Review: Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

I recently posted my review of ENOLA HOLMES: THE CASE OF THE MISSING MARQUESS by Nancy Springer on my library's Facebook page.

ENOLA HOLMES: THE CASE OF THE MISSING MARQUESS by Nancy Springer is the first in a six-book series featuring the hitherto unknown younger sister of famous Victorian detective Sherlock Holmes. First published in the United States in 2006, the recent Netflix film has led to the series being published in paperback in the UK. [NB. The final two books in the series are available as audiobooks via Overdrive/Libby and as CD copies in the library].

Enola and her mother having been living in the country with little to no contact with Enola’s elder brothers Mycroft and Sherlock. Enola is very bright but has not had a conventional education. On Enola’s fourteenth birthday, her mother disappears, without it seems, a trace. Enter the brothers. Shocked by the state of the house and Enola, Mycroft arranges for Enola to attend boarding school.

Enola thinks otherwise and sets off to find her mother, using some clues that her mother left behind for her…alone.

Enola’s journey to London overlaps with a missing person’s case, which she cannot ignore and so lands herself in a lot of danger however she is intelligent enough to save the day.

This is a short book and the first half is Enola escaping her brother’s intentions, and the second half is her escapades in London. It very much sets up the series with Enola becoming not a detective like her brother but a finder of lost things. And there is the ongoing mystery of her mother’s whereabouts.

This is an enjoyable mystery set in the Victorian Era with a humorous, resourceful and quick-witted heroine. Due to some briefly referenced adult themes, it is more of a teenage book than junior fiction.

Also available in the teenage section, is the ‘Young Sherlock’ series by Andrew Lane.

Review: The Highland Falcon Thief by M.G. Leonard & Sam Sedgman, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli

I recently posted my review of THE HIGHLAND FALCON THIEF by M.G. Leonard & Sam Sedgman, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli, on my library's Facebook page.

THE HIGHLAND FALCON THIEF by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli, is the first in the “Adventures on Trains” series which will number four entries by the end of 2021 and is aimed at readers aged nine-years-old or older.

The Highland Falcon is the name of a steam engine which, on its final commemorative voyage, is doing a lap of the UK, from London and back, with a stop off at Balmoral in Scotland to pick up the (unnamed) prince and princess who will wave from the train as it passes slowly through stations and show off the magnificent Atlas Diamond necklace.

Our hero is eleven-year-old Hal who is, at first reluctantly, joining his travel writer Uncle Nat on this Royal Train. Hal thinks he’s the only child on the train and is disappointed to not be able to play his electronic games. He is a talented artist, however, and settles for sketching. When Hal spots a girl hiding in the out of bounds part of the train, he tracks her down and together they decide to track down the jewel thief who has struck at least once already, and with the priceless Royal jewel coming aboard they know what the thief’s next target will be.

Things of course do not go to plan, and Hal has to be very brave to save the day and later reveal the culprit in a classic “get all the suspects together in the dining room” denouement.

From its striking foiled cover to the high-quality drawings inside, this is a very attractive book and it is complemented by an exciting and informative story. Readers will pick up some history of the railway whilst trying to solve the puzzle of who is stealing and where are the stolen goods being hidden? The solution to the latter should appeal to the target audience!

THE HIGHLAND FALCON THIEF has unsurprisingly won several awards including the ‘2020 Books Are My Bag readers awards’ for Children’s Fiction.

Review: Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Missing Diamonds by Annabelle Sami, illustrated by Daniela Sosa

I recently posted my review of AGENT ZAIBA INVESTIGATES: THE MISSING DIAMONDS on my library's Facebook page:

AGENT ZAIBA INVESTIGATES: THE MISSING DIAMONDS, by Annabelle Sami and illustrated by Daniela Sosa, is the first book in a new series and introduces Zaiba, an aspiring detective, and her two sidekicks: her best friend Poppy and younger (half) brother Ali.

The story all takes place in the Royal Star Hotel where Zaiba’s cousin Sam and fiancé Tanvir are having their Mehndi party.

