This is the third book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series by Vicki Delany. I haven’t read the first two yet but am definitely planning to do that. I really enjoy this author’s Year Round Christmas series and this newer series is no exception. I think it’s excellent just by reading the one book which works totally fine as a stand alone for anyone like me who has not read the first two books yet.
My Goodreads review:
The Cat of the Baskervilles: A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery by Vicki Delany
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ohhh this was so good! I literally couldn’t put this book down. This was actually the first one of this series I’ve read so I was just curious enough to read it first. As with other books this author has written, this can stand perfectly on its own. The author gives enough backstory so that new readers aren’t lost but there aren’t any spoilers from other books’ mysteries.
Gemma Doyle is helping her friend Jayne cater a fancy tea for the local theater group that happens to have a famous old actor playing Sherlock Holmes. When the actor turns up dead later and all fingers point to Jayne’s mom Leslie, Gemma once again decides she has to do some private investigation in order to come to the truth. Her friend Grant who owns a rare book shop is around to help her at times all the while that Jayne is trying to make her see that police detective Ryan still likes her a lot even though his partner Louise isn’t very nice to Gemma. Gemma is convinced it’s because she (Gemma) and Ryan were close once and either Louise is jealous or she’s bitter that Ryan got lead detective instead of Louise getting it. Gemma is always worried Louise is trying to find a reason to get him demoted.
After some investigations, leads and the premier play night, everything is revealed at the end in true Sherlock style and the ending is a very nice one!
I’m so anxious now to read the other two books in this series since I have really gotten to know and like these characters. I hope this series continues for a long time. The idea of Gemma and Jayne owning a bookstore/tea room is such a fun one and now that Gemma is a little more in tune to how Ryan still feels about her. It’ll be interesting to see how that works out.
Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery 