Death Cloud

Written by Andrew Lane

Narrated by Daniel Weyman

It is the summer of 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. On break from boarding school, he is staying with eccentric strangers—his uncle and aunt—in their vast house in Hampshire. When two local people die from symptoms that resemble the plague, Holmes begins to investigate what really killed them, helped by his new tutor, an American named Amyus Crowe. So begins Sherlock's true education in detection, as he discovers the dastardly crimes of a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Feb 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781427211231

Andrew Lane

Andrew Lane is an author, journalist and lifelong Sherlock Holmes fan. He lives in Hampshire with his wife and son. Before Moriarty and before Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew's passion for the original novels of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his determination to create an authentic teenage Sherlock Holmes made him the perfect choice to work with the Conan Doyle Estate to reinvent the world’s most famous detective for the Young Sherlock Holmes series.

Reviews for Death Cloud

[exactement · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm gonna start off by saying that I only picked this up because of the drop-dead gorgeous guy on the cover.Summary:It's the summer. Fourteen-year old Sherlock Holmes is taking a break from Deepdene School for Boys. He thinks its something to look forward to. But then he realizes that instead of spending summer with his brother Mycroft, he is being shipped off to his Uncle Sherrinford's castle. At first he hates it. He's lonely. The housekeeper hates him. Yadda yadda yadda. Sad Sherlock. Then he meets a boy named Matty, who claims to have witnessed the murder of a man who supposedly died of the plague, a man with big red welts on his face. Then one day during his lessons with Amyus Crowe, Sherlock finds another body. One that has clearly not been murdered, as he is the one to witness his death. This man has the same boils on his face that the first man did. But there is something similar about both deaths: they have been killed by the death cloud.Comments:Ew. Omg ew. This was a waste of time. Why am I reading this? Who would even publish this? How could someone write this? Not that it was gorey or anything, because it really wasn't, but because it was so poorly written. I mean, I get that it takes place in 1868. I get that it's in London. But really? PEOPLE DON'T TALK LIKE THAT. I would literally call my friend to make fun of this book. I mean really, his friend is afraid of walls? Reallllly? Definitely not going to read the sequel.

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This tells the story of Sherlock's first case at age 14 when he is sent to spend the school break with an aunt and uncle he has never met and stumbles upon two murders and a fiendish plot to destroy the British Army. Sherlock gathers allies and friends - his American tutor, the tutor's intrepid daughter, and an orphaned runaway as he tried to defeat the villain. Breakneck adventure!

[sparkleponies · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A continuation of the life and education of the young Sherlock Holmes. He has adventures with his tutor who is an American, his daughter and his friend who lives on a narrow boat. An enjoyable series for those not very familiar with the mysteries of Sherlock Holmes and a good read with lots of clues to the personality of the "original" and older Sherlock.

[vivienner_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A good YA adventure story, having plenty of frightful and repellent sections, although it was on the far-fetched side. The young Sherlock Holmes develops a friendship with an orphaned street-wise boy who lives on a barge. His American tutor, arranged by Mycroft, has a daughter who provides a mild romantic element. Holmes was captured and knocked out with laudanum, a glaring foreshadowing of future problems. The relationship between this young man and the well-known adult Sherlock Holmes is a tenuous one: I just can't see this boy growing into Conan Doyle's character. Only 3 stars from me but a young reader might enjoy it more.

[dairyqueen84 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fourteen year old Sherlock Holmes learns that he is not going home from school for holiday like he always does; he is spending the summer at his Uncle Sherrinford and Aunt Anna Holmes’s estate. Upon arrival he meets the mysterious Mrs. Eglantine, the housekeeper, whom his brother Mycroft warns him about in a letter with the ominous words, “She is no friend of the Holmes family.” Mycroft also secures a tutor, Amyus Crowe, for Sherlock who is American and happens to have a lovely daughter about his age. What he believes will be a boring summer with relatives he hardly knows turns out to be anything but when a dead body appears on the estate and Sherlock stumbles upon it. He learns from his new friend Matty that another body was found in the village and before the death was discovered he saw a “death cloud” or shadowy mass fly from the window. The boys begin to investigate and the danger and suspense build quickly. Glimmers of the deductive skills seen in the grownup Holmes appear in the teenager encouraged by Crowe. His amazing abilities to get out of any danger are also foreshadowed here. Some readers might find the murder plot and subsequent captures and escapes hard to believe but it is great fun, nonetheless. Readers will look forward to the sequels where some remaining questions will be answered like whey Mrs. Eglantine is no friend of the Holmes family.

