What do you think?
Rate this book
Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels #1-3
Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels: The Case of the Missing Marquess, The Case of the Left-Handed Lady, and The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets
A graphic novel adaptation of the hit books that inspired the Netflix film! Sherlock Holmes’ brilliant, strong-willed younger sister takes center stage in this delightfully drawn graphic novel based on Nancy Springer’s bestselling mystery series.
14-year-old Enola Holmes wakes on her birthday to discover that her mother has disappeared from the family's country manor, leaving only a collection of flowers and a coded message book. With Sherlock and Mycroft determined to ship her off to a boarding school, Enola escapes, displaying a cleverness that even impresses the elder Holmes. But nothing prepares her for what lies ahead…
Book One in the series includes three thrilling The Case of the Missing Marquess , The Case of the Left-Handed Lady , and The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets . At the back of the book, readers can explore a portfolio of pages from Enola's secret notebook!
14-year-old Enola Holmes wakes on her birthday to discover that her mother has disappeared from the family's country manor, leaving only a collection of flowers and a coded message book. With Sherlock and Mycroft determined to ship her off to a boarding school, Enola escapes, displaying a cleverness that even impresses the elder Holmes. But nothing prepares her for what lies ahead…
Book One in the series includes three thrilling The Case of the Missing Marquess , The Case of the Left-Handed Lady , and The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets . At the back of the book, readers can explore a portfolio of pages from Enola's secret notebook!
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2022
174 people are currently reading
3501 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
March 3, 2022
So! Here’s what you need to know first! I haven’t watched ‘Enola Holmes’ on Netflix, I haven’t read any Enola Holmes book before this one, and all I know of ‘Enola Holmes’ is what I saw in the BBC series ‘Sherlock’ starring Benedict Cumberbatch, which isn’t a reliable reference point. I have read every single Sherlock Holmes story, but that doesn’t help much in this case. So this is the perspective of a general reader (and graphic novel lover), not of an Enola Holmes fan-girl. (Just preparing you for why the review is so lacking on gush.😛)
This book brings together Serena Blasco’s graphical adaptations of the first three Nancy Springer novels featuring Sherlock’s younger sister Enola. Those who have read the original series might know that each of the first six books of the series contains one mystery for Enola to be solved, and at the same time, there is a larger narrative connecting them all and resolved only at the end of the sixth book. Thus, this collection has an incomplete ending in a sense as books 4-6 aren’t part of it. But whatever is covered in the book is enough to hook you.
The three stories in this book are:
Where the books clicked for me:
❤ The book includes some serious topics within its content, such as women’s suffrage, societal compulsions about ‘proper’ women’s behaviour and appearance, poverty, class discrimination, and so on.
❤ At the end of each of the stories, there are excerpts of Enola’s secret notebook. This makes for an interesting addition as it reveals Enola’s thoughts and modi operandi through her doodles.
❤ The writing style is pretty quick-paced and help the story move further clearly and quickly.
❤ The illustrations are very good, painted in a watercolour-like effect, lending a light-hearted and dreamy quality to the tense subject matter. The main characters (except one key character) are drawn in a way suiting their personalities. I especially loved Sherlock’s and Enola’s upturned noses, thereby uniting them not just as siblings but also as two stubborn individuals who refused to see any way except their own.
Where the book didn’t click for me:
💔 As in almost every detective fiction, it is the main detective – Enola in this case – who finds out everything related to the mysteries. While I find this tough to digest even in regular detective stories (one reason I avoid the genre), it is even more unbelievable this time as the highly capable Sherlock Holmes is also part of the narrative. How is it possible that Sherlock has hardly any clue of what’s happening while Enola racks up the solutions and solve the case?
💔 Again, as in almost every detective fiction, clues conveniently present themselves whenever Enola is around. There are too many coincidences to be believable.
💔 I would have preferred a bit of variety in the mysteries. All three dealt with missing persons, and even the overarching mystery is about Enola’s missing mother. Though the resolutions were quite distinct, it still felt a bit repetitive after a while.
💔 The story development is quite abrupt at times. For instance, when Enola first leaves her house, it is only to find her mother. Why then would she abandon that search midway and go looking for another missing boy instead? It seemed silly.
💔 I loved Mark Gatiss’s portrayal of Mycroft in the BBC Sherlock series. According to Watson’s narration in the original Sherlock books, Mycroft is supposed to be tall and portly, similar to Sherlock in appearance though larger in build. So Mycroft’s physical appearance in this book was very, very disappointing to me.
All in all, the books were quick, fun, but one-time reads for me. Detective fiction fans or even fans of the Enola Holmes series might enjoy it a lot more. At the same time, the books kept me hooked enough to know what’s going to happen next.. As they are aimed at children/teenagers, they surely fulfil their purpose well for their target readers.
3.5 stars from me.
My thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
This book brings together Serena Blasco’s graphical adaptations of the first three Nancy Springer novels featuring Sherlock’s younger sister Enola. Those who have read the original series might know that each of the first six books of the series contains one mystery for Enola to be solved, and at the same time, there is a larger narrative connecting them all and resolved only at the end of the sixth book. Thus, this collection has an incomplete ending in a sense as books 4-6 aren’t part of it. But whatever is covered in the book is enough to hook you.
The three stories in this book are:
1. The Case of the Missing Marquess: Enola’s mother disappears without any information whatsoever except for a collection of flowers and a coded message book. What makes it worse is that this happens on Enola’s 14th birthday. In desperation, Enola sends a telegram to her estranged elder brothers, the famous Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes. But when they are convinced that their mother has disappeared voluntarily and that Enola needs to go to boarding school to become a “proper lady”, Enola decides to take matters in her own hands and runs off to London to dig deeper. While there, she hears about a missing young viscount and decides to look for him also.
