book review enola holmes

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Book Review: The Case of the Missing Marquess (An Enola Holmes Mystery) – Nancy Springer

Thrilling MG book set in Victorian England

• ...with a new member of the Holmes family!

The first thing that caught my attention here was the cover – I mean LOOK at it! The interplay of red and black, the intricate little details that wait to be discovered…it just suits the story perfectly! And then it is set in Victorian England – my most favourite of all the (literary) eras. And THEN it’s also the story of Sherlock Holmes’ little sister – what could be better than that? So OBVIOUSLY I was sold – I had to read this book. To give you a little summary of what is to come – I thought it was great, I did like it, but not enough to give it the full five stars. Let me tell you why it didn’t fully live up to my expectations:

A little bit about this book…

So this is the story of Enola, little sister of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes. In contrast to them, she leads a lonely and solitary life out in the country with her mother – until one day, her mother goes missing. Being the sister of the most famous detective of all times, Enola takes the case into her own hands, but other than some hidden money and some encrypted hints that lead her nowhere, she’s not getting far on their country manor. Enola decides to go to London and continue her search there, but gets involved in the strange case of a kidnapped marquess (who is even younger than her 14 year old self). Enola has to be smarter than her brothers, smarter than the kidnappers and try to think where her mother could hide – as she is sure no abduction has been taken place in her case. Will Enola become the new detective par excellence..?

What I thought of it…

This is another middle grade book I’ve read lately that I loved; these are nice, quick and easy reads and they still captivate you as an adult reader. (People who say MG books don’t count as reading can leave now, please and thank you. Lol.)

So apparently, Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes see their mother (and little sister) as the somewhat black sheep of the family, they just support them with money but never visit, which becomes clear when Enola sends them a telegraph after her mother’s disappearance, and the two men do not recognize Enola when she picks them up at the station (by bike, in trousers – so not appropriate for a young girl in Victorian England). The last time they had seen her, Enola was a little toddler! So the family story in here is quite troubled, which casts a kind of bad light on the Holmes bothers, but adds an interesting touch to the story as a whole.

I liked Enola’s elaborate descriptions of the clothes she is supposed to wear (but doesn’t like wearing). They give you a good understanding of the implications that came with being a girl in 19 th century England, and also what it meant if you deviated from these expectations. It’s such a huge shock to Mycroft and Sherlock to see how Enola is running around that it almost borders on funny – but it is also kind of sad, really. The poor girl is basically left alone not only by her mother, but also by her brothers, who don’t think highly of her either…but that made me like her all the more!

I loved the riddles and hints that Enola’s mother has left her daughter, and I loved that they play such an important part in the story. Even Enola’s name is a kind of riddle in itself (shhhh – read it backwards…). Enola is a great character. She is quite lonely, doesn’t have friends or any family left that looks after her, but she still has a great personality. She is independent, smart, strong and fearless, which I liked a lot. When Mycroft and Sherlock want to put Enola into a boarding school, Enola flees – in order to escape the life her brothers have planned for her, but also in order to find her mother. She is angry with them for caring more for her clothes – and rightfully so. She had contacted them to search for their mother, not to make a lady of her!

On her escape route, Enola comes across the case of another missing person – a young boy – and her Holmes genes come through – she just has to undertake investigations of her own!

To mention a slight downside to the story, the case Enola solves there isn’t really a hard one. BUT, I think this story is rather an introduction to the whole series. It is used to present the main character(s) to us, and to give insight into the implications of being set in Victorian England (especially the way an independent, strong girl is seen as foreign object in this world). However, and this might be a slight SPOILER to some people – the case of Enola’s missing mother is not solved by the end of this book. So one cannot help but wonder how her search will continue, and that’s what makes a good introduction to a series, if you ask me. So to sum up, 4 bookish stars to the new star in the Holmes family!

Published by Noly

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226 thoughts on “ Book Review: The Case of the Missing Marquess (An Enola Holmes Mystery) – Nancy Springer ”

Fantastic review, Noly! I really enjoyed your analysis of this book and it seems a great read. 😊

Aww thank you so much, Stephen!! I’m so happy you liked it! 🙂

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Book Review: Enola Holmes The Case of the Missing Marquess

Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess – Enola Holmes #1 – Nancy Springer – Philomel Books – Published 2006

When Enola Holmes, sister to the detective Sherlock Holmes, discovers her mother has disappeared, she quickly embarks on a journey to London in search of her. But nothing can prepare her for what awaits. Because when she arrives, she finds herself involved in the kidnapping of a young marquess, fleeing murderous villains, and trying to elude her shrewd older brothers–all while attempting to piece together clues to her mother’s strange disappearance. Amid all the mayhem, will Enola be able to decode the necessary clues and find her mother?

My thoughts

With the announcement of the Enola Holmes movie, we decided to read the first book in the Enola Holmes series, The Case of the Missing Marquess in our Year 6 book club. Unsurprisingly, the book is much better than the movie (even considering Henry Cavill – sorry Henry). The book is full of fun disguises and clever ways that Enola learns to consider her environment, to move around undetected and to start living on her own terms.

When Enola’s mother disappears and doesn’t return, Enola is forced to inform her two older brothers – Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes. Surprised at the state of the estate and Enola herself, Mycroft decides that Enola will be sent to boarding school. Enola has other ideas and escapes, heading to London to search for her mother. But along the way, she is intrigued by the case of another “missing” person and she decides to investigate.

Despite being written in this century, the writing has an old-style feeling, and draws heavily on period language. This was a great discussion point for out book club. The book also draws attention to many of the inequities of the time.

Enola is a strong, young character. She is intelligent and independent, but she is not without fear or mistakes, which makes her a relatable character to young readers. Many people around her, including her brothers, make references to female capacity and intelligence. These references made for an excellent discussion point with our readers about what it was like living during that time period as a girl and the differences between then and now. Enola is of course very intelligent and proves all their beliefs wrong.

Ciphers, disguises, clues, multiple mysteries, and nefarious villains and brothers alike to evade, The Case of the Missing Marquess is a thrilling mystery adventure and just the start of an intriguing series.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

More information

Category: Middle grade fiction

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Themes: Ciphers , missing persons, adventure, disguises

Reading age guide:  Ages 8 and up.

Advisory: References to prostitution and “ladies of the night” without any details to what this entails, references to extreme poverty. Violence, kidnapping.

Published: 2006. Movie tie-in 2020.

Format: Hardcover, paperback, ebook. 240 pages.

ISBN: 9780593350539

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Adventure Book club Book review Detective Enola Holmes Fiction Four-stars Middle-grade fiction Moie tie-in Mysteries Nancy Springer Philomel Books

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Book Review: The Case of the Missing Marquess (Enola Holmes, #1) by Nancy Springer

Title: The Case of the Missing Marquess (Enola Holmes, #1) Author: Nancy Springer Publisher: Puffin Publication date: 2006 Length: 228 pages Genre: Middle grade Source: Library Rating:

Meet Enola Holmes, teenaged girl turned detective and the younger sister to Sherlock Holmes. When Enola Holmes, sister to the detective Sherlock Holmes, discovers her mother has disappeared, she quickly embarks on a journey to London in search of her. But nothing can prepare her for what awaits. Because when she arrives, she finds herself involved in the kidnapping of a young marquess, fleeing murderous villains, and trying to elude her shrewd older brothers—all while attempting to piece together clues to her mother’s strange disappearance. Amid all the mayhem, will Enola be able to decode the necessary clues and find her mother?

After watching the delightful Netflix adaptation of this book (more about this below), I just had to check out the source material! I’m glad I did — the first book in Nancy Springer’s Enola Holmes series is clever, funny, and full of adventure.

In The Case of the Missing Marquess , Enola wakes up on her 14th birthday to discover that her mother is missing. When her older brothers, Mycroft and Sherlock, arrive on the scene, it’s clear that they have no faith in the ability of a woman to fend for herself or to think rationally. As for what to do with Enola, boarding school is the obvious choice, as far as the men are concerned.

Enola is having none of it, and resolves to run off and go in search of her mother. Using clues left for her by her mother, Enola sets out in clever disguise, making use of the awful requirements of women’s dress (including corsetry and bustle) to find hiding places for money and other essentials.

Along her journey, she stumbles across the case of the missing Marquess — a 12-year-old boy from a prestigious family who’s been reportedly abducted, but Enola sees enough through her own perspective to realize that he’s probably run away as well.

As Enola travels to London, she crosses paths with the Marquess, and together they endure hardships, threats, near-death encounters with bad guys, and a thrilling escape.

By the end, Enola has not yet found her mother, but she’s learned a lot about the ways of the world, how women are viewed and how to use that to her own advantage, and how to survive on her own.

Enola is a delightful character, and the book is a fun caper story. It’s geared toward a younger crowd than YA, which is why I’d call it middle grade, although it might skew somewhere in between.

The writing and dialogue are clever, and it’s quite fun to see how Enola uses society’s view of women to her own ends, subverting the patriarchy right under the patriarchy’s chauvinistic noses.

I’m not sure that I’ll continue with the series — while this book was really enjoyable, I’m not really feeling the need to carry on with something that’s essentially a children’s book series. (If my kids were still in the the target age range, I might feel differently.)

In terms of the Netflix adaptation, well.. it’s not really a fair comparison! The books are a great read for the right age group, but as an adult, I just loved the Netflix version, its cast, and its super-clever approach to the story.

The adaptation also has a much more intricate plot and more story threads to unwind. I do wonder whether some of these other pieces will come into play in later books, but not really enough to make me want to keep reading.

I’d recommend the books for middle grade readers (and parents/teachers/friends of middle grade readers), but for adults looking to enjoy the essence of the story, Netflix’s Enola Holmes is the way to go!

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7 thoughts on “ book review: the case of the missing marquess (enola holmes, #1) by nancy springer ”.

Yes!! I recently binged the whole book series and loved it. I really needed something light at the time though, so absolutely understand why you might stop after #1. I will have to get my hands on the netflix series now!!

I haven’t seen the adaptation yet, but it seems like they’ve geared it toward the adult crowd. I’m not into MG books at all, so I doubt I’d pick this up, even though it sounds good😁

Yes, the adaptation skews a little older (and they’ve made Enola herself slightly older — 16 rather than 14 — which makes it a little more feasible for her to pull off some of her adventures). Plus, it’s an amazing cast! (Basically, any time I get to see Helena Bonham Carter in anything is a win!)

Maybe I’ll continue on with the books at some point — I can see mixing them into my reading schedule when I need something lighter. 🙂 Definitely check out the Netflix version! (It’s a movie, not a series, so not a huge commitment)

I didn’t know that Enola Holmes was a book series. I just thought it was a clever spinoff of the Sherlock Holmes books! 🤦

Did you watch the Netflix version? So much fun. The books are sweet and light!

Yes, I did and it was fun to watch. I’ve also watched some of their promotional videos on YouTube where they challenge each other at some games.

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The Writer's Workout

Be a better writer..

• Srivalli Rekha 1
• May 13, 2021

Book Review: Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche by Nancy Springer

Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche by Nancy Springer

Publication Date: 31st August 2021

Genre: Historical Mystery, Young Adult, Holmes Fan Fiction

For mystery May at The Writer’s Workout, what can be better than a mystery book set in bygone era with Sherlock Holmes in it?

Enola Holmes is Sherlock’s (not-so) little sister, now fifteen and back in action. She has previously solved 6 cases (yeah, something I wasn’t even aware of), and the first book in the series was made into a movie in 2020.

The case of Black Barouche could be termed as the seventh book in the series, though it reads well as a standalone. I couldn’t have been happier noticing this. Even more so since the last book of the series was published more than a decade ago. Yeah! I’m going to read them all because I just love Enola. She is smart, quirky, mischievous, resourceful, and a little stupid at times. A perfect combination for a teen detective from the Victorian Era.

I’m relieved that the author got Sherlock and Watson to appear authentic and true to their characters. Yeah, she’s probably written them in her previous books, but then I’m always wary of what other authors tend to do with famous characters. This book, however, reads like an original.

The case of Black Barouche starts with a letter from Sherlock where new readers with absolutely no clue about the series get a gist of Enola and her relationship with her older brothers. Then it dives straight into the story, and we see it from Enola’s POV. The narrative style suits her so well, you can see the author’s command over her character.

The author has retained the flair and flavor of language from that era while also keeping it relatable and light for today’s readers. She also effectively portrays the dynamics between two headstrong and talented siblings, Sherlock and Enola. Both of them want to solve the case before the other, but ultimately work together and help each other to solve the case.

The case in this book deals with the dead/missing wife of an Earl. The wife’s twin sister, Letitia Glover (yet another delightful character who was quite modern for the era), visits Sherlock to request help, and Enola steps in to promise her services. The girls connect and become good friends during the case.

Sherlock, of course, has an important role to play. Enola is still a young girl, and well, the setting naturally puts enough limitations and obstacles on her path. I do wish Dr. Watson was seen more often. But then, this book belongs to Enola. She and Sherlock are working together, I mean, as together as it can be possible with two strong-willed and determined people wanting to solve the case before the other.

