Written and Illustrated by Serena Blasco
Based on the novel by Nancy Springer
Published by IDW Publishing
Pages: 64
Retail: $14.99
Dr. John Watson is missing! The sidekick and biographer of the great Sherlock Holmes is nowhere to be found! Having very positive experiences with the good doctor in the past, Enola Holmes wishes to contribute in finding him. But it will not be easy as she must not run afoul of her brother!
See, Enola Holmes is a runaway. Eager to find her missing mother, Enola escaped her boarding school. Thanks to a family trust, she lives comfortably in London at a boarding house apartment. As she looks for her mother, Enola fills her days solving crimes just like her brothers Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. But she must be stealthy, for should either brother catch up with her, Enola will be back in at the school quicker than you could say ‘Professor Moriarty!’
Enola’s only clue is a very strange bouquet of flowers and plants at the Watson residence. Knowing that certain botanicals have hidden meanings, the youngest Holmes knows that there’s something not quite right about this arrangement. In her quest to find Dr. Watson, Enola’s sleuthing will involve uncoding a series of cryptic communiques, donning a series of disguises and travelling into the deepest, most terrifying location in all of London- the madhouse of Clooney Hatch!
Okay- we here at Family Comic Friday kinda knew that Sherlock and his brother Mycroft had a sister. On the BBC series, Sherlock, it was revealed that the world’s greatest detective had a sister named Eurus. Only, this lil’ sis was very much the villain. However, like Enola, Eurus is not canon. Neither character ever appeared in any of the original mysteries by Holmes creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
This is the first Enola Holmes graphic novel that I’ve ever read. With The Case of the Bizarre Bouquet being the third book of the series, I am not really sure of much of the established back history of the characters. But, I am a nut for anything Sherlock Holmes and wanted to jump right in on this. Thus, based on my familiarity with Eurus, I developed a theory about Enola Holmes- she’s not really related to Sherlock!
What if Enola is just a young orphan heiress who got tired of being stuck at her school. Having read the exciting adventures of Sherlock and Watson in the papers, in my theory, Enola believes that she is the long-lost sister of the Holmes brothers. Using some of her inheritance, this young lady creates a new persona as the greatest lady detective ever! What if instead of trying to avoid capture, the reason Enola dodges Sherlock is the fear that he’ll end the illusion of her being a member of the Holmes family tree?
New readers and myself will get a chance to explore this mystery further on the big screen. Sometime later this year, Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown will star as Enola Holmes. Could this feature film reveal the truth about Enola? Is she really a Holmes? Well, if you’re not willing to wait, there’s another way to get your answer!
Enola Holmes is the star of the Enola Holmes Mysteries written by Nancy Springer. Currently, there are seven books in the series. The Case of the Bizarre Bouquet is the third book and this graphic novel is a stunning visual adaptation of it.
The force behind this adaptation and of the previous two books is Serena Blasco. She’s a writer/artist from France and Blasco’s work is really amazing. She blends ink and watercolors with a vibrant palette of pastels to bring Victorian Era London to life! Plus Blasco makes the mysteries very interactive.
Yes, young readers can solve many of the codes and puzzles peppered throughout this graphic novel. Unfortunately, readers such as myself might not realize the two-way nature of those parts of the book as the solutions are inserted in the appendix without any sort of stated challenge. I would argue for a note from the author or editor explaining this better in order to make the books more engaging.
Sometimes it’s more fun to read a series of books out of order. In my case, it’s built up a very strong fan theory about the validity of Enola’s kinship with Sherlock Holmes. Or you can start at book one with The Case of the Missing Marquess. Being a mystery book, there’s some stunning crimes committed by various characters. Plus, the puzzles inside are a little complex. But I think parents should have no problem if the Enola Holmes young adult books and graphic novels were read by young readers aged 10-14.
Enola Holmes: the Case of the Bizarre Bouquets debuted in print on Wednesday, March 25th, 2020. The complete line of Enola Holmes books can be found on Amazon and other platforms. Due to the limitations and economic hardships caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, OG asks that if it is possible, please support your local comic shop! But above all else, be safe when making purchases for you and your child.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
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