2. The Case of the Left-Handed Lady: Still hiding from Sherlock and Mycroft, Enola has now christened herself as Ivy Meshle, secretary to the fictitious Dr. Ragostin, specialist in finding missing persons. When John Watson walks into Ragostin’s office one day with the intent of hiring the elusive detective to locate Enola, she takes on the case so that she can keep an eye on Sherlock’s moves and hopefully discover more of what happened to her mother. She also looks into a missing teenaged girl coming from a wealthy family, though the police are convinced that she has eloped.
3. The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets: Still hiding from her brothers, Enola walks into a local customer shop hoping to find newer disguises. On her way, she hears of Dr. Watson’s mysterious disappearance. While enquiring about this with Mrs. Watson, Enola discovers a strange bouquet, which her floral expertise tells her indicates bad luck and revenge. Will Enola be able to locate Dr Watson in time?
Where the books clicked for me:
❤ The book includes some serious topics within its content, such as women’s suffrage, societal compulsions about ‘proper’ women’s behaviour and appearance, poverty, class discrimination, and so on.
❤ At the end of each of the stories, there are excerpts of Enola’s secret notebook. This makes for an interesting addition as it reveals Enola’s thoughts and modi operandi through her doodles.
❤ The writing style is pretty quick-paced and help the story move further clearly and quickly.
❤ The illustrations are very good, painted in a watercolour-like effect, lending a light-hearted and dreamy quality to the tense subject matter. The main characters (except one key character) are drawn in a way suiting their personalities. I especially loved Sherlock’s and Enola’s upturned noses, thereby uniting them not just as siblings but also as two stubborn individuals who refused to see any way except their own.
Where the book didn’t click for me:
💔 As in almost every detective fiction, it is the main detective – Enola in this case – who finds out everything related to the mysteries. While I find this tough to digest even in regular detective stories (one reason I avoid the genre), it is even more unbelievable this time as the highly capable Sherlock Holmes is also part of the narrative. How is it possible that Sherlock has hardly any clue of what’s happening while Enola racks up the solutions and solve the case?
💔 Again, as in almost every detective fiction, clues conveniently present themselves whenever Enola is around. There are too many coincidences to be believable.
💔 I would have preferred a bit of variety in the mysteries. All three dealt with missing persons, and even the overarching mystery is about Enola’s missing mother. Though the resolutions were quite distinct, it still felt a bit repetitive after a while.
💔 The story development is quite abrupt at times. For instance, when Enola first leaves her house, it is only to find her mother. Why then would she abandon that search midway and go looking for another missing boy instead? It seemed silly.
💔 I loved Mark Gatiss’s portrayal of Mycroft in the BBC Sherlock series. According to Watson’s narration in the original Sherlock books, Mycroft is supposed to be tall and portly, similar to Sherlock in appearance though larger in build. So Mycroft’s physical appearance in this book was very, very disappointing to me.
All in all, the books were quick, fun, but one-time reads for me. Detective fiction fans or even fans of the Enola Holmes series might enjoy it a lot more. At the same time, the books kept me hooked enough to know what’s going to happen next.. As they are aimed at children/teenagers, they surely fulfil their purpose well for their target readers.
3.5 stars from me.
My thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
May 19, 2022
The adventures of Enola Holmes in graphic form. There are three episodes filled with colorful graphics and accompanied by pages from Enola's own notebooks. What has happened to Enola's mother? Clues and codes abound as our heroine scrambles to remain independent. Her costumes are clever and she keeps her brothers on their toes. I found the use of flowers as symbols and clues to be fascinating. A new way for fans of the books and/or series to get more of Enola. Or, perhaps, an introduction to this popular fictional character.
Thank you to Andrews McMeel and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Andrews McMeel and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2022
I am so, so, so glad I recieved an advance reading of this collection from Andrews McMeel Publishing.
I find the main character really endearing and quite the person I would love to know anytime.
The artstyle. Don't you ever doubt about it when you pick up this graphic novel series. It6 heavenly. What's more? The emotions present in the artwork is phenomenal.
The plot focuses on themes like gender discrimination, women judging women harshly and how men see women/young girls as beings who cannot take their own decisions or perform a task meant for men/boys.
I find the plot really well structured and well presented.
I find the character development quite distinct and evolving with each book.
Go for this series without a doubt. I am still surprised.
I find the main character really endearing and quite the person I would love to know anytime.
The artstyle. Don't you ever doubt about it when you pick up this graphic novel series. It6 heavenly. What's more? The emotions present in the artwork is phenomenal.
The plot focuses on themes like gender discrimination, women judging women harshly and how men see women/young girls as beings who cannot take their own decisions or perform a task meant for men/boys.
I find the plot really well structured and well presented.
I find the character development quite distinct and evolving with each book.
Go for this series without a doubt. I am still surprised.
June 20, 2022
After her mother disappears, Enola Holmes runs away from her brothers, the famous Sherlock and Mycroft, and falls into solving mysteries in Victorian London.
I have of course seen the promos for the Netflix film Enola Holmes, though I haven’t actually seen it yet. I knew it was based on a series of YA books, but I’d never read them either. So when I saw that there was a graphic novel adaptation on NetGalley, I thought it would a fun introduction. Besides, I like the art.
And I continued to like the art throughout. It’s all lovely watercolors, lending a softness to the story and the characters that contracts interestingly with the often grim story, and the author has paid attention to detail with the clothing and the surroundings. I also liked how Sherlock and Mycroft were written, as caring brothers who are nevertheless confounded by the idea of a girl with such agency – canon confusion for Sherlock, at the very least.
However, I wondered how successfully the stories had been adapted to this format. Each book is short, allotted about sixty pages in graphic novel form, and because of this it felt as though the intricacies of the mysteries as well some emotional heft were left behind. For example, the motive of the villain in the second book is confusingly not really discussed. Enola’s mother’s disappearance, which I know is an overarching mystery in the series, is also often given short shrift.
