The Enola Holmes Mysteries - Series Overview - The Case of The Cryptic Crinoline

The Case of The Cryptic Crinoline

Enola returns to her lodgings to find that somebody has kidnapped her landlady, Mrs. Tupper. After investigating the ransacked lodgings, she abduces that the kidnappers were after a secret message hidden in Mrs. Tupper's old crinoline dress. Enola traces the dress to Florence Nightingale, who has met Mrs. Tupper in the Crimean War. After several visits to Nightingale, Enola discovers that the nurse, also known as "the Bird," has conducted espionage during the war. As such, Nightingale asked Mrs. Tupper to smuggle a note in her crinoline back to England but did not know that the war widow was deaf and did not hear her. Enola also realizes that Nightingale pretends to be an invalid to avoid attending social functions expected from a wealthy woman, which would take up a considerable amount of time and distract her from writing letters to achieve social reform for the poor and needy. During her visits to Nightingale, Enola suspects someone is following her. As the person could be related to the case and a danger to Mrs. Tupper's and her safety, she relocates to the Professional Women's Club.

After solving the case, Enola leaves Mrs. Tupper at Nightingale's house, where the landlady is delighted by being able to hear the piano. She escapes upon seeing Sherlock approach. Sherlock converses with Nightingale, and she reveals the reason behind Enola's escape from her brothers by describing horrors of boarding schools and corsets.