WHAT'S THE BUZZ?: The Sherlock Society by James Ponti - REVIEW!

Today's WHAT'S THE BUZZ is a Middle Grade Fiction title coming to you SEPTEMBER 3rd via Aladdin/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and it marks the next BIG THING from an author whose work you've probably adventured through before. James Ponti, the writer behind the CITY SPIES series, is at it again, but this time he's taken you're somewhat average run of the mill kids, tagged then with a well known name with some big history, and set them a quest for more than just an amazing summer. Curious? Well then, the game is afoot, and there's a mystery to uncover, so let's get between the pages of today's featured title and book of choice...

The Sherlock Society

Book #1 of The Sherlock Society

By

James Ponti

9781665932530

Aladdin

About the book...

Siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock take their last name as inspiration when choosing a summer job. After all, starting a detective agency has to be better than babysitting (boring), lawn mowing (sweaty), or cleaning out the attic (boring and sweaty). Their friends Lina, an avid bookworm, and Yadi, an aspiring cinematographer, join the enterprise, and Alex and Zoe’s retired reporter grandfather offers up his sweet aquamarine Cadillac convertible and storage unit full of cold cases.

The group’s first target is the long-lost treasure supposedly hidden near their hometown Miami. Their investigation into the local doings of famed gangster Al Capone leads them to a remote island in the middle of the Everglades where they find alarming evidence hinting at corporate corruption.

Together with Grandpa’s know-how and the kids’ intelligence—plus some really slick gadgets—can the Sherlock Society root out the conspiracy?

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This book was AWESOME.

There, I said it. 

The main characters were easy to relate to and likeable. You can easily see yourself being friends with their group, taking up the mantle that seems to follow the name Sherlock, and getting all tangled up in a mystery that's way bigger than they ever imagined. Guess what? It doesn't matter that they are kids... with a 70 something grandfather in tow. It doesn't matter that the original draw was treasure with the goes of scoring a reward to get each of them what they were after. What matters is that when it came down to following through even though the shiny prize was no longer able to be put in a pocket, they followed. What matters is that their desire to do the greater good even if it wasn't the easy thing to do, kept having them take steps forward not back. What matters is the bond they created, the friendships they cultivated, the knowledge they built, and the skills they shared, because at day's end, they were there for each other come heck or high water. It didn't matter that a bunch of thugs carrying out crazy orders, or a secret service agent stood in their way... the pieces were in play, and they wouldn't be stopped until the truth was uncovered.

There is so much WONDERFUL going on here,I hardly know where to start. From the characters to the story, the lessons shared to the celebrations had for each of them being themselves, it preaches acceptance as much as it begs us to question the world around us and fight for what's right. It gives great insight into the world of amateur film making as well as sleuthing and reporter techniques. It reminds us that we're all capable of anything we set our minds to, things aren't always as they seem, and we can make the world a better place one moment at a time. A great pick for Middle Grade Fiction fans of all ages, and a fabulous start to what seems to be a promising series. 

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About the author...

James Ponti is the New York Times bestselling author of four middle grade book series: The Sherlock Society following a group of young detectives; City Spies, about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 Spy Team; the Edgar Award–winning Framed! series, about a pair of tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, DC; and the Dead City trilogy, about a secret society that polices the undead living beneath Manhattan. His books have appeared on more than fifteen different state award lists, and he is the founder of a writers group known as the Renegades of Middle Grade. James is also an Emmy–nominated television writer and producer who has worked for many networks including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, History, and Spike TV, as well as NBC Sports. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida. Find out more at JamesPonti.com.

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Special thanks to Thad and Alex at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title celebrates its BOOK BIRTHDAY September 3, 2024, so mark your calendar, or preorder your copy today! Catch the official book tour as it makes its way (hopefully) to a city near you...

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

BLOG TOUR: Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz

Hi there!

Welcome back to another exciting day here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're playing host to a TLC Book Tour (Hi, Trish!).  It stars the work of an author many of you may know and features a few choice characters readers have shown their devotion for the world over.  Know whom I am speaking of yet?  What's that?  Oh you DO, do you now.  Oh....you read the title of the post.  Gotcha.  ~ahem~  Well, for those of you that didn't pay attention to that little spoiler, allow me to introduce today's blog tour guest and book of choice....

Moriarty

by

Anthony Horowitz

9780062377180

Harper

About the book....

...Days after the encounter at the Swiss waterfall, Pinkerton detective agent Frederick Chase arrives in Europe from New York. Moriarty’s death has left an immediate, poisonous vacuum in the criminal underworld, and there is no shortage of candidates to take his place—including one particularly fiendish criminal mastermind.

Chase and Scotland Yard Inspector Athelney Jones, a devoted student of Holmes’s methods of investigation and deduction originally introduced by Conan Doyle in “The Sign of Four”, must forge a path through the darkest corners of England’s capital—from the elegant squares of Mayfair to the shadowy wharfs and alleyways of the London Docks—in pursuit of this sinister figure, a man much feared but seldom seen, who is determined to stake his claim as Moriarty’s successor.

AMAZON   |   BARNES & NOBLE    |    INDIEBOUND

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First things first....I am a Sherlock Holmes fan.

I've read some of the original works.  I've dabbled in several of the series that present this literary detective as a mere boy searching for his true path in life.  I've even fancied buying one of the action figures over at GoneReading.com (oh come on, you know you want one!).  Yep.  While I'm not one of the more rabid, chomping-at-the-bit-to-get-my-hands-on-everything-Sherlockian, I am definitely a fan.  That being said...

Upon cracking the spine on this book, I was all set for the game to be afoot.  A mystery to solve.  Riddles to puzzle out.  Deaths to...avoid.  In short, I was looking for all those things you love about the original stories.  What did I get?  Hmm...a good question for certain but not something I can answer in the least amount of words.  Initially, I was drawn in.  The characters were interesting, the circumstances curious and the means by which the puzzle was being solved, very Holmes-ish.  It was right up my alley....but....about a third of the way into the book, my attention started to wain.  It wasn't that the story was bad or the twists uninteresting, but the writing became rather dry leaving me to make a decision....press onward in the hopes of things turning around, or stop cold in my tracks.  Now, fair readers, those of you that assumed the latter was my choice are most certainly not regulars on my site... ~chuckle~

When the going got tough, the tough...kept reading.  Page in and page out, I sought the silver lining and in the last quarter of the books, things got...interesting.   Oh Chase was just as unsteady as he became more and more frustrated by the prospect of losing his quarry, but Athelney Jones helped balance him out with all his Sherlockian wit.  The story molded and shaped itself into something altogether different than at first glimpsed and the last four chapters or so...were INCREDIBLE!  No, really!  I was all....WHHHHAAATTT?!  Back to the page was I glued, and in due course my diligence was rewarded with an ending not only fit for a Sherlock Holmes adventure but titillating enough that it'll take even the biggest fans by surprise.  It's JUST THAT GOOD.  

In conclusion, if you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes, or simply love mystery, adventure, and deaths most unfortunate, you are in for a treat.  For those that haven't experienced the written world of the great detective as of yet, it reads quite like the more recent films play; in short even the film fans have something to look forward to.  Recommended read for older teens through adults readers due to the unfortunate ends some characters meet along the way; no need to trouble the wee ones with the mayhem quite yet even if the arena is a most enjoyable one.

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About the author....

Anthony Horowitz is the author of the international bestseller The House of Silk and the New York Times number one bestselling Alex Rider series for Young Adults. As a television screenwriter he created both Midsomer Murders and the BAFTA-winning Foyle’s War, both of which were featured on PBS’s Masterpiece Mystery. He regularly contributes to a wide variety of national newspapers and magazines, and in January 2014 was awarded an OBE for his services to literature. He lives in London.