[jean_sexton-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes and tend to watch TV series and movies and read books that build on the legend. I had high hopes for this book; I was not disappointed. Andrew Lane has been careful to honor Arthur Conan Doyle's vision and I could see how the boy Sherlock would grow into the man. Through his friendships and mishaps, I could see him learning. Lessons from his tutor will become part of his life: That you can deduce all you like, but it’s pointless without knowledge. Your mind is like a spinnin’ wheel, rotatin’ endlessly and pointlessly until threads are fed in, when it starts producin’ yarn. Information is the foundation of all rational thought. Seek it out. Collect it assiduously. Stock the lumber room of your mind with as many facts as you can fit in there. Don’t attempt to distinguish between important facts and trivial facts: they’re all potentially important.If you enjoy Sherlock Holmes stories, you will most likely fall in love with the book. I strongly recommend it to you. Rebel Fire, book 2, has already joined my library.

[jothebookgirl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was surprisingly wonderful. I don't know why I was skeptical. I have never read any books about Sherlock Holmes. Andrew Lane's goal was to portray a young Holmes. He is a teenager and gets into and out of so much trouble. It was all believable and i like that. The African bees offered a lot of interest to me. I see young Holmes in more violent adventures. This book was quite graphic. Boys get ready for adventure.

[theyodamom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very enjoyable look at young Sherlock, before his genius status. We travel with him on an adventure that leads to death, danger and pain.

[rosa.mill · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sherlock is sent to his Uncle's house for the school holiday b/c his father's regiment is shipped out and his mother's illness makes Sherlock too much for her to handle. At first Sherlock is left to his own devices and he makes a friend named Matty, who is essentially a street urchin. Then a tutor is engaged and Sherlock, Matty, his tutor (an american named ameus crowe) and crow's daughter Virginia get embroiled in the mystery of how two men actually died.

As soon as the book starts you get a feel for how observant Sherlock is and that it's a family trait. As the book moves forward the reader can see that Crow is teaching him many of the investigative techniques and thought processes that will become so important later (I fully admit there were points where I learned a little myself about restating questions and such). They also inserted a neat introduction to Sherlock's love of bees which made me smile. Clearly this is the beginning of a series as there are some mysterious familial events that need further explanation and I hope to be able to listen to the rest of it.

I also hope they keep the narrator as I like this one. He is very good at accents and his feminine voices while not necessarily sounding like girls are differentiated enough that you're aware who is speaking.

[adpaton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this action adventure tale enormously: Sherlock Holmes is always a favourite and Andrew Lane handles the character very well indeed. The villain adds an element of steampunk but one can overlook that and although American characters are becoming irritatingly ubiquitous in English books [and films - apparently most Americans don't enjoy things unless they contain at least one Yank] the tutor Amyus Crowe was likable enough.

[npjacobsen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I so much enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes novels written by Arthur Conan Doyle that I thought I would give Andrew Lane's younger version a try. As a teenager, this version of Sherlock was not as I expected. Perhaps I was leaning too much on the adult character, but I thought young Sherlock would be a boy genius. Instead, he is portrayed as a lad with an above average intelligence and a seemingly boundless curiosity. We therefore see the progression in Sherlock from his formative years to the astute detective made famous by A.C. Doyle.

The novel begins with 14 year old Sherlock waiting for his father to collect him from boarding school for the summer holiday. Instead he finds his brother, Mycroft, waiting in the headmaster's office. Mycroft informs Sherlock that their father has been sent to India and arrangements have been made with Uncle Sherrinford and Aunt Anna in Farnham to care for him during the summer.

Resigned to his fate, Sherlock tries to make the most of his situation. He meets a young orphan, Matty Arnatt, and the two boys become quick friends. Matty tells Sherlock of the Death Cloud he saw coming from a house in town. It came out of the window and went up the drain pipe. The man in the house had large boils on his face and hands reminiscent of the plague. This peaks Sherlock's curiosity and the two boys begin investigating.

About this time, Sherlock discovers that Mycroft has hired a tutor to help further his education. The tutor in question, Amyus Crowe, has come from America with his daughter Virginia, who Sherlock immediately becomes infatuated with. Later, while Amyus and Sherlock are hiking through the forest to learn about edible plants, another body is discovered bearing the same characteristics as the previous one. This time, it is Sherlock that witnesses the Death Cloud. He also finds some yellow powder near the body, which he collects in an envelope.