Zaiba, in the best tradition of her hero Eden Lockett - a successful writer of detective stories based on events in her own life – is tasked with identifying the mysterious celebrity who is staying at the hotel. The female celebrity is staying with a small dog who has an expensively bejewelled collar. When first the dog goes missing and then the collar, it is up to Zaiba and her team to find both, solve the mystery and save the day!

I really enjoyed this book. There’s lots of action and use of initiative. All the characters have their individual strengths though Zaiba is on a bit of a learning curve to take notice of her friends’ suggestions at times. Alongside the text there are full-page and incidental illustrations dotted throughout.

Zaiba gets on well with her step-mum Jessica whom she calls mum but there is a mystery about the loss of her birth mum which I hope is revealed over the series. Zaiba feels close to her mum via the Eden Lockett books which she inherited as her mum had written little notes in the margins.

The second book is out in July and I look forward to it.

Review: Kat Wolfe Investigates by Lauren St John

Yesterday I posted my review of Lauren St John's Kat Wolfe Investgates on my library's Facebook page:

KAT WOLFE INVESTIGATES, the first in a new series from Lauren St John, won CrimeFest’s, Best Crime Novel for Children (8-12) last year. And I loved it too.

After an unpleasant incident in their London home, Kat's mum, a veterinary surgeon, and Kat relocate to a slightly mysterious job in an idyllic Dorset sea-side town called Bluebell Bay. One of the conditions is that they take on the previous owner's cat, which is no ordinary British Domestic Shorthair... Plus Dr Wolfe has to be able to treat monkeys at the local sanctuary.

As it's the school holidays Kat is soon running her own small business – pet sitter for hire, and meets a temporarily housebound American girl of her own age (12) who has been thrown and badly injured by the very horse that Kat is to look after. Kat also offers to look after a parrot whose Paraguayan owner is returning home for a while. This latter job is what instigates an involving adventure with international implications.

This is a very rich book, with quite a complicated storyline. I don't want to say anything more about the plot but it is I think, quite an unusual story for this age group. Kat is a great animal-whisperer and not surprisingly her and her mum are vegan. She has a good heart and those around her respond to it. This book beams with good messages, has an exciting story and is quite funny as well.

Annie the Detective Fairy

The Rainbow Magic series for younger children (5+) is a phenomenon with dozens if not hundreds of entries. The latest collection comprises four "Discovery Fairies", the third of which caught my eye... I've been working in libraries for over ten years and have often been asked for the 'fairy' books by Daisy Meadows (who is a collection of writers) but this is the first time that I've read one.

Rachel and Kirsty are so excited to meet the Discovery Fairies, who look after some of the most exciting jobs in the world. But when Jack Frost steals Annie the Detective Fairy's magical item, detectives everywhere run out of clues! Can the girls help Annie get it back and help solve mysteries everywhere?

Annie the Detective Fairy's magical notebook has been stolen by Jack Frost. Human girls, Kirsty and Rachel are shrunk to fairy-size and return with Annie to Fairyland to help her get her notebook back. Whilst Jack Frost has the notebook, Detectives will not be able to solve their cases!! Jack has renamed himself Shivershock Bones and his goblin sidekick is Dr Gobson. When the girls and Annie arrive in Fairyland they appear in an incomplete fairy circle - the sixth toadstool (house) and six fairies having just disappeared one day. A real mystery. It takes an unexpected collaboration to solve that mystery and for Annie to get her notebook back.

Annie wears a trench coat and uses a magnifying glass to shrink her human friends. There are brief references to Sherlock Holmes. The mystery is resolved by magic however fairies, humans, goblins and Jack Frost have to work together first sharing their information (clues).

Notable books in the series to come are: the first Boy Fairy (7/19) and a Librarian Fairy (4/20):
 

  

New CrimeFest Awards for Children's & YA Crime Fiction

I'm very excited about this news regarding CrimeFest's new awards for Children's and YA Crime Fiction. I know from my own experience as a librarian and a reader/reviewer of YA fiction that it's an increasingly popular field.

