The Dark Lady

December 9, 2013
Originally published in Italy, this pseudonymously written mystery jumpstarts the Sherlock, Lupin and Me series. The swift-moving story brings together young incarnations of three fictional sleuths: Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, Irene Adler (who earned Holmes’s admiration in “A Scandal in Bohemia”), and Maurice Leblanc’s “gentleman thief” Arsène Lupin. Adler narrates with a sure voice, introducing herself as Holmes’s “first and only girlfriend.” Though there is the occasional romantic blush, it’s the credible friendship among all three protagonists that drives the action as the spirited threesome pieces together clues and evidence to solve a double mystery. Set in Saint-Malo in the summer of 1870, the plot piggybacks the death of a man of uncertain identity and the theft of a rich matron’s valuable necklace. Adler (a pen name for Italian writer Alessandro Gatti) deftly depicts the shadowy aspects of the seaside resort, moving the action from an abandoned beach mansion to dark alleys, an illegal gambling hangout, and moonlit rooftops. Cliffhanger chapter endings elevate the suspense, and Bruno’s elegant etching-like drawings with filigree borders enhance the novel’s Victorian flavor. Ages 9–13.

April 1, 2014

Gr 4-7-The three title characters meet up as adolescents and embark on a friendship fostered by a love of solving crimes. When Sherlock, Lupin, and Irene discover a body on the beach, they decide to solve the mystery of the man's death themselves. The plot moves along quickly, and the way in which the quirky friends use witty banter to communicate will hold the interest of reluctant readers. The French setting of 1870s Saint-Malo comes alive as the young sleuths visit deserted mansions, seaside hotels, and a hidden gambling house. Fitting pen-and-ink etchings kick off each short, briskly paced chapter. Fans of Nancy Springer's "Enola Holmes" books (Philomel) will be excited about this promising new series, and it's a solid choice for readers looking for an engaging mystery.-Carrie Shaurette, Dwight-Englewood School, Englewood, NJ

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2014
A dead body washed ashore would pique anyone's curiosity, especially that of future famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his new friends. Narrated by a twelve-year old Irene Adler ("the first and only girlfriend of Sherlock Holmes"), a seaside romp ensues with the deductive reasoning expected by Sherlock fans. Adler's voice works nicely as a conceit, but plot runs a bit thin.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

December 15, 2013
Grades 4-7 When a body washes ashore near a French resort, three young amateur sleuths destined for future renownSherlock Holmes, Irene Adler, and Ars'ne Lupinhook up for their first shared caper. Narrated by Irene, a doughty American 12-year-old equally capable of both schooling the rude teenage Holmes in civil conversation and kicking an attacker in the face, the caper involves visits to a derelict mansion and an illegal gambling den, fisticuffs with a gang of street toughs, a nighttime chase over rooftops, and plenty of sharp observation and deduction. In the end, all three make solid contributions to the investigation. A surprise resolution caps this promising opener to a new Young Sherlock series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

December 1, 2013
In this charming mystery/adventure mashup set in 1870, the boy Sherlock Holmes and two equally fictional friends, Irene Adler and Arsene Lupin, solve a puzzle involving a dead burglar and a stolen necklace. Twelve-year-old Irene, far too adventurous and wild for a young lady of her station, is vacationing in the seaside resort of Saint-Malo with her stiff, disapproving mother and the family butler, Mr. Horatio Nelson. Despite his proper demeanor, Mr. Nelson is perceptive, unpredictable and surprisingly fond of his young charge. Irene, who narrates the story, immediately takes to Sherlock and Arsene--the three, although neatly differentiated, are well-matched in terms of determination, imagination and intelligence--and the story kicks into gear when they find a dead body washed up on the beach. The rest of this fast-paced, old-fashioned puzzler concerns their investigation: Who is this person, was his death murder or suicide, and is his demise connected in any way with the burglary of Lady Martigny's diamond necklace and the so-called Rooftop Thief? Although there's suspense, jeopardy and fisticuffs, the tone of this ingenious tale is coolly stimulating--it does a particularly deft job of explaining to young readers the importance of each revelation and how it fits into the larger picture--and will engage on an intellectual rather than an emotional level. Enjoyable brainteaser with a period flavor. (Fiction. 8-13)

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