No Place Like Holmes    by Jason Lethcoe Order:  USA  Can Thomas Nelson, 2011 (2011) Paperback, e-Book Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Melissa Parcel Griffin Sharpe is too smart for his own good sometimes. He's teased mercilessly by his classmates. His parents think it best to send Griffin to London to spend the summer with his uncle. Upon his arrival, Griffin discovers that not only is his Uncle Rupert not expecting him, but Rupert doesn't want anything to do with his nephew. Rupert tries to be a good detective. But he lives next door to Sherlock Holmes, who is so renowned that Rupert just falters in his shadow - despite some miraculous inventions on his part. Soon though, Griffin gently helps his uncle to get hired on to find a woman's missing husband, who disappeared amidst strange stories of being eaten by the Loch Ness Monster. With intuitive detective work and some help from Rupert's inventions, the pair soon find out that they are intruding on dangerous territory and might be in trouble themselves. The first Griffin Sharpe novel is a mix of steampunk and a clever detective story, geared particularly toward tween readers. Even though the story may appeal to girls, it is mainly focused on boys, who will delight in the characters and fast-moving plot. Griffin is easy to like and his gentle personality easily balances out Rupert's gruff exterior. The conclusion is exciting and satisfying, wrapping things up nicely, yet also leaving a thread dangling for the next book (The Future Door, to be released December 2011). Sherlock Holmes does make an appearance in the story, but is not the focus of the tale. There is a faith element to this novel; Griffin's faith is strong and his conversations with his uncle help Rupert to develop his own faith as well. The spiritual plot is well-integrated and does not take away from the action and adventure of the story. Overall, this is a delightfully engaging book with a widespread appeal to younger readers looking for something a little bit different from the run-of-the-mill tween mystery. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews