La nube de la muerte: El joven Sherlock Holmes

Por Andrew Lane

Primera novela de la nueva serie «El joven Sherlock Holmes», autorizada por The Conan Doyle Estate, sobre los inicios del detective más famoso, cuando era adolescente.
Inglaterra, 1868: un adolescente Sherlock Holmes se siente solo y marginado en un internado masculino de Deepdene. En vacaciones, le envían a Hampshire con sus excéntricos tíos. Allí se topa con un misterioso caso: dos víctimas de lo que parece ser peste bubónica han sido descubiertas después de que una nube de humo pasara por encima de sus cuerpos. El testigo de la primera muerte es Matthew Arnatt, un huérfano de la edad de Sherlock que enseguida traba amistad con él. Y con la ayuda de su nuevo tutor, Amyus Crowe, comienza su verdadera educación como detective. Su valentía y sed de aventuras le conducen a un vertiginoso viaje desde la tranquila campiña hasta el submundo portuario de Londres: incendios, secuestros y espionaje le llevarán al centro de un espantoso complot del que depende el futuro de Gran Bretaña.

• Idioma: Español
• Editorial: Siruela
• Fecha de lanzamiento: 9 jul 2013
• ISBN: 9788415937173

Andrew Lane

Andrew Lane is an author, journalist and lifelong Sherlock Holmes fan. He lives in Hampshire with his wife and son. Before Moriarty and before Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew's passion for the original novels of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his determination to create an authentic teenage Sherlock Holmes made him the perfect choice to work with the Conan Doyle Estate to reinvent the world’s most famous detective for the Young Sherlock Holmes series.

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LA NUBE DE LA MUERTE

Epílogo del autor

Nota sobre el dinero

Agradecimientos

Notas

Créditos

En memoria de los autores juveniles cuya obra solía devorar cuando era pequeño: Capt. W. E. Johns, Hugh Walters, Andre Norton, Malcolm Saville, Alan E. Norse y John Christopher; y también dedicado a la amistad y apoyo de los miembros de la última generación que he tenido la suerte de conocer: Ben Jeapes, Stephen Cole, Justin Richards, Gus Smith y el incomparable Charlie Higson.

Y un especial agradecimiento a Rebecca McNally y Robert Kirby, por tener fe; a Jon Lellenberg y Charles Foley, por darme permiso; a Gareth Pugh, por contármelo todo sobre las abejas; y a Nigel McCreary, por mantenerme cuerdo en este viaje.

LA NUBE DE LA MUERTE

Prólogo

La primera vez que Matthew Arnatt vio la nube de la muerte, esta salía flotando de la ventana del primer piso de una casa cercana a la suya.

Iba corriendo a toda prisa por High Street en la villa de Farnham, buscando una fruta o trozo de pan que se le hubiera caído a algún viandante descuidado. Sus ojos deberían haber estado escudriñando el suelo, y sin embargo no paraba de mirar hacia arriba las casas, las tiendas y la muchedumbre que se amontonaba a su alrededor. Solo tenía 14 años y no recordaba haber estado nunca en un pueblo tan grande como aquel. En la parte próspera de Farnham los antiguos edificios con vigas de madera se inclinaban hacia la calle y sus habitaciones más altas se cernían amenazantes como nubes espesas sobre cualquiera que estuviera debajo.

Una parte de la calle estaba pavimentada con piedras lisas del tamaño de un puño, pero un poco más adelante los adoquines daban paso a una tierra compacta de la que emergían nubes de polvo cada vez que los caballos y los carros pasaban formando un gran estrépito. Cada pocos metros había un montón de estiércol de caballo: uno fresco y humeante rodeado de moscas, y otro seco y viejo como un amasijo de hebras de heno o hierba que se hubieran quedado pegadas de cualquier manera.

A Matthew le llegaba el hedor a estiércol húmedo, pero también olía el pan recién hecho y lo que bien podía ser un cerdo asándose en un espetón en la lumbre. Casi alcanzaba a ver la grasa goteando y chisporroteando en las llamas. El hambre le hizo un nudo en el estómago y le faltó poco para retorcerse de dolor. Llevaba unos días sin comer nada en condiciones. No estaba seguro de cuánto tiempo más podría seguir así.

Uno de los transeúntes, un hombre gordo con un bombín marrón y un traje oscuro que dejaba entrever su edad, se detuvo y le tendió la mano para ayudarle. Matthew se alejó. No quería limosnas. La caridad llevaba a los niños sin familia al hospicio o la iglesia, y él no quería encaminarse hacia ninguno de aquellos destinos. Se las apañaba bien solo. Todo lo que tenía que hacer era encontrar algo de comer. Estaría mejor en cuanto tuviera algo en el estómago.

Se escabulló por un callejón antes de que el hombre pudiera sujetarlo por el hombro, luego volvió sobre sus pasos y dobló una esquina hacia una calle tan estrecha que los pisos de arriba de las casas prácticamente se tocaban. Una persona podría trepar fácilmente de una habitación a otra de la calle de enfrente si quisiera.

Entonces fue cuando vio la nube de la muerte. Pero en aquel momento no supo lo que era. Eso vendría después. Lo único que vio fue una mancha oscura del tamaño de un perro grande que salía sin rumbo de una ventana abierta como si fuera humo, un humo con vida propia que se detenía un instante y fluía después hacia un lado hasta llegar a una cañería donde giraba y subía deslizándose hacia el tejado. Matthew, que ya se había olvidado del hambre que sentía, se quedó boquiabierto mirando cómo la nube vagaba sobre el borde afilado de las tejas y desaparecía de la vista.

Un grito rompió el silencio –un grito que procedía de la ventana abierta– y Matthew se giró y bajó la calle corriendo lo más rápido que sus piernas desnutridas pudieron. La gente no gritaba así cuando recibía una sorpresa. Ni siquiera cuando le daban un susto. No, por lo que Matthew sabía por experiencia, la gente solo gritaba así si temía por su vida, y fuera lo que fuera lo que había provocado aquel grito no era algo que él quisiera ver.

Capítulo 1

–¡Eh, tú! ¡Ven aquí!

