by A. J. Low
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle—The original creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote 56 short stories and four novels starring the detective. He also wrote the Professor Challenger novels and stories (including The Lost World), and was a medical doctor. His medical practice was located at 2 Devonshire Place, but he never saw a single patient, according to his autobiography.
Sonic the Hedgehog—A blue, insanely fast hedgehog. Originally developed for the Sega Genesis video game system as a Super Mario-killer during the American console wars of the 1990s, Sonic has appeared in video games, cartoons, toys, comics, and now LEGO.
Tate Modern—A modern art gallery located in Southwark, south of the Thames. The building is the former Bankside Power Station. Like other cultural museums in London, there is no admission charge to the Tate Modern, but major temporary exhibitions do require tickets to be purchased.
ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
SAMUEL TAN CHER LOCK a.k.a. SHERLOCK SAM
A 10-year-old detective who tends to bite off more than he can chew, Sherlock Sam loves superheroes and comics. His heroes are Sherlock Holmes, Batman, Agent Coulson and his dad. Exceptionally curious and intelligent, Sherlock cannot resist a perplexing mystery, not even when it can get him in trouble.
WATSON
Less than two years old, Watson behaves more like a grumpy old man though he has remarkable similarities to a sulky toddler. He is often reluctantly drawn into Sherlock’s misadventures. Watson secretly wants to join S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Science division and create an army of like-minded robots.
WENDY
Wendy, Sherlock’s 11-year-old sister, can be a tomboy. Her arch-nemeses are mosquitoes and broken colour pencils, She is a talented artist and her favourite colour is green. Her Chinese is terrible.
JIMMY
Sherlock’s classmate, Jimmy, seems to have the super power to fall down without injuring himself. His enthusiasm for everything is infectious and no one can stay mad at him for long (that might be his other super power).
NAZHAR
Nazhar is a bookish boy who loves reading about history and is the big brother of the group. He is trying to learn more about the outdoors from Eliza but, unfortunately, Nazhar has a horrible sense of direction.
ELIZA
Eliza is an only child. Her parents have recently divorced which was very difficult for her. Though sometimes sarcastic and mean, Eliza has become a true ally of Sherlock Sam and a member of the Supper Club. She really loves My Little Pony and neat hair.
DAD
A brilliant engineer, Sherlock’s dad is constantly working on top-secret experiments. He cannot concentrate unless he is chewing on Red Vines, a twisty liquorice candy. He has never stopped reading superhero comics because he thinks that everyone needs heroes, no matter how old they are.
MOM
Sherlock’s mom is half-Peranakan and a genius in the kitchen. She loves reading books by Jane Austen and enjoys watching superhero movies more than she lets on— especially those featuring Black Widow.
OFFICER SIVA
Officer Siva is an experienced and insightful police officer with the Singapore Police Force, but he cannot work without his morning kopi. A trusted ally of Sherlock Sam, Officer Siva is studying Spanish because he’s addicted to telenovelas. He hopes they’ll be the new Korean dramas in Singapore.
MORAN
Moran used to belong to the Fiendish Mastermind, but now lives with Jimmy, his sisters, his Mama and Auntie Gina. Unlike Watson’s robotic voice, Moran sounds almost human. He also has an amazing moustache.
INSPECTOR GENEVIEVE LESTRADE
A somewhat unorthodox INTERPOL agent from France who loves to cosplay randomly. Officer Siva calls her “conspicuously inconspicuous”. Some of her previous costumes include: fire hydrant, mini-Eiffel Tower and bakery shop.
JAMES MOK
Born and raised in London, James moved to Singapore with his parents, and tried to outsmart Sherlock Sam. He failed, and went back to London. James’ intellect rivals Sherlock’s genius, but he cannot be distracted by delicious food. He enjoys cream with his scones and Earl Grey tea, hot. He was planning a comeback in London, but someone foiled his plans.
BOK JOO
A new transfer student who is in the same class as James Mok, Bok Joo loves watching Korean dramas and the hit variety show Running Man. She also enjoys arts and crafts. Her background is rather mysterious—is Kim Bok Joo even her real name?
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
A.J. Low is a husband-and-wife writing team!
Adan Jimenez was born in the San Joaquin Valley in California to Mexican immigrant parents. He became an immigrant himself when he moved to Singapore after living in New York for almost a decade. He has worked for comic book stores, book stores, gaming stores and even a hoagie sandwich shop once. He loves comics, LEGOs, books, games (analog and video), Doctor Who and sandwiches.
Felicia Low-Jimenez has been a geeky bookseller for most of her adult life. She has bought books, sold books, marketed books and now she is trying her hand at writing books. She loves to nap and eat chocolate. She spends most of her free time reading, and, when she can afford it, she travels, usually to look for beautiful bookstores around the world.
Sherlock Sam and the Missing Heirloom in Katong won the International Schools Libraries Network’s Red Dot Award 2013-2014 in the Younger Readers’ Category. Sherlock Sam and the Ghostly Moans in Fort Canning took third place in the Popular Readers’ Choice Awards 2013 in the English Children’s Books category.
You can find them at sherlocksam.wordpress.com, facebook.com/SherlockSamSeries, on Instagram @aj_low_writers and [email protected]
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Andrew Tan (also known as Drewscape) is a full-time freelance illustrator and an Eisner-nominated comic artist. He illustrates for print ads, magazines and also enjoys storyboarding and illustrating for picture book projects. During his free time, he’s always creating his own comics for the fun of it. In his home studio you’ll find an overflow of art tools of all kinds as he loves experimenting with them. He already has too many fountain pens and tells himself that he will stop buying more. Andrew published his first graphic novel, Monsters, Miracles & Mayonnaise, in 2012.
SUSPICIOUS
SWITCHEROO
IN SEOUL!
Look out for the next book in the Sherlock Sam series as the adventures of the Supper Club continue!
In Sherlock Sam and the Mysterious Mastermind in Seoul, the Supper Club must chase their new adversary to South Korea where many cryptic conundrums await them! With Watson and Moran behaving strangely, will Sherlock and the Supper Club be able to puzzle their way through the various challenges set before them? Or will they be run ragged by their most rascally rival yet? Find out in the concluding instalment of the Battle of the Brains Duology!