The case is straightforward with no unexpected twists and turns. There are no pull-the-rug moments or punch-in-your-face twists that come out of nowhere. (I don’t prefer twists in thrillers for the sake of having one).

There are some disturbing scenes (I’m not sure how a teen would take), though I’m fine with it. The scenes show how things were/ are, and none of it has been amplified or dramatized to scare the readers.

The underlying theme deals with the status of women in the Victorian era, especially the girls who belong to ordinary families. We also see the restrictions put on Enola, which she artfully bypasses. That girl is quite a combination of class and determination.

I like how the Earl’s named Caddie (no spoilers). Tewky, the young Viscount Tewkesbury, Marquess of Basilwether, also has a role to play in the book. He’s one of the characters from the previous books and apparently seems to have a nice following among the readers.

The book ends with Sherlock’s POV as he summaries and ties up the loose ends with Enola stepping in, of course. How can she not take things into her hands, right?

Overall, this is a delightful mystery with a feisty heroine and her brother, Sherlock, the world-famous detective. The touches of humor do outweigh the grim scenes. That’s a plus if you are reading the book in times like this (pandemic).

I’m so glad that my friend alerted me about a few books being added to the ‘Read Now’ list on NetGalley for a limited time. The geographical restrictions don’t let me request books by St. Martin’s Press otherwise.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/ Wednesday Books.

About the Author: Srivalli Rekha is a blogger, writer, and amateur photographer. She got a degree in MBA and MA English Literature and chose to become a writer and a poet instead of a corporate professional.

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In The Lively 'Enola Holmes,' Sherlock's Little Sister Goes Sleuthing

Glen Weldon

"The train's afoot!": (L to R) Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft (Sam Claflin) literally look down on their younger sister Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) in Netflix's Enola Holmes. Alex Bailey/Legendary/Netflix hide caption

"The train's afoot!": (L to R) Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft (Sam Claflin) literally look down on their younger sister Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) in Netflix's Enola Holmes.

"Plucky" is one of those words that doesn't get out and about much anymore.

Something about it feels off, a bit — regressive, condescending, even vaguely sexist, as it's usually only seen in the company of the word "heroine" these days.

But I'm gonna dust it off and use it here, because there's just no getting around it — "plucky," after all, means "spirited, determined and courageous, especially when things are looking grim" and 16-year-old Enola Holmes (as played by Millie Bobby Brown, who's also — tellingly, I think — one of the film's producers) is precisely that. She is pluckiness made flesh. Pluck incarnate.

'Stranger Things 2' Creators Wanted A Sequel That Topped The Original

The bright, breezy Netflix film Enola Holmes , which is based on a series of YA novels by Nancy Springer, benefits hugely from Brown's lively, intelligent and charming performance. She's so good here that even the character's tendency to turn to the camera and address the audience — which she does a great deal (seriously, this film has more asides than an adodecahedron) — never gets wearying. You even start to find yourself looking forward to them, if you can imagine.

The plot: Enola awakens on her 16th birthday (she was 14 in the novel) to discover that her mother (Helena Bonham Carter) — an eccentric but brilliant thinker and suffragist — is missing. Following clues involving anagrams and cyphers, she sets off to London to find her, all while attempting to evade her older brothers Mycroft (Sam Claflin) and Sherlock (Henry Cavill), who are seeking to cart Enola off to a finishing school.

Do I need to tell you that the dour, prim head of the finishing school in question is played by Fiona Shaw? Or that Burn Gorman shows up as a villainous thug, forever lurking in doorways? I don't, right? You guessed all that right away, yes?

The script is witty, the cast slightly more diverse than you're likely expecting, and there are fun references to canonical Holmes elements throughout. True, this is a lighter and frothier take on Victorian England than we're used to seeing, though it does flirt with some darker themes involving the mother's fate that threaten to throw off the film's tonal balance. And speaking of flirting — a romantic subplot involving a young marquess (Louis Partridge), who looks like what you'd get if Victorian farmers had grown boy bands out on the heath, generates neither heat nor sparks, and comes off as one of the film's more formulaic YA components.

And I'm honestly puzzled by Cavill's performance as Sherlock here, which, while it may comport with the books' portrayal, feels wildly out-of-step with past interpretations of Arthur Conan Doyle's hero. O.G. Sherlock is, after all, cold, shrewd, impatient and famously tetchy. Cavill, in stark contrast, is ridiculously warm and empathetic, even tender; the ultimate effect feels less like a radical re-interpretation and more like a clumsy mis-interpretation. (Plus there's the small but telling fact that when classic Sherlock roamed the streets of London, he did so without bulging out of his tweed frock coat, as Cavill does. He could also put his arms down at his sides, as Cavill cannot.)

There are six books in the Enola Holmes Mysteries series, and the film plants several seeds that will only come to fruition should a sequel or two happen. Here's hoping they do, because the world of this film is a pleasure to disappear into, and in Enola, Brown has found a role to which she seems perfectly — even uncannily — matched.

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Book Review

Enola holmes and the black barouche.

• Nancy Springer
• Historical , Mystery , Young Adult Fiction

Readability Age Range

• 13 to 18 years old
• Wednesday Books

Year Published

Enola Holmes, Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister, is called in to help ease the famous detective out of a depressive funk. And the only solution she can come up with is to steal away one of his cases involving a twin sister who’s caught up in a deadly mystery.

Plot Summary

“Flossie simply cannot be gone from this world,” Miss Letitia Glover declares, her eyes wet with emotion. “I would have instantly sensed my loss had she passed away.”

Enola Holmes, Sherlock Holmes’ young, quick-witted sister, nods and soon after promises to help with this woman’s case. The problem is, it isn’t exactly her case to help with. The woman had come to talk with Enola’s brother, the eminent detective.

Enola, you see, had been called to Sherlock’s apartment as part of an urgent request from his detecting partner, Dr. John Watson. Sherlock was in one of his depressive funks, a state he regularly finds himself in after a strenuous bout of thought and deduction. And once he enters into that state, it’s often very hard to bring him back to any semblance of normalcy.

Enola reasoned, however, that stealing away a case just might get the brilliant man to rise, shave and dress himself properly. And she was quite correct.