Sherlock Holmes se giró para ver a quién llamaban y quién llamaba. Había cientos de alumnos esperando en la entrada del internado masculino de Deepdene bajo el sol resplandeciente de la mañana. Todos iban vestidos con el uniforme impecable del colegio y cada uno tenía un baúl de madera con correas de cuero o un montón de maletas atestadas de ropa delante como un perro fiel. Se podría haber dirigido a cualquiera de ellos. Los maestros de Deepdene tenían la costumbre de no llamar a los alumnos por su nombre. Siempre era «¡Tú!» o «¡Muchacho!» o «¡Niño!». Les complicaba la vida y mantenía a los chicos alerta, que era probablemente el motivo por el que lo hacían. Eso o que los maestros habían dejado de intentar recordar los nombres de sus pupilos hacía mucho tiempo; Sherlock no estaba seguro de qué explicación era la más plausible. Puede que ambas.

Ninguno de los otros alumnos prestó atención. O bien estaban cuchicheando con los familiares que habían ido a recogerles o miraban impacientes hacia la puerta del colegio para ver si avistaban el coche que les llevaría a casa. Sherlock se dio la vuelta de mala gana para comprobar si el perverso dedo del destino le estaba señalando a él.

Y efectivamente. El dedo en cuestión pertenecía en este caso al señor Tulley, el maestro de Latín. Acababa de doblar la esquina del colegio, donde Sherlock estaba esperando apartado de los otros chicos. Su traje, que solía estar manchado de tiza, había sido limpiado especialmente para el final de curso y los encuentros inevitables con los padres que pagaban para que educaran a sus hijos, y su birrete estaba perfectamente colocado en su cabeza como si el director lo hubiera pegado con pegamento.

–¿Yo, señor?

–Sí, señor. Usted mismo –dijo bruscamente el señor Tulley–. Diríjase al despacho del director quam celerrime. ¿Recuerda el suficiente latín para saber lo que significa?

–Significa «inmediatamente», señor.

–Entonces, muévase –Sherlock echó un vistazo a la puerta del colegio–. Pero, señor... Estoy esperando a que me recoja mi padre.

–Estoy seguro de que no se irá sin usted, muchacho.

Sherlock hizo un último intento de rebeldía.

–Mi equipaje...

El señor Tulley miró despectivamente el maltrecho baúl de madera de Sherlock, heredado de los viajes de su padre con el Ejército, manchado de barro seco y lleno de arañazos de los últimos años.

–No veo a nadie queriendo robarlo –dijo–, salvo quizá por su valor histórico. Haré que un prefecto se lo vigile. Ahora lárguese.

Sherlock abandonó de mala gana sus pertenencias –las camisas y ropa interior de repuesto, los libros de poesía y los cuadernos en los que se había aficionado a anotar ideas, pensamientos, conjeturas y alguna melodía ocasional que le venía a la cabeza– y se fue caminando hacia el pórtico de columnas que estaba en la fachada del edificio del colegio, abriéndose paso entre la multitud de alumnos, padres y hermanos sin dejar de mirar la entrada, donde una melé de caballos y carruajes intentaba entrar y salir por la estrecha puerta a la vez.

El vestíbulo de la entrada principal estaba revestido de paneles de roble y rodeado de bustos de mármol de directores y patronos anteriores, cada uno en su propio pedestal. Algunos rayos de luz cruzaban en diagonal desde las altas ventanas hasta el suelo de baldosas blancas y negras, en las que se distinguían ligeras motas de tiza. Olía al fenol que las criadas usaban para limpiar las baldosas cada mañana. Con tantos cuerpos apretujados en el vestíbulo, era altamente probable que al menos uno de los bustos se cayera en cualquier momento. Algunos ya tenían grandes grietas que deslucían su mármol puro, lo que hacía pensar que en cada trimestre al menos uno de ellos se había estrellado contra el suelo para ser posteriormente reparado.

Zigzagueó entre la gente, ignorado por todos, y finalmente evitó a aquella muchedumbre y entró por un pasillo que salía del vestíbulo. El despacho del director estaba unos metros más adelante. Se detuvo en el umbral, respiró hondo, se sacudió el polvo de la solapa y llamó a la puerta.

–¡Adelante! –bramó una voz exageradamente alta.

Sherlock giró el picaporte y abrió la puerta de un empujón, intentando reprimir el ataque de nerviosismo que le atravesó por dentro como un rayo. Solo había estado en el despacho del director dos veces, una con su padre cuando llegó a Deepdene y otra un año después con un grupo de alumnos que habían sido acusados de copiar en un examen. Los tres cabecillas habían sido azotados con una vara y expulsados, y los cuatro o cinco seguidores habían sido golpeados hasta que sus nalgas sangraron y les permitieron quedarse. Sherlock, cuyas redacciones habían sido las que había copiado el grupo, se había librado de la paliza asegurando que no sabía nada de aquello. A decir verdad, lo había sabido desde el principio, pero siempre había sido una especie de outsider en el colegio, y si dejar que sus compañeros copiaran su trabajo hacía que lo respetaran, que no significaba que lo aceptaran, entonces no iba a poner ninguna objeción ética. Por otra parte, tampoco pensaba chivarse de los copiones. Habría conseguido que le pegaran e incluso que lo sujetaran delante de una de las chimeneas que había en los dormitorios hasta que su piel empezara a llenarse de ampollas y su ropa de humo. La vida en el internado era así: un malabarismo perpetuo entre los maestros y los demás compañeros. Y él lo odiaba.

El despacho del director estaba igual que como lo recordaba: amplio, sombrío y con un olor que era una mezcla de cuero y tabaco de pipa. El señor Tomblinson estaba sentado detrás de una mesa lo bastante grande como para jugar a los bolos encima. Era un hombre corpulento, con un traje que le quedaba un poco pequeño y que seguramente habría elegido porque le ayudaba a creer que no era tan gordo como a todas luces era.

–Ah, usted es Holmes, ¿verdad? Pase, muchacho, pase. Cierre la puerta al entrar.

Sherlock obedeció, pero mientras empujaba la puerta vio que había otra persona en la habitación: un hombre de pie junto a la ventana con un vaso de jerez en la mano. La luz del sol refractaba los colores del arcoiris en el cristal tallado de la copa.

–¿Mycroft? –dijo Sherlock, extrañado.

Su hermano mayor se volvió hacia él y una sonrisa le cruzó tan rápidamente la cara que si Sherlock hubiera parpadeado en el momento equivocado se la habría perdido.

–Sherlock. Has crecido.

–Tú también –respondió Sherlock. Ciertamente, su hermano había engordado muchísimo. Era casi tan rechoncho como el director, pero su traje estaba hecho para disimularlo en lugar de acentuarlo–. Has venido en el coche de padre.