SITE   |    TWITTER

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Special thanks to Trish at TLC Book Tours for the chance to participate in this tour as well as the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)   For more information on the title, author, publisher, or tour, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This book reached publication this past December via Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf, or a virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time....happy reading!

Elementary indeed...: Winter at Death's Hotel by Kenneth Cameron

HI guys!

Welcome back to the place that loves exploring the world of literature one book at a time...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're stepping away from the usual teaser post for a glimpse inside the cover of a recent read of mine.  It's an ARC I agreed to review that falls into the category of "better in theory than in execution"...at least for this reader.  It stars the wife of the infamous creator of Sherlock Holmes in a murder mystery that will take her from the creme de la creme to the depths of despair and back again as she becomes the prime target due to her meddling.  Curious?  So was I.  Let us take a closer look.  Today's book of choice is...

Winter at Death's Hotel

by

Kenneth Cameron

About the book....

New York, January 1896. Arthur Conan Doyle, the renowned created of Sherlock Holmes, arrives with his wife Louisa at the Britannic Hotel in New York for his first American tour. While Arthur prepares his lectures, Louisa becomes entranced by the vibrant, dangerous metropolis brimming with debauchery and iniquity around every corner. When a woman's mutilated corpse turns up in a Bowery alley, Louisa recognizes the victim as someone she's seen in the hotel. Obsessed with the woman's gruesome death, Louisa starts piecing together clues to reveal a story of murder and depravity—a story that leads back to the hotel itself and a madman who is watching her every move.

As I said, sounds FABULOUS in theory, but for this reader, it fell a bit flat.  Allow me to explain.

On the pro side of things, we have a female lead that is interesting enough, with morals to spare and more kindness in her heart for her fellow woman than can be fathomed.  She is desperate to not let this young woman's death fall by the wayside; in my mind, she was imaging her to be someone's daughter, sister, wife, etc...sad and yet so true.  I liked the idea of exploring life from the wife of an author growing in infamy and the plan to solve a mystery of her own choosing without said husband's aid.  (Believe me, he is none too helpful.)  I enjoyed her connection with Ethel, her handmaid, and Minnie, the spunky reporter she befriends.  Her mind was open to possibilities that others of her time were not and that assisted her in seeing beyond what was simply there in front of her face.  (Nice touch!)  Marching on...

The cast of male characters were distinct and yet played second fiddle to our femme fatales, a surprising turn of events, but most enjoyed.  A favorite among them?  Detective Dunne...nicknamed "Never" Dunne.  He may not be the quickest bloke nor something to especially appealing to look at, but he's thorough, accurate and out to get the one at the heart of these heinous crimes.  Speaking of those crimes, if you've an easily turned stomach, you might not want to read parts of this while eating.  Just sayin.  *ahem*

On the con side, I had a hard time tussling with the author's writing style, especially the sentence structures.  Was it simply the style of the times? Could be, but I've read Mr. Holmes' adventures before and found them less of a mouthful.  Also, I found myself skimming a section or two trying to move things along as we would get hung up here or there with overly descriptive passages about a certain locale in the city, or the layout of a room, etc.  Some of these play bigger parts later in the story, yes, but at the time, they stalled things.  Last but not least, there was also a preoccupation with sexuality...and not just from the Butcher.  His/Her focus I understand; they were the killer and they were proving a point....however, Louisa's many bouts with "self-appreciation" were, well, to a point, unnerving.  I mean, she wasn't perverse or anything, but it just seemed awkward.

In conclusion, there is a case to be made for and against this particular fictional adventure of a real life author's wife turned sleuth.  Where will you plant your fandom flag?  Well now, that's entirely up to YOU now isn't it?  The facts have been laid before you as I saw them, but the true FINAL ANSWER is in your hands.  I do however recommend this one for adult readers and beyond due to some content as previously mentioned.

ARC for review courtesy of Liz at Sourcebooks.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their growing catalog of literary wonders, be sure to visit them online, friend them on Facebook, pin them on Pinterest, or follow along on Twitter.  This title was released earlier this month and should be available now on a bookstore shelf near you.

Until next time...happy reading!

Sherlock Holmes, the Legend Begins: Death Cloud by Andrew Lane, Review + Giveaway!

Why hello there readers!

Happy Friday to each and every one of you.

Today I'll keep the introduction short in the hopes that you will pardon the length of the actual post.  What can I say?  I got started and just couldn't stop.  A really quick note in case you haven't noticed...there are currently FOUR contests being hosted on the site (not including today's) giving you a chance to win everything from a YA paranormal (check out WERELING) to a zombified classic mashup (check out P&P&Z), a look at what happens when a family "unplugs" (look for the DISCONNECT listing) and even a chance to grant a few of your own wish list desires (the GIFT CARD one is for you)....not to mention a chance to take a look at snow from a whole new angle (check the SNOW DAY listing).  They are all open and waiting for you, so the big question...have you entered?  Deadlines start happening next week...don't miss out!

See?  That was short...sorta.  Alright, enough with the intro's and reminders, let's get this review rolling.  Today's featured title is a look at the life and times of one infamous detective...in his younger days.  That's right...you know who I mean.  Today's book of choice is....

Sherlock Holmes, the Legend Begins:

Death Cloud

by

Andrew Lane

Picture it. The market town of Farnham. A street in the higher end of town scattered with passerby’s making their way to and from their chosen destinations. A young boy in search of a scrap of food to stave off the hunger gnawing at his gut steps down an alley and witnesses a curiosity the likes of which he has never seen. A strange black cloud seems to be emanating from a window of a tenant house…and then disappeared up and over the rooftop of the adjoining building. Peculiar activity for a cloud and yet there is no time to ponder this fact as the silence of the morning is pierced by a scream of pure terror. What pray tell has happened to illicit this cry and is it connected to the mysterious cloud apparition? A mystery in the making and as the death toll begins to pile up; the curiosity of one inquisitive young visitor to these parts is piqued. Who is this young soul? The greatest detective in the making, one Sherlock Holmes…at least he will be once he finishes his schooling. The game is afoot! Are you ready?

This was my second journey into Sherlock Holmes’ past and this time, we meet him in his teenage years. The author’s treatment of Sherlock’s actual character falls right in line with the image readers are familiar with around the world….just in his growing stages. You see, life has yet to finish shaping and molding our infamous detective into the man we all know and it is through his formative years that we can revel in the excitement of familiar traits and idiosyncrasies appearing. His love of conjecture that when honed becomes a valuable ally when all obvious explanations have been exhausted. His penchant for violin music eventually becomes a soundtrack of sorts to allow his mind to wander over the minute details of a case. His ability to discern what others can not developing with each and every human interaction. Speaking of which, let’s talk characters…

There are many players of which to take note whether they star in a pivotal role or not, but a few outshine the rest. First and foremost of course we have Sherlock Holmes. Though a mere boy in age, his intellect burns as brightly as a candle in the darkest night…even if he does have a bit of growing up to do still (like learning that jumping to conclusions often leads to unexpected ends as opposed to a bit of research and employed know how). He is far too curious for someone that wishes to go unnoticed but in his chosen (by choice or circumstance) endeavors it more often than not serves him well.

Next in line, we have a few “teachers” (notice the quotes, because they are not your average schoolmarm). Perhaps a most unexpected is one in the bunch is Matty Arnatt. He is a gypsy boy of sorts, though orphan currently, and makes his ends meet by filching what he can when he needs to as well as having the uncanny ability to not only show up just in the nick of time but also to disappear without leaving so much as a foot print in the dust. Really, the way he is written at times I half wondered if he was merely an apparition of young Sherlock’s mind due to loneliness…fear not he is real and has much knowledge to impart to his fellow comrade.

