Almost everyone in the little Cape Cod town of West London is excited when the West London Theater Festival decides to put on a production of The Hound of the Baskervilles and casts well-known British actor Sir Nigel Bellingham to play Holmes. No one is more excited than British-born Gemma Doyle, proprietress of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop, who anticipates the increased revenues the production will bring to her shop. But NOT everyone is happy about the selection of Sir Nigel. Not Eddie Barker, the young actor who was originally cast in the role. And apparently not Leslie Wilson, mother of Gemma’s close friend and business partner Jayne. And perhaps some others involved with the festival have grounds for concern when they realize that Sir Nigel is long past his prime and more into drink than detection. But Gemma certainly does not expect to find Sir Nigel’s dead body at the bottom of a cliff. Did he fall or jump, or was he pushed?
The Cat of the Baskervilles offers all the features cozy-mystery fans like: a small-town atmosphere where people know each other but still manage to hide some pretty major secrets, a sharp-eyed amateur detective who is not too popular with some elements of the local constabulary, a touch of romance as Gemma finds herself attracted both to former love Detective Ryan Ashburton and rare-book dealer Grant Thompson. There is even the suspense-filled denouement where our protagonist Gemma reveals the identity of the culprit at a gathering of the police and all the suspects.
Despite his prominence in the title, bookstore cat Moriarty plays no role at all in the book other than to be petted by visitors to the bookstore and as a source of complaints for Gemma, whom he apparently does not like. I felt that the title set up a bit of false expectations, even though it successfully grabbed my attention and made me choose the book.
All in all, though, The Cat of the Baskervilles is a pleasant read and a nice change of pace from the increasingly grisly thrillers that seem to be the fashion today.

The Cat of the Baskervilles (Book 3 Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series)
Vicki Delany

I really liked the characters, well most of them. Gemma, the Bookstore owner, is very vigilant. She notices things that others overlook. This often gets her in trouble with the police.
It's summer and the Summer Stock actors are getting ready to start rehearsel. Well, the best laid plans and all that. The star of the play, Sir Nigel Bellingham, is dead and there is not an end to the people who disliked him.
This book has more red herrings than the fish market. Just as you think you know who, you don't.
I love books like this. Keeps you up till the end and then some.
I finished the book in one day. I couldn't pause it for more than a few minutes. Just had to know what would happen next.
This is the second book I've read in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So glad I did.

4.5 stars rounded to 5

I was lucky enough to discover this series with NetGalley from the beginning and i have yet to be disappointed by it. I think it comes in my top 5 of Sherlock Holmes pastiches.

Gemma Doyle, the co-owner of Sherlock Holmes Bookshop, is meddling again with a murder investigation. When Sir Nigel, an old actor who was suppposed to play Holmes in a theatrical production of the Hound of the Baskervilles, is found dead at the bottom of a cliff during a fundraiser, and her friend's mother is suspected of his murder, Gemma couldn't but use her observation skills and deductions to find the true killer.

I already said i enjoyed this book very much. And i also said in my previous reviews of this series that a female version of the great detective has a certain appeal. I can only repeat this over and over.
This, along with a nice touch of humor and the ever present romance, makes a good combination for a very enjoyable story.
The different characters, their interactions and revelations about them are very interesting. And i also liked the fact that with every new book we learn a bit more about the "resident" characters of West London.

Another thing i like about the series is the titles,the way they are inspired by the real titles but the fact that they are not a twisting of the original stories. It's like we have a connection with the world of Sherlock Holmes, but keeping a respectful distance from it at the same time.
and I recommend it to any Holmes fun, and to any mystery lover for that matter.

This is a fine continuation of the series. Anyone who enjoyed the first two will certainly enjoy this one! I think this might be the strongest yet. I don't think you necessarily have to have read the other 2 titles first, though of course that will help you get background on the characters.

Daryl Wood Gerber's A Deadly Eclair is the first book in the French Bistro Mystery Series. Thanks to a generous benefactor Mimi realizes her dream of owning her own bistro and inn. She is set to host the wedding of a famous talk show host, Angelica. The wedding guests are an eclectic mix that do not always get along. The weekend takes an awful turn when Mimi's benefactor and uncle of the bride is found murdered. Mimi sets out to avenge his murder. The setting is fun, and the characters definitely have room for growth and development. I look forward to seeing how the series develops since the first book left me wanting more!

I really enjoy this series, Gemma deductions are always fun to see, although I do think she would be a hard friend to have! The bookstore and tea shop is a nice setting. Adding the theater was a nice touch

This series always makes for a fun read and this latest installment did not disappoint. When the local theater company lands a once famous, now has been, actor in their production, the entire town is swept up in the excitement. Once the actor turns up dead, a maybe suicide, a maybe murder, Gemma finds herself in the middle of a whodunnit once again.
The thing that always stands out to me in this series is how delightfully awkward Gemma is. She never realizes just how awkward she is socially, which does nothing but add to the charm of the story. The character are brilliant as always, and I love the way the relationships have progressed. The story was strong with a perfect mystery that keeps you engaged until the very end.

Another amazing book by Vicki Delaney! Just when you think you have it all figured out another piece of the puzzle drops. The game is afoot and you certainly don’t want to miss it!

Vicki Delany has produced another sparkling addition to her Sherlock Holmes Mystery series. All the engaging cast of characters are there with some intriguing newcomers. A murder becomes personal for Gemma when she observes evidence that Jayne's mother might be involved. Gemma is bright in the Sherlock tradition, loyal and too curious to stay out of Ryan's investigation. This is another expert mystery, mixed with the right touch of romance and lots of humor. It just doesn't get any better than this for thoughtful cozy fans.

"The Cat of the Baskervilles" is the third volume in the series about Gemma Doyle, who runs a bookstore specializing in Sherlock Holmes and is similar to the famous detective in that she has above-average observation skills. In this book she benefits from this ability when she is again involved in the investigation of a death.

In my review of the first volume, I had criticized that Gemma's often arrogant nature, which came about because she could not understand why others overlooked the 'obvious' clues, could be kind of exhausting. She was - and is - an interesting character, but I had difficulties empathizing with her. In "The Cat of the Baskervilles," on the other hand, she seemed more bearable (for lack of a better word) to me. Of course, that may be because I already knew her personality and was therefore prepared for it, but it seemed to me that she more easily recognized when she did not behave 'correctly'. She is still very direct, corrects others, thinks things through and acts logically, but she also cares a lot about what's happening to her close friend and their family which gives the reader a better insight into her feelings.

What annoyed me a little, however, is Estrada's mistrust of the protagonist, although it is in some ways understandable since she always knows a lot. Already in "Elementary, She Read" it felt like she was fixated on a suspect and a bit unprofessional and that is not different in this book. The problem is that the reader only gets a look at her from Gemma's perspective, and the tense relationship between the two of them naturally distorts this view. Unfortunately, because of that the detective doesn't seem to be particularly competent, but rather as if she were prejudiced. I hope that this will change in future volumes.

The case itself was interesting. Although the victim was not necessarily a good person, you can feel sorry for him and because there were a lot of speculations about the circumstances of his death, what really happened remained open for a long time. There were many different suspects and the resolution was surprising and yet convincing. The world of Sherlock Holmes was also excellently integrated into the story and the parallels to the characters and cases worked well.

I give this book four stars for a good, rather calm crime novel, which has given me a few pleasant reading hours.

I'm a fairly new reader to the Cozy Mystery genre. I did read the first in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery series (Elementary, She Read) but missed reading the second book, so I wasn't completely up to speed with the main character's life so far.

As a Sherlock Holmes fan and an avid reader, this mystery series is great fun for me. The characters were entertaining and relatable and the story was enjoyable. I liked trying to solve the mystery along with Gemma. I also liked the fact that this book downplayed the romance angle for the main character, and instead it was her friend Jayne that had a romantic interest, which let Gemma do more sleuthing and less flirting or dating.

Will absolutely read the other books in this series.

This one was as good as the others in the series. Enjoyed it!

I love Cozies!! This cozy by Vicki Delnany was awesome! This book was one I finished in one sitting! I now need to buy all the book for this series!!

Great Sherlock Holmes read alike series. It is a cozy mystery series for any fan of the original Sherlock Holmes. It has a great setting with the bookstore and small town feel. I have gone back to read the first two.

Another great installment in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. A bit slower than the other two previous books, but it is always fun revisiting Gemma and her friend, Jayne as they get involved with the mystery surrounding the death of Sir Nigel. A great cozy mystery---fun cast of characters, beautiful setting, and plenty of mentions of books and food. What's not to love. I highly recommend this series.

As a fan of Sherlock Holmes, I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy read. Mystery lovers will want to read from cover to cover in one sitting.

Gemma Doyle is more related to Sherlock Holmes than Sir Conan Doyle. Her mind puts the pieces to the crime together as a matter of fact. Even when she tries to stay out of it, she can't stop putting the puzzle together.
Goodreads

Things are never dull in the life of our heroine, Gemma Doyle! In The Cat of the Baskervilles by author Vicki Delany, the small theater company in West London, Massachusetts has included The Hound of the Baskervilles in their summer schedule and have engaged British actor, Sir Nigel Bellingham, to play the lead role and famed detective, Sherlock Holmes. Sir Nigel, past his prime and with a pronounced drinking problem, is proving to be a very difficult man to work with, but all that quickly becomes a moot point when he is found dead at the bottom of a cliff after an afternoon tea catered by Jayne and Gemma. Understudy Eddie steps into the role, and is wooing Jayne on the side. Jayne is preoccupied by the fact that her mother Leslie has a secret to hide and is being questioned by the police. Gemma is dealing with her feelings toward former love, Detective Ryan Ashburton, while being pursued by close friend and fellow book aficionado, Grant. There's quite a bit going on behind the scenes in the theater company, and although suicide or accident is very likely the cause of Sir Nigel's untimely death, Gemma is not convinced. I really like Gemma, and throughout this series (Cat of the Baskervilles is the third installment), she has become much more relatable and continues to try to, for lack of a better term, mind her own business unless absolutely necessary, which is hard to do for someone whose mind is continually trying to solve every puzzle and problem placed in front of her. I really and truly enjoyed this book and recommend it any and all looking for a well-written cozy! p.s. The resolution of the mystery at the end was a surprise to me, always a plus! A+

Very enjoyable from start to finish with enough twists to satisfy any cozy mystery lover. A must-read for Sherlock devotees.

Another first book by this author for me, I was afraid this was going to be a cat central mystery, much to my surprise it wasn't and it was a very well written, with just enough clues, enjoyable read. I most likely will be checking out the others in the series as well.