Mycroft enarcó una ceja.

–¿Cómo demonios has deducido eso, jovencito?

Sherlock se encogió de hombros.

–He notado los pliegues paralelos en tus pantalones donde los ha presionado la tapicería y recuerdo que el coche de padre tiene un desgarrón en los asientos que arreglaron de mala manera hace unos años. Tienes la marca de esa reparación estampada en los pantalones, junto a los pliegues –hizo una pausa–. Mycroft, ¿dónde está padre?

El director se aclaró la garganta exageradamente para volver a atraer la atención hacia él.

–Su padre está...

–Padre no va a venir –le interrumpió Mycroft con delicadeza–. Han enviado su regimiento a la India para reforzar la fuerza militar existente. Ha habido algunos disturbios en la zona fronteriza del noroeste. ¿Sabes dónde es?

–Sí. Hemos estudiado la India en clase de Geografía e Historia.

–Buen chico.

–No sabía que los nativos de allí estuvieran causando problemas de nuevo –se quejó el director–. No ha salido en The Times, eso desde luego.

–No son los indios –le confesó Mycroft–. Cuando recuperamos el país de la Compañía Británica de las Indias Orientales, sus soldados fueron trasladados de nuevo bajo control militar. Consideran que el nuevo régimen es mucho más estricto que el anterior. Ha habido muchísima animosidad y el gobierno ha dedidido aumentar drásticamente el tamaño de las fuerzas armadas en India para enseñarles lo que son los soldados de verdad. Si ya está mal que los indios se rebelen, un motín dentro del Ejército británico sería impensable.

–¿Van a amotinarse? –preguntó Sherlock, y sintió que se le caía el alma a los pies y el corazón se le hundía como una piedra tirada a un estanque–. ¿Nuestro padre estará a salvo?

Mycroft encogió sus enormes hombros.

–No sé –se limitó a decir. Esa era una de las cosas que Sherlock más respetaba de su hermano. Siempre daba una respuesta directa a una pregunta directa. Nada de dorar la píldora–. Desgraciadamente, no lo sé todo. Al menos por ahora.

–Pero tú trabajas para el gobierno –insistió Sherlock–. Tienes que tener alguna idea de lo que puede pasar. ¿No puedes mandar a otro regimiento? ¿Mantener a nuestro padre aquí en Inglaterra?

–Solo llevo unos meses en el Foreign Office –contestó Mycroft–, y aunque me halaga que creas que tengo el poder de cambiar cosas tan importantes, lamento decirte que no. Soy un asesor. Un simple empleado, a decir verdad.

–¿Cuánto tiempo estará fuera padre? –preguntó Sherlock, recordando al hombretón vestido con una chaqueta de sagra de color escarlata y cinturones blancos cruzándole el pecho que se reía con facilidad y rara vez perdía los estribos. Sentía una presión en el pecho pero se contuvo. Si había aprendido una lección en el internado de Deepdene era que uno nunca debía mostrar ninguna emoción. Si lo hacía, sería utilizada en su contra.

–Seis semanas para que el barco llegue a puerto, seis meses en el país, diría yo, y luego otras seis semanas para volver. Nueve meses en total.

–Casi un año –Sherlock bajó la cabeza un momento, se serenó y asintió con la cabeza–. ¿Ahora podemos irnos a casa?

–Tú no vienes a casa –dijo Mycroft.

Sherlock se quedó quieto tratando de asimilar aquellas palabras, sin decir nada.

–No se puede quedar aquí –murmuró el director–. Hemos vaciado el colegio.

Mycroft apartó su mirada serena de Sherlock y miró al director.

–Nuestra madre está... enferma –dijo–. Tiene una constitución bastante delicada y este asunto de nuestro padre la ha fatigado enormemente. Necesita paz y tranquilidad, y Sherlock necesita a alguien mayor que cuide de él.

–¡Pero te tengo a ti! –protestó Sherlock.

Mycroft sacudió apenado su enorme cabeza.

–Ahora vivo en Londres, y mi trabajo requiere que trabaje muchas horas al día. Me temo que no sería el tutor más adecuado para un joven, especialmente uno tan curioso como tú –se giró hacia el director, casi como si fuera más fácil darle a él la siguiente información que a Sherlock–. Aunque la casa de la familia está en Horsham, tenemos parientes en Farnham, no muy lejos de aquí. Unos tíos. Sherlock se quedará con ellos durante las vacaciones escolares.

–¡No! –Sherlock explotó.

–Sí –dijo suavemente Mycroft–. Ya está organizado. El tío Sherrinford y la tía Anna han accedido a que te quedes con ellos durante el verano.

–¡Pero si ni siquiera los conozco!

–No obstante, son de la familia –Mycroft se despidió del director mientras Sherlock se quedaba quieto con la mirada perdida, tratando de asimilar la gravedad de lo que acababa de ocurrir. No iría a casa. No vería a su padre ni a su madre. No exploraría los campos y bosques alrededor de la mansión que había sido su casa durante catorce años. No dormiría en su vieja cama en la habitación que había debajo de la cornisa donde guardaba todos sus libros. No entraría a escondidas en la cocina donde la cocinera le daría una rebanada de pan con mermelada si le sonreía. En lugar de eso, tendría que quedarse semanas con gente a la que no conocía, comportándose lo mejor posible en un pueblo, en un condado del que no sabía nada. Solo, hasta que volviera al colegio.

¿Cómo iba a sobrevivir?

Sherlock salió detrás de Mycroft del despacho del director y lo siguió por el pasillo hasta llegar al vestíbulo. Una berlina cerrada esperaba en la puerta. Las ruedas tenían barro y los laterales estaban llenos de polvo del viaje que Mycroft había hecho hasta el colegio. El escudo de armas de la familia Holmes estaba pintado en la puerta. Ya habían metido el baúl de Sherlock detrás. Un conductor demacrado que Sherlock no reconoció estaba sentado en el asiento delantero y tenía las riendas que lo unían a los dos caballos apoyadas suavemente en sus manos.

–¿Cómo sabía que era mi baúl?

Mycroft hizo un gesto con la mano para indicar que no era por nada en especial.

–Lo podía ver desde la ventana del despacho del director. Tu baúl era el único que estaba abandonado. Y además, era el que solía tener nuestro padre. El director ha sido muy amable de enviar a un chico para decirle que lo metiera en el carruaje –abrió la puerta del coche y le hizo un gesto a Sherlock para que entrara. Pero Sherlock hizo caso omiso y echó un vistazo al colegio y a sus compañeros–. Parece que estás pensando que no los vas a volver a ver –dijo Mycroft.

