With her sharp mind, talent for deduction, and refusal to follow society’s expectations, Enola Holmes has become one of the most popular young detectives in modern fiction.
While many readers first discovered the character through Netflix’s hugely successful Enola Holmes films starring Millie Bobby Brown, the character actually began life in a series of novels by Nancy Springer. Set in Victorian London, the books follow Sherlock Holmes’s much younger sister as she solves mysteries of her own while attempting to avoid the watchful eyes of her famous brothers.
If you’ve finished the films and want to explore the original stories, here’s the complete Enola Holmes reading order.
Enola Holmes Books in Order
1. The Case of the Missing Marquess (2006)
When Enola Holmes, sister to the detective Sherlock Holmes, discovers her mother has disappeared, she quickly embarks on a journey to London in search of her. But nothing can prepare her for what awaits.
Because when she arrives, she finds herself involved in the kidnapping of a young marquess, fleeing murderous villains, and trying to elude her shrewd older brothers – all while attempting to piece together clues to her mother’s strange disappearance. Amid all the mayhem, will Enola be able to decode the necessary clues and find her mother?
2. The Case of the Left-Handed Lady (2007)
Enola Holmes is on the run from the world’s most famous detective – her brother Sherlock Holmes.
As she roams the dark and dangerous streets of London disguised as a doctor’s secretary called Miss Ivy Meshle, Enola is reminded more and more that her name backwards spells ‘alone’.
But when she finds a concealed cache of dazzling charcoal drawings, she feels drawn to the girl who drew them. Only, that girl, young Lady Cecily, has mysteriously vanished.
3. The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets (2008)
Enola Holmes is still on the run from her brother and world’s most famous detective Sherlock Holmes. After one close encounter too many with him, Enola must abandon her disguise and find a new way to avoid discovery.
But when Sherlock’s right-hand man, Dr Watson, goes missing without a trace, Enola is unable to resist investigating. Especially when she learns that a bizarre bouquet – with flowers that all symbolise death – has been delivered to the Watson residence.
It’s a race against time to find Dr Watson before it’s too late. Enola Holmes returns in this exciting third mystery.
4. The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan (2008)
The ever-elusive Enola Holmes has now been on the run for more than eight months, much to the bemusement of her brother – the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes.
During a chance encounter with an old acquaintance, Lady Cecily, Enola realises that there is more to the young woman’s plight than meets the eye. Especially when she leaves behind a dire plea for help within a peculiar pink fan . . .
Puzzled, Enola finds she has no choice but to risk her freedom and join forces with Sherlock. But can she trust him? And can they both save Lady Cecily in time? Enola Holmes captivates in this sensational fourth adventure.
5. The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline (2009)
While on the run from her brother Sherlock, the world’s most famous detective, Enola Holmes has been hiding in plain sight, lodging with Mrs Tupper.
Mrs Tupper may be half-deaf and a terrible cook, but she is the closest thing Enola has to a family. So when she discovers that her dear land lady has been abducted, Enola is shocked but determined to find out why. Especially when she finds cryptic codes within a crinoline underskirt in Mrs Tupper’s upturned room. . .
But who could have taken Mrs Tupper? And why do all the clues lead to Florence Nightingale?
It’s another gripping case for our young heroine in this enthralling fifth mystery.
6. The Case of the Gypsy Goodbye (2010)
Enola Holmes – sister of the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes – always has an eye for mystery-solving. Still on the run from her brothers, Enola continues her investigative work in the busy streets of London, disguised under a new alias, and is now searching for the missing Lady Blanchefleur del Campo.
She soon finds out that Sherlock is searching for Enola herself, but not to return her home this time. He has a message from their long-lost mother, a message only Enola can decipher.
Armed with clues about her mother’s whereabouts, Enola walks a path of self-discovery and reconciliation.
Will Enola finally be reunited with her mother? And can she solve the mystery of what has happened to Lady Blanchefleur del Campo before it’s too late?
7. Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche (2021)
When Miss Letitia Glover arrives at Sherlock Holmes’s door, desperate to uncover the truth about her twin sister, Flossie, it is Enola who steps up to solve the case.
Letitia is convinced Flossie’s husband is lying about her death. And indeed, Enola discovers that this is not the first time a wife of the Earl has met an untimely end. Could Flossie’s fate be tied to a mysterious black barouche that arrived at the Earl’s home in the dead of night? Enola is determined to unravel the secrets within Dunhench Hall . .
8. Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade (2023)
Enola Holmes discovers that her friend Lady Cecily Alastair is in need of help. Twice before, Enola has rescued Lady Cecily from the sinister schemes of her father, Sir Eustace Alastair. And when Enola is brusquely turned away at the door of the Alastair home it soon becomes apparent that something is awry.
After a daring escape involving bows, arrows and prickly bushes, Enola quickly discovers she is not the only person trying to rescue Lady Cecily. Sherlock Holmes, the world-famous detective, is also on the case. Unfortunately, the girl has already disappeared again, and is now on the loose in the unforgiving city of London.
Will Enola and Sherlock work together to save Cecily? And can they agree on what they are saving her from?
9. Enola Holmes and the Mark of the Mongoose (2023)
May, 1890. Wolcott Balestier, the representative of an American book publisher, has arrived in London on a singular mission – to contract English authors for their latest works. When Balestier disappears on the streets of London one day, his great friend – Rudyard Kipling – bursts into Enola’s office looking for help in finding him. Brash and unwilling to hire a young woman, instead he turns to Sherlock Holmes. Convinced that evil has befallen Balestier, at the hands of rival American publishers who pirate the works of English authors, he sets the elder Holmes on the trail.
But Enola is determined to learn the truth behind the disappearance of the young American. Can book publishing truly be so deadly?
9. Enola Holmes and the Mark of the Mongoose (2023)
When Enola Holmes hears a muffled clanging sound coming from a ‘safety coffin’ in a chilly cemetery, she follows the sound to a crudely dug fresh grave. She starts digging . . . and inside a coffin she finds a girl who is drugged but not quite dead.
But how to find where the girl belongs – or where she is running from – when she can’t remember anything about who she is? Only Enola could persevere to solve the mystery, in the face of a gang of heavies on her trail and her brother Sherlock’s strict warning to stay away from the case.
Should You Read the Enola Holmes Books in Order?
I would.
Although each mystery can largely stand on its own, one of the pleasures of the series is watching Enola grow in confidence and independence as the books progress.
Her relationship with Sherlock evolves, recurring characters return, and the world gradually expands beyond the first novel’s central mystery.
The books are also relatively quick reads, making it easy to work through the series in publication order.
Who Is Enola Holmes?
Enola Holmes is the much younger sister of Sherlock Holmes and Mycroft Holmes.
When her mother mysteriously disappears on Enola’s fourteenth birthday, she finds herself thrust into an adventure that takes her across Victorian London in search of answers.
Unlike her brothers, Enola has little interest in following the traditional path expected of young women in nineteenth-century society. Instead, she relies on her intelligence, resourcefulness, and determination to solve mysteries that often place her in considerable danger.
Part of the appeal is that Enola never feels like a copy of Sherlock.
She approaches problems differently. She notices different things. And she often succeeds precisely because people underestimate her.
The London of Enola Holmes
One of my favourite aspects of the series is its portrayal of London.
This is the London of hansom cabs, crowded streets, hidden alleyways, boarding houses, and foggy evenings. It’s a city full of secrets and possibilities, making it the perfect setting for a young detective.
Readers who enjoy wandering around literary London will recognise many of the locations and social worlds that also appear in Sherlock Holmes stories.
The books capture the sense that London is large enough for adventure to be hiding around almost every corner.
Which, if we’re being honest, is still part of the city’s appeal today.
How Closely Do the Netflix Films Follow the Books?
The Netflix adaptations take inspiration from Nancy Springer’s novels rather than following them scene for scene.
The core elements remain the same: Enola, Sherlock, Mycroft, Eudoria, and a series of mysteries set against the backdrop of Victorian London.
However, the films expand certain characters and storylines while adding their own twists.
Fans of the movies will still find plenty to enjoy in the original books, particularly because they spend much more time exploring Enola’s thoughts, observations, and investigations.
What to Read After Enola Holmes
If you enjoy the Enola Holmes books, you might also enjoy:
- The Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Young Sherlock Holmes series by Andrew Lane
- The Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens
- The Stalking Jack the Ripper series by Kerri Maniscalco
- The Lockwood & Co. series by Jonathan Stroud
All combine mystery with memorable characters and richly realised settings.
Final Thoughts
Whether you discovered Enola Holmes through the books or the Netflix films, Nancy Springer’s series offers an entertaining return to Victorian London.
The mysteries are engaging, the characters are memorable, and the setting provides exactly the sort of atmospheric backdrop that detective fiction thrives on.
And while Sherlock Holmes may cast a long shadow over literary London, Enola proves there’s more than enough room for another detective in the family.