Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories were some of the earliest mysteries I remember reading after I “graduated” from the Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown books I read in grade school. And I really liked the Holmes books, so I was happy to receive an advance review copy of A Curious Incident, which is the sixth and most recent title in a series set in a fictional Holmes-themed bookstore and tea room on Cape Cod.

Author Vicki Delany does a nice job of sprinkling Holmes trivia throughout the book, while also crafting an enjoyable mystery. The plot revolves around a garden club rivalry that appears to have gone (very) sour, ending in the death of one of the rivals. But of course, things aren’t necessarily what they seem. So when the obvious suspect’s young daughter wants to hire bookseller (but NOT a consulting detective) Gemma Doyle to clear her mother, things start rolling along. Although I did end up figuring out whodunnit pretty early on, there were enough twists and turns that I kept second-guessing myself, so in the end, I guess I can’t really claim to have figured it out after all.

Since this is the sixth in the series, and I haven’t read any of the earlier books, I did feel a little bit lost at first. But it seemed pretty obvious that Gemma and her bookshop co-owner. Great-Uncle Arthur, must be distant relatives of the original Sir Arthur, and that turns out to be the case. And I eventually figured out most of the other relationships that were important for the story, including Gemma’s policeman boyfriend, Ryan; best friend, Jayne; and semi-nemesis (and Ryan’s fellow police officer), Louise Estrada.

The Curious Incident is pretty much a classic cozy mystery, so if you like cozies, you’ll like this one, and if you don’t, you probably won’t. I enjoyed it enough that I’m going to keep an eye out for some of the earlier titles in the series. Please keep in mind that for me, 4 stars is my normal ranking, and is a solid recommendation for the book, so long as, as I mentioned up above, you like cozies. (I only give five stars to maybe one in thirty or forty books that I read.) Finally, I’d like to thank the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and Net Galley for the advance review copy.

And yes, just in case you were wondering, the title does turn out to be relevant in the end!

I love this series so much. Every entry is delightful and witty, and it's almost reminiscent of the BBC Sherlock series. Vicki Delany knocked it out of the park again with a nice and twisty mystery perfect for any Sherlock aficionado.

A Curious Incident by Vicki Delany (Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery #6) 4.5 Stars

This is the second book that I have read in this series. I read "Elementary She Read" (Book #1) and am slowly making my way through this series. Gemma Doyle, a distant relative of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is part owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. A fan of deductive reasoning, she has been involved in several mysteries and provided aid to the local police. She has been requested to help Lauren Tierney find her lost kitten, Snowball. Gemma is reluctant to help, but agrees to keep her eye out for the missing kitten. On a walk with her dog, Violet, Gemma stumbles onto the missing kitten - CASE CLOSED. Unfortunately, Lauren shows up again for Gemma's help for her mother, Sheila. Sheila is suspected of killing her gardening rival, Anna Wentworth. What follows is a mystery where the obvious suspect appears to have motive and opportunity; proving her innocence - well the games afoot..

I enjoyed this book, but I'm sure I missed some character background because I haven't read some of the earlier books. I had no problem picking up on the relationships between characters because the author wrote some scenes that explained it. The mystery was very good and I picked up some clues as to the identity of the perp around 2/3 into the book. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.

What I Loved:

Lauren and Snowball. It isn’t often that we get to see Gemma be “human” – she has a small group of friends and family, but otherwise, she is fairly off putting to other people. However, Lauren and Snowball walked into Gemma’s bookstore, and Gemma immediately took to the pair. Lauren is a delightful kid, inquisitive and loving, who has a rough home life. Gemma rapidly becomes something akin to a favorite aunt, and Lauren loves her quirks. I really enjoyed how Gemma got more attached to this case through Lauren, and the dynamic between the two. I am hoping that Lauren and Snowball make more appearances, with Snowball and Moriarty becoming good friends also. My favorite parts are when Lauren subconsciously begins picking up Gemma’s mannerisms and speech patterns, because it reminds me of my niece.

Jane and Gemma’s Antics. I am always a fan of when Jane and Gemma go clue hunting, and this was no exception. Jane is a perfect foil to Gemma: she is warm and engaging, and people take to her quickly. People talk to Jane more than they talk to Gemma. She also lets Gemma know when she is being off-putting or obnoxious. Jane’s character development has also been most fun to watch, and I can’t wait to see developments in the next book.

Depictions of Suburban Garden Life. Anna, woman who was murdered is part of the gardening network in the neighborhood, but she also destroyed the main suspect’s flower garden prior to dying. The gardeners in the club are more shocked and appalled by the destruction of the garden than they are by the murder, and soon a phone chain is created to gossip about the garden. This gossip mongering and frankly appalling lack of caring for the dead woman is actually part of what I love about A Curious Incident, since it reminds me so much of actual suburban women and the webs they weave. I also love how Gemma gets to be on the outside looking in with a clinical eye while so many others would be horrified. It was a real display of human nature, like watching the show Weeds.

What Didn’t Work as Well:

Ryan and Gemma. Not going to lie, this one hurts to write. I love Ryan, the hotshot detective who challenges Gemma and loves her for her brain, but in A Curious Incident, he fell flat. Ryan was short with Gemma and upset she was investigating the case (par for the course), but he took it a step further. He doesn’t answer Gemma’s calls when she has major evidence, and doesn’t stand up for her at all when hostile detective Estrada threatens to arrest Gemma. This is all despite knowing that Gemma’s evidence is always not only relevant, but often crucial in solving the case. Further, the few scenes where Gemma and Ryan are together and acting civil, the relationship felt different and regressed from the last book, There’s a Murder Afoot (not coincidentally my favorite in the series).

The Murderer. I don’t often guess the killer in cozies – in fact, I usually don’t. A Curious Incident was the same, but this time, I also felt like the killer was a bit nonsensical. I wasn’t a huge fan of the build up or reveal, and it felt anticlimactic despite the hint of suspense that permeated the rest of the book. This isn’t a deal breaker for me, but I know for more serious cozy fans, it may be a bigger issue.

A charming and delightful addition to an entertaining and engaging series. Good variety of characters. Love the addition of Lauren and the animals. Clever mystery.

Gemma who runs the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium and her friend Jayne are on the case. Young Lauren Tierney looks up to Gemma and wants her to prove her mother's innocence in the murder of a famous garden expert.

The characters are fun. Gemma is like Sherlock in that she is very observant and quick to make connections. Jayne is her sidekick. I enjoy stories that are fun and a nice escape and this fits the bill. The characters are entertaining and easy to like. The way the story flows is easy-to-read and enjoyable.

3.5 stars. This is book 6 in the series and I hadn’t ready any of the previous novels, so many of the personal relationships were hard to follow immediately. That said, the mystery was a bit more intricate and the author takes you along for the mystery ride. Overall a decent cozy mystery but it might be useful to read the previous ones as they are referenced within.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the arc.

I received this book from Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Gemma Doyle is the owner of Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. In this, the sixth of the series, she is on the case of a missing kitten. Not her usual hijinks, and she did decline the case from the beginning. The local garden club is having its annual showcase and tempers are flaring. When one of the members is found dead, Gamma knows she will be pulled into the fray. Loads of fun, lots of trails to follow and many a laugh make for an excellent cozy mystery. I enjoyed this book. I'm surprised I hadn't read her previous books in this series yet but that will be soon amended.

A Curious Incident: A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery
By Vicki Delany
Crooked Lane Books
January 2020

Review by Cynthia Chow

Despite her declarations that she is not a Consulting detective, Gemma Doyle has proven to be remarkably successful at it. That shouldn’t be too surprising, as Gemma and her great-uncle own the Sherlock Holmes Bookstore and Emporium in West London, Massachusetts, with that same uncle adamant that they are descendants Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It's takes considerable will for Gemma to resist the plea by adorable young Lauren Tierney to find her lost kitten, but Gemma proves unable to turn off the astounding observational skills that lead her directly to the appropriately named white kitty Snowball. That success explains why Lauren returns to again attempt to enlist Gemma's consulting detective services, this time to prove her mother innocent of being a murderer.

After Sheila Tierney's in-contention-for-an-award garden was vandalized the day before a garden tour - its pansies pillaged and begonias beheaded - she immediately confronted garden club rival Anna Wentworth. After accusing Anna of an assortment of crimes, including but not limited to flower destruction and husband stealing, it doesn’t take much of a leap for police to consider Sheila to be a Person of Interest when Anna is found bludgeoned to death. Although Sheila is eventually released, police focus only on finding more incriminating proof against her, which is why Lauren and all of Gemma's friends implore her to take on the case. One of the few voices of dissent is Gemma's boyfriend Detective Ryan Ashburton, who reminds her of the recent brushes with death that followed confrontations with a murderer. Aggressively opposing Gemma's involvement even further is Detective Louise Estrada, who distrusts Gemma and wouldn’t hesitate to arrest her again if possible. It still surprises no one when Gemma's curiosity and impressive puzzle-solving skills compel her to continue to follow the clues surrounding the gardener's death, and it quickly emerges that there are an increasingly large number of those with motives to have wanted Anna permanently planted.

This 6th of the series continues to honor one of the greatest fictional detectives in a cozier, but equally witty and clever novel. The friendship between Gemma and Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room manager/baker Jayne Wilson feels entirely natural, with the very different women bonding through their afternoon teas together. Native Englishwoman Gemma provides a unique perspective on the Cape Cod town, which is inundated with bibliophiles and Holmes devotees. The steady pace of Gemma’s investigation keeps readers glued to the page, with her deductions and observations worthy of the Greatest Detective. Adorable kittens, a loyal cocker spaniel, and nemesis Moriarty the cat deliver laughs and heart-warming emotional beats all the way through to its final surprising final twist.

