Gr 7 Up-A mere three weeks have passed since Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes solved The Case of the Spiritglass Charade (Chronicle, 2014). When a letter revealing the location of missing royal chess piece is stolen, it is up to the plucky teens to find it before their lethal nemesis, the Ankh, does. The chess piece is the key to a royal chessboard, one that holds jewels and invaluable secrets. In the wrong hands, the secrets could turn deadly. The teens' forays are complicated by the fact that Princess Alix expects them to chaperone the demure Princess Lurelia of Betrovia, who is visiting Britain on a goodwill trip. As in the previous titles, the narrative alternates between the viewpoints of the distinctly different Evaline and Mina. The variations in their observations give insight into their characters and the time period. Evaline, for instance, cherishes her role as an undercover kick-arse vampire hunter. She loves her "Angel in the House" sister-in-law but chafes at that relative's efforts to see her courted and married off. Mina longs to satisfy her sleuthing instincts but worries about what society will think of her. Red herrings whiz back and forth like steam-powered bullets as the friends work their way through fancy dress balls, dusty museums, and creepy laboratories to solve the mystery. VERDICT The endearingly flawed and delightfully competent heroines, the convincing integration of steampunk accoutrements, and the fact-based historical framework make this a must-purchase where the other novels are popular. Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Libraries, NC

Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes's services are required once again in this third installment of the Stoker and Holmes series. Princess Lurelia of Betrovia is making the journey to London and is in need of chaperones, aka bodyguards. The princess comes bearing a gift that will likely mend the rift between England and Betrovia, but precautions must be taken. That gift, a letter that leads to a greater treasure, is seemingly stolen right beneath the watchful gaze of both Stoker and Holmes. As the ladies try to keep Princess Lurelia safe and discover who could have taken the letter, the Ankh, Mina's arch-nemesis, makes itself known. Evaline and Mina will have to use all their powers of deduction to solve this mystery.Gleason has created a pair of truly remarkable women sleuths. Even though these ladies are tied to strong literary leading men, Gleason has given them their own identities. Her writing is clever and full of clues to keep the reader guessing throughout the story. The mystery, coupled with elements of steampunk, will appeal to many young adult readers. This is an excellent addition to Gleason's series and will have readers clamoring for more. Make sure to include this series in your libraries.Jonatha Basye.