In this 7th book in the 'Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries', bookstore manager/amateur sleuth Gemma Doyle investigates a death at a country manor. The book works fine as a standalone.
*****
British native Gemma Doyle now lives in the town of West London in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. There she co-owns and manages 'The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium' for her Uncle Arthur, a nonagenarian who likes to travel and indulge in his hobbies.
Gemma and her friend Jayne.....
.....co-own 'Mrs. Hudson's Tearoom', which adjoins the bookstore, and both establishments do a lively business - especially during tourist season.
As the story opens, Gemma, Jayne, and Gemma's boyfriend, police detective Ryan Ashburton......
......are on their way to West London's Suffolk Gardens House - a mansion built to look like an English country manor. The home is up for sale, but there are no buyers, and - in the meanwhile - the owner rents the property out for select events.
This week, a Sherlock Holmes enthusiast called David Masterson has rented Suffolk Gardens House for a Sherlock Holmes weekend.
The invited guests - who are supposed to dress in Sherlock-era (Victorian) clothing - will discuss the Sherlock Holmes canon, watch Sherlock Holmes films, play Sherlock Holmes-themed games, and so on.
The food will also mimic comestibles served at upper class British homes of the era, and Gemma and Jayne have been hired to provide meals for the house party. Moreover, Gemma is bringing Sherlock Holmes books, games, tchotchkes, etc. from her 'Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium.'
Gemma's boyfriend Ryan has agreed to act as an assistant to the ladies, and will help carry, clean, and cook. Moreover, David Masterson's have-not niece and nephew, Annie and Billy, have been conscripted to act as housekeeper and butler.
The plan is for the guests and employees, including Gemma, Jayne, and Ryan, to stay at Suffolk Gardens House for the entire event.
Once all the attendees arrive, Gemma senses unease in the atmosphere, and notes that some of the guests seem to know little or nothing about Sherlock Holmes. Moreover, a few visitors appear to actively dislike one another. Presently, the host David Masterson is killed in a highly unusual manner, and Ryan and his police partner Louise Estrada get the case.
Gemma - who can't resist sleuthing - is firmly told to keep her nose out of the inquiries, but she jumps in with both feet as usual.
Before long, the victim's wife Rebecca, who didn't attend the Sherlock Holmes weekend, arrives in high style, and it's clear that she's NOT in deep mourning for her dead husband.
In fact, the whole house party behaves oddly, electing to continue with their sumptious meals and movie screenings in spite of their host's death. (This particular plot point struck me as unlikely, especially Rebecca dressing up in a fancy gown and jewels right after her husband's murder.)
Gemma is a bold woman who brazenly questions the suspects, searches the grounds again and again, and eventually identifies the killer.....whose identify I didn't guess. 🙂
Though the house party meals are supposed to emulate Victorian banquets (which often consisted of twelve or more courses), Jayne's scaled down menu for the first dinner consists of carrot and ginger soup; salad; roast beef, roast potatoes, and root vegetables; Yorkshire pudding and gravy; and for dessert - chocolate cake topped with chocolate ganache and raspberries and lemon meringue pie. And a typical breakfast is red pepper frittata, bacon and grilled tomatoes, yogurt, granola, muffins, orange juice, coffee and tea.
Carrot and Ginger Soup
Roast Beef and Roast Potatoes
Yorkshire Pudding and Gravy
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache and Raspberries
Lemon Meringue Pie
Red Pepper Frittata
Bacon and Grilled Tomatoes
Assorted Muffins
Additional characters add interest to the story. These include: Ashleigh - Gemma's bookstore assistant, who has a different wardrobe theme for every day; Irene - the local journalist who's always looking for a story; Donald Morris - a retired lawyer and Sherlock Holmes aficionado; Gemma's dogs Peony and Violet; the haughty bookshop cat Moriarty; and more.
As the story unfolds, there's plenty of Sherlock Holmes chitchat among some of the guests, which - as a fan of the great detective - I enjoyed.
All in all, this is a light but enjoyable cozy mystery, recommended to fans of the genre.
Rating: 3 stars
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