Baker Street Peculiars

The Baker Street PeculiarsBy Roger Langridge andIllustrated by Andy HirschRating 5SynopsisThe Baker Street Peculiars is a supernatural twist on the beloved world of Sherlock Holmes.When a giant lion statue in Trafalgar Square comes to life and wreaks havoc on 1930s London, it seems like the perfect case for the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. With an overwhelmed caseload, however, Holmes recruits the help of three precocious young detectives-in-training (and one cunning golden retriever) to solve the mystery. Molly, Rajani, Humphrey, and Wellington (the dog) will have to work together and use all their wits if they are to uncover the truth behind the living statues and save London. But on the legendary Baker Street, nothing is as it seems and their biggest mystery might be the real identity of the famous detective who brought them together.Ah, who is up for an entertaining jaunt through the streets of London, seeing not only the sights; but also a bit of the seedier side of London town? Actually, I’m not a huge fan of graphic novels; but I did grow up reading Archie, Richie Rich and Scooby Doo. This took me back in time more than a few years or two! It did take me awhile to get used to the English street lingo; but I’m rather quick for a grandma so all is good! This is a great modern tale of three unsuspecting and hardly compatible comrades in crime solvers. However, it just goes to show that whatever is lacking, one of the partners most likely excels to meet the need. AND there is a side angle of Sherlock Holmes being involved as well! What could be cooler than that??? The characters are diverse and have the beginnings of complexity. I simply love Molly. She is the brains. Raj is the street wise character and Humphrey, with his wealthy connections and his dog, Wellington, are thrown in for good measure. What a mix this foursome are…and will be! They are captivating and will hold you prisoner to the very end! The graphics are to die for. Well, not really die; but definitely to be enjoyed. Art, and I mean this literally, is displayed on every single page! I thouroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more. I’m sending this book to my favorite nephew of mine, Canyon. Enjoy!!!!! Because I did! Oh, to be 10 years old again….

'The Baker Street Peculiars' by Roger Langridge with illustrations by Andy Hirsch is a fun romp through the streets of London with a new group of young detectives.It's the 1930s and many of the large statues around London are going missing. Sherlock Holmes can't take on the case, but asks three kids in the streets (plus one dog) to help out. Humphrey is going to a private school, Molly is living with her grandfather, and Rajani is a homeless girl living on the streets. They don't know each other before Sherlock hires them. The mystery involves a Cockney golem and the kids find themselves in all kinds of trouble. They also find out that there may be more to Sherlock than they've been led to believe.It's a cute enough story. Although the setting and story involve Sherlock, the timeframe and the type of story don't feel much like an actual Sherlock Holmes adventure. This won't be for the purists, but it's fine for younger readers who like stories with diverse characters. I like the message that females can solve crime and have adventures just like the males can.I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Boom! Studios and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

Roger Langridge has a way of telling a story that feels classic and almost old-fashioned, but without aping the storytelling styles of previous eras or descending into pastiche. Here, he tells the story of three young kids (two girls and one boy) and a dog who are apparently recruited by Sherlock Holmes to uncover the mystery of statues disappearing throughout London. However, all is not what it seems, and the answer is a great deal more fantastical than mere thievery. What really makes the book special is the diversity of the cast, in gender, in race, and in religion (even leaving aside the fact that one of the characters is a dog). Also special is Andy Hirsch's artwork, which is fun and energetic and captures the mood of the story perfectly. I love it when Langridge illustrates his own work, and had honestly been a little sad to hear he wasn't drawing this one. That sadness disappeared as soon as I saw Hirsch's art here. Overall, this is a fun mystery/adventure/fantasy/historical story that adds a new twist to the Holmes legend. It is truly appropriate for all ages; both children and adults will find much to love here.

A fun supernatural mystery/adventure in 1930s London with three very different junior detectives. Molly is a Jewish girl living with her strict grandparents, Humphrey is a posh white boy from a rich family who was sent off to boarding school early, and orphaned girl Rajani, of Bengali descent, has been living on the street. When giant statues in London start coming to life, the three kids get involved with a mysterious detective who's trying to solve the case. The villain is hilarious without losing his menace, and the kids really do have to be smart to get out of some bad situations. I also loved how they don't just automatically become friends, but have to negotiate how they each have different life experiences. For kids into weird happenings and detective stories, this is a must-try.