Ultimately, I thought this was a beautifully-illustrated graphic novel that serves as a nice introduction to the series, if not a perfect substitute.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
(Now, a digression. YA historical novels from the early 2000s appear to be rather full of a realistic darkness – at least that is the pattern I am noticing! There’s more of an emphasis on the lead’s coming-of-age.
In not unwholly unrelated news, I have exceedingly recently gotten my hands on the full series of Caroline Lawrence's The Roman Mysteries, which follow the same trend!)
I have of course seen the promos for the Netflix film Enola Holmes, though I haven’t actually seen it yet. I knew it was based on a series of YA books, but I’d never read them either. So when I saw that there was a graphic novel adaptation on NetGalley, I thought it would a fun introduction. Besides, I like the art.
And I continued to like the art throughout. It’s all lovely watercolors, lending a softness to the story and the characters that contracts interestingly with the often grim story, and the author has paid attention to detail with the clothing and the surroundings. I also liked how Sherlock and Mycroft were written, as caring brothers who are nevertheless confounded by the idea of a girl with such agency – canon confusion for Sherlock, at the very least.
However, I wondered how successfully the stories had been adapted to this format. Each book is short, allotted about sixty pages in graphic novel form, and because of this it felt as though the intricacies of the mysteries as well some emotional heft were left behind. For example, the motive of the villain in the second book is confusingly not really discussed. Enola’s mother’s disappearance, which I know is an overarching mystery in the series, is also often given short shrift.
Ultimately, I thought this was a beautifully-illustrated graphic novel that serves as a nice introduction to the series, if not a perfect substitute.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
(Now, a digression. YA historical novels from the early 2000s appear to be rather full of a realistic darkness – at least that is the pattern I am noticing! There’s more of an emphasis on the lead’s coming-of-age.
In not unwholly unrelated news, I have exceedingly recently gotten my hands on the full series of Caroline Lawrence's The Roman Mysteries, which follow the same trend!)
March 5, 2023
*More like 3.5 stars than 3.*
Considering this graphic novel was an adaptation of a mystery series it was quite surprising to find the mysteries were weak. In particular, the second mystery had clues that didn’t even add up to the final answer so the fact that protagonist, Enola, figured out the mystery was a blundering coincidence.
The mysteries were not even very interesting. What was more amusing and entertaining was the way in which the main characters constantly skirted around each other. Enola hiding from her brothers was sad but her success in it made it fun to see too. Whereas her mother hiding from her was downright depressing and loomed large over the plot. And by the end I was as tired of seeing Enola think about her mother as Enola was herself.
The illustrations were lovely and colourful. And there was a thread of very modern thinking that stood out from the historical setting. It was interesting to see acceptance and forward-thinking from the protagonist regarding issues of cross-dressing, suffrage, and societal expectations. All that really highlighted Enola’s position as an outcast in society because she didn’t even think like those around her. It was somewhat sad to see, but it still provided interesting food for thought in the background of all three cases.
Considering this graphic novel was an adaptation of a mystery series it was quite surprising to find the mysteries were weak. In particular, the second mystery had clues that didn’t even add up to the final answer so the fact that protagonist, Enola, figured out the mystery was a blundering coincidence.
The mysteries were not even very interesting. What was more amusing and entertaining was the way in which the main characters constantly skirted around each other. Enola hiding from her brothers was sad but her success in it made it fun to see too. Whereas her mother hiding from her was downright depressing and loomed large over the plot. And by the end I was as tired of seeing Enola think about her mother as Enola was herself.
The illustrations were lovely and colourful. And there was a thread of very modern thinking that stood out from the historical setting. It was interesting to see acceptance and forward-thinking from the protagonist regarding issues of cross-dressing, suffrage, and societal expectations. All that really highlighted Enola’s position as an outcast in society because she didn’t even think like those around her. It was somewhat sad to see, but it still provided interesting food for thought in the background of all three cases.
May 22, 2022
This graphic novel was my introduction to Enola Holmes, Sherlock and Mycroft’s younger sister. Enola’s birth was a scandal and she’s not planning on conforming to society’s expectations of women anytime soon. She conducts herself in a fashion most unladylike by refusing to wear the appropriate dress length for her age and, horror of horrors, climbing trees.
Her mother’s disappearance on the occasion of her fourteenth birthday brings Enola’s brothers out of the woodwork. Visiting Ferndell Hall for the first time in ten years, they quickly determine that the most appropriate course of action is to send Enola to boarding school.
This goes against Enola’s sensibilities and those of her currently absent mother, so before she embarks on the very ladylike occupation of learning how to be a “houseplant”, Enola absconds to London. Smart girl, our Enola.
Sherlock and Mycroft are clearly products of their time and probably think they have Enola’s best interests at heart. However, their brotherly love leaves a lot to be desired.
Brother Sherlock may be a famous detective but Enola gives him a run for his money in these adaptations of the first three books of Nancy Springer’s The Enola Holmes Mysteries. Enola takes it upon herself to solve The Case of the Missing Marquess, The Case of the Left-Handed Lady and The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets.
I enjoyed the watercolour illustrations, which felt even more appropriate when I learned that’s the medium Enola’s mother uses.
I haven’t met Enola’s mother yet but I love her already. She’s a suffragist who’s schooled her daughter in activities that will be useful, as opposed to those that will facilitate her transformation into a houseplant.
Enola’s adaptability and attention to detail are aided by the tools her mother left her, primarily a book on the language of flowers and a handbound notebook full of coded messages.
Enola’s inquiring mind and indomitable spirit made me want to spend more time with her. I look forward to hanging out with Enola as she continues to subvert her allotted position in nineteenth century London in future graphic novel adaptations.