–No es eso –respondió Sherlock–. Es solo que creía que dejaba esto por un sitio mejor. Ahora sé que es por algo peor. Por muy malo que sea este lugar, es de lo mejor que hay.

–No va a ser así. El tío Sherrinford y la tía Anna son buena gente. Sherrinford es el hermano de nuestro padre.

–¿Entonces por qué nunca he oído hablar de ellos? –preguntó Sherlock–. ¿Por qué padre nunca mencionó que tuviera un hermano?

Mycroft hizo una mueca casi imperceptible.

–Me temo que hubo una discusión familiar. Las relaciones estuvieron tensas durante un tiempo. Madre reinició el contacto por carta hace unos meses. Ni siquiera estoy seguro de que padre lo sepa.

–¿Y es ahí donde me estás mandando?

Mycroft le dio una palmadita en el hombro.

–Si hubiera una alternativa, la tomaría, créeme. Bueno, ¿tienes que decir adiós a algún amigo?

Sherlock miró a su alrededor. Conocía a algunos chicos, ¿pero alguno de ellos era realmente su amigo?

–No –dijo–. Vámonos.

El viaje a Farnham les llevó varias horas. Tras atravesar el pueblo de Dorking, que era el grupo de casas más cercano al internado de Deepdene, el coche repiqueteó por senderos rurales, bajo una maraña de árboles, y pasó por alguna choza o casona y junto a campos repletos de cebada. El sol brillaba en el cielo despejado y convertía al coche en un horno pese a la brisa que soplaba. Los insectos zumbaban perezosamente en las ventanas. Sherlock miró durante un rato cómo el mundo pasaba ante sus ojos. Pararon a comer en una taberna, donde Mycroft compró un poco de jamón y queso y media hogaza de pan. En un momento dado, Sherlock se quedó dormido. Cuando despertó, minutos u horas después, la berlina seguía atravesando el mismo paisaje. Charló un poco con Mycroft sobre lo que estaba ocurriendo en casa, sobre su hermana, sobre la salud delicada de su madre. Mycroft le preguntó por los estudios y él le contó algo sobre las diferentes clases que había tenido que aguantar y sobre los profesores que las impartían. Imitó sus voces y sus gestos e hizo reír a Mycroft a carcajadas con la crueldad y el humor de sus imitaciones.

Poco después empezaron a ver más casas al borde de la carretera y pronto se adentraron en un gran pueblo y los cascos de los caballos trapalearon en los adoquines. Asomado por la ventana del carruaje, Sherlock vio algo que parecía un ayuntamiento. Era un edificio blanco, de tres pisos, con vigas negras y un enorme reloj colgado de un soporte en el exterior de las puertas dobles.

–¿Farnham? –dedujo Sherlock.

–Guildford –respondió Mycroft–. Ya estamos cerca de Farnham.

El camino que salía de Guildford pasaba junto a la cresta de una montaña en la que la tierra descendía abruptamente hacia ambos lados y los campos y bosques aparecían desperdigados como juguetes con manchas de flores amarillas diseminadas por todas partes.

–Esta cresta se llama Hog's Back –comentó Mycroft–. Hay un semáforo de banderas por aquí, en Pewley Hill, parte de una cadena que se extiende desde el edificio del Almirantazgo de Londres hasta llegar al puerto de Portsmouth. ¿Te han enseñado en la escuela lo que son los semáforos?

Sherlock negó con la cabeza.

–Me lo imaginaba –murmuró Mycroft–. Todo el latín que un niño puede meterse en la mollera pero nada práctico de verdad –suspiró con fuerza–. Un semáforo es un método para enviar rápidamente mensajes a larga distancia que tardarían varios días a caballo. Los semáforos de banderas tienen paneles en el tejado que son visibles a distancia y seis grandes agujeros que pueden abrirse o cerrarse mediante unas contraventanas. Dependiendo de qué agujeros estén abiertos o cerrados, el panel deletrea diferentes letras. Un hombre en cada semáforo de banderas vigila el anterior y el siguiente de la cadena con un telescopio. Si ve deletrearse un mensaje, lo escribe y luego lo repite con su propio panel de semáforo, y así es como el mensaje viaja. Esta particular cadena comienza en el Almirantazgo, luego pasa por Chelsea y Kingston y va sobre el Támesis hasta llegar aquí, y luego sigue hasta el astillero de Portsmouth. Hay otra cadena que baja a los astilleros de Chatham y otras que van a Deal, Sheerness, Great Yarmouth y Plymouth. Se construyeron para que el Almirantazgo pudiera enviar mensajes rápidamente a la Armada en caso de que Francia invadiera el país. Ahora dime, si hay seis agujeros y cada agujero puede ser cerrado o abierto, ¿cuántas combinaciones diferentes hay que puedan indicar letras, números u otros símbolos?

Sherlock trató de controlarse para no decirle a su hermano que las clases ya habían terminado, pero cerró los ojos y estuvo haciendo cálculos durante un rato. Un agujero podía estar de dos formas: abierto o cerrado. Dos agujeros podían estar de cuatro formas: abierto-abierto, abierto-cerrado, cerrado-abierto y cerrado-cerrado. Tres agujeros... Hizo el cálculo rápidamente en su cabeza y entonces vio que había un patrón que se repetía.

–Sesenta y cuatro –dijo finalmente.

–Bien hecho –asintió Mycroft–. Me alegra ver que al

Comentarios para La nube de la muerte

[jothebookgirl · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

This was surprisingly wonderful. I don't know why I was skeptical. I have never read any books about Sherlock Holmes. Andrew Lane's goal was to portray a young Holmes. He is a teenager and gets into and out of so much trouble. It was all believable and i like that. The African bees offered a lot of interest to me. I see young Holmes in more violent adventures. This book was quite graphic. Boys get ready for adventure.

[wyvernfriend · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Sherlock is sent to an aunt and uncle to while away his summer holidays from school. His brother Mycroft engages a tutor, an American, to keep him distracted but when Sherlock finds a body that looks like it has succomed to something like the plague he feels it necessary to investigate, along with his tutor, his tutor's daughter and a friend.It does capture a fair amount of Sherlock. I enjoyed the read.

