In this 5th book in the 'Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries', bookstore manager/amateur sleuth Gemma Doyle travels to London, where she gets involved in a murder investigation. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Englishwoman Gemma Doyle now lives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and co-owns 'The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium' with her Uncle Arthur Doyle- a spry nonagenarian who likes to travel and romance the ladies.
As the story opens, Gemma is visiting London, having left the Cape Cod bookstore in the care of her assistant Ashleigh and her Uncle Arthur. Gemma is scheduled to attend a weekend conference called 'Sherlock Holmes in the Modern World.'
There Gemma will give a talk about Sherlock Holmes pastiche and accept an award being given to Uncle Arthur for 'spreading the love of Sherlock Holmes.'
Accompanying Gemma on the trip are four American friends: Ryan Ashburton - Gemma's cop boyfriend; Jayne Wilson - Gemma's partner in 'Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room', next door to the bookstore; Grant Thompson - a dealer in rare books; and Donald Morris - a retired lawyer and Sherlock Holmes aficionado.
When Gemma and her cohorts arrive in London they check into the Bentley Hotel, then gather in the downstairs bar to meet Gemma's family for drinks.
Gemma's mother Anne is a barrister, her father Henry is a retired Scotland Yard detective, and her older sister Pippa claims to have "a minor clerical position with the Department for Transport".....but probably works for MI5.
After drinks, the group is strolling out of the bar when Henry is approached by his wife's black sheep brother, Randolph (Randy) Denhaugh. This is a shock since Randy hasn't been seen for decades, since the day he stole his parents valuable Constable painting when he was a young man.
Henry brushes Randy off, but the black sheep doesn't stay gone. Randy has a booth at the Sherlock Holmes conference, selling his original Sherlockian sketches. Gemma sees her uncle as she's perusing the vendors, and notes that he's loudly told off by two separate women.
Later, after Gemma has given her speech and accepted Uncle Arthur's award, Randy is found dead in a meeting room at the conference, with Gemma's dad Henry beside the body.
Henry has a large goose egg on his head and claims to remember nothing.
This is a problem since the detective assigned to the case, Inspector Sam Morrison, is a no-talent yutz who hates his former colleague.
Thus Henry is soon arrested for murder.
Gemma knows her dad is innocent and sets out to find the real killer. The amateur sleuth is assisted by her American friends and her sister Pippa - whose mysterious contacts are invaluable.
During her inquiries, Gemma learns that Randy was an art forger and exploitative friend who gave a bogus diamond ring to his 'fiancée' - so there are plenty of possible suspects for the crime.
As Gemma is investigating the murder with one or another of her friends, the others take the opportunity to go sightseeing at places like the Sherlock Holmes Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Black Museum, and so on.
The Sherlock Holmes Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum
The Black Museum
As one would expect of tourists in England, the visitors drink myriad cups of tea and eat things like steak and kidney pie; steak and ale pie; croissants with strawberry jam; and a full English breakfast.
Steak and Ale Pie
Croissants with Strawberry Jam
Full English Breakfast
The most amusing scenes in the book occur when Gemma calls her assistant Ashleigh to check on the bookstore. Gemma hears that the shop's resident cat, Moriarty, peed on Gemma's laptop and on the shoes of a visiting author.
Gemma also learns that Uncle Arthur's lady friend started a fire with her cigarette; and that elderly shoppers got into a brouhaha about Benedict Cumberbatch (who plays Sherlock Holmes on TV) and had to be thrown out.
This entertaining story has numerous allusions to the Sherlock Holmes canon, and would appeal to readers who like cozy mysteries and to fans of the legendary detective.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Vicki Delany) and the publisher (Crooked Lane Books) for a copy of the book.
Rating: 3 stars
*****
Englishwoman Gemma Doyle now lives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and co-owns 'The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium' with her Uncle Arthur Doyle- a spry nonagenarian who likes to travel and romance the ladies.
As the story opens, Gemma is visiting London, having left the Cape Cod bookstore in the care of her assistant Ashleigh and her Uncle Arthur. Gemma is scheduled to attend a weekend conference called 'Sherlock Holmes in the Modern World.'
There Gemma will give a talk about Sherlock Holmes pastiche and accept an award being given to Uncle Arthur for 'spreading the love of Sherlock Holmes.'
Accompanying Gemma on the trip are four American friends: Ryan Ashburton - Gemma's cop boyfriend; Jayne Wilson - Gemma's partner in 'Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room', next door to the bookstore; Grant Thompson - a dealer in rare books; and Donald Morris - a retired lawyer and Sherlock Holmes aficionado.
When Gemma and her cohorts arrive in London they check into the Bentley Hotel, then gather in the downstairs bar to meet Gemma's family for drinks.
Gemma's mother Anne is a barrister, her father Henry is a retired Scotland Yard detective, and her older sister Pippa claims to have "a minor clerical position with the Department for Transport".....but probably works for MI5.
After drinks, the group is strolling out of the bar when Henry is approached by his wife's black sheep brother, Randolph (Randy) Denhaugh. This is a shock since Randy hasn't been seen for decades, since the day he stole his parents valuable Constable painting when he was a young man.
Henry brushes Randy off, but the black sheep doesn't stay gone. Randy has a booth at the Sherlock Holmes conference, selling his original Sherlockian sketches. Gemma sees her uncle as she's perusing the vendors, and notes that he's loudly told off by two separate women.
Later, after Gemma has given her speech and accepted Uncle Arthur's award, Randy is found dead in a meeting room at the conference, with Gemma's dad Henry beside the body.
Henry has a large goose egg on his head and claims to remember nothing.
This is a problem since the detective assigned to the case, Inspector Sam Morrison, is a no-talent yutz who hates his former colleague.
Thus Henry is soon arrested for murder.
Gemma knows her dad is innocent and sets out to find the real killer. The amateur sleuth is assisted by her American friends and her sister Pippa - whose mysterious contacts are invaluable.
During her inquiries, Gemma learns that Randy was an art forger and exploitative friend who gave a bogus diamond ring to his 'fiancée' - so there are plenty of possible suspects for the crime.
As Gemma is investigating the murder with one or another of her friends, the others take the opportunity to go sightseeing at places like the Sherlock Holmes Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Black Museum, and so on.
The Sherlock Holmes Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum
The Black Museum
As one would expect of tourists in England, the visitors drink myriad cups of tea and eat things like steak and kidney pie; steak and ale pie; croissants with strawberry jam; and a full English breakfast.
Steak and Ale Pie
Croissants with Strawberry Jam
Full English Breakfast
The most amusing scenes in the book occur when Gemma calls her assistant Ashleigh to check on the bookstore. Gemma hears that the shop's resident cat, Moriarty, peed on Gemma's laptop and on the shoes of a visiting author.
Gemma also learns that Uncle Arthur's lady friend started a fire with her cigarette; and that elderly shoppers got into a brouhaha about Benedict Cumberbatch (who plays Sherlock Holmes on TV) and had to be thrown out.
This entertaining story has numerous allusions to the Sherlock Holmes canon, and would appeal to readers who like cozy mysteries and to fans of the legendary detective.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Vicki Delany) and the publisher (Crooked Lane Books) for a copy of the book.
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