Customer Reviews

The Case of the Left Handed Lady

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
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While written for young adults, the Enola Holmes books have a lot to recommend them for readers of any age. This is the second book in the series; I strongly recommend that you read "The Case of the Missing Marquess" first. Nancy Springer has created a smart, brave leading character, while still being true to the spirit of the Conan Doyle stories. When I heard about these books, I rolled my eyes at the idea of Sherlock holmes' younger sister. But Springer does a fine job of making the characters and relationships plausible. I'm looking forward to Book Three!

Enola Holmes is back in her second adventure, and this time she's in the heart of London. While she's prowling the dark streets and dangerous alleys of 19th century England, she's also being hunted by her brother Sherlock Holmes. Nancy Springer has created an excellent series for young readers as well as Holmes aficionados. Two other books have already been published since this one, and a fifth is waiting in the wings.

However, I can't help but grin just a little at the thought of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle sitting down to read one of Springer's books. I wonder what his reaction would be. Everyone knows Doyle had a love/hate relationship with his most famous character because he wanted to write more historical (for the time) romances of knights and adventure. Unfortunately for him, but not for the world, Sherlock Holmes resisted even death and came back again and again.

In the medieval romances Doyle wanted to write, women still remained as objects of affection and were helpless to save themselves. That's not what Enola Holmes is all about. She is a plucky and self-sufficient heroine that today's youth will readily embrace. I can't help but wonder if Doyle would be less enthusiastic over Enola's relationship to his Great Detective and her contribution to the ongoing mythos, or to the fact she is female. Either way, Springer has delivered an original character and world steeped in history, social contradictions, and breakneck adventure.

Enola has successfully set herself up under another name as a secretary to a Perditorian (a finder of persons and things, quite similar to Sherlock Holmes). Interestingly enough, Enola becomes quite sympathetic about the disappearance of young Lady Cecily. This case is one of the few that Sherlock Holmes has turned down. Also interesting, the person that brings the case to Enola's attention is none other than Dr. John Watson. As everyone knows, Dr. Watson is Sherlock's constant companion and confidant.

I couldn't help feeling just a little bit anxious over Enola's meeting with Watson. Watson was never the observer and detective that Sherlock was and served more as a raconteur of the investigations, but he was no fool either. I kept waiting on the edge of my seat for Watson to point at our young heroine and yell, "A-ha! The game is afoot!"

Instead, he was there to hire her fictional employer to find herself. Sherlock is working himself into a state over his sister's disappearance. Enola becomes torn when she hears how much her brother is worried over her. I love the fact that Enola worries about her brothers even though she's not had much chance to be close to them. One of the things that Enola most wants is family. She never had much of a growing up because her brothers are so much older than she is. Then there's the matter of the mysterious disappearance of her mother, which first set her on the run from her brothers' efforts to put her in a young ladies school.

With that threat hanging over her head, she can't turn to Sherlock or Mycroft. Even Watson is off limits. Above family, she treasures her freedom and independence.

I have to admit to a little trouble with all the codes that passed back and forth in the book. I like cryptography, and Springer's seemed really cool, but it was so obtuse that I think younger readers might have trouble grasping it. I struggled with it myself. And it was real stretch to think that even Sherlock Holmes would have tumbled to the code.

The author excels dramatically during the action scenes set in London's darker and more dangerous corners. The attempted garroting in the book's earlier sections is breathtaking, no pun intended. I love the look and feel of Sherlock Holmes in Victorian London, and Springer kept me there with her young heroine throughout the novel.

The twists and turns of the plot, even the real identity of the criminal mastermind, threw me at times and seemed a little farfetched. However, Enola's latest adventure is a colorful romp that allows her to thumb her nose at the Great Detective's skills of observation and deduction. Even though I don't want to believe Sherlock could ever be fooled, if anyone could do it, it would be Enola Holmes.

These books are great additions for Sherlock Holmes fans, as well as for young minds interested in mysteries and historic settings filled with danger and action.

I really like the first book in this series so naturally I bought the second. I liked the first one better but this book was still worth the read. Like a previous reader stated, Enola is an interesting character who's fun to spend a couple of hours with. Some of the content is a bit mature of younger readers, and I wouldn't recommend it for sensitive children under the age of 12, but otherwise it's a good read.

I listened to the audio version and was completely impressed with the production! I had been picky about Katherine Kellgren's narration in the first installment of this series, criticizing that her voices were good, but that many sounded similar. I had no such concerns with this book and felt Kellgren captured each character almost perfectly! :)

I also had criticized the lack of "finality" and "conclusion" of the first installment's story, but thankfully this book picks up shortly after the finale to of the first and answered many of the issues I'd had with book 1.

I thought the mystery of "Left-Handed Lady" was much more fleshed out than the mystery of the first book, and was very pleased about that (finding myself surprised on numerous occasions). However, when the book was over I realized that there really hadn't been any character development in this book that hadn't already occurred in the first book.

But, I do really enjoy Springer's narrative, and her attention to detail (which seemed less cumbersome here... or perhaps I was just more used to it ;> )

Overall, definitely recommended, especially if you enjoyed the first book, and I am curious to see how the series progresses.

Pitched at a reading level considerably higher than the justifiably famous Nancy Drew series, "The Case of the Left-Handed Lady" continues the adventures of Enola Holmes, the hitherto unknown, late-arriving younger sister of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes, who was introduced so capably in "The Case of the Missing Marquess".

A budding young feminist, intelligent far beyond her tender age of only fourteen years, Enola Holmes is living incognito in London, hiding from her brilliant brothers for fear that they would force her into the stultifying life of a Victorian boarding school for young ladies. Sherlock and Mycroft are portrayed as typical 19th century men in their attitude toward women and whatever intellect they may possess. That is to say, they are at least patronizing and chauvinist and perhaps, in Mycroft's case, downright misogynist.

