The Dragon Turn

The Boy Sherlock Holmes #5

by Shane Peacock

Summer 1869, and Sherlock Holmes and his friend Irene celebrate her sixteenth birthday by attending the theater to watch a celebrated magician make a real dragon appear on stage. It is the London sensation. Sherlock and Irene meet the magician, Alistair Hemsworth – just as he is arrested for the murder of his rival, The Wizard of Nottingham.

It seems that traces of the missing Wizard’s blood and his spectacles were found in Hemsworth’s secret studio. Hemsworth has a not only is the Wizard his rival, but he also caused a scandal when he lured Hemsworth’s wife away. But is Hemsworth guilty? Sherlock has his doubts, and soon, so does the reader.

With humor and plot turns as dizzying as a narrow London lane, Shane Peacock invites his readers into a fascinating world, and a fresh adventure with one of literature’s favorite characters. The Boy Sherlock Holmes series is an international success with readers and reviewers alike.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical, Adventure, Canada

240 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2011

About the author

Shane Peacock was born in 1957 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, one of four brothers. He attended school in the northern town of Kapuskasing, Ontario, before attending university, where he studied History and English literature. A biographer, journalist, and screenwriter, he is also the author of eighteen novels, a picture book and three plays, and has been won and/or been nominated for numerous awards including two Arthur Ellis Awards for crime fiction, the Geoffrey Bilson Award for historical fiction, the Violet Downey Award, the Libris Award, seven times honored with Junior Library Guild of America selections, and has been on three shortlists for the Canadian Children's Literature Award, and one for the Governor-General's Award. His books have been published in 20 languages in 18 countries. He and his wife, journalist Sophie Kneisel live in Cobourg, Ontario and have two daughters and a son.

Series:
* The Dylan Maples Adventures
* The Boy Sherlock Holmes
The Dark Missions of Edgar Brim
The Seven Series

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Juvenile (2008): Eye of the Crow
The Arthur Ellis (2013)
The Violet Downey Award
The Libris Award
The Geoffrey Bilson Award
The Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Award
Anne Izard Storyteller Choice Award
Junior Library Guild of America Selection (7 times)
Governor-General's Award (shortlist)
TD Canadian Children's Literature Award (shortlist)

Reviews

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can*]

I enjoyed the previous books but my reading tastes have changed I guess... not into this series anymore, aah well:(

On to the next

[The Hero of Time Prashna Bari · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Dragon Turn" is the 5th novel of "The Boy Sherlock Holmes" series, written by Shane Peacock. It was selected for "Silver Birch", "Book of the year for children", "Booklist's top ten in youth mysteries", "Ontario library association's top ten young adult fiction books of the year list", "Best books for kids and teens list, best of note list", and "Best bets list of top ten Canadian children's books. It was a finalist in the "Red ceder book award", and "TD Canadian children's book award. And it won the "ForeWord magazine's book of the year", "Arthur Ellis award/Best juvenile book", "IODE Violet downey book award", "Moonbeam award", and finally the "Geoffrey Bilson award for Historical Fiction."

The novel takes place in London England, as is the original Sherlock Holmes series. The protagonist, Sherlock Holmes, is a young boy, the age of 15. But despite his age, he has an extraordinary mind, and is great with crime cases.
The book revolves around the murder of an exceptional illusionist, the envy of all magicians, The Wizard of Nottingham. Afterwards, the police came to a conclusion that Hemsworth, another great magician, was the murderer. However, after being convinced by Irene Doyle, Sherlock went off to look for, and found evidence that Hemsworth was innocent, and he was freed. But it was after that, that Sherlock himself began to suspect Hemsworth for the murder. After all, Nottingham did take Hemsworth's wife, and was a far better illusionist.

The Dragon Turn, also has great vocabulary, and exquisite detail. Whenever it describes a person, place, or thing, it makes sure to include every detail. For instance, what colour, shape, size, etc.
For example, on pg# 34, it states. . .
"It is not only short, not much more than four feet tall, but so slender as to be a skeletal. The eyes are sunken, the brow and cheekbones stick out. . ." and so on.
Also, on pg# 88, it states. . .
"Wilberforce is sitting down, and his appearance is shocking. He looks thin indeed, almost skeletal, his big, black beard, streaked with
grey. . ."

Regardless of everything, I personally did not enjoy this novel. I felt that some parts went too slow, and that the exiting parts of the book could have been better. And what put me down even more was how predictable the book was. This is a mystery book, the kind that should be the least predictable!
But I think that the reason I disliked this book even more, was that I read the original Sherlock Holmes series, so I had really high expectations. Thus meaning that it's probably not a bad book, just that it didn't meet my expectations.

So in conclusion, The Dragon Turn has a great plot, great vocabulary, but was not as good as I thought it to be. Regardless, I would still recommend this novel to those who like mystery themed books.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in 1869 in Charles Dicken’s London, the landscape realistic as Sean Peacock brings to life all its sights, sounds and smells,“The Dragon Turn” picks up the adventures of young Sherlock Holmes where after the spectacular performance of the magician Alistair Hemsworth, he and his friend Irene Doyle witness his arrest for the murder of his rival the Wizard of Nottingham. Persuaded by sixteen-year-old Irene to prove the illustrious magician’s innocent with the victim's body missing and the only evidence of foul play traces of blood and the Wizard’s spectacles lying on the floor of Hemsworth’s secret studio at the World’s End Hotel. Sherlock begins an investigation into a mystery that has him wondering about “magic and the existence of dragons”.

Well-written and intriguing Sherlock discovers not only a possible eyewitness in the urchin Scuttle who keeps an eye on the hotel for its owner, but a clue in the enigmatic Oscar Riyah who knows far more about the inner chambers and the strange noises deep in the building than he’s willing to reveal. Infused in the main storyline are minor plots that include Sherlock's discovery that his father Wilbur is sick and his determination to mend their relationship, and Irene’s tenacity in following her dream of performing, cajoling an audition with Hemsworth. With twists you don’t expect like Lestrade’s rock solid evidence in a hat with the initials A.H. that’s too large for Alistair Hemsworth; a wife with loose morals; a baboon that feeds small live animals to a creature in a hole, the intensity and suspense continually builds as the plot progresses to a startling confrontation at the end.

With every adventure the personalities of the characters continue to develop. Fifteen-year-old Sherlock Holmes has started to evolve into the master detective he becomes, putting aside his ambition and his snarky comments to Lestrade while maturing with a bravery that saves Scuttle, forgives friends like Beatrice Leckie, and a determination to mend relations with his ailing father. Sixteen-year-old, wealthy Irene Doyle is still spirited, independent, and very self-confident while clever, perceptive, and politically-minded Beatrice lives in poverty.

Among the new faces are talkative and likeable Scuttle; the arrogant adventurer and magician Alistair Hemsworth with his flare for the dramatic and perchance for cruelty; as well as the devious illusionist the Wizard of Nottingham.

I loved “The Dragon Turn” a Sherlock Holmes award- winning adventure that will keep middle-schoolers and teens mesmerized.

[Zeeshan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had completed the novel titled “The Dragon Turn” written by Shane Peacock. The Dragon Turn is a novel in the series of The Boy Sherlock Holmes. The novel is mainly about Sherlock Holmes, a very good investigator for crimes, attempting to uncover the answer to the case of the death, of an amazing and well-known magician, The Wizard of Nottingham.


I thought this novel was great because it had a good plot. The novel had a good pace to it and the author used vivid vocabulary in the novel, giving a great description of the the characters’ appearance and the setting of the story(which is London, England). On page# 1, 8 and 9, there is much to show how Shane Peacock added great descriptions of the characters. On page#1, it states...

“He is dressed in a coal-black, impeccably cleaned and brushed second hand frock coat, the first of his life...”

That gives a good description of what Sherlock Holmes is wearing in that part of the story. As well, on page# 8, it states...

“...- his red hair slicked back, his big mutton chops wet with perspiration, and his moustache and goatee primed with oil.”

Finally, on page# 9, it states...

“He is tall and barrel-chested, holds himself erect, and gestures to them with his thick, strong hands of an explorer...” “His blue eyes sparkle as his voice booms.”

By that, I would know SO much about how the characters appearance would have been.

This novel was overall very well done, but I thought the ending of the story was unappealing to me because I was expecting a case to be solved, but no case was solved. It seemed to me that Sherlock Holmes went to uncover a mystery, but pretty much nothing was solved.



After reading this book, I knew that many people would like it because it fits into MANY genres. It mainly fits into the genre of mystery and action because Sherlock Holmes, an investigator, has a murder case to solve, as you know previously, but it is a mystery to finding who actually murdered the Wizard of Nottingham and along his way, Sherlock has faced lots of people pursuing him, making sure he doesn’t succeed in this case. And that means, violence would be involved. For example, on page# 146, it states...

“He turns around and runs, right under Malefactor, up the alleyway and out to Piccadilly. It is time to cut his losses. There is no advantage to being caught. Those two henchmen could put him out of commission for a long while.”

In this case, Malefactor would be known as one of those men pursuing Sherlock because of his henchmen running towards Sherlock. They would have been trying to have Sherlock agonized with their attack. That adds a good flavour of action into the story.


To Conclude, if I had to suggest a great book to read, I would suggest The Dragon Turn by Shane Peacock. Overall, it was written magnificently.

[Christa Seeley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at Christa's Hooked on Books

I love all things Sherlock Holmes so I jumped at the chance to read and review this book. If you haven't read the other four books don't worry! This was my first one and I had no trouble getting into the story and finding myself wrapped up in the mystery. I would hazard a guess that the earlier books would provide a richer reading experience and I would like to go back and read them eventually, but overall I think you can start wherever you like in the series (not unlike the classic Sherlock Holmes tales).

At the beginning of this novel, the young Mr. Holmes is trying to distance himself from investigating crimes. This is partially because the police department resents his help and partially at the request of a young lady friend - Irene. As the mystery becomes more and more complex, however, he found he can only hold back so long. I loved how well you got to know Sherlock as a character. He became such an admirable character, especially when you got to see more of his personal and family life. It added a new dimension to my current image of Sherlock Holmes.

Though I enjoyed this book and found it a pleasant read I did feel it didn't pack quite the same punch as your traditional Sherlock Holmes mystery. There's just something about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classics that can't be replicated. That being said this is a great gateway book/series to get a younger audience into the Sherlock Holmes mysteries and they do so in that way I can recommend whole heartedly.

