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Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery #8
The Game Is a Footnote
Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson are back on the case when a body is discovered in a haunted museum in bestselling author Vicki Delany's eighth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.
Scarlet House, now a historical re-enactment museum, is the oldest building in West London, Massachusetts. When things start moving around on their own, board members suggest that Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, might be able to get to the bottom of it. Gemma doesn’t believe in ghosts, but she agrees to ‘eliminate the impossible’. But when Gemma and Jayne stumble across a dead body on the property, they’re forced to consider an all too physical threat.
Gemma and Jayne suspect foul play as they start to uncover more secrets about the museum. With the museum being a revolving door for potential killers, they have plenty of options for who might be the actual culprit.
Despite Gemma's determination not to get further involved, it would appear that once again, and much to the displeasure of Detective Ryan Ashburton, the game is afoot.
Will Gemma and Jayne be able to solve the mystery behind the haunted museum, or will they be the next to haunt it?
Scarlet House, now a historical re-enactment museum, is the oldest building in West London, Massachusetts. When things start moving around on their own, board members suggest that Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, might be able to get to the bottom of it. Gemma doesn’t believe in ghosts, but she agrees to ‘eliminate the impossible’. But when Gemma and Jayne stumble across a dead body on the property, they’re forced to consider an all too physical threat.
Gemma and Jayne suspect foul play as they start to uncover more secrets about the museum. With the museum being a revolving door for potential killers, they have plenty of options for who might be the actual culprit.
Despite Gemma's determination not to get further involved, it would appear that once again, and much to the displeasure of Detective Ryan Ashburton, the game is afoot.
Will Gemma and Jayne be able to solve the mystery behind the haunted museum, or will they be the next to haunt it?
Audio CD
First published January 10, 2023
148 people are currently reading
1070 people want to read
About the author
Vicki Delany
57 books1,880 followers“It’s a crime not to read Delany,” so says the London Free Press.
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 359 reviews
December 4, 2024
I picked up the first book in this series on a whim and, enjoying it, continued on. This has been my go-to, cozy fall-asleep-to-it audiobook series over the past few months, and it served that niche in my reading life very well. Most of the books are nothing special, but the mysteries, setting, and characters have kept me engaged enough not to drop it entirely. I’ve had issues with the excessive amount of fatphobia in this series, which simply does not need to be included, but had felt relief that those moments were fewer and further between in this installment.
And then I reached the part of the book where Gemma once again proves that she probably shouldn’t be in charge of a cat’s well-being. It would be one thing if the poisoning had literally anything to do with any of the multiple mystery plot lines in this book, but Moriarty almost dying was literally just a complete lack of care on Gemma’s part. Most people with animals know that lilies are incredibly poisonous and dangerous to have around cats and dogs. Even if she doesn’t care about her cat (which has been largely established at this point, but at least she provided for his basic needs), you’d think she’d care enough about her dogs to, at some point, have researched what plants to avoid. But no, her friend gifts her a bouquet of lilies, which she put on display in her shop where her cat roams freely, watches her cat eating the plant and makes a comment to her shop assistant about it - even wondering aloud if it might be dangerous and if cats can eat plants safely!!!! - but then does zero research, doesn’t think about it again, and does nothing until she finds her cat vomiting and in distress and brings him to the emergency vet. At no point does she seem particularly upset, nor does she ever consider that it might have been her fault, and pledge to be a more careful, proactive, and responsible caregiver for the cat. Her great-uncle also barely cares when he hears the news, so that’s lovely.
I realize this series has murder in every book, but animal cruelty and neglect are where I have to draw the line. In what way is this a cozy, relaxing mystery where the main character has zero concern for her animal’s well-being? The fact that she has pets is clearly a way to humanize a character who is otherwise quite cold and unfeeling, and then this happens? At least when someone is murdered, it’s treated like it’s a bad thing, and the perpetrator is punished. 
It was truly gross of the author to include this and handle it so flippantly. It was completely irrelevant to the plot yet entirely eliminated any fondness I had for the protagonist. And it’s a double shame because this was one of the most engaging books in the series, with great intertwining mysteries. Does the author just hate cats or something? I don’t know, and I don’t care to read on in the series at the risk of more blatant neglect and cruelty.
Trigger/Content Warnings: death, animal cruelty/neglect, pet medical emergency, fatphobia
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And then I reached the part of the book where Gemma once again proves that she probably shouldn’t be in charge of a cat’s well-being. It would be one thing if the poisoning had literally anything to do with any of the multiple mystery plot lines in this book, but Moriarty almost dying was literally just a complete lack of care on Gemma’s part. Most people with animals know that lilies are incredibly poisonous and dangerous to have around cats and dogs. Even if she doesn’t care about her cat (which has been largely established at this point, but at least she provided for his basic needs), you’d think she’d care enough about her dogs to, at some point, have researched what plants to avoid. But no, her friend gifts her a bouquet of lilies, which she put on display in her shop where her cat roams freely, watches her cat eating the plant and makes a comment to her shop assistant about it - even wondering aloud if it might be dangerous and if cats can eat plants safely!!!! - but then does zero research, doesn’t think about it again, and does nothing until she finds her cat vomiting and in distress and brings him to the emergency vet. At no point does she seem particularly upset, nor does she ever consider that it might have been her fault, and pledge to be a more careful, proactive, and responsible caregiver for the cat. Her great-uncle also barely cares when he hears the news, so that’s lovely.
I realize this series has murder in every book, but animal cruelty and neglect are where I have to draw the line. In what way is this a cozy, relaxing mystery where the main character has zero concern for her animal’s well-being? The fact that she has pets is clearly a way to humanize a character who is otherwise quite cold and unfeeling, and then this happens? At least when someone is murdered, it’s treated like it’s a bad thing, and the perpetrator is punished. 
It was truly gross of the author to include this and handle it so flippantly. It was completely irrelevant to the plot yet entirely eliminated any fondness I had for the protagonist. And it’s a double shame because this was one of the most engaging books in the series, with great intertwining mysteries. Does the author just hate cats or something? I don’t know, and I don’t care to read on in the series at the risk of more blatant neglect and cruelty.
Trigger/Content Warnings: death, animal cruelty/neglect, pet medical emergency, fatphobia
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December 11, 2022
I am really enjoying this series now that I am getting to know the characters. I must find time to go back and read the ones I have missed.
In The Game Is a Footnote Gemma investigates a haunting, finds a dead body, annoys her boyfriend, receives an unexpected visit from her sister and solves the case. I loved the sister, Pippa, who obviously equates with Sherlock's brother, Mycroft. In fact I love all the ways the author relates her text to the stories of Sherlock Holmes.
The story is excellent, the mystery is involved, there are many bookish references and numerous animals, not all of them friendly. In fact I enjoyed it all so much I am going to give it five stars!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
In The Game Is a Footnote Gemma investigates a haunting, finds a dead body, annoys her boyfriend, receives an unexpected visit from her sister and solves the case. I loved the sister, Pippa, who obviously equates with Sherlock's brother, Mycroft. In fact I love all the ways the author relates her text to the stories of Sherlock Holmes.
