Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this review copy. I’ve enjoyed this series but this was not my favorite

i quite enjoy this series, though i don't have a whole lot to say about each individual book that doesn't sound like a repeat of the previous book. i like the characters, the writing, the story. it's a cute series and it brings me joy.

Synopsis
It's 1890 and Enola Holmes is her own young woman now and no longer has to hide from Mycroft, who wanted to send her off to finishing school or some such nonsense. In this installment, she even teams up with her other older brother, Sherlock, to find a missing American. Okay, teams up might be a stretch. Enola inserts herself into Sherlock's case after she is passed over for the job in favor of the male detective. Now the race is on to see can solve the case first.
My Overall Thoughts
I have to admit that I miss the younger Enola's evasion tactics and the ever present danger of being located by Mycroft. It added a fun layer to the stories. That said, I have enjoyed watching her grow up through this series. Some writers would have kept her 14-years-old forever, but her character is more richly developed for letting her grow. To go through trials with her and see her come out the other end has added depth to Enola, whose name is "alone" spelled backwards. I can see a case for both approaches but I do truly enjoy the series as Nancy Springer has crafted it.

What I Didn't Love

The mystery itself might have been the weakest part of the novel, but it was not a huge weakness at all. It was written for a middle-grade audience, so there were not a lot of layers and it was light on nuance, but it still kept me reading.

Potentially Offensive Content

Violence (not graphic)

What I Loved
What I love about this volume is the battle of wits between Enola and Sherlock. She holds her own and is definitely a match for the great detective we all know and love. Her resources and experiences are so different from Sherlock's and the author uses this to showcase their contradistinctive approaches.
I also really enjoyed the attention to period detail in the book. Enola's first ride in an elevator is delightful.

I enjoyed the historical setting. And of course…Sherlock Holmes. Enola is also a great character. She is not to be messed with. And I enjoyed how Sherlock tried to keep her contained. She was not having it. This is a good mystery but it has a good bit that is really not related to the story. But I am going to add this series to my tumbling tbr.

Enola Holmes has never been one to take no for an answer or to back down from a mystery. Although these days she's spending more time with her own studies and enjoying a peaceful life not having to hide from her bothers than working as a perditorian. That doesn't mean she isn't occasionally to be found at the offices of one Dr. Lesley T. Ragostin PhD, her clever ruse to hide her own identity and sex. She's at the office one day when a rather rude man bursts in. He demands to see Dr. Ragostin. His best friend, Wolcott Balestier, hasn't returned home and both he and Wolcott's sister Caroline are mad with worry. Wanting to help contain the man's hysteria she offers to take down all the details and embark on the case herself. This angers the man. A young girl could not possibly do the work of a man and he departs in a huff. Most likely off to hire Sherlock thinks Enola darkly. And even though this mystery man didn't bother to introduce himself she was able to get enough information to search out Wolcott's sister, Caroline. Yes, at first it's outrage that drove her to seek out Caroline, but the poor woman is standing on the street corner asking if anyone has seen her brother and Enola's heart breaks. Enola feels for the woman and decides that she will bring Wolcott back to his sister no matter that the angry man thought that she wasn't up to the case. It really is just about helping Caroline. Being able to gloat a little at the end of the day won't hurt though. But the deeper she gets in the case the more dire things seem for Wolcott Balestier. The neighborhood he was last seen in is known for a gang that doesn't take kindly to strangers. What's more there are rumors that a man matching Balestier's description was attracted by a rabid dog. If this is true perhaps Balestier took himself off to die somewhere away from his family and friends. The disease has no cure and the death is a painful one. But as Enola dons various disguises, helped out by her fellow lodgers at the Professional Woman's Club, to get into Caroline's house, to find out more about rabies, and to attend a literary soiree, she worries if they will just not find Balestier, or, if they do and he's been bitten, not find some way to save him. With her brother's help and the hindrance of the angry man, who turns out to be author Ruyard Kipling, they might just crack the case. Ruyard Kipling might be rude and underestimates women, but he sure can write and seems to care about the Balestiers. Plus, it would really piss him off if Enola saved the day. And she does like to thwart people's expectations.

