The Dark Lady

December 9, 2013
Originally published in Italy, this pseudonymously written mystery jumpstarts the Sherlock, Lupin and Me series. The swift-moving story brings together young incarnations of three fictional sleuths: Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, Irene Adler (who earned Holmes’s admiration in “A Scandal in Bohemia”), and Maurice Leblanc’s “gentleman thief” Arsène Lupin. Adler narrates with a sure voice, introducing herself as Holmes’s “first and only girlfriend.” Though there is the occasional romantic blush, it’s the credible friendship among all three protagonists that drives the action as the spirited threesome pieces together clues and evidence to solve a double mystery. Set in Saint-Malo in the summer of 1870, the plot piggybacks the death of a man of uncertain identity and the theft of a rich matron’s valuable necklace. Adler (a pen name for Italian writer Alessandro Gatti) deftly depicts the shadowy aspects of the seaside resort, moving the action from an abandoned beach mansion to dark alleys, an illegal gambling hangout, and moonlit rooftops. Cliffhanger chapter endings elevate the suspense, and Bruno’s elegant etching-like drawings with filigree borders enhance the novel’s Victorian flavor. Ages 9–13.

April 1, 2014

Gr 4-7-The three title characters meet up as adolescents and embark on a friendship fostered by a love of solving crimes. When Sherlock, Lupin, and Irene discover a body on the beach, they decide to solve the mystery of the man's death themselves. The plot moves along quickly, and the way in which the quirky friends use witty banter to communicate will hold the interest of reluctant readers. The French setting of 1870s Saint-Malo comes alive as the young sleuths visit deserted mansions, seaside hotels, and a hidden gambling house. Fitting pen-and-ink etchings kick off each short, briskly paced chapter. Fans of Nancy Springer's "Enola Holmes" books (Philomel) will be excited about this promising new series, and it's a solid choice for readers looking for an engaging mystery.-Carrie Shaurette, Dwight-Englewood School, Englewood, NJ

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