There exists in the hearts of readers everywhere a particular fondness for a certain sort of heroine—the kind who solves puzzles whilst the grown-ups are busy being grown-ups, who uses wit and cleverness rather than waiting about for someone else to sort things out, and who proves, time and again, that a sharp mind knows no bounds of age or circumstance.
If you have found yourself utterly captivated by the adventures of Miss Enola Holmes, you are not alone. And fortunate you are, dear reader, for there exist many more such tales, each featuring remarkable young persons who refuse to let a mystery go unsolved. Allow me to introduce you to twelve of the finest.
1. The Wendy by Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown
Now here is a most extraordinary thing—a story that takes everything you thought you knew about a certain flying boy and his island of make-believe and turns it quite thoroughly upon its head. In The Wendy, our heroine begins her tale not in a nursery with an open window but in an orphanage, dreaming not of motherhood but of commanding her own ship upon the high seas.
What makes this Peter Pan retelling so perfectly suited for admirers of Miss Holmes is this: Wendy Darling is a detective in her own right. She joins England’s secret Home Office, tasked with investigating magical threats called the Everlost—and if that sounds like precisely the sort of mission requiring a clever mind, quick wit, and willingness to best stubborn gentlemen at their own games, you would be entirely correct.
The story positively sparkles with dry humour and adventure. Wendy outsmarts Captain Hook at every turn, befriends the most loyal of dogs, and navigates a world where magic smells green and tastes like pickles. One reviewer declared it “a Peter Pan retelling better than the original,” and another pronounced Wendy “close to the pinnacle of perfectly-created strong female heroines.” The complete trilogy is now available, so you needn’t wait to continue the adventure.
2. Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Twelve-year-old Myrtle Hardcastle has opinions about toxicology, keeps abreast of the latest developments in crime scene analysis, and observes her neighbours with the keen eye of a born detective. When the wealthy spinster next door meets a suspicious end, Myrtle is quite certain murder has been done—even if nobody else believes her.
Armed with her father’s law books and her mother’s microscope, Myrtle sets about proving herself right. This Edgar Award-winning mystery has been compared to Flavia de Luce and declared “a joyful thing to behold” by reviewers who appreciate clever heroines and unexpected twists in equal measure.
3. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
What if Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were real persons whose great-great-great-grandchildren happened to attend the same boarding school? Jamie Watson arrives at a Connecticut prep school and meets Charlotte Holmes—and when murder occurs, these two descendants find themselves both suspects and sleuths.
The witty banter between them would make their ancestors proud, and the mystery itself is clever enough to satisfy the most discerning reader. One need not have memorised the original tales to enjoy this thoroughly modern interpretation.
4. Jackaby by William Ritter
Imagine, if you will, a detective who can see supernatural traces left upon the ordinary world—banshees and creatures that lurk where sensible folk dare not look. R.F. Jackaby employs the adventurous Abigail Rook as his assistant, and together they investigate paranormal mysteries in 1892 New England.
Described by devoted readers as “Sherlock Holmes meets Doctor Who,” this series combines historical setting with fantastical elements in the most delightful fashion. The Victorian voice is wonderfully convincing, and the partnership between the eccentric detective and his practical assistant is a joy to behold.
5. Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
Sophronia has a horrendous curtsey and absolutely no interest in becoming a proper lady. When her despairing mother enrolls her in Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality, Sophronia anticipates tedious lessons in deportment.
Instead, she discovers that the school teaches the fine arts of death, diversion, and espionage—in the politest possible ways, naturally. Set in a deliciously steampunk Victorian world complete with dirigibles and clockwork contraptions, this series earned four starred reviews and landed on the New York Times bestseller list its very first week.
6. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
Ellingham Academy is a famous private school hidden in the Vermont mountains, founded by an eccentric tycoon whose wife and daughter mysteriously vanished shortly after its opening. The only clue was a riddle signed “Truly, Devious.”
True-crime enthusiast Stevie Bell arrives determined to solve this cold case at last. John Green himself called it “an intricately plotted, compulsively readable novel,” and Kirkus Reviews declared it “a classic mystery that would make Dame Agatha proud.” The dark academia atmosphere and Christie-worthy twists make this essential reading.
7. A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee
Mary Quinn was rescued from the gallows as a young orphan and offered an education at Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls—which conceals an all-female investigative unit called The Agency. At seventeen, Mary goes undercover as a lady’s companion to investigate a merchant’s suspicious dealings.
Set in 1850s London with Dickensian atmosphere, this winner of the John Spray Mystery Award features a biracial heroine navigating both Victorian society’s constraints and genuinely dangerous intrigues.
8. Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen by Marthe Jocelyn
Drawing inspiration from the imagined childhood of Agatha Christie herself, this series follows young Aggie Morton in 1902 England. When she crosses paths with a Belgian immigrant named Hector Perot (yes, that Perot, more or less) and discovers a dead body, the two new friends set about solving the case.
The Historical Novel Society called it “a delight from start to finish,” praising both the period-perfect adventure and the charming central friendship. The mystery is properly clued and satisfying—no small feat in any age category.
9. Murder Is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens
Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong attend Deepdean School for Girls in the 1930s, where they have formed their own secret detective agency. When Hazel discovers a teacher’s body—which subsequently vanishes—the two friends must prove murder has occurred whilst navigating friendship complications and boarding school politics.
Published in the UK as Murder Most Unladylike, this series has been praised as “a skillful blend of golden era crime novel and boarding school romp.” The friendship between outspoken Daisy and observant Hazel anchors the clever mysteries perfectly.
10. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
“Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?” So reads a peculiar newspaper advertisement. Dozens respond; only four succeed at the mind-bending tests. These extraordinary children—each gifted in their own particular way—are recruited for a secret mission at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened.
Recommended for those who have enjoyed Lemony Snicket, this New York Times bestseller is packed with riddles, brainteasers, and the sort of adventure that rewards clever thinking.
11. A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
Veronica Speedwell is a natural historian who hunts butterflies across the globe and refuses to conform to Victorian expectations. When she thwarts her own abduction with the help of a mysterious baron, she finds herself partnered with the reclusive Stoker, searching for villainous truth whilst trading witty barbs worthy of Tracy and Hepburn.
Kirkus praised this series start as “thrilling—and hilarious,” with mystery and romance expertly intertwined. Best suited for older readers who appreciate their heroines unconventional and unapologetic.
12. The Silence of Bones by June Hur
In 1800s Korea during the Joseon Dynasty, sixteen-year-old Seol works as a servant to a police inspector. When a noblewoman is murdered and Seol is ordered to assist with the investigation, she must navigate palace intrigue whilst searching for her own missing brother.
This atmospheric historical mystery offers a refreshingly different setting and a heroine whose determination matches any English detective. For readers seeking to expand their mystery horizons, it provides both excellent intrigue and fascinating cultural detail.
Finding Your Next Mystery
Each of these tales shares something essential with Miss Enola Holmes: a protagonist who thinks rather than merely acts, who questions rather than merely accepts, and who proves that adventure belongs to those clever enough to seek it.
Whether you prefer your mysteries with supernatural elements or strictly rational solutions, set in Victorian England or elsewhere entirely, featuring sleuths who work alone or in brilliant partnership—there exists a book upon this list waiting to become your new favourite.
For my own recommendation, I should begin with The Wendy, which manages the rather remarkable feat of being simultaneously familiar and surprising, cozy and adventurous, and featuring a heroine one cannot help but admire. But then, I have always had a soft spot for young women who dream of ships and refuse to be told what they cannot do.
Happy sleuthing, dear reader. The game, as they say, is afoot.
