The Case of the Left-Handed Lady

I initially read/listened to audiobook version of the Enola Holmes mysteries when my girls were very small. Now they are much older and enjoy listening to audiobooks, I thought it would be fun if we listened to the Enola Holmes stories this summer when we drive around on errands.

The Case of the Left-Handed Lady is the second book in Nancy Springers Enola Holmes series of mysteries. As you might have already guessed, Enola is Sherlock Holmes younger sister. After her mothers disappearance, Enola has no interest in her brothers plan to send her to boarding school, so she heads to London to hide more or less in plain sight.

After having solved a mystery in the first book, Enola opens up a business- Dr. Ragostin- Scientific Perditorian. Naturally, she cant open a business in her own name, so she has to resort to some trickery. Enola spends most of her time posing as Dr. Ragostins dowdy secretary, Ivy.

When Enola hears about an aristocratic young girl going missing, she is determined to help. She notices some things that the police have not noticed, and these clues seem to lead her in a very curious direction. Everyone seems to think that Lady Cecily simply absconded with a secret boyfriend, but Enola suspects foul play. Could her instincts be correct?

One of the best aspects of this book is the way it immerses the reader in Victorian culture. Aspects of the plot touch upon subjects like the plight of the poor, mesmerism and anarchy. Enola is a delightful narrator; not only is she very clever, but shes very funny as well. She has many disguises at her disposal, and she uses these various personas to interact with different people.

I would absolutely recommend The Case of the Left-Handed Lady. I would suggest starting with the first book because there is a great deal of background information. I would also recommend listening to this series via Audible/audiobook. Narrator Katherine Kellgren makes this series come to life with a variety of accents. There are some moderately scary situations, so this series is probably best suited for children who are either older middle grade readers or young adult readers. We are looking forward to making our way through the whole series by the end of the summer!

I first saw the Netflix movie of Enola Holmes and loved it. I then found out it was a series of books and decided to invest in the second story. I was absolutely entranced by the story! The protagonist is a Miss Enola Holmes, younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. She is a sleuth in her own right ( must run in the family) and has her onw adventures where her famous brother shows up[ from time to time. Dr. Watson makes an appearance too! This book can be read in a weekend but it’s a damn fine read! all around it’s a great book- Not “Hunt for Red October” great or any John Grisham book great but still it’s a fun read.

Saw the movie, was intrigued to start reading this series. I’m DELIGHTED it’s much different than Netflix’s take on the Enola Holmes of these books. I much prefer Nancy Springer’s tales, although the movie was quite entertaining and well done in costumes and casting. Enola in book 2 takes on quite a puzzle, with a lady in distress and need of rescue. Too bad she doesn’t have the same courage, wit, and resources to save herself! I enjoyed this story immensely.

Like always ~~ AMAZING!!!!! I will, of course, review for the third book. I will not review for 4 and 5 though. I love this series!!!! Dear Author, please make more!!! Books and movies, if you will. Author and recipients, this is a cipher that I have made. The numbers take place of the letter. This is the most important part of the review. Solve: 14-1-14-3-25 19-16-18-9-14-7-5-18 9-19 1 “16-5-18-6-5-3-20-12-25 19-16-12-5-14-4-9-4” (6-18-15-13 20-8-5 8-1-21-14-20-9-14-7 15-6 2-12-25 13-1-14-15-18) 1-21-20-8-15-18!!! 16-12-5-1-19-5 18-5-1-4 1-12-12 8-5-18 2-15-15-11-19!!!

I absolutely adored this 6 book feminist retelling of the Sherlock Holmes series and so wish it had been around in my youth. The protagonist is Enola Holmes, the much younger sister of the famous Sherlock & Mycroft Holmes, who is abandoned on her 14th birthday by their unusual mother but left with sufficient means to make her own path (if she can evade her brothers and societal expectations). Every sentence of Springers writing is brilliant and witty and the mysteries are intriguing, well-craftedand at times shockingin the true spirit of a Sherlock Holmes mystery. But my favorite aspect is the way the books reveal the true plight of women and the poor in Victorian London. There is a social consciousness as well as a retelling of romanticized notions we might have about this era that truly give this series substance. A book that manages to be clever and meaningful? Yes please! Finally, I was a bit worried that the quality of the series would start declining as it went onas easily happens with longer series. Not so in this case. Books 4-6 were actually my favorites. Absolutely brilliant from start to finish!

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