Death in the Air (Boy Sherlock Holmes Series #2) by Shane Peacock

From the Publisher

After the harrowing experience of losing his mother while solving a brutal murder in London’s East End, young Sherlock Holmes commits himself to fighting crime … and is soon involved in another case. While visiting his father at the magnificent Crystal Palace, Sherlock stops to watch a remarkable and dangerous trapeze performance high above, framed by the stunning glass ceiling of the legendary building. Suddenly, the troupe’s star is dropping, screaming and flailing, toward the floor. He lands with a sickening thud just a few feet away, and rolls up almost onto the boy’s boots. Unconscious and bleeding profusely, his body is grotesquely twisted. In the mayhem that follows, Sherlock notices something that no one else sees — something is amiss with the trapeze bar! He knows that foul play is afoot. What he doesn’t know is that his discovery will put him on a frightening, twisted trail that leads to an entire gang of notorious criminals. Wrapped in the fascinating world of Victorian entertainment, its dangerous performances, and London’s dark underworld, Death in the Air raises The Boy Sherlock Holmes to a whole new level.

Be sure not to miss Eye of the Crow, The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His First Case.


From the Hardcover edition.

Children's Literature

A daring aerialist plummets through the air and lands with a sickening thud at the feet of Britain's youngest sleuth, turning a visit to his estranged father into an attempted murder investigation. In the second title of Shane Peacock's "The Boy Sherlock Holmes" series, Holmes finds refuge from London's menacing streets in the apothecary shop of Sigerson Bell, an eccentric elderly gentleman who advertised for an apprentice. Within the walls of the shop, surrounded by potions, poisons, books, and skeletons, Sherlock Holmes begins to reinvent himself as an avenger of wrongs, a force of good against evil. Yet when he is caught up in a search for the perpetrator of the crime he witnessed firsthand, Holmes's resolve to cut off his emotions and turn his back on the one person he cares about is challenged. His desire to avenge his reputation and solve the case before the local authorities, leads him into increasingly dangerous pursuits, involving both the petty street criminal he considers his foe, and the most notorious criminal gang in England. The story twists and turns as quickly and cunningly as Victorian London's vermin-infested sewers and keeps readers turning pages until the surprising ending. Peacock's vivid scenes and clear portrayal of the sleuth's internal struggle leave young readers thirsty for more mysteries, and brilliantly set the stage for the original Sherlock Homes mysteries that have fascinated generations. Reviewer: Keri Collins Lewis

VOYA

In this sequel to Eye of the Crow (Tundra, 2007/VOYA February 2008), young Sherlock Holmes witnesses the dramatic fall of a high-trapeze artist. Holmes realizes that the aerialist's fall was no accident and sets out to solve the crime. Holmes is both honoring his vow to seek justice after the death of his mother and hoping to earn reward money. He needs money to help his new employer and landlord, the alchemist Sigerson Bell, and to pay for university. Holmes's investigation takes him through the dangerous world of trapeze artists and into the den of the most perilous thieves in London. He reconnects with Irene Doyle, whom he is trying to shun for her own good, and Malefactor, the young crime lord. He also tangles with Inspector Lestrade, who stole the credit for Holmes's first case. This book is even better than the first. Holmes is evolving into his adult persona, becoming more insular while gaining the vast array of knowledge for which his grown-up self is famous. The mystery is solid, the characters compelling, and the historical background is convincing but not overwhelming. Peacock paints a vivid picture of Victorian England, including interesting details about the criminal underground and the lives of the high-trapeze performers in this strong addition to a very promising series. It will appeal to historical mystery readers, but will particularly please fans of the first book and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Reviewer: Heather Pittman

School Library Journal

Gr 6-8- This sequel to Eye of the Crow (Tundra, 2007) continues as Sherlock Holmes, 13, tries to prove his worth to Scotland Yard and become "a new sort of London detective, the scourge of every villain." Witnessing the tragic fall of a famous trapeze artist, he utilizes his limited resources, including a new mentor who happens to be a brilliant alchemist, and his own deductive skills to convince others that the fall was no accident. Sherlock pursues the case doggedly, even enlisting the help of a young street boss named Malefactor. The book ends with the young protagonist determined to survive alone, distancing himself from all friends. This is an exciting mystery, well written and fast paced, but reluctant readers may have a hard time adjusting to the language.-Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT

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