There are two new sleuths on Baker Street, trained and mentored by none other than Sherlock himself.
This charming book is a fun introduction to Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson for middle grade readers, although ten-year-old twins Jimmy and Emma MacDougal are the real stars in the tale that unfolds. The twins live across the street from Sherlock Holmes and help him solve cases.
As the book opens, Jimmy and Emma and their parents are sitting down to dinner with Holmes and Watson as Holmes’s guests. Suddenly, a huge blimp appears outside the window. A moment later a giant rock hurtles through the window with a message from someone signed “The Mad Bomber”, demanding money to keep London safe. Of course more than money is involved in the Mad Bomber’s scheme, but no spoilers here.
Soon the twins are tracking down information about the airship, which puts them on the trail of the mad bomber himself. Emma notices small, telling details that add up to serious clues; Jimmy goes undercover and wears disguises. Both of them are shrewd thinkers and quick witted like their mentor. (And they need to be at one point when they find themselves in a particularly dangerous situation.)
Set in Victorian London, the plot is fast-paced with enough twists and turns and clues to keep a reader guessing to the last. The black and white illustrations show vehicles and costumes of the era with a contemporary flair that young people will like. A nice touch is the occasional glossary of terms like “monocle” or “hansom cab”, shown in illustrated footnotes at the bottom of some pages.
The mystery has a satisfying conclusion, and the good news is that there is more to come. A sequel in the series, Attack of the Violet Vampire, will be released September 9, 2015. Watch for it. It’s also available for pre-order HERE .
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13 comments:
My daughter and I are dyed in the wool fans of Sherlock Holmes, in every form. And I have always loved middle-grade fiction, and anything that's England, especially Victorian. It's so nice to see you again, Elizabeth. Thanks for stopping by to welcome me back to Blogger.
Nice to see you back, Ann! I've always been drawing to anything about Victorian England, too, and especially anything to do with Sherlock Holmes.
Middle grade mysteries are always fun. This one sounds especially good. Thanks for the review.
Hi, Rosi, it's a quick read, too. And the next in the series sounds pretty promising.
This sounds like a fun book for middle graders, with a nice twist on Holmes and Watson. Love those airship scenes. Reminds me of the 39 Clues series, where kids meet historical figures. Thanks for the review!
Hi again....just noticed your Imogene....book and its upcoming release. What a sweet cover and it's a mystery too with Sherlock. How exciting. Congratulations!!
Hi, Sharon, yes, the airship mystery is a good one, and the kids make Sherlock proud by solving the mystery. Glad you like the looks of Imogene and the Case of the Missing Pearls. There's been a lot of comments on the cover. I was quite happy with how it turned out.
What a fun idea for a book - it sounds like quite an adventure! Wishing Derrick much success!
Hi Elizabeth! Thanks for signing up for the Celebrate the Small Things blog hop! We post every Friday about little accomplishments for the week or things we're grateful for. I look forward to seeing some "Celebrate" posts from you! :)
Thanks for stopping by, Lexa. Yes, the "Celebrate" blog hop appeals to me. Gratitude is a big factor in my life.
Great review. Sounds like a fun book and that cover is very fun.
Hi, Jeff, thanks for stopping by and following my blog. Yes, it is a fun read, and there are more illustrations throughout.
This looks like a lot of fun. So glad I stopped by.
Hi, "T". I'm glad you stopped by, too. And thanksk for following my blog. The Amazing Airship Adventure is a fun read ,for sure.
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