Artie Conan Doyle and the Vanishing Dragon

In the second volume of The Artie Conan Doyle Mysteries, the schoolboy (and future spiritualist, writer, and creator of Sherlock Holmes) is hired to do some sleuthing when an accident at a magic show endangers the safety of the cast and crew. The Great Wizard of the North is prepping his most dazzling illusion ever, but a series of accidents in the theater have him worried. Can the young Artie and his hungry pal Ham unravel the mystery?

Harris is clearly having a great deal of fun slipping Sherlock Holmes references into the adventures of Holmes’ creator, and that will definitely have the Sherlockians in the readership happy. He also does an admirable job of filling out the characters bustling around the crowded theater, offering a plethora of motivations for younger readers to rifle through.

Unfortunately, it takes half the book to get all the pieces in place, so the solution ends up feeling a bit rushed. That being said, the double-reveal is a satisfying one and Doyle shines as a plucky young hero, even if some of the supporting cast steal his thunder somewhat. Artie Conan Doyle and the Vanishing Dragon is lighthearted fun, a solid introduction to the world of Victorian mysteries.