[Nathaniel Ubana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dragon Turn
By: Shane Peacock

Victorian London, 1869. The young Sherlock Holmes and his friend Irene Doyle had gone to see the magician known as Alistair Hemsworth. But, after the magician’s performance, Mr. Hemsworth was put under arrest by Inspector Lestrade. He was under the suspicion of murdering the Wizard of Nottingham, a rival illusionist. Sherlock, with the encouragement of Irene, traveled to the crime scene which only contained what seemed to be Nottingham’s glasses, blood, and bits of flesh. There, he met Mr. Riyah and the two proved that Hemsworth was innocent. After releasing Hemsworth, Sherlock felt uneasy with the case, eventually discovering that Hemsworth could have possibly been the culprit the entire time. With the police department at his back, he was tasked in proving the magician’s guilt before Inspector Lestrade could ruin his career. In desperation, he unintentionally put a child in danger and conversed with his oldest enemy. Along with his mentor, Sigerson Bell, and his friends Irene, Beatrice, and Lestrade Jr., the boy detective was able to prove Hemsworth’s immoral intentions as well as Nottingham’s apparent role. At the end of the story, the illusionists are captured and the animal providing crucial evidence is lost. Though the enemy is defeated, Sherlock’s success is bittersweet.
As the story progresses, Sherlock is in contact with people who deeply enhance the plot. The illusionist Alistair Hemsworth is described to have odd tendencies and act similar to a vampire. He also seemed to be quite sinister and cruel. Irene Doyle was noted to be charming towards Sherlock, yet stern and independent. She used her charms to practically bend the detective to her wishes. Inspector Lestrade was easily recognized for being quick to anger due to his constant shouting and insulting. His behavior was similar throughout the entire series: unkind and demanding. Even Lestrade Jr. had a serious personality, like his father. All of the major characters in this book, from Beatrice Leckie to Malefactor, each retain a certain personality: joyful, morbid, overexcited, etc. Unlike characters who are just there to represent good and bad, these characters work in a range between the two extremes. Each character provides a certain flair to individualize themselves. Whether it’s a constant need to prove themselves or just their appearance, the reader can instantly identify who Sherlock is talking to.
At the beginning of the book, a short description of Sherlock is given. “He is dressed in a coal-black, impeccably cleaned and brushed frock coat…” In my mind, I just practically imagine myself as a 15 year old with the mentioned frock coat. In addition, I also envision a grey vest, white shirt, black pants, and dark grey shoes. This boy holds himself high and is tall enough to almost see eye to eye with Inspector Lestrade. With dark, messy hair, I also imagine Sherlock to be thin, yet strong. While reading the book, I see his eyebrows scrunch up as he thinks about the case at hand. Just like in the other books, Sherlock is known to have a “hawk-like” nose and gray eyes. In my mind, those eyes could paralyze someone due to its sheer intensity. All together, the boy detective looks like a troubled teenager who, if he wishes, could leave his enemies spread-eagle across the floor while groaning in pain. To me, this appearance is a great depiction of the man who the world would know as Sherlock Holmes. A depiction showing that he would do anything to stop evil in the heart of his city.
It’s no secret that Inspector Lestrade is tired of some Jewish boy solving cases that he can’t even fathom. Sherlock was able to solve a total of four cases, showing he could combat Lestrade Sr.’s investigative skills. When he realizes that the young boy released Hemsworth and then came back with evidence supporting the man’s guilt, the chief inspector became livid. He roared at Sherlock, saying, “... Find me a real, live dragon, and prove that Hemsworth used it to kill Nottingham… or I destroy your future… I shall detail to the press, detail, how you have interfered with police affairs before… I could have your head this instant. I know you broke into The World’s End Hotel - twice! What would that cost you before the magistrates?... What would that cost your little career plans?” Lestrade decided that it was time for his rival to feel the full heat of his anger. Many years of bottled up anger was released in one blast of fury. Wanting to have the teenager in a moment of discomfort, he gave him less than three days to show Hemsworth truly committed the murder of Nottingham. He was ready to have the boy tried as an adult for his actions. However, this deadline turned out to be a turning point in the story. With this unknown time limit, Holmes needed to act fast. He needed to find out as much as possible about Hemsworth and possibly create a dragon. Time was, again, not on his side.
In desperation, Sherlock ventured back into the crime scene. He had previously sent his ally, Scuttle, to investigate the area as well as the secret passageways inside The World’s End Hotel. Unfortunately, Scuttle was nowhere to be found. Sherlock suddenly heard a human voice emanating from the passageways. He ran through the tunnels under the hotel, eventually ending up in a chamber. The boy was shocked to see a large baboon, multiple cages with various animals, and Scuttle trapped inside one of them. Using his horsewhip, Sherlock entered the chamber and proceeded to combat the beast. “In a flash, the boy seizes the key to the big cage, opens it, and drags Scuttle out… I must get him out of here!... anxious to save the little one he has put into danger, he finds the strength and courage he needs, and soon, is at the iron door.” After escaping the baboon, Holmes proceeds to vomit. He then carries his moaning friend to the apothecary shop. There, Sigerson Bell was able to heal Scuttle back to his former self. This shows that Sherlock Holmes will save his friends, even if it may harm himself in the process.
Compared to the rest of the books in the series, this book was great. Unlike the other books, The Dragon Turn involved all of Sherlock’s friends, including Irene, Beatrice, and Sigerson Bell. It also involved all of Sherlock’s enemies: Inspector Lestrade, Malefactor, Grimsby, and Crew. It also sees the return of Sherlock’s father and the introduction of Scuttle. While his other cases result in the boy detective figuring out the culprit at the end, this story has him prove a man innocent, and then attempt to prove him guilty, creating an interesting twist. Also, the book doesn’t result in Sherlock triumphant. Instead, it leaves the villains with minimal punishment, allowing them to continue their tricks in the future. I didn’t like how Malefactor played a very minor role compared to the other cases. He practically just talked to Sherlock and possibly captured a unique creature. Otherwise, this book seemed to be very similar to the previous stories: boy detective finds a case and proceeds to solve it. Still, it is a great story in The Boy Sherlock Holmes series. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
I believe that the moral of this story is doing what you feel is right, not just what will benefit you or someone else. At the beginning of the story, Irene wanted to advance her singing career. However, without Hemsworth, she wouldn’t be able to go very far. She decided to have Sherlock prove him innocent: “... you think he is innocent and you believe in justice… this will be a sensational case… There’s been nothing like this since the Spring Heeled Jack as on the loose… Beyond everything, you need the adventure… because you, sir, are bored.” Sherlock wasn’t sure what to make of the arrest and was indecisive about pursuing the case. Still, with a need to quench his thirst for excitement and with Irene’s influence, he effectively sets the magician free. Later, he felt guilty about his role in releasing the prisoner and thinks back to one of his father’s lessons: “I am going to teach you about a word… integrity. It has to do with honesty… It is about never lying to yourself, never doing what you know is wrong, making sure that what you say you believe in is what you do.” Even though Hemsworth had a good enough motive (Nottingham stole his wife), Sherlock went against his own ideals and freed him. If he had just investigated more further at first and made a final judgement much later, the story could have ended with a more triumphant tone. Perhaps, the police wouldn’t have been at his neck the entire time. Maybe the creature used during the crime could have been used for evidence against the magicians. It could have been possible that he would find out Hemsworth’s and Nottingham’s plan. I believe that the lesson learned in this book is integrity, because Sherlock Holmes would be lost without it.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel The Dragon Turn, written by Arthur Conan Doyle is the 5th book in the sherlock series. This series is about a fifteen year old boy named Sherlock Holmes who solves mysteries for a living. In this book the case was about a magician named Hemsworth who is accused for murdering the Wizard of Nottingham (his rival). With the encouragement of his friend Irene, Sherlock decided to take the case. Clue by clue Sherlock was able to prove that Hemsworth was innocent but he still wasn’t satisfied by the clues he got. He looked deeper for clues and took everything into account and realized Hemsworth killed Nottingham with his dragon which he used in performances. He later went to the officer who arrested Hemsworth everything he knew after thinking he agreed to help. The officer and the police force went to the London theatre waiting for Sherlock’s orders. Hemsworth knew this was going to happen so he lock Sherlock into a room. The officer realize there was a problem while the show was going on and arrested Hemsworth for his crimes. But little did they know Hemsworth had realised his dragon in the theatre. Dragon was scampering through the hallways and made it to Sherlock’s while the police were releasing him. After a fight with the dragon, the police managed to capture the dragon and sent it where it belongs.

