The Case of the Missing Marquess: An Enola Holmes Mystery
The Case of the Missing Marquess: An Enola Holmes Mystery
By: Nancy Springer
I love Enola Holmes - absolutely love her. Here's a girl whose mother named her Enola, which is odd enough, but when you look at her name backwards you will realize that Enola = Alone and Enola will point that out to us more than once throughout this series! It's especially prevalent in this first book in the series featuring Miss Enola. And speaking of names, does anything about her last name ring a bell for you? If you've guessed anything to do with Sherlock Holmes you'd be right. Enola is Sherlock and Mycroft's younger sister (Mycroft is the eldest) whom they have only met twice: the day of their father's funeral, and now. Why now? Because The Case of the Missing Marquess is all about their mother and what happened to her.
Do you want to know the kicker about their mother disappearing? She left without so much as a good-bye on Enola's 14th birthday. Or did she leave? Was she kidnapped? What is the value of the gifts that her mother left her? Why would her mother leave the gifts if she was coming back? There's more than meets the eye in this book: the family dynamics alone are worth the read - which are quite complicated and cause a bit of a falling out amongst the siblings while trying to locate their mother. While Enola admires her older brothers (especially Sherlock), she can not understand their views towards women and races to realize what has happened to their mother before her famous older brother figures it out.
Along the way Enola saves more than one person, makes some startling discoveries about her family's history and learns quite a bit about herself: but will it be enough to get her mother back?
This is a quick, great mystery to read. I especially love the fact that Enola is Sherlock Holmes' younger sister and that she's more than her brother bargains for! She has the mind of a modern young woman (why should she have to wear a corset? Boarding School? Are they kidding? Where do they get off telling their mom where to live and what to do?) which will endear her to readers as she faces the same problems they do, albeit in a slightly different manner and setting. Who hasn't disliked at least one rule or requirement our parents have placed on us while growing up? Or, as in Enola's case, her brothers' imposing requirements. There are also ciphers to figure out - it's a lot of fun trying to work them out before finding out what they mean!
Recommended To:
- Mystery fans young and old (especially if you've read yourself any Sir Arthur Conan Doyle!)
- Those who like a character with some gumption
- Fans of Victorian settings (yes, I realize I read a lot that are set in that time period. I just like it that much!)
- Boys! They may be about a female character, but I think she's someone boys can identify with - plus she's crafty and not afraid of a challenge
- Everyone!
Notes on the Cover:
I really like it: the fact that it's an artist's rendition helps make Enola look more like I imagine her. The pointy chin, pale skin, thin cheeks, unruly hair and the look of being pursued on her face all really make this cover pop for me. Holy cow! It's junior/young adult book cover that actually involves the context of the book! The bicycle, the basket, everything! I almost can't believe it! I also really like the title being in an oval that looks like a sign has just emerged from the trees. The oval seems to become a fixture on the covers and I really like that - providing continuity and all!