Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche (Enola Holmes #7) by Nancy Springer


Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche (Enola Holmes #7)
Title : Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche (Enola Holmes #7)
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 1250822955
ISBN-10 : 9781250822956
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 261
Publication : First published August 31, 2021

Enola Holmes is the much younger sister of her more famous brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft. But she has all the wits, skills, and sleuthing inclinations of them both. At fifteen, she's an independent young woman--after all, her name spelled backwards reads 'alone'--and living on her own in London. When a young professional woman, Miss Letitia Glover, shows up on Sherlock's doorstep, desperate to learn more about the fate of her twin sister, it is Enola who steps up. It seems her sister, the former Felicity Glover, married the Earl of Dunhench and per a curt note from the Earl, has died. But Letitia Glover is convinced this isn't the truth, that she'd know--she'd feel--if her twin had died.

The Earl's note is suspiciously vague and the death certificate is even more dubious, signed it seems by a John H. Watson, M.D. (who denies any knowledge of such). The only way forward is for Enola to go undercover--or so Enola decides at the vehement objection of her brother. And she soon finds out that this is not the first of the Earl's wives to die suddenly and vaguely--and that the secret to the fate of the missing Felicity is tied to a mysterious black barouche that arrived at the Earl's home in the middle of the night. To uncover the secrets held tightly within the Earl's hall, Enola is going to require help--from Sherlock, from the twin sister of the missing woman, and from an old friend, the young Viscount Tewkesbury, Marquess of Basilwether!


Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche (Enola Holmes #7) Reviews


  • PamG

    Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche by Nancy Springer brings together Sherlock Holmes and his much younger sister Enola in a teen / young adult historical mystery set in London and Surrey in 1889. There are several previous books in this series, but this one worked well as a standalone. Mystery, suspense, and humor are blended together in an appealing new case for Enola.

    At fifteen, Enola is living on her own at the Professional Women’s Club and has a history of sleuthing. While she is visiting Sherlock a young woman, Miss Letitia Glover, shows up desperate to learn more about the fate of her twin sister, Felicity. Felicity’s husband of two years sent a note that she had died and needed to be cremated. Letitia believes she would know it if her sister was dead. Enola decides to go undercover to determine what happened to Felicity.

    Enola is a likeable character; she’s is witty, thoughtful, outgoing, and a master of disguises. But sometimes she is short of facts and that can get her into hot water. How she and Sherlock think and analyze situations is fun to see unfold. Besides Sherlock, Dr. Watson and the Viscount Tewksbury put in appearances as well.

    The author does a good job of world-building. I was able to easily visualize the settings, the people, the clothing, and the homes. The atmosphere felt right for the times resulting in a strong sense of time and place. Unraveling the mystery was enjoyable. While the mystery is not overly complicated, it is solid and entertaining. Additionally, amidst the tension and suspense, there are bits of humor that lighten the tone of the story. The ending wrapped things up nicely. While the prologue and epilogue are from Sherlock’s point of view, everything in between is from that of Enola. For those that haven’t read the previous books, the prologue does a great job of bringing readers up to speed.

    Overall, this book was an engaging and enjoyable historical mystery that moved at a quick pace. Themes include treatment of women in the late 1800’s, clothing, disguises, friendship, injustices, sibling relationships, and much more. There are some disturbing descriptions of the conditions in some institutions of the times.

    I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series. Readers that enjoy young adult historical mysteries will likely enjoy this series. There is a movie out that is based on an earlier book.

    St. Martin’s Press – Wednesday Books and Nancy Springer provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for August 31, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

  • Tamar...playing hooky for a few hours today

    I loved this book! Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this latest (#7) in the Enola Holmes series, by Nancy Springer. I am late to the party since this is the first book it the series that I’ve read, but it works as a stand-alone. Book #6 of the series was published over a decade ago! This new book in the series follows the successful screening of the Enola Holmes Netflix film of 2020. (I must live in a cave with no electricity or internet, otherwise I would not have to wait for my sister to tell me what’s on the telly, whenever we discuss a book that I loved).

    Enola is the younger (still) fifteen-year-old sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. The book opens with a brief intro of the character and her background, and then gallops off (double entendre intended) into a fun, briskly paced mystery and historical romp that works well for Middle School-Aged, Young Adults, and Young at Heart Adults (like me).

    Our heroine, Enola, doesn’t fall far from the tree and is endowed with her own deductive abilities as well as many of her older brother’s brilliant detective skills. In this case, a woman visits the Baker Street dwelling of Sherlock. Enola, who is attending her brother, immediately takes to the woman and promises to help her. The woman, Tish (aka Letitia) seeks Holmes’ assistance in finding her twin sister, Felicity. Tish believes that Felicity has disappeared or is otherwise indisposed – despite her brother-in-law Cad’s laconic letter informing her that Felicity took suddenly ill and died (and by the way here is an urn with her ashes…). Tish does not believe that her sister died, and claims that as a twin, she would have sensed her sister’s death if it were true.

    Now the scene is set for the investigation and exciting adventure in this historic, atmospheric mystery. There is much undercover subterfuge as Enola, together with her good friend Tewky (from an earlier novel), Sherlock, and Tish work together to find out what really befell Felicity at the hands of (her lecherous) Cad (of a husband), the Earl of Dunhench.

