School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-Enola Holmes, 14, is no stranger to Lady Cecily Alistair, having come to her rescue previously to save her from a terrible fate. Now the Lady appears to be in the clutches of a nefarious noble family intent on forcing her into marriage against her will. The fourth mystery (Philomel, 2008) in Nancy Springer's Enola Holmes series builds on the earlier titles and delves more deeply into the problematic relationship not only between Enola and the mother who abandoned her but with her older brothers Sherlock and Mycroft. Katherine Kellgren's melodramatic and expressive narrative style is a good fit for the content and Victorian setting of the story. Fans of the series will enjoy the latest entry, despite its slight plot and continued questions about the believability of Enola's lifestyle unconstrained by convention or concerns for safety.-Cindy Lombardo, Cleveland Public Library, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Although their own eccentricities are legendary, Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes fully expect their very much younger sister to take on the attributes of the stereotypical Victorian female. She will be schooled in womanly endeavors with an eye to a future as someone's wife--but 14-year-old Enola has ideas of her own. She has already solved several mysteries, donning a variety of disguises in order to encourage clients, get results and elude her brothers (The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets, 2008, etc.). This time she encounters them at every turn and they must finally join forces to solve a truly Victorian kidnapping in which a young woman is held against her will by family members in order to be wed to a particularly odious man. Orphans, secret codes and a missing mother add to the thrill of the chase. Springer's period syntax is spot-on, while remaining accessible to modern readers. It is an almost perfect evocation of that bygone era, and Enola is a plucky, intelligent and altogether delightful character. More please. (Mystery. 9-12) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Enola Holmes, the younger sister of Sherlock Holmes, returns in her fourth mystery. Enola is shocked when she spies a friend, Lady Cecily, in the first ladies' lavatory in London. With the help of a pink fan, Enola deduces that Cecily is in the clutches of a noble family, who is forcing her into an arranged marriage. Can she save her? As in the previous books, this features a strong mystery, intriguing family relationships, and the continuing thread of a daughter and mother lost to each other, forcing Enola to evade the clutches of brothers Sherlock and Mycroft. A rousing read with plenty of terrific Victorian detail.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2008 Booklist
