There's A Murder Afoot
A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery
-
-
4.4 • 33 Ratings
-
-
- $7.99
Publisher Description
Gemma and her friends travel to London for a Sherlock Holmes convention in the fifth installment in the bestselling Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mysteries
Will Gemma's father take the fall for a felonious forger's fatality during a visit to historic 221 Baker Street?
The 6th of January is Sherlock Holmes's birthday, and lucky for Gemma Doyle, January is also the slowest time of the year at both the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, and Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room. It's a good time for Gemma and her friends to travel to England for a Holmes Convention. For Gemma, the trip provides an opportunity to visit her parents, Jayne Wilson is excited about seeing all the sites London has to offer, and Ryan Ashburton just wants to spend some time with Gemma. But the trip is immediately derailed when Gemma's father Henry recognizes his brother-in-law Randolph Denhaugh, who disappeared more than 30 years ago on the night he stole a valuable painting from his own parents.
Henry, a retired detective with Scotland Yard, has been keeping tabs on the man's career as a forger of Old Masters and he warns Randy to stay away from his family. It's up to Gemma, with the help of her friends, to plunge into the "lowest and vilest alleys" of London to save her father from prison.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Delany's diverting fifth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery (after 2018's A Scandal in Scarlet), bookstore proprietor Gemma Doyle attends a Sherlock Holmes conference in London, where she bumps into her disreputable artist uncle, Randolph Denhaugh. Randolph, who stole a priceless family painting in his youth, claims to be producing sketches based on the Holmes canon and seems to be entangled in an art scam. His subsequent murder implicates Gemma's father, a former Scotland Yard officer who had an earlier confrontation with his brother-in-law and was found near the body with no memory of what occurred. Gemma, aided by such allies as her cop boyfriend, Ryan Ashburton, and her business partner, Jayne Wilson, delves into her uncle's shady activities in the guise of a wealthy American and discovers a slew of people with grudges against the dead man. The smart Gemma, the steadfast loyalty of her circle, and the intriguing art milieu keep the reader turning the pages. Cozy fans who are Sherlockians will have fun.
Customer Reviews
Delightful cozy mystery!
There’s a Murder Afoot by Vicki Delany may be the fifth installment in A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery, but it can be read on its own. The author includes the necessary background a new reader needs. This is my favorite book in the series. I found it to be well-written and it moved along at a steady clip. I enjoyed the author’s descriptions of London, the conference and especially the beautiful costumes worn by some of the attendees including Donald. Donald was in seventh heaven with all the Sherlock Holmes people he could talk to and the various places for him to visit including the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Gemma is enjoying spending time with her parent’s and being back in London. She just did not count on getting involved in a murder investigation (she really should have anticipated this turn of events). I like the humor injected into the story. The lengths they went to keep her friends occupied while she is out investigating and then there were Arthur’s antics at the bookstore. Gemma should have known things would not go smoothly with Arthur. The mystery was thought out with several suspects and good clues. I found it interesting and enjoyed following the investigation. The police in Scotland Yard did not appreciate Gemma’s interference any more than those back home in West London, Massachusetts. But Gemma had Pippa on her side. Pippa’s may say she is a clerk, but her job is complex, mysterious and suits her intellect (would have suited Gemma as well). I like how the mystery played out and the resolution. I like Gemma’s attention to detail and how it plays into the solving of the mystery. While I was not surprised by the guilty party (or who was murdered), I was entertained which is the purpose of this delightful tale. I look forward to the next A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. My one wish is for West London to get a different detective who appreciates Gemma’s insights. There’s a Murder Afoot is a diverting cozy mystery with a black sheep sibling, a discriminatory detective, surplus of Sherlock, a vexing uncle, a sister’s secretive situation, and a parent’s puzzling predicament.
Avid Reader
Gemma and her friends went to London to attend the Sherlock Holmes in the Modern World conference. For Gemma it was going home. While there she meets an Uncle she never knew. He’s an unsavory person who her father is arrested for killing. You follow Gemma as she tries to figure out who the real killer is. A great book as you follow her, and her friends all over London. Some of them are really into Sherlock Holmes, and looks into everything that deals with him. You can see London by the description of the places they visit. A really great story. Highly recommended.
Excellent reading
I truly do enjoy reading this series. Thank you for the flair that you put into writing about Gemma, Jayne, her dog Violet, that funny and precocious cat Moriorty; along with all of the other cast members. I’m looking forward to the next book. Marci Clark