    I loved the prose, which contributed to the historical ambience of the novel. I loved the feisty and adventurous Enola, at once a hellion, escaping out of second story windows or driving a buggy being led by a crazy, wild horse named Jezebel, and other times, dressed in ‘a russet delaine trimmed with muted gold, replete with gloves and parasol, and ravishing a hat in the latest fashion worn on the back of the head tilted up to peak in front with a froth of autumn-coloured flowers tucked underneath the brim’, described by Sherlock as “like a frigate in need of a figurehead”.

    Although there is a much humor in this novel there are disturbing descriptions of the conditions in insane asylums of the period – nothing we haven’t read before or seen in numerous other period pieces, but disturbing never-the-less.

    I’m so excited to have six earlier novels to look forward to reading…and judging from the success of the television movie, I’m guessing there will be more Enola Holmes adventures to be read in the future.

  • Toni

    Enola Holmes is the seventh story in Nancy Springer's series of Middle Grade mysteries featuring Sherlock's younger sister. If you haven't read the previous titles in the series, don't worry: a) it can be easily read as a standalone b) we get a prologue from Sherlock with a hilarious recap of Enola's previous adventures. We also learn from this introduction that fifteen-year-old Enola is a very independent and resourceful young lady.

    When Dr Watson writes to her and asks her to help with one of Sherlock's famous bouts of melancholia, she immediately hurries to Baker Street. While she is there, trying to get any kind of reaction from her depressed brother, a desperate potential client arrives. Miss Letitia Glover, a young professional woman (a typist) desperately needs Sherlock's detective expertise to help her locate her twin sister Felicity. Felicity's rich husband, the Earl of Dunhench, sent Tish a note informing her that her sister unexpectedly fell ill and passed away and has been already cremated (a practice most victorians were suspicious of). Nevertheless, Tish is convinced that Felicity is still alive. While Enola is immediately moved by her pleas, Sherlock's interest is only piqued when it turns out that the ashes aren't human.

    Enola is a delightful character. She is smart, determined, witty, and doesn't take herself too seriously. She's also extremely enterprising and brave. This is a historical mystery, so all of her adventures are set against the background of the Victorian society. The book is rich in detail - from changing fashions, food, transportation, homes and institutions to typical attitudes that will seem strange and often unfair to a modern reader.

    It was great to see how Enola and Sherlock worked on the case, approaching it in similar ways-they both collected information, using various disguises, looked at the evidence, detected forged documents and even set up a trap for the culprit.

    The writing was very engaging, easy to follow and fun to read. I would definitely recommend it not just to MG/YA audience, but anyone who likes entertaining mysteries with a strong, independent female lead.

    Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin'sPress/Wednesday Books for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

  • Montzalee Wittmann

    Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche
    by Nancy Springer
    I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this fun and exciting book!

    I find Enola just as exciting, if not more, than Holmes! She is a bit brash, always daring, and will take on just about anything! Her and Holmes make a great team! In this book Holmes is in a terrible funk and Watson is worried about him. Holmes won't eat, shave, or get out of bed. Watson wants Enola to come cheer him up.

    When Enola arrives, she finds Holmes in a dreadful state and is unable to get him moving. That is until Holmes gets a case but Enola takes it instead. Holmes then perks up! This is just what he needed! Enola and Holmes set about to save a woman before it's too late.

    The woman states she received a letter saying her sister died suddenly and was cremated. It just seemed suspicious. The husband is a Duke that married below his status. The case is exciting, has suspense, clever, and sprinkled with wit and humor.

    I watched the one show that aired having Enola so I could picture all this happening! I hope they make this into one also! Recommend for middle grade and up!

  • Kristy

    I am excited to present my first guest review, from my wonderful wife, Kate! Thanks, babe, for your review of this book, the seventh in Nancy Springer's Enola Holmes' series.

    When I heard there was going to be another book in the Enola Holmes series, I jumped at the chance and promised my book-loving wife that I would write a guest review. So, here it is! Please accept my apologies ahead of time for the fact that I cannot (and would never dare try to) match the quality and skill that my wife demonstrates in her own book reviews.

    Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche, by Nancy Springer, is another book in the growing series following Ms. Enola Holmes, the 15 year old sister of the famous Sherlock Holmes. This book is being released over 10 years after the last published novel, which came out in 2010. The earlier six novels covered the ongoing story of Enola’s (often contentious) relationship with her brothers (Sherlock and Mycroft), as well as brought the reader resolution about Enola’s missing/runaway mother. This new story starts with a Prologue written by none other than Sherlock himself, who provides a summary of these tales, and tells of his earlier encounters with Enola. His introduction even suggests his level of respect for her has improved dramatically. The new story finds the young detective (or Scientific Perditorian, as she has dubbed herself) seeking the whereabouts of Miss Leticia Glover’s twin sister, Flossie. Glover has been told that her sister has died, but the circumstances surrounding Flossie’s death are mysteriously vague. Initially, Glover seeks the assistance of Mr. Sherlock Holmes, but she ends up with the masterful pair of Enola and Sherlock, who are finally working together on a case. The two detectives set out, albeit in opposite directions, to ascertain the fate of the missing twin.

    I think the allure of these books for me is the underlying message that Enola is as good as, if not better (or at least cleverer) than her notorious older brother. In the previous stories I enjoyed her ability to reach conclusions before him, even if she was getting there with only a slight edge. This particular story seamlessly continues the message that Enola’s keen mind works in ways that Sherlock’s doesn’t.

    I thoroughly enjoyed this seventh book in the Enola Holmes series and hope that the author continues with her story. And, while I do enjoy that Enola and Sherlock have mended their relationship and are able to work together, I hope Enola can still find time to shine on her own. This particular book began with a Prologue from Sherlock, and ended with an Epilogue also penned from his perspective. As these stories are supposed to be Enola’s, it felt wrong for the final word to be coming from someone else. Beyond that, this was an excellent mystery and fun, quick read.