The story is excellent, the mystery is involved, there are many bookish references and numerous animals, not all of them friendly. In fact I enjoyed it all so much I am going to give it five stars!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 7, 2022
The Game is a Footnote is the 8th book in Vicki Delany's Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries, a cozy amateur sleuth series set in Massachusetts where an English woman, Gemma, runs a bookshop and tea store with a good American friend, Jayne, and they find themselves embroiled in local homicides. In this installment, Jayne's mother signs Gemma up for an overnight stay at a local historical site where a suspected ghost is causing havoc. Gemma doesn't believe that's true but agrees to disprove the theory... except when she stays over, it appears like a ghost has settled in for a long stay. While peeling layers of the expertly crafted onion, Gemma finds connections to the home's past, a family whose line died out (or did it?) over sixty years ago, and a prominent historical figure. Then one of the people from the historical site turns up dead, and it's unclear whether murder or an accident happened. Plus, Pippa, Gemma's sister, shows up from Great Britain to catch up on some family time... love the dynamic between those two. I enjoyed this story tremendously. While there were several possible suspects for a new death that occurs shortly after the ghost appears, it's clear the true motives are hidden in the past, and the real story takes a long time to rise to the surface. When it does, it's a doozy and kept me highly intrigued. Kudos to Delany for penning another fantastic tale.
June 25, 2023
Unlike most cozy mystery series, I do think the one would be best read in order as I felt like I was missing the depth to the characters with not having read the previous books. That being said, I did still greatly enjoy this one and I would love to shop in the Emporium someday. I thought the characters were fine and the mystery was pretty interesting. I didn’t think the twists were super twisty, but they were interesting and once I got about a third of the way in and it really got going I found that this one went very fast. Gemma Doyle is asked by the historical society to investigate Scarlett House, a historic monument and museum with people acting in period because rumors are starting that the house is haunted. Gemma doesn’t believe it’s haunted but he agrees to investigate and try to figure out what is happening. Of course a dead body shows up on her investigative path and she’ll learn some secrets are dangerous to uncover.
February 4, 2023
After finishing a rather harrowing mystery this morning, I felt the need to read something lighter, fluffier, cozier. This book filled the bill. By this point, book 8, the reader will be pretty familiar with Gemma Doyle. We also know her boyfriend Ryan, her BFF Jayne, her employee Ashleigh, and various other members of the supporting cast. We know Gemma's methods and so do her neighbours. So when mysterious (possibly ghostly) things start to happen in a historic building, who do you call? There aren't any ghost busters in West London, so Gemma's presence is requested. Gemma doesn't believe in ghosts, so she starts a skeptical investigation. And things not only continue to happen, someone is killed, escalating the matter.
Now don't get me wrong, Gemma is still a know-it-all, but she isn't as obnoxious about it anymore. She seems to realize that her friends and relatives don't care for being talked down to or told what they ought to be doing. It helps that Jayne has found a guy that Gemma approves of, so there's no need to try to steer her straight. Gemma is actually committed to helping with their wedding planning. I also used to object to Gemma's treatment of her dog Violet. Now she has two dogs, having added Peony in the last book. And they seem to get well fed and well exercised. Gemma has issues with her shop cat Moriarty, but he is successfully rushed to the vet. He survives although he may have become even more vindictive.
Somehow this book doesn't feel final. I have a feeling that the next installment may feature Jayne's wedding and possibly a bit more commitment between Gemma and Ryan. I have a hunch that Delany will see them definitely attached before she declares the series done. Time will tell.
Now don't get me wrong, Gemma is still a know-it-all, but she isn't as obnoxious about it anymore. She seems to realize that her friends and relatives don't care for being talked down to or told what they ought to be doing. It helps that Jayne has found a guy that Gemma approves of, so there's no need to try to steer her straight. Gemma is actually committed to helping with their wedding planning. I also used to object to Gemma's treatment of her dog Violet. Now she has two dogs, having added Peony in the last book. And they seem to get well fed and well exercised. Gemma has issues with her shop cat Moriarty, but he is successfully rushed to the vet. He survives although he may have become even more vindictive.
Somehow this book doesn't feel final. I have a feeling that the next installment may feature Jayne's wedding and possibly a bit more commitment between Gemma and Ryan. I have a hunch that Delany will see them definitely attached before she declares the series done. Time will tell.
July 28, 2022
The Game is a Footnote was a fun read. I have read all of this series. The book starts with a prologue giving you the history of the house in West London, Massachusetts. It then goes to the present time. Gemma Doyle is the main character who owns The Sherlock Holmes Book store along with her Uncle Arthur. She is also part owner of Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room with her best friend, Jayne Wilson. The two shops are on Baker Street. The other character's of he book are the same as from book one as well as additional characters that add to the story.
Emma and Jayne are asked to a meeting of The Historical Society who own the Scarlet House. Strange things are happening there. Leslie Wilson, Jayne's mother who is on the board tells them that things go missing and show up in strange places the next day. One evening the neighbor Craig and Carrie Jones are woken up hearing the animals on the farm making lots of noise in the night. They feel that the house might be haunted. At the meeting at Robyn Kilkpatrick, the board chair's house, along with the rest of the board, Leslie, Wilson, David Chase, Ben Alderson along with Sharon Musgrove, They ask Gemma and Jayne to stay the night there to see what is going on. They agree to do it and along with Jayne's fiancé, Andy Whitehall who is keeping them company stay the night. David and Craig have agreed to stay at the barn. The night they decide to stay there is a bad rain storm. Everything goes well until just after midnight when Gemma hears hears a thump followed by a rustling sound. At the same time they hear a pounding on the door. It is Craig saying there is something happening in the barn and Andy goes with him to check it out. At the house Gemma hears two woman screaming, one of them is Jayne. Who is the other? Jayne calls the police, There does not seem anything out of place in the kitchen except for the rolling pin on the floor. The police arrive along with Stella Johnson, a police woman that Gemma knows. They check everything out and leave. Gemma thinks that someone human was in the house that night or their own purposes but how did they get in?
Because of the events of that night the board calls an emergency meeting and asks Gemma and Jayne to attend again. Cassie and Craig are also asked to attend. Although not invited, Ethan Evanston arrives. He is doing a PHD on the Scarlet House.
When getting back to the store Jayne realizes that she has left her purse at the house and both she and Gemma go back to hopefully get it as house could be locked up. When they arrive the house is locked up but they notice the barn door is open and the pigs are making lots of noise. In the big pen Dave Chase lies dead. They call the police, Ryan Ashburton, lead detective at WLPD and Gemma's boyfriend arrives with his boss, Louise Estrada. This is where the story takes off taking the reader on an adventure of why David was killed and what exactly is happening in the house. To Gemma's surprise her sister, Phillipa arrives at her doorstep from England. She works for the government. She says that she was in Washington with her boss who decided to stay a few days so she decided to come for a visit. Gemma questions the real reason she is there. Her sister's arrival adds more mystery to the story..
There is another sub=story with Bunny Leigh an old popstar wintering in a rented house in West London. The town is excited that she is there. She comes to sit in Gemma's store several times but does not buy anything but is watching Ashleigh Gemma's sales clerk.. When Gemma gets back to her store she finds that Ashleigh is missing and the store is left open, She is concerned and with her sister's help she finally finds Ashleigh and the reason for her disappearance. There is lots that happens before this mystery is solved.
Everything comes to an exciting conclusion of who and why David was killed and the reason her sister is there relating to the house. I will leave the ending to the reader to enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.
