A Scandal in Scarlet–review

This was the fourth in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mysteries by Vicki Delany and it’s definitely become one of my favorite newer series. I love how Gemma uses her sharp powers of observation to know things about people, to the point that some think she’s psychic. It was interesting that there was an older case that involved one of the murder victims that Gemma simply couldn’t let go. The case did get some closure.

I always enjoy these characters and am anxious to return to West London, Massachusetts when the next book comes out.

My Goodreads review:

A Scandal in Scarlet by Vicki Delany

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After a fire destroyed the Scarlet House that was part of the West London Museum, Gemma and Jayne agreed to hold a fundraiser tea in the teashop along with an auction featuring items donated from the town businesses and individual. When Gemma found Kathy, the museum board’s chairman dead in the storage room for the teashop, she agreed to look into things because the annoying business neighbor Maureen claimed she was being blamed for the crime. After another seemingly unrelated murder (yep, Gemma found that body too) Gemma continued to investigate with her trusty sidekick Jayne (sometimes alone though) and must have struck a nerve when she, or rather the cat Moriarty, scared off an intruder after she’d closed one night.

This case had me baffled for sure! I really had no idea who the killer was, but it wasn’t shocked when I found out who it was. The showdown and subsequent boat chase was pretty awesome and exciting. I liked how Gemma and her friends had a little wrap-up session at the very end of the book in the form of a summer picnic. Gemma and Ryan are in a very good place now, so I hope that continues because even Jayne noticed how happy Gemma had been. It was fun that Uncle Arthur was actually somewhat present in this book instead of being just a text. It reminds me of Charlie from Charlie’s Angels how he was never seen. Uncle Arthur was actually not seen in the book, but he was on land and back at his home at one point.

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