Stoker and Holmes

It is often odd that I see the timelines colliding this way, but when they do, they create some interesting stories. Reality is such an odd thing.

The Clockwork Scarab, Colleen Gleason

(New York: Chronicle Books 2013)

The first of the Stoker & Holmes series introduces us to Evaline Stoker, the teenage sister of Bram Stoker, and Mina Holmes, Sherlock Holmes' niece, as the two combine sleuthing skills and hand-to-hand combat prowess to solve a string of murders involving society girls all turning up dead, with Egyptian mythology at the heart of it all.

The girls' personalities are both very complex- one using cold logic and aloofness to mask her insecurities, and the other brash and brave, but still vulnerable- and it leads to some interesting interactions between the two as Mina does the brainwork and Evaline handles the physical aspect of their investigations, which is made more interesting by an "accidental" time traveler named Dylan, Evaline's attraction towards a mysterious and possibly criminal lad named Pix, and Mina's worrying crush on Inspector Grayling. Throw in the cameo appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Bram Stoker being delightfully snarky towards the other (as good friends do), and you have yourself a fun little concoction of intrigue, ancient mythology, romance and mystery that will keep you turning pages.

Professional Reviews: 

School Library Journal (September 1, 2013; vol. 59, issue 9)

Publisher's Weekly (July 29, 2013; vol. 260, issue 30)

Kirkus Reviews (July 15, 2013)

Author's Website

Now there's been a bit of a vampire problem in town and I must meet someone to speak about what's to be done about them. Enjoy this book trailer while I'm gone, lovelies.

Regards,

E.