Teacher number two…Mr. Amyus Crowe. His services are employed on behalf of Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft, and his uncle, Sherrinford, to handle the young boy’s education while off on holiday. (Summer school…sounds like fun, right? O_o) His skills are great and knowledge vast but they seem a bit unorthodox for your average tutor…a trifle odd but handy beyond measure as the story progresses. Last but not least, we have Virginia Crowe. Beloved daughter of Amyus and potential love interest of Sherlock (no worries it is not a focus of the story in any way, merely a side note now and again), she is unlike any females he has encountered thus far in both manner and style….but this bodes all the better for them both. A future match? Perhaps…but with a mystery afoot, nothing comes before its being solved. *grabs magnifying glass*

We’ve talked “good guys” now let’s take moment to explore the “baddies”. The mystery itself in this story is hard to decipher (which is good), especially when it comes to who or what is behind it all. One is kept guessing as to the very nature of the beast or villain they are dealing with and while I won’t go naming names to spoil your fun, I will say this…be prepared for a few surprises. Just when you think you have it all figured out, the rug may get pulled right out from under you, leaving you to marvel at the cleverness with which the outcome was deployed.

We’ve talked story. We’ve talked characters. Now…let’s talk covers. I am especially glad of the cover change that took place between the creation of the ARC and the final release. Why? Well, it’s not because the young gent on the front embodies the spirit of all that is Sherlockian or anything, though he might as he does look a bit rapscallion with a hint of calculation in his eyes….but no that is not my reason behind the statement. The real reason actually stems from knowing a bit about the author’s previous work, or at the very least what/whom it was about.

The simple byline listed on the back of my ARC makes mention of a book entitled “The Bond Files: An Unofficial Guide to the World’s Greatest Secret Agent”. So, Bond…James Bond. However if one had NOT known this information before hand, the original ARC cover would have given it straight away. My copy had the new cover pasted over the original, but curiosity got the best of me. No, I didn’t take it apart, it’s safe and sound, but I did hold it to the light to see just what was underneath. The image perceived….a young man’s silhouette inside what appears to be an abstract image of an eye or something similar. Can we say…“Bond on the brain”?

Seriously, if you’ve ever seen the opening number to any of the James Bond movies (not a huge fan myself, but I have seen one or two), it’s a dead ringer for it and hence (in my opinion) given the wrong impression of the book at first glance. Don’t believe me? I was so certain of my opinion I did a real life test…on dear old Mom. I held the cover to the light and asked her, what does this remind you of? Her immediate response….James Bond. (Ha, see? Told ya!) As age old as the debate is over whether or not the ARC cover is a better or worse match for a title, in this case I have to say…brava to whoever made the final decision.



To summarize my ever lengthy thoughts (sorry!), a wonderful book for younger teens through adults that love a good mystery with all the danger and adventure one could shake a fist at if they were so inclined. It’s rough and tumble action scenes combined with the quieter serene ponderings make for a journey readers won’t soon forget. This book hit shelves near you just last week, so be on the look out in a store near you. A few quick side notes….this is the toted as the first teen series endorsed by the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate Ltd, quite an achievement right out the door. Also, you’ll be happy to note this is book one is a forth coming series so keep your eyes open and your wish lists at the ready (according to the publisher’s site, book two will be called Rebel Fire…though I can’t say I’m a big fan of the potential cover art, I am greatly anticipating where this next adventure might take our young friend…).

ARC for review courtesy of Ksenia at Farrar Straus Giroux, part of the MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group. For more information on this book as well as their full catalog, be sure to stop by their website or follow along on Twitter. As for the series, there is a portion of the publisher’s site dedicated to it that includes a nifty trailer as well as other Sherlockian adventures so be sure to check it out. Curious to read an excerpt from the book to see if it’s right for you? LINK! (Just click there…you'll go right to it.)

