Gemma Doyle is emphatic that she isn't going to get involved in another case. Really, no, not going to happen. Well she hadn't anticipated an eleven year old girl asking for her help finding her lost kitten, Snowball. She says no... sort of, like not making any promises. In reality Gemma can say she wasn't
in any way investigating. Blame it on her dog, Violet who kept telling her in her doggie way, exactly where the kitten was hiding. Of course returning the kitten isn't the end of things and she crosses paths with the little girls not very nice mother. Now things get serious. Next thing Gemma knows she is being asked by Lauren, $10 in hand (as a retainer) to help keep her mother out of jail on a charge of murder. Gemma is now on the case.
As Gemma says, she has a black thumb when it comes to plants and gardening is of no interest to her, either. Sheila had her heart set on winning the best garden award this year but her prize garden is ruthlessly trashed overnight and she is certain she knows who did it. After a face to face screaming match with the woman, all attention turns to Sheila when the woman is found dead in a nearby park while walking her dog. If Sheila is innocent, who hated Anna enough to resort to murder?
I think this is my favorite of the series, so far. Gemma is more likable this time and I like the softer side of Gemma as seen by her interaction with Lauren. She's protective of the child. As for the mystery itself, as usual it is very well plotted, flows smoothly and joins the list of books that kept me reading past my bedtime. It also made for a great de-stressor during these trying times.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A Curious Incident is the sixth in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery series featuring amateur sleuth Gemma Doyle. While Gemma is actively trying to avoid getting involved in any murder mysteries, this time the case comes to her in the form of ten year old Lauren. Lauren originally seeks out Gemma's assistance in locating her missing kitten however when Gemma's dog Violet quickly solves that case, Lauren again seeks Gemma's assistance but this time the case involves murder. When a member of the garden club is murdered, Lauren's mother soon becomes the prime suspect. It turns out the pair were once friends, now turned enemies and the victim could be the reason behind Lauren's parent's struggling marriage. Lauren is desperate to prove her mother's innocence and trusts Gemma implicitly, and as much as she tries to respect her boyfriend's wishes and leave the sleuthing to the police, Gemma can't tell Lauren no. She quickly unravels clues and unearths suspects much faster than the police in an effort to unmask the true killer.
A Curious Incident is a fast paced, character driven, well plotted mystery which derives inspiration from one of literature's greatest detectives, Sherlock Holmes. Much like the great detective himself, Gemma shares many of the same mannerisms and characteristics, making her a bit of a modern day Sherlock. Her methodical observation methods, keen sense of her surroundings, logical and slow deliberation of facts, not to mention her quickness to point out her opinions, sometimes to the chagrin of other's, often leaves her at odds with members of the community, especially those employed by the local police force. However fans of the series will be delighted to see the growth in Gemma's character in this newest release, mainly in her interactions with the young Lauren. Some favorite secondary characters make an appearance as well bringing with them a hint of surprises in store for the series. Gemma's continued misuse of American slang adds lots of laugh out loud moments throughout the narrative. I highly recommend A Curious Incident to fans of amateur sleuth stories looking for a great book to start off the new year.

This is the second book I have read by this author - I have previously reviewed Read and Buried (written using the pseudonym Eva Gates). As before, I appreciated the book - the plot, characters, and setting all seem to go well together.

Gemma Doyle is the “part-owner, manager, and general dogsbody of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium” located in West London MA, along the shores of Cape Cod. And as she often proclaims, SHE IS NOT A CONSULTING DETECTIVE - now if she could only convince her friends of that fact.

Irene Talbot, an employee at the tea shop connected to the Gemma’s Emporium, had now convinced Lauren, a precocious eleven-year-old, that she could find her missing cat. After all she was an even “better than the police.” Even though Gemma refused, later that night she did find the cat. Things got tougher the next week. Lauren again showed up on her door step asking for Gemma to prove that her mother had not murdered a neighbor. Again Gemma refused, but she was curious and got herself involved. Too involved; she almost became a victim as well.

Gemma and her friends made a nice team of amateur detectives. I really thought Donald was a pain - he could do little right. Though not a typical pet mystery, even the dogs (Violet and Peony) and cats (Moriarty and Snowball) had a place in the story. Detective Louise Estrada was more of a nuisance than anything,

Once I started the book, I could not wait to finish it - it was a worthwhile wait. I will want to read more of Gemma Doyle and her gang.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

Sixth in its exciting series, A Curious Incident shows Gemma Doyle at her very best at “not investigating” a recent murder Cape Cod’s in West London. I enjoyed this novel even more than the earlier ones in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. There are several reasons for this, including the eleven-year-old girl who wants to hire her as a consulting detective, and a vulnerability that isn’t part of Gemma’s usual pragmatic persona. The characters are drawn with excellence as demonstrated through their conversations and behaviors, and rich descriptions invite one into each scene. The mystery was fascinating. While I had an idea whodunit, there were a couple very appealing red herrings that distracted me.

