Who needs Sherlock when you've got Shelby Holmes on the case? This smart, funny mystery brings all the charm of the classic Holmes and Watson stories to a fresh, contemporary setting. Watch out readers - the game is afoot!” —Varian Johnson, author of THE GREAT GREENE HEIST and TO CATCH A CHEAT
“In this series opener, Eulberg (We Can Work It Out) creates a lively present-day update of Sherlock Holmes, one with plenty of winks to the source material. Readers will delight in Shelby's ability to read clues in this well-plotted mystery and sympathize with Watson who, along with the rest of the supporting cast, is generally two steps behind Shelby.” —Publishers Weekly
“Fun, fresh and unputdownable. I loved, loved, LOVED it!” —Sarah Mlynowski, New York Times bestselling author of the Whatever After series
“Young Shelby may be hunting for a lost spaniel rather than the Hound of the Baskervilles but she is no less dogged a detective than Sherlock himself. And even a legendary malcontent like S. Holmes or P. Bosch will be moved by the friendship at the heart of this riveting mystery. It's only logical that you should read it at once.” —Pseudonymous Bosch, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Series and the Bad Books
“Brisk pacing, likable characters, a few silly Holmes jokes and a diverse neighborhood, carefully and realistically described by John, are ingredients for success. A smart, fresh take on an old favorite makes for a terrific series kickoff.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Will delight readers as they attempt to solve the mystery of a missing dog. Eulberg's middle grade debut is a first purchase for mystery lovers.” —School Library Journal
“Mystery fans may try to solve the case, but most, like John, will enjoy just hanging out with Shelby to see what happens next.” —Booklist
“Readers will delight in Shelby's ability to read clues in this well-plotted mystery and sympathize with Watson who, along with the rest of the supporting cast, is generally two steps behind Shelby.” —Publisher's Weekly
“Young readers will admire the super sleuth and her equally likable sidekick. Perfect for mystery fans.” —School Library Connection
“Eulberg obviously has a fine time with Holmesian references . . . middle- grade readers . . . may simply enjoy getting in on the ground floor of a new mystery series.” —BCCB
2016-06-22
A modern Sherlock Holmes retelling brings an 11-year-old black John Watson into the sphere of know-it-all 9-year-old white detective Shelby Holmes.John's an Army brat who's lived in four states already. Now, with his parents' divorce still fresh, the boy who's lived only on military bases must explore the wilds of Harlem. His new life in 221A Baker St. begins inauspiciously, as before he's even finished moving in, his frizzy-haired neighbor blows something up: "BOOM!" But John's great at making friends, and Shelby certainly seems like an interesting kid to know. Oddly loquacious, brusque, and extremely observant, Shelby's locally famous for solving mysteries. John's swept up in her detecting when a wealthy, brown-skinned classmate enlists their help in the mysterious disappearance of her beloved show dog, Daisy. Whatever could have happened to the prizewinning Cavalier King Charles spaniel? Has she been swiped by a jealous competitor? Has Daisy's trainer—mysteriously come into enough money to take a secret weekend in Cozumel—been placing bets against his own dog? Brisk pacing, likable characters, a few silly Holmes jokes ("I'm Petunia Cumberbatch," says Shelby while undercover), and a diverse neighborhood, carefully and realistically described by John, are ingredients for success. A smart, fresh take on an old favorite makes for a terrific series kickoff. (Mystery. 9-11)