Dead Mans Confession

Lewis modernizes the famed Sherlock Holmes character by creating Shelly, the detective's great-granddaughter, a 17-year-old Bostonian who stars in the first volume of this projected series. Since the novel's central mystery, such as it is, doesn't surface until long past the novel's mid-point, criminology buffs won't find much suspense here. After her parents die in a car accident, Shelly inherits her father's respected detective agency and soon discovers a 70-year-old injustice that she must put to rights. Shelly--a heroine who calls to mind feisty Nancy Drew--is attractively drawn, and while the series' concept is rather gimmicky, it is not without its appeal. Ultimately, however, the book lacks a strong, well-paced plot, and does a disservice to the fictional hero whose legend it exploits. Ages 12-up. (Oct.)