In this third Enola Holmes mystery, the younger, teenage sister of Sherlock Holmes is determined to find the missing Dr. Watson on her own by deciphering the clues in the bizarre bouquets sent to his wife. As in the previous two titles, Enola uses disguises, codes, false names and her familiarity with London’s seamy side to solve the case. Ciphers, coded newspaper messages, the meaning of flowers, sophisticated language and frequent references to Enola’s mother (who disappeared in the first book) will intrigue fans of the first two, though making it less independent as a stand-alone. Nevertheless, Enola is clever, intelligent, indomitable and plucky, a young feminist “in disguise” in Victorian London, always on the lookout for her two famous older brothers. On the cover, Enola looks a bit like a contemporary teen, though a horse-drawn carriage in the background suggests the historical setting. With precise characterization, fast pacing and keen observation, readers will be eager to learn what Enola will encounter next. (Historical fiction. 11-15)
