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From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

Enola Holmes is the much younger sister of famous detective Sherlock and his brother Mycroft. When their mother disappears, the brothers reluctantly return to the family estate to help arrange for Enola’s care. They’re in for a surprise, however. Their little sister is a stubborn, determined, clever, young woman with an eye for drawing and meticulous observation skills. She has no desire to learn how to be a refined lady, and every desire to solve the mystery of their mother’s disappearance. Following the trail laid out in the secret codes her mother left behind, Enola stumbles upon a second mystery involving the disappearance of a boy from a wealthy family in a nearby town. Enola soon realizes that he, like she, yearns for a life beyond the bounds permitted by narrow Victorian class and gender norms in a suspenseful, funny, and satisfying mystery that introduce this lively new character and series. (Ages 9–12)

CCBC Choices 2007 © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2007. Used with permission.

From School Library Journal

September 1, 2006
Gr 4-8 -Nancy Springer has created a jewel in Enola Holmes, the Victorian-era heroine of this first book (Philomel, 2006) in a planned series (Enola Holmes Mysteries). Life for Enola turns upside-down when her eccentric mother disappears on Enola -s 14th birthday. Enola calls on older brothers Mycroft and Sherlock to help trace their mother -s whereabouts. When even Sherlock Holmes is stumped by her disappearance, Enola brings her considerable smarts to bear on the case. Enola relies on arcane knowledge learned at her mother -s knee to begin the search. Clues meaningless to Sherlock make sense to her. Enola -s scheme to find her mother brings her into contact with another mystery. Where is the missing Viscount Tewksbury, Marquess of Basilwether? Katherine Kellgren -s performance is superb. Every frightened intake of breath will make believers of mere listeners. Her English accent captures tones of the upper class Holmes family and street blackguards equally well. Bold adventure involving impersonation, kidnapping, London cutthroats, and more than a few forays down blind alleys will delight fans of rapidly paced mystery. -"Erin B. Allen, Rowan Public Library, Salisbury, NC"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Publisher's Weekly

Starred review from March 6, 2006
Springer (Rowan Hood
; I Am Mordred
) proves that she is as comfortable in England's late 19th century as she was in Sherwood Forest and Camelot with this debut title in the Enola Holmes Mystery series. Her heroine, however, is not. After Enola's mother disappears, her older brother, Sherlock (yes, that one), and oldest brother, Mycroft, whom she has not seen in 10 years, seem bent on forcing her into a steel-ribbed corset and sending her off to boarding school. But Enola ("which, backwards, spells 'alone
,' " she points out) rebels. Her mother has left behind a little book of ciphers, so the 14-year-old disguises herself and heads to London, where she hopes to outwit her brothers and find her mother. Readers will find the teen's internal monologue quite entertaining ("Always I felt to blame for—for whatever, for breathing—because I had been born indecently late in Mother's life... And always I had counted upon setting things right after I was grown.... So she had to be alive"). Along the way, Enola becomes involved in the search for the missing Viscount Tewksbury, Marquess of Basilwether, and hair-raising adventures ensue. Enola shows herself to be an intelligent, rational, resourceful and brave protagonist. Readers will look forward to hearing this heroine's unique voice again soon. Ages 9-up.

From AudioFile Magazine

Enola Holmes's birthday is marred by the disappearance of her mother, so she must figure out why and how it took place, since no one else cares. Enola combines the logical reasoning of her haughty older brother, Sherlock, with the creativity and spirit of her mother. Expertly characterized by Katherine Kellgren, Enola is hurt, frustrated, puzzled, and proudly triumphant as she works her way through the clues left by her mother. Kellgren imbues Enola with emotion as she moves smoothly between voicing the proper British narrator and the lonely, yet caring and independent young lady. Kellgren gives all the characters clear and perfect voices in an audiobook that breathes life, humanity, and suspense into an adequate mystery. W.L.S. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine