The Case of the Gypsy Good-Bye (Enola Holmes #6)

By: Nancy Springer

Libby audiobook 3 hours

Read by: Katherine Kellgren

Published: 2010

Genre: YA historical fiction, detective mystery

I hadn't read this one before. I finished it a few weeks ago. This is the one where she finds out her mother has died (a good reason to read them in order!).

Duchessa(?) Blanchefleur has gone missing.

Sherlock helps Enola trick Mycroft (amusing cab scenes)

mysterious package left @ Ferndale with the gypsies' help

Last communication from Eudoria Holmes

She (the duchessa) has had a tight corset on since childhood and cannot sit upright without it! Horrors. It made me think of Chinese foot-binding. Ugh to "beauty" standards.

The whole teenage Enola outsmarts Sherlock theme gets a bit old sometimes, but these books are for a young, female audience . . . 

That said, a fun mystery story with lots of clues and fun.

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

By: Nancy Springer

Libby audiobook 5 hours

Read by: Christopher Bonwell and Tamaryn Payne

Published: 2021

Genre: YA historical fiction, detective mystery

 

This was delightful! Sherlock is both arrogant (intro) and diminished in relation to his little sister Enola. That aspect is what I like least about this series. A young woman shows up at 221 Baker Street while Enola is trying to rouse Sherlock out of his apathy. Miss Letitia Glover (Tish) has just received a letter and ashes stating that her twin sister has died and been cremated. 

Felicity, the Earl (Caddy), Tewkesbury, . . . the cast of characters is perfect for this story. The black barouche is a sign that someone has been carted off to the insane asylum. I love how Felicity left a message in her last painting! And the crazy horse "Jezzy" - Jezebel. Springer has a delightful series in these books. 

<Above posted 7.15.2024. Below added 5.29.25.>

I relistened becaused I knew I'd be driving a lot. This one is quite good. It's horrific to realize that men used to be able to send their wives to insane asylums for any random reason. I like the lengths that Tish is willing to go to in effecting her sister's rescue.

The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline (Enola Holmes #5)

by: Nancy Springer

Libby audiobook 3 hours

Read by: Katherine Kellgren

Published: 2011

Genre: YA historical detective fiction

I wish I'd read these books in order! This one started us in Scutari, Turkey during the Crimean War. Interesting - the screen on my car said "1885" but the voice said "1855." I'm guessing the first was Enola's time and the latter was the opening scene during the war.

I immediately knew Florence Nightingale was in this scene, even before she was referred to as "the lady with the lamp." It took Enola a long, long time to figure this out!

Mrs. Tupper has been kidnapped and the house ransacked. Enola goes to find a relative of the famous nurse, assuming she's long dead. (The comments about the elderly - past the age of 50! - made me laugh so hard.) Enola's interactions with Nightingale are delightful. This may be my favorite book in the series and does a great job of bridging the gap between lodging at Mrs. Tupper's and staying at the women's professional building.

All in all, an enjoyable book. Flory was a hoot, too!

The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan (Enola Holmes #4)

by Nancy Springer

Libby audiobook 4 hours

Published: 2008 (this version 2009)

Read by: Katherine Kellgren

Genre: YA historical fiction, detective story

 

This book is #4 in the series and brings us into contact with Lady Cecily again. This time, she is being married off to an odious young man (also her cousin) against her mother's wishes. Enola ends up being the hero, of course, and makes a tentative truce with Sherlock.

 

The orphans, the "Ha ha" man, the awful women trying to force the marriage, and all of Enola's disguises and attempts to avoid her brothers . . . the pink fan was an interesting detail. A cheap party favor with a plea for help written in invisible ink. Nice.

 

I don't like reading books out of order, but I do like this series pretty well. I like the language choices. I like this reader. 

Enola Holmes and the Mark of the Mongoose (Enola Holmes #10)

by Nancy Springer

Libby audiobook 5 hours

Read by Tamaryn Payne

Published: 2023

Genre: YA historical fiction, detective mystery

 

I really do like these Enola Holmes mysteries. In this one, we encounter Rudyard Kipling, a rabid dog, and learn about rabies and the work Joseph Lister was doing in 1890 to find an inoculation for people who were bitten by rabid animals.  

Enola is lovely, smart, and action-oriented. I love her relationship to Sherlock and their bantering. I also like how Harold the driver is looking out for her. And Maude! What a kick-butt, no nonsense gal. 

 

I may need to figure out which ones I haven't read yet . . . Pink Fan? Cryptic Crinoline? (Below from Wikipedia.)

• Enola Holmes and the Case of the Missing Marquess (2006)
• Enola Holmes and the Case of the Left-Handed Lady (2007)
• Enola Holmes and the Case of the Bizarre Bouquets (2008)
• Enola Holmes and the Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan (2008)
• Enola Holmes and the Case of the Cryptic Crinoline (2009)
• Enola Holmes and the Case of the Gypsy Goodbye (2010) - Also known as Enola Holmes and the Case of the Disappearing Duchess
• Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche (2021)
• Enola Holmes and the Boy in Buttons (2021)
• Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade (2022)
• Enola Holmes and the Mark of The Mongoose (2023)
   
   
  <Above posted 2.27.24. Below added  5.29.25.>
   
  This one was good and worth the time I spent relistening. I'm more curious about Rudyard Kipling's true story and how it fits with this fiction. I just looked him up on Wikipedia and found that he married Caroline Starr Balestier . . . interesting. Springer is a very interesting author. I need to see what else she's written besides the Enola Holmes books.
  