The summer tourist season is in full swing, and business is booming at the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, owned by Gemma and her great-uncle Arthur. Tour buses arrive throughout the day, and business hours are extended. Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room, adjoining the Emporium, is equally busy with tourists and locals alike. Jayne, Gemma’s best friend, is a partner in Mrs. Hudson’s with Gemma and Arthur; her baked goods and tea service are popular year-round.

Sheila and her daughter Lauren are regular customers at Mrs. Hudson’s. Lauren heard from her aunt Irene that Gemma has solved mysteries that police were unable to. Lauren is desperate, wanting Gemma to find her kitten, Snowball, missing for two days. Not a fan of cats and trying to keep her fragile relationship with the love of her life, Ryan, stable, Gemma is not doing any investigating. Even for cats. It is totally by accident that she finds Snowball and takes the fluffy feline to her ecstatic owner.

Fast forward a week. It is the day after the West London Garden Club’s annual summer garden tour. On the morning of the tour, Sheila found that her amazing garden had been vandalized, decimated, during the night. Furious, she was believed her former friend and competitor, Anna, had done the deed and accosted her publicly. Anna won the trophy later that day for the best garden. That night, when Anna was walking her dog, she was killed in a nearby park from a blow to the head.

Lauren returned to the Emporium to hire Gemma to find whodunit, as her mother Sheila is the main suspect after her confrontation with Anna. Gemma doesn’t want to investigate and tries to stay out of it but sees how heartbroken Lauren is. Gemma begins to hear rumors, and when Sheila disappears, leaving Lauren alone, wants to help her young houseguest. When an attack intended against Gemma harms someone she loves, the gloves come off.

What a fabulous novel! There are many good things, including wonderful changes for Jayne. Gemma is at the top of her game, sifting through conversations and clues. I did have a pet suspect, but was uncertain of the motive, so I continued to consider a couple other people. Several secrets came out, some of which showed much stronger motives for Sheila. I enjoy Gemma more now than ever as we see more of her heart for others as well as her brilliance at solving mysteries. I was very satisfied with the overall outcome and look forward to more from Gemma and Jayne. I highly recommend this to fans of the author and series, well-written cozy mysteries, Sherlock Holmes, and observant female sleuths.

From a thankful heart: I received an e-arc of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

I have enjoyed following along with Gemma on her newest sleuthing adventures. I love the characters and find them to be well developed. The mystery was good and kept me guessing til the end.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Gemma Doyle is one of my favourite amateur detectives in the cozy mystery genre. While her famous last name and her interest in Sherlock Holmes is obvious, Gemma herself tries to stay away from blatantly solving mysteries, especially when her boyfriend, Detective Ryan Ashburton, is around. But mystery just seems to find Gemma and she can’t help herself (thank goodness). Gemma is smart, resourceful and has a generous heart, which is why she can’t resist helping young Lauren, even though Lauren’s mother is… um… let’s just say she’s not that nice.

The mystery was interesting to watch unravel. There were a couple of red herrings that had me second guessing who my main suspect was and it was a satisfying resolution.
Delany is a great writer and the pace of the story never really flags. One of Delany’s strengths is that she writes really good, strong characters that are truly memorable (in both good and bad ways).

Alongside Gemma, I really adored the addition of the spunky Lauren. The kid is clever and I can easily understand why Jayne (and Gemma herself) quickly agree to help the young girl out.

Speaking of Gemma's best friend Jayne, I would love it if every mystery focused on these two solving mysteries together. Jayne is the perfect side-kick for Gemma.

Now, the two things I didn’t like in this otherwise amazing story. Ryan and his fellow police officer, Louise Estrada. In previous books, Ryan and Gemma had a lot of chemistry and banter, both of which were missing in this book. I’m not sure if this is leading to trouble for our sleuth, but their relationship felt a bit flat this time around.

And Louise…can I just say I outright hate this character? She is the only thing I don’t like about this entire series. I understand that many cozies have someone in law enforcement that doesn’t appreciate the amateur sleuth’s efforts – usually they’re just semi-annoying. But Louise is just so rude and immature, that I can’t stand any scene that she’s in. Ugh. Louise.