With the discovery of the second body, the community becomes worried about another outbreak of the bubonic plague, But Sherlock is not convinced. He had seen the second man earlier the same day the body was discovered, with no signs of any disease present. He and Matty's investigations lead to a secluded warehouse and a mysterious foreign Baron. With the help of Amyus and Virginia Crowe, the two boys are able to make sense of the clues and solve the case.

It is not surprising that Amyus Crowe reminded me of the grown Sherlock. With his vast amount of knowledge and deductive reasoning, he is the man Sherlock will become. At one point during the story, Sherlock notes that Amyus is trying to "teach me how to think," and indeed this is the case. Amyus would ask questions in such a way as to lead the young man in the direction of the solution without actually giving it to him.

The mystery set forth in the story is very clever, and while the villain is not typical of Doyle's Holmes character, I found the novel to be quite entertaining. If you are willing to believe that Holmes was not always the man he was portrayed as by Doyle, then I think you will enjoy this novel as much as I did.

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[mamzel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first of a series about a young Sherlock Holmes, this story begins to theorize what may have formed the extraordinary character.During summer holidays, Sherlock is sent to stay with an aunt and uncle when he would have much rather stayed with his brother, Mycroft. He finds it difficult to follow the strict regimen set down in this household and goes off to explore, coming across Matty, a young man who lives on a boat. He is assigned a tutor, the American Amyus Crowe who has a daughter, Virginia. Sherlock, Matty, and Virginia soon become a team investigating a couple of weird deaths and the sighting of a black cloud after each of them.One thing that makes this a rather steampunk type of story is the get up utilized by the bad guy, Baron Maupertuis, a survivor of the Charge of the Light Brigade. Paralyzed, he devised a contraption operated by black-dressed flunkies who move him like a marionette.

[bookwyrmm_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a good old-school teen mystery. Some of the action, though, felt like it came out of nowhere, but the mystery was solid and very thought-provoking (like you would expect from a Holmesian novel), even if the denouement was a little early.

[hoosgracie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

How did Sherlock Holmes become the great detective? Lane explores this question with a teen Sherlock. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially the supporting characters and the first mystery - involving bees - was intriguing.

[turrean_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Yes, yes, I ought to like it because I'm a Sherlock Holmes fan. I used to drift up to the second level of my high school library, and read Holmes stories while sneaking forbidden snacks out of my backpack. But it's hard to take this book seriously. Not because of the silliness of the schemes of the master villain, because there are some pretty outré plots in the Conan Doyle canon. Not because of the preteen romance intrusion, because I realize I am old and jaded and therefore must be forgiving of innocent blushing kisses. I simply found the young hero an improbable youthful version of Holmes--so callow, so obtuse. I also saw plot holes you could steer a barge through. How did Matty get the bicycles? Why does Mycroft spend hours in a carriage with Sherlock, but only think to warn him about the evil housekeeper in a letter? Who carefully padlocks a barn you're going to burn down, and what teenager can push a cart with such force that it goes through a wall? How did Sherlock magically learn to ride a horse by listening to a 15-second description? Why doesn't anybody steal Matty's horse? What is the reason no one ever summons any legal authorities? Would Sherlock's uncle not have summoned police assistance even after an attempt on his nephew's life? Bah. I will admit that some of this effect could be the effect of listening to, rather than reading, the text. I didn't care for the narrator's version of a young girl's voice.

[lilibrarian · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In this first book in a series about Sherlock Holmes as a teenager, he is sent to stay with relatives during a school vacation. Two mysterious deaths occurred, and with the help of a street-wise friend, his tutor and his tutor's daughter, Sherlock solves the mystery, facing great personal peril.

