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The Secret Fiend: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Fourth Case (The Boy Sherlock Holmes #4)
It is 1868, the week that Benjamin Disraeli becomes Prime Minister of the Empire. Sherlock's beautiful but poor admirer, Beatrice, the hatter's daughter, appears at the door late at night. She is terrified, claiming that she and her friend have just been attacked by the Spring Heeled Jack on Westminster Bridge and the fiend has made off with her friend. At first Sherlock t...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
August 14th 2012
by Tundra Books
(first published April 14th 2010)
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It is 1868, the week that Benjamin Disraeli becomes Prime Minister of the Empire. Sherlock's beautiful but poor admirer, Beatrice, the hatter's daughter, appears at the door late at night. She is terrified, claiming that she and her friend have just been attacked by the Spring Heeled Jack on Westminster Bridge and the fiend has made off with her friend. At first Sherlock thinks Beatrice simply wants his attention, and he is reluctant to go back to detective work. He also believes that the Jack
Reason for Reading: Next in the Series.
Shane Peacock has made it to the 4th book in this series and in my opinion the best one so far. I've been consistently rating the books a 4/5, knowing that Mr. Peacock had something more to give that was waiting for my full five rating and "The Secret Fiend" fits the bill. Oh, the case is a bit out there but then some of Doyle's cases were also so I won't hold that against an author who can hold it all together.
Sherlock, who has decided to wait until he has...more
Shane Peacock has made it to the 4th book in this series and in my opinion the best one so far. I've been consistently rating the books a 4/5, knowing that Mr. Peacock had something more to give that was waiting for my full five rating and "The Secret Fiend" fits the bill. Oh, the case is a bit out there but then some of Doyle's cases were also so I won't hold that against an author who can hold it all together.
Sherlock, who has decided to wait until he has...more
Jul 14, 2010
Lady Knight
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of any incarnation of Sherlock Holmes
I really, really enjoyed this one! Shane Peacock has done another fantastic job and I really hope he continues on with this series.
This title is certainly branching into the young adult genre with Sherlock going through puberty and begining to notice things like how curvy Irene and Beatrice's bodies have gotten, and a very funny conversation about grabbing men by their "unmentionables" in a self-defense class. The variety of euphemisms ("meat and vegetables", "cricket equipment", "private machin...more
This title is certainly branching into the young adult genre with Sherlock going through puberty and begining to notice things like how curvy Irene and Beatrice's bodies have gotten, and a very funny conversation about grabbing men by their "unmentionables" in a self-defense class. The variety of euphemisms ("meat and vegetables", "cricket equipment", "private machin...more
Young Sherlock Holmes comes to life in this intriguing, clue-laden mystery set in 1868 England. Reluctant at first to get involved in a puzzling series of attacks by a fiend who mimics Spring Heeled Jack (a fictional character from the Penny Dreadful books), Sherlock is nonetheless drawn into the fray as friends and foes look to him to solve the mystery. Sherlock studies the clues, tracks apparent suspects, and questions the facts in an effort to stop the criminal activity that threatens the pea...more
This is the 4th book in a series about the young Sherlock Holmes. Spring Heeled Jack, a character out of old penny dreadfuls, seems to have come alive and is rampaging around London, scaring young women. Sherlock's friend Beatrice has asked him to help. It's a good story, but includes a lot of English political details as well as Sherlock's teenage introspection so needs a reader who isn't too impatient to get to the action. Probably better for middle school or a reader who already is interested...more
May 19, 2010
James Mccarron
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
readers over 10 years of age
Shelves:
literature
This is the fourth book in Shane Peacock's incredibly rich and wonderful series about Sherlock Holmes as he developed during his youth. The story in this case concerns a "fiend" known as the Spring-Heeled Jack. The Spring-Heeled Jack originated in actual claimed sightings in 1837, and eventually evolved into a kind of bogeyman of cheap Victorian serial tabloid fiction. The case begins after a childhood friend (Beatrice) of Sherlock is attacked by this "fiend". She becomes a new love interest for...more
In book four of the series, Sherlock must uncover the identity of "Spring-Heeled Jack," a scary caped ruffian with red eyes and blue-flaming breath who is brazenly attacking women around London at night. He doesn't hurt them, just scares and intimidates them, in the guise of a legendary folk character. Sherlock's friend Beatrice is the first witness to such a horror, and for her sake, even though he's sworn off seeking out cases, Sherlock agrees to help. There ends up being more than one Spring-...more
I love Sherlock Holmes, so I began this book expecting the best. It's written for teens, with a little mystery, a little romance, a lot of Sherlock getting himself into trouble. Not the best Holmes book ever, but I loved that Peacock used one of my very favorite non-ficiton books - Victorian London by Liza Picard- to research for the setting and time period.
This is not a very high point in this series. It had more predictability than earlier books. IT also had few attempts to bring back old relationships. But some characters are brought back from earlier books. There is major developments between this book and the last book.
Of the 4 Boy Sherlock books by Peacock, I like this one the best. Sherlock must uncover why a character from penny dreadful has resurfaced to terrorize London. The book is set against the background of changing government, the rise of D'Isreali and class, labor, ethic and suffrage protests.
Fourth book in an award-winning series for children and teens, The Secret Fiend finds a young Sherlock Holmes trying to not get involved in a case involving a young female admirer. This case revolves around attacks by a believed-to-be-fictional Spring Heeled Jack while paranoia and disorder begin to envelope the country as the Jewish Benjamin Disraeli becomes Prime Minister.
Full of historical detail and clues leading to wrong turns, this book will excite young and adult readers. Familiarity wit...more
Full of historical detail and clues leading to wrong turns, this book will excite young and adult readers. Familiarity wit...more
Young Sherlock’s 4th case in which he nearly has to leave London forever.
This is a very engaging series.
This is a very engaging series.
I can't wait for more books in this series. This is the best of the series so far! ;)
A very enjoyable Sherlock Holmes series. Each book better than the last.
Jun 08, 2012
Anna
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
sherlock-holmes,
who-dun-it
lolz I figured it out before he did!
A very intriguing book, Shane Peacock has yet to disappoint.
This series is really getting good now!
I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did he first two. I have the feeling that the stories are getting a little worse, although I did enjoy to read more about Sigerson Bell, an see him in action was worth the reading. I expected more, I hope the next one is better.
Jun 29, 2011
Kendall
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
middle-school-and-chapter-books
Three-and-a-half. I just love this series. It's so well-written and the author does an amazing job of keeping you yearning for more. I cannot wait for the next one to arrive!
This is an amazingly good series, dark but enjoyable. One feels that this is the only way Sherlock Holmes could have become the man in the famous stories.
Dec 13, 2010
Heather
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2010,
young-adult-books-i-would-recommend
I didn't enjoy the plot of this one as much as the previous three. I still enjoyed the characters, though, particularly Sigerson Bell (what a guy!)
Great book. Brillant and interesting, I need to start reading the whole series from the beginning. Great!
I really enjoyed this one and think perhaps it is the best one so far in the series. Highly recommended
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Shane Peacock was born in 1957 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, one of four brothers. He attended school in the northern town of Kapuskasing, before attending university, where he studied history and English literature. A biographer, journalist, and screenwriter, he is also the author of six novels and three plays, and has been nominated for numerous awards including several National Magazine Awards and t...more
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“A sensation goes through Sherlock,part fear, part thrill:it is curious how danger has two sides to it; how it can excite you and scare you at the same time.”
—
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