Aside from Louise, I enjoyed every moment in this book. I can’t wait for the next instalment and this continues to be one of the cozy mystery series that I look forward to.

*** Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

It all started with a missing cat. Eleven-year-old Lauren asks Gemma to help her find Snowball, which Gemma promptly does. A few days later, Lauren is back asking Gemma to clear her mom, Sheila, of murder charges. The victim, Anna, was suspected of having an affair with Lauren’s dad, David. In addition, Sheila publicly accused Anna of sabotaging her roses before the town’s annual garden contest resulting in a physical altercation. Later the same day, Anna wins the garden contest, is bashed in the head, and left dead in a park. Quite A Curious Incident, indeed!

Who wouldn’t want to have Gemma’s life? Co-owner and manager of a Sherlock Holmes bookstore on Cape Cod. She has a handsome police detective boyfriend, plus a town full of friends, family, and (screech!!!) murderers. Sounds like my cuppa tea, which is conveniently made next door in Mrs. Hudson’s tea shop by Gemma’s best friend Jayne.

It is always a pleasure to go detecting with Gemma. This is the sixth book in the series. All the characters seem like my family at this point. They are both realistic and believable. I learned a bit about gardening and began craving cucumber tea sandwiches (the herb added to the cream cheese is fresh dill). There are two mysteries this time. Who destroyed Sheila’s garden? Who killed Anna, and why? The first mystery is easy to solve. The second is more of a challenge though not quite as challenging as other books in this series.

A Curious Incident is a superior cozy mystery with genuine characters and two engaging mysteries to solve. 4 stars!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

From missing kittens to trashed gardens. having the garden club up in roits to rivalry and murder, Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, finds herself knee deep in yet another curious mystery that she tries really hard not to be involved in. She really does try to stay out of it.

I really enjoyed Gemma. She is a fun take on Sherlock Holmes. I loved her use of logic, her straightforward manor and her ability to put it all together. Gathering all the informal and extracting the facts then coming to the correct conclusion. Gemma’s got a gift for sure even if she is blunt and abrupt at times. Lauren is a fun addition to the cast of characters. She adds a lot of humor and fun to the story. Her curiosity is something to smile at while dealing with a very serious situation. She is all over the place, but that is a pre-teen for you.

A Curious Incident is a curious mystery indeed. A fun Sherlock Holmes themed cozy mystery with an enjoyable cast of characters. Well plotted and well developed, being my first read of the series I didn’t feel as if I was missing a thing. Vicki Delany gets the reader engaged with fun characters and well timed Holmes antidotes. I love how the book and tea shops go hand in hand together. The mystery and plot are solid, however this is a fully character driven book. There’s a lot going on but it all curiously fits together making an entertaining story.

If you like Sherlock Holmes, gardens, animals, book stores and great friendships or any combination, I think you will enjoy this book. Gemma and Jayne are wonderful best friends and have a combined business that includes food and books. Can it get any better than that? Throw in a good mystery and you have yourself some great entertainment. I enjoyed both the story line and the characters, two legged and 4 legged. I hope we get to see more of Lauren. She was a joy to get to know. I cant’s wait to visit with these folks again and see what they are up to next time. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

A Conundrum For Gemma.....
Gemma Doyle is faced with a conundrum in the latest Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery. Enjoyable, lighthearted cosy with a fun backdrop, a likeable protagonist and a colourful cast of supporting characters. Plenty to keep the reader guessing along the way. A worthy addition to this long running series.

A Curious Incident is the 6 th book in Vicki Delanys A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series, this is one of my absolute favorite series and this book didn’t disappoint. When the garden tour turns deadly, Gemma and Jayne once again put their sleuthing skills into action, trying to clear the a mother of a young girl of the murder. The well written storyline, and charming, relatable characters make for another entertaining read by Ms. Delany.
I would like to thank Netgalley for the e-ARC which I voluntarily reviewed. (less)

A Curious Incident is the delightful sixth addition to A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. Gemma considers herself to be an observant shop owner not a consulting detective, but she is the only one in town who thinks so. Irene Talbot of the newspaper in West London has a niece Lauren who needs Gemma’s help to find her missing kitten. Gemma doesn’t take the case but Violet comes to the rescue. You’ll have to read to find out who Violet is.
Lauren returns a few days later requesting help because her mom Sheila may have murdered someone. The story takes off from there. Lauren is a delightful addition to the story. Sheila not so much.
Just when it looks like the murder will go unsolved, Jayne falls ill. The pieces Gemma has been gathering start to fall into place. Gemma has once supremely stupid moment toward the end of the book, but otherwise this was fun and uplifting to read.
The main characters that return each book are solid. I even like Louise Estrada, mostly. Gemma is brilliantly observant in many areas but obtuse when it comes to catching others views of her. There are some references to past cases and events, but this book could be read as a stand-alone.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book prior to publication.