I’ve already ordered the first book in Nancy Springer’s series from the library.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
Her mother’s disappearance on the occasion of her fourteenth birthday brings Enola’s brothers out of the woodwork. Visiting Ferndell Hall for the first time in ten years, they quickly determine that the most appropriate course of action is to send Enola to boarding school.
This goes against Enola’s sensibilities and those of her currently absent mother, so before she embarks on the very ladylike occupation of learning how to be a “houseplant”, Enola absconds to London. Smart girl, our Enola.
Sherlock and Mycroft are clearly products of their time and probably think they have Enola’s best interests at heart. However, their brotherly love leaves a lot to be desired.
Leave her be, Mycroft. She is too young and her head is too small for her body. We can’t expect too much of her.Enola is able to use society’s propensity to underestimate women to her advantage, relying on her wits and penchant for disguises to hide in plain sight.
Brother Sherlock may be a famous detective but Enola gives him a run for his money in these adaptations of the first three books of Nancy Springer’s The Enola Holmes Mysteries. Enola takes it upon herself to solve The Case of the Missing Marquess, The Case of the Left-Handed Lady and The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets.
I enjoyed the watercolour illustrations, which felt even more appropriate when I learned that’s the medium Enola’s mother uses.
I haven’t met Enola’s mother yet but I love her already. She’s a suffragist who’s schooled her daughter in activities that will be useful, as opposed to those that will facilitate her transformation into a houseplant.
Enola’s adaptability and attention to detail are aided by the tools her mother left her, primarily a book on the language of flowers and a handbound notebook full of coded messages.
Enola is “alone” spelled backwards.I loved the clever use of flowers to convey messages and the inclusion of excerpts from Enola’s secret notebook at the end of each case.
Mum and her love of coded messages.
Could it be a coincidence?
Enola’s inquiring mind and indomitable spirit made me want to spend more time with her. I look forward to hanging out with Enola as she continues to subvert her allotted position in nineteenth century London in future graphic novel adaptations.
I’ve already ordered the first book in Nancy Springer’s series from the library.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
May 22, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels Volume 1 is a fantastic and fun, adventure and mystery series for young and old readers! The illustrations are whimsical and capture the emotions of each character perfectly. Enola has three different mysteries to solve in this book and her missing mother is the first at hand! Enola isn't your typical girl and tries her best to remain independent and avoid boarding school at all costs. I love her outdlfits throughout this book and she certainly knows how to give her brother's a run for their money. I found the diary pages from Enolas diary so pretty and a great little touch! I can't wait to watch the Netflix series after reading the first 3 novels in this captivating graphic novel!
Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels Volume 1 is a fantastic and fun, adventure and mystery series for young and old readers! The illustrations are whimsical and capture the emotions of each character perfectly. Enola has three different mysteries to solve in this book and her missing mother is the first at hand! Enola isn't your typical girl and tries her best to remain independent and avoid boarding school at all costs. I love her outdlfits throughout this book and she certainly knows how to give her brother's a run for their money. I found the diary pages from Enolas diary so pretty and a great little touch! I can't wait to watch the Netflix series after reading the first 3 novels in this captivating graphic novel!
January 17, 2025
Enola strikes out on her own while evading her brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. The art is cute and the writing capture's Enola's adventurous spirit.
April 27, 2025
I received a copy of this graphic novel through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I like Enola Holmes mysteries and this graphic novel was just the thing for me. It is pretty accurately based on the first three books and is in no way been affected by the movie which is different from the original story, although it’s not in any way a bad thing, as it was in fact quite a good movie! 😊
I enjoyed being back in the start of Enola’s adventures. The art was beautiful and illustrated the characters really well. Some of the more nastier details were omitted but overall it was a great retelling of the novels!😊
Re-read 2025:
I again enjoyed it. The watercolour art is lovely! 😍
I like Enola Holmes mysteries and this graphic novel was just the thing for me. It is pretty accurately based on the first three books and is in no way been affected by the movie which is different from the original story, although it’s not in any way a bad thing, as it was in fact quite a good movie! 😊
I enjoyed being back in the start of Enola’s adventures. The art was beautiful and illustrated the characters really well. Some of the more nastier details were omitted but overall it was a great retelling of the novels!😊
Re-read 2025:
I again enjoyed it. The watercolour art is lovely! 😍
August 17, 2022
So much more
The art is vividly stunning! I enjoyed the stories smiling as I read. Did I mention the pages are a feast for the eyes? All three mysteries are intriguing-keeping the reader guessing. I too was listing clues and looking for missed details. What a wonderful graphic novel for kids and adults. I will definitely pick up the next book being released this Winter. I read the graphic on my Fire 8. I did turn the kindle in each panel for better visuals of dialogue.
The art is vividly stunning! I enjoyed the stories smiling as I read. Did I mention the pages are a feast for the eyes? All three mysteries are intriguing-keeping the reader guessing. I too was listing clues and looking for missed details. What a wonderful graphic novel for kids and adults. I will definitely pick up the next book being released this Winter. I read the graphic on my Fire 8. I did turn the kindle in each panel for better visuals of dialogue.
February 26, 2024
The art was interesting, I liked it until the adapter started changing the plots of the original novels to suit her tastes. Don't even get me started on the third one.
Apparently she is all for transgenderism, even though NOTHING OF THE SORT WAS EVER MENTIONED IN THE ORIGINAL BOOKS. What the heck. It was shoved in my face way too many times. It REALLY WAS NOT THAT COMMON BACK THEN. Just saying......
Apparently she is all for transgenderism, even though NOTHING OF THE SORT WAS EVER MENTIONED IN THE ORIGINAL BOOKS. What the heck. It was shoved in my face way too many times. It REALLY WAS NOT THAT COMMON BACK THEN. Just saying......
