The Case of the Missing Marquess is the first novel in the Enola Holmes series by Nancy Springer. If I'm correct, the inspiration for the Netflix movie (I haven't seen it yet, so I can't speak to that). Admittedly I did things a little backward here, I started with the seventh novel in the series (Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche), and I just loved it so much I had to go back to the beginning!
Young Enola Holmes is the younger sister of the famous Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes, both famous in their own rights. It would be an understatement to say she grew up under their shadow, not that they've been around to cast shadows directly.
When her mother goes missing, Enola must admit that she needs help from two of the most famous detectives. If anyone can find her, it's them. Only, somehow things don't go according to plan, and Enola is the one looking for her mother – by putting herself directly in danger.
“He would expect me to flee from him. Therefore, I would not. I would flee towards him.”
Oh, this series's sheer amount of character and charm is a delight. I adored The Case of the Missing Marquess, and I can already tell you that I'll be reading the rest of this series the first chance I get (which I hope will be soon). Now that I've read the first book, I can finally be kind to myself and watch the Netflix movie! That'll be exciting.
If you've ever hoped for a slightly younger or more feminine twist on the whole Sherlock Holmes world, then you've got to read Enola Holmes. She may not have as much experience as her brothers, but she's got twice the heart (and arguably even more determination).
I was a little surprised by how the whole series started, but that probably stems from the fact that I originally started so late in the series. It's easy to forget what may or may not have caused a scandal in those days, such as a late pregnancy. It's odd to think that Enola is shameful to her family because she was born relatively late in her mother's life. Anyway, onto the actual review!
Enola Holmes is an intelligent and witty character. Neither of these traits stops her from running headfirst into danger, though I daresay they will help her survive whatever she gets into. One can hope, at least.
It was fun seeing this side of the world and Nancy Springer's take on characters we all know and love. I cannot wait to dive into the next book in this series.
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Reviewed by Quirky Cat on
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 1 July, 2022: Finished reading
- 1 July, 2022: Reviewed