The Baker Street Boys: The Case of the Limehouse Laundry

Baker Street Boys #4

by Anthony Read

Alarmstufe eins! Blumenmädchen verschwunden! Die Baker Street Boys verfolgen unter Lebensgefahr eine heiße Spur, die in das chinesische Stadtviertel Limehouse führt. – Spannend, beklemmend und unheimlich exotisch ist dieser vierte Band der erstklassigen Krimi-Serie von Anthony Read. Rosie, das zarte Mädchen unter den Baker Street Boys, trägt mit dem Verkauf ihrer Sträußchen ein paar Pennys zum Lebensunterhalt bei. Immer früh morgens treffen sich alle Londoner Blumenmädchen auf dem Großmarkt in Covent Garden. Eines Tages fehlt Rosies Freundin Lilly. Und von Rosie finden die Boys wenig später auch nur noch eine Spur. Die aber lässt keinen Zweifel zu: Es ist höchste Eile angesagt. Nur gut, dass Sparrow von den Akrobaten im Königlichen Variététheater einen wichtigen Hinweis bekommt. Doch wie ist der zu verstehen? Was für einen Drachen sollen sie jagen? «Veilchen! Hübsche Veilchen! Ein kleines Gebinde für Ihre Angebetete, Sir?» Das kleine Blumenmädchen nahm ein adrett gebundenes Sträußchen von dem Tablett, das ihr an einem Riemen um den Hals hing. Sie setzte ein gewinnendes Lächeln auf. «Nur zwei Pence, Sir. Nur zwei Pence der Strauß ... Danke schön, sehr freundlich, Sir.» Auf der anderen Straßenseite sah eine finstere Gestalt aus einer schwarzen Kutsche herüber und gab mit einer behandschuhten Hand ein Zeichen. Das Mädchen ging weiter. Von dem Lieferwagen, der neben ihr heranfuhr, nahm sie kaum Notiz. An so einem Lieferwagen war nichts Ungewöhnliches – die Straßen von London waren voll davon. Sie musste jedoch stehen bleiben und warten, denn der Fahrer und sein Begleiter sprangen herunter, schlugen die hinteren Flügeltüren auf und versperrten für kurze Zeit den Gehweg …

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

156 pages, Paperback

First published November 5, 2007

About the author

Anthony "Tony" Read (born 21 April 1935) was a British script editor, television writer and author. He was principally active in British television from the 1960s to the mid-1980s, although he occasionally contributed to televised productions until 1999. Starting in the 1980s, he launched a second career as a print author, concentrating largely on World War II histories. Since 2004 he regularly wrote prose fiction, mainly in the form of a revival of his popular 1983 television show, The Baker Street Boys.

Reviews

[Rajesh Bookrider · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars

A group of orphan kids call themselves "The Baker Street Boys" although three of them are girls
They live in a secret callar "HQ" and their leader Wiggins works for Mr. Sherlock Holmes as we all know.

The Baker street boys solve crimes when Sherlock Holmes is away working on his Case.
I enjoyed this book too as previous books
It is really engaging to read about old London in 1897 and the struggle of a orphan group to live and solve crimes.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. Even though i haven't read the first one of the series i got use to finding out who the characters were. If you are looking for a light read I definitely recommend this book.

[Matthew Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really quite superbly plotted, and one of the most page-turny books for children I've read. The Baker Street Boys books seem simple at first, but they're like condensed adult thrillers. Rollicking stuff!

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gripping yarn, well-written, intelligent, sometimes witty. He doesn't avoid the issues here - opium dens, triads, and there's a strong sense of time and place.

[Joyce Rigg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant adventure for the girls and boys in the Baker Street Boys gang. With Sherlock turning up, of course, towards the end.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is as the title suggests part of the Baker street boys series - which I have been working through the last few weeks and thoroughly enjoying I might add too.
This book however differs from the previous volumes in two obvious reasons - the first is that the story starts out straight off from the first page - something that to a lesser degree is not unheard of in this series but this book takes it to a whole new level. The second is that the story is tinged with a darker element - the books after all were aimed at a specific demographic - could it be with the darker storyline (after all its never properly explained what the abductions where all about just that they happened) is maturing like the faith readers would be too - think of Harry Potter and how the story lines and content matured along with the readers who faithfully followed them. SO this book gets even more praise- partly from such a fun read and partly also because the author was not afraid to allow the stories to grow and develop.

[Mella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read all of the Baker Street Boys books a couple of years ago but I was excited to find them in ebook at my local library. Although I am a little disappointed I can't find them on Amazon but anyway. So I'm rereading and they're just as great as I remember.

They're lighthearted sweet little mysteries filled with great characters and interesting plots. Wiggins and the gang are hilarious - from Wiggins imitation of Holmes, Gertie's insistence of being one of the boys, Queenie's obsession with the Queen, Shiner's love of trains, Sparrow's love of theatre, Rosie's super nose and Beaver's desire to be the Watson to Wiggin's Holmes. All of the gang actively contribute to the investigations and help to solve the mysteries and it's nice to see each member play a role and demonstrate their own expertise. Not everyone is good at everything - but they're all good at something.

I can't wait to get started on the next one.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good entertaining read.
It is quite exciting.The story is about Lily, Rosie's friend, going missing. Rosie soon goes missing too, along with numerous other flower sellers. The gang try to solve the mystery, and find the girls.
I would recommend this book to older children, especially those who like mystery books, are fans of the Famous Five/the Secret Seven, or for parents who want to introduce Sherlock Holmes to their children. I also think adults would enjoy this book too!

[*unregistered_animagus* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any of these books are good for all who like old Sherlock and Watson.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, entertaining and exciting read!