[cbl_tn · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

It's the school holidays, and 14-year-old Sherlock Holmes will have lots to write about in a “what I did during my holiday” essay. With Sherlock's father away in military service and his mother in poor health, Sherlock's brother, Mycroft, arranges for Sherlock to spend the holiday with relatives. Sherlock soon makes a friend of a local boy, Matty, who witnessed something odd at the scene of a sudden death. Sherlock later stumbles upon other strange happenings. Guided by his tutor, Amyus Crowe, and supported by Matty and Crowe's daughter, Virginia, Sherlock works to solve a mystery that endangers the whole community, and maybe the whole nation.The Sherlock Holmes of this story doesn't resemble the teenager I imagine Conan Doyle's Sherlock would have been. He's portrayed as a typical teenager with above average intelligence. Conan Doyle's Sherlock is anything but typical. The story involves more adventure than detection, since Sherlock is only beginning to develop skills of observation and reason under Crowe's tutelage. The author includes some educational material in the story, but in a way that serves the plot without being too obtrusive. Middle grade teachers could use it as supplementary reading for units on science or problem solving. However, the adventure itself is enough of an attraction for most readers.

[mamzel_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

The first of a series about a young Sherlock Holmes, this story begins to theorize what may have formed the extraordinary character.During summer holidays, Sherlock is sent to stay with an aunt and uncle when he would have much rather stayed with his brother, Mycroft. He finds it difficult to follow the strict regimen set down in this household and goes off to explore, coming across Matty, a young man who lives on a boat. He is assigned a tutor, the American Amyus Crowe who has a daughter, Virginia. Sherlock, Matty, and Virginia soon become a team investigating a couple of weird deaths and the sighting of a black cloud after each of them.One thing that makes this a rather steampunk type of story is the get up utilized by the bad guy, Baron Maupertuis, a survivor of the Charge of the Light Brigade. Paralyzed, he devised a contraption operated by black-dressed flunkies who move him like a marionette.

[jedisakora_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

So i originally got this book for my sister for her birthday last march. Every time i walked into her room i would see it un-read sitting on her book shelf. Well i decided to pick it up and start reading it. Interesting enough the first thing i found out is that this is book was authorized and endorsed by the estate if Arthur Conan Doyle. Seeing that i knew it had to be good. I'm glad to say i wasn't disappointed. The book starts out with thirteen year old Sherlock Holmes getting read to leave Deepdene School for Boys. He's waiting for his father to pick him up, but unexpectedly Mycroft Holmes is the one to collect him. Mycroft did not come bringing good news. Sherlock's father has been called to duty in the East Indies and his mother is too sickly for him to come home. Neither does Mycroft have the time to watch in in London. Therefore he is going to stay with a uncle he's never met in a town called Farnham. Needless to say Sherlock is not the least bit pleased. Course Sherlock being who he is and destiny decided to come a knocking early. No sooner had he gotten settled in that a second man is found dead of a mysterious illness. Sherlock, along with his friend Matty, American tutor Amyus Crowe, Amyus's daughter Virginia, set out to discover why.My impression of this book is that it definitely was worth it's endorsement by the Doyle estate. Written in a tone similar to Conan Doyle's you really feel like your reading about the earlier adventures of Sherlock. Not quite the detective mastermind yet you can see how Sherlock would turn into the man he would become. Interesting enough i'm quite curious as to see what happens to Matty and the Crowe's later on. To my knowledge they don't appear in any of the original stories.Needless to say i'll be reading the sequel that is to come out. Whether i'll be getting it for my sister of myself is the question.Final Rating: 4 1/2 stars. There were some minor flaws in the book that kept it from being a 5. Plus a 5 star book for me is one where i jadored it. I liked this book, but didn't love love love it

[pharrm_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Young Sherlock is forced to stay with his uncle in the country. He makes friends and gets a new tutor (via Mycroft) who teaches him to think logically. He runs into unsavory characters and finds endearing one. Good read for all.

[jean_sexton-1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes and tend to watch TV series and movies and read books that build on the legend. I had high hopes for this book; I was not disappointed. Andrew Lane has been careful to honor Arthur Conan Doyle's vision and I could see how the boy Sherlock would grow into the man. Through his friendships and mishaps, I could see him learning. Lessons from his tutor will become part of his life: That you can deduce all you like, but it’s pointless without knowledge. Your mind is like a spinnin’ wheel, rotatin’ endlessly and pointlessly until threads are fed in, when it starts producin’ yarn. Information is the foundation of all rational thought. Seek it out. Collect it assiduously. Stock the lumber room of your mind with as many facts as you can fit in there. Don’t attempt to distinguish between important facts and trivial facts: they’re all potentially important.If you enjoy Sherlock Holmes stories, you will most likely fall in love with the book. I strongly recommend it to you. Rebel Fire, book 2, has already joined my library.

[nicx27 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This is the story of the young Sherlock Holmes, as told by Andrew Lane and commissioned by the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock has broken up for the holidays from his boarding school, Deepdene School for Boys, and is looking forward to going home, when his brother Mycroft arrives to tell him that their father has been posted abroad and Sherlock must go to stay with an aunt and uncle that he has never met.This sets the scene for an adventure as Sherlock tries to find out what has caused the mysterious deaths of two men in the village in which he is staying. He starts to investigate and uses his clever mind to find out more and more about the reasons for the deaths. This leads him into a lot of tricky situations, and he has to use his cunning, and his new friends, to help him out of them.I haven't read any Sherlock Holmes stories so cannot compare them to this book, but certainly Young Sherlock Holmes: Death Cloud is a fast-paced, interesting and easy read. I can imagine that it will appeal greatly to young adults, but there are some violent scenes that may not be suitable for the younger end of the spectrum. This is a great adventure story and I enjoyed reading it very much. I would definitely consider reading the next in the series.

[keeline_2 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

It's Sherlock Holmes' first case. I was hesitant to buy this because of the young Justin Beiber lookalike on the cover made me a bit worried. I wasn't sure how I'd handle a "Beiber Holmes" but I saw that it was "Official" from the Doyle estate and decided to take a chance.I'm glad I did as it was well written and engaging. I think the author did a fairly good job at imagining a young Sherlock who has a lot to learn about detecting but has a lot of smarts.The elements of the supernatural which have explanation in scientific reality seems close to the stories.There are a few aspects that seem a little suspect but overall I thought this book was enjoyable and I look forward to the sequel which I hope will answer the questions raised in this book about the frequently alluded to sister whom we never get to see in this text.