Emma and Jayne are asked to a meeting of The Historical Society who own the Scarlet House. Strange things are happening there. Leslie Wilson, Jayne's mother who is on the board tells them that things go missing and show up in strange places the next day. One evening the neighbor Craig and Carrie Jones are woken up hearing the animals on the farm making lots of noise in the night. They feel that the house might be haunted. At the meeting at Robyn Kilkpatrick, the board chair's house, along with the rest of the board, Leslie, Wilson, David Chase, Ben Alderson along with Sharon Musgrove, They ask Gemma and Jayne to stay the night there to see what is going on. They agree to do it and along with Jayne's fiancé, Andy Whitehall who is keeping them company stay the night. David and Craig have agreed to stay at the barn. The night they decide to stay there is a bad rain storm. Everything goes well until just after midnight when Gemma hears hears a thump followed by a rustling sound. At the same time they hear a pounding on the door. It is Craig saying there is something happening in the barn and Andy goes with him to check it out. At the house Gemma hears two woman screaming, one of them is Jayne. Who is the other? Jayne calls the police, There does not seem anything out of place in the kitchen except for the rolling pin on the floor. The police arrive along with Stella Johnson, a police woman that Gemma knows. They check everything out and leave. Gemma thinks that someone human was in the house that night or their own purposes but how did they get in?
Because of the events of that night the board calls an emergency meeting and asks Gemma and Jayne to attend again. Cassie and Craig are also asked to attend. Although not invited, Ethan Evanston arrives. He is doing a PHD on the Scarlet House.
When getting back to the store Jayne realizes that she has left her purse at the house and both she and Gemma go back to hopefully get it as house could be locked up. When they arrive the house is locked up but they notice the barn door is open and the pigs are making lots of noise. In the big pen Dave Chase lies dead. They call the police, Ryan Ashburton, lead detective at WLPD and Gemma's boyfriend arrives with his boss, Louise Estrada. This is where the story takes off taking the reader on an adventure of why David was killed and what exactly is happening in the house. To Gemma's surprise her sister, Phillipa arrives at her doorstep from England. She works for the government. She says that she was in Washington with her boss who decided to stay a few days so she decided to come for a visit. Gemma questions the real reason she is there. Her sister's arrival adds more mystery to the story..
There is another sub=story with Bunny Leigh an old popstar wintering in a rented house in West London. The town is excited that she is there. She comes to sit in Gemma's store several times but does not buy anything but is watching Ashleigh Gemma's sales clerk.. When Gemma gets back to her store she finds that Ashleigh is missing and the store is left open, She is concerned and with her sister's help she finally finds Ashleigh and the reason for her disappearance. There is lots that happens before this mystery is solved.
Everything comes to an exciting conclusion of who and why David was killed and the reason her sister is there relating to the house. I will leave the ending to the reader to enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.
August 16, 2022
A better than average cozy set in West London, Massachusetts, involving a historical manor, Scarlet House. It opens with a fairly long history of the ownership of the house, the farm, surrounding land, and what happened to all the descendants from 1640 to 2010 (over 375 yrs). Now it’s a historical site open to visitors, and many of the volunteers think Scarlet House is haunted because objects keep disappearing & then mysteriously reappearing and some claim to have seen the ghostly image of a woman.
The board asked Gemma Doyle owner of the Sherlock Holmes bookshop to look into the ghostly happenings and prove that they are fake, and that someone’s out to sabotage the board’s fund raising efforts. But things take a turn after a board member is found dead in the barn, Now Gemma & Ryan Ashburton, her boyfriend, who just happens to be the area’s local lead detective, must investigate a murder, along with help from her best friend Jayne Wilson + Jayne’s boyfriend Andy Whitehall.
I did have a few quibbles. There’s a strange subplot that’s meant to be a red herring but it didn’t work for me. At times it was confusing as to who was speaking but that’s probably a result of reading an advance e-copy. There was a little too much detail about what everyone was wearing including a reference to the main character’s socks. And although for the most part Gemma is fairly smart, at one point she asks what a pyjama party & sleepover were….good grief….did she just turn into a 3yr old??
Although this is the 8th book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series, it can easily be read as a standalone. 3.25 ⭐️
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advance copy!
The board asked Gemma Doyle owner of the Sherlock Holmes bookshop to look into the ghostly happenings and prove that they are fake, and that someone’s out to sabotage the board’s fund raising efforts. But things take a turn after a board member is found dead in the barn, Now Gemma & Ryan Ashburton, her boyfriend, who just happens to be the area’s local lead detective, must investigate a murder, along with help from her best friend Jayne Wilson + Jayne’s boyfriend Andy Whitehall.
I did have a few quibbles. There’s a strange subplot that’s meant to be a red herring but it didn’t work for me. At times it was confusing as to who was speaking but that’s probably a result of reading an advance e-copy. There was a little too much detail about what everyone was wearing including a reference to the main character’s socks. And although for the most part Gemma is fairly smart, at one point she asks what a pyjama party & sleepover were….good grief….did she just turn into a 3yr old??
Although this is the 8th book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series, it can easily be read as a standalone. 3.25 ⭐️
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advance copy!
January 24, 2023
I started reading this series from book number six and even though I have a backlog to cover, from what I have read so far, this is my favourite book of the series.
This book covered all the bases--paranormal hauntings, murder (new and very old), old family secrets and the truth behind the theft of a piece of jewellery belonging to Queen Victoria which are all connected to Scarlet House, a historical museum in West London, Massachusetts.
It was also while reading this book that it finally hit me the author has created her main characters around the original Sherlock Holmes characters (better late than never I guess). Pippa, Gemma's elder sister, is the female version of Mycroft and I enjoyed her presence in the book. There is also a subtle mention of the author's other series 'A Lighthouse Library Mystery' in one of the scenes which I thought was cleverly done.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author Vicki Delany for the e-Arc of the book. I had finished reading this book way before the publication date but got delayed in writing a review.
This book covered all the bases--paranormal hauntings, murder (new and very old), old family secrets and the truth behind the theft of a piece of jewellery belonging to Queen Victoria which are all connected to Scarlet House, a historical museum in West London, Massachusetts.
It was also while reading this book that it finally hit me the author has created her main characters around the original Sherlock Holmes characters (better late than never I guess). Pippa, Gemma's elder sister, is the female version of Mycroft and I enjoyed her presence in the book. There is also a subtle mention of the author's other series 'A Lighthouse Library Mystery' in one of the scenes which I thought was cleverly done.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author Vicki Delany for the e-Arc of the book. I had finished reading this book way before the publication date but got delayed in writing a review.
April 24, 2023
The Game is a Footnote is the 8th book in Vicki Delany's Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries. Gemma Doyle is part owner and proprietor of a themed bookshop as well as the attached tea shop run by her friend Jayne in West London, Massachusetts. In this outing, Jayne's mother has asked Gemma to spend the night in an old mansion operated by the local historical society. Apparently there are suspicions of there being a ghost, as things are disappearing or being moved around with no one seeing. Gemma agrees to stay and disprove the series, but there are things that happen when she, Jayne and Jayne's fiancé stay over and it all culminates in them finding a dead body. Now instead of just eliminating the ghost theory, Gemma is planning on finding the killer. As Gemma begins to investigate, she learns about the family that owned the mansion, how their family line died out, and the fact that the historical society is in financial trouble. There seem to be a lot of suspects, but when her best employee disappears, Gemma had two investigations on her hands.