    We received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books in return for an unbiased review. Look for BLACK BAROUCHE on 08/31/2021!


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  • Jean

    Imagine my surprise when I learned that this delightful diversion by Nancy Springer,
    Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche, is the seventh in a series! I wish to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. Opinions stated are my own.

    Enola, an unusual name that is “alone” spelled backwards, is the 15-year-old sister of the famous Sherlock Holmes. In the introduction, Holmes indicates that his sister is basically annoying and insinuates that he’d rather not have to bother with her. He does, however, grudgingly admit that she is clever.

    This proves to be true when Enola becomes the lead investigator on what she dubs, “the Case of the Black Barouche.” Barouche? I know, I had to look it up too. It’s a horse-drawn carriage, but that’s all I’m saying about that. Her brother is suffering one of his episodes of depression, and Enola has dropped by to try to coax him out of it when Letitia “Tish” Glover appears seeking to hire Sherlock Holmes to find her sister Felicity (“Flossie”). She has received a letter from Flossie’s husband informing her that her sister has died. There’s more to it than that, but Tish does not believe it. Being a twin, she says she would “know” if her sister were dead. Since Holmes appears to be incapacitated for the moment, Enola begins firing questions and agrees to look into the matter herself. That’s all it takes for her brother to revive and refresh himself to join the adventure.

    And what an adventure it turns out to be! Enola is inventive and creative when it comes to costumes, disguises, and aliases. She can concoct a story to wiggle her way into a situation and out of it again, if need be. Does trouble find her? It most certainly does! Does she get the job done? Wait and see!

    Holmes himself does play a role, as does his sidekick, Dr. Watson. Enola seems to have a sidekick of her own, Viscount Tewkesbury, Marquess of Basilwether, whom she affectionately refers to as Tewky. She also forms quite a loyalty toward her client. The relationship between Sherlock and Enola is an interesting one. Because of their age difference, they were not raised together, and their interactions struck me as more like uncle and niece, perhaps, rather than brother-sister. There is humor and even mutual admiration mixed in as they seem to still be discovering each other.

    The author does a great job capturing a sense of place and time, complete with customs of the time. For instance, a woman was not allowed to travel or stay at an inn without a male companion. I also found myself making frequent use of the online dictionary to find the meanings of unfamiliar words and phrases of the times, words far beyond barouche. Enola balks, as she endeavors to be independent, but she manages to make do. It struck me that while she makes some rookie mistakes, she is quite sharp and mature for her age. While I know that today’s teenager females attend school and usually remain unwed until later in life than those in the times depicted in this story, it still seemed to me a bit of a stretch that Enola was on her own throughout much of this investigation – and that, for the most part, she managed to pull it off!

    I enjoyed the mystery. It wasn’t what so much as where, and it was also a question of how they would ever find the missing sister of their client. The conclusion was a whole lot of fun.

    4 stars

  • kaitlyn

    this is such a unique and fun book! i’m a fan of the enola holmes movie, so i decided to pick this one up and give it a try, and i’m glad i did! it’s a short book that goes by really quickly. the mystery was really fun and i loved seeing sherlock featured as well. the writing in this novel is also really well-done and it describes london in the late 1800s perfectly. i highly recommend this one for fans of the movie, sherlock holmes, or people just wanting a good ya mystery.

  • Amy

    I really loved the Enola Holmes books as a pre-teen. I plotted endless adventures for her growing up, falling in love, and solving mysteries alongside her brothers. So, to have an actual real-life story of her post-events of book 6...it was like a dream come true.

    But then reviews started coming out. And a lot of people who read the book for the same nostalgia trip that I did started saying that this didn't live up to their expectations. Talk about crushing. I braced myself for disappointment.

    And I am delighted to report...I LIKED IT.

    I did not love it. But I enjoyed it.

    The story keeps things action-packed. We don't get quite as many disguises from Enola, but we do get a running commentary on fashion. And we get some fun moments with Sherlock.

    If I have one main complaint, it is that the story goes a little too girl-power for my tastes. I'm all for a strong heroine and I think Enola has amply demonstrated that she is one. But the thing that appealed to me about Enola in her earlier books was that she was a character who worked within the limitations placed on her by society. This book too often felt like she was bucking against them because she couldn't be bothered to remember they existed. (Like the number of times she got in trouble for traveling without a maid.)

    And was the insane asylum thing done before in this series or am I crazy?

    Pre-Review
    I've imagined so many adventures for Enola post book 6 that I'm both thrilled and terrified to continue the series.

  • Alaina

    I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

    Ever since I watched Enola on Netflix, I was very happy to dive into Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche. There was just something about Enola that left me in awe. Yes, I got some parts of Sherlock in her but she had her own kind of sass to things. She definitely amused me. So, it's safe to say that I was very happy when I got approved to dive into this book.

    Long story short, I loved it. I liked getting to see her and Sherlock work together to solve this. They are so alike in so many ways but how they get to certain things just amazes me. These two just made this entire book so freaking entertaining. Also, I liked seeing Watson! Even if he wasn't how I pictured he would be.

    In the end, I loved the sass, wit, banter, and everything else in between. This entire book was enjoyable from start to finish and I can't wait for the next one. Maybe I will dive into her entire series this year. Maybe even his. I'd be down for both because I love their movies.