I recently snapped this collection of recently released children's crime titles at the library:

Here's how to submit the titles for consideration.

CRIMEFEST LAUNCHES AWARD FOR BEST YA & CHILDREN’S CRIME NOVELS

CrimeFest opens free submissions from crime fiction books for children and young adults published in 2016

CrimeFest is delighted to announce two new awards:

• Best Crime Novel for Children (ages 8-12)
• Best Crime Novel for Young Adults (ages 12-16)

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017.

CrimeFest, the UK’s biggest international crime fiction convention, is thrilled to introduce two new awards recognising the outstanding contribution that crime novels for children and young adults make to the genre, as well as the burgeoning interest of children’s fiction and YA throughout literature. The winners for best crime novels for children and young adults in 2016 will receive a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative award, presented at the CrimeFest gala awards dinner on Saturday 20^th May, 2017.

There is no charge for submissions in order to encourage all publishers, regardless of size, to submit titles published for the first time in the British Isles in 2016. A team of British reviewers of YA and children’s fiction will establish the shortlist and winner from titles spanning humorous crime, spy, suspense, thriller and more.

Continuing last year’s successful CrimeFest promotion where 1000 crime fiction books were given away for free through local libraries, all books provided as part of the submission process will be distributed amongst schools in Bristol. After nine years of hosting CrimeFest, the organisers continue to involve the local community in the city that has hosted this top convention.

On behalf of his CRIMEFEST co-hosts, Adrian Muller said: “We have become increasingly aware that there are some great authors who are writing brilliant, age-appropriate crime fiction for children and young adults. They are making an outstanding contribution to the genre, as well as celebrating the burgeoning interest of children in fiction as a whole, and we felt these efforts should not go unrecognised.”

In addition to this year’s new awards, YA crime fiction heavyweight Antony Horowitz, of Alex Rider fame, is one of CrimeFest’s guest speakers at this year’s event.

The new prizes join the convention’s established awards for adults:

• Audible Sounds of Crime Award (for best crime audiobook)
• eDunnit Award (for best crime ebook)
• Last Laugh Award (for best humorous crime novel)
• H.R.F. Keating Award (for biography or critical book related to crime fiction)

 THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017.

CRIMEFEST, the international crime fiction convention held annually in Bristol, draws top crime novelists, readers, editors, publishers and reviewers from around the world, and gives all delegates the opportunity to celebrate the genre in a friendly, informal and inclusive atmosphere.

For full submission guidelines see below or visit the CRIMEFEST website:
- Best Crime Novel for Children (ages 8-12)
- Best  Crime Novel for Young Adults (ages 12-16)

For any queries, please contact CrimeFest. Telephone: 0117-9737829. Email info@crimefest.com.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Best Crime Novel for Children (ages 8-12)

Eligible are any humorous crime, spy, suspense and thriller titles, etc. commercially published in hardback or paperback format for the first time in the British Isles in 2016. The age group for this award is 8–12 years.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017.

For submitted titles to be eligible, the four print copies of each title must be received by 17 March. Please send to: CRIMEFEST, BASEMENT FLAT, 6 Rodney Place, Bristol BS8 4HY.

A list of entries and their details should be submitted by email to childfiction@crimefest.com and should be listed in field names as follows:

First name – last name – title – month – publisher

(Example: Joe – Bloggs – The Hangman’s Noose – Murder Press – May)

The above details can be submitted in the body of an email or attached in an email as text, rich-text-format, Word or Excel files. The preferred method is an attached Excel file

All entries must be accompanied by the publisher’s contact details.

By submitting entries, publishers agree to provide a further five copies of a title should it be shortlisted. These will be for promotional purposes and/or as prizes.

Should the winner or a representative not be present to collect the prizes, then the publisher agrees to reimburse CRIMEFEST for the cost of shipping the prizes to the recipient or the publisher.


Best Crime Novel for Young Adults (ages 12-16)

Eligible are any humorous crime, spy, suspense and thriller titles, etc. commercially published in hardback or paperback format for the first time in the British Isles in 2016. The age group for the award is 12–16 years.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017.