September 27, 2024
‘*‘ Meine Meinung ‘*‘
Diese Graphic Novel beinhaltet die ersten 3 Fälle von Enola Holmes. Ich erfuhr, dass sie ihrem Bruder Sherlock nacheifert, weil sie ihre Mutter, die einfach nicht mehr nach Hause gekommen ist, finden will. Hinzu kam, dass ihre Brüder Sherlock und Mycroft sie in ein Mädcheninternat schicken wollten, worauf sie mal so gar keinen Bock hatte. Was sie dann auf ihrem Weg nach und in London erlebt, habe ich miterlebt.
Die Charaktere sind eine bunte Mischung aus Klischee-Bösewichten, überraschenden Helfern und Ganoven. All das ist eingebettet im frühen 19. Jahrhundert. Die Handlungen der Figuren sind nachvollziehbar und es war lustig zu sehen, wie Enola fast alle austrickst.
Im Gegensatz zu Enolas starkem Charakter, ist das Buch in Pastellfarben gehalten, mit einem Touch von Aquarellmalerei. Die Bilder sind einzeln gezeichnet und stringent von einander getrennt. Da gibt es keine Überlappungen. Jedes Bild ist mit liebevollen Details gestaltet und es war eine wahre Freude, jede noch so kleine Einzelheit zu entdecken. Dies belebte die Handlung und die damalige Zeit zusätzlich. Das hübsche Cover vermag nur einen kleinen Eindruck vom Inhalt des Buches zu geben. Im Buch sind die Zeichnung imho noch viel ansprechender.
Zwischen den Episoden wurde mir als Leserin ein Einblick in Enolas geheimes Buch gewährt. Hier wurden mir ihre Gedanken, Lösungswege der Geheimnisse und Ideen präsentiert.
Die drei Episoden sind in sich abgeschlossen, aber der Bogen über Enolas Story ist ihre Suche nach der Mutter, die garantiert noch einige Bände anhält.
Die Sprechblasen waren kurz-knackig und doch ergab sich eine komplexe Handlung.
Das Buch ist für Groß und Klein ein Augenschmaus und ich vergebe gern 5 Detektiv-Sterne.
‘*‘ Klappentext ‘*‘
14-year-old Enola Holmes wakes on her birthday to discover that her mother has disappeared from the family's country manor, leaving only a collection of flowers and a coded message book. With Sherlock and Mycroft determined to ship her off to a boarding school, Enola escapes, displaying a cleverness that even impresses the elder Holmes. But nothing prepares her for what lies ahead…
Diese Graphic Novel beinhaltet die ersten 3 Fälle von Enola Holmes. Ich erfuhr, dass sie ihrem Bruder Sherlock nacheifert, weil sie ihre Mutter, die einfach nicht mehr nach Hause gekommen ist, finden will. Hinzu kam, dass ihre Brüder Sherlock und Mycroft sie in ein Mädcheninternat schicken wollten, worauf sie mal so gar keinen Bock hatte. Was sie dann auf ihrem Weg nach und in London erlebt, habe ich miterlebt.
Die Charaktere sind eine bunte Mischung aus Klischee-Bösewichten, überraschenden Helfern und Ganoven. All das ist eingebettet im frühen 19. Jahrhundert. Die Handlungen der Figuren sind nachvollziehbar und es war lustig zu sehen, wie Enola fast alle austrickst.
Im Gegensatz zu Enolas starkem Charakter, ist das Buch in Pastellfarben gehalten, mit einem Touch von Aquarellmalerei. Die Bilder sind einzeln gezeichnet und stringent von einander getrennt. Da gibt es keine Überlappungen. Jedes Bild ist mit liebevollen Details gestaltet und es war eine wahre Freude, jede noch so kleine Einzelheit zu entdecken. Dies belebte die Handlung und die damalige Zeit zusätzlich. Das hübsche Cover vermag nur einen kleinen Eindruck vom Inhalt des Buches zu geben. Im Buch sind die Zeichnung imho noch viel ansprechender.
Zwischen den Episoden wurde mir als Leserin ein Einblick in Enolas geheimes Buch gewährt. Hier wurden mir ihre Gedanken, Lösungswege der Geheimnisse und Ideen präsentiert.
Die drei Episoden sind in sich abgeschlossen, aber der Bogen über Enolas Story ist ihre Suche nach der Mutter, die garantiert noch einige Bände anhält.
Die Sprechblasen waren kurz-knackig und doch ergab sich eine komplexe Handlung.
Das Buch ist für Groß und Klein ein Augenschmaus und ich vergebe gern 5 Detektiv-Sterne.
‘*‘ Klappentext ‘*‘
14-year-old Enola Holmes wakes on her birthday to discover that her mother has disappeared from the family's country manor, leaving only a collection of flowers and a coded message book. With Sherlock and Mycroft determined to ship her off to a boarding school, Enola escapes, displaying a cleverness that even impresses the elder Holmes. But nothing prepares her for what lies ahead…
August 27, 2022
A delightful collection of three short stories featuring the iconic Enola Holmes! The mysteries themselves were just okay and not particularly mind-blowing, though I did like the last one more. The occasionally abrupt story flow is saved by the spunky, show-stealing heroine. I loved her many disguises and costumes. There were also some fun ciphers and I enjoyed learning about language of flowers. The artwork was magical and vibrant, which made the Victorian London setting feel so real.
This graphic novel was a light and fun read overall, but don't be fooled. It also highlights many important social issues and themes such as conformity, societal norms, gender stereotypes, women's suffrage, the poverty gap etc. One part that stuck with me was how a character was institutionalized for dressing like a man.
I can't wait for the next book and see where this family drama goes!
