Sherlock Holmes, just thirteen, is a misfit. His highborn mother is the daughter of an aristocratic family, his father a poor Jew. Their marriage flouts tradition and makes them social pariahs in the London of the 1860s; and their son, Sherlock, bears the burden of their rebellion. Friendless, bullied at school, he belongs nowhere and has only his wits to help him make his way.

But what wits they are! His keen powers of observation are already apparent, though he is still a boy. He loves to amuse himself by constructing histories from the smallest detail for everyone he meets. Partly for fun, he focuses his attention on a sensational murder to see if he can solve it. But his game turns deadly serious when he finds himself the accused — and in London, they hang boys of thirteen.

Shane Peacock has created a boy who bears all the seeds of the character who has mesmerized millions: the relentless eye, the sense of justice, and the complex ego. The boy Sherlock Holmes is a fascinating character who is sure to become a fast favorite with young readers everywhere. Selected as a Booklist "Top Ten in Young Mysteries"

Winner, Arthur Ellis Award for Juvenile Crime Fiction

Gold Medal Winner, Foreward Magazine's Book of the Year Awards

Winner, IODE's Violet Downey Book Award

“…the first intriguing volume in an ambitious new series….a shadowy, vividly described London….Creative references to Doyle’s characters abound…and Sherlock himself is cleverly interpreted….[made] both fascinating and complex….plenty of readers will like the smart, young detective they find here, and find themselves irresistibly drawn into his thrilling adventures.” 
— Booklist, Starred review and named one of the Top Ten Crime Fiction for Youth

“The details of the plot are plausible, the pacing well timed, and the historical setting vividly depicted…The titular crow comes fascinatingly into play…On balance, the characters enrich the book and help give Holmes’s storied abilities credence.” 
— School Library Journal, Starred review

“…young people familiar with Holmes’ canon will best appreciate Peacock’s riffs; but plenty of readers will like the smart, young detective they find here, and find themselves irresistibly drawn into his thrilling adventures.” 
— Book Links, Named Best New Books for the Classroom

“Peacock effectively evokes Conan Doyle’s London alleyway, and his young Sherlock is a compelling and poignant character.”
— The Horn Book Guide