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So…you made it this far…congratulations! Sound the alarm! Alert the media! You survived another long winded review (hey, I know my short comings and am proud of them, thank you very much) by yours truly. Your reward? Thanks to the infinite generosity of the folks at Farrar Straus Giroux, you have a chance to win a copy of the very book you were just reading about! Exciting, isn’t it?


Thought so. Okay…calm down or you won’t be able to complete your entry correctly and then I’ll have to disqualify you and I really do not enjoy doing that so…breathe in…breathe out…breathe in…breathe out. There you go…all better? Good. Now let’s get to the details.

The prize…

(1) copy of Sherlock Holmes, The Legend Begins: Death Cloud by Andrew Lane

How to enter…

Though I’d like to say something uber creative like “I have a mystery for you to solve”…or create a “who-done-it” of sorts, I think I’ll keep things simple this time around.
Simply fill out THIS FORM and you’re done.

Even the extra points will be kept to a minimum.

+2 for “old” followers (as in before this post)

+1 for “new” followers

Sound good?

Right, now on to those often pesky but important rules…

The rules...

*Open to US/Canada mailing addresses only!  No P. O. Boxes please.

* Entries will be accepted from Friday, February 11th, 2011 through Saturday, February 26th, 2011 at midnight CST.  The entries will be tallied and entered into the random.org randomizer, after which a random number will be picked by their number generator.  (This way all the entries are mixed up nicely.)

* All entries must be submitted using the form accessible through this post.  You MUST include your email address in order to be counted as well as contacted should you be chosen as the winner!

*The winner will be announced and contacted via email by Monday, February 28th, 2011 and will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.  Should they fail to respond in the given time frame, a new winner will be chosen.  If you choose to include your full name and mailing address in your contest entry, no worries....the time frame issue is erased.

*Winner's name and address will be forwarded to Ksenia at Feiwel and Friends for prize send out only and then discarded.

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So what are you waiting for?
You have all the clues...now off with you!

Until next time...good luck...and happy reading!

By Jove! Could it be?: Vanishing Girl by Shane Peacock

Good day, governor!

How are you this jolly fine day?

Good I trust.

Today we shall be exploring the merry adventures, or rather not so merry escapades, of a young literary lad you may be familiar with and yet not.  You see, many know him as he is now or rather in adulthood, but not nearly as many can recall his childhood days.  Curious as to whom I speak of? 

By Jove, it's Sherlock Holmes!

That's right!  Today's post features this notorious character only in his younger days and with a rather large learning curve to still tackle.  It is part of a series, the third installment in fact, and whilst it is usually a good idea to start at the beginning, surprisingly this one is rather enjoyable on its own.  Enough of this idle chatter, the game is afoot!  Today's book of choice is....

Vanishing Girl:

The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His 3rd Case

by

Shane Peacock

It was a dark and stormy night; one that would sooner draw shadows and catch death than a good night's sleep.  The townspeople were all snug in their beds; dreams undisturbed by the crime about to be committed...and what a crime it shall be.  The victim?  One Victoria Rathbone...the 14-year-old daughter (and heiress) of the distinguishable Lord and Lady Rathbone frequently seen in the best of circles and known of in those in lesser standing.  It is perhaps time that this family that is looked up to by the general populous, yet looks down upon the common man in private, gets their comeuppance; after all, even the most grand estates can have skeletons in its closets...often times more than anticipated. 

What reason how the scoundrals for taking young Victoria?  Will she in fact make it back to her high end family and the life she loved?  It could get a bit dodgey...especially when things begin to drag on for weeks at a time without word from the kidnappers.  What exactly do they intend on gaining from there self created game without a ransom note or threat?  Lead Inspector Lestrade may not have a clue to start with, but he intends to find out one way or another....and he hopes to before a certain young man with a crooked nose and an aptitude for solving mysteries beats him to the final revelation once again.  The game is afoot...may the best detective win.