Now she and Sherlock are attentively listening to the particulars of Miss Glover’s case. They are approximately as follows:

• Miss Glover has a twin sister named Felicity (or Flossie, to those she holds dear).
• Flossie married, as quite a shock to her lower-class family, the Earl of Dunhench, a man known to have an eye for beautiful women.
• Miss Glover just received a strangely short missive stating that Flossie had died unexpectedly and was quickly cremated without a funereal.
• The ashes were sent with the note.
• And Miss Glover has been unable to find out anything more from the close-mouthed Earl.
• But one thing Miss Letitia Glover is convinced of is that her twin—connected to her by that odd emotional linkage that twins often have—is most certainly not

This time Enola and Sherlock are nodding in unison as well. And after Sherlock examines the ashes under a microscope, determining that they couldn’t possibly be those of a young woman (unless she was covered in brown fur and walked on all fours), he promises to look into the case. “We’ll do it together!” Enola makes plain to both Miss Glover and her brother.

In fact, Enola already has ideas for the part she’ll play and the disguise she’ll use to uncover further clues. Her brilliant brother might indeed be the best and most insightful male detective the world has ever known. But women can be insightful and capable, too.

And Enola Holmes is determined to show that she is the most capable of the lot!

Christian Beliefs

Letitia makes reference to the biblical story of “someone” having their feet washed with a woman’s hair.

Other Belief Systems

Authority roles.

Sherlock Holmes is somewhat ill tempered and locked away in a dark room when Enola first arrives. She has a very difficult time breaking through his angry crust. And even after pulling himself out of his funk, Sherlock has very little desire to work the case with his sister. But after Enola makes it clear that they will work together for Miss Glover—a woman whom Enola has already formed a bond with—Sherlock loosens up.

Sherlock treats Enola with respect and talks with her as an equal, even being impressed with her inventiveness at some junctures. And though he notes early on that Enola “did not need protection,” he does keep a protective eye on her.

Almost all of the other adults and authorities in the equation are relatively kind and attentive but for Lord Cadgan Burr Radcliff II, the Earl and husband in the case. This man can appear mannered and nice in public, but we learn that he is a womanizing lout who mistreated two different women he was married to.

Letitia and her sister Felicity are incredibly close. And Letitia puts her life on the line to find her missing sis.

Profanity & Violence

There’s a reference to a group of people “screeching profanities,” but none are spelled out. Someone does cry out, “your mission be d–ned!” at one point.

We’re told that Enola once cut up a murderous villain with a dagger. She reaches for that dagger at one point and holds it to someone’s throat. Several footmen grab Enola at their employer’s command, then drag her to a bedroom and lock her in. A coachman is thumped with a full-body blow into a rose bush.

There are several cases of people being thumped and bumped around because of a hard-to-control horse.

Sexual Content

It’s implied that the Earl has had his way with a number of women and that he married his first wife because he had “gotten her in trouble.”

Discussion Topics

What did you think of the book’s mystery? Did you feel like you were piecing together the clues with Enola and her brother Sherlock?

The story definitely points to some of the ways that women were very disadvantaged in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Were you aware that society was slanted so unfairly? What does that tell you about Enola’s character? How does it make you feel about the changes that have happened since?

What did you think about the devotion Miss Glover felt for her sister? Do you feel that way with your siblings? Are there ways you can show a brother or sister how important they are to you, or ways that you can strengthen your relationship? Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and see if there are any helpful thoughts in there.

What’s your favorite part of this story?

Get free discussion question for books at focusonthefamily.com/magazine/thriving-family-book-discussion-questions .

Additional Comments

With the advent of the Enola Holmes Netflix movie, several other Enola Holmes book entries and the well-known history of the great detective Sherlock himself, this book will likely attract the attention of young mystery readers. And well it should. Author Nancy Springer maintains Sherlock Holmes’ Victorian era and creates a suitable mystery of twists and turns that works nicely. And the whip-smart Enola is an enjoyable action/adventure heroine. The book speaks of the bonds and devotion between loving family members.

You can request a review of a title you can’t find at [email protected] .

Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not necessarily their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.

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‘Enola Holmes’ Review: Millie Bobby Brown Rocks as Sherlock’s Kid Sister in Clever Netflix Original

Meet Sherlock Holmes' younger sister, who represents an independent-minded new heroine for young-adult audiences in this entertaining franchise starter.

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The puzzles in “ Enola Holmes ” are not especially difficult, but they’re enough to stump the great Sherlock Holmes (played here by “Man of Steel” star Henry Cavill). To solve this particular mystery — which involves the disappearance of the detective’s mother, Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter) — will require an even sharper intellect than Sherlock’s, which we find in the form of his spunky younger sister, Enola ( Millie Bobby Brown of “Stranger Things”), an untamed country wildflower who has spent her first 16 years on Earth preparing for just such a case, though she didn’t realize it at the time.

Enola may not be couth or the slightest bit ladylike, but her lack of refinement makes her uniquely suited to the kind of sleuthing this franchise-ready Netflix feature requires. It takes someone impervious to late-19th-century gender norms to disguise herself as a boy, for example; trained in the art of jujitsu to challenge gun-wielding villains with her bare hands; and optimistic (or else naive) enough to believe she can do anything to do everything this challenge demands.

Adapted from the first installment in a six-book series by Nancy Springer, “Enola Holmes” modernizes the Victorian world of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, enlisting “Fleabag” director Harry Bradbeer to bring a similarly breezy, direct-address approach to the material. A socially awkward character who’s not the slightest bit uncomfortable on camera, Enola serves as her own narrator, frequently breaking the fourth wall as she speaks to the audience or shoots knowing looks in our direction — a style obviously modeled after the confidential “just between us” tone Bradbeer and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge struck in “Fleabag.”

“Enola Holmes” offers a different kind of feminism from that game-changing show, based less in accepting women with all their flaws than in the conviction that men have bossed around long enough, and it’s time to make room for other people. Centered on a long-haired runaway lord (Louis Partridge) and the passage of Great Britain’s Representation of the People Act 1884 (which paved the way for women’s suffrage a quarter-century later), the movie has contemporary issues of gender equality on the mind — and an endearingly radical protagonist in Enola.

Although it was her mother’s unexplained sortie that prompted her adventure, it’s the equally peculiar appearance of Partridge’s character — a cute young lord entitled Viscount Tewkesbury, Marquess of Basilwether — that consumes her attention for much of the film. After rescuing this “useless boy” from an assassin (Burn Gorman), Enola goes her own way, only to recognize that they’re both on the run from their respective families. His wants him dead, and hers — eldest brother Mycroft (Sam Claflin) in particular — aims to send her to a finishing school for young ladies.

While the project may be British, it could hardly be a coincidence that a story hinging on this decisive vote over the Reform Act should land within weeks of America’s most important election in decades. And what could be more empowering than the film’s twin messages? The first, “You are not alone,” should resonate with the young women in the audience. Enola (whose name, we’re too-frequently reminded, is “alone” spelled backward) becomes a symbol of solidarity for those who feel like outsiders in their nonconformity. And the second, “Every vote counts,” speaks to those old enough to impact elections, reminding that the right was an honor hard-won.