    Bring it on.

  • Literary Redhead

    Gobbled up this fab teen/YA mystery in one sitting! Loved the character in the Netflix movie and was thrilled to get this ARC from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

    The book — seventh in the series — is a total winner. We get to see Sherlock Holmes and his much younger sister, Enola, work together to solve a confounding crime. Enola is every bit as smart, clever, curious, and fearless as her famous brother. All the usual characters show up but it is Enola who steals the show. I wish I’d had this engaging series to read when I first got into Nancy Drew as a teen. Now, I MUST go back and read the previous six Enola adventures. Perfect for mystery lovers of all ages!

    5 of 5 Stars
    Pub Date 31 Aug 2021
    #EnolaHolmes #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

    Merged review:

    Gobbled up this fab teen/YA mystery in one sitting! Loved the character in the Netflix movie and was thrilled to get this ARC from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

    The book — seventh in the series — is a total winner. We get to see Sherlock Holmes and his much younger sister, Enola, work together to solve a confounding crime. Enola is every bit as smart, clever, curious, and fearless as her famous brother. All the usual characters show up but it is Enola who steals the show. I wish I’d had this engaging series to read when I first got into Nancy Drew as a teen. Now, I MUST go back and read the previous six Enola adventures. Perfect for mystery lovers of all ages!

    5 of 5 Stars
    Pub Date 31 Aug 2021
    #EnolaHolmes #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

  • Mogsy (MMOGC)

    4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum
    https://bibliosanctum.com/2021/12/26/...

    Like so many others, I discovered Enola Holmes as a Netflix movie before finding out about the series of books it was based on—a series that has been around since 2006, no less. Now more than a decade after the last book, Nancy Springer has returned with Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche, which is the seventh installment though it can be read as a standalone. In fact, Enola’s famous older brother Sherlock gives a rather thorough recap in the prologue, covering her adventures in mystery solving from the previous six books, allowing seamless access into this one.

    Following this brief but detailed recap, we jump right into the meat of the story. At fifteen, our protagonist is already living on her own in London, visiting 221B Baker Street after Watson informs her that Sherlock hasn’t been himself as of late. But while Enola is there attending to her brother, a young woman named Tish shows up seeking the detective to consult on a difficult case. An Earl had recently become smitten with Tish’s twin sister Flossie, and the two married despite her being far beneath his station. Now a letter has come from the nobleman informing Tish that Flossie had died from a sudden illness, one that was so severe that the body had to be cremated almost immediately out of an abundance of caution.

    Because of the vagueness and curt tone of the note though, Tish has reason to suspect that the Earl may not be telling the truth. Growing up, she and her twin were also very close, and if Flossie had truly died, Tish insists that she would have felt the death in her gut. Instead, her instincts tell her that there is more to the letter, and despite the urn that came along with it ostensibly containing Flossie’s ashes, Enola agrees. So, with Sherlock still being in a funk and feeling indisposed, she decides to step up and help the bereaved young woman.

    What follows next is a delightful mix of humor and sleuthing action as Enola does what she does best, utilizing multiple disguises to travel to different places, questioning witnesses and gathering evidence. A clever, resourceful, and confident young lady, she is just such a joy to read about! Even when caught in sticky situations, she powers through the awkwardness with courage and determination, and usually still comes out on top with helpful information towards the case.

    And of course, watching Enola carry out her investigations also lights a fire under Sherlock. Newly motivated, he comes up with his own ways to help Tish and his sister, and though his attitude is very different from Enola’s, their two investigative styles complement each other well. While the two are polar opposites in temperament with many years separating them, there’s clear affection between the siblings which was heartwarming to see, even if they do get on each other’s nerves sometimes.

    The writing was also accessible and fast-paced, perfected suited for the young adult or higher middle grade audience these books were meant for, though I think adults will also enjoy this immensely. I know I did. Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche was a quick read that I would absolutely recommend to fans of engaging historical mysteries or Sherlock Holmes-type stories with a twist. Our witty and fearless protagonist is almost guaranteed to steal some hearts and bring about a few smiles, and I can’t wait to read more, either the previous books or future installments if we’re fortunate!

  • Batoul (The Shelf Indulger)

    Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an e-ARC of Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche by
    Nancy Springer in exchange for an honest review.


    4 stars

    I had no idea that there was an Enola Holmes book series before I saw this on Netgalley. Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche was really fun to dive into and I will most likely be reading the rest of the series some time this year (This book can be read on it's own without the knowledge of what had happened in the previous books).

    Enola Holmes is the 15 year old sister of Sherlock Holmes. When Sherlock falls into a state of depression after a long case, Dr.Watson visits Enola in hopes she could lift his spirits. While Enola is at Sherlock's house in an attempt to help him, Letitia Glover stops by seeking the aid of Sherlock. Tish (Letita) had received a letter from her twin sister Felicity 'Flossie' Glover's husband, telling Tish that Flossie had passed away from sickness, and was cremated before anybody has even heard news of her death. Tish doesn't believe it, so Enola says she will help her investigate. Upon hearing that Enola would be investigating alone, Sherlock agrees to help too.

    I deeply enjoyed watching Sherlock and Enola work together, along with their dialogue in it's humor and wit. I also love the message that young women are capable, empowered, and independent. What I would've changed is that there wasn't really a reason behind what the villain did. Basically, all that was said was 'that's how he is'. That didn't detract much from how much I enjoyed the book though.

    Overall, Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche was a very enjoyable mystery and I can't wait for the next book in the series.

