Book Summary
A Curious Incident by Vicki Delany has Gemma Doyle being asked to locate eleven-year-old, Lauren Tierney’s
her missing cat, Snowball. Gemma insists
that she is not a consulting detective and cannot help Lauren. Gemma is walking Violet that evening when the
dog leads her to the neighbors shed. Gemma
finds the missing cat inside that she returns to a grateful Lauren. Gemma believes that is the end of it until
Lauren returns a few days later with $10 for a retainer. Lauren’s mother, Sheila is the prime suspect
in the murder of Anna Wentworth, her garden club rival with whom she had a very
public incident. Gemma, of course,
cannot help but be curious about the case and decides to do a little digging which
earns her the disapproval of her beau, Detective Ryan Ashburton. Gemma along with her best friend, Jayne
Wilson question members of the garden club plus uses her keen powers of
observation to uncover some helpful clues.
The killer is not happy with Gemma’s sleuthing and decides to remove her
from the game. Will Gemma be alive long enough
to prove Sheila Tierney’s innocence or will Ryan have two murder cases to
solve?
My Thoughts
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.
A Curious Incident can be obtained from Amazon*. You can find the other five A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery novels here. Vicki Delany has Murder in a Teacup coming out on July 27. It is the 2nd A Tea by the Sea Mystery. Thank you for stopping by today and reading my review. I am a stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour tomorrow for The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James. It is the debut of A Beloved Bookroom Mystery. Make sure you visit to learn more about this new cozy mystery. I hope that you have a day filled with smiles. Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
*This post contains
affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying
purchases.
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