This graphic novel was a light and fun read overall, but don't be fooled. It also highlights many important social issues and themes such as conformity, societal norms, gender stereotypes, women's suffrage, the poverty gap etc. One part that stuck with me was how a character was institutionalized for dressing like a man.
I can't wait for the next book and see where this family drama goes!
June 13, 2022
Many thanks to Netgalley and publisher for providing me with ane-arc im exchange for an honest review.
I love the netflix's enola holmes so I was thrilled there is a graphic novel adaptation of it and man, this was such a stunning book!. I love the artstyle, the colourfulness and the adventures of enola holmes as she went through her journey. I just love the story and how the artist adapted the story visually so good and they are beautiful to look at
I love the netflix's enola holmes so I was thrilled there is a graphic novel adaptation of it and man, this was such a stunning book!. I love the artstyle, the colourfulness and the adventures of enola holmes as she went through her journey. I just love the story and how the artist adapted the story visually so good and they are beautiful to look at
April 6, 2024
I watched Enola Holmes on Netflix so was excited to pick up this series. This first book is parts 1-3, about Enola Holmes, little sister of Sherlock Holmes and a budding detective in her own right. There is an overarching plot line of Enola’s mother having gone missing, and she is searching for her. Concurrently, each part has another mystery she is solving as well. I liked the illustrations, it was a quick read and I’ll be picking up the next installment to see how it all wraps up.
May 31, 2022
Charming, whimsical watercolours illustrate the wonderful Enola Holmes’ first three adventures. Her energy and intelligence come through in Serena Blasco’s artwork. Also, this was a fun way to experience this smart young woman’s experiences in London, solving mysteries and handily outwitting her two older brothers Sherlock and Mycroft. I hope Blasco has illustrated Enola's next three adventures, as I’d definitely reread them in comic form.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Andrews McMeel Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Andrews McMeel Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.
January 9, 2023
Oh my goooooooooood….. finally got my hands on the graphic novels….. and they are a great gift to my broken heart after the disappointment of the movie…
Wish they were longer but I will take what I can get.
Now to wait for the next volume to show up
Wish they were longer but I will take what I can get.
Now to wait for the next volume to show up
July 22, 2024
Such beautiful art! That alone should get 5 stars. But I’ve never been a fan of mysteries, so I feel like the story just wasn’t for me.
January 28, 2022
huge thanks to andrew mcmeel publishing for this arc!
August 6, 2022
Well, I'm sure there are many readers more willing to try this graphic novel adaptation of the first 3 novels of the Enola Holmes series (The Case of the Missing Marquess, The Case of the Left-Handed Lady, & The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets), than willing to read those books...but honestly, I liked the books better!
Nevertheless, since the first Netflix movie came out, there will certainly be plenty of readers for both print versions, and this is appealing enough. (These graphic novels were originally drawn & published in France in 2015 & 2016, but only translated into English in 2022.)
I believe the text remains close to the novels, although I didn't check details...but the fact is that the art doesn't remain close to *itself*! The visual appearance of the main character is so inconsistent that the idea of a disguise is almost absurd. Within the first 12 pages, before Enola has even attempted to dress in a disguise, her hairstyle and hair color has changed multiple times from straight, to curled, from brown to red, and she has dressed in trousers, a simple child's dress, and a teens' fancier dress. While this is in keeping with the impetuous character, it makes the graphic novel a bit confusing and the experience of trying to keep up with it made me feel breathless!
This inconsistency continues throughout, with features that shouldn't shift; her eyes are almond-shaped, but extraordinarily wide, and they inexplicably tilt in different directions depending on her mood and expression - in an exaggerated fashion that makes it confusing to keep track of who is who once she starts disguising herself intentionally. Likewise, her fashion choices have obscure details that just don't "read" well; when her bustle is a contrasting color, it looks as if a colorful batch of mushrooms is shadowing her.
It doesn't help that the scene changes are often not clearly marked, so she is in one disguise on one page, and a different disguise on the next, when we haven't "seen" her return home, change, etc. Certainly there is a lot of ground to cover in order to get the complex mystery of the 216-page novel to fit into a 62-page graphic novel, so the scenes should convey a lot of background - and they usually do.
As a standalone, it works well enough. I guess I just liked the books better, and then I liked the movie even more than the books! So this felt a little disappointing to me.
Nevertheless, since the first Netflix movie came out, there will certainly be plenty of readers for both print versions, and this is appealing enough. (These graphic novels were originally drawn & published in France in 2015 & 2016, but only translated into English in 2022.)
I believe the text remains close to the novels, although I didn't check details...but the fact is that the art doesn't remain close to *itself*! The visual appearance of the main character is so inconsistent that the idea of a disguise is almost absurd. Within the first 12 pages, before Enola has even attempted to dress in a disguise, her hairstyle and hair color has changed multiple times from straight, to curled, from brown to red, and she has dressed in trousers, a simple child's dress, and a teens' fancier dress. While this is in keeping with the impetuous character, it makes the graphic novel a bit confusing and the experience of trying to keep up with it made me feel breathless!
This inconsistency continues throughout, with features that shouldn't shift; her eyes are almond-shaped, but extraordinarily wide, and they inexplicably tilt in different directions depending on her mood and expression - in an exaggerated fashion that makes it confusing to keep track of who is who once she starts disguising herself intentionally. Likewise, her fashion choices have obscure details that just don't "read" well; when her bustle is a contrasting color, it looks as if a colorful batch of mushrooms is shadowing her.
It doesn't help that the scene changes are often not clearly marked, so she is in one disguise on one page, and a different disguise on the next, when we haven't "seen" her return home, change, etc. Certainly there is a lot of ground to cover in order to get the complex mystery of the 216-page novel to fit into a 62-page graphic novel, so the scenes should convey a lot of background - and they usually do.
