Book Review: The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan by Nancy Springer

The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan
Author: Nancy Springer
Series: Enola Holmes (Book 4)
Publication: Puffin Books (September 18, 2008)

Description: Enola is thrown into a tailspin when she receives a desperate message from her old friend, Lady Cecily. Enola knows she must help her friend before it's too late - but she doesn't know how! This complicated case has Enola hunting down clues all over London until she finally discovers the awful truth: Lady Cecily is being held prisoner! Enola must risk her own freedom and join forces with her brother, the famed Sherlock Holmes, to free Cecily. Can Enola trust her brother, and can they save Cecily in time?

My Thoughts: Enola stumbles onto Lady Cecily in a public lady's restroom and sees that she is in distress. Lady Cecily uses her pink fan - which doesn't at all match her trendy outfit - to send Enola a plea for help. However, before Enola can follow her, she runs into her brother Mycroft - literally, runs into him. She manages to escape him but loses track of Lady Cecily and is at a loss as to how to find her and help her.

Lady Cecily has managed to leave the fan with Enola who deciphers a clue written in code and with invisible ink but the clue is cut short and doesn't give Enola enough information. However, the fan itself does once she tracks down the source of it.

While doing investigating, she stumbles on and rescues her brother Sherlock who has been put on the case by Lady Cecily's mother. They agree to a truce: she'll help him if he doesn't try to catch her and send her to a proper boarding school to be turned into a proper young lady.

The story was exciting and filled with codes, disguises, and various villains who want to force Lady Cecily into an arranged marriage. It takes Sherlock and Enola working together to rescue Cecily. I liked that Sherlock seems to be on her side at the end of this one rather than Mycroft's. I also liked that she is coming to betters terms with the way her mother abandoned her.

Fans of the series won't want to miss this episode but it wouldn't be a good place for a beginner to enter the series. I would recommend starting at the beginning to really get to know Enola and follow her adventures.

Favorite Quote:

"Enola, come here! I'll not leave without you."

He quite meant it, I could tell, as indeed I should have realized all along, for Sherlock Holmes was a true gentleman -- that is to say, incapable of sensible behaviour under such circumstances.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.