Once again, Gemma and Jayne get themselves involved in a police investigation, which her boyfriend, Detective Ryan Ashburton is in charge of. She feeds him information she finds, but unfortunately, he does not reciprocate. That is not a problem with Gemma's amazing powers of observation and deduction. Gemma is not the easiest person to get to know, she is brusque, pushy and a bit obnoxious, but once you get to know her, she is a caring person. Even though the police don't consider Ashleigh being missing a crime or something to investigate, Gemma knows this is out of character and digs on her own, so we learn a lot about Ashleigh a character that has been in several stories. This is a twisty plot, and the murder has a lot of suspects and possible motives. How does the ghost fit in with the murder? Pippa, Gemma's sister that we met in a previous book, also arrives from London to visit? Pippa never takes a vacation, so why is she in West London? All comes together in a wonderful showdown and conclusion in this the 8th Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Kim Hicks and enjoyed her performance. She does a great job with the various accents and both male and female voices, and I especially enjoy the tone she uses for Gemma. I recommend this series to those who enjoy cozy mysteries, especially with smart female protagonists.
Once again, Gemma and Jayne get themselves involved in a police investigation, which her boyfriend, Detective Ryan Ashburton is in charge of. She feeds him information she finds, but unfortunately, he does not reciprocate. That is not a problem with Gemma's amazing powers of observation and deduction. Gemma is not the easiest person to get to know, she is brusque, pushy and a bit obnoxious, but once you get to know her, she is a caring person. Even though the police don't consider Ashleigh being missing a crime or something to investigate, Gemma knows this is out of character and digs on her own, so we learn a lot about Ashleigh a character that has been in several stories. This is a twisty plot, and the murder has a lot of suspects and possible motives. How does the ghost fit in with the murder? Pippa, Gemma's sister that we met in a previous book, also arrives from London to visit? Pippa never takes a vacation, so why is she in West London? All comes together in a wonderful showdown and conclusion in this the 8th Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Kim Hicks and enjoyed her performance. She does a great job with the various accents and both male and female voices, and I especially enjoy the tone she uses for Gemma. I recommend this series to those who enjoy cozy mysteries, especially with smart female protagonists.
March 26, 2023
West London, CT. USA, Winter. Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room. Present day. Vicki Delany’s The Game is a Footnote (Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries (#8) has the extremely observant
Gemma Doyle in discussion with her partner, Jane, and Jane’s mom, Leslie Wilson, who is explaining to Gemma how Leslie volunteered Gemma to check out Scarlet House, a piece of land and an old home, a historical property which dates from the 19th c. but with homes on the same spot since the 1600s, to ‘see’ if it s haunted. What? This is a fun and fast read, but I like to read how Gemma gets herself out of the ‘pickles’ into which she manages to place herself, but Detective Ryan Ashburton, Gemma’s boyfriend, feels so constantly challenged being Gemma’s love. Meeting Phipps, Gemma’s sister, is quite intriguing! Gemma makes a major mistake for her. Why don’t you attempt to spot it? This series is truly a favorite of mine. Sherlock Holmes’ stories I have always adored. Gemma I find entertaining, but I wonder if Det. Ryan will be sane. A delight! 4.5 stars.
Gemma Doyle in discussion with her partner, Jane, and Jane’s mom, Leslie Wilson, who is explaining to Gemma how Leslie volunteered Gemma to check out Scarlet House, a piece of land and an old home, a historical property which dates from the 19th c. but with homes on the same spot since the 1600s, to ‘see’ if it s haunted. What? This is a fun and fast read, but I like to read how Gemma gets herself out of the ‘pickles’ into which she manages to place herself, but Detective Ryan Ashburton, Gemma’s boyfriend, feels so constantly challenged being Gemma’s love. Meeting Phipps, Gemma’s sister, is quite intriguing! Gemma makes a major mistake for her. Why don’t you attempt to spot it? This series is truly a favorite of mine. Sherlock Holmes’ stories I have always adored. Gemma I find entertaining, but I wonder if Det. Ryan will be sane. A delight! 4.5 stars.
January 28, 2023
Dollycas's Thoughts
A ghost appears to be haunting the historical reenactment site Scarlet House in West London, Massachusetts in the latest Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. The museum board asks bookshop owner Gemma Doyle to give her input on the problem. While she doesn't believe in ghosts she reluctantly agrees to spend the night in the home with her friend Jayne and Jayne’s fiancé Andy. Two others camp out in the barn to observe things there. A big storm blew in, they all heard some weird noises, and something upset the barn animals but Gemma had no explanation for any of it. She assumes someone is playing some practical jokes. Then the next day, following a meeting to report on their sleepover Gemma and Jayne find a dead body in the barn.
Involved in another murder investigation, Gemma and Jayne delve into the site's history, its board, and volunteers in hopes to uncover who is behind the murder and the mischief at Scarlet House.
Add to that Gemma's sister Pippa arrives from England for a surprise visit and Ashleigh, Gemma's unique employee, left in the middle of her shift and is now missing. Oh, and bookshop cat Moriaty has a medical emergency.
_____
Ms. Delany has packed a lot of mayhem into this book and I wouldn't ever expect anything different.
The characters in this series are strong and well-developed. I did enjoy that it was Jayne's mother, Leslie, that got Jayne and Gemma mixed up with the people at Scarlet House. I also enjoyed Pippa's surprise visit. Readers are able to see a different side of both Gemma and Jayne. Another character is introduced which brings havoc to the story regarding Ashleigh. I questioned some of the behavior but it worked as a distraction as intended. I was drawn into all the character's interactions easily.
The main mystery was pretty straightforward with clues nicely dropped in all the right places. The darn Gemma is a brave soul traveling around the drafty old house by herself while a thunderstorm was booming outside. I wouldn't have done it. She also goes to do some investigating without Jayne by her side and she lands herself in a real fix that she eventually got herself out of. I love this woman. Her keen way of observing things everyone else misses and the way she brings the clues all together are always fun to observe. I want to be just like her in my next life. She pulled this mystery together for a fantastic reveal. While I was on the right track there was a nice little twist that I really enjoyed. She also kept at it to solve the mystery of the missing Ashleigh too.
I love the way Ms. Delany tells a story. Her descriptive style paints wonderful pictures of time and place and brings her characters to life. It was so easy to escape into this story.
The Game is a Footnote is a marvelous addition to this series. It truly was A Perfect Escape!
A ghost appears to be haunting the historical reenactment site Scarlet House in West London, Massachusetts in the latest Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. The museum board asks bookshop owner Gemma Doyle to give her input on the problem. While she doesn't believe in ghosts she reluctantly agrees to spend the night in the home with her friend Jayne and Jayne’s fiancé Andy. Two others camp out in the barn to observe things there. A big storm blew in, they all heard some weird noises, and something upset the barn animals but Gemma had no explanation for any of it. She assumes someone is playing some practical jokes. Then the next day, following a meeting to report on their sleepover Gemma and Jayne find a dead body in the barn.
Involved in another murder investigation, Gemma and Jayne delve into the site's history, its board, and volunteers in hopes to uncover who is behind the murder and the mischief at Scarlet House.
