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Don’t Forget To Breathe
-- EXCERPT: The black corners of my room softened into a silvery gray. I turned my head to check the alarm clock, 4:45. I begged the heavens, “Please, let me sleep,” and smothered my head underneath my downy pillow. A nanosecond after slamming my eyelids closed, I was immediately transported to a year ago…” My walk down the hallway to my parents’ bedroom became sluggish. She’d been complaining of not feeling well and had stayed home from work today. Was she sick and needed to rest and forgot about the boiling water? The door was shut. I knuckled the frame softly. “Mom?” My hand twisted the knob and inched it open. I gagged on the smell. An awkward, half-naked body draped the mattress—porcelain skin sliced apart, and silky blonde hair fanned the floor. Dripping red blood—gobs of blood. Eyes filled with terror watched me. Dead eyes. My jaw moved. Mommm—but no sound. I shuffled a foot forward and doubled over, spewing lunch. That was when I noticed a bloody dagger next to her fingers. Forged in a peculiar camber design like something I’d see in a museum. Arms swallowed me from behind, “I’m not going to kill you. Not yet.” Then everything faded to black. I woke with a start and gasped. My heart ached. Struggling upright I crisscrossed my arms over my chest and gripped my shoulders. Tears sprinkled my face—sorry for my loss, sorry for myself.
GIVEAWAY! Hosted by: #Middle Grade Monday #Book Review of Enola and the Black Barouche by Nancy Springer @Wednesday Books30/8/2021
Enola Holmes is the much younger sister of her more famous brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft. But she has all the wits, skills, and sleuthing inclinations of them both. At fifteen, she's an independent young woman--after all, her name spelled backwards reads 'alone'--and living on her own in London. When a young professional woman, Miss Letitia Glover, shows up on Sherlock's doorstep, desperate to learn more about the fate of her twin sister, it is Enola who steps up. It seems her sister, the former Felicity Glover, married the Earl of Dunhench and per a curt note from the Earl, has died. But Letitia Glover is convinced this isn't the truth, that she'd know--she'd feel--if her twin had died. The Earl's note is suspiciously vague and the death certificate is even more dubious, signed it seems by a John H. Watson, M.D. (who denies any knowledge of such). The only way forward is for Enola to go undercover--or so Enola decides at the vehement objection of her brother. And she soon finds out that this is not the first of the Earl's wives to die suddenly and vaguely--and that the secret to the fate of the missing Felicity is tied to a mysterious black barouche that arrived at the Earl's home in the middle of the night. To uncover the secrets held tightly within the Earl's hall, Enola is going to require help--from Sherlock, from the twin sister of the missing woman, and from an old friend, the young Viscount Tewkesbury, Marquess of Basilwether!  My thoughts:
Enola Holmes is the seventh story in Nancy Springer's series of Middle Grade mysteries featuring Sherlock's younger sister. If you haven't read the previous titles in the series, don't worry: a) it can be easily read as a standalone b) we get an introductory chapter from Sherlock himself with a hilarious recap of Enola's previous adventures. We also learn that fifteen-year-old Enola is a very independent and resourceful young lady who lodges at Professional Women'sClub in London. When Dr Watson writes to her and asks her to help with one of Sherlock's famous bouts of melancholia , she immediately hurries to Baker Street. While she is there, trying to get any kind of reaction from her depressed brother, a potential client arrives. Letitia Glover, a young professional woman (a typist) desperately needs Sherlock's detective expertise, but alas! it isn't easy to draw his interest. Enola, on the other hand, is immediately moved by Tish's pleas. Her sister Felicity's rich husband, the Earl of Dunhench, sent Tish a note informing her that her sister unexpectedly fell ill and passed away, but Tish is convinced that Felicity is still alive. Enola is a delightful character. She is smart, determined, witty and doesn't take herself too seriously. She's also extremely enterprising and brave. This is a historical mystery, so all of her adventures are set against the background of the Victorian society with its particular customes. The book is rich in detail - from changing fashions, food, a typical layout of a lady's boudoir and different kinds of carriages to typical attitudes. It was great to see how Enola and Sherlock worked on the case approaching it in similar ways-they both collected information, looked at the evidence, analysed documents and even set up a trap for the culprit. The writing was very engaging, easy to follow and fun to read. I would definitely recommend it not just to MG/YA audience, but anyone who likes strong, independent female leads witha delightful sense of humour. Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin'sPress/Wednesday Booksforthe ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion. |
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Photos from Simon_sees, Dmitry Karyshev
