Growing up in Victorian England, precocious Dora has always felt odd, awkward, and misunderstood. She has an insatiable curiosity and notices details that others would never see. When she discovers that she may be Sherlock Holmes's illegitimate child, it all falls into place. She longs to meet her real father, so when her cousin receives threats from an unknown blackmailer, Dora convinces her that they should go to London to enlist Sherlock Holmes's help. Unfortunately, she arrives only to learn devastating news: Holmes is dead. But when she pairs up with an attractive -- and very smart -- young detective-in-training instead, her cousin's letters are nearly forgotten in the midst of an even bigger mystery -- one that includes kidnapping, coded messages, and maybe even murder.
While I loved the premise of the book, Dora and Peter's frequent shows of intelligence, and whirlwind adventure, it was difficult to be as invested in the story as I would have liked. The writing kept me very distanced, with a lot of telling and summarizing instead of showing, and it was often difficult to get a good handle on the many characters. Still, the mysteries, historical aspect, and hints of romance should find an audience with some students, and the absence of swear words and sexual content were refreshing. While the ending showed strong sequel potential, the main mysteries were adequately tied-up, something I greatly appreciated. MS, HS -- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by: Caryn.
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