The Case of the Missing Marquess
The Enola Holmes Series
Nancy Springer

Puffin (Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-14-240933-2 (0142409332)
ISBN-13: 978-0-14-240933-6 (9780142409336)
Publication Date: November 2007
List Price: $6.99

Review: Action, adventure, suspense, these words all describe The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer. It is the first of three novels in the Enola Holmes series.

The main character, Enola Holmes, is a 14-year-old girl, and the younger sister of renowned detective, Sherlock Holmes. When Enola Holmes realizes her mother has strangely gone missing, she embarks on a mission to go out and find her. She knows that her mother sometimes leaves for a few days, but never this long. When Enola's mother is still not back on her birthday, she tries to find out more. She is finally able to escape while being sent off to boarding school by her brothers and begins to search for her mother. Disguised as a widow, she journeys to the city of London. On the way, Enola stumbles upon the case of the young missing Marquess of Basilwether also known as Lord Tewksbury. When she arrives in London, she and the missing Marquess are kidnapped. They manage to escape the men. Enola then leaves Lord Tewksbury to again try to find her missing mother.

This relatively short mystery has many intense chapters. It is puzzling at points, but never very confusing. I recommend this book to kids ages 10 through 14. Nancy Springer provides great images of what the characters are doing and where they are. It really helps you to picture it in your mind. I recommend this book because it is always interesting and not a very long read. I give it two thumbs up.

This book has not been made into a movie, but the author, Nancy Springer, has won the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery twice.

Review written by McKenzie, Age 14, Grade 8. Date of review: May 2009.

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