This book was filled with mysteries and action topped of with some one-sided romance. This book is great because it has the details where you can imagine what is going on. It has an exceptional plot that progress throughout the book which I really enjoyed. An example of this plot is when Sherlock thought he was finished with his case, a whole new perspective arose changing the book completely. The action was descent due to the fact running away from the cops and being asked if you want to die is common in most novels. The thing I liked most about this book is the moral of the book, ‘Your perspective is not the only perspective,’ because it teaches people that what you see isn’t the only truth.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. I love Sherlock Homes movies and TV shows. This has been a lot of fun to read in that it takes a fresh perspective on the famous detective and gives him a back story. There is also a different young Sherlock series and I'm reading those books as well. I like both of the series and that they are different from each other. The Dragon Turn is the fifth in this line. I like reading how Sherlock processes through cases as a teen and to see how it helps shape the man he becomes. I've read all the other books in this series and they capture my attention right at the get go.
Lots of fun for people who want a quick action-packed mystery.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the boy Sherlock Holmes gets older, his interest in girls increases and torn between Irene and Beatrice (who betrayed him on his 4th case) he is once again led into action by a young lady. But his solution seems too simple and the young man must go to inspector Lestrade and admit he was wrong.

This case involves a notorious magician who produces a dragon for the entertainment of London. Is it real or an amazing illusion.

With help from his mentor Sigerson Bell, the aforementioned young ladies, Lestrade's son and a new hilarious helpmate named Scuttle, young Sherlock sets off on an entertaining investigation with a dramatic ending.

[Rhondda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the 5th book of a series, this book can easily be read as a stand-alone. The descriptions of Victorian London, showing some of hardships faced by the poor during this time and the strict moral codes and family values, are deftly handled and beautifully described by the author.
There is a good plot with many of the old characters re-appearing and some interesting new ones added to create another intriguing boy Sherlock Holmes mystery with as much adventure, action and deception to keep you reading until the end.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dragon Turn is a very solid entry in The Boy Sherlock Holmes series. A year and a half has passed since his adventures in Book 4. Young Sherlock is 15 and up to his neck in a mystery beyond anything he has encountered before. With him are Irene Doyle (nee Adler), and Sigerson Bell, his mentor and landlord. I've really enjoyed this series of books. They are very well written and help to capture the atmosphere of London in the 1870's. I look forward to more books from Shane Peacock in the future.

[Karine · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ the series is still good and I enjoyed the continue story of Sherlock and people around. I didn’t like the main story here with the magicians and « Dragon », not my type of story. It was a miss, probably the only book I didn’t like from this series. On to the final book 📖...

[aem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting reading about Sherlock Holmes as a young man...

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not really like this book. It was not my type of book and was not exciting.

[Amy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Duchess of Snark · Rating 1 out of 5]

haha this entire book was garbled gibberish. It made no sense, yet I still figured out the ending before the "boy genius" detective.

[CanadianReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The Dragon Turn, the boy Sherlock, now 15 (almost 16)has been "walking out" with the supremely attractive Irene Doyle, an aspiring stage singer. One performance they attend together is given by Alistair Hemsworth--an adventurer turned second-rate magician/illusionist--who has surprisingly managed to bring the most convincing of illusions to the stage: a dragon. Sherlock and Irene make a back-stage visit to Hemsworth after his show, and Irene feels some hopefulness about performing in the magician's act. When Hemsworth is arrested for the murder of his rival, the Wizard of Nottingham--the best of England's magicians and the man for whom Hemsworth's wife left him--however, it seems that Irene's dreams of being on stage may be compromised. Encouraged by Irene, who believes Hemsworth innocent and who badly wants to make her stage debut with the magician, Sherlock steps in to investigate. He finds himself looking into not only the supposed murder of Nottingham (for which Hemsworth obviously has good motivation) but also the possible existence of an actual dragon and the disappearance of the woman who has been wife to both magicians.
This volume in the series, like Peacock's other books, is atmospheric and suspenseful. Sigerson Bell, Inspector Lestrade and his son, as well as Beatrice Leckie (from previous books in the series) all make important appearances here. However, Malefactor (the always interesting, sinister street-boy/gang leader) plays only the most cameo of roles--which was a great disappointment to me. Another less-developed thread concerns the news that Beatrice brings to Sherlock of his father's possibly terminal illness. Sherlock makes a brief visit to the senior Holmes, who works as a keeper of the doves at the Crystal Palace, gaining some ideas from him that help the boy sort through the details of his current case. Beyond that, though, the meeting doesn't serve much of a point in this book. A delightful new character, street urchin "Scuttle" (who could be plucked right out of Dickens) is introduced in The Dragon Turn and plays a more significant role, as well as injecting some humour into an otherwise fairly serious narrative.

Having read three of the four previous boy Sherlock's cases, all of which were convincingly plotted, I found the young detective's actions not fully in keeping with his earlier characterization. At times, credible character motivation was sacrificed to the needs of the plot. Yes, the author made it clear in earlier books that young Sherlock's reasoning processes could be defective when Irene or Beatrice was on the scene. However, in The Dragon Turn, Sherlock concludes his investigation into Hemsworth too hastily even for a hormone-addled teen, and Scotland Yard's Inspector Lestrade is convinced far too easily to release suspected murderer Hemsworth. I couldn't believe either would make such mistakes. Additionally, in a closing scene where Sherlock is required to save the audience from Hemsworth's "dragon", plausibility is sacrificed. Sherlock is strangely concerned with the dragon's safety and actually cuts its shackles so it can go down a staircase without killing itself. It is not as if he'd shown any sympathy for the creature earlier, and a dead creature would have at least provided Sherlock with evidence for Lestrade of the creature's existence. The ravenous dragon is a bit too well (and conveniently) behaved when the plot requires it. The beast actually chooses to stay away from the crowd upon which it could feast, opting instead to retreat. This allows author Peacock to pull the plot forward for another chapter or two.

In the end, both circumstances and his mentor, Sigerson Bell, force Sherlock to confront the fact that it is not always the good who are rewarded. Nor are the criminals always justly punished. Criminal deeds may bring notoriety and greater celebrity to the dastardly. In fact, certain men may perform deeds for that purpose alone. Sherlock's satisfaction has to rest in knowing for himself that he did what was right.

Though satisfying in some ways, The Dragon Turn was not up to the standard of some of Peacock's earlier books in the series. As a result, I can't wholeheartedly recommend it. The Dragon Turn contains announcements of Irene's departure for music training in America, a hint that Sherlock's father's life is winding down, and omens that Malefactor will be back--those are the important threads it adds to the series. Hopefully the sixth case will deliver on those promises. In the meantime, the fifth case, though a pleasant enough read, could be missed. Certainly, book five is not the place to start the series, as it rests on what came before and would be a poor stand-alone. Having said all that, I do look forward to the next case.

I thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review of this book.

[Jojo · Rating 3 out of 5]

My biggest impression is that this is definitely a stereotypical children's book in every sense of the word. I say this because I have read many of the same kind which have astounded me with its uniqueness and ability to go beyond. However, I feel like this book fell short of that and remains on very safe grounds.

Although the 5th book of a series, this book can be read as a stand-alone. The author makes sure you are kept up to date, more or less, with the facts from previous happenstances. In this book, Sherlock and Irene are trying to determine the innocence of Alistair Hemsworth, a magician. His things were found neatly plopped next to a few bits of flesh and someone's spectacles. Somehow, this was enough to convict him but Sherlock believes there is more to this story.