This is one of the rare books where I'd wouldn't have cared if the prime suspect ended up in prison. I didn't think she was that nice of a person. But her daughter loves her, and wants Gemma to help her mother. Gemma doesn't want to get involved, but she is fond of the young girl and goes beyond what she needs to, to help her.

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is one fantastic series. I love all things Sherlock. Each book is better than the last. Everytime I get one, I read it the same day. They are wonderful and clever.

Something tells me that Vicki Delany has just as much fun writing her Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mysteries as I do reading them. A Curious Incident is a heady blend of characterization, setting, mystery, and Holmesian references-- and as added extras, readers receive some excellent book recommendations and film critique. Can't go wrong with that now, can you?

The longer this series runs, the more similarities I find between Gemma and me, which doesn't necessarily mean that's why I like these books so much. Gemma and I both keep our workplaces tidy (our houses not so much), we have the same attitudes toward children, toward best friend Jayne's happiness, and toward Lauren's parents. Pitting Gemma against the wiles of little Lauren was a stroke of genius; I actually wouldn't mind seeing the little charmer appear in another book. I might even be mellowing a bit in my advancing years because Moriarty the bookshop cat "might" be growing on me.

Gemma's Uncle Arthur may be a no-show in the series, but I certainly love the way he made up for his pitiful performance in running the business while Gemma was in London in the last book. (Wow!) And... if you're writing a series with strong ties to Sherlock Holmes, you've got to have an Inspector Lestrade. In Gemma's case, those shoes are ably filled by Detective Louise Estrada who finds herself "wondering if there's any way to get [Gemma's] work visa revoked and send [her] back to London."

The mystery is a good one in A Curious Incident, filled with green-thumbed red herrings and gardening trophies, and with the plot and a fantastic cast of characters, I just settled down, opened the book, began to read, and plain flat-out had fun. You will, too.

Every book I read from Vicki Delany is a delight and A Curious Incident is just that--a delight! Gemma Doyle sets out to help 10-year old Lauren Tierney clear her mother of murder. As you're reading the book, you can see how Gemma and her friend Jayne Wilson grown as individuals and have success in their personal and professional lives since the first book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. It was fun seeing how Gemma interacted with Lauren since Gemma is known not to like kids. It was nice to see how Gemma struggled with solving the case some, because I struggled with the case too. I really enjoyed reading A Curious Incident and would recommend it to anyone that loves good cozy mystery. In fact, I would recommend the entire Sherlock Homes Bookshop Mystery series! Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book by one of my favorite authors! (This review is also on GoodReads..)

I love the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries, and this is my favorite in the series so far - they keep getting better and better! This one is perfect for spring, with its garden tour theme and seaside setting. It's fun seeing how Gemma's mind works as we follow her to the conclusion. I also really like the supporting characters in this series. Looking forward to the next one! Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advance digital copy!

Vicki Delaney does it again, with another case solved by the inimitable Gemma Doyle. We're introduced to other members of the West London community whose personalities brim out over the pages. Home from rainy London for the Holmes convention, Gemma settles back into her work, only to be pulled into the mad, mad world of garden tour competitions. Behind picket fences, latent anger grows faster than the flowers until a woman is murdered. Was it her former BFF? Did the husband have anything to do with it? What did the dog d0 overnight?

I forget this series is supposed to be a cozy - it's one of the best pastiches! What will #7 bring for Gemma and her friends - I can't wait to find out!

I guess it was too ambitions of me to step into reading the series at 6th installment. Reading A Curious Incident felt like suffering the white noise. Even though Sherlock Holmes Bookstore as setting caught me on the hook, I found reading this story trying. I could not place most of the characters and their relationships with each other. Plus (and may be because of the first point) the voice and dynamics of the story did not take me.

To give author her due, I will find the time to read the series from the beginning and will share my views then.

I"ve read 3 of the books in this series, and this one was the most likeable so far. The plot focuses on Gemma, the British owner of a Sherlock Holmes bookshop in New England, who likes to solve mysteries. She is recruited by a child to help find her missing kitty, and reluctantly does so. The child later recruits her again to help to clear her mother of murder charges. That becomes a bit more complicated. But, Gemma's up to the task, in spite of her boyfriend detective's objections. The mystery plot is a good one, with just enough twists to make the culprit less obvious. I also enjoyed the roles played by cats in this episode. A good read!