Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes    adapted by Judith Conaway & Lyle Miller Order:  USA  Can Random House, 2005 (1982) Hardcover, Softcover      Reviewed by J. A. Kaszuba Locke Stepping Stone Book Classics presents Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes, about the detective famous for his 'deductive reasoning'. In it, Judith Conaway offers her adaptation of three well-known tales. In The Adventure of the Speckled Band, Helen Stoner asks Holmes to investigate the mysterious death of her twin sister Julia. Helen is the stepdaughter of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, whose only friends are a band of gypsies camped on his property. Wild animals that Roylott brought from India (a cheetah and a baboon) have 'the run of the place'. Julia died soon after she was engaged to be married. Now, Helen is engaged, and her stepfather has asked her to move into Julia's vacant room. The girls were to inherit money upon their marriage. Upon inspection of the property, Holmes and Watson discover a fake bell pull in each room. Why? In The Red-headed League, an elderly gentleman with red hair, Mr. J. B. Wilson, asks Holmes' advice about a job at the 'Red-headed League', supposedly started by red-haired millionaire Ezekiah Hopkins, who left his money to assist men with hair of the same hue. Wilson's employee brought the notice to his boss's attention. But there's something suspicious about the whole affair. In The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, Dr. Watson visits Holmes a few days after the Christmas holiday, to find the detective inspecting a dirty, torn hat, dropped (along with a goose) when his doorman helped a man being accosted by a gang. Inside the goose was a blue stone, linked to a robbery. It pulls Holmes in to a worthwhile goose chase. In Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes, Judith Conaway has adapted three splendid classic short stories that adults and young readers can enjoy together. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews