297 pages
Pub date: 15 September 2026
Children’s-Middle Grade fiction
Four stars ****
Description:
from the publisehr
Join world-famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his ever-loyal sidekick Dr. Watson as they embark on daring adventures and foil master criminals.
The six thrilling tales inside have been adapted for younger readers by award-winning children’s fiction author Alex Woolf and feature original artworks by Eve O’Brien. This anthology for younger readers retells these stories:
A Study in Scarlet
The Speckled Band
A Scandal in Bohemia
The Sign of Four
The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Dancing Men
Suitable for readers aged 7+.
My thoughts:
I like that this title starts with an introduction to Conan Doyle. It places his career in context.
The six stories in this title are all short chapter books. They are illustrated with engaging cartoon-like drawings.
I think that this book will be enjoyed by young readers, maybe those in third or fourth grade or a bit higher. The stories are engaging with their action and plots.
One reviewer noted the difficult content in some of the stories. For example, the poisoning of a dog. Others may feel differently but I think that the stories will not represent Holmes if the difficult bits are removed. Rather, I think that adults can decide if this title is suitable for a child they know. They can also decide to discuss the “hard” parts either before or after.
I think that this book will be enjoyed by young readers, maybe those in third or fourth grade or a bit higher. The stories are engaging with their action and plots. Six of the best known stories are included as, for example, The Hounds of the Baskervilles.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Arcturus for this title. All opinions are my own.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 