The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

ISBN-10: 0399243046
Publisher: Philomel
Hardcover: 208 pages
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Mystery
Author Website: http://www.nancyspringer.net/
First Line: I would very much like to know why my mother named me "Enola," which, backwards, spells alone.
One Word Review: Clever

On Enola Holmes' 14th birthday, her mother disappears without a trace, leaving her in the hands of her two older and absent brothers, Mycroft and Sherlock, who are intent on sending her to boarding school and turning her into a proper lady (corsets and all). Enola has other plans as she sets off to locate her mother and ends up following clues to solve the case of the missing marquess.

The Case of the Missing Marquess starts the Enola Holmes series off with a bang. Enola is a terrific heroine. She's smart, but underestimated by everyone (including herself). She's also daring, courageous, and self-reliant. Springer's use of coded ciphers allows the reader to participate in Enola's discoveries to some extent, and her depiction of 1880's London sets the tone nicely. Just the right amounts of history, mystery, suspense, and action come together to create a story children and adults will enjoy. I loved it. So much so in fact that because my library didn't carry the next two books in the series, I ended up ordering them on Amazon.

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Next in the series:

The Case of the Left-Handed Lady (Book 2)

The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets (Book 3)

Book Review: The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller

ISBN: 978-0778326052
Publisher: Mira Books
Paperback: 384 pages
Genre: Legal Thriller
First Line: "We turn now to the issue of what constitutes an appropriate punishment for your various infractions," said the judge in the middle, the gray-haired one whose name Jaywalker always had trouble remembering.

One Word Review: Suspenseful

Publisher's Description:

Criminal defense attorney Harrison J. Walker, better known as Jaywalker, has just been suspended for using "creative tactics and receiving "gratitude" in the courtroom stairwell from a client charged with prostitution. Convincing the judge that his other clients are counting on him, Jaywalker is allowed to complete ten cases. But it's the last case that truly tests his abilities - and his acquittal record.

Samara Moss - young, petite, and sexy... - stabbed her husband in the heart. Or so everyone believes. Having married the elderly billionaire when she was an eighteen-year-old former prostitute, Samara appears to be the cliched gold digger. But Jaywalker knows all too well that appearances can be deceiving. Who else could have killed the billionaire? Has Samara been framed? Or is Jaywalker just driven by his need to win his clients' cases - and this particular client's undying gratitude?

Josheph Teller spent thirty-five years as a criminal defense attorney, and he uses his first hand knowledge of the criminal justice system to craft an intricate and well-thought-out legal drama that will hold readers' attention until the very last page. The Tenth Case is fast paced and exciting, with a tightly woven plot and interesting and well-written (if not always likable) characters. Teller's courtroom scenes are full of fascinating details, but it's never tedious. I completely enjoyed this book and found that I didn't want to put it down. It had enough twists to keep me guessing as well, and I was completely taken by surprise in the end - which isn't a common occurrence.

If you enjoy the works of authors like John Grisham, Steve Martini, and William Diehl, you don't want to miss this terrific debut novel.

Book Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle

ISBN: 9780141034379

Publisher: The Penguin Group
Paperback: 160

Genre: Mystery
First Line: Sherlock Holmes took his bottle from the corner of the mantelpiece, and his hypodermic syringe from its neat morocco case.

One Word Review: Inconsistent

The Sign of Four, originally published in 1890, is the second Sherlock Holmes novella by Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes' ever faithful sidekick, Dr. Watson, narrates this tale that will have them searching the streets of London for a thief, a murderer, and a treasure.

The first three fourths of this book was surprisingly easy to read. While it's obviously written with a nineteenth century style, it doesn't feel dated, and I found it easy to forget I was reading something written over a century ago. The story starts off quickly giving us insight into both men's personalities - Holmes' penchant for drug use to escape boredom and Watson's insecurities. It was fascinating to see the deductive reasoning that Sherlock Holmes is so well known for played out in the earlier chapters. The excitement builds as the men near the end of their search. However, I felt it sort of fell flat in the last couple of chapters. The summary explaining everything in the end went on for far too long, and I found myself flipping to the back of the book to see when it would be over - not a good sign.

Overall, I'd say it's interesting from a character standpoint. I think the development of Holmes and Watson in this particular book are for more interesting, in fact, than the plot.