I see this a lot in boy detective stories and this one is no better: the adults (though mainly the police) are dumbed down in order to make Sherlock seem smarter. They use circumstantial evidence to arrest a man but cries foul when Sherlock uses circumstantial evidence of his own (although less obvious ones). I also feel that if you changed the character names to something more mundane, there would have been no difference to the story. In other words, I can hardly believe that this boy is a young Sherlock Holmes. Aside from two paragraphs about a fear of boredom, I see nothing of the "master detective". There was no snarky comeback at the police's idiocy, no obsession over puzzles, no strange need to describe every detail of how he came to his conclusion, not even a smidget of the power of deduction, and no indication that he is any smarter than an average kid, despite every other character telling me so. I understand that some leeway should be given since this is supposed to be about his childhood and how he was shaped but not every single personality trait of the infamous man would realistically appear from some traumatic event. The case itself is hardly a mystery as well. I guess I would spoil it if I reveal it but there is no intellect involved. Someone found something and that was that. The twist wasn't even surprising.

Now don't get me wrong. This was a decent book, although it stays comfortably within the boundaries of its genre. The case was interesting and I like Irene Doyle. I felt like she, at least, was a strong and distinctive character. Scuttles was also pretty endearing although it got a bit annoying near the end.

Still, the book was nothing to rave about. Although it used Sherlock Holme's big name, the book didn't actually do anything with it. I would recommend this book to children just getting into detective stories. However, any hardcore Sherlock fan would be disappointed. I would like to note that there is one more book called "Becoming Sherlock", where things apparently get a lot grimmer. If I ever get around to reading it, I will have to see if it'll make me eat my words and prove that this boy really is Sherlock.

Received in a giveaway in return for an honest review

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dragon Turn, By: Shane Peacock-Review

The Dragon Turn by Shane Peacock was utterly amazing. It was jam packed with reviting action scenes, emotinal moments that made you catch your breath and tense suspense that would not let you put the book down. It's an awseome read for anyone who wants to put themselves in the shoes of the most greatest detective of all time, Sherlock Holmes.

It all started when young Sherlock Holmes and Irene Doyles attended Alistair Hemsworth's magic show. Everyone was appaled by the unbelievable illusion Hemsworth potrayed when he made a dragon and his assitance dissapear into thin air! There was a thunderous applause that followed the act, and both Holmes and Irene were looking forward to meeting the magician backstage. But that's when everything started going wrong. The police had captured Hemsworth accusing him of the murder of the world famouse magician, Wizard of Nottingham. Also to make matters worse some of their evidence proves that Hemsworth did conduct the murder. For example, the deadly rivalry the two magicians had. On the other hand when Holmes goes to inspect the crime scene, he see's that the damage that was done to the body was unhumanly. It was almost as if a creature had torn the body to shreds and bit's. The body was beyond repair. Now Sherlock Holmes is tied up in a mystery case with many twists and turns, almost as if never coming to an end

The Dragon Turn was a fascinating book with many strengths, but there were a few that really stuck out to me. Firstly, the descriptive language the author used to describe the surroundings and settings was amazing. For example,- as the misty yellow fog settled on the floor- It activated my senses and made me feel like I was really there walking on the beat up ground of England. Also I loved the touching moments the author threw into the fast paced story. For instance when Holmes reunited with his father after his mother's tragic death. It had immediately brought tears to my eyes and made my heart throb in sympathy. Finally I found it incredible how the author was able to keep Sherlock Holmes believable and give him regular human characteristics, such as his sense of curiosity. This way I was able to connect with him more and I could understand what he was going through. Overall the novel was fantastic, but if I had to critique the author on one thing it would be to maybe give a stronger relationship between Irene Doyles and Sherlock Holmes. I felt that there friendship was a little dull and vague. Other than that though the book was perfect.

Once again my experience of reading the Dragon Turn was out of this world. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. Also I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes an engrossing, fast paced and classic Sherlock Holmes novel.

Melanie

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boy Sherlock Holmes's fourth case is told in this Victorian tale. Within the setting of grimy, foggy London we meet Charles Dickens at a reading of his works, and other prominent persons. Young Sherlock is sitting with a girl friend Irene in a music hall watching the star turn, an illusionist, produce a large live dragon in a cage. Ladies scream and faint, but the youngsters are fascinated. Later they go backstage but the police arrest the illusionist for murdering a stage magician.

Sherlock is fifteen and his friend Irene sixteen. They have previously slipped clues to the son of Inspector Lestrade, a trainee policeman. Sherlock lives with an eccentric apothecary and attends university. Intrigued by a grisly murder with no remaining body, Sherlock sneaks to the crime scene in Cremorne pleasure gardens late at night. He meets a ragamuffin on guard and curiosity compels him to keep investigating. Irene has ambitions to sing on the stage, perhaps not realising that young women were commonly taken advantage of in return for parts, and Holmes has to worry that his friend may be rehearsing with a murderer.

The adult Holmes had little time for women in his life, but this boy is not just familiar with girls of various classes but treats them as intelligent observant people, an unusual attitude for the time. We travel streets of old London, but there is not a great deal of description, more atmosphere as a lot of the story takes place at night. To us modern readers, familiar with wildlife programmes, the dragon is no huge mystery, but at the time such giants were unknown.

Shane Peacock enjoys recreating old London and young Holmes, giving us a lively adventure with a few sidelines and ongoing characters. THE DRAGON TURN shows some hardships of growing up poor during times which are ironically known for strict moral codes and family values. I felt it would suit readers from twelve upwards.

