The Case of the

Bizarre Bouquets

by Nancy Springer

In this third installment of the Enola Holmes mystery series, the famous Dr. Watson goes missing from the London streets, and 14-year-old Enola Holmes, Sherlock's precocious younger sister, investigates his disappearance.  To aid in her search, and to stay hidden from her brothers, Enola must reinvent herself into a beautiful, stylish lady.  Her disguise is perfect.  Enola passes herself off as a former patient of Dr. Watson, and visits his wife in an effort to get the information she needs to find the good doctor.  While in Watson's home, she notices a bizarre bouquet of flowers and plants which provides the clues she needs to begin her investigation.  Enola's knowledge of herbology, her street smarts, and her ability to decode ciphered messages, saves the day as she encounters a crazy woman who has no nose and travels around the city incognito.  Springer has created an appealing character in Enola Holmes and a surprisingly intricate mystery for so short a book.  It woulde have helped somewhat to have read the first two books in this series.  Questions like "why is Enola hiding from her family?" and "where does she get her money to live?" were probably answered in those first installments.  However, The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets is a fun read even without those answers. A title on this year's Texas Lone Star List.                         --reviewed by Mrs. Sams The Case of theBouquets