  • Avery (readbyfin)

    Thank you so much Wednesday Books for sending me an ARC of this new Enola Holmes mystery!

    I had so much fun reading this book! I adore Enola Holmes and read the first books of this series a long time ago and then watched the movie when it came out so I was thrilled to be sent an ARC of this new one!

    Enola Holmes is the role model young readers need today! She is so strong and doesn't take patriarchal idealogy from anyone! I loved her witty banter and ideas I never would have come up with! Enola gets into some sticky situations that are so enthralling to read about and kept me turning pages well past my bedtime!

    The mystery of this book was incredible! Enola's client is looking for clues about her twin sister who mysteriously died soon after marrying an earl. These peculiar circumstances made for a fast-paced and twist-filled novel! Enola manages to unravel clues leading to her client's sister, but not everything is as it seems. So many twists caught me off guard! I was absolutely reeling by the end of this story!

    Make sure to preorder this new Enola Holmes mystery! Each of the books in this series can be read separately so don't worry about being confused if you haven't read books #1-6!

  • Srivalli Rekha

    4.3 Stars
    ********

    The book has been published.

    ********

    It sure feels like I’m living under a rock when I didn’t even know about the existence of Enola Holmes and the past 6 cases she solved. Nor was I aware of the movie released last year that led to another book in the series after more than 10 years.
    But I’m glad to have redeemed my mistake. All the previous books are in my TBR now. I may watch the movie, though I’ll read the book first.
    Thankfully, this book starts with a brief recap covering the series. It’s narrated by none other than Sherlock. The author had done justice to his character and retained most of his grumpiness and dry humor.
    Enola is now fifteen and ready to take on a case again. Her banter with Sherlock is fun to read. Enola steps in and takes over the case when Letitia Glover goes to Sherlock for help.
    What else can she do when her brother is having one of his bouts again, and the poor Miss Glover was worried for her twin sister? The case doesn’t have too many twists and turns and comes to a satisfactory ending. Enola does her share of sleuthing, going undercover, getting caught, escaping, and finally working with her experienced brother to solve the case together. Viscount Tewky and Dr. Watson are roped in to play their roles.
    Written for the YA audience, the book is mostly lighthearted. But it does have a couple of disturbing scenes. The author presented them well, so that shouldn’t really be a problem.
    To conclude, I totally enjoyed reading this book. If you are a fan of mysteries, the Victorian era, resourceful heroines, and the YA genre, this one is for you. And hey, it’s got Sherlock too!
    I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/ Wednesday Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
    ************

    Read the full review here.

  • Jessica Reads It

    Enola Holmes—Sherlock’s teen sister—receives a missive from dear Dr. Watson warning of her brother's decreasing health due to a bout of depression. As is the duty of a loving sister Enola takes it upon herself to visit her dear brother and rouse him from his melancholia. On her visit, she overhears a most curious case of a twin-sister deceased by mysterious circumstances and sets off to outwit her brothers and solve the case.

    Enola Holmes is many things, fearless, tenacious, brilliant, and sometimes feckless, but I love her role of sister the most. I adored how Enola insinuates herself into Sherlocks' cases becoming a super-sleuth in her own right as she outfoxes her famous brother. Despite her mature demeanor, this insistence on trumping her brothers is such a fun and juvenile act of a loving sister.

    From an unconventional upbringing, which may or may not have led to her outright shunning of society's norms to her sharp intellect and witty sense of humor, I can think of no better role model for young impressionable teens globally. Her role as Perditorian- a finder of that which was lost- allows her to showcase not only her sharp tongue and brazen personality, but embraces her true passion for solving mysteries and flexing her considerable intellectual prowess.

    Enola Holmes represents such an integral role for women's progression, especially within the time this novel was set, where women could not rent a room without a chaperone or male relative present. I venerate her free spirit and most of all her unwavering tenacity. Enola is not bound by society’s restraints but a free spirit, a wanderer, a nomad, being able to fit into everywhere but not truly belonging.

    I relished Enola's growth throughout the series, from a young unkempt girl, running around barefoot in the fields of her ancestral home, to a proper young woman with a taste for society's fashions. Enola has managed to integrate the aspects of society she finds pleasing without allowing it to consumer her personality and I admire that. This is a powerful lesson in the ability of young women to chart their own course, their own destiny, without succumbing to the fancies of society.

    The juxtaposition between Tewkesbury and Enola is delightful! I enjoy seeing his boyish innocence against her worldly weariness and the ability for him to keep her grounded, to maintain hope and faith in humanity.

    Nancy Springer is an inspiring writer and her vivid descriptions make readers feel as if they are running alongside young Enola, through the streets of London. I believe it takes true mastery to pen something in such prim and proper language without readers feeling intimidated. Her ability to keep readers at the edge of their seats with such intriguing mysteries while entertaining them with the sharp and eccentric banter of Enola and Sherlock is incredible.

    I do wish we saw more Mycroft, but alas, there are always future novels for us to discover more adventures of the charming, stylish and intelligent Ms. Enola Holmes.

    Thank you to the wonderful folks at St. Martins Publishing Group for inviting me to participate in the Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche Blog Tour and for providing me with an arc. My blog stop can be seen here:
    https://jessicareadsit.wordpress.com/...

  • Laur

    I loved this book! Smart, witty, often humorous dialogue, a fantastic cast of characters, a good mystery, fast pace. Sherlock and Enola’s relationship is realistic as brother and sister, and great fun to observe. Enola is smart, fearless, and adventurous - a likable and caring young woman who is completely capable of handling herself against the unscrupulous and those who mean to defy her mission.