[Maxine · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The Dragon Turn, 16-year-old Sherlock Holmes has gone to see London's latest craze - a magician who can produce a dragon out of thin air. When the magician is accused of the murder of a rival, Sherlock finds himself caught up in the mystery and at odds with Inspectors Lestrade, both pere and fils. Worse, because of his evidence, the magician is freed but Sherlock begins to suspect that, maybe, just maybe, he might have been wrong and had helped to free a murderer.

I have been a huge fan of the original Holmes story since I was a kid although I have never been so hardcore that I obsess about the minutiae of the tales. However,I have to say I found some of the background author Shane Peacock gave the teenaged Sherlock somewhat disconcerting. I also found myself stumbling over the story as it was told in present tense. I am not sure why except perhaps it just didn't seem to mesh with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's writing.

I also found the story slow at times, especially at the beginning, but once I got further into the mystery, it kept my interest right up to the end. The end, itself, if not particularly surprising, was satisfying. I should also mention that, before I started the book, I hadn't realized it was fifth in a series. However, it worked fine as a stand-alone.

Although I doubt that this story will appeal to die-hard fans of the great detective, I suspect that the YA audience it is aimed at will find it more than a little bit fun. There's plenty of adventure, magic, and romance to keep them entertained. And, if it makes them want to read the originals, well, then all I can say is 'the game's afoot'.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The young Sherlock Holmes, just 15, is on the case again, albeit reluctantly, at first. This mystery is one of deception, alleged murder, dragons, and fantastical wizard magicians. When a highly regarded magician, known as Nottingham, is thought to have been murdered, Hemsworth, a lesser known one is accused. You see, there is a history of between them...involving Angelica Nottingham, the wizard's wife. She has left one for the other...or so it seems.

Set against a backdrop of a magnificent magic show involving a blood-thirsty dragon appearing out of nowhere, Holmes has to discover how all of these seemingly disconnected pieces come together to commit murder. Little does Holmes know, though at first, that some things are not always as they seem (isn't this what makes a good mystery?) and he has to sort through facts again, both relevant and inconsequential. Young Holmes has a detective's sharp mind and filters through the clues, and comes to a very surprising and nearly deadly conclusion, much to the chagrin of his fellow detectives, Lestrade Jr. and Sr.

Just as Holmes is a master detective in the making, Peacock is a master with language and a mysterious plot. Having readers reeling with anticipation and on the edge of their seats, Peacock has us devouring every word to the satisfying and unbelievable ending. This series of mysteries are both well-written and enticing!

I give The Dragon Turn: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His 5th Case 4 1/2 stars.

Thanks to Shane Peacock, LibraryThing Early Reviewers, and Tundra Books for this latest installment in the The Boy Sherlock Holmes series.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reason for Reading: next in the series.

I always look forward to reading the next installment of The Boy Sherlock Holmes, knowing I'm in for a good mystery, period piece and adventure. The fifth book in the series, The Dragon Turn was no disappointment! Set in the world of Victorian prestidigitation, the reader is planted back stage at the antics of self-important magicians and the violent death of one leaving very few remains other than pieces of flesh, whilst a rival is collared for the offense. But Sherlock is not convinced things are as they seem and with some coercion from Irene he takes on the case to prove the magician is innocent but after he has gained his freedom, Sherlock begins to have second thoughts of his innocence and takes the case on himself seriously when he realizes a woman's life may be in danger.

As usual for this series, the action is non-stop. The pace rushes forward from one reveal to another always keeping the reader on his toes. Guessing "whodunit" may come sooner or later but guessing the full motive and execution of the crime is saved for the last twists. An exciting mystery steeped in a well-researched Victorian time period. Sherlock has grown-up in this volume, fifteen going on sixteen finds him a teen on the verge of manhood and much less impulsive and more discerning in his actions before he leaps. His personal life moves forward in this volume as well, with all his previously established relationships taking on new directions. This is a satisfying book all round for the reader who has been following the series.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherlock is now 15 and "stepping out" (dating, in the 19th century way) with Irene--they go to the theater together, etc. When the famous magician Hemsworth is arrested and charged with murdering his rival, Nottingham, Irene implores Sherlock to investigate and clear his name, because Hemsworth had promised to give Irene a job singing with his act. Hemsworth certainly had the motivation to kill Nottingham, because he stole Hemsworth's wife away from him. But Sherlock's not so sure--how did the magician manage to kill Nottingham in such a way that nothing is left of him but a few grisly chunks of flesh and a lot of blood? It almost looks like Nottingham was eaten by a beast--but surely the "fire-breathing dragon" of Hemsworth's famous stage act is just a marvelous magician's trick? It can't possibly exist in real life...or can it? I loved this installment of the series because Sherlock is maturing, and getting to have more of a personal life with Irene (although, what's this? There is also the lovely Beatrice, the hatter's daughter, to vie for his affections! What's an awkward future detective to do?). And the glimpses behind the scenes of 19th century theatrical life are fascinating. And, there's a terrifically exciting fight and chase scene that I don't want to spoil for anyone! And, as usual, Sherlock's eccentric mentor Bell puts in some funny appearances.

[Allison Ketchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the previous book in this series, THE SECRET FIEND, but this, the fifth in the "Boy Sherlock Holmes" series, seemed long to me. It simply lacked the tension that kept me turning pages in THE SECRET FIEND, and I found myself setting it aside to read other books. In this installment, one magician (Hemsworth) is suspected of murdering another (Nottingham), who happened to have stolen his wife away. Only bits of Nottingham are found, and no one knows how Hemsworth did it. Against his resolve to stay out of detective matters until adulthood, Holmes agrees to look into the case at the prodding of Irene Doyle, who has been offered a chance to sing in Hemsworth's show.