Add to that Gemma's sister Pippa arrives from England for a surprise visit and Ashleigh, Gemma's unique employee, left in the middle of her shift and is now missing. Oh, and bookshop cat Moriaty has a medical emergency.
_____
Ms. Delany has packed a lot of mayhem into this book and I wouldn't ever expect anything different.
The characters in this series are strong and well-developed. I did enjoy that it was Jayne's mother, Leslie, that got Jayne and Gemma mixed up with the people at Scarlet House. I also enjoyed Pippa's surprise visit. Readers are able to see a different side of both Gemma and Jayne. Another character is introduced which brings havoc to the story regarding Ashleigh. I questioned some of the behavior but it worked as a distraction as intended. I was drawn into all the character's interactions easily.
The main mystery was pretty straightforward with clues nicely dropped in all the right places. The darn Gemma is a brave soul traveling around the drafty old house by herself while a thunderstorm was booming outside. I wouldn't have done it. She also goes to do some investigating without Jayne by her side and she lands herself in a real fix that she eventually got herself out of. I love this woman. Her keen way of observing things everyone else misses and the way she brings the clues all together are always fun to observe. I want to be just like her in my next life. She pulled this mystery together for a fantastic reveal. While I was on the right track there was a nice little twist that I really enjoyed. She also kept at it to solve the mystery of the missing Ashleigh too.
I love the way Ms. Delany tells a story. Her descriptive style paints wonderful pictures of time and place and brings her characters to life. It was so easy to escape into this story.
The Game is a Footnote is a marvelous addition to this series. It truly was A Perfect Escape!
August 8, 2022
Rumors are flying about paranormal activity at a local museum, Scarlet House. Gemma Doyle has reluctantly agreed to spend a night there to try to discover what is going on. Friend Jayne and her soon-to-be-husband will be there, too, although Gemma has deliberately avoided involving Ryan, her detective boyfriend. Quite frankly, Gemma isn't expecting anything out of the ordinary.
She was wrong. Strange noises, animals in the barn in turmoil, and items out of place. If this spook, spectral or not, expected Gemma to run away in terror, however, they picked the wrong person. Gemma doesn't believe in ghosts and her plan, much like Sherlock Holmes, is to eliminate the impossible and investigate whatever is left. Do you believe in ghosts? Tell me after you finish this one.
Unfortunately, finding a dead body, David, wasn't part of the impossible and adds to Gemma's incentive to get to the bottom of things. She's distracted, however, by the sudden disappearance of her dependable worker, Ashleigh. Never fear, however, Gemma is definitely capable of handling more than one puzzle at a time. Toss in the sudden visit of her sister Pippa from England and things only get more interesting....and complicated.
I won't detail the plot, discovering it all piece by piece as you sort through the multitude of red herrings is, well, part of the fun. The characters we've gotten to know over the series are there, not to mention the critters. Moriarity the cat still hisses at Gemma, btw, but manages to provide an unwanted, scary distraction at one point.
Why is Scarlet House suddenly seemingly haunted? Who killed David? How does one lock oneself in a barn? Are hungry pigs dangerous? Why is Pippa really there? Is Gemma the least bit sorry for waking up Ryan at 3a.m.? That's debatable. That whole scene of the police trying to secure the scene of the crime in the rain, including a pig sty, creates a hilarious image in one's mind, must admit, so Ryan had to be exhausted. What does an aging pop star have to do with anything? What secrets are the various players in this drama keeping? Why....why don't I stop with the teasers now and just say, read this one.
Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for letting me drop in on Gemma and friends again. I'm always up for a bit of Sherlock sleuthing even if Gemma's tendency to get so caught up in her whirling mind means that she forgets we're there at times.
She was wrong. Strange noises, animals in the barn in turmoil, and items out of place. If this spook, spectral or not, expected Gemma to run away in terror, however, they picked the wrong person. Gemma doesn't believe in ghosts and her plan, much like Sherlock Holmes, is to eliminate the impossible and investigate whatever is left. Do you believe in ghosts? Tell me after you finish this one.
Unfortunately, finding a dead body, David, wasn't part of the impossible and adds to Gemma's incentive to get to the bottom of things. She's distracted, however, by the sudden disappearance of her dependable worker, Ashleigh. Never fear, however, Gemma is definitely capable of handling more than one puzzle at a time. Toss in the sudden visit of her sister Pippa from England and things only get more interesting....and complicated.
I won't detail the plot, discovering it all piece by piece as you sort through the multitude of red herrings is, well, part of the fun. The characters we've gotten to know over the series are there, not to mention the critters. Moriarity the cat still hisses at Gemma, btw, but manages to provide an unwanted, scary distraction at one point.
Why is Scarlet House suddenly seemingly haunted? Who killed David? How does one lock oneself in a barn? Are hungry pigs dangerous? Why is Pippa really there? Is Gemma the least bit sorry for waking up Ryan at 3a.m.? That's debatable. That whole scene of the police trying to secure the scene of the crime in the rain, including a pig sty, creates a hilarious image in one's mind, must admit, so Ryan had to be exhausted. What does an aging pop star have to do with anything? What secrets are the various players in this drama keeping? Why....why don't I stop with the teasers now and just say, read this one.
Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for letting me drop in on Gemma and friends again. I'm always up for a bit of Sherlock sleuthing even if Gemma's tendency to get so caught up in her whirling mind means that she forgets we're there at times.
January 8, 2023
This book was really good! I enjoyed the mystery. I also enjoyed the writing style and the narrator. The narrator was a good match for the story.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC!
October 16, 2022
Gemma and Jayne invited to help investigate a haunted historic museum. Gemma believes there is something or someone behind the mysterious thing that are happening beside a ghost. When Gemma and Jayne stumble over a dead body despite Gemma is pulled into the investigation despite trying to her determination to stay out it it.
I love this series and this book is no exception. Gemma is my favorite character. She see things that others completely overlook and sometimes rub people the wrong way. But even though even kept tell her to not worry about her employee she didn't give up on her. The mysteries, both the haunted museum and the murder, are full of twists and turns and well plotted and paced. I recommend this to fans of the series, Sherlock Holmes inspired mysteries, and cozy mysteries.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been by anyone.
I love this series and this book is no exception. Gemma is my favorite character. She see things that others completely overlook and sometimes rub people the wrong way. But even though even kept tell her to not worry about her employee she didn't give up on her. The mysteries, both the haunted museum and the murder, are full of twists and turns and well plotted and paced. I recommend this to fans of the series, Sherlock Holmes inspired mysteries, and cozy mysteries.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been by anyone.
January 16, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for accepting my request to read and review The Game is a Footnote.
Author: Vicki Delany
Narrator: Kim Hicks
Published: 01/10/23
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Oh what a tangled web I have woven. This cozy mystery was painful and exhausting. It took several days, short periods of time, and a couple Nancy Kerrigan moments -- why, why, why.
Seriously, it is not the author. I have come to the realization that there are time periods and subjects that work beautifully on Masterpiece Theatre but not in a book for me. I shy away from classics Christie and Doyle. I fell for the cover, the synopsis, and cozy, and it was a fail. The narration hurt the situation. One of just a few books, I wanted the physical book. I didn't like the tone or diction It was grating.
As for the story, without spoiling, it was long and too detailed. This is a cozy. Sadly, I just was worn out by the Sherlock speak.