[kathy89_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This was a juvenile novel about a 13 year old Sherlock Holmes who goes to live with his uncle during the summer holidays and makes friends with another 13 year old boy who is an orphan and living by his wits and the 14 year old American daughter of his tutor. The tutor hired by Sherlock's brother, Mycroft, is to teach Sherlock how to use logic. It's not long before the children are caught up in an espionage plot to attack British soldiers. Lots of violence for a juvenile book.

[sithereandread · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

DEATH CLOUD, by Andrew Lane, is a great beginning to a new series which explores the life of Sherlock Holmes as a fourteen year old boy.Mystery books rarely enter my TBR pile, but when asked to review a Sherlock Holmes novel I could not resist. I always enjoyed the characters in the original works and I was interested to see how much of that Lane put into his new novels. The character of Holmes, even as a young teen, was a pleasure to read. Holmes was a very curious boy but his sleuthing skills were magnified with the help of his side-kick, Matty, and American tutor, Amyus Crowe.Lane molded a young Sherlock Holmes and created a character that you can visualize turning into the classic character. Crowe taught Holmes how to ask the right questions to get satisfactory answers. The relationship between teacher and student was refreshing and added the importance of education. I also enjoyed the relationship between Matty and Sherlock. They were from different social backgrounds but their commonality in crime-solving made them quite a pair. Although I do admit I missed the absence of Watson! But, my favorite character had to be Virginia. Where Holmes is a male icon, Virginia is definitely a strong female-icon. Her 'American' ways were exploited to make her desirable to Holmes, but she definitely gave him a run for his money!Overall, I think this series is a great introduction to the classic character of Sherlock Holmes to a younger generation. Lane created fabulous characters and a great mystery. I look forward to the next one!

[mountie9_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Jake's Review: This one was hard to read, but it was still a good exciting story. There are a lot of words I had to have mom explain to me so it took me a long time to read it. I also think it was a little old for me as there was some really scary stuff in it. I did like that Sherlock Holmes was a teenager and got to solve mysteries and help people. He was really smart at figuring out things and got to do a lot of stuff on his own. I felt bad for him at times because he was sort of all on his own with no Mom or Dad to help him out. TJake's Rating: 7/10Mom's Review: After reading this I realized it might have been a wee bit too old for Jake. Some of the language was difficult for a 10 yr old boy and it dealt with some rather violent scenes (Nothing too graphic though). Now I personally found it delightful, dark, witty and exciting and would recommend it more for teens with more sophisticated tastes. It did drag a wee bit in spots for me and I was frustrated with some of the repetition, but you have to remember it is not written for moms. The author obviously has researched Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle and the London of the 1860's as it rings very true. Fans of the original Holmes will see that the young Sherlock in this series could very well develop into Doyle's Holmes. He has his mannerisms, his intellect and you can see his passions for detective work developing. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.Mom's Rating: 8/10We received the book from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review

[shellypya · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Fictional accunt of Sherlock Holmes' teen years and his "first" case. Sent to live with his uncle during summer break from boarding school, Sherlock is bored until he meets his tutor, Amyus Crowe, and discovers a body covered in blotches. He and local boy Matty, who discovered a similar body, work with Croew and his daughter Virginia to solve the case. Little do they know they've uncovered a sinister plot to cripple the British army by a sinister figure who may be back in future episodes.

[bookwyrmm_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This was a good old-school teen mystery. Some of the action, though, felt like it came out of nowhere, but the mystery was solid and very thought-provoking (like you would expect from a Holmesian novel), even if the denouement was a little early.

[mysterymax_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This review was originally written for GROANS, CRIES AND BLEATINGS: THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE BAKER STREET BREAKFAST CLUB.Up front I must say that while I have read and loved the Canon, I am by no means an expert on Holmes. I liked the book mostly because Lane did not make the young Sherlock into a miniature adult Holmes. Instead you see beginnings. You learn that he was not popular at school; in fact he was intolerant of the foolishness of the other students, quite the loner and somewhat lonely because of that. Hoping to spend the summer with his family he learns that instead he must stay with an aunt and uncle because his father is away, his mother ill and the older Mycroft is too busy in London to look after him.During the summer, Sherlock meets a homeless boy around his age named Matty. This relationship, I felt, was very important to the future, adult, Holmes. Matty comes from an entirely different world than Sherlock yet he is smart, resourceful and "knows his way around" from having to live on his own wits. This seemed, to me, to be the beginnings of Sherlock's willingness, as an adult, to form relationships with the "lower classes", both young and old, and his ability to use their resourcefulness to help him with his cases. As an adult he understands that people who have to fend for themselves 'see' far more than others who have everything given to them, and since they are 'invisible' he often disguises himself as one of them.Mycroft engages an American tutor, Amyus Crowe, for Sherlock over the summer. It is Amyus that helps Sherlock learn the importance of 1) acquiring facts and 2) reasoning. This will be far more important in his adult life than mere rote learning from texts.In [Death Cloud] Sherlock also learns that events that seem impossible or supernatural do have a logical, scientific explanation.Even Sherlock's attraction to Amyus Crowe's daughter, Virginia, seemed fitting. She is completely different from other girls. She is fiercely independent, and intelligent. There are no whining, fainting or other feminine wiles of the day with her. I want to see in future stories how Sherlock's attitude towards women develops. I see more of his admiration of Irene Adler in his relationship with Virginia, but something must happen to him later to form his overall opinion of women. I am eager to continue with the series to see how Lane develops these characters. I think it is a great series that could bring a whole new generation of readers to the Canon.

[lyddz101 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Death Cloud by Andrew Lane was an exhilarating book! Featuring a young Sherlock Holmes at age 14 and his friends, several murders, a very creepy bad guy with an evil plot, some romance, and whole lot of action. I loved this mystery! Sherlock was depicted exactly as I would have imagined him to be at this age! I enjoyed seeing how the talent he already had and the skills he learned would turn him into the famous detective so well known. I also enjoyed seeing the word “deduced.” It’s probably my new favorite word.Sherlock’s tutor Mr. Crowe quickly became one of the best characters. Between the random bits of intelligence he was always giving, and the fact that he helped me understand a story problem that long has confused me, it was almost inevitable. Here’s the problem, a small taste of some of the problems and mysteries in this book:Three men decide to split the cost of a thirty shilling hotel room. Each fellow pays the manager ten shillings. The next morning the manager realizes he made a mistake in that a special rate was being charged on the room because of construction on the hotel. He sends a bellboy to give back five shillings. The men are so pleased they decide to each keep a shilling and give two to the boy as a tip. So each man ends up only paying nine shillings and the boy makes two. But, nine times three is twenty-seven shillings, and when you add the two shillings the boy got, it’s still only twenty-nine. Where did the missing shilling go?Not taken exactly from the text, I took out all the dialogue of them thinking it out, but it’s from pages 120 and 121. That problem has tortured my poor head since middle school and I actually squealed when the answer was explained! I leave you, dear reader, to the awful pondering that follows this story. But, unlike the evil classmate who posed this story to me, I’ve given you a way to find out the answer. Read Death Cloud!