[theokester · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It’s the ultimate storm of literary fun. With the recent reinvigorated love of Sherlock Holmes and the huge resurgence of teen and YA fiction it’s a logical step to see a “Young Sherlock Holmes” series on the market. Death Cloud introduces us to Sherlock Holmes as the teenage student of a boarding school. It’s time for summer break but due to the war and other elements, Sherlock is being sent to live with his aunt and uncle rather than returning home or moving to London with his older brother Mycroft. Sherlock is a bit dismayed at the prospect of living in a provincial town with unknown relatives but at Mycroft’s advice he decides to make the best of the situation.As we learn about Sherlock we find that his powers of deduction are just as present as ever but they are not yet fully developed or focused. While at school, he had used his deductive skills as a sort of parlor trick or way to influence others. He’d worked out some insignificant mysteries for other students but hadn’t really yet thought of himself as a detective of any sort. Shortly after his arrival in Farnham to live with his relatives, a few things happen. Sherlock makes friends with a rover orphan named Matty. Sherlock sees a strange cloud that seems to move with a mind of its own out of a window and over the rooftops. He then finds that the window from which the strange cloud appeared is the window of a room in which a man was mysteriously found dead. Sherlock’s curiosity takes over and he sets off to try and find the answers.As the story progresses it becomes very clear that Sherlock does not yet have the wealth and breadth of knowledge that are characteristic of his adult self. He is ignorant about many things that we would think as common knowledge to the Holmes we all know. For example he knows very little about geography, botany or biology. He has some interests in chemistry but is in no way adept. Essentially this book starts us off with a near “clean slate” version of Sherlock Holmes. He is very capable of connecting the dots and seeing things that others do not see, but he does not yet have the overarching knowledge yet to determine the things that are important or the dots that are to be connected.So how does a curious but observant Sherlock gain the required knowledge and skills to solve the case? Sherlock’s aunt and uncle along with Mycroft decide that it would be wise for Sherlock to have a tutor. Mycroft hires a man named Amyus Crowe. Amyus is from America and has a “particular set of skills” which serve him well as a man of wisdom in navigating the world. Amyus presents Sherlock with a number of real-world observation tests to try and get Sherlock “thinking outside the box” and searching for answers beyond the obvious. He also acts as a sounding board to help supplement the lacking scientific knowledge of our young Sherlock. At first Amyus discourages Sherlock’s involvement in the mystery but then takes him under his wing and they work together, along with Matty and Amyus’ daughter, to unravel the strange happenings around Farnham.The writing is simple and yet vibrant. The characters are interesting, distinct and fun. The adventure is intriguing and engaging. Overall this is a fun adventure mystery. Due to his youth and inexperience, this truly could have been presented as a standard adventure-mystery with no connection at all to Sherlock Holmes. By setting it as a Holmes prequel of sorts, the author puts forth some pretty big expectations to be filled. Generally speaking I felt like this story did a good job of living up to those expectations. Holmes purists may find elements to quibble with but I really enjoyed the story and felt like it captured the essence and tone of a Holmes adventure. I also feel like this particular novel will be a more accessible entry point to younger/newer readers as they look to read Holmes stories. While it is definitely not an official Sherlock Holmes story it will be more approachable to younger readers who may be bored or put off by the 19th century style of Conan Doyle’s originals. My hope would be that new readers would gobble up this novel then be hungry for the original Holmes stories.***3 out of 5 stars

[thomas2taylor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sherlock Holmes at fourteen... great stuff. I enjoyed this book and sharing the very first case of Sherlock Holmes, even before Dr. Watson came onto the scene.

[karenamorg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This novel about the young Sherlock Holmes demonstrates a considerable respect for its audience through evocative, intelligent writing. The story takes place in the 19th century England, and opens when 14-year-old Sherlock is picked up at his boarding school, where he is lonely and without friends, and is informed he will be spending the summer months in Farnham with an uncle that he didn’t know he had. Wishing he could travel instead to London and stay with his brother, Mycroft, he reluctantly settles in with his distant uncle, odd aunt and eerily unsettling housekeeper. He soon finds intrigue and danger as he witnesses perplexing activity in the small town. With the aid of a delightful American tutor, Amyus Crowe, his daughter Virginia and an orphan named Matty, he sets about solving a mystery involving an evil French baron named Maupertuis and his plot to destroy the English army with killer bees. The mystery wraps up nicely, and my only criticism is that there is no mention of Sherlock’s uncle when the journey ends and the baron’s evil intentions are thwarted due to Sherlock’s detective skills—for the time being. The witty dialogue is amusing and the story has inspired me to finally read the original Sherlock Holmes stories. I am buying this and its new sequel, Rebel Fire, for my school library and will be recommending them to sixth graders who would be willing to try a well-paced and exciting historical mystery. Target audience ages 12-16.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sherlock is sent to an aunt and uncle to while away his summer holidays from school. His brother Mycroft engages a tutor, an American, to keep him distracted but when Sherlock finds a body that looks like it has succomed to something like the plague he feels it necessary to investigate, along with his tutor, his tutor's daughter and a friend.It does capture a fair amount of Sherlock. I enjoyed the read.