There is a market for this bookshop, Sherlock, cozy,just not with me.
Author: Vicki Delany
Narrator: Kim Hicks
Published: 01/10/23
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Oh what a tangled web I have woven. This cozy mystery was painful and exhausting. It took several days, short periods of time, and a couple Nancy Kerrigan moments -- why, why, why.
Seriously, it is not the author. I have come to the realization that there are time periods and subjects that work beautifully on Masterpiece Theatre but not in a book for me. I shy away from classics Christie and Doyle. I fell for the cover, the synopsis, and cozy, and it was a fail. The narration hurt the situation. One of just a few books, I wanted the physical book. I didn't like the tone or diction It was grating.
As for the story, without spoiling, it was long and too detailed. This is a cozy. Sadly, I just was worn out by the Sherlock speak.
There is a market for this bookshop, Sherlock, cozy,just not with me.
January 7, 2023
Readers who enjoyed the spooky-ish elements in this author's Lighthouse Library series she writes as Eva Gates will love the idea of a haunted museum...or is it haunted by a flesh and blood perp? I also loved the little nod to the Lighthouse Library given in the text of the book--see if you can spot it!
Gemma sure had her hands full with Jayne's mom begging her to help out with the supposed haunting and ever-patient Gemma went along with it while attempting to explain she wasn't a ghost chaser. When an innocent bystander was killer, it was pretty clear that someone was trying to get rid of the museum people, and Gemma's always-inquisitive mind wouldn't rest until it was solved. I enjoyed how Gemma's sister somehow got involved in the case and the fun innuendos around who her esteemed boss was. It was a sweet nod.
There was a good side story featuring Gemma's shop assistant Ashleigh which slightly tied in with the main mystery. I liked the outcome and how Ashleigh handled things. I wasn't too surprised at the whodunit for the main mystery and as always, explanations were shared with friends and food, a super fun way to end the story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
Gemma sure had her hands full with Jayne's mom begging her to help out with the supposed haunting and ever-patient Gemma went along with it while attempting to explain she wasn't a ghost chaser. When an innocent bystander was killer, it was pretty clear that someone was trying to get rid of the museum people, and Gemma's always-inquisitive mind wouldn't rest until it was solved. I enjoyed how Gemma's sister somehow got involved in the case and the fun innuendos around who her esteemed boss was. It was a sweet nod.
There was a good side story featuring Gemma's shop assistant Ashleigh which slightly tied in with the main mystery. I liked the outcome and how Ashleigh handled things. I wasn't too surprised at the whodunit for the main mystery and as always, explanations were shared with friends and food, a super fun way to end the story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
July 6, 2022
This is quite an interesting addition to this Sherlock Holmes style cozy mystery series.
I enjoyed the storyline, and Gemma’s insistence that Ashleigh, her employee and friend, was missing made me like her character even more.
The arrival of Gemma’s sister added a little twist to the investigation, which I enjoyed.
I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next with Gemma and friends.
#TheGameisaFootnote #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
I enjoyed the storyline, and Gemma’s insistence that Ashleigh, her employee and friend, was missing made me like her character even more.
The arrival of Gemma’s sister added a little twist to the investigation, which I enjoyed.
I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next with Gemma and friends.
#TheGameisaFootnote #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
March 15, 2023
The Game is a Footnote Earns 5/5 Ghostly Threats … Clever & Entertaining Cozy!
“Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!” A haunting may not be the typical situation in which Gemma Doyle gets herself entangled, but since her reputation has preceded her, her best friend’s mother is asking for her help. Leslie Wilson reports several unexplained occurrences at The Historic Society’s Scarlet House. The house is the oldest in West London, Massachusetts, with a rich history, but it’s recently been experiencing a few oddities: missing items, things in the wrong place, and plenty of after-hours hijinks. Gemma immediately thinks it’s just annoying pranksters, but agree to spend the night in the mansion to make sure. However, it’s not a non-corporal entity that appears. It’s the body of one of the volunteers.
Vicki Delany’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium series is a delight, and this eighth book is one of the best. I love all the innuendos and references to Doyle’s iconic series along with a cleverly devised mystery, angst with law enforcement, missing assistant, and encounter with farm animals, a pop star, and a killer raise the bar. Gemma Doyle is a clever protagonist, confidant, and realistically portrayed through her actions and connections with other characters, especially the partnership with Jayne as her Watson which is key to my interest in the series. Yet, there is the arrival of one to challenge her skill adding some interesting conflict. A surprise conclusion made the read worthwhile. Animal enthusiasts will like her dogs, and romance is there, it’s just not central to this storyline. Thumbs up!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Crooked Lane Books thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
“Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!” A haunting may not be the typical situation in which Gemma Doyle gets herself entangled, but since her reputation has preceded her, her best friend’s mother is asking for her help. Leslie Wilson reports several unexplained occurrences at The Historic Society’s Scarlet House. The house is the oldest in West London, Massachusetts, with a rich history, but it’s recently been experiencing a few oddities: missing items, things in the wrong place, and plenty of after-hours hijinks. Gemma immediately thinks it’s just annoying pranksters, but agree to spend the night in the mansion to make sure. However, it’s not a non-corporal entity that appears. It’s the body of one of the volunteers.
Vicki Delany’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium series is a delight, and this eighth book is one of the best. I love all the innuendos and references to Doyle’s iconic series along with a cleverly devised mystery, angst with law enforcement, missing assistant, and encounter with farm animals, a pop star, and a killer raise the bar. Gemma Doyle is a clever protagonist, confidant, and realistically portrayed through her actions and connections with other characters, especially the partnership with Jayne as her Watson which is key to my interest in the series. Yet, there is the arrival of one to challenge her skill adding some interesting conflict. A surprise conclusion made the read worthwhile. Animal enthusiasts will like her dogs, and romance is there, it’s just not central to this storyline. Thumbs up!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Crooked Lane Books thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
January 16, 2023
A sharp eye for observation and a keen sense of body language help lead Gemma to being able to draw reasonably sound conclusions and solving mysteries. Due to her success in these deductions, our sleuth and her best friend are once again drawn into a mystery that starts out seeming like a prank and ends in murder. Can Gemma solve the mystery before becoming the next victim? You'll have to read to find out! I have to admit that I was slow to warm up to Gemma in the first book, but by the second I was feeling her human side more and now I am a huge fan! I absolutely love the friendship that Gemma and Jayne share as well as the businesses that they share. They know each other so well that they can sense what each other needs or feels. Add in a couple of handsome beaus for each, a gaggle of wonderfully unique friends and coworkers and family with unique connections in the political world and you have a delightfully woven tale to entertain you for hours! I am already waiting impatiently for the next book in the series to come out!
September 28, 2023
one of the weaker installments in this series, in my opinion. it gave me nancy drew vibes, but not necessarily in a good way? I do love the continuity between the books, though, revisiting Scarlet House and various characters from book 4 was very fun!
also, sidenote, pippa doyle is the queen of gaslight gatekeep girlboss and i love that for her xD
also, sidenote, pippa doyle is the queen of gaslight gatekeep girlboss and i love that for her xD
January 4, 2023
I enjoyed the mystery in this one as it starts out as a paranormal investigation rather than a murder one, although that does happen eventually. The new characters added to the series are a welcome addition and I liked getting to know them and their quirky personalities. The mystery was well-paced and Gemma was in top form, using her observation skills to glean more from the suspects. Still not a fan of Sherlock and his techniques that are incorporated into the books but I love the setting and characters so much, it doesn’t bother me. Can’t wait to see what they get up to next.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for an honest review.
