Monday, January 18, 2021

A Curious Incident by Vicki Delany

 

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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