[mountie9_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jake's Review: This one was hard to read, but it was still a good exciting story. There are a lot of words I had to have mom explain to me so it took me a long time to read it. I also think it was a little old for me as there was some really scary stuff in it. I did like that Sherlock Holmes was a teenager and got to solve mysteries and help people. He was really smart at figuring out things and got to do a lot of stuff on his own. I felt bad for him at times because he was sort of all on his own with no Mom or Dad to help him out. TJake's Rating: 7/10Mom's Review: After reading this I realized it might have been a wee bit too old for Jake. Some of the language was difficult for a 10 yr old boy and it dealt with some rather violent scenes (Nothing too graphic though). Now I personally found it delightful, dark, witty and exciting and would recommend it more for teens with more sophisticated tastes. It did drag a wee bit in spots for me and I was frustrated with some of the repetition, but you have to remember it is not written for moms. The author obviously has researched Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle and the London of the 1860's as it rings very true. Fans of the original Holmes will see that the young Sherlock in this series could very well develop into Doyle's Holmes. He has his mannerisms, his intellect and you can see his passions for detective work developing. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.Mom's Rating: 8/10We received the book from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review

[mysterymax_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This review was originally written for GROANS, CRIES AND BLEATINGS: THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE BAKER STREET BREAKFAST CLUB.Up front I must say that while I have read and loved the Canon, I am by no means an expert on Holmes. I liked the book mostly because Lane did not make the young Sherlock into a miniature adult Holmes. Instead you see beginnings. You learn that he was not popular at school; in fact he was intolerant of the foolishness of the other students, quite the loner and somewhat lonely because of that. Hoping to spend the summer with his family he learns that instead he must stay with an aunt and uncle because his father is away, his mother ill and the older Mycroft is too busy in London to look after him.During the summer, Sherlock meets a homeless boy around his age named Matty. This relationship, I felt, was very important to the future, adult, Holmes. Matty comes from an entirely different world than Sherlock yet he is smart, resourceful and "knows his way around" from having to live on his own wits. This seemed, to me, to be the beginnings of Sherlock's willingness, as an adult, to form relationships with the "lower classes", both young and old, and his ability to use their resourcefulness to help him with his cases. As an adult he understands that people who have to fend for themselves 'see' far more than others who have everything given to them, and since they are 'invisible' he often disguises himself as one of them.Mycroft engages an American tutor, Amyus Crowe, for Sherlock over the summer. It is Amyus that helps Sherlock learn the importance of 1) acquiring facts and 2) reasoning. This will be far more important in his adult life than mere rote learning from texts.In [Death Cloud] Sherlock also learns that events that seem impossible or supernatural do have a logical, scientific explanation.Even Sherlock's attraction to Amyus Crowe's daughter, Virginia, seemed fitting. She is completely different from other girls. She is fiercely independent, and intelligent. There are no whining, fainting or other feminine wiles of the day with her. I want to see in future stories how Sherlock's attitude towards women develops. I see more of his admiration of Irene Adler in his relationship with Virginia, but something must happen to him later to form his overall opinion of women. I am eager to continue with the series to see how Lane develops these characters. I think it is a great series that could bring a whole new generation of readers to the Canon.

[jedisakora_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So i originally got this book for my sister for her birthday last march. Every time i walked into her room i would see it un-read sitting on her book shelf. Well i decided to pick it up and start reading it. Interesting enough the first thing i found out is that this is book was authorized and endorsed by the estate if Arthur Conan Doyle. Seeing that i knew it had to be good. I'm glad to say i wasn't disappointed. The book starts out with thirteen year old Sherlock Holmes getting read to leave Deepdene School for Boys. He's waiting for his father to pick him up, but unexpectedly Mycroft Holmes is the one to collect him. Mycroft did not come bringing good news. Sherlock's father has been called to duty in the East Indies and his mother is too sickly for him to come home. Neither does Mycroft have the time to watch in in London. Therefore he is going to stay with a uncle he's never met in a town called Farnham. Needless to say Sherlock is not the least bit pleased. Course Sherlock being who he is and destiny decided to come a knocking early. No sooner had he gotten settled in that a second man is found dead of a mysterious illness. Sherlock, along with his friend Matty, American tutor Amyus Crowe, Amyus's daughter Virginia, set out to discover why.My impression of this book is that it definitely was worth it's endorsement by the Doyle estate. Written in a tone similar to Conan Doyle's you really feel like your reading about the earlier adventures of Sherlock. Not quite the detective mastermind yet you can see how Sherlock would turn into the man he would become. Interesting enough i'm quite curious as to see what happens to Matty and the Crowe's later on. To my knowledge they don't appear in any of the original stories.Needless to say i'll be reading the sequel that is to come out. Whether i'll be getting it for my sister of myself is the question.Final Rating: 4 1/2 stars. There were some minor flaws in the book that kept it from being a 5. Plus a 5 star book for me is one where i jadored it. I liked this book, but didn't love love love it

[kathy89_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a juvenile novel about a 13 year old Sherlock Holmes who goes to live with his uncle during the summer holidays and makes friends with another 13 year old boy who is an orphan and living by his wits and the 14 year old American daughter of his tutor. The tutor hired by Sherlock's brother, Mycroft, is to teach Sherlock how to use logic. It's not long before the children are caught up in an espionage plot to attack British soldiers. Lots of violence for a juvenile book.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's the school holidays, and 14-year-old Sherlock Holmes will have lots to write about in a “what I did during my holiday” essay. With Sherlock's father away in military service and his mother in poor health, Sherlock's brother, Mycroft, arranges for Sherlock to spend the holiday with relatives. Sherlock soon makes a friend of a local boy, Matty, who witnessed something odd at the scene of a sudden death. Sherlock later stumbles upon other strange happenings. Guided by his tutor, Amyus Crowe, and supported by Matty and Crowe's daughter, Virginia, Sherlock works to solve a mystery that endangers the whole community, and maybe the whole nation.The Sherlock Holmes of this story doesn't resemble the teenager I imagine Conan Doyle's Sherlock would have been. He's portrayed as a typical teenager with above average intelligence. Conan Doyle's Sherlock is anything but typical. The story involves more adventure than detection, since Sherlock is only beginning to develop skills of observation and reason under Crowe's tutelage. The author includes some educational material in the story, but in a way that serves the plot without being too obtrusive. Middle grade teachers could use it as supplementary reading for units on science or problem solving. However, the adventure itself is enough of an attraction for most readers.

[sithereandread · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

DEATH CLOUD, by Andrew Lane, is a great beginning to a new series which explores the life of Sherlock Holmes as a fourteen year old boy.Mystery books rarely enter my TBR pile, but when asked to review a Sherlock Holmes novel I could not resist. I always enjoyed the characters in the original works and I was interested to see how much of that Lane put into his new novels. The character of Holmes, even as a young teen, was a pleasure to read. Holmes was a very curious boy but his sleuthing skills were magnified with the help of his side-kick, Matty, and American tutor, Amyus Crowe.Lane molded a young Sherlock Holmes and created a character that you can visualize turning into the classic character. Crowe taught Holmes how to ask the right questions to get satisfactory answers. The relationship between teacher and student was refreshing and added the importance of education. I also enjoyed the relationship between Matty and Sherlock. They were from different social backgrounds but their commonality in crime-solving made them quite a pair. Although I do admit I missed the absence of Watson! But, my favorite character had to be Virginia. Where Holmes is a male icon, Virginia is definitely a strong female-icon. Her 'American' ways were exploited to make her desirable to Holmes, but she definitely gave him a run for his money!Overall, I think this series is a great introduction to the classic character of Sherlock Holmes to a younger generation. Lane created fabulous characters and a great mystery. I look forward to the next one!

[lyddz101 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Death Cloud by Andrew Lane was an exhilarating book! Featuring a young Sherlock Holmes at age 14 and his friends, several murders, a very creepy bad guy with an evil plot, some romance, and whole lot of action. I loved this mystery! Sherlock was depicted exactly as I would have imagined him to be at this age! I enjoyed seeing how the talent he already had and the skills he learned would turn him into the famous detective so well known. I also enjoyed seeing the word “deduced.” It’s probably my new favorite word.Sherlock’s tutor Mr. Crowe quickly became one of the best characters. Between the random bits of intelligence he was always giving, and the fact that he helped me understand a story problem that long has confused me, it was almost inevitable. Here’s the problem, a small taste of some of the problems and mysteries in this book:Three men decide to split the cost of a thirty shilling hotel room. Each fellow pays the manager ten shillings. The next morning the manager realizes he made a mistake in that a special rate was being charged on the room because of construction on the hotel. He sends a bellboy to give back five shillings. The men are so pleased they decide to each keep a shilling and give two to the boy as a tip. So each man ends up only paying nine shillings and the boy makes two. But, nine times three is twenty-seven shillings, and when you add the two shillings the boy got, it’s still only twenty-nine. Where did the missing shilling go?Not taken exactly from the text, I took out all the dialogue of them thinking it out, but it’s from pages 120 and 121. That problem has tortured my poor head since middle school and I actually squealed when the answer was explained! I leave you, dear reader, to the awful pondering that follows this story. But, unlike the evil classmate who posed this story to me, I’ve given you a way to find out the answer. Read Death Cloud!

[shellypya · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fictional accunt of Sherlock Holmes' teen years and his "first" case. Sent to live with his uncle during summer break from boarding school, Sherlock is bored until he meets his tutor, Amyus Crowe, and discovers a body covered in blotches. He and local boy Matty, who discovered a similar body, work with Croew and his daughter Virginia to solve the case. Little do they know they've uncovered a sinister plot to cripple the British army by a sinister figure who may be back in future episodes.

[keeline_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's Sherlock Holmes' first case. I was hesitant to buy this because of the young Justin Beiber lookalike on the cover made me a bit worried. I wasn't sure how I'd handle a "Beiber Holmes" but I saw that it was "Official" from the Doyle estate and decided to take a chance.I'm glad I did as it was well written and engaging. I think the author did a fairly good job at imagining a young Sherlock who has a lot to learn about detecting but has a lot of smarts.The elements of the supernatural which have explanation in scientific reality seems close to the stories.There are a few aspects that seem a little suspect but overall I thought this book was enjoyable and I look forward to the sequel which I hope will answer the questions raised in this book about the frequently alluded to sister whom we never get to see in this text.

[grgenius_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Picture it. The market town of Farnham. A street in the higher end of town scattered with passerby’s making their way to and from their chosen destinations. A young boy in search of a scrap of food to stave off the hunger gnawing at his gut steps down an alley and witnesses a curiosity the likes of which he has never seen. A strange black cloud seems to be emanating from a window of a tenant house…and then disappeared up and over the rooftop of the adjoining building. Peculiar activity for a cloud and yet there is no time to ponder this fact as the silence of the morning is pierced by a scream of pure terror. What pray tell has happened to illicit this cry and is it connected to the mysterious cloud apparition? A mystery in the making and as the death toll begins to pile up; the curiosity of one inquisitive young visitor to these parts is piqued. Who is this young soul? The greatest detective in the making, one Sherlock Holmes…at least he will be once he finishes his schooling. The game is afoot! Are you ready?

The author’s treatment of Sherlock’s actual character falls right in line with the image readers are familiar with around the world....just in his growing stages. His love of conjecture that when honed becomes a valuable ally when all obvious explanations have been exhausted. His penchant for violin music eventually becomes a soundtrack of sorts to allow his mind to wander over the minute details of a case. His ability to discern what others can not developing with each and every human interaction. Speaking of which, let’s talk characters...

There are many players of which to take note whether they star in a pivotal role or not, but a few outshine the rest. First and foremost of course we have Sherlock Holmes. Though a mere boy in age, his intellect burns as brightly as a candle in the darkest night…even if he does have a bit of growing up to do still. Then there is Matty Arnatt. He is a gypsy boy of sorts, though orphan currently, and makes his ends meet by filching what he can when he needs to as well as having the uncanny ability to not only show up just in the nick of time but also to disappear without leaving so much as a foot print in the dust. Mr. Amyus Crowe with great skills and vast knowledge but they seem a bit unorthodox for your average tutor....odd, but handy later on. As for the "baddies", one is kept guessing as to the very nature of the beast or villain they are dealing with and while I won’t go naming names to spoil your fun, I will say this…be prepared for a few surprises.

To summarize, a wonderful book for younger teens through adults that love a good mystery with all the danger and adventure one could shake a fist at if they were so inclined. It’s rough and tumble action scenes combined with the quieter serene ponderings make for a journey readers won’t soon forget. Can't wait for book two! Happy reading....