“You don’t know what it is to be out of power,” one of Eudoria’s female friends scolds Sherlock, doing that distinctly 2020 thing of calling out a prominent man on his privilege. “You have no interest in changing a world that suits you so well.” This may be true, but it’s something of a shock to watch the great Sherlock Holmes — a forward-thinking man of science and reason who pioneered the field of forensic investigation — depicted as little more than a self-interested pretty boy, sympathetic to his 20-years-younger sister yet hopelessly behind the progressive attitudes that Enola embodies.

It’s one thing to be dismissive of Mycroft, but the casting of Cavill turns the iconic Sherlock character into what we might call metrosexual today: worked-out and so meticulously groomed he easily could be mistaken for gay — a far cry from the tweed-clad, deerstalker-capped gentleman of yore. On the other hand, Brown (who could pass for “Sherlock” star Benedict Cumberbatch’s sister) brings some of the awkwardness we traditionally associate with the iconic detective to her role: Enola was never indoctrinated by her mother in the ways of polite society, and as such, she’s meant to represent female intellect in its natural, unrepressed state. Her performance may be incongruous with the era, but that’s hardly a bad thing. Brown’s acting style recalls the effusive spontaneity Keira Knightley brought to “Pride and Prejudice,” shattering the straitlaced propriety of so many Jane Austen adaptations before it.

Here’s a Victorian movie in which we never once hear the sound of a teacup rattling. Rather, we’re treated to a smorgasbord of door bashing, car crashing and head smashing — not to mention a warehouse full of explosives flashing the most spectacular fireworks show London has seen to that point. Despite making room for such bombast, “Enola Holmes” remains tamer and more tasteful in its high-energy storytelling than Guy Ritchie’s recent “Sherlock Holmes” movies, and considerably more fun than last year’s “Nancy Drew” reboot.

What’s missing is the simple satisfaction of solving a case. Apart from using her noggin to untangle an early clue involving her mum’s chrysanthemums, Enola does most of her detective work on the fly, relying either on her memory or her emotions to steer her. Screenwriter Jack Thorne never gives us that Holmesian pleasure of putting all the pieces together to explicate the mystery. Director Bradbeer and editor Adam Bosman maintain a jaunty pace throughout, propelled by DP Giles Nuttgens’ dynamic camera, whose CG-embellished widescreen compositions subvert the stuffy Merchant Ivory-esque locations with a “Kingsman”-esque pop energy. “Enola Holmes” seems every bit as suited to sequels as that franchise, and could benefit from follow-ups, since it ends with the Tewkesbury case resolved, and much about Mrs. Holmes’ motives still in need of further investigation.

Reviewed online, Los Angeles, Sept. 6, 2020. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 123 MIN.

• Production: (U.K.) A Netflix release of a Legendary Pictures presentation of a Legendary Pictures, PCMA production. Producers: Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Ali Mendes, Millie Bobby Brown, Paige Brown. Executive producers: Joshua Grode, Michael Dreyer, Harry Bradbeer.
• Crew: Director: Harry Bradbeer. Screenplay: Jack Thorne, based upon the Enola Holmes Mystery book “The Case of the Missing Marquess: An Enola Holmes Mystery” by Nancy Springer. Camera: Giles Nuttgens. Editor: Adam Bosman. Music: Daniel Pemberton.
• With: Millie Bobby Brown, Sam Claflin, Adeel Akhtar, Fiona Shaw, Frances de la Tour, Louis Partridge, Burn Gorman, Susan Wokoma, Claire Rushbrook, David Bamber, Hattie Morahan, with Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter.

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‘Enola Holmes’ Review: She’s Beyond Elementary, and Not Your Dear

Millie Bobby Brown stars as a teenager with sleuth skills that rival her famous brother’s in this charming feature.

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By Lovia Gyarkye

The year is 1884 and Enola Holmes is on a mission — to find her mother, escape her brothers and live life on her own terms. It’s a tall order for the teenage sister of Sherlock Holmes, whose age and gender make her battle an uphill one. But her will won’t be broken, and in the Netflix film “Enola Holmes,” directed by Harry Bradbeer, our title character proves this to anyone in doubt.

After Enola (Millie Bobby Brown of “Stranger Things”) discovers on the morning of her 16th birthday that her mother (Helena Bonham Carter) has disappeared, she reluctantly finds herself under the care of her brothers Mycroft (Sam Claflin) and Sherlock (Henry Cavill). Mycroft wants to send Enola to finishing school, but Enola, who has been raised by her mother to be independent, refuses to have her identity defined by domesticity.

Motivated by a set of clues left by her mother, Enola escapes to London. On her way to the city, she crosses paths with Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge), a young lord also on the run from a suffocating fate. The pair form a predictable (but no less tender) bond.

While Enola looks for her mother and tackles other mysteries in the process, England is on the cusp of change, with an expansion of voting rights being decided in the House of Lords. “Enola Holmes” converges around the stakes of democracy, including the work of suffragists fighting for widespread representation. The film is successful in balancing these broad themes with our heroine’s adventures, and that is due in large part to the work of Brown, whose energetic performance breathes new life into the Holmes creative world.

On the surface, “Enola Holmes” is about a young woman in search of herself, but the film’s value comes from a deeper investigation of power, familial bonds and the risks of changing a world determined to stay the same.

Enola Holmes Rated PG-13 for some violence. Running time: 2 hours 3 minutes. Watch on Netflix.

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Enola Holmes review – Sherlock's rebellious kid sister is on the case

Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown is cheeky young Enola searching for her missing mum in this amiable, starry mystery movie

I t is hardly believable that there’s yet another Sherlock Holmes ripoff/spinoff – the genre named by the late critic Gilbert Adair “Shlock Holmes”. But here is Sherlock’s little-known rebellious kid sister Enola, invented in 2006 by the YA author Nancy Springer. Jack Thorne has adapted the first volume in her award-winning series and the director is Harry Bradbeer.

Millie Bobby Brown (from TV’s Stranger Things) plays the imaginative, brilliant, quirky young Enola . She has grown up alone in the country with her enigmatic widowed mother, Eudoria ( Helena Bonham Carter ), who has homeschooled her in science, literature and martial arts – this is after Enola’s terribly grand older brothers, Sherlock ( Henry Cavill ) and Mycroft (Sam Claflin), have left home. But Eudoria herself disappears, leaving gnomic clues for Enola as to why, and then grumpy Mycroft insists on putting Enola in a stuffy boarding school run by Dickensian headmistress Miss Harrison (Fiona Shaw). So Enola has to escape, solve the mystery of her missing mum and also come to CGI Victorian London, thwarting a reactionary conspiracy to kidnap a handsome young aristocrat (Louis Partridge) who has a crush on Enola.

