined, intelligent, creative, and tends to get into precarious situations. I expect this new story will continue to show those qualities and maybe add more to delight in.

Actual Reading Experience:
I loved that this story, in particular, basically defines what the Sisters of Suffragettes were trying to change in Victorian society. By showing how Enola lives and what her friend Lady Cecily must endure, the reader gets a good sense of why the movement started and its goal. Women were all but the property of the men in their lives, and society's expectations were given such weight as to force women to go against even the traits they were born with. It was a very challenging time to be a woman.

Even though this is the eighth book in the series, it can easily work as a stand-alone novel. I love how you don't have to have any background knowledge of the other books and mysteries to fully enjoy this one. It's a great book to learn about Enola Holmes and the period in which she lived, and it can be used as a starting point in the series or as a continuance of it.

I also loved that Enola and Sherlock worked together on this case. Well, I say together even though half of the story has Sherlock keeping an eye on his sister in order to find Cecily and return her to her home. The reader gets to see Sherlock in the role of a more parental-type figure than he has been up to this point. It's fun to witness the dynamics between brother and sister. It hits home how intelligent and creative Enola actually is as she repeatedly gets the better of her brother.

Characters:
Enola is the main character, narrator, and story. She is a very likable young woman by today's standards, exhibiting a personality that is independent, resourceful, spirited, and thoughtful. She is also the master of disguises, which brings humor to the story and a fun aspect that Sherlock's mysteries often lack – even though he is known to use disguises too, for him, it is all dire.

Narration & Pacing:
Enola tells the story in first-person narration, which works exceptionally well because of her character. The narration helps keep the speed of the pace up, as does the suspense that is threaded throughout the story. This latest Enola Holmes story is a quick read.

Setting:
The setting is London in 1889 –towards the end of the Victorian era. It's still a time when women are considered just short of the property of their husbands and fathers, and the suffrage movement is in full swing. The setting works perfectly with Enola, an independent young woman who refuses to rely on any man, including her two brothers – one of which is the famous Sherlock Holmes.

To Read or Not to Read:
If you love a good mystery with a fun, spunky, and intelligent female lead, Enola Holmes is a character that will intrigue and delight you with each new mystery she investigates.

Enola Holmes lives in London and works as a scientific perditorian (a finder of persons and things). Her friend Lady Cecily Alastair lives under the rule of her father, Sir Eustace Alastair. Enola helps Lady Cecily escape, but the girl's mother hires Sherlock Holmes to find her. Lady Cecily escapes them both, which leaves her on her own in Victorian London. This is even more dangerous, as Lady Cecily has two personalities: the left-handed independent one and the right-handed meek one. Enola must race to find Lady Cecily before one of her personalities gets her into trouble or Sherlock finds her and returns her to her parents.

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade is the second book of the newly revamped Enola Holmes mysteries, right after Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche (my review here). Victorian England is a very stratified, patriarchal society. Enola is unusual in so many ways from the young ladies of her class, but this doesn't bother her in the slightest. Her friend Cecily, however, very much conforms to those strictures. This puts her under her father's control, and he kept her and her mother under lock and key, with little food or clothing. She escapes with Enola's help but then takes off on her own again. That forces Enola and Sherlock to work together to find her and to ensure her safety.

As much as Enola rails against Society, she's not above using those same expectations to her advantage. Sherlock does the same, of course, but she also has the conventions of gender to contend with. She has a room in a club with other liberal-minded women, some of whom were suffragettes, and talking with some of them helps her realize important things about Society to help her locate Cecily. I enjoyed seeing Enola use this network, as well as talk with Sherlock. In the prior book I read, the two seem so much at odds they might as well not be related. Here, it's clearer that the significant age gap makes it difficult for them to understand the perspective of the other, but it isn't a lack of caring. Sherlock isn't very demonstrative, but he cares about Enola and her safety and understands her need to know and find things. I look forward to the two working together more often in future novels.

Enola is a wonderful character; she is smart, has wit, is thoughtful, outgoing, and a master of disguises. She is impetuous and that gets her into trouble. She and Sherlock are well matched as they analyze situations. The author does an excellent job of bringing the atmosphere to life and presenting the plights of young women in this era when fathers and then husbands control every aspect of a woman's life.

When Enola Holmes pays a social call on her dear friend Lady Cecily Alastair she is abruptly turned away at the door to the stately home. The butler stating, "Lady Cecily is not seeing anyone." He even refuses to take Enola's card. Since Lady Cecily has had difficulties in the past, Enola is very concerned and sets about devising a way to contact her. The tale Cecily tells makes Enola determined to help her escape the tyranny of her father.

As Enola makes plans to help Cecily, she escapes and Enola discovers that her brother, Sherlock, has been hired to find and return her to her parents. Enola knows that is not a good idea because Cecily has a few problems of her own and returning her is not in her best interest. Being born left-handed Cecily has been restlessly suppressed as to her natural nature and has developed dual personalities. Right-handed - meek and mild. Left-handed - assertive and competent. Neither of which should be alone on the mean streets of London.

Enola must find a way to ensure Cecily's safety and to release her from her tyrant of a father. With the help of a longtime family friend, she thinks she may just have found the solution that has eluded even the great Sherlock Holmes.

My thanks to St. Martin Press - Wednesday Books, Publisher, and Nancy Springer, author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade is a young adult book but strong in the Sherlock ethos. It goes more quickly than a typical Sherlock story but is worth the reader’s time. The story includes Lady Cecily Alistair who lives under the restrictive, if not authoritarian, dictates of her father. Enola is turned away at the door when she attempts to visit her friend and so determines that Cecily needs help. She tries to offer that help by breaking into her friend’s house in an attempt to talk to her. After she helps Cecily escape, she takes her to her secret office only to be met by the man hired by Lady Alastair to find her daughter- - -the one and only Sherlock Holmes. After losing Cecily and finding her again, it becomes obvious that she is not simpleton in need of taking care of, but an astute and clever young woman who can succeed on her own. She is, however, worried for her mother so the Holmes siblings set to work to figure out how to make life tenable for the two women and how to make Alastair behave.

The story has a clever plot and an even more clever solution. Enola is a fabulous character, one well deserving of the Holmes tradition. She has no Watson but she has her brother, although she is just as clever as he is, just lacking the preponderance of experience he brings to any situation. She never gives up, just rethinks. She makes friends easily and they often come to help her. She gives us an outstanding view of Victorian England and its restrictions, especially on women. She is a terrific character and Nancy Springer does her justice. It was a thoroughly enjoyable time!

I was invited to read to a free e-ARC of Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade by Wednesday Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #WednesdayBooks #NancySpringer e #EnolaHolmesAndTheElegantEscapade