    A wonderful, very enjoyable, clean read. Suitable to read as a stand alone.
    The book cover was outstanding, and displays Enola’s beauty and independent spirit.

    5 Big Stars - can’t wait for the next installment.

    My profound thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

  • D. B. Guin

    As I kid, I loved this series.

    It was always a little cutesy and awkwardly self-aware, but I sure did not care. I enjoyed the way Enola approaches cases from a totally different avenue than Sherlock, blowing his mind every time, and the subversion of the "I run away dressed as a boy" trope. I was interested in the fiddly details of the mysteries. I was intensely invested in whatever resolution she might or might not achieve in her family relationships.

    You better believe that I SLAMMED that download button the very minute I got approved for an eARC.

    This latest installment in the series is meant to work as a standalone as well, so there's a little prologue by Sherlock that quickly recaps the road so far. I was a bit worried that the truce Enola and Sherlock had reached would be walked back to create more conflict, but I'm so happy to be wrong. Instead, the latest case has them working together a lot (mostly) and occasionally at cross purposes.

    It's still a little awkward, and now that I'm older it's harder to take Enola's quips and "wink at the reader" sort of attitude. The mystery also seemed a little shaky. Why did the villain end up doing what he did? Because that's just "how he is!" Okay, sure, but please give him a direct motive that holds water other than just inherent, senseless villainy.

    Still fully enjoyable, though.

    I liked the chaos that accompanied Enola in this. It's been a while since I read the rest of the series, so maybe this is just par for the course, but she seemed especially off the rails in this one. Exactly how I'd expect a fifteen-year-old flinging herself into the jaws of danger to end up. I also liked the client -- one of the nice things about this series is the way Enola approaches the clients, often ending up long-term friends with them. The opposite of Sherlock's detachment.

    And Tewkesbury makes a few appearances! This is a bit unnecessary and shoehorned-in since his part could have been played by any random hired worker, which is Sherlock's usual M.O. But still nice, since I do enjoy seeing Tewkesbury regardless of the reason.

    Overall, this was a fun blast from the past. I really would like to see where Enola goes from here, so any further installments in the series will get no complaints from me.

  • Anita

    Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

    Young Adult is not a genre I have ever read. At least, not since I was 12 and was really into Nancy Drew. So why, you may ask, am I reading this one? I saw the first book as a production on Netflix and loved it. But, more importantly, my 11 year old granddaughter loved it. I thought if the books were half as good as the PBS show, this would be a great way to encourage her to read more. Although I would not recommend this book for kids as young as my granddaughter, I highly recommend it for teens and older. The prose and situations are just not appropriate for younger readers. For me, I loved it. Enola is a kick-ass heroine and I loved how she took charge of this case and wouldn't let go.

    Sherlock Holmes and his brother, Mycroft, have their hands full trying to manage there 15 year old sister, Enola. After trying, they have come to realize that Enola just isn't the sweet young proper English girl they envisioned. After trying, unsuccessfully, they have backed off and everyone is much happier. While Enola is visiting to Sherlock, a young woman comes to him for help. Miss Letitia Glover has received distressing news that her twin sister has taken ill and died suddenly. The note from Felicity's husband, the Earl of Dunhench, is short, brisk and not at all what a grieving husband would write. Letitia doesn't believe her sister is dead and neither do Enola and Sherlock.

    As they delve into the death they discover forged documents and a connection to the Earl's first wife, who also died suspiciously. Enola goes undercover in the Earl's home, over the protest of Sherlock, and discovers that Felicity went missing after a mysterious black barouche was seen at the house. Enola and Sherlock form a plan, but to pull it off they need the help of Leticia, Dr. Watson and Enola's friend, the Viscount Tewkesbury, Marquess of Basilwether.

  • Nursebookie

    I just loved this book and I honestly did not know this series existed and yet here we are at book 7, and I am so excited for this series that I am reading book 1 asap and reading the entire series as a goal before the end of the year. I also saw Enola Holmes in Netflix before reading this and I found them both, the movie and the book quite enjoyable equally.

    I feel like these were my Nancy Drew back in the day, and so happy to see young readers have this character to inspire them who is smart, brave, witty, positive, and even a master of disguise.

    I felt that the world-building was phenomenal and I was quickly immersed into the story line - read wonderfully as a stand alone and this being my first book was absolutely a delight to read. I just love this YA Historical Mystery that is engaging, fun to read, with amazing mysteries to uncover.

  • Julia (Shakespeare and Such)

    4.6/5 stars, full review to come! I absolutely DEVOURED this and I simply adore Enola!!

    Plot: 4/5
    Characters: 5/5
    Pacing: 5/5
    Writing: 4/5
    Enjoyment: 5/5

  • Yukari Watanabe

    It's a great middle grade mystery series. Fun to read.

    My Japanese review:

    https://youshofanclub.com/2021/09/12/...

  • Sahitya

    I actually never read the previous books in this series but had fun watching the movie. So when I got the email if I was interested in this book, I immediately took the chance. And this turned out to be fun.

    If you checkout my earliest posts on this blog a few years ago, you’ll know that I’m a huge Sherlock fan. So even if this is the story of his sister, just having him tangentially in the story is enough of a draw for me. Firstly, I have to appreciate the author for giving a good recap of everything that’s happened before, I so wish all authors would do that for their sequels. And this was such a quick read - I finished it in just a couple of hours and was quite entertained throughout, though I have to say that I found some of the vocabulary tough to follow. But that’s probably because I don’t read a lot of historical fiction.