[theokester · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

It’s the ultimate storm of literary fun. With the recent reinvigorated love of Sherlock Holmes and the huge resurgence of teen and YA fiction it’s a logical step to see a “Young Sherlock Holmes” series on the market. Death Cloud introduces us to Sherlock Holmes as the teenage student of a boarding school. It’s time for summer break but due to the war and other elements, Sherlock is being sent to live with his aunt and uncle rather than returning home or moving to London with his older brother Mycroft. Sherlock is a bit dismayed at the prospect of living in a provincial town with unknown relatives but at Mycroft’s advice he decides to make the best of the situation.As we learn about Sherlock we find that his powers of deduction are just as present as ever but they are not yet fully developed or focused. While at school, he had used his deductive skills as a sort of parlor trick or way to influence others. He’d worked out some insignificant mysteries for other students but hadn’t really yet thought of himself as a detective of any sort. Shortly after his arrival in Farnham to live with his relatives, a few things happen. Sherlock makes friends with a rover orphan named Matty. Sherlock sees a strange cloud that seems to move with a mind of its own out of a window and over the rooftops. He then finds that the window from which the strange cloud appeared is the window of a room in which a man was mysteriously found dead. Sherlock’s curiosity takes over and he sets off to try and find the answers.As the story progresses it becomes very clear that Sherlock does not yet have the wealth and breadth of knowledge that are characteristic of his adult self. He is ignorant about many things that we would think as common knowledge to the Holmes we all know. For example he knows very little about geography, botany or biology. He has some interests in chemistry but is in no way adept. Essentially this book starts us off with a near “clean slate” version of Sherlock Holmes. He is very capable of connecting the dots and seeing things that others do not see, but he does not yet have the overarching knowledge yet to determine the things that are important or the dots that are to be connected.So how does a curious but observant Sherlock gain the required knowledge and skills to solve the case? Sherlock’s aunt and uncle along with Mycroft decide that it would be wise for Sherlock to have a tutor. Mycroft hires a man named Amyus Crowe. Amyus is from America and has a “particular set of skills” which serve him well as a man of wisdom in navigating the world. Amyus presents Sherlock with a number of real-world observation tests to try and get Sherlock “thinking outside the box” and searching for answers beyond the obvious. He also acts as a sounding board to help supplement the lacking scientific knowledge of our young Sherlock. At first Amyus discourages Sherlock’s involvement in the mystery but then takes him under his wing and they work together, along with Matty and Amyus’ daughter, to unravel the strange happenings around Farnham.The writing is simple and yet vibrant. The characters are interesting, distinct and fun. The adventure is intriguing and engaging. Overall this is a fun adventure mystery. Due to his youth and inexperience, this truly could have been presented as a standard adventure-mystery with no connection at all to Sherlock Holmes. By setting it as a Holmes prequel of sorts, the author puts forth some pretty big expectations to be filled. Generally speaking I felt like this story did a good job of living up to those expectations. Holmes purists may find elements to quibble with but I really enjoyed the story and felt like it captured the essence and tone of a Holmes adventure. I also feel like this particular novel will be a more accessible entry point to younger/newer readers as they look to read Holmes stories. While it is definitely not an official Sherlock Holmes story it will be more approachable to younger readers who may be bored or put off by the 19th century style of Conan Doyle’s originals. My hope would be that new readers would gobble up this novel then be hungry for the original Holmes stories.***3 out of 5 stars

[hoosgracie · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

How did Sherlock Holmes become the great detective? Lane explores this question with a teen Sherlock. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially the supporting characters and the first mystery - involving bees - was intriguing.

[monsterofbooks · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

When I was first ask to review this I was really hesistant. I love Sherlock Holmes (though I haven't read the original books)--especially the latest film, but mystery and murder isn't my usual cup of tea. So when I said yes I was taking a big risk, but I wanted to see how Sherlock Holmes would act as a young teenager. And in the end it was worth the risk, I loved it.At the age of fourteen, Sherlock must spend the summer with his estrange aunt and uncle. What he thinks will be a boring holiday turns into a adventure of a life time. Along side him is Matty (a friend he met coincidentally), Amyus Crowe (tutor) and Virgina (tutor's daughter, Sherlock's crush).Andrew Lane has made the book so their is never a dull moment at hand. As a reader you'll be able to quickly jump into it and even spend most of the book trying to solve the mystery.The characters in the book are all lovable, though I enjoyed Virgina the most. She represented a strong female lead, and was not at all a damsel-in-distress. I was saddened that she didn't have a lot of spotlight in the book, and hope that in the next she will.My thoughts on Sherlock's young self compared to his older self are purely based on how Robert Downey Jr portrayed him. I haven't read the original Sherlock Holmes novels so I can't really get a complete grasp on his older self. In this book Sherlock is at the beginning of his journeys. He's smart but not mega smart. I kind of like that because it shows that Sherlock gained his knowledge through education and experience, not having it naturally. I think Sherlock Holmes (whether young or old) is a great role model because he shows that with hard work and dedication you can achieve a level of knowledge that can help make the world a better place. Most young adults think school is a waste, maybe even me a bit, and Sherlock shows that he needed education and experience to become the great hero he became when he was older.The only down side to this book was some of the description was foggy and hard to understand. As well as by the end of the book it kind of dragged. The antagonist of the book was simple to figure out, it was the mystery and actions of the villain that were hard to solve.Overall I enjoyed Death Cloud and will definitely be keeping an eye out for it's sequel.

