There's A Murder Afoot

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

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.

Welcome to London!!! We are going to attend the Sherlock Holmes convention. This event turns into a tale of suspense, intrigue, mystery, vivid characters, murder, deceit, sinister plots of fraud, revenge, corruption, art fraud, attempted murder, the challenge of solving a crime plus the satisfaction of seeing the culprit brought to justice. Gemma Doyle, formerly from London who now resides in Massachusetts, owns the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, and Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room was volunteered by her friend to be to a speaker at the Sherlock Holmes convention. She will also be accepting an award for her Uncle Arthur Doyle there. Gemma finds herself meeting a man who turns out to be her mother’s estranged brother. The brother stole a painting from her mother’s parent leaving the family destitute then dropping out of site for years. He shows up at the convention with his own art for sale. But is it his own? Gemma’s father and her new found Uncle Randy have words. Later Randy is found dead with Gemma’s father trying to untie the noose from Randy’s neck. Her father has been hit on the back of his head and has amnesia. He cannot remember what happened. But a cleaning woman accuses him of the murder plus the detective assigned to the case has a grudge against her father from before her father retired. Then he arrested. So Gemma and her American friends that accompanied her to London along with her sister, mother and a sharp solicitor take on the task to prove his innocence. This is intricately woven puzzling murder mystery story that will delight and entertain the reader. The vivid description of London plus the various famous landmarks add a geographic plus historical background. It is so well written that the reader will feel as if they are truly experiencing the culture of London living. The story takes off very quickly and keeps an invigorating pace right up to its conclusion. It provides the reader with an interesting array of well fleshed, artsy, quirky, well described , colorful and relatable characters. Highly Recommended Read for anyone who loves historical fiction mysteries mixed with authentic and well researched geographical sites. The is book # 5 in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries series. It can be read as a stand alone. It was the first book I read of this series and look forward to reading the others books. I volunteered to read There’s A Murder Afoot. Thanks to the author via the Cozy Mystery Review Crew. My opinion is voluntary and my own.