    The mystery was interesting but a tad bit predictable - it wasn’t at all hard to guess what had happened to the missing young woman. But I think it was the characters who made up for any shortcomings in the plot. Enola is a fun, eccentric and impulsive young girl who is way too different and independent for her times. But she didn’t lack courage or creative ideas on how to solve the questions troubling her. I thought she got great company in Tish who was quite ready to go along with these crazy ideas, if only to save her sister. It was nice to see some female bonding. Sherlock seemed like a reluctant participant in his sister’s activities, but he can never let a mystery go unsolved and I loved how supportive he was of the girl’s plans.

    To conclude, I’m glad I got to read this book. It probably fills a hole in my heart left by all the Sherlock books I’ve read many many times. However, it wasn’t too special and I think my enjoyment was very much related to the nostalgia factor. But I probably will continue the series because why not.

  • Tessa

    I can only review this in the context of the previous books in the series, since I read those so many times as a young teen.

    This book was a fun read, similar in style and pace to the previous books. I think this could be read as a standalone but will be best enjoyed in sequence.

    Watching Sherlock and Enola work together on a case was enjoyable, but I do miss the element of their fraught relationship from the previous books. Enola no longer needs to hide from Sherlock, and that absence made this slightly less enjoyable for me to read.

    Still, the characters hold true, and the mystery was fun to read, but not overly complicated. I think that readers within the age range will enjoy this.

    ***Netgalley provided me with a free copy for review***

  • The Kawaii Slartibartfast

    I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books.

    Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche is the 7th book in the series, but there's a decent recap at the beginning to catch you up.

    The mystery involves the twin sister of a woman who may or may not have died under questionable circumstances.

    I really enjoyed Enola's cleverness and determination and her relationship with Sherlock has developed surprisingly in the series.

    I really enjoyed this one!

  • Aleshanee

    Dieser neue Band war für mich jetzt schon eine große Überraschung! Der Vorgänger liegt ja mittlerweile schon über 10 Jahre zurück und war eigentlich als Abschluss der Reihe gedacht - und ich denke, dass die Verfilmung hier sehr dazu beitragen hat, sie jetzt doch fortzusetzen.
    Ich hatte etwas Sorge, dass die Autorin durch die lange Zeit vielleicht nicht so gut anknüpfen kann, aber das war unbegründet :)

    Zur Einleitung gibt es wieder ein paar Worte von Sherlock Holmes - hier eine Art Zusammenfassung aller Abenteuer, die Enola bisher erlebt hat und wie die "Familienzusammenführung" im letzten Teil es für sie zumindest soweit den Vorteil gebracht hat, sich nicht mehr vor ihren Brüdern verstecken zu müssen. Und auch wenn Sherlock sie hier in ihrem Drang, eigenständig zu denken, zu handeln und zu leben unterstützt, ist Enola natürlich noch immer den aufgezwängten Konventionen unterworfen, die die Frauen zur damaligen Zeit unterdrückt haben.

    Nancy Springer ist sich ihrem Stil treu geblieben und ich hab mit Begeisterung verfolgt, wie die forsche und erwachsen werdende Enola in ihrer forschen Art einen neuen Fall annimmt.
    Als Letitia Glover vom Tod ihrer Zwillingsschwester erfährt, glaubt sie keinen Moment an deren Wahrheitsgehalt, da die Nachricht und die Umstände einige Rätsel aufweisen. Dieses Mal jedoch hat sie die Unterstützung von Sherlock und ich fand es äußerst erfrischend zu verfolgen, wie die beiden sich zusammenraufen und tatsächlich zusammenarbeiten.

    Die Beschreibungen der Schauplätze lassen das historische London aufleben und ich liebe die vielen kleinen Details, die über die standesgemäße Kleidung, die Konversationen und die schwierigen Einzelheiten der Gepflogenheiten der Umgangsformen einfließen. Das war schon eine sehr eigentümliche Zeit aus heutiger Sicht mit den ganzen Etiketten, die man einhalten musste und die kompliziert erscheinen. Nicht nur die Frauen, auch die Männer.
    Interessant finde ich immer wieder, dass anhand der Kleidung sofort auf den Stand geschlossen werden konnte und man dadurch (wenn man das Geld hatte sie sich zu leisten) zur Täuschung als Lord oder Lady auftreten konnte. Dazu das geltende Wort eines Gentleman, das an sich nie angezweifelt wurde, außer es gab Anlass dazu.
    Allerdings gab es natürlich auch viele Schattenseiten und auch wenn die Damen hofiert wurden, hatten sie wenig Rechte, vor allem gegenüber ihrem Ehemann, der recht willkürlich mit seiner anvertrauten Frau verfahren durfte. Hier darf ich nicht zuviel verraten, da ich ansonsten spoilern würde, aber es gab damals wirklich grausame Möglichkeiten, sich seiner Frau "zu entledigen".

    Das Gesamtpaket hat mich wieder überzeugt und ich bin mit Spannung den Ermittlungen gefolgt. Der gewohnt, leicht zu lesende Stil mit einem passenden historischen Flair, die Fragen um das verzwickte Rätsel und das dramatische Ende haben mich perfekt unterhalten. Ich würde mich auf jeden Fall freuen, wenn noch weitere Fortsetzungen kommen.

  • Robin Loves Reading

    Enola Holmes was a name I had not heard of before this ARC (both ebook and print) came to my purview. I sat down and read this book in one sitting, and loved it so much that I got the first six books from my online library and binge read the entire series in less than 24 hours.