It all rattles along amiably enough. Enola Holmes is the kind of all-star production that might once have been made by the BBC and graced the front cover of the Christmas Radio Times. Brown has a nice, easygoing way with the material, cheekily outpacing her famous brother Sherlock here and there and often doing fourth-wall breaks to smirk at the audience, and I loved Miss Harrison’s steampunky motor car. But there should have been more specifically ingenious deducting and solving from Enola – codebreaking isn’t the same thing. So … is Moriarty’s super-evil kid sister on the way?

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Enola holmes, common sense media reviewers.

Entertaining period mystery has feminist messages, violence.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Women and girls deserve autonomy over their own li

Enola models courage, intelligence, integrity. Her

Mrs. Holmes teaches Enola martial arts and combat,

Enola and Lord Tewksbury have an immediate attract

"Hell," "oh my God," "dear God."

Sherlock and Mycroft meet over drinks in a lounge.

Parents need to know that Enola Holmes stars Millie Bobby Brown ( Stranger Things ) and is based on the book series by Nancy Springer. It's lots of fun, but there's some potentially scary action and violence. Enola (Brown) regularly uses her martial arts and combat training to take down people…

Positive Messages

Women and girls deserve autonomy over their own life choices and lifestyles. They can be as strong and clever as males. Friends and family help each other in times of trouble. Film is set in era shown to be ripe for progressive social reform (sometimes by radical means).

Positive Role Models

Enola models courage, intelligence, integrity. Her feminist mother has raised Enola outside of society's constrictions to be an intelligent, physically adept free thinker, but hasn't taught her how to interact with others and get by in society. Though Enola's name spells "Alone" backward and she has been taught that she doesn't need company because she has herself, she ultimately opts to put herself in harm's way to save a friend. She knows her mother wouldn't approve of the choice, nor does she necessarily approve of her mother's participation in a radical political movement. Intuitive Sherlock is impressed with Enola's skills, but conservative Mycroft finds her to be wild, dangerous, in need of "breaking" at a strict girls' boarding school. Main characters are White, but supporting cast has more diversity than is typical for Holmes stories set in the past.

Violence & Scariness

Mrs. Holmes teaches Enola martial arts and combat, which she uses on several occasions. Enola saves Lord Tewksbury from being thrown off a train, then the two teens jump off the moving train together. A man attacks Enola; they have a knock-down brawl that involves knives, explosives, Enola nearly drowning. The man returns in a climactic fight scene that involves ( spoiler alert ) Enola and Lord Tewksbury getting shot at and the man dying by blunt force to the head (complete with crunching noise). Scotland Yard inspector Lestrade sneaks into Enola's room; she hits him over the head with a teapot, but he still catches her. Mycroft makes Enola cry by shouting at her and taking all her money. School director slaps Enola across the cheek, keeps her in a locked room. Arguments.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Enola and Lord Tewksbury have an immediate attraction. She saves his life several times, and he saves hers back. They share a quiet moment together in her rented room; she's embarrassed by her undergarments hanging out to dry. He kisses her hand and wonders about their future. At one point, Enola is told that her breasts and hips need "amplification" (via her clothing/fashion).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Enola Holmes stars Millie Bobby Brown ( Stranger Things ) and is based on the book series by Nancy Springer . It's lots of fun, but there's some potentially scary action and violence. Enola (Brown) regularly uses her martial arts and combat training to take down people attacking her, including some who wield weapons like knives and shotguns. (Potential spoiler alerts !) In one fight scene, she appears to have drowned but survives to blow up a building and escape harm. In another, her friend Lord Tewksbury (Louis Partridge) is shot in the chest. Teens escape an assassin by jumping off a train; in a climactic scene, a character dies via blunt force to the head, which includes a nasty crunching noise. Enola also smashes an adult over the head with a teapot, and an authority figure locks her in a room. Language is mild and includes "hell," "oh my God," and "dear God." Despite the intense moments, parents couldn't ask for a better role model for their tween and teen daughters than strong, independent Enola, who models courage, intelligence, and integrity through her actions. She has been raised outside of social constraints and taught to think and live for herself. She helps Tewksbury even though it means putting herself in danger. The two teens seem to share an attraction and the desire for a future together; at one point, he kisses her hand. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Based on 77 parent reviews

My daughter loves it!

What's the story.

ENOLA HOLMES ( Millie Bobby Brown ) has been raised by her mother alone in their vast country estate to be a strong, independent free thinker. The two are exceptionally close until Mrs. Holmes ( Helena Bonham Carter ) suddenly disappears on Enola's 16th birthday. Enola's brothers -- renowned detective Sherlock ( Henry Cavill ) and uptight politician Mycroft ( Sam Claflin ) -- are called in to care for her and help find their mother. The men are taken aback to find Enola, whom they haven't seen in years, grown up and, according to the straight-laced standards of Victorian England, wildly unrestrained. Mycroft plans to send her to finishing school while Sherlock searches for their mother, who appears to be caught up in a potentially violent women's suffrage movement. But Enola has other plans and escapes them both. Through a series of gender-bending disguises and adventures, she sets herself up in London to find her mother on her own. Complicating matters is her entanglement in the misadventures of the young marquess Lord Tewksbury (Louis Partridge), who's on the run from both his family and a murderous mystery man.

Is It Any Good?

Fast-paced, clever, and hugely entertaining, this film will delight fans of Brown and surely bring her more followers thanks to this outstanding role. Brown has become a cultural icon of girl power: Girls everywhere wanted to be her Stranger Things character Eleven, and now they'll crave to be the fiercely independent, confident, wily Enola, too. Brown (who's also a producer on Enola Holmes ) pairs off against a cast of established actors, including Bonham Carter and Cavill, and she fills nearly every scene with energy and intelligence in a role that's as physical as it is emotional. The technique of having her character conspiratorially break the fourth wall to talk directly to the camera (like a teen-friendly Fleabag ) creates complicity with the viewer. Interestingly, that playful dialogue seems to come and go with her character's own confidence and fortune.

Sherlock fans may be reluctant to accept a younger and more forward-thinking sister who outsmarts the great detective. And history buffs may bristle at the imposition of some contemporary values on late 1800s-era London. But smashing historical constructions and patriarchal obstacles seems to be exactly the point. And, anyway, doesn't the magic of many movies lie precisely in the suspension of disbelief? Yes, Enola's regular combat conquests and speedy deductions are suspect. But really, who cares when a film is so well put together and just plain fun to watch? Considering that there are several books in the source series , here's hoping that Enola Holmes marks the start of an exciting new franchise.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how the characters in Enola Holmes compare to what you already knew of Sherlock Holmes and his world.

