Death Cloud by Andrew Lane

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Death Cloud (Young Sherlock Holmes)
by Andrew Lane

Brand new YA Sherlock Holmes book? I couldn't resist taking this out of the library when I came across it returned in the book drop one morning.

It's a fairly interesting though not too complex mystery. People in a town start dropping dead of what appears to be a plague. But due to some logic and scientific reasoning, as well as some new friends and mentors, Sherlock helps to uncover the truth--with a little danger and adventure thrown in for good measure.

What I loved most about this book was its ability to incorporate elements I was familiar with from Sherlock Holmes in a new "first time" sort of way. It was wonderful seeing Sherlock learn about logical procedures of deduction or cross paths with bee-keepers.

It was also wonderful getting a glimpse of Sherlock as a teen. His relationship with his brother made me incredibly happy to see. And I loved watching him come to a new town, unfamiliar with his surroundings, trying to figure out how to fit in. It's not often that you get to see Sherlock's more vulnerable side. It's not often to see him young and uncertain. But the author makes it work here, and it's all the more interesting because of it. Sherlock is human after all! But he's also incredibly clever and brave.

This book is not a work of classic Sherlock literature, but it is a fun and enjoyable read :-)