As a standalone, it works well enough. I guess I just liked the books better, and then I liked the movie even more than the books! So this felt a little disappointing to me.
January 12, 2022
This book collects the first three graphic novels of the first three original novels in this series, and I had to work out whether that was because they were wonderful, or because Netflix, or because they were, well, cheap to reprint. It took some years before these came out in the original French, so was the source that great, when they didn't seem as urgently produced as some books you'd care to think of? Well, the first story is slightly ungainly, in that it has to set the scene and build the world, and then divert to a completely different case. Enola is abandoned on her birthday by her mother, so sends for her older brothers, long absent from the household, to work out why. They fail but she still aspires to follow in their brainbox ways and solve the case for herself – all until she learns of a missing aristocratic lad, that is.
The second novel continues with the mother absent, but the girl's burgeoning expertise in disguises and codes (not bad for a fourteen year old) means she feels capable of working on that case and that of another missing member of a high society family. Luckily the mentions of her managing to do things with her youth and gender the police can't aren't as heavy-handed as all the talk of corsets being confining. The pattern is more or less completely confirmed with the third tale, but at least the person gone missing is more interesting here. The pattern includes painted art that I didn't quite favour with, a style to the text that in translation at least seemed old-fashioned and a touch verbose but never felt like Conan Doyle, and a bit of a plodding nature at times, but nothing too off-putting. The stage design at least has a lot of life.
There, and not a pointless reference to a certain OMD song in sight. Mother would be proud.
The second novel continues with the mother absent, but the girl's burgeoning expertise in disguises and codes (not bad for a fourteen year old) means she feels capable of working on that case and that of another missing member of a high society family. Luckily the mentions of her managing to do things with her youth and gender the police can't aren't as heavy-handed as all the talk of corsets being confining. The pattern is more or less completely confirmed with the third tale, but at least the person gone missing is more interesting here. The pattern includes painted art that I didn't quite favour with, a style to the text that in translation at least seemed old-fashioned and a touch verbose but never felt like Conan Doyle, and a bit of a plodding nature at times, but nothing too off-putting. The stage design at least has a lot of life.
There, and not a pointless reference to a certain OMD song in sight. Mother would be proud.
May 19, 2022
Despite most of the third story not being in the book [LOTS of blank pages], this was still a highly enjoyable and gorgeously illustrated graphic novel. Enola Holmes is just as inquisitive and intelligent as her famous brother and even more engaging than he is. She is not afraid to do what she needs to do to get things done and I think people of all ages will love these stories. Unfortunately, due to not getting most of the third story [including the ENDING!!], I have no idea how it all ends up for Enola, but I can guess she lands feet firmly on the ground and her goals all met. I will be looking into the books that this graphic novel is based on. Well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Serena Blasco, and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, Serena Blasco, and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s the kind of book you can read in a day. The story was nice, I love the Enola Holmes Movies and I expected to not like this but I did!
The artwork in the Graphic Novel is stunning! I love how simple and detailed the art is, throughout the book I found myself staring at a page.
It’s a good book, one to read over and over. I would defiantly recommend to mystery lovers, people who love the movies, and graphic novel lovers! It’s a good book to read with the fam too.
The artwork in the Graphic Novel is stunning! I love how simple and detailed the art is, throughout the book I found myself staring at a page.
It’s a good book, one to read over and over. I would defiantly recommend to mystery lovers, people who love the movies, and graphic novel lovers! It’s a good book to read with the fam too.
March 16, 2022
4.5 stars — Excellent adaptation; beautiful watercolor-style art; three fun mysteries (plus an as-yet-unsolved overarching mystery); inspired addition of notebooks showing Enola's thoughts, processes, and codes (including the language of flowers used throughout); and inclusion of some heavier themes like sexism (Sherlock's and Mycroft's, but society's as well), bigotry, poverty, etc. Perfect for middle grade mystery lovers and anyone who enjoyed the Enola Holmes books or movie.
June 10, 2025
I really really reallyyyyy missed enjoyed this book. I missed the greatness of childhood graphic novels! Enola was a really great character lead to follow! Can’t wait to read and watch more of her!
P.S. Alone is a better detective than Sherlock 😉
P.S. Alone is a better detective than Sherlock 😉
February 23, 2022
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing.
I really enjoyed this graphic novel adaptation of the first three Enola Holmes books. The artwork is a lot of fun.
I really enjoyed this graphic novel adaptation of the first three Enola Holmes books. The artwork is a lot of fun.
March 10, 2023
The original Enola Holmes novels were written by Nancy Springer, a collection of nine stories. Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels: The Case of the Missing Marquess, The Case of the Left-Handed Lady, and The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets is a re-imagining of the stories in graphic novel format by French writer and artist Serena Blasco. Book one contains the first three stories.
Enola Holmes is the 14 year old sister of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes. The first story starts off with her discovering that her mother has disappeared. They have been estranged from the two brothers, who disapproved of their mother's life style. But the two arrive at Enola's home to try and discover what has happened. Sherlock leaves to return to London and begin investigating their mother's disappearance. Mycroft determines that Enola needs to be sent to boarding school to learn to behave like a proper lady.
Enola runs away and decides the best place to hide out from the two in under their noses in London. Before she leaves for London, she discovers that her mother has left her a notebook with secret codes about flowers and also a considerable amount of money; hidden away from the allowances that Mycroft had been providing.
In London, Enola discovers more clues about her mother's disappearance and begins a communication using code, through the newspapers. She also discovers an interest in solving mysteries, especially disappearances. This is the crux of the three individual stories. They involve Enola helping to find three people who have disappeared (kidnapped?), with the last being the disappearance of one Doctor Watson, partner in crime to Sherlock. Her paths cross regularly with those of her brother Sherlock and Enola must try to avoid discovery, all the while working to solve the mysteries.
