This is one of those books that could have been so much more. Maybe there are copyright issues with Sherlock Holmes but how sad to not take that into the story by keeping him alive and have him work with Dora. Given the time and the limitations placed on women, the plot was clunky and difficult as the author tried to explain away things and make excuses for Dora’s involvement. The letters, rather than being a main plot point, were just a vehicle to the larger case and really the title should have not even referred to the letters … although, as I type, I guess coded letters were at the root of Mark Fellows murder as well.

The one thing I really liked about the book was the cover. The model they used has freckles and it is so unusual to see a cover with a person with “flaws” that it endeared itself to me. But, while I will pick books up and read the jacket because of their cover (as I did with this one), the content of the book is what sticks … and there wasn’t content enough here for me to recommend to serious mystery fans. However, it’s lack of extreme violence and sex (no sex at all), make it a nice clean read for the Tween crowd.

** As I update my GR with reviews previously only in my private book log, I notice how much I've grown as a librarian and reviewer. "Clean"??? Goodness me. Just say "no sex, no drugs, mild violence" as everyone's definition of "clean" is entirely different!