Despite being of independent means with the financial resources that her mother provided in "The Case of the Missing Marquess", Enola has decided that she will live her life as a "perditorian", a "finder of lost things". In "The Case of the Left-Handed Lady", Enola tackles the disappearance of young Lady Cecily Alistair. Because there is reason to believe that the missing teenage daughter of Lord Alistair may have quite improperly eloped with a young man below her station, the potentially scandalous news of her disappearance has been carefully kept out of the London news media of the day. Using her intelligence and the unique feminine perspective that would completely elude the likes of Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard, Enola's investigation leads her to dismiss the possibility of elopement. She is now searching for an abductor and hopes she will find young Lady Cecily before she comes to any harm.

Despite being fiction aimed at younger readers, "The Case of the Left-Handed Lady" is engaging historical fiction which pulls few punches. The story makes no effort to soft pedal the seamier side of Victorian London life; the unimaginable gap between the wealthy gentry and the poor; and, of course, the trials and tribulations faced by the female half of England's population as the notion of universal suffrage begins to take hold. Special attention is paid to the growth of socialism and union organization as working men and employed labourers toil under the yoke of their wealthy employers. Despite the clearly adult nature of these themes, they are presented in a way that will make sense and serve as an excellent learning tool for younger readers.

As a character, Enola is exceptionally well developed. She exemplifies that baffling and ultimately paradoxical teenage blend of cock-sure bravado and angst and uncertainty; incipient adulthood contrasted against an occasional reversion to childhood fear; and, of course, self-direction and self-confidence versus the obvious desire for occasional adult guidance and assistance. Enola's budding femininity is also charmingly and endearingly presented in wonderfully good taste with all due regard to Victorian sensibilities. Sherlock, Mycroft and Lestrade, far from being satirized or poorly handled, conduct themselves exactly as any fan would think they might do faced with the situation of a missing mother and a worried younger sister.

Paul Weiss

This is the second in a series of mysteries featuring Enola Holmes, a much younger sister to Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. The flavor is somewhat like Laurie King's The Beekeeper's Apprentice, but written for 10 (precocious) to 14 year old girls.

In her continuing escape from Victorian strictures, Enola has set herself up as a finder of lost people and things by pretending to be the assistant to (an always absent) Dr. Ragostin. She does her work by employing a number of personas and disguises to move between the various societal levels of London's inhabitants. Enola engages in solving the mystery of a missing young woman, and her search brings her in perilously close contact with her brother, Sherlock, who wants her to return to the approved life and activities of a young lady of breeding. Humor, psychological insights, a decent mystery, historical details, and character motivations abound. Enola is an intelligent, but lonely/isolated female protagonist who feels compelled to improve the lives of those less fortunate, and is an interesting person with whom to spend a few leisure hours. I liked the book very much, but this title should not be given to younger readers with abandonment issues. Enola's mom, who had left her on 14th birthday, continues to absent herself from Enola's life despite a request from Enola for assistance.

I listened to this with my almost ten year old daughter (and sometimes with my almost seven year old son) and we loved the smart, funny and strong heroine Nancy Springer has created in Enola Holmes.

Kathrine Kellgren is a wonderful reader and brings all of the characters to life with her myriad of voices.

I highly recommend this series to readers/listeners who enjoy what my daughter and I refer to as "girl power" stories.
We have listened to the first four in the series now and are looking forward to listening to the last two, though it has been a little like searching for the Holy Grail to find the audio book versions.

I never understand why some things that I think are so wonderful seem to be out of print or very difficult to find.

If you like this and are looking for something similar you might want to check out Philip Pullman's Sally Lockhart series which starts with 'The Ruby in the Smoke' also a fun "girl power" series.

I often dread a sequel, mainly because it's so difficult for a sequel to live up to the first book in a series. Usually. But sometimes the sequel is as good, and this is the case with the Left-Handed Lady. Enola Holmes is now on her own in London, still eluding her famous brothers, Mycroft and Sherlock, still looking for her mother, still determined to live her life as a full-bodied person, not a sequestered and suppressed Victorian female. Pretending to be older than she is and pretending to be the assistant to a famous detective, Enola takes on the case of a missing young woman only a few years older than she is. The story moves at a brisk pace, the plot and the subplots are both interesting. Definitely Recommended.

Do you believe a 14-year old could convince others that she is an adult and manage a staff of office workers in 18th century London and outsmart Sherlock Holmes? I believe it is this dividing line that makes one person like Enola Holmes books and another one not. To most adults, the "conceit" that Enola is capable of fooling the adults in her life that she is one of them, too, seems absurdly ridiculous. I think to many other readers, this idea seems wonderfully novel and provides good character development. To each their own... But Enola may not read well with the adult readers of "young adult" books, just a warning.

The story does build on the first book, "The Case of the Missing Marquess," and Enola's ability to live independently is in part due to this past book, as well as her missing mother. The author very successfully develops the historical interest in mesmerism and hypnosis into the story line. Enola's relationship with her family is also a very important part of the story. Coded messages are used that you can decode to further along the plot. Clues are left to help you figure out the culprit or you can just enjoy the ride.

I think this was a strong entry in the series. But does anyone know what the code is in the cover of the hardback edition???

The main character, Enola Holmes, is very likable, asks herself the right questions and seems undiscouragable, smart and admirable for her age. But I found this book to be a little harder to believe than the first, and I cannot imagine a 5th or 6th grader reading it without needing a little explanation. Plus, I guess I am a sap for happier endings and this one doesn't quite do it for me. Still worth reading the series, for sure, but I hope the next one is better.