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Blue Smoke and Murder by Elizabeth Lowell

Blue Smoke and Murder is a romantic mystery thriller set amidst the world of Western art and its collectors. When her great aunt is killed in an 'accidental' fire, Jill Breck inherits a dozen beautiful paintings that may or may not prove extremely valuable. Along with her inheritance comes a great deal of danger as it seems there are people who will stop at nothing to see those paintings destroyed. Enter Zach Balfour, a handsome consultant for a corporation that's primary goal is the safety of their clients. Jill and Zach encounter myriad obstacles as they try to discover the identity of the artist, but their increasing feelings for each other seem to be a destraction that may prove disastrous.

I didn't realize this until after I'd read the book, but Blue Smoke and Murder is the latest in a series surrounding the St. Kilda Consulting group (that employs Zach Balfour). I think it would be interesting to read the other books in the series to get a better feel for the back story, but it is certainly not necessary reading. It works perfectly well as a stand alone book.

Having never read anything by Elizabeth Lowell prior to this, I didn't have any expectations. In the early chapters, I had trouble following some of the art speak. However, as the story evolved, it became clearer, and I began to enjoy learning about the world of art as I read this story which was fast-paced and exciting. It reads, to me, as a suspenseful mystery with a romance thrown in, not the other way around. I would compare it to Nora Roberts mysteries with a little more meat in the story. It was obvious Mrs. Lowell either did a great deal of investigation into the world of Western art, or she already had a vast knowledge about the subject. She weaves the mixture of intelligent mystery with the romance so well that it doesn't feel forced. I would recommend the book even to those who aren't particularly keen on romantic novels. I didn't feel like the romance overshadowed what was otherwise a solidly written thriller. Not only did I enjoy the book, I learned quite a lot, too. I will definitely be adding Elizabeth Lowell to my 'to read' list.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

The Thirteenth Tale is a lovely, intoxicating novel. The writing is beautiful and elegant, and the story itself is magical and spellbinding. The characters are superbly written, flawed and vulnerable, and it is their flaws that give them breath. I was captivated from page one and had difficulty putting the book down. I stayed up reading into the night, and only set it aside when I could hold my eyes open no longer. It's been a while since I've read anything that touched me as this book did. I would've expected a slower pace, but I flew through the story, the excitement building page after page. Now, as I have had time to digest the material, I find myself wanting to go back to the beginning and start over again, with the knowledge I have gained. This book has earned a special place on my 'favorites' shelf.

Into the Dark by Peter Abrahams

I love the Echo Falls books by Peter Abrahams. LOVE them. Into the Dark is the third installment in this series that started with Down the Rabbit Hole and was followed by Behind the Curtain. These novels, written presumably with teen and young adult readers in mind, center around Ingrid Levin-Hill, an intelligent young girl who is a Sherlock Holmes aficionado. When faced with a mystery, she asks herself how Holmes would handle the situation. In this newest book, Ingrid finds herself dealing with seemingly insurmountable family problems - not the least of which is that her beloved grandfather has been accused of murder.

Abrahams, who's written several well-known popular fiction titles, seems to have a talent for writing for younger people. His characters are believable and well-written. Ingrid is a fantastic heroine. She's smart and funny, compassionate and brave - everything a heroine should be. While I won't say I was totally shocked by the ending, the plot was well-conceived and there was enough action and suspense to keep me reading late into the night. We also see a lot of growth in not only Ingrid but in her family's situation as well in this book. There are numerous issues amongst her parents and brother that make her situation all the more realistic. All I can say is that I hope there's a fourth book on the horizon.

Magic and Other Misdemeanors by Michael Buckley

Magic and Other Misdemeanors is the fifth book in the Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley. The stories chronicle the adventures of Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, descendants of the Brothers Grimm. Sabrina and Daphne get into numerous scrapes as they struggle to solve mysteries involving fairy tale creatures. Each book could stand on its own, but I'd suggest starting with the first in the series, The Fairy Tale Detectives.

Magic and Other Misdemeanors was a fast and fun read, but it wasn't quite as good as the previous books. There was little character development, and I was left feeling like Buckley is dragging the story out as long as is possible, which is understandable from a financial standpoint, but could lead to boredom in the long run. I would like to see more resolution in book six. Overall, it was an OK addition to a more than OK series.