What did you think of Enola's upbringing? Would you like to have been raised like her? Why or why not? Do you consider her a role model ? How does she demonstrate courage and integrity ?

Enola often talks to the camera in a technique known as "breaking the fourth wall." What's your reaction to this technique? Where else have you seen it?

What's your opinion of the choices Mrs. Holmes makes? How about Sherlock and Mycroft?

Movie Details

• On DVD or streaming : September 23, 2020
• Cast : Millie Bobby Brown , Henry Cavill , Sam Claflin
• Director : Harry Bradbeer
• Studio : Netflix
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Topics : Activism , Adventures , Book Characters , Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Great Girl Role Models , History
• Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity
• Run time : 123 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : some violence
• Award : Common Sense Selection
• Last updated : April 15, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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In her indelible portrayal of the troubled Eleven on “Stranger Things,” Millie Bobby Brown was called upon to be wise beyond her years, solve puzzles that were both mentally and physically challenging, and provide a clear path forward in a world that was dark and confusing.

As the title character in “Enola Holmes,” Brown must shoulder all those responsibilities again—only this time, she gets to have a complete blast doing it. Brown is nothing short of radiant here, displaying the same sort of mature presence and poise we’ve seen on the Netflix sci-fi series but also an engaging playful side and impeccable comic timing. It’s like discovering her for the first time all over again, and it’s a joy. And if the way “Enola Holmes” ends is any indication, this may be the start of a most welcome girl-powered franchise. 

Based on the Young Adult novel series by Nancy Springer , “Enola Holmes” finds Sherlock’s younger sister stirring up trouble, solving mysteries and carving out her own place in wealthy Victorian England. Despite having a famous sibling, she’s very much her own person in the way she goes about playing detective. Emmy winner Harry Bradbeer brings an infectious energy to this stuffy setting by having Enola break the fourth wall from the get-go with amusingly self-aware asides, a tactic he used frequently on the many episodes of “Fleabag” he directed. She looks straight into the camera and talks to us as she’s riding a bicycle over rolling hills and across vast fields of flowers—that is, until she bites it and lands face-first in the dirt. “Cycling is not one of my core strengths,” she explains matter-of-factly as she dusts herself off, and we’re hooked.

In the script from Jack Thorne , Enola notes that her name is “alone” spelled backward. And she and her thoroughly unorthodox mother (a well-cast Helena Bonham Carter) are exactly that as they prowl about their expansive country mansion doing whatever they please: painting, reading, even playing tennis and archery indoors. (As the coolest homeschool teacher ever, Carter is an inspiration to all us struggling parents.) But then she disappears suddenly as Enola turns 16, leaving her daughter to fend for herself with a series of cryptic clues and a couple of disapproving older brothers who’ve returned to check on her.

Henry Cavill is the hunkiest Holmes ever—truly, it’s hard to imagine how he found time to hit the gym between solving crimes—and Sam Claflin literally gets a mustache to twirl as the snooty, scheming Mycroft. But while Sherlock seems to appreciate his little sister’s sharp mind and spry demeanor, Mycroft is mortified by how unkempt and uncouth she’s become, and insists on sending her to an uptight finishing school to turn her into a proper lady. ( Fiona Shaw is straight out of a Dickens novel as the prim and persnickety headmistress.)

“I don’t want a husband,” Enola informs Mycroft with conviction. “And that is another thing that will have to be educated out of you,” he responds, in what will come to define the film’s true central conflict: the fight for female liberation in a patriarchal society that’s loath to evolve. But while it takes place as legislators are considering women’s suffrage and Enola’s battle cry (handed down from her forward-thinking mother) is “Our future is up to us,” the film as a whole is mostly a light, family-friendly adventure, filled with secret codes to decipher and hidden treehouses in the woods.

When Enola travels by train to London to hunt down her mum, she ends up running into and inadvertently rescuing the Viscount Lord Tewksbury, Marquess of Basilwether ( Louis Partridge ), who happens to be an escaped teenager, just like her. And just like her, he doesn’t want to follow the posh path his family has laid out for him. With his dark, floppy hair and sly smile, the appealing Partridge has a young Mick Jagger vibe about him, and he and Brown share a sprightly, hyper-verbal chemistry.

London through the eyes of cinematographer Giles Nuttgens (“ Colette ,” “ Hell or High Water ”) is an imposing, crowded cesspool of chaos, a sharp contrast from the lush colors and warm sunshine of the countryside. Here is where “Enola Holmes” really begins to feel like two movies functioning side by side, mostly in concert with each other. Enola is still searching for her mother—and along the way, finds a badass underground of women fighters, led by Susan Wokoma ’s formidable tea shop owner/jiujitsu trainer. But she also wants to protect Tewksbury from the dastardly forces insistent on putting him in his place, and get to the bottom of why he’s in danger. Brown’s charismatic presence goes a long way toward helping sew up these storylines neatly, as do Adam Bosman ’s editing and Daniel Pemberton ’s lively score.

At over two hours, “Enola Holmes” does run a bit too long, though. It also turns weirdly violent toward the end in a way that’s a jarring shift from the adventures we’d enjoyed previously, which were only kinda-scary at times. But hopefully Brown—as both star and producer—will continue solving mysteries in England between seasons of solving mysteries in Hawkins, Indiana.

Now available on Netflix.

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series "Ebert Presents At the Movies" opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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Film credits.

Enola Holmes (2020)

Rated PG-13 for some violence.

123 minutes

Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes

Sam Claflin as Mycroft Holmes

Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes

Helena Bonham-Carter as Mrs. Holmes

• Harry Bradbeer

Writer (novel)

• Nancy Springer
• Jack Thorne

Cinematographer

• Giles Nuttgens
• Adam Bosman
• Daniel Pemberton

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Amazon Launches Massive Six-Day Book Sale

Amazon is launching a new six-day shopping event, Amazon Book Sale , which will run from May 15–20 this year and feature deep discounts on thousands of books. The sale, touted by the company as "The Book Sale of Your Dreams," includes up to 50% off print bestsellers, up to 60% off overstock books, and up to 80% off Kindle Books.

In addition to books, the sale is being used to market such other book-related items as Kindle Scribe, Amazon's new e-book reader/notetaker. And unlike Amazon's hugely popular Prime Day, the Amazon Book Sale is open to all Amazon customers, not just Amazon Prime members. (The Amazon Book Sale site does, however, include a link for shoppers to learn more about Prime Day.)