It's an entertaining collection of stories and the artwork and coloring is bright, colorful and easy on the eye, portraying Victorian England excellently. Enola is a brave, intelligent character and most enjoyable to follow. The cases are all interesting and each story ends with notes from Enola's casebook; the codes used, the disguises worn, all fascinating. I think I'll be looking for the next collection of graphic novels. (4.0 stars)
Enola Holmes is the 14 year old sister of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes. The first story starts off with her discovering that her mother has disappeared. They have been estranged from the two brothers, who disapproved of their mother's life style. But the two arrive at Enola's home to try and discover what has happened. Sherlock leaves to return to London and begin investigating their mother's disappearance. Mycroft determines that Enola needs to be sent to boarding school to learn to behave like a proper lady.
Enola runs away and decides the best place to hide out from the two in under their noses in London. Before she leaves for London, she discovers that her mother has left her a notebook with secret codes about flowers and also a considerable amount of money; hidden away from the allowances that Mycroft had been providing.
In London, Enola discovers more clues about her mother's disappearance and begins a communication using code, through the newspapers. She also discovers an interest in solving mysteries, especially disappearances. This is the crux of the three individual stories. They involve Enola helping to find three people who have disappeared (kidnapped?), with the last being the disappearance of one Doctor Watson, partner in crime to Sherlock. Her paths cross regularly with those of her brother Sherlock and Enola must try to avoid discovery, all the while working to solve the mysteries.
It's an entertaining collection of stories and the artwork and coloring is bright, colorful and easy on the eye, portraying Victorian England excellently. Enola is a brave, intelligent character and most enjoyable to follow. The cases are all interesting and each story ends with notes from Enola's casebook; the codes used, the disguises worn, all fascinating. I think I'll be looking for the next collection of graphic novels. (4.0 stars)
October 20, 2022
As a big Enola Holmes fan, I was eager to pick up the graphic novel version of Nancy Spinger's original novels. I was a big surprised when I discovered that this first volume covered the first three novels in Springer's series. I wasn't sure justice could be done to the stories in such a short amount of space. I am delighted to be able to say that this graphic novel adaptation of Enola's first three adventures in mystery-solving are excellent. Not only is justice done to Enola herself, but the setting and plot are wonderfully depicted. While details are necessarily left out, the illustrations provide more than enough background to understanding what is going on with Enola. Enola's spunkiness and determination shine through both the text and graphics right down to her perky little nose. I especially enjoyed seeing her disguises depicted as she seeks to elude her brothers, Mycroft and Sherlock. The inclusion of snippets from her notebooks is a nice touch as well. Not only is this a fun adaptation of the original novels but it's an entertaining graphic novel series all on it's own. Each mystery provided a chance to see Enola's ingenuity and cleverness in her new life. For those like me who are already fans of Enola as well as those who haven't yet met her, this book is a treat.
May 14, 2022
Beautiful vivid colors, a lively sense of action and motion! I requested "Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels" because I'm familiar with Enola, but I've never read any novels about the teen sister of Sherlock Holmes (a modern addition to YA literature).
I also thought they would be easy to digest, fun reads. I was right!
Enola is strongwilled, spontaneous and as clever as her brother. Her exploits were fun to follow and I think younger audiences will enjoy solving cases with her.
Along with great stories, the art in "Enola" is stunning! I believe the artist used markers to achieve their style, but the effect is more like a stylized watercolor. The story flows well from panel to panel with bright splashes, and I was entertained enough to read all three in one sitting.
The pages at the end of each novel showing Enola's investigation journal were a cute touch. My younger self would've searched their details for clues to the cases Enola was working.
I think these graphic novels would be a great choice to read with a younger child or for a tween/young teen to read alone. A great introduction to graphic novels or the tradition of Sherlock Holmes!
I also thought they would be easy to digest, fun reads. I was right!
Enola is strongwilled, spontaneous and as clever as her brother. Her exploits were fun to follow and I think younger audiences will enjoy solving cases with her.
Along with great stories, the art in "Enola" is stunning! I believe the artist used markers to achieve their style, but the effect is more like a stylized watercolor. The story flows well from panel to panel with bright splashes, and I was entertained enough to read all three in one sitting.
The pages at the end of each novel showing Enola's investigation journal were a cute touch. My younger self would've searched their details for clues to the cases Enola was working.
I think these graphic novels would be a great choice to read with a younger child or for a tween/young teen to read alone. A great introduction to graphic novels or the tradition of Sherlock Holmes!
May 25, 2022
I’ve not read any of the original books or seen the Netflix show, but I’ve heard about them and was excited to read this graphic novel.
First off, the artwork is gorgeous. It has quite a historical, watercolour feel which complements the storyline really well. The added bits at the end of each “episode”, with little codes and messages along with Ebola’s scribbles and drawings, was really well done. I thought the storylines for each of the three episodes were engaging, and it was easy to forget that Enola is only supposed to be a young teenager (but given her brothers, I don’t doubt her ability to find a lodging house in London on her own!).
This is a charming graphic novel, not just for the intended middle grade audience, but for adults as well. The overarching mystery of where Enola’s mother is has yet to be solved, and I’ll be looking out for Book 2 to see what happens next.
First off, the artwork is gorgeous. It has quite a historical, watercolour feel which complements the storyline really well. The added bits at the end of each “episode”, with little codes and messages along with Ebola’s scribbles and drawings, was really well done. I thought the storylines for each of the three episodes were engaging, and it was easy to forget that Enola is only supposed to be a young teenager (but given her brothers, I don’t doubt her ability to find a lodging house in London on her own!).
This is a charming graphic novel, not just for the intended middle grade audience, but for adults as well. The overarching mystery of where Enola’s mother is has yet to be solved, and I’ll be looking out for Book 2 to see what happens next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews