The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime - A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery by Vicki Delany
Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.
The Incident of the Book at Night
A Sherlock
Holmes Bookshop MysteryVicki Delany
Crooked
Lane Books
Book 10 of the Sherlock Homes Bookshop Mystery has Gemma and friends away from the bookshop and back across the pond for sister Pippa's nuptials. Pippa being Gemma's rather secretive and very business-like older sister who supposedly works for the Ministry or Department for Transport...sure she does. Turns out that Pippa isn't the only one with a secret, no one knew that Gemma had been previously married (GASP). The last person Gemma expected to run into at her sister’s reception was Paul Erikson, the ex-husband. The last thing Gemma expected to do while in London was to find Paul dead in the bookstore she once co-owned with him.
Trafalgar Fine Books, the bookstore that Gemma and Paul owned together is anything but fine, and has become a shop for selling used books. So, is this how Paul found a book that was “the real deal?” That is such an enigmatic statement and sure to create curiosity. Gemma is a curious person regardless of the situation but this one does hit a little close to home. She had loved the charmer once upon a time. Paul wasn’t a bad guy, just not the right guy, so the least that Gemma can do is ask a few innocent questions. Chances are that the local authorities are busy and the information she obtains could be useful even if unwanted. Even Gemma’s boyfriend, police officer Ryan Ashburton, admits that Gemma has a talent for getting people to open up to her. The game is afoot and with Jayne Wilson, the co-owner of the Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room, as a trusted friend and sleuthing companion. In addition there is also the umbrella wielding Sherlockian, Donald Morris, to add a little muscle on clue seeking outings. Such outings take them from London to Yorkshire, from the old bookstore to tea at the Wolseley.
Gemma has her work cut out for her since she isn’t a local any
longer and hasn’t seen Paul in seven years. Suspects are varied and scarce
which is both good for the plot but bad for the sleuth. It is most excellent
for the reader because you are drawn into the story wondering where the next
clue is going to lead Gemma. Speaking of Gemma, she is unlike any other cozy
sleuth that I have come across. She has a very logical side much like the great
detective. She seems to be the one person (besides Sherlock Holmes) who sees
all and deducts everything, so how is it that she didn’t see what a schmuck her
two-timing husband was? On the other hand, while she is still quite British
with her emotions, she has warmed up a bit since the series starter and her wit
is highly entertaining. This is a very good cozy that was a quick read and does
well as a stand-alone, much like Ms. Delany’s Tea by the Sea series. If I am
not mistaken, gardener Simon from Tea by the Sea made a cameo appearance at
Garfield Hall.
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