To promote the event, starting today, Amazon will offer early deals including three months of Kindle Unlimited for free, as well as:

• Up to 80% off Kindle editions of titles recommended by the Amazon Books Editors
• Up to 75% off select titles by such BookTok favorite authors as Alexis Hall, Sarah J. Maas, and Rebecca Serles
• Up to 70% Kindle editions of select celebrity memoirs, such as Viola Davis's Finding Me and Molly Shannon's Hello Molly!
• Up to 60% Kindle editions of "popular book club picks," such as The Christie Affair and Good Company
• Up to 50% off popular book-to-screen titles, such as American Prometheus , The Lord of the Rings , and Red, White & Royal Blue
• Up to 40% off select classics, such as Pride and Prejudice and The Republic
• Up to 40% on children's graphic novels, such as Serena Blasco's Enola Holmes and Mariah Marsden's The Secret Garden
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The sale is the latest books-related initiative from Amazon, the e-tail giant whose business focus has expanded well beyond the bookselling space in which it cut its teeth as a fledgling e-tailer. In December 2023, the retail giant launched its Your Books feature, which tracks all of customers' print, Kindle, and Audible book purchases; generates recommendations based on their reading activity; and provides "insights" into reading habits. Doubling down on algorithmic recommendations, earlier this month, the Amazon-owned Audible launched a new feature that recommends audiobook titles based on users' Prime Video viewing activity. A representative of Amazon told PW that it "will not speculate" on whether the e-tailer may make the new book sale an annual affair.

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Nineteen Steps Kindle Edition

The New York Times bestseller from iconic Emmy-nominated actress and producer MILLIE BOBBY BROWN: Nineteen Steps

"My inner history-loving teenage geek clapped her hands in ecstasy at the thought of a historical novel penned by Enola Holmes, and she wasn't disappointed!” — Kate Quinn

Love blooms in the darkest days…

It’s 1942, and air raid sirens continue to wail around London. Eighteen-year-old Nellie Morris counts every day lucky that she emerges from the underground shelters unharmed, her loving family still surrounding her.

After a chance encounter with Ray, an American airman stationed nearby, Nellie becomes enchanted with the idea of a broader world. Just when Nellie begins to embrace an exciting new life with Ray, a terrible incident occurs during an air raid one evening, tearing Nellie’s world apart. But just when it seems all hope is lost, Nellie finds that, against all odds, love and happiness can triumph.

Nineteen Steps is a deeply affecting, mesmerizing page-turner inspired by the author’s family history. An epic story of longing, loss, and secrets, Millie Bobby Brown’s propulsive debut introduces an unforgettable, brave young woman and boldly portrays the strength in the power of love.

“Inspired by my Nanny Ruth, this book is very personal and close to my heart. I grew up listening to stories about her time living through the war. I’m honored to keep her story alive.” — Millie Bobby Brown

• Print length 308 pages
• Language English
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publisher William Morrow
• Publication date September 12, 2023
• File size 3643 KB
• Page Flip Enabled
• Word Wise Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting Enabled
• See all details

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Editorial Reviews

“Valuable… There is no healing without remembering, and there is no remembering without stories. So thank goodness Brown’s Nanny Ruth, who was a survivor of the crush, told her granddaughter what she remembered… You might open Nineteen Steps for the celebrity name, but stick with it for the history of an under-recognized event of World War II.”                                                 — New York Times Book Review

“The book is really about making your way when consumed by grief. And in that aspect it succeeds, painting a brave portrait of Nellie and her family and friends as they struggle to survive and find happiness in a world gone mad… [Brown's] late, beloved grandmother would assuredly be proud of this first effort.” — Associated Press

“ Millie Bobby Brown may be best known for taking down Demogorgons in  Stranger Things  and solving impossible cases as Enola Holmes, but the actress establishes herself as an equally powerful writer with her poignant debut novel  Nineteen Steps . Inspired by true events from her family history…Brown refuses to shy away from the realities of war in her coming-of-age story, exploring love, loss, and courage in a way that is both bold and intensely moving.” — Entertainment Weekly

“[An] emotionally layered debut… Brown’s narrative, which is based on real events, effectively balances the danger and deprivations of war in a city under siege with the joys of family, friends, and romance. This highly charged historical romance offers intimate insight into WWII London and the challenges of overcoming loss.” — Publishers Weekly

“My inner history-loving teenage geek clapped her hands in ecstasy at the thought of a historical novel penned by Enola Holmes, and she wasn't disappointed! Dreamer Nellie Morris spends her days typing and her nights sheltering from the German bombers screaming overhead, imagining a bigger world beyond her East End London roots—and a burgeoning romance with an American airman offers hope beyond the end of the war. But one terrible night at the nearby air raid shelter tears Nellie's world apart and she must find the courage to make a new life from the wreckage. Millie Bobby Brown pens a sweet, sensitive coming-of-age story drawn from her own family history —Nineteen Steps is a lovely read for fans everywhere.” — Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

“In this remarkable debut, Brown brings to life an unfamiliar—and shocking—tragedy that took place during World War II in London’s East End. Supported by a rich cast of characters, her tale of first love, poignant regrets, and the search for truth makes for a spellbinding read. Enthralling.”  — Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Spectacular

“Centered around a real-life historical event that counts as the UK’s largest loss of civilian life during the Second World War, Nineteen Steps shines a brilliant light on a dark moment in history. Actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Millie Bobby Brown soars in her debut novel, bringing to life the joy and heartache of wartime England, as well as the visceral terror that came with frequent German bombings over London. Full of heartbreak and hope, and overflowing with vibrant characters you’ll root hard for, Nineteen Steps will plunge you into the 1940s East End and will stay in your heart for a long time to come.”  — Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Daughter

“Heartfelt and warm, with quietly heroic characters that embody the innocence of first love and wartime patriotism, Brown’s debut is sure to be popular among readers who enjoy novels that bring lesser-known notable events from the past to life.” — Booklist

About the Author

Millie Bobby Brown  is a British Emmy Award–nominated actress. She has been featured in the  TIME  100 list of the world’s most influential people and is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.  Nineteen Steps  is her first book. 

"Millie Bobby Brown pens a sweet, sensitive coming-of-age story drawn from her own family history-- Nineteen Steps is a lovely read for fans everywhere."

Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BWYQP2R2
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow (September 12, 2023)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 12, 2023
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 3643 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 308 pages
• #958 in Historical World War II Fiction
• #1,364 in 20th Century Historical Romance (Books)
• #1,812 in Women's Historical Fiction

About the author

Millie bobby brown.

Millie Bobby Brown is a British Emmy Award–winning actress. She has been featured in the TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people and is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Nineteen Steps is her first book.

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