Wednesday, May 4, 2011

No Place Like Holmes by Jason Lethcoe


Encyclopedia Brown meets Sherlock Holmes in this enjoyable mystery novel for kids. Griffin Sharpe heads to 221 Baker Street to spend the summer with an uncle he’s never met. Certain that his uncle is the famous Sherlock Holmes, Griffin is looking forward to meeting someone who might understand him and his ultra-observant ways. Imagine his disappointment when he realizes that his uncle, though a detective, is unknown, odd, unwelcoming, and has a grudge against Holmes. But when Griffin and his uncle stumble upon a mystery and work toward its solution, a tenuous relationship begins to form. 

Despite Griffin’s attention to detail and his need to count things when nervous, there were times when I felt like the description was overdone. However, it was a clear look into Griffin’s mind and it was more of a hiccup than an interruption in the story’s flow. All in all, I believe it will appeal to readers of Encyclopedia Brown, The Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew books.

The story itself was well put together, creating an intriguing case that have the reader cheering for Griffin and his uncle. And the book ends with a hint of the next mystery, and the first chapter of book 2. As a side note, be sure and read the mini-mysteries and see if you can solve them before you peek at Griffin’s answers.

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers with no expectation of a positive review.

Reggie by Reggie Dabbs with John Driver


Wow! Wow! Wow! This book was a surprising gem. An inspirational autobiography of a man from humble beginnings who found his way, his purpose, and his value in Christ. 

To be honest, this  was one of those books that I thought might be a good story, but I didn’t expect it to be a favorite. I tend to gravitate toward fiction. But I decided to give it a shot and I am so glad I did. I began reading this in a dentist’s waiting room, not the place one usually shows emotion, and by page 21, I had both laughed out loud and felt tears run down my face. And it got better from there.

Emotional, inspirational, challenging, entertaining, faith-building. Reggie was all these things. Extremely well-written, Reggie was a real pleasure to read and I will be recommending it to others. I especially want my teenage children to read it. 

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers with no expectation of a positive review.