It’s up to Gemma and Jayne to root out the killer in national bestselling author Vicki Delany’s sixth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery when the winner of a garden tour trophy is left pushing up daisies.“I am not a Consulting Detective,” Gemma Doyle reluctantly tells 10-year-old Lauren Tierney, when the little girl comes to the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium to beg Gemma to find her missing … Gemma to find her missing cat, Snowball. Gemma might not be able to follow the clues to find the cat, but her dog Violet follows her nose to locate the missing kitten in a neighbor’s garden shed. Gemma and Violet proudly return Snowball to her grateful owner, and Gemma basks in praise for a job well done. But a few days later Lauren is back with ten dollars in hand, wanting to once again hire a consulting detective, and this time for a far bigger job: Her mother has been accused of murdering her garden club rival.
Sheila Tierney’s garden, which everyone said was the one to beat for the West London Garden Club trophy, had been vandalized the night before the club’s early summer tour. Sheila confronted her former friend and gardening partner Anna Wentworth in a towering rage, and the women nearly came to blows. Later that night, after having won the trophy for best garden, Anna is found murdered and Sheila Tierney is the police’s prime suspect.
Despite herself, and despite the disapproval of her police detective boyfriend Ryan Ashburton, the game is once again afoot, and Gemma finds herself and Jayne Wilson using their powers of deduction to ponder yet another curious incident.
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A Curious Incident is the sixth book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series written by Vicki Delany and set to be published in January 2021. I’ve read all the previous books and when the latest became available on NetGalley, I scooped it up. I always enjoy Delany’s cozy mysteries and really like being able to stay current with a few of her series. This one is no exception.
In A Curious Incident, Gemma and Jayne kick off the book with a missing persons… ummm… missing cat case. Poor pre-teen Lauren has lost her kitten, the only thing in her life that seems to love her very much at all. Lauren’s mother is a mess. Her father might be having an affair and is never home. Gemma refuses to get involved, as the police will arrest her if she ever does try to solve a case again. If you haven’t read the series, just know she seems to thrust herself into every murder investigation around town — not always intentionally. This is no exception! Gemma finds the cat, and then the next day, Lauren is back again. “I need your help. My mom might’ve killed someone.” And the new mystery begins!
Oh, what fun! Lauren is a great addition, and I had a curious notion that Gemma might need to adopt her. I won’t give away any spoilers, but I will say her mother is a prime suspect in the death of a former friend / now enemy who might be the woman breaking up her marriage. There are also a few other garden club members, including an elderly neighbor who takes care of Gemma’s garden. My vote was the hunky gardener in the beginning… then I decided on someone else. I won’t spoil the surprise, but it has a wonderful side story and keeps you guessing til the end. Speaking of which… what a surprise we got at the end too! I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book.
I do like this series a lot. Characters are very strongly written. Gemma is direct, and her arguments with the police are always amusing. I think she gets away with it because she’s British, and her tone is often misunderstood. That said it might also be due to the fact that she’s dating Ryan, a detective on the force in this small Massachusetts town. My only moment or two in this book where I struggled was in Ryan and Gemma’s relationship. In the past, even with their banter, there was a spark between them. This time, I thought Ryan treated Gemma poorly. He didn’t return her “I love you” and he often rushed around her while investigating. I wonder if a triangle might open in in the next book… I like him, but he wasn’t as strong as usual, in this latest book.
Nonetheless, I highly recommend this series. The mysteries are always well written and curious… a solid word for the book’s title. Easy 4.5 stars and a bunch of sadness because I’ll have to wait a year for the next one. Good thing I know the Christmas book in another of her series will be out soon too!
A Curious Incident is the 6th Book in the series A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery where Gemma Doyle helps a 10-year-old Lauren Tierney find her cat snowball. Well, really Violet, Gemma’s dog found her! Gemma part owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. But that’s not the only the mystery that Gemma get involved in. Shelia, Lauren’s mother is accused of murdering Anna, Shelia garden club and Lauren is back to see Gemma with ten dollars in hand, wanting to hire, Gemma. Gemma and Jayne are again getting involved despite the disapproval of Gemma’s boyfriend, Ryan her police detective boyfriend.
Vicki Delany wrote a wonderful story and I really enjoyed this book! Can’t wait for the next one. Thank you to NetGallery for give me an advanced copy to read!
This series ranks in my top 10 favorites and this newest book didn’t disappoint. I’d be hard pressed to find anything about the book I didn’t enjoy. I don’t think you can go wrong with this well developed cast of characters and the well written storyline. Who doesn’t love a Sherlock themed bookstore and tea shop?! I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I’m voluntarily providing an honest review.
Gemma Doyle may be the last person in West London to discover she is, indeed, a consulting detective. When she accidentally finds Lauren Tierney’s missing cat, Lauren immediately tries to engage her services when her mother’s nemesis from the Garden Club, Anna Wentworth, is found dead. Lauren’s family may not seem like they are worth saving on the surface, but if Shelia didn’t commit the crime, Gemma will be the one to figure it out. I really enjoy the main setting of the bookstore and adjoining Mrs. Hudson’s tearoom.
at book! Gemma is asked by a young girl, Lauren, to help prove her mother’s innocence after she is accused of murdering a fellow Garden Club member and former friend. I really enjoyed this book and getting to see another side of Gemma when she takes in Lauren while her parents are not at home. Gemma can still come off as a know-it-all and be somewhat annoying at times, but I find that she is starting to grow on me and I love her curious nature and how she looks out for her friends. I look forward to reading more books in this series and seeing what’s next for Gemma and Ryan and Jayne and Andy!
Read 12.23.2020
This was a very good read. It would have been a five star read for me if not for a couple little things. I tend to forget how much I like Gemma and Jayne together and it was fun to be a part of their world again. I liked the story and how Gemma isn’t directly involved in the mystery [to begin with and to be fair, she WAS hired. 😉 ]. I love the addition of several new animals, an adorable 11-year old [who desperately needs Gemma as much as Gemma needs her, whether she realizes it or not] and some lovely time spent with Mrs. Ramsbatten [who is a FANTASTIC character and one we need to see much more of]. The mystery itself was good and I learned stuff about plants and flowers that I didn’t know [I am much like Gemma and can kill a plant by just looking at it]. And the reveal was very good and unexpected in the way it plays out. So, all-in-all, a really good read. So why not 5 stars right?
1. I knew who the killer was very early. V E R Y early.
2. Ryan. He was very problematic for me in this book. He was flat and one-dimensional [thanks Joy for that description – it works so well here] and V E R Y inconsistent. Any time he is in the story, the story just kind of goes flat and uninteresting. He is a good character and deserves more than what he was given in this book. It was rather disappointing.
3. Louise Estrada. Look, I get that she and Gemma are never going to be friends and that Louise is always going to be caustic and I don’t think it is a stretch to say, obnoxious. But she is unacceptable snotty and mean in this book. Gemma goes out of her way to not antagonize her [even compliments her at one point] and Louise responds every time in a mean and obnoxious way. It would have have been a stretch to have her be somewhat kind. It was very off-putting and just made me dislike her even more than I typically do.
All that said, it was still a very good read and I enjoyed it very much. This is absolutely one of my all-time favorite series [thanks again to Joy for shoving this at me…I mean asking me to read/start this series with her; it has been a very good one!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Vicki Delany and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is an enjoyable and clever cozy mystery! Gemma Doyle owns the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, and though she says that she is not a consulting detective, it seems that mysteries have a way of finding her. It began with the mystery of a lost cat, and ended with a murder. Try as she might, she could not stop her involvement in this one, much to the dismay of the detectives on the case. Although one particular detective will forgive her involvement since they are romantically involved…
All in all, this was a very enjoyable book. It is a great summer or beach read, since it takes place during the summer on Cape Cod. It is well written with a well-thought-out plot line that has many moving parts that work seamlessly together. Even though this is the sixth book in the series, I did not feel lost. It was a good stand-alone novel. There are many Sherlockian references, but don’t worry, you do not need to be a fan of Sherlock Holmes to enjoy this one. I love a strong female lead character, and any story that features pets, so this book did not disappoint. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good cozy.
A Curious Incident
A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery
by Vicki Delany
Summary-A Curious Incident
Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookstore and Emporium, has a problem. A little girl in the shop wants to hire Gemma to find her missing cat, Snowball. Lauren Tierney is even willing to pay Gemma to search for the missing feline, Gemma turns down the job because she won’t make a promise she can’t keep. On a walk with her dog Violet, Gemma finds Snowball and Lauren is happily reunited with her cat.
A week later Lauren returns to hire Gemma again; this time Lauren wants Gemma to clear Lauren’s mother Sheila of a murder charge. Sheila is accused of murdering Anna Wentworth. Both women belonged to the West London Garden Club. Sheila accused Anna of having an affair with Sheila’s husband, David. Sheila also accused Anna of destroying Sheila’s garden, ruining her chance of winning the coveted best garden trophy. Shelia made the accusations in front of garden tour members and the two women ended up in a physical altercation and had to be pulled apart. Now Anna is dead, and Sheila is the prime suspect in the murder.
Gemma promises her boyfriend Detective Ryan Ashburton she won’t get involved and will tell Lauren to let the police handle the case. But Gemma’s curiosity won’t be ignored and so she sets out to see what she can discover and do the job Lauren hired her to do.
Recommendation(s)
The Sherlock Holmes references throughout the book make it a fun read. Delany’s writing makes the case a difficult one to solve. Recommended.
Author information/links
Vicki Delany
Publishing information
Published by Crooked Lane Books
Jan 12, 2021 | 304 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4| ISBN 9781643854748
#ACuriousIncident #Netgalley
I love getting lost in a murder mystery with Gemma Doyle. And all things Sherlock Holmes just adds to the appeal. Even though this is the sixth book in the series, it would work as a stand-alone book. Gemma is surrounded by wonderful friends, especially Jayne. There are lots of twists and turns and the story will keep you guessing up until the very end. The author has done a fabulous job of developing the characters over the series and you feel like you know them personally…even Moriarty, the cat! I can’t wait to see what mystery Gemma will find herself immersed in as the author continues to entertain us with her gift of writing and spot-on intrigue.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
I don’t find Gemma the warmest of characters and her engagement with other characters tends to settle this cozy series lower on my cozy list. If I chose to be charitable (I thing Gemma’s actions could be looked at differently) Gemma’s helping out a pre-teen shows a softer side and the very ending of the book ties up one dangling string warmly. She even has a better scene or two with Donald, still a bit judgey, but more accepting.
Gemma’s investigation is good and some interesting things occur. The ultimate reason she comes up as the solution is really dubious though. There was no tangible proof and the guilty characters blabs to the cops when a half way decent lawyer would have seen it never go to court.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
A Curious Incident is the sixth book in Vicki Delany’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. Having heard people talking about how bookshop owner Gemma Doyle was so good as solving mysteries, 11 year old Lauren Tierney approaches Gemma asking her to find her lost kitten. Although Gemma tells the girl she is not a consulting detective, she inadvertently, with the help of her spaniel Violet, finds and returns the kitten to the child.
A few days later a teary eyed Lauren approaches Gemma once again. She wants Gemma to solve the mystery of who destroyed her mother’s award winning garden, and, ultimately, to clear her mother of the murder of the woman her mom had publicly accused of doing so.
In Gemma’s usual style of observation and listening, she collects a variety of clues, some complementary and some conflicting, as she puts together a solid case to solve the crimes. With the regular reminders to not interfere in police business from her boyfriend, Detective Lieutenant Ryan Ashburton, and the often contentious encounters with his second, Detective Louise Estrada, it is still Ryan she turns to share the information she collects.
In another twisty-turny well developed plot, Ms. Delany again presents her readers with a fast paced mystery that keeps you guessing until the last clue falls. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!
A Curious Incident by Vicki Delany is the 6th A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series or if you have missed a book or two. I thought A Curious Incident was well-written with developed characters and steady pacing. Gemma Doyle is a unique protagonist. Gemma is an Englishwoman who lives in West London, Massachusetts where she manages the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, which she co-owns with her uncle Arthur. Gemma has a keen eye for detail. She notices things and makes connections that others miss. I enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes references in the story as well. West London is a charming small town filled with quaint shops. There is a cast of residents that suit a small town (gossipy woman who compete against each other). Lauren was a great addition to the story. She is such a sweetie. I enjoyed the interactions between Lauren and Gemma. I also love Gemma’s sweet neighbor, Mrs. Ramsbatten. She has such an interesting past. The whodunit had several suspects, a red herring, and good clues. There was one aspect of the case that I found unique. I enjoyed following Gemma as she questioned people and discovered clues. It is fascinating how her mind works. The one thing I am not a fan of is the relationship between Ryan and Gemma. I do not feel any sparks between them in this book and I did not like how Ryan treated Gemma. I am hoping someone new will come to town who will be a better match for Gemma. A Curious Incident was a delight to read. I am eager for the next book in this engaging series. A Curious Incident is an entertaining cozy mystery with a missing moggy, a troubled tween, a clever canine, a disgruntled detective, a grouchy gardener, and a snoopy shop owner.
Gemma Doyle is emphatic that she isn’t going to get involved in another case. Really, no, not going to happen. Well she hadn’t anticipated an eleven year old girl asking for her help finding her lost kitten, Snowball. She says no… sort of, like not making any promises. In reality Gemma can say she wasn’t
in any way investigating. Blame it on her dog, Violet who kept telling her in her doggie way, exactly where the kitten was hiding. Of course returning the kitten isn’t the end of things and she crosses paths with the little girls not very nice mother. Now things get serious. Next thing Gemma knows she is being asked by Lauren, $10 in hand (as a retainer) to help keep her mother out of jail on a charge of murder. Gemma is now on the case.
As Gemma says, she has a black thumb when it comes to plants and gardening is of no interest to her, either. Sheila had her heart set on winning the best garden award this year but her prize garden is ruthlessly trashed overnight and she is certain she knows who did it. After a face to face screaming match with the woman, all attention turns to Sheila when the woman is found dead in a nearby park while walking her dog. If Sheila is innocent, who hated Anna enough to resort to murder?
I think this is my favorite of the series, so far. Gemma is more likable this time and I like the softer side of Gemma as seen by her interaction with Lauren. She’s protective of the child. As for the mystery itself, as usual it is very well plotted, flows smoothly and joins the list of books that kept me reading past my bedtime. It also made for a great de-stressor during these trying times.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
I love this series – honest and true, it’s fab! A Curious Incident, Vicki Delany’s 6th Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery, finds bookshop owner Gemma Doyle once again up to her eyeballs in murder (through no fault of her own, it just seems to find her!!!), and when an 11 year-old girl first asks her to find her missing kitten, then clear her mother of murder, Gemma is hard-pressed to say no. As usual, Ms. Delany’s writing is very fast-paced and enjoyable, and I was absorbed in the mystery right up to the end! A+++
3.5 Stars
From missing kittens to trashed gardens. having the garden club up in roits to rivalry and murder, Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, finds herself knee deep in yet another curious mystery that she tries really hard not to be involved in. She really does try to stay out of it.
I really enjoyed Gemma. She is a fun take on Sherlock Holmes. I loved her use of logic, her straightforward manor and her ability to put it all together. Gathering all the informal and extracting the facts then coming to the correct conclusion. Gemma’s got a gift for sure even if she is blunt and abrupt at times. Lauren is a fun addition to the cast of characters. She adds a lot of humor and fun to the story. Her curiosity is something to smile at while dealing with a very serious situation. She is all over the place, but that is a pre-teen for you.
A Curious Incident is a curious mystery indeed. A fun Sherlock Holmes themed cozy mystery with an enjoyable cast of characters. Well plotted and well developed, being my first read of the series I didn’t feel as if I was missing a thing. Vicki Delany gets the reader engaged with fun characters and well timed Holmes antidotes. I love how the book and tea shops go hand in hand together. The mystery and plot are solid, however this is a fully character driven book. There’s a lot going on but it all curiously fits together making an entertaining story.
If you like Sherlock Holmes, gardens, animals, book stores and great friendships or any combination, I think you will enjoy this book. Gemma and Jayne are wonderful best friends and have a combined business that includes food and books. Can it get any better than that? Throw in a good mystery and you have yourself some great entertainment. I enjoyed both the story line and the characters, two legged and 4 legged. I hope we get to see more of Lauren. She was a joy to get to know. I cant’s wait to visit with these folks again and see what they are up to next time. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
Gemma Doyle owns a Sherlock Holmes themed bookshop, she often stumbles across the crimes of the town of West London on Cape Cod causing discontent among the police force.
In this sixth installment of A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series Gemma decides to help a young girl, Lauren, to clear her mother of murder charges.
The dead body of Anna, a great and well known gardener is found in the darkest part of the park. Without any witness and any evidences the detectives look in the victim’s life and they find out that Anna has fought with a fellow gardener the morning of the murder so all suspicion falls on Sheila. Has Sheila really murdered her ex best friend? Will Gemma succeed to solve this intricate case?
A Curious Incident was an enjoyable novel with a good mystery.
I liked the setting and the plot and the characters. Gemma is a nice, witty character that made me smile throughout the book and the side characters also add depth to the story.
The only thing I couldn’t make up an opinion over is Gemma’s love relationship with the detective Ryan Ashburton but I’m curious enough to know more about them to keep reading this series, cheering for their happily ever after.
Don’t worry if you haven’t read the previous books in the series you can easily follow the story because a new mystery is solved at the end of every book.
A Curious Incident by Vicki Delany is the newest Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery where Gemma, a bookshop owner, is not a consulting detective, or so she tries to tell little Lauren when Lauren comes to her about her missing cat. She is not able to reinforce this statement with Lauren when she accidentally locates the kitten with the help of her friend and dog, Violet, the cocker spaniel owned by her great uncle Arthur but cared for by Gemma. So a couple of days later Lauren arrives again with another simple request: keep her mother from being arrested. Gemma repeats that she is not a detective and urges Lauren to trust the police but indeed Gemma keeps getting drawn into the mystery of who killed Anna Wentworth. It got very convoluted, very quickly with quite a few suspects, including Gemma’s little eighty- year-old neighbor, Mrs. Ramsbatten, although only momentarily. The more often Gemma repeated she was not a consulting detective, the more fate drew her into the whole mess, which appeared to be about who had the better garden. Anna won the competition but only because Sheila’s garden had been destroyed the night before, removing her from the competition. Anna was killed while walking her dog, after Sheila had made threats.
This is such a fun series with Gemma and her great uncle Arthur owning and Gemma running the Sherlock Homes Bookshop and Emporium and her best friend, Jayne, running Mrs. Hudson’s Tearoom right next door. That made Jayne her Watson all too often. The garden club had not really been on Gemma’s radar until this incident. She did not have a green thumb. Her garden was cared for by Mrs. Ramsbotten and several of her friends, as a favor to Arthur. This is a fun bunch of people with interesting lives and loves. It was a good plot and an interesting story, as always. I like this series and recommend this book.
I was invited to read a free ARC of A Curious Incident by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #acuriousincident
Sixth in its exciting series, A Curious Incident shows Gemma Doyle at her very best at “not investigating” a recent murder Cape Cod’s in West London. I enjoyed this novel even more than the earlier ones in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. There are several reasons for this, including the eleven-year-old girl who wants to hire her as a consulting detective, and a vulnerability that isn’t part of Gemma’s usual pragmatic persona. The characters are drawn with excellence as demonstrated through their conversations and behaviors, and rich descriptions invite one into each scene. The mystery was fascinating. While I had an idea whodunit, there were a couple very appealing red herrings that distracted me.
The summer tourist season is in full swing, and business is booming at the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, owned by Gemma and her great-uncle Arthur. Tour buses arrive throughout the day, and business hours are extended. Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room, adjoining the Emporium, is equally busy with tourists and locals alike. Jayne, Gemma’s best friend, is a partner in Mrs. Hudson’s with Gemma and Arthur; her baked goods and tea service are popular year-round.
Sheila and her daughter Lauren are regular customers at Mrs. Hudson’s. Lauren heard from her aunt Irene that Gemma has solved mysteries that police were unable to. Lauren is desperate, wanting Gemma to find her kitten, Snowball, missing for two days. Not a fan of cats and trying to keep her fragile relationship with the love of her life, Ryan, stable, Gemma is not doing any investigating. Even for cats. It is totally by accident that she finds Snowball and takes the fluffy feline to her ecstatic owner.
Fast forward a week. It is the day after the West London Garden Club’s annual summer garden tour. On the morning of the tour, Sheila found that her amazing garden had been vandalized, decimated, during the night. Furious, she was believed her former friend and competitor, Anna, had done the deed and accosted her publicly. Anna won the trophy later that day for the best garden. That night, when Anna was walking her dog, she was killed in a nearby park from a blow to the head.
Lauren returned to the Emporium to hire Gemma to find whodunit, as her mother Sheila is the main suspect after her confrontation with Anna. Gemma doesn’t want to investigate and tries to stay out of it but sees how heartbroken Lauren is. Gemma begins to hear rumors, and when Sheila disappears, leaving Lauren alone, wants to help her young houseguest. When an attack intended against Gemma harms someone she loves, the gloves come off.
What a fabulous novel! There are many good things, including wonderful changes for Jayne. Gemma is at the top of her game, sifting through conversations and clues. I did have a pet suspect, but was uncertain of the motive, so I continued to consider a couple other people. Several secrets came out, some of which showed much stronger motives for Sheila. I enjoy Gemma more now than ever as we see more of her heart for others as well as her brilliance at solving mysteries. I was very satisfied with the overall outcome and look forward to more from Gemma and Jayne. I highly recommend this to fans of the author and series, well-written cozy mysteries, Sherlock Holmes, and observant female sleuths.
From a thankful heart: I received an e-arc of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Gemma who runs the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium and her friend Jayne are on the case. Young Lauren Tierney looks up to Gemma and wants her to prove her mother’s innocence in the murder of a famous garden expert.
The characters are fun. Gemma is like Sherlock in that she is very observant and quick to make connections. Jayne is her sidekick. I enjoy stories that are fun and a nice escape and this fits the bill. The characters are entertaining and easy to like. The way the story flows is easy-to-read and enjoyable.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and offer my honest opinion.