For submitted titles to be eligible, the four print copies of each title must be received by 17 March. Please send to: CRIMEFEST, BASEMENT FLAT, 6 Rodney Place, Bristol BS8 4HY.

A list of entries and their details should be submitted by email to ya@crimefest.com and should be listed in field names as follows:

First name – last name – title – month – publisher

(Example: Joe – Bloggs – The Hangman’s Noose – Murder Press – May)

The above details can be submitted in the body of an email or attached in an email as text, rich-text-format, Word or Excel files. The preferred method is an attached Excel file.

All entries must be accompanied by the publisher’s contact details.

By submitting entries, publishers agree to provide a further five copies of a title should it be shortlisted. These will be for promotional purposes and/or as prizes.

Should the winner or a representative not be present to collect the prizes, then the publisher agrees to reimburse CRIMEFEST for the cost of shipping the prizes to the recipient or the publisher.

Review: Precious and the Monkeys by Alexander McCall Smith

Precious and the Monkeys by Alexander McCall Smith and illustrated by Iain McIntosh (Hardback, 73 pages, July 2011, Polygon, An Imprint of Birlinn Limited, ISBN: 1846972043)

Precious and the Monkeys was first published in the Scottish language as Precious and the Puggies
and I have to confess that, even though it's a children's book, I couldn't make head nor tale of it so I was very pleased when this English language version came out.

Precious and the Monkeys reveals how Precious (later Mma) Ramotse was inspired to become a detective and how the name of her business was devised, but it mainly details her first case as a young girl.

Still unsure how to pronounce Ramotswe? From Chapter One:

"That is an African name, and is not as hard to say as it looks. You just say RAM and then you say OTS (like lots without the l) and the you finish it off by saying WE. That's it."

The crime Precious has to investigate is who is stealing food from her classmates at school? Fingers are pointed at one of her fellow pupils but Precious insists that's there's no proof and that you really mustn't accuse someone without hard facts. Showing the kindly ways, readers of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series are familiar with, she befriends the suspect and the solution is revealed and the culprit caught (though the cover and title do rather give it away).

The story, however, isn't a whodunnit but a morality tale, told by an avuncular narrator, with the hope of encouraging its young readers to behave considerately and thoughtfully. It is utterly charming and the illustrations are beautiful. A delightful book which is over all too soon.

This will be published in the US as The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case, on 3 April.

Guest Review of Pretty Twisted

Euro Crime reviewer Sarah Hilary's daughter Milly has begun reviewing for my other blog.

She's written a fabulous review of Gina Blaxill's teenage/YA thriller, Pretty Twisted which you can read here.

Helen Moss Guest Post

Helen Moss, author of the Adventure Island series which began with The Mystery of the Whistling Caves, has written a guest post for my other blog, on safety, entitled: "Don't Forget Your Life Jacket!"

It includes sage advice that many a hero/heroine of adult crime fiction should follow: "One thing I do insist on – as a Mum and as an author - is that both my real and fictional kids always let someone know where they are going".

Read the whole article here.

Author of Soul Beach on her Crime Influences

My Teenage/YA Blog is taking part in the blog tour by Kate Harrison for her new book, her first venture into YA literature, called Soul Beach. [She's probably best known for the Secret Shopper series.]

It's a murder mystery coupled with an impossible romance and is the first part of a trilogy into who killed Meggie Forster.

Kate Harrison talks about young detectives and what influenced her over at Teenage Fiction for All Ages.

Teenage Crime Fiction Recommendations

Today, on my other blog, I've recommended some teenage crime fiction books I've enjoyed over the last couple of years. They are mostly British and are aimed at teens rather than the YA audience. Plus there are a few suggestions for books that I haven't yet read and other recommendations are most welcome in the comments.

My post is here if you are interested.

A few more suggestions for children's crime fiction

If you know someone who loves children's crime fiction then I've put a few more suggestions together on the other blog These are all books aimed at <12s and are straight crime novels, no paranormal influences.

