Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche by Nancy Springer

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Enola Holmes, the much younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft, returns for another adventure in Victorian England. Fifteen year old Enola has set up her own business in London, having won grudging respect from her brothers in her previous adventures. Independent, extremely intelligent, and determined, Enola is set to blaze trails for females in a time when restrictions abounded.

As this adventure opens, Enola receives word from Dr. Watson that her brother Sherlock is not doing well. Having no cases at hand, and therefore nothing to occupy his mind he has fallen into depression. When Enola pays him a call, she finds a young woman, Letitia, who is desperate to find news of her twin sister. The sister, Felicity, married the Earl of Dunhench but he has sent word that Felicity is dead. Letitia strongly believes that her sister is alive but in some sort of dire straits.

Soon, both Sherlock and Enola are on the case, each pursuing leads in their own fashion.  Indeed, the game is afoot!

I thoroughly enjoyed the first books in the Enola Holmes series:

The Case of the Missing Marquess

The Case of the Left-Handed Lady

The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets

The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan

The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline

The Cast of the Gypsy Goodbye

While these are individual cases, there is an overriding story arc concerning Mrs. Holmes, mother of Enola, Sherlock, and Mycroft, that continues through all six volumes. And yes, these are considered either Children's or Young Adult books, but a good book is a good book as far as I'm concerned.

Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche is a self-contained mystery with an introduction by Sherlock who explains the set up: Enola’s past, how she came to be in London, and so forth. It can be read as a standalone if the reader isn’t already familiar with Enola.

The depiction of Victorian society can be eye-opening.  How Enola manages to circumvent (or not!) some of the conventions of the day provides a good bit of the entertainment as far as I am concerned. She’s clever, and her feminine perspectives sometimes provide valuable clues that elude her brother.

All in all, another fine adventure!

(Note: there's another book in the series already out, Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade,  and there's another due out in 2023.)