I had planned for my review to start out by talking about how much delight I take in this series and hoped to enjoy it for years to come. Especially the way that Enola messes with the masculine establishment and in this volume in particular takes great glee in messing with Rudyard Kipling, which Nancy Springer took great glee in as well. It has become a birthday week tradition for me the last three years to read the latest adventures of Enola and then I learned that tradition would be no more. Nancy Springer, rather causally stated on Twitter leading up to the release of Enola Holmes and the Mark of the Mongoose that "the next, and last, Enola Holmes novel will be published in a few days." I couldn't believe it's the last. It appears to be because she's not writing at all anymore due to age, but I mean age is really just a number? I'd be willing to take one book every two to three years if that would be a satisfactory arrangement. I just can't not have Enola in my life. She entered it when I really needed someone who, despite all the windmills tilting against them, just got on with it. She knows what is right and she always fights for it. Plus, Nancy Springer builds her books around obscure yet fascinating history. In this instance it's rabies. I find it interesting that a lot of people in this day and age don't know about the dangers of rabies. I remember in one of the Amelia Peabody books she has a close call with rabies and it's literally as if she's been diagnosed with an incurable disease. Because for so long that's what it was. You got rabies and you died. Horribly. And while the number of shots needed to survive rabies has declined since Wolcott Balestier underwent his treatment, when I was a child the treatment was identical to that undergone by Balestier. How do I know this you might ask? Well, thankfully it's not from direct personal experience, but still, personal experience nonetheless. And made me learn at a young age not to mess with rabies or racoons. In second grade one of my classmates was involved in an altercation with a rabid racoon. Given his history I'd lay the blame firmly on him and not the trash panda. Anyway, he had to undergo weeks and weeks of painful shots. I envisioned it as that wall of needles coming towards Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back. And it gave me joy. He really was a little shit. But reading this book I was fascinated to learn the origins of the vaccine and also blown away that in almost a hundred years the vaccine remained relatively unchanged. I will miss these insights into history. I will miss Enola. I know, you might comfort me that there could be more movies. You know what? It's not the same. That's not my Enola. This is.

While this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone novel. This book, like the prior ones, is well written. Enola is a thoughtful and likeable characters. It's fun to watch her and Sherlock work through various situations. There are some interesting characters in this one, such as Florence Nightingale and Dr. Joseph Lister. The world-building is well crafted, so the reader truly feels a part of the story. There's always a nice blend of humor along with the danger and mystery. Topics are appropriate for the time period, such as class differences and the mistreatment of women. The ending is satisfying.

A good addition to the Enola Holmes series, though probably not my favorite. Kipling is.....a complicated figure. Still fun, though.

Just like with previous novels in this series, the inclusion of real life historical figures remains one of my favourite things Springer has added to her books.

I won’t give it away because the reveal in the story is far more fun, but I do have to say, because of this new “character”, we get some of the best banter this series has seen thus far. It’s a real clash of wits with Enola and it’s extremely entertaining to see.

As always, I enjoyed my time spent reading Enola’s pov. These books are speedy to get through because they’re just so much fun. I’ve really enjoyed watching her grow as a character, too.

Truly hopeful and optimistic that there will be more to come from this series.

4.5 stars rounded up!

Enola Holmes is back, baby!

The previous installment was a slight disappointment for me, since I felt that it meandered too much and had no actual plot.

But this one??

I can't believe I was so riveted by an Enola Holmes novel about a rabid dog biting an American dude in 1890s London. Not the strangest vibe I've vibed with, but honestly, I can vibe with any Enola Holmes installments (even the duds) because Nancy Springer's research, her writing style, AND with Tamaryn Payne as the audiobook narrator made everything come to life!

I absolutely LOVED the inclusion of historical figures in this installment. We've got Rudyard Kipling, the Balestier siblings, Joseph Lister and his research on rabies. It was all done so well! I had a blast looking up Joseph Lister alone. I always love it when I read a fiction novel which happens to include bits and pieces of history.

I also loved the inclusion of the Savoy and the newfangled electric lights and Enola's first ride on an elevator. Honestly, Nancy Springer writes all of this in such a way that it's both fascinating and amusing. I can feel myself being there, experiencing modern marvels for the very first time along with Enola. Idk how she does this. It's honestly amazing. I love it and I'm here for it until she stops writing this series.

I can't wait for the next one!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this arc.

The entire series has been a delight to read. I enjoyed the intrigue, the action, and creation of a wonderful historical fictional world. I look forward to more adventures thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

4 fun historical fiction stars
“I heard titters as they began to realize I was not at all serious, but telling them a silly story to amuse them.”