    Our young heroine, now fifteen years of age, is approached by Miss Leticia (Tish) Clover, who is very worried that her twin sister is missing. Felicity, called Flossie. Tish received a letter from Flossie's husband. The letter was almost a casual announcement of Flossie's passing and cremation, thus no need for a funeral. As they are twins, Tish feels she would know if Flossie had truly passed away.

    About the same time, Enola received a concerning note from Dr. Watson informing her that Sherlock was experiencing a case of melancholia. Watson hopes that if she visits with Sherlock that he will snap out of it. But she is not the only one planning to see Sherlock, Tish wants to talk to him about her missing sister.

    In the letter from Flossie's husband was an envelope with supposedly her sister‘s ashes,. Despite his mood, Sherlock gets up after listening to this dreadful story and examines the ashes under his microscope and quickly determines that they are not human remains.

    This sparks a bit energy in Sherlock and he cleans himself, shaves himself and dresses in his normal formal manner and is intent on helping Tish find her sister.

    Enola has definitely come into her own. Her brother Sherlock might be the world’s greatest detective, but she is the world's first Scientific Perditorian, a person who finds those who are missing. Or a professional seeker. Enola soon discovers that Dunhench's first wife died of diphtheria and was also cremated. However, there is another story, one that says that the first Mrs. Dunhench was actually sent away in a black barouche, which is a four wheeled hose-drawn carriage. Which story is true and what does this have to do with Tish's sister's disappearance?

    What a fabulous series to have read! Although each book in the series has a prologue to catch the reader up so that they can be read as standalone novels, reading the series in order helps the reader to really get to know Enola and her brothers. Reading the previous books also helps to make sense how a girl of fifteen could live alone and go wherever she wanted in London during that time.

    I love Enola, her wit, her ingenuity, her disguises, her cyphering and her charictatures. I also watched the Netflix adaptation, with a couple of changes - Enola's age and Tewkesbury as a possible love interest of Enola's. The second movie is in production.

    Many thanks to Wednesday Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

  • Annette

    Yes, I was also one of those people watching the movie and then discovering that Enola Holmes is very much a bookseries. I devoured the first 6 books in the series and I really thought the story was finished. However, it seems that after the success of the film the author got some inspiration again and decided to add another adventure for Enola to the series. Things like that either go very wrong or very right. I was curious what it was gonna be.

    Apart from the coded messages in the newspaper, this book had everything I think an Enola Holmes story should have. Maybe even a little bit more, because finally Enola, Sherlock and Mycroft are not at each other's throats anymore. It's therefore not much of a surprise that Enola sticks her nose in one of Sherlock's cases and that instead of trying to outsmart the other, they're combining their forces to find out what's truly going on.

    Just like the previous books, this book portrayed a painful realistic picture of the lives of women not even that long ago in England (and very likely across the world). In this book we're once more confronted with some very ugly side of nobility and aristocrats, and especially how much power the men had to do with women whatever they wanted. Reading an Enola Holmes always makes me quite glad I'm born in the here and now.

    I also really enjoyed seeing how Enola clearly had grown up a little compared to the previous books. Of course, she was always resourceful, clever and able to take care of herself already, but I got the feeling that in this book she was a little more responsible. She was still willing to take risks, but she also knew when she was going too far and needed help. Just like it seemed that she's discovering that being fierce and independent and liking to dress beautifully can be combined!

    I hope there will be more! I mean, Springer can now basically continue writing stories like this forever and ever. And I will happily read them all.

  • Becca Mee

    ENOLA HOLMES AND THE BLACK BAROUCHE was a delightfully fun read. Full disclosure that I haven't read the previous books, nor have I seen the movie yet, but that didn't impact my enjoyment of this book at all, because the author makes sure that you can read and understand this book independently of the others, which I deeply appreciated being the busy reader I am. Enola is quirky, smart and fearless, and you can't help but adore her as she works through the mystery of what is happening to the wives of a duke. I think my favorite parts were watching Enola and Sherlock interacting with each other and how Enola makes Sherlock rethink his views on women and propriety that were common to this era. This book has excellent pacing and is a quick and pretty easy read. It also has humor and is vastly entertaining. I appreciate not having to feel confused or slog through this book. The mystery at the story's center keeps you guessing, even though in hindsight, it's pretty obvious. There are clever twists and turns that keep the reader engaged the entire way through. My only issue with this book was that at times, some of the binds that Enola finds herself in felt predictable, but that only happened once or twice. ENOLA HOLMES AND THE BLACK BAROUCHE is perfect for fans of the SHERLOCK HOLMES series, fans of mysteries, fans of feminist main characters and for readers of historical fiction, and I really enjoyed reading it.

  • Divya

    Thank you Wednesday Books for sending me a physical arc of this book!!

    Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche is a fun, mystery novel following Enola Holmes, a witty teenage who is adept in solving mysteries around her. This book is a YA take on Nancy Springer’s previous children’s books also following Enola Holmes, and it’s an absolute showstopper.

    Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche had me hooked from the very first chapter. Enola is a captivating protagonist, witty, charming, and smart as she is. The characters around her also caused the book to flourish, each one having their own independent personality and character.

    The plot is also such a strong point. The mystery the book follows is such a complex one, you can’t put the book down once you’ve started. Every plot twist had me reeling, flipping pages fast and faster to try and see what happens next.

    Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche is a very fun, thrilling novel that is absolutely worth your time.