[arkhamreviews · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

My views on this novel are incredibly mixed. As a mystery novel, I did not think it was too bad. Although the conclusion was a little out-there, it was well written, made coherent sense and didn't take any huge leaps in logic. If it had just been a Victorian murder mystery, I would have had no real problems with it at all.However, the novel is intended to be a Sherlock Holmes story and because if this it has a few problems. The character of Sherlock was a little too flat and uninteresting for my taste. As his abilities were mostly taught by his summer tutor, it felt as though it removed some of his brilliance. The Holmes of this story was not a genius, he was merely an ordinary boy with a good memory.The novel was entertaining enough and I can certainly see why people enjoy it, but I just felt that with a bit more work it could have been so much better.

[lilibrarian · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

In this first book in a series about Sherlock Holmes as a teenager, he is sent to stay with relatives during a school vacation. Two mysterious deaths occurred, and with the help of a street-wise friend, his tutor and his tutor's daughter, Sherlock solves the mystery, facing great personal peril.

[karenamorg · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This novel about the young Sherlock Holmes demonstrates a considerable respect for its audience through evocative, intelligent writing. The story takes place in the 19th century England, and opens when 14-year-old Sherlock is picked up at his boarding school, where he is lonely and without friends, and is informed he will be spending the summer months in Farnham with an uncle that he didn’t know he had. Wishing he could travel instead to London and stay with his brother, Mycroft, he reluctantly settles in with his distant uncle, odd aunt and eerily unsettling housekeeper. He soon finds intrigue and danger as he witnesses perplexing activity in the small town. With the aid of a delightful American tutor, Amyus Crowe, his daughter Virginia and an orphan named Matty, he sets about solving a mystery involving an evil French baron named Maupertuis and his plot to destroy the English army with killer bees. The mystery wraps up nicely, and my only criticism is that there is no mention of Sherlock’s uncle when the journey ends and the baron’s evil intentions are thwarted due to Sherlock’s detective skills—for the time being. The witty dialogue is amusing and the story has inspired me to finally read the original Sherlock Holmes stories. I am buying this and its new sequel, Rebel Fire, for my school library and will be recommending them to sixth graders who would be willing to try a well-paced and exciting historical mystery. Target audience ages 12-16.

[adpaton · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I enjoyed this action adventure tale enormously: Sherlock Holmes is always a favourite and Andrew Lane handles the character very well indeed. The villain adds an element of steampunk but one can overlook that and although American characters are becoming irritatingly ubiquitous in English books [and films - apparently most Americans don't enjoy things unless they contain at least one Yank] the tutor Amyus Crowe was likable enough.

[thomas2taylor · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Sherlock Holmes at fourteen... great stuff. I enjoyed this book and sharing the very first case of Sherlock Holmes, even before Dr. Watson came onto the scene.

[aadyer · Calificación: 1 de 5 estrellas]

I wanted to like this, as a massive Sherlockian, I was hoping for a repeat performance of Charlie Higson's "young Bond" series, but I was sorely disappointed. This is a heroic character, but not Sherlock. What is going to come is alluded to but never seems quite as either tongue in cheek, or as cool as Charlie Higson does this with Young Bond. THis is not a recognisable Young Sherlock character, and whilst I appreciate that liberties have to be made with his character, being as Conan Doyle left little in the way of biographical details, I was a little shocked at the supporting characters and also the character of SHerlock himself. This seems to have been missed. Sherlock is not a nice boy who was lucky and plucky, he is a misunderstood genius, with autisitic traits, obsessional personality issues and an addictive perchant to boot. This is not young Sherlock, but merely Alex Rider in the 1870's with some trappings of the literary Holmes thrown in to keep the fans happy. Avoid

[turrean_1 · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

Yes, yes, I ought to like it because I'm a Sherlock Holmes fan. I used to drift up to the second level of my high school library, and read Holmes stories while sneaking forbidden snacks out of my backpack. But it's hard to take this book seriously. Not because of the silliness of the schemes of the master villain, because there are some pretty outré plots in the Conan Doyle canon. Not because of the preteen romance intrusion, because I realize I am old and jaded and therefore must be forgiving of innocent blushing kisses. I simply found the young hero an improbable youthful version of Holmes--so callow, so obtuse. I also saw plot holes you could steer a barge through. How did Matty get the bicycles? Why does Mycroft spend hours in a carriage with Sherlock, but only think to warn him about the evil housekeeper in a letter? Who carefully padlocks a barn you're going to burn down, and what teenager can push a cart with such force that it goes through a wall? How did Sherlock magically learn to ride a horse by listening to a 15-second description? Why doesn't anybody steal Matty's horse? What is the reason no one ever summons any legal authorities? Would Sherlock's uncle not have summoned police assistance even after an attempt on his nephew's life? Bah. I will admit that some of this effect could be the effect of listening to, rather than reading, the text. I didn't care for the narrator's version of a young girl's voice.

[vivienner_3 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

A good YA adventure story, having plenty of frightful and repellent sections, although it was on the far-fetched side. The young Sherlock Holmes develops a friendship with an orphaned street-wise boy who lives on a barge. His American tutor, arranged by Mycroft, has a daughter who provides a mild romantic element. Holmes was captured and knocked out with laudanum, a glaring foreshadowing of future problems. The relationship between this young man and the well-known adult Sherlock Holmes is a tenuous one: I just can't see this boy growing into Conan Doyle's character. Only 3 stars from me but a young reader might enjoy it more.

[theyodamom · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

A very enjoyable look at young Sherlock, before his genius status. We travel with him on an adventure that leads to death, danger and pain.

[rosa.mill · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Sherlock is sent to his Uncle's house for the school holiday b/c his father's regiment is shipped out and his mother's illness makes Sherlock too much for her to handle. At first Sherlock is left to his own devices and he makes a friend named Matty, who is essentially a street urchin. Then a tutor is engaged and Sherlock, Matty, his tutor (an american named ameus crowe) and crow's daughter Virginia get embroiled in the mystery of how two men actually died.

As soon as the book starts you get a feel for how observant Sherlock is and that it's a family trait. As the book moves forward the reader can see that Crow is teaching him many of the investigative techniques and thought processes that will become so important later (I fully admit there were points where I learned a little myself about restating questions and such). They also inserted a neat introduction to Sherlock's love of bees which made me smile. Clearly this is the beginning of a series as there are some mysterious familial events that need further explanation and I hope to be able to listen to the rest of it.

I also hope they keep the narrator as I like this one. He is very good at accents and his feminine voices while not necessarily sounding like girls are differentiated enough that you're aware who is speaking.