The Adventure of the Murdered Gypsy

I really loved this edition to the Sherlock Holmes canon. This novel is the second in the series that follows a barely teenage Sherlock Holmes and his family. We get to know his analytical and curious mother, his stuffy but brilliant father, brother Mycroft, of course and uncle Ernest. The best relationship in the series though is that of Sherlock and his friend Constance. Sweet and realistic, this relationship promises all sorts of adventures and possibly the origin of “the woman”. The mystery itself is clever and well thought out. I am really looking forward to more from this author.

1867 Thirteen year old Sherlock Holmes' life at Underbyrne is at first disrupted by guests of his Uncle Ernest, and then a discovery of a body in the stables. Are these guests what they seem, is there any connection to the body, will there be more attacks. Sherlock investigates with help from various members of the family.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its cast of likeable and well described characters, which can easily be read as a standalone story. A good addition to the series
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm fond of Sherlock Holmes pastiches and enjoyed this one!

I haven't read anything else by Liese Sherwood-Fabre, but I'll be looking for more in this series featuring the young Sherlock and his family.

At thirteen, Sherlock already has some of his abilities of observation and reason, but these skills are still being developed. This is not the austere and coldly logical adult Sherlock, but a kid with curiosity and intelligence; sometimes annoyed, sometimes fearful, and often unsure of himself.

I especially enjoyed the character of Mrs. Holmes; she never takes center stage, but her influence and intellect play a significant role in the plot. Hers is the perceptive, observant, and curious mind depicted as guiding her sons.

Little Elm Press
Historical Mystery. 2020. Print length: 342 pages.

I truly enjoyed this book.
This is my first book by this author and was provided an ARC from NetGalley.
I am new to historical fiction and truly enjoyed the writing.
The setting includes a young Sherlock Holmes and it is Christmastime.
Although I had a feeling that I had figured out the culprit of distress, it was a fun book to read in that there are many twists and other backstories that definitely made it interesting.
I look forward to continuing this series.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Little Elm Press LLC, in return for an honest review. Although the second book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone. Sherlock Holmes is 13 years old and home after a short time at Eton. Destined to return after the break, he’s currently taking baritsu self-defense lessons with his mother and Mr. Moto. Brother Mycroft is home from university and eccentric inventor Uncle Ernest is hosting friends from his time in India. Sherlock has to entertain his much younger cousin who does like to talk. When they discover a dead body in the stables, things get difficult. Suddenly, Mycroft is mooning over a female visitor, Sherlock’s dealing with his cousin and their analytical mother is being relegated to managing the house as dealing with a murder is probably too much for her sensibilities. I love that his mom is the inquisitive and analytical one in the family, encouraging Sherlock to investigate and think about things. Interesting and unique take on how Sherlock came to be and I look forward to his future development.

If you aren't into sherlock Holmes you will not like this book. As an avid sherlock Holmes reader this was right up my street

This is a clever take on adapting the renowned detective stories in a way which stays true to the original while also opening up to new audiences. I think the author captured the character of a young Sherlock very well - it was certainly believable that he would grow up to be Conan Doyle’s enigmatic detective. Even if you are not a Holmes fan, this book is well worth trying for the sake of the clever mystery and well developed characters.

Three months have passed since Sherlock Holmes was brought home from school. Guests are at Underbryne have joined them for the Christmas season. Among them is Mr. Moto, a baritsu instructor who is teaching Sherlock and his mother. Soon after acquaintances of Sherlock's uncle arrive, a man is found dead in the barn. He is dressed as a gypsy, but is this a disguise? Will there be more death or will Sherlock find the murderer?

I am no stranger to tales of Sherlock Holmes as a boy. Off hand,I can think of at least two series that I really enjoyed reading. There are several things I've liked in this series. I find it interesting in this version that young Sherlock gets his curiosity and intelligence from his mother. She encourages his skills, helps him reason on what he learns, and is a character worthy of her own book. I especially like that she learns new skills with him.

So we have the intellectual influence from Mrs. Holmes, and on the other side we have Mr. holmes, who encourages his son to control himself. Thirteen-year-old Sherlock is openly upset over events, uncertain about what his life holds, and he lets his emotions show. The accurate portrayal of Victorian social norms seemed spot-on, and I appreciated the accuracy.

That said, this doesn't feel like a thirteen-year-old boy's story. In fact, I forgot his age while I was reading, guessed him to be about fifteen, and was surprised when I came back to write my review to learn his real age. I also wasn't overly fond of how Mycroft was portrayed. A superior older brother I could understand, but not one who is intentionally cruel. It just didn't sit right.

I'm a little on the fence about Constance. Her character is interesting, and I like the friendship between her and Sherlock. However, the story seems to hint at Irene Adler, that perhaps this is her origin story as well. I'm not sure how I feel about this being the start of the woman who outsmarted Holmes.

Overall, it is an entertaining take on how the world's greatest detective could have been as a teenager. I would recommend this to readers looking for a historical mystery starring a young Sherlock Holmes.

This is the second installment of the Young Sherlock Holmes series, preceded by 'The Adventure of the Murdered Midwife' which is on my TBR list after reading this fabulously written historical fiction mystery. Talk about escapism!
This story takes place in 1867 at Underbyrne, the Holmes family estate, its wintertime with plenty of family and friends gathered at the estate.
The thirteen year old Sherlock Holmes is outside in the barn, with his younger cousin Trevor that tagged along, in order to practice his violin for the upcoming Christmas concert. When there is a stirring of the horses in the stables nearby, Sherlock and Trevor rush over to find a body lying face down in the hay. Duh-duuuuun!
The story is proficiently written and involves a mixture of interesting characters and as it unfolds people are not who they seem to be. The author takes special care when writing about the significance of social order of the times, and how it relates to the characters. Giving you a real feel of the period.
The story exhibits how the young Sherlock uses his analytical and rational abilities to solve problems, along with other members of the family. It must be in the DNA. This was a fun read and I encourage historical fiction fans to pick this one up. Even if you're not a fan of historical fiction, I believe this story will change your mind.