Enola Holmes, youngest sister of the famous Sherlock, is an interesting and feisty character. The plot moves quickly, the mystery is ‘clean,’ but a few steps above the cozy mystery genre, with plenty of action.

I adore Enola’s outspokenness. “Avian millinery was quite the thing that spring of 1890, and many ladies wore hats adorned with doves, robins, bluebirds, and hedge-sparrows in their entirety – sometimes with wire-rigged, moveable wings! – but I refused to go about with a dead bird on my head, settling for feathers instead.”

Springer did her homework/ research, looking up info on Rudyard Kipling and other well-known people of the time. As with many good books – I looked up some info too. It was fun to think of an elevator as being a novel invention. The vocabulary also adds to the fun. “I glanced hither and yon.”

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Though I needed to suspend my disbelief so the intrepid Enola could do all the things she does, it was well worth it. She's clever, humorous, strong, and in possession of just enough cynicism to get things and people to go her way. Delightful.

I was a huge fan of the Enola Holmes mysteries in my younger days so I was thrilled when Nancy Springer gave the series a new life back in 2021. Much to my delight, this revitalization was not a one off but since then the author has been publishing a new Enola Holmes every year like clockwork.

I’m obliged to the publisher for sending me a review copy of the latest installment ENOLA HOLMES AND THE MARK OF THE MONGOOSE, which follows Enola (younger sister of the famous Sherlock) as she searches for a missing person and encounters a mysterious conspiracy plus a certain famous author by the name of Rudyard Kipling…

Viewed through the eyes of an adult, I admit that the early Enola Holmes mysteries are filled with missteps and gaffes, but I was encouraged by the 2021 version of Enola Holmes that seemed to indicate the author had learned from her past mistakes. Unfortunately, the next installment in the series shattered many of my hopes and left me nervous about this book as THE ELEGANT ESCAPADE contained frankly terrible mental health representation. THE MARK OF THE MONGOOSE thankfully is not as flowed as its predecessor, but I admit I feel like some of the magic has worn off for me.

Enola is an ever-charming narrator and I could read about her shenanigans forever. The mystery itself is pretty clever as well as the hints of a potential nemesis á la Moriarty to be explored in further books… I found some elements, however, to be rather bleak as it deals with animal experimentation, animal death/suffering, and graphic descriptions of rabies. Even with the author giving the PG version, it was unpleasant. I also felt like Enola had some uncharacteristic moments like when she disparaged “ladies of the night”. I wasn’t particularly into whatever was going on with Rudyard Kipling in this fictionalization as I definitely don’t share the author’s wry fondness for either his work or his personality.

I love Enola and I want many, many more books with her, but I can’t help but feel that she deserves better.

I have really enjoyed all the books in the series so far. Nancy Springer is a very talented author, and in my opinion these books are not just for kids.

I enjoy Enola, she is a very fun character. The plot is interesting, and moves quickly. This book was especially intriguing as it deals with the development of the rabies vaccine which I found fascinatiing.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with an ARC of this book to read and review.

Yet another wonderful Enola Holmes escapade. Enola and Sherlock find themselves rival investigators yet again, although this time they do collaborate somewhat, and the antics that ensue during Enola's investigation boggle the mind and are a delight to read.

I love plucky and resourceful Enola, who shows more daring than her brother Sherlock during the course of their investigations. Her investigations are also wilder, more rididiculous, and more fun to read about than Sherlock's (though I do enjoy both).

The action in this installment is once again nonstop, with the narrator nearly breathless and most dialogue exclaimed rather than spoken. But it works. Despite being completely unbelievable, it ensnares my full attention and the wildly improbable events just makes me laugh.

I look forward eagerly to the next adventure.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an early copy for review.

Victorian England is a time of social upheaval as well as glorious technological and cultural progress. Enola Holmes, our young sleuth (or perditorian, as she prefers,) is discreetly practicing her trade while pursuing an education at the Women’s Academy. Perhaps more importantly for her peace of mind, she has finally reconciled with her overbearing older brothers Mycroft and Sherlock.

She’s thus had plenty of experience dealing with difficult men when another such bursts into her office one day, demanding help. The man doesn’t give his name, instead thrusting a photograph of his missing friend in Enola’s face and demanding that Dr Leslie Ragostin, her male boss, find the man in the picture. As Dr Ragostin is merely a name Enola made up to place on the door, she’s more than ready to assist, but the man – whom she’ll later discover goes by Ruddy – refuses to even look at her. In a fit of violent misogyny, he insults her and abuses her young porter Joddy. Infuriated, Enola kicks him out, then vows to find the missing friend before Ruddy can.

