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There's A Murder Afoot

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This is one of my favorite mystery series and the newest one does not disappoint, I really enjoy the authors writing style and can't wait for the next one

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Thank you to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Publications for the free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the latest entry in Vicki Delany's Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series. This fifth entry takes place in London. Gemma Doyle is an Englishwoman who owns a Sherlock Holmes bookshop on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Gemma returns to London to accept an award for her uncle Arthur who is elderly and does not wish to travel. The convention is, of course, an annual Sherlock Holmes convention. She is happy to be able to go back and see her parents and her sister. A lot of the gang from the States travels with her too. However, she did leave Arthur and her employee Ashleigh in charge of the book store on Cape Cod. Her phone calls back are quite funny.
Gemma is pulled into the murder investigation when her mother's younger brother is murdered and her father, a former police officer, is found over the body with no memory. Randolph was the black sheep of the family. He was a long accomplished art forger. Although it appears that he had wanted to go straight.
London and its charms are very much front and center in this novel. Vicki Delany brings authenticity to her descriptions. I have spent some time in London. I felt like I was there visiting the different places.
I have read many books by Vicki Delany. She is an incredible writer. Her plots are enjoyable and well thought out. I recommend her highly.

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Princess Fuzzypants here: Gemma returns to her hometown of London with her American friends who are attending a Sherlock Holmes convention. It is great reconnecting with family except for the one black sheep uncle, heretofore unknown to Gemma, who is there flogging some very unique but unsettling artwork. It appears he has a history of forging and stealing so it is not so odd that he is the victim in this story. But it is Gemma’s dad, a retired copper, who is found with the body and has had a public confrontation prior to the murder.
Gemma and her friends believe there is much more to the murder and with the help of her sister who has a nebulous but high ranking government position, she is able to unravel a nasty forgery ring and figure out who had enough at stake to commit murder. It’s a fun taking the reader all over London both above and underground. London lovers and Sherlock Holmes fans will enjoy this romp through the city.
Four purrs and two paws up.

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In this installment of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series, Gemma and the gang are in England attending a Sherlock conference. Her long-lost (more than slightly shady) uncle gets killed, and her father is found by the body with no recollection of how he got there. Gemma’s parents and her sister Pippa are well-drawn, enjoyable characters, who fit in well with the rest of the group. The mystery itself is entertaining and comes to a logical and quite satisfying conclusion. There’s some extra humor thrown in with Gemma’s calls back home to see how the shop is running, and a couple of characters I’d like to see turn up in West London in future books. All in all, another great entry in a terrific series. I received a free e-copy of this book from Netgalley in return for a fair and honest review.

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This was a fast paced mystery and a great continuation of the series. I loved the London setting in this installment and meeting the new characters. Gemma’s parents were a great addition.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Title: There’s A Murder Afoot

Author: Vicki Delany

Series: Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery

Chapters: 22

Pages: 336

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

There’s a Murder Afoot by Vicki Delany is the newest installment in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Series, and this one takes place in London. The first one in the series to take place across the pond. And with this one it’s easy to see that the main character Gemma Doyle who happens to share a name with the creator of Sherlock Holmes she’s meant to be a modern version of Sherlock Holmes expect she’s female.
I have to say that this one is my favorite of the series so far, and it’s due in part to the London setting. Reading the mystery made it seem like the reader was indeed in London. As this is the 5th one in the series I do recommend not reading this one first, I recommend starting with the first book Elementary, She Read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

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A Sherlock Homes convention is the perfect premise for bookseller Gemma Doyle and her friends go to London in this continuation of an entertaining series. Gemma is excited to see her family, show off a few of her favorite sites and accept an award for her Uncle Arthur at the convention. When her estranged uncle is found murdered, with her retired father nearby, Gemma's keen powers of observation kick in as the police seem uninterested in other suspects. I really liked the descriptions of the various areas and museums in London detailed in the story. While this is the fifth book in the series, the book would do well as a intro to the series with the group being abroad.

