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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