January 6, 2023
This cozy mystery series is set in a town on Cape Cod, Massachusetts called West London and the main character is a young woman, Gemma, who hails from London, England. Her uncle (or maybe great-uncle) has a bookstore that specializes in Sherlock Holmes (books about him, books about the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, mugs, puzzles, etc.) and other books set in Victorian times, and now Gemma is running the shop. The story in The Game is a Footnote is set in January, a slow time of year for a touristy area like “the Cape.” Gemma has a reputation for being very observant, like her hero Sherlock Holmes, and is asked to get involved in trying to figure out what happened at a local historic house. The story was a bit far-fetched, but it kept me guessing.
I’ve only read one other book in this Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series so I can recommend this as a standalone. There are references to things that have happened in previous books but they weren’t essential to the current story.
Fans of the cozy mystery genre will enjoy the fact that not only is there a cat who lives in the building that houses the bookstore, but that Gemma owns two dogs.
I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook is narrated by Kim Hicks. The story is told by Gemma and I thought her narration was excellent for Gemma, but I didn’t like the voices/accents she used for the local characters. None of them sounded in the least like the New Englanders I know and love.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I’ve only read one other book in this Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series so I can recommend this as a standalone. There are references to things that have happened in previous books but they weren’t essential to the current story.
Fans of the cozy mystery genre will enjoy the fact that not only is there a cat who lives in the building that houses the bookstore, but that Gemma owns two dogs.
I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook is narrated by Kim Hicks. The story is told by Gemma and I thought her narration was excellent for Gemma, but I didn’t like the voices/accents she used for the local characters. None of them sounded in the least like the New Englanders I know and love.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
August 24, 2022
Ghosts, a haunted museum, objects that move by themselves, a dark, cold night and murder make the perfect investigation scenario for Gemma Doyle and her business partner and best friend, Jayne. Wilson. Determined to prove the events at Scarlet House, a historical re-enactment museum, are man-made and not "spirit" made, Gemma and Jayne are drawn into a mystery full of history, greed, lies and murder.
What an adventure! The history of Scarlet House was so well-woven into the mystery that I found myself believing there was an actual musem/house! There are so many things to like about this book - the friendship of Gemma and Jayne, the side story of the disappearance of Ashleigh (Gemma's assistant at the bookstore) and the appearance of Phillippa, Gemma's mysterious sister, the always humorous Donald and Gemma's boyfriend, Ryan who is accepting fact that Gemma's investigative talent is a good but sometimes frustrating thing. I won't let anything "slip" but there are two new storylines that fans of Vicki Delaney will absolutely love! I know I did!
Another winner and maybe my favorite in the series!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
What an adventure! The history of Scarlet House was so well-woven into the mystery that I found myself believing there was an actual musem/house! There are so many things to like about this book - the friendship of Gemma and Jayne, the side story of the disappearance of Ashleigh (Gemma's assistant at the bookstore) and the appearance of Phillippa, Gemma's mysterious sister, the always humorous Donald and Gemma's boyfriend, Ryan who is accepting fact that Gemma's investigative talent is a good but sometimes frustrating thing. I won't let anything "slip" but there are two new storylines that fans of Vicki Delaney will absolutely love! I know I did!
Another winner and maybe my favorite in the series!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
January 6, 2023
3.5 stars
I've enjoyed reading books in Delany's other series, but this is the first book I've read in the Sherlock Holmes Book Shop series. Background information is given about the main characters, but I was at a disadvantage not having read the prior books in the series because it took me a while to keep everyone straight. Like Sherlock Holmes, Gemma, the main character is very observant and uses the details she sees to make deductions. She is a smart, but not particularly warm character. Her ability to make deductions is helpful when she is asked to look into unusual occurrences at a historical museum, but ends up investigating a murder.
The pacing is a bit uneven, but there are a lot of things to enjoy about the book. I enjoy Gemma's friendship with her best friend, Jayne. In addition to the investigation into the events taking place at the museum, there is a side plot involving the disappearance of one of Gemma's new employees that I enjoyed. I guessed who was responsible for some of the strange events and the murder, but not the complex reason why. There are parts of the book I really liked, but I really wish I could have connected more with Gemma.
I received this book at no cost from NetGalley through the courtesy of Crooked Lane Books. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
I've enjoyed reading books in Delany's other series, but this is the first book I've read in the Sherlock Holmes Book Shop series. Background information is given about the main characters, but I was at a disadvantage not having read the prior books in the series because it took me a while to keep everyone straight. Like Sherlock Holmes, Gemma, the main character is very observant and uses the details she sees to make deductions. She is a smart, but not particularly warm character. Her ability to make deductions is helpful when she is asked to look into unusual occurrences at a historical museum, but ends up investigating a murder.
The pacing is a bit uneven, but there are a lot of things to enjoy about the book. I enjoy Gemma's friendship with her best friend, Jayne. In addition to the investigation into the events taking place at the museum, there is a side plot involving the disappearance of one of Gemma's new employees that I enjoyed. I guessed who was responsible for some of the strange events and the murder, but not the complex reason why. There are parts of the book I really liked, but I really wish I could have connected more with Gemma.
I received this book at no cost from NetGalley through the courtesy of Crooked Lane Books. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
March 4, 2023
This is the eighth book in the series and my first. The author did a fantastic job at setting the scene for the Scarlet House. I was a tad confused at the many characters. I was able to follow the clues and was surprised by the ending. I enjoyed Gemma's observations.
December 27, 2022
“The Game is a Footnote” the 8th instalment in "A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop" Mystery series by Vicki Delany. It can easily be read as a standalone but I recommend reading in order.
Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson are back on the case when a body is discovered in a haunted museum
I enjoyed this mystery, thought it flowed well and kept my attention. The setting of West London in Cape Cod is idyllic and this time the action is centred around Scarlet House Museum.
I loved the characters of Gemma and BFF Jayne along with Mrs. Ramsbatten and Ryan. Gemma and Ryan's relationship is progressing nicely and I like how they are compromising to keep things harmonious. We got to know Gemma’s sister Pippa more in this book and I liked how she was in same line of work as Sherlock’s brother Mycroft. The side story with Gemma’s employee Ashleigh was nice as it showed a softer side of Gemma.
I look forward to the next book in this series and seeing where their relationship goes.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, with enough twists to keep you interested. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson are back on the case when a body is discovered in a haunted museum
I enjoyed this mystery, thought it flowed well and kept my attention. The setting of West London in Cape Cod is idyllic and this time the action is centred around Scarlet House Museum.
I loved the characters of Gemma and BFF Jayne along with Mrs. Ramsbatten and Ryan. Gemma and Ryan's relationship is progressing nicely and I like how they are compromising to keep things harmonious. We got to know Gemma’s sister Pippa more in this book and I liked how she was in same line of work as Sherlock’s brother Mycroft. The side story with Gemma’s employee Ashleigh was nice as it showed a softer side of Gemma.
I look forward to the next book in this series and seeing where their relationship goes.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, with enough twists to keep you interested. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own
January 16, 2023
A sharp eye for observation and a keen sense of body language help lead Gemma to being able to draw reasonably sound conclusions and solving mysteries. Due to her success in these deductions, our sleuth and her best friend are once again drawn into a mystery that starts out seeming like a prank and ends in murder. Can Gemma solve the mystery before becoming the next victim? You'll have to read to find out! I have to admit that I was slow to warm up to Gemma in the first book, but by the second I was feeling her human side more and now I am a huge fan! I absolutely love the friendship that Gemma and Jayne share as well as the businesses that they share. They know each other so well that they can sense what each other needs or feels. Add in a couple of handsome beaus for each, a gaggle of wonderfully unique friends and coworkers and family with unique connections in the political world and you have a delightfully woven tale to entertain you for hours! I am already waiting impatiently for the next book in the series to come out!
February 5, 2023
Gemma Doyle does a friend a favor, and ends up staying awake all night to see if Scarlet House, owned by the West London historical society, is in fact haunted. There are queer happenings, but as Gemma doesn't believe in ghosts, her answer is simply "no." Then one of the volunteers at the house is found dead--murder or accident? Gemma's trusted assistant in her Sherlock Holmes' bookstore disappears. And of all people, big sister Pippa appears on the scene, with a few specious stories as to what brings her to American from the real London, England. It takes a lot to unwind the story, and although I picked the right perpetrator, the motives were far, far beyond me.
January 4, 2023
Aaaaaannnnnnndddddddd we are back! Hallelujah!!
After the previous book, I had serious doubts about this series, which until said book, had been really amazing. Book 7 was decidedly not. Between formatting, a very weak story, the narrator being really off and again, a very weak story [though I will say that the premise was really good and unique and I was SO happy to see one of the characters from that story in this one, albeit very briefly, that didn't take away from a seriously weak story and some real frustration] and poor writing and I thought that maybe the series had run its length and needed to be over.
And then I got this one from NetGalley [along with the audiobook, though I was hesitant in that area] and figured I would give it a shot, simply because I have loved this series so much.
Ohhhhhh friends, I am SO GLAD I did. THIS is the writing and story-line that I have loved all along and this was, quite simply, how you open a new reading year IMO. It took everything I had to put it down the first day I started and finally, by yesterday [when I finished], I caved and just read/listened until I was finished. And what a finish! WOW.
I was absolutely sure I knew who the killer was. And if I was wrong [ ;-) ], I had an almost certain 2nd choice [they were a red herring, but such a BIG red herring that is was almost certain they were more than such. HA! I was wrong there too]. I was soooo wrong on both counts. VERY. VERY. WRONG. How absolutely glorious.
Gemma is at her absolute best here. She is seriously trying to NOT get involved in something that everyone actually WANTS her to be involved in and when she finally jumps in full force, things escalate very quickly. Jayne is again the perfect side-kick and I loved the addition of several characters [that I will not mention as to not influence those who have yet to read this] that really enhanced the story.
I was lucky to get the audiobook ARC of this book as well and the narrator [Kim Hicks] was back on track as well and I was so glad that I chose to take a chance on the audiobook and request it and then listen to it. I absolutely love how she does Gemma's voice and the only voice I dislike that she does is Detective Estrada - for some reason, that voice grates on my last nerve and I'd love it if that one changed by the next book. I realize that is easier said than done, but it was the only thing I had a full-issue with [well, the whole side story with Ashleigh and her disrespect of Gemma, but that is a whole 'nother conversation] and didn't detract from the story overall [and is very much a personal issue, not a story-line issue]. I look forward to [hopefully] listening to the next one.
On to book nine!!! Well done!!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Vicki Delany, Kim Hicks - Narrator, Crooked Lane Books, and Dreamscape Media for providing both the ARC and the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After the previous book, I had serious doubts about this series, which until said book, had been really amazing. Book 7 was decidedly not. Between formatting, a very weak story, the narrator being really off and again, a very weak story [though I will say that the premise was really good and unique and I was SO happy to see one of the characters from that story in this one, albeit very briefly, that didn't take away from a seriously weak story and some real frustration] and poor writing and I thought that maybe the series had run its length and needed to be over.
And then I got this one from NetGalley [along with the audiobook, though I was hesitant in that area] and figured I would give it a shot, simply because I have loved this series so much.
Ohhhhhh friends, I am SO GLAD I did. THIS is the writing and story-line that I have loved all along and this was, quite simply, how you open a new reading year IMO. It took everything I had to put it down the first day I started and finally, by yesterday [when I finished], I caved and just read/listened until I was finished. And what a finish! WOW.
I was absolutely sure I knew who the killer was. And if I was wrong [ ;-) ], I had an almost certain 2nd choice [they were a red herring, but such a BIG red herring that is was almost certain they were more than such. HA! I was wrong there too]. I was soooo wrong on both counts. VERY. VERY. WRONG. How absolutely glorious.
Gemma is at her absolute best here. She is seriously trying to NOT get involved in something that everyone actually WANTS her to be involved in and when she finally jumps in full force, things escalate very quickly. Jayne is again the perfect side-kick and I loved the addition of several characters [that I will not mention as to not influence those who have yet to read this] that really enhanced the story.
I was lucky to get the audiobook ARC of this book as well and the narrator [Kim Hicks] was back on track as well and I was so glad that I chose to take a chance on the audiobook and request it and then listen to it. I absolutely love how she does Gemma's voice and the only voice I dislike that she does is Detective Estrada - for some reason, that voice grates on my last nerve and I'd love it if that one changed by the next book. I realize that is easier said than done, but it was the only thing I had a full-issue with [well, the whole side story with Ashleigh and her disrespect of Gemma, but that is a whole 'nother conversation] and didn't detract from the story overall [and is very much a personal issue, not a story-line issue]. I look forward to [hopefully] listening to the next one.
On to book nine!!! Well done!!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Vicki Delany, Kim Hicks - Narrator, Crooked Lane Books, and Dreamscape Media for providing both the ARC and the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2023
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery, and it wasn't one I figured out halfway through! This is the eighth book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. I haven't read any of the previous books in the series, and had no problem jumping in and getting a feel for the characters. Gemma Doyle, co-owner of the Sherlock Holmes bookshop along with her best friend, Jayne Wilson are called in to Scarlet House a local museum. There seems to be some trouble afoot and some of the volunteers believe the house is haunted. Gemma is a very practical woman, and doesn't believe that for a moment. Gemma and Jayne spend the night at the house to debunk the ghost theory, but tragedy strikes when a volunteer is discovered deceased in the barn.
I liked the pragmatic way Gemma investigates the case, and I enjoyed the appearance of her sister Pippa. Gemma and Jayne have a great relationship and I love how they compliment each other's personalities. There were several possible suspects in the murder and I enjoyed this story very much!
I would recommend this story to anyone who wants a cozy mystery that can be solved by the reader in the first few chapters. This was a great read. I enjoyed the narrator of this book, as I received an advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.
I liked the pragmatic way Gemma investigates the case, and I enjoyed the appearance of her sister Pippa. Gemma and Jayne have a great relationship and I love how they compliment each other's personalities. There were several possible suspects in the murder and I enjoyed this story very much!
I would recommend this story to anyone who wants a cozy mystery that can be solved by the reader in the first few chapters. This was a great read. I enjoyed the narrator of this book, as I received an advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.
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