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Gemma Doyle and her friends travel to London to attend a Sherlock Holmes convention. Gemma only has to give one speech, then she and her friends can have fun being tourists and spending time with Gemma’s family. Fun is derailed when Gemma’s father recognizes his long lost brother-in-law, Randolph. Randolph disappeared more than thirty years ago after he stole a valuable painting from his own parents. Gemma’s father, Henry, is a retired detective with Scotland Yard has kept tabs on Randolph over the years. Henry warns Randolph to stay away from his family. When Henry is found standing over Randolph’s dead body, Gemma has to clear her father’s name.

This mystery is well-written with several twists and turns along the way. I really enjoyed meeting Gemma’s family. Her sister, Pippa, was actually one of my favorite characters in this book. Pippa is definitely mysterious especially when it comes to her job but when she is with Grant she is just a normal woman. Also when Ashleigh and Gemma talk on the phone about what is happening back at the book store is very humorous. I think this is my favorite book in the series so far.

I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced by anyone.

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This is the 5th book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. I've read and enjoyed them all. This latest book was the best of the series so far, in my opinion. Gemma, who owns the bookstore, and her friend Jane who tuns the teashop next door, travel to London to accept an award at a Sherlock Holmes convention. The award actually belongs to Gemma's uncle but she's accepting it in his honor.

Almost all the characters from Cape Cod went to London, including Ryan, Gemma's "sort-of" boyfriend. When her father is accused of murder, Gemma starts investigating just like she does at home.

This series is well-written and intelligent, and I highly reccomend it.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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"There's a Murder Afoot" is a perfect read for lovers of all things Sherlock Holmes. This entertaining novel is set in London, England, at a Sherlock Holmes convention. American bookstore owner Gemma is there for the conference, along with her friends and business partners. Gemma's parents and sister also play key roles in this story.

The plot revolves around the death of Gemma's uncle, which occurs at the conference under suspicious circumstances. Gemma and her friends and family involve themselves in quite a few intriguing situations as they attempt to solve the murder and clear Gemma's dad of suspicion based on circumstantial evidence. The worlds of Sherlock and art forgery combine to portray and interesting and quick moving plot. The characters are likeable and well drawn, so the reader avoids confusion inherent in some mystery novels that feature too many similarly suspicious suspects.

Readers of cozy novels will find this one an enjoyable read. Although it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. This was the first in the series that I have read, and I plan to seek out the rest of them to catch up on the back story of the novels.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

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Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium in West London, Massachusetts, is taking her gang to London to attend a Sherlock Holmes convention. While at the convention, Gemma's father, retired cop Henry recognizes his estranged brother-in-law Randolph Manning, who disappeared more than thirty years ago.

Henry and Randolph have a public fight, so when Randolph turns up dead, Henry is the prime suspect. It's up to Gemma's keen detecting skills to prove her father's innocence. She and her friends are working against a Scotland Yard detective who has a grudge against her father, so they have their work cut out for them.

I love the eclectic group of people that come together in the Bookshop mysteries. When I heard this one was set in London I was afraid it would take away from the way this group works, but I was happy to see that it did not. Gemma was in her element working to save her father from life in prison.

It was also wonderful to see Jayne, Grant, and Donald, take part in the investigation. I did feel a little sorry for Ryan, Gemma's boyfriend, who seemed to take a backseat in the case. I understand the reasons why, but I empathized with him, which shows how well Ms. Delany writes her characters. We are introduced to Pippa, Gemma's sister, and she proves to be an intriguing character that provides a great deal of entertaining reading.

The mystery in this book was well plotted, and it kept me on my toes. One of the things I love about this series is searching for clues while I read. This time I missed a few. I guess that means I'll have to read the book once more.

I recommend this book for readers who enjoy intriguing mysteries. It would be better to start at the beginning, and if you do that I envy you. I would rather enjoy being able to read them again and not know what would happen. I look forward to the next title in this series.

I read a digital copy of this book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

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I loved this book!! Great story!! Received this book from crooked lane books from netgally!! Haven't read any of the other books in the series I probably will!!