The solution was telegraphed from the beginning, which accounts for some of the slack in the tension. Wondering what on earth happened is always more engaging than waiting to find I was right. This book was also heavy on the love-triangle angle, which isn't particularly interesting to me. Angsty teenaged Holmes infatuated with two very different young ladies just doesn't hold my interest.

Even if it isn't Peacock's best, young Holmes is still very readable, and I'll be reading the conclusion to the series, BECOMING HOLMES, next.

Source disclosure: I received a review copy of this book courtesy of the publisher.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous addition to the Young Sherlock Holmes series. This adventure features rival magicians of the London stage, one of whom is accused of killing the other, who is nowhere to be found. Sherlock's observations seem to indicate that the man is innocent, but he is quickly caught up in a web of deception. Soon Sherlock must determine whether the "murder" is the ultimate magic trick or nothing but a publicity stunt. Unless Sherlock can figure out who is responsible, and what the end goal is, another murder - a real one - will occur.

Reading this book was like watching The Prestige: you really don't get the final answer until the magician is through with his trick. And the suspense is great as you watch to see whether Sherlock will arrive in time to save his friends as well as the intended victim.

This entry in the series features many appearances by Irene Doyle (who is totally manipulative, and I hate her) as well as Beatrice (whom I like, especially since she actually wants what is best for Sherlock). We also have a number of fine moments with Sigerson Bell and both Inspectors Lestrade, and Sherlock even contacts his father. This wasn't my favorite of the series, but it was still pretty fabulous, and I certainly look forward to more.

[OhWell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Out of all the Red Maple selections this year, I had the hardest time finishing The Dragon Turn. I haven't read the other books in the series, but still felt that bits of the older stories and characters were brought up too often and for no good reason. The idea that somebody could get arrested on the evidence of traces of blood and flesh, without even the slightest clue that they had been positively identified as having a human origin, seemed highly doubtful. At no point had I thought it at all possible that Nottingham could have been dead.

The pace of the book was slow, and there were too many predictable moments for an even remotely enjoyable detective story. Moreover, I did not get any glimpse of the brilliant Sherlock Holmes in the teenage protagonist of The Dragon Turn. The readers are told he is a genius, he is even made into a half-Jew to presumably prove the point, although there is no hint to such origins in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's writings. (And isn't that stereotyping?...) Despite all efforts, the young Sherlock Holmes falls flat. If not for a few and far between elements of surprise, and the love triangle involving a boy and two girls for a change, I would have given The Dragon Turn one star. I still have half a mind to do so...

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I was really impressed with this book. First of the cover is beautifully done. It is hard cover, but with a wonderful painting, which you can see part of through the dust cover! Very high quality, colorful and eye catching. Then there are a couple of maps in the book. They are maps of London during the time period. Very helpful and exciting.

As for the story, I really liked it. The writing flowed nicely, and was beautiful. The word choice was fun, and didn't get boring. At the same time it wasn't too advanced for middle readers, which is for whom the book was written. The mystery was intriguing with the turns and twists. I was a little disappointed with the end because it got away, but the story helped reveal part of how Sherlock becomes who he is as an adult. I would like to read the rest of the series, as this is book number 5, and I feel I would know the characters more if I had read the others. The book reminded me a bit of my Nancy Drew days...teenage love, solving mysteries for adult....Good times.

Thank you Good reads first reads for the opportunity to read this book!! I want more. Now to pass this to my 9 year old.

[Nigarsan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dragon Turn by Shane Peacock
This book is about a young detective named'Sherlock" who is investigating a mystery of which a famous magician was brutally murdered by his rival who is soon arrested by the police.Believed to be innocent with the help of his friend,Irene,he finds evidence to release him before being decapitated.When he is release,Sherlock feels guilty if he released an innocent or murder.Now,it's up to him to solve the mystery.

I chose this book because it was a Red Maple book for 2013 and it would be my second book if I completed it.Also,it is the fifth book out of the young "Sherlock Holmes" mystery books.Since I read his other books,I went with the series.

I read this book not only that it was a Red Maple book and the fifth book of the "Sherlock Holmes" series,for that I wanted to see what would happen next throughout the book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who read the young 'Sherlock Holmes" series and is in the Red Maple reading competition for 2013.Also,I would recommend this book to any mystery lovers out there who are interested in Sherlock Holmes from Shane Peacock.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley. When I requested it, I was expecting a Young Adult novel written for a tween audience similar to The Uglies series or maybe The Hunger Games. I hadn't read the earlier books in this series, but since I have always enjoyed a good Sherlock Holmes story, I figured that I would be safe requesting this book.

Well I was wrong on two counts. First this book is definitely aimed at a younger group than I had imagined. I would say that this is for third grade up through fifth grade. Most middle school kids would think that the story was a bit too simple for them. They are used to the adventures of Katniss or the vampires from Twilight. Second, I was looking for a good Sherlock Holmes story. The boy Sherlock Holmes doesn't have any of the insight that you expect from a young Sherlock. He acts much younger than his age in the book.

On the positive side the story has a few twists and a good bit of action that an elementary school child would enjoy. This may even coax them into exploring an adult Sherlock Holmes book in the future.

I give this 3 stars out of 5.