★★★★☆ The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline, by Nancy Springer
A formula Enola Holmes mystery
The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline
Nancy Springer
A formula Enola Holmes mystery
In previous works of Nancy Springer's Enola Holmes mysteries we became very slightly acquainted with Mrs Tupper, Enola's deaf landlady of the unappetizing soups. Until now Mrs Tupper has been portrayed as a figure of fun. I always suspected there might be more to Mrs Tupper than meets the eye, and so it turns out. Mrs Tupper receives a threatening message. Having noticed that there is more to Enola than Enola lets on, Mrs Tupper consults her. Then Mrs Tupper is kidnapped. (This is in the publisher's summary.) A cryptic crinoline turns up, and also, the famous Lady of the Lamp, Florence Nightingale herself, appears as a major character in this novel.
I was a little disappointed by the mystery in this Enola Holmes. If you have read the previous novels, you will figure out the secret of the crinoline as soon as it appears.
I was more interested in the portrait of Nightingale, of whom I knew very little -- only the name, and that she was one of the founders of nursing. Indeed, The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline induced me to read her (impressively long) Wikipedia page. Springer's Nightingale is, of course, lightly fictionalized, as Springer lays out in an Author's Note. Since my knowledge of Nightingale is pretty much restricted to her Wikipedia page, I can't speak to the accuracy of Springer's portrayal, but can only say that it is respectful.
In summary, although not one of the best, The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline is good fun, like all Enola Holmes novels.