Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche by Nancy Springer is an excellent historical fiction mystery that is a great addition to this wonderful long-standing series.

This book starts off where the previous installment ended, however this one feels newer, fresher, and almost like another jumpstart of a new generation. It is also labeled under YA, however has a grittier and darker aspect and will appeal to adults as well. I still enjoyed it immensely, but as the series suggests, it does involve intrigue, mystery, murder, and detective plots.

Enola is the younger sister of the famous Detective Sherlock Holmes, and I love that she gets her time to shine. She is smart, feisty, fiery, brazen, but classy. She does take quite a few risks, but in this case that she takes on, it pays off.

A thrilling, gripping, and engaging read that I highly recommend. I look forward to the next book in this series.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

Enola is back! After an 11 year absence, Nancy Springer picks up where young Enola Holmes left off with book #7 of this compulsively readable YA series! Thank you NETFLIX! These books are always too short for me and this one is no different. I could read 400 pages of Enola's adventures and still want more.

This book sees Enola teaming up with her famous brother Sherlock and Dr. Watson and also enlisting the help of her old friend, Lord Tewkesbury (squee!) to solve the case of a missing woman. I was so glad Springer brought back Tewkesbury who is a love interest for Enola in the television show, even though he wasn't originally meant as one in the books. I would've loved more fun, flirty interaction and dialogue between the two of them (perhaps in book #8?).

I don't want to give any part of the mystery away, but Springer shines a sobering light on the victimization of women again in this book. The mystery is pretty easy to solve, like her other cases, so don't expect any stunning twists. It's the heart and humor of Enola and how Springer shows a softer side of Sherlock that makes this series unique. Like a lot of little sisters, she runs circles around her big brother, and it's empowering.

"The Black Barouche" a fast-paced, love letter to Enola fans with hopefully many, many more adventures to come.

I liked the earlier Enola Holmes books. But I thought this one almost too adult - too young adult - to be shelved with the other books in the series. I thought the sections in the asylum were well -written, graphic, and horrifying. However I just think it "matures" the book.