I love Enola Holmes

Dear Nancy,

I am sending you best wishes during this holiday season. Thought I’d drop you a little note to say after all the bustle of my 4 boys, presents, feasts, card games, and visits, I was able to slip away for a "moment to recover." Code phrase for "mom needs to go read for a minute so everyone leave her alone!"

 

I had saved reading "The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan" of the Enola Holmes Mystery series for just such an occasion. I didn’t have more than an hour to read so I quickly immersed myself in Enola’s latest adventures in London. What a fun romp in late 19th century London! I enjoyed the many costume changes of Enola, her quick intelligence (despite Mycroft’s vehement denial of women’s ability to be intelligent), and the insights into Ladies’ Lavatories and midden-pickers.

 

From your website at http://www.nancyspringer.net/ I see you have a new Enola Holmes mystery coming in 2009 — The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline. Just wanted to let you know that I cannot wait. I will have to excavate my collection of business cards to locate any contact at Philomel Books to expedite the process. After S.H.’s nicely done flaunting of decency in M.H.’s face, I cannot wait to see what happens next. Readers, if you don’t know what I’m talking about, you shall have to go get your own copy of the Peculiar Pink Fan.

 

Thank you for creating a series that includes details of history for this younger age audience. Until my students are ready for Anne Perry, Nancy Springer will have to suffice. 
Diane

But wait, dear blog readers, In case you have forgotten last year Elizabeth Bird reviewed The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets and actually opened with: "Sweet god, how I love these books!" After re-reading her review, I should have sent Nancy my first draft:    

Dear Nancy Springer, I love your Enola Holmes series so much that I cannot stand knowing there is a new one out and I’m going to have to wait for it. Please, please, please, it’s Christmas and I’ve been very good this year (well, I tried anyway) and I really want to read The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline. I celebrate New Year’s, 3 King’s Day/Ephiphany, Chinese New Year, and my birthday in January just in case you need an excuse for a holiday. If someone will send your new book, I will even celebrate "Read Enola Holmes Day" when it arrives. 

Thank you for writing this (and the Rowan Hood) series. I noticed that you have written steadily since 1979 with books published every year but 1984, 1997, and 1998. Some years you have even had 4 books published in the same year. If enough of us plead, could we please have some more Enola? Thank you.
Diane