The Case of the Gypsy Good-bye, by Nancy Springer (Young Adult)

Enola Eudoria Hadassah Holmes is Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister. One year ago her mother ran away, then, when her brothers wanted to send her to a posh boarding school, she ran also. In this book she surfaces as a finder of missing persons, or a ‘perditorian.’ Always careful to avoid either of her brothers, she embarks on an adventure searching for the Duquesa del Campo, who inexplicable disappeared one day in the Underground.

This is a delightful mystery which kept my interest all the way to the end, and I will be sure to read the other volumes in this 6-volume series.

Submitted by Guna

A Stranger in the Family by Robert Barnard

An intriquing mystery novel that not only follows the main character’s quest to find his family, but also delves into the human psyche and family interactions, this story is set in contemporary Great Britain. I don’t want to give away too much, but it would be helpful if the reader knew the history of the Holocaust. It certainly kept my attention, but left me feeling rather unsettled and sad.

Sepulchre by Kate Mosse

If you are a Francophile and/or a tarot enthusiast, this is the book for you. However, even though I’m neither, once I got into the book, I was absorbed enough to stay up until 3 a.m. finishing it. This is a tapestry of mysteries interwoven with strands of action and narrative from the late 19th century and those of today. There are romances, murders, and supernatural elements, as well as discussions of Fibonacci numbers, musical scales, and Debussy (to which I listened while reading some of this – it set the mood).

Submitted by Cathy (7/15/10)

Stolen by Vivian Vande Velde

The book Stolen begins with a young girl later called Isabelle running through the woods with no memory of who she is or why she's running. When she realizes that she can't remember she stops and ends up treed by a pack of dogs and gets hurt. The man who owns the dogs calls them off and decides to take her home and care for her. Throughout the book Isabelle tries to find out who she is, all the while dealing with a woman who believes Isabelle to be her daughter, tales of a witch who might have stolen her when she was but a baby, and a could-be sister who wants nothing to do with her. Stolen is a book that any age can enjoy although it is primarily focused on young teens.