Book Review: The Raven League

Book: The Raven League by Alex Simmons and Bill McCay

Description:

Where is Sherlock Holmes?

When Archie Wiggins is kicked out of the Baker Street Irregulars, the gang of street kids that assists famous detective Sherlock Holmes, he has no idea what to do with himself. But then Holmes disappears -- and it seems the Irregulars might have had something to do with it! Now Wiggins and a few other misfits must take matters into their own hands.

The search for Holmes leads from the filthy London docks all the way to Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee -- and along the way Wiggins and his friends uncover murder, mayhem, and a plot aimed at the very heart of the British Empire!



Rating: 5 stars

Review:

What a page-turner! There was plenty of drama, suspense and thrills as Archie Wiggins along with his three friends Jennie, Owens and Dooley tried to piece together all the clues surrounding Sherlock Holmes disappearance and how it ties in with the Queen's visit.

This is a fast moving story that had a very engaging mystery that perhaps is best for middle grade to young adult readers since it does mention a few murders although the story doesn't go into graphic details but may not be right for younger readers.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson do appear in the story but it's all about the four kids who go up against great odds as they try to find out what happened to the great detective. Archie was a former member of the Baker Street Irregulars who along with the other three couldn't look the other way as the detective went missing. They did everything they could to help which at times put them in great danger.

After I finished reading this, I couldn't help comparing this to another children's based Sherlock Holmes story I read earlier this year, The Dark Lady. Where that story failed on so many levels this one was a success all around because as the reader it was easy to imagine all the danger that surrounded the characters and the story was full of excitement as well as being well written. Unlike with The Dark Lady this story actually felt like it was set during the 19th century where as with the other book the characters sometimes felt too modern.

The Raven League was a very good read that was filled with tons of action and adventure and had a thrilling mystery.