She soon figures out that the friend in question is Wolcott Balestier, an American businessman who recently came over to London with his sister Carrie. In an attempt to learn more about the missing Wolcott, Enola goes undercover, using the Holmes family’s trademark fondness for disguise to get work as a day maid in the Ballestier household:

QUOTE
I had dirtied my face and donned nostril inserts to broaden my proboscis, stained my teeth brown, and knuckled my eyes to bruise them just a little bit and make them tearful. I had purposely neglected to braid my hair the night before, so that as I slept it would become tangled, and I wore it hanging loose and unkempt. In addition, I had rendered every part of my personage grimy and ragged, with old brogues splitting wide open on my otherwise bare feet. Indeed, as I exited the Charing Cross Underground station and made my way to Maiden Lane, I feared–judging from the way other people shied away from me–that I might have taken my disguise a bit to far, might have overshot “poor thing” and, instead, achieved “a dreadful fright”!
END QUOTE

That’s only the first of many disguises she successfully dons, as she chases leads in both the highest and lowest of London society. She swiftly ascertains that Wolcott had gone out one evening to admire the electric lights of the Savoy hotel and had promptly fallen off the face of the planet. He had no reason to disappear, so foul play must have befallen him.

Complicating matters is the fact that a grieving Carrie has seen fit to hire Sherlock himself to bring Wolcott home. While Sherlock isn’t totally against Enola engaging in detective work, he does have a bad habit of trying to tell her what to do. Enola understands the need for collaboration but is understandably unwilling to give up her independence once more, so has to juggle their common desire to find Wolcott with her need to investigate freely. Will she come to regret this, though, when she finds herself alone and outnumbered by murderous goons?

This was another lively, entertaining installment of Enola Holmes’ namesake series, as she mingles with important historical figures while navigating the tumult of turn of the century England. I love how Nancy Springer consistently looks beyond the great men of the era to highlight the thoughts and feelings of those who not only had to interact with them but too often stood in their shadows. Carrie Balestier is one such person, lovingly brought to the foreground here in all her contradictory glory, as she discusses Ruddy with her brother:

QUOTE
“What makes him so outstanding?” asked Carrie, speaking quite lightly so as to conceal her own deep feelings. She had met the man a few times, but once would have been enough. A vital, muscular man, he was so much the opposite of her gentle, slender brother that the two of them formed a most unlikely alliance, and Carrie marveled to think of Wolcott’s friend: his blunt, magnetic intensity, his brilliant talk about his many adventures, his enthusiasms and sometimes his despairs–it was rumored that he had suffered a nervous breakdown not long ago! His tempers–this was a man who truly needed a strong woman to do for him! She had already made up her mind to marry him.
END QUOTE

Ms Springer continues to bring the good, bad and ugly of the Victorian era to life through the canny gaze of our resourceful and endearing heroine. Each book in the series offers a fresh perspective on subjects that might easily be lost to time as dry historical fact but for her engaging writing, wrapped around genuinely intriguing mysteries appropriate for audiences young and old.

Enola Holmes is once again on the case this time it's for the missing brother of an American woman visiting London. This sets her out on a course where she gets a ride in an elevator, meets Rudyard Kipling and finds out about rabies. Enola is always a delight and this was a great mystery story.

Fun and hilarious! I love watching Enola grow up and best her brother whenever possible!

The tone and timbre of each book has matured along with our heroine and I’m secretly hoping we get a love interest introduced soon. Is that too patriarchy of me? Sparring with Kipling was might saucy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.

As always, Springer weaves an interesting and intriguing tale of Enola's adventures. Searching for the missing Wolcott, an American in the publishing industry, mingling with Rudyard Kipling, and even possibly working with her brother, the famous Sherlock, what more could readers want? How about witty banter, interesting characters, and plot twists and turns?
Everything about this read was delightful. I think this will be great for the YA age range, but the story can also appeal to readers beyond that age range.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review

I liked this book! In this one, Enola starts to work more with her brothers than in others in the series. She still fully has her independence, but she starts to relinquish the fact that sometimes, Sherlock is just going to be the detective that people pick to help with cases. However, she's still the person who solves the case in the end.