National Crime Writing Week concludes today but I have a couple more posts to come and then a more usual service on this blog will resume. Many thanks for your patience if the last week hasn't been of much relevance.

A Modern Enid Blyton?

I've now compared the five books/series I've sampled this week, featuring the younger crime solver, and crowned one of the authors the next Enid Blyton.

Check out who it is, here.

All the books were good and I've enjoyed this self-appointed project very much. I have a couple more posts on recommendations to upload and then the competition will be unveiled.

Young Crime Solver Week, Day 5

This week, over on my other blog, I'm running a series of posts highlighting crime/adventure novels, which are a bit like Enid Blyton's, or at least are for the younger reader. Today's post is a review of the first book in Adventure Island series by Helen Moss, The Mystery of the Whistling Caves which takes place on a Cornish island.

Read my review here.

The week's schedule is here plus I have a couple of extra posts in mind.

Look out for the smashing competition, coming soon.

Young Crime Solver Week, Day 4

This week, over on my other blog, I'm running a series of posts highlighting crime/adventure novels, which are a bit like Enid Blyton's, or at least are for the younger reader. Today's post is a review of the first book in Poppy Fields series by Tanya Landman, Mondays are Murder which takes place on an isolated Scottish island.

Read my review here.

The week's schedule is here plus I have a couple of extra posts in mind.

Look out for the smashing competition, coming soon.

Young Crime Solver Week, Day 3

This week, over on my other blog, I'm running a series of posts highlighting crime/adventure novels, which are a bit like Enid Blyton's, or at least are for the younger reader. Today's post is a review of the first book in The Mayfair Mysteries by Alex Carter, The Case of the Ruby Necklace which revolves around a famous guest at a posh hotel.

Read my review here.

The week's schedule is here plus I have a couple of extra posts in mind.

Look out for the smashing competition at the end of the week.

Young Crime Solver Week, Day 2

This week, over on my other blog, I'm running a series of posts highlighting crime/adventure novels, which are a bit like Enid Blyton's, or at least are for the younger reader. Today's post is a review of Caroline Lawrence's first PK Pinkerton mystery, The Case of the Deadly Desperados which is set in the Wild West in the 1860s.

Read my review here.

The week's schedule is here plus I have a couple of extra posts in mind.

Look out for the smashing competition at the end of the week.

Young Crime Solver Week

This week, over on my other blog, I'm running a series of posts highlighting crime/adventure novels, which are a bit like Enid Blyton's, or at least are for the younger reader. Today's post is a review of Lauren St John's first Laura Marlin mystery, Dead Man's Cove which is set in the beautiful St Ives.

Read my review here.

The week's schedule is here plus I have a couple of extra posts in mind.

Look out for the smashing competition at the end of the week.

Finnish Crime Fiction for Teenagers

I blogged last month about the dearth of Finnish crime fiction available in English. I've now discovered another Finnish author who is about to be published in English: Ilkka Remes. He has written 12 adult thrillers and 7 teenage/young adult thrillers and it is one of the latter which is to be published in English in May. Operation Ocean Emerald is the first of the Luke Baron teen series:

A giant cruise ship with over 1,000 passengers and 500 crew, the Ocean Emerald is a floating luxury palace. But for 14-year-old Luke Barron the cruise is a nightmare from the moment the ship sails. Luke has unwittingly disturbed the plans of a highly organized criminal gang, and his efforts to stop them place him firmly in the firing line.



Remes won the 'Clue of the Year Award' from the Finnish Detective Novel Society in 1999 so perhaps one day his adult thrillers will also be available in English.

Review: Beautiful Dead - Arizona

I've just posted my review of Beautiful Dead (2) - Arizona by Eden Maguire over on my teenage blog.

This is a teenage crime/romance/supernatural mixture which I enjoyed. If you watch CSI you won't be too impressed with the book's medical examiner immediately classifying a death as suicide when there are multiple abrasions on the body, but that's from an adult's perspective rather than a teenager's I think.

My review can be found here.

My review of Book 1, Jonas, is here.

Win a copy of Arizona, here (ends 30 November 2009, UK only)