Okay, so truth be told...it wasn't really a "darky and stormy night"...in fact it was in broad daylight whilst the young heiress was parading around the darker side of town so that those in low places could catch a glimpse of her magnificance.  Yeah, to quote the Happy Bunny comic..."You made me throw up a little."  Seriously, how could she stand herself being that there are so many others that needed her help and yet....wait, wait, I'm getting ahead of myself.  We learn later on about the dual personality of this young girl (sorry, shan't explain it further as it would ruin the fun) and what it means to truly have power as well as what happens when it is wielded for good (or not). 

The rest of my intro is fact rather than fiction...or rather facts about the fiction of which we are discussing.  The lack of communication from the kidnappers is bewildering, especially with the lapse of time that is involved...but the grand scheme of things unfolds over the course of the story.  Inspector Lestrade is in fact hot on the trail in his own way but whether or not that trail does indeed prove to be the full truth is another story altogether.  Than he have young Sherlock Holmes...

Ah yes...a character known the world over for his grand detective skills, choice of wardrobe, penchant for smoking pipes and yes, that love of violin music no matter how awf...I mean magically it is played.  The one, the only, Sherlock Holmes...only he's still in a bit of a growing stage.  We meet the detective as a young lad honing his detecting skills on the fly as he works his way through his academic studies as well as his understudy with the old apothecary, Sigerson Bell.  Now Bell is a character and a half let me tell you.  He may be up there in years and batty as a belfry at times, but the man knows his craft well...along with many other fascinating tidbits including several odd number of combat styles (I know, surprising, right?) on which he frequently instructs Master Holmes.  But I digress...

Young Holmes has suffered some set backs in life, none of which seem to haunt him more than the recent tragic passing of his mother (took place in book two from what I've gathered) of which he feels he is to blame....how so remains a mystery, but it weighs on him nonetheless.  The story marches on allowing us glimpses of the future detective we recognize most whilst sweeping the plot along toward the finale. 

We meet several supporting characters along the way that capture Holmes' attention in matters of love (Irene Doyle...potentially at least), confusion (Irene Doyle, yet again), and competition (Malefactor...a street smart brute whose detective abilities would truly rival Holmes' own if not for his nose constantly being in dirty business), but he never side tracks to their interests for too long.  He has the desire to prove himself (albeit at times too much) coupled with a mind able to accomplish whatever he sets it to and with a little reigning in of emotions (*ahem* pride...yep, definitely pride) he just might realize the future he seeks.  Suffice it to say that character development was certainly not a problem in this book...

Now for me, the book started off slow...drawing my interest along like a new puppy on a leash. The author knew where he was leading me, the reader, but I couldn't see the sense of it all just yet. Case in point, aside from the kidnapping, there are a few others mysteries running tandem with the plot...at first, it's rather confusing as they are seemingly smaller in scale, but they end up being of great importance to solving the overall case.  The thing to remember here...no detail is too small.  By books end, I was thoroughly engrossed in all its happenings and waiting to see if the final reveal was anything along the lines of what I had imagined....it was and then some!  A few of the twists were a complete surprise, while others I had guessed but all in all they balanced each other out rather nicely.

Though this was the third book in a series of which I have not read the prior installments, I was still able to enjoy the story on the whole...but it does make one curious to know how exactly things arrived at the stage they are presented (in other words, they may just make it into my TBR pile one day). A great way to get acquainted with Sherlock Holmes before diving into the classic novels of literature past. Recommended read for all ages...and a work out for the mind to discover just who what when and where things occurred!

Review copy courtesy of LibraryThing's Early Reviewers and Sylvia at Tundra Books.  (THANKS!)  For more information on either of these great names in the world of reading, feel free to check out their sites through the links provided as well as the website dedicated to the series.  Twitter more your speed?  They both have feeds (1 and 2) there as well just waiting for you to follow along.

Until next time...happy reading!