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade (Enola Holmes #9)

by Nancy Springer

Libby audiobook 4 hours

Read by: Tamaryn Rayne

Published: 2022

Genre: YA historical fiction, mystery

 

I hadn't planned on continuing with this series, but this audiobook was available and I decided to listen. 

 

I enjoyed the story for the most part. Lady Cecily is once again in trouble. Her despotic father has locked her in her room with no clothing (other than a nightgown), no books, and no art supplies. Enola is determined to rescue her.

The part I didn't like in this story was the continual emphasis on Lady Cecily's two personalities - her "left-handed" persona of strength, determination, and creativity, and her "right-handed" weak, docile, and vapid personality. It just got old after a while.

Overall, Springer has done a delightful job with these books. I like the interplay between Enola and her brother Sherlock. I really liked the playfulness between Enola and her usual cabbie Harold. Fun!

<Above posted 11.13.23. Below added 5.29.25.>

This one is a no-go for me for future. Interesting that I gave it a pretty positive review previously. I do like how the other women at the club help Enola with her costumes. I like Harold. But honestly, the whole split personality thing is just too dumb and irritating.

Framing Cecily's dad for his illegal disposal of servants' bodies and Sherlock's unwillingness to engage in blackmail . . . that's interesting.

The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets (Enola Holmes #3)

Enola Holmes Mystery #3

By Nancy Springer

Libby audiobook 4 hours

read by Katherine Kellgren

Genre: YA historical fiction mystery

Watson has gone missing. Enola goes to visit his wife Mary in disguise. While calling on her, Enola notices an unusual bouquet with unusual plants. Following her instincts and intellect, she recovers the missing doctor.

I liked some aspects of this book quite a bit (Enola's cleverness and the meaning of different flowers), but I got irritated by other aspects (the cipher code . . . again). I also liked the Sherlock / Mycroft "switch" at the end. The back story of the two sisters, the rats, the vat of asparagus . . . interesting!

I'm listening to lots of audiobooks while I process at Mackin, so I may get #5 in the near future . . . 

<Above published 6.22.22. Below added 3.27.24.>

I re-listened to this one because I have more appreciation for Springer's storytelling with experiencing the Enola Holmes books in order! It's interesting that Enola is only 14 in the books (to target middle school readers), but the movie version with Millie Bobby Brown has her at 16 or 17. The crazy younger sister whose face was eaten by rats as a baby can't really be a villain . . . yet she is. It's a bit shocking to learn how easy it was to commit someone to a "lunatic asylum" back in the 1890s!

The Case of the Left Handed Lady (Enola Holmes #2)

Enola Holmes Mystery #2

by Nancy Springer 

Libby audiobook 5 hours 

Read by: Katherine Kellgren 

Published: 2007, audio in 2008 

Genre: YA historical mystery 

 

This was enjoyable, but I think I am done with this series for now. I am re-watching the Netflix movie, which I truly enjoy. 

 

In this one, Enola is on her own in London and trying to make a business for herself as a secretary (Miss Mesholm - Holmes mixed around) to Dr. Leslie Ragustin (?). She learns of Lady Cecily's disappearance and makes inquiries in disguise. There are dangers galore as she is garrotted by a strong man (high neck dress and random drunkards to the rescue) and almost captured by her brothers Sherlock and Mycroft. 

 

Some of the references in this: 

Perditorian - someone who finds lost things or people 

Mesmer / Mesmerize 

Jekyll-and-Hyde 

Jack the Ripper

The Case of the Missing Marquess (Enola Holmes #1)

an Enola Holmes mystery 

By Nancy Springer

Libby audiobook 5 hours

read by Katherine Kellgren

Published: 2006 (audio in 2008)

Genre: YA historical mystery

I thought I had read this book before when I was a media specialist at Pioneer Ridge. I remember recommending this series to girls who liked mysteries. But I haven't blogged it before . . . 

I loved loved loved the movie on Netflix! It's this story with a few twists and turns not in this book. I love the idea of Sherlock and Mycroft having a much younger, wilder sister. I will get more of the audiobooks in this series and see how young Enola makes her way in the world. 

I will also hope that Netflix makes a second movie . . . I liked it that much.

Recorded books description:

"What a 14th-birthday surprise for Enola Holmes! Her elderly mom is nowhere to be found. Not even her estranged brothers Mycroft and Sherlock can find any useful clues. But the precocious teen can. Using the birthday gifts Lady Holmes left behind, Enola uncovers cleverly stashed money and cryptic clues that send her racing across the wild heaths toward 1888 London. As she searches for her mother, Enola becomes distracted by the strange disappearance of a young Marquess and quickly finds herself in the foul clutches of his captors. But how can Enola escape these slimy ruffians, avoid clever pursuers, and find her missing mother? Two-time Edgar Award–winning author Nancy Springer introduces the sleuthing powers of Sherlock Holmes' sister in the captivating mystery Booklist and School Library Journal praise with starred reviews. Aspiring detectives, young and old, will warmly welcome this sparkling gem."

Rowan Hood: Outlaw Girl of Sherwood Forest

by Nancy Springer
Hennepin County Library, audioCD 4 hours
read by Emily Gray
genre: YA adventure, magic

Rowan's mother has just been murdered and she sets out to find her famous father, Robin Hood. Only he doesn't know she exists . . . There were parts of this story that were very enjoyable and parts that were exasperating. Too much preteen girl angst. It was funny listening to it with Louise and Ann on our quilting weekend. They were yelling at the stereo as I had, "Just tell him!" This will be a good book to recommend to 6th grade girls who like fantasy and adventure stories.