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Gemma Doyle takes her amazing powers of observation on a brief holiday across the pond bringing her entourage with her to a Sherlockian convention where she is set to present as well as accept honors on behalf of her Great Uncle. The last thing she expects to do is meet her Mother's estranged younger brother and have to solve his murder and thereby saving her father suspicion of murder. One doesn't have to be familiar with back stories to understand the players or know which game is afoot. The author does a nice job of creating a parallel between the main Sherlock characters and the main characters in the Sherlock Holmes bookshop mysteries. This latest one definitely gave a nod to the Mycroft character. Don't expect these to be modern day adaptations, no these are completely new and interesting stories with a new and interesting main character. I would love to have a fraction of the powers of observation that Gemma not only posses but also makes great use of while systematically hunting for clues with her Dr. Watson aka Jayne and the romantic aspect with West London Detective Ryan Ashburton. The only thing missing is some recipes from Mr. Hudson's Tea Room.

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Bookshop owner Gemma Doyle and her friends travel to London to attend a Sherlock Holmes convention. When, at the convention, Gemma's father exchanges harsh words with Gemma's heretofore unknown uncle, and this uncle is soon found murdered with an unconscious Henry Doyle by his side, it doesn't take long for Scotland Yard to arrest Henry for murder! Gemma must work in tandem with her sister, Pippa (the Mycroft to her Sherlock), to solve the murder and investigate an art forgery ring. Very quickly paced, filled with interesting characters and locations, Vicki Delany's 5th Sherlock Holmes Mystery is my absolute favorite so far in the series! A+++

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Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

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Vicki Delany takes Gemma Doyle away from her Sherlock Holmes bookshop in America to London for a Sherlock Holmes Conference. There's a Murder Afoot as Gemma's previously unknown uncle is murdered at the conference and her father is arrested for his murder. High art forgery and low art shenanigans show the game's afoot. Gemma's sister Pippa is in the highly secret service and assists where she can. Gemma's friends from America are at the conference and in turn help out and get in her way. Entertaining cozy with the Sherlockian twist. Enjoy.

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I have enjoyed all the books in this series that I have read.

Gemma owns a bookstore at Cape Cod that is Sherlock Holmes themed. Her uncle, also a Holmes fan, appears at times, but mostly travels.

This book takes Gemma and friends we were introduced to in previous books to London for a Holmes convention. Here we meet her sister who is a "Spook." We aren't certain exactly what her job is, but she is obviously placed high in the government of the UK - spy? not certain, and no-one in her family seems to know either.

Of course there is a murder. It is Gemma's uncle estranged from the family since before she was born. Her father is accused of the murder by a former colleague who has always been jealous of the successes of Gemma's father. The police want to pin it on the easiest suspect and so do not investigate any other leads, something that Gemma willingly takes on.

I gave it four stars and chose not to advise students to read it based on the part of the story where Gemma and her boy friend Ryan end up sharing a room in her mother's home. There are other arrangements that could have been made to accommodate all the guests at the time, and Gemma and Ryan had been in separate hotel rooms before the more to her childhood home. I just get tired of the "new morality" portrayed in books and do not want to encourage students to believe that this is perfectly acceptable behavior.

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Gemma and her friends head to London for a Sherlock Holmes Convention. During dinner Gemma meets an uncle she didn’t know she has. Themurder at 5he convention is close to home so Gemma sets off to find the killer with the help of her sister who is high up in the government.
Goodreads

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Literary Break Turns Murderous.....
A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery book five. The birthday of Mr Holmes and a Holmes convention . Great excitement as Gemma and pals travel to London for the convention - as they begin their sightseeing they remain blissfully unaware of the murderous twist their literary break will eventually take. Hugely enjoyable cosy mystery with endearing characters, a likeable protagonist and a fun plot. A worthy addition to this long running series.

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"Gemma Doyle and her friends travel to London for a Sherlock Holmes convention--but will Gemma's father take the fall for a felonious forger's fatality"
This is my first cozy mystery and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I already love London and Sherlock Holmes! The characters are quirky and likeable, the dialogue is funny, and it's very entertaining! I'll be sure to read books #1 - #4 of the series. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for making it available.

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