Despite not knowing the victim, Gemma is approached by an 11-year-old to clear her mother's name. This makes her connection to the murder and the major players tenuous at best but Gemma plugs along and manages to get information that the police cannot. I love the Sherlock Holmes connection and Gemma's powers of observation to get to the truth of the matter. It's what makes this series so unique and one of my favorites.

One of the character’s names keeps changing from Sheila to Shelia, sometimes within the same sentence. It doesn’t change the story but it’s really distracting. Otherwise, this was a great mystery that came together nicely in the end.

I received a copy from #netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gemma is minding her own business and tending her bookshop and has no idea that finding young Lauren's kitten will lead her to a murder investigation. Well, she should because that's what she does, all assertions (and promises to Ryan, her detective boyfriend) to the contrary. Lauren comes back to Gemma when her mom Sheila is accused of murdering her former BFF Anna. At first impression, it seems like these two fell out in rivalry over gardens but there's a deeper more painful issue. But Sheila didn't kill Anna; Gemma and her friend Jayne find the truth. This has enough twists to keep you guessing. Fans of the series like me know that this is a fun read with subtle (okay sometimes not so subtle) references to Holmes and Watson. If you haven't read it- it's going to be fine as a standalone. The characters are good (I liked Lauren this time out), the dialogue snappy, and I didn't solve the mystery before Gemma. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. For cozy fans.

This was a very good read. It would have been a five star read for me if not for a couple little things. I tend to forget how much I like Gemma and Jayne together and it was fun to be a part of their world again. I liked the story and how Gemma isn't directly involved in the mystery [to begin with and to be fair, she WAS hired. ;-) ]. I love the addition of several new animals, an adorable 11-year old [who desperately needs Gemma as much as Gemma needs her, whether she realizes it or not] and some lovely time spent with Mrs. Ramsbatten [who is a FANTASTIC character and one we need to see much more of]. The mystery itself was good and I learned stuff about plants and flowers that I didn't know [I am much like Gemma and can kill a plant by just looking at it]. And the reveal was very good and unexpected in the way it plays out. So, all-in-all, a really good read. So why not 5 stars right?
1. I knew who the killer was very early. V E R Y early.
2. Ryan. He was very problematic for me in this book. He was flat and one-dimensional [thanks Joy for that description - it works so well here] and V E R Y inconsistent. Any time he is in the story, the story just kind of goes flat and uninteresting. He is a good character and deserves more than what he was given in this book. It was rather disappointing.
3. Louise Estrada. Look, I get that she and Gemma are never going to be friends and that Louise is always going to be caustic and I don't think it is a stretch to say, obnoxious. But she is unacceptable snotty and mean in this book. Gemma goes out of her way to not antagonize her [even compliments her at one point] and Louise responds every time in a mean and obnoxious way. It would have have been a stretch to have her be somewhat kind. It was very off-putting and just made me dislike her even more than I typically do.

All that said, it was still a very good read and I enjoyed it very much. This is absolutely one of my all-time favorite series [thanks again to Joy for shovi...I mean asking me to read/start this series with her; it has been a very good one!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Vicki Delany and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The sixth installment in The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series comes back to Cape Cod and the small, familiar group of friends and business associates. This almost stripped-down approach is clear and refreshing. The characters introduced as part of the murder plot line are few and logically related, and the story moves in a direct line without feeling rushed or underdeveloped.

Gemma’s character is certainly enriched with the addition of an 11 year-old houseguest who both admires and desperately needs her. The continuation of this relationship into further books could add a satisfying new direction.

The character of Ryan, Gemma’s on-again-off-again police force boyfriend falls a bit flat and inconsistent in this one. Otherwise, it is a good cozy read.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

*I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

As far as cozy murders go this is a pretty good read - mostly enjoyable but some elements kind of irked me, so my review is a little mixed.

I loved that there was no love triangle for the quirky female amateur sleuth and that she got to just straight up have a boyfriend - but the boyfriend is still the lead detective, and they spend very little time together and have zero chemistry. Maybe in previous installments (which I haven't read) there was more between them, but honestly it just feels like they are together because in cozy murders the amateur lady sleuth ALWAYS has a romantic entanglement in the local police department.

I also loved that Gemma, the amateur sleuth, didn't make a single comment about her own body being different to other women's bodies (which is such a common cozy thing - women can just exist without hating their bodies/always commenting that other women are prettier!) BUT I have a serious problem with the way Gemma comments on the weight of a heavier character. It's done under the guise of her just going about being very observant and this womans big fat body is just something she notices and describes (over and over..) but its just totally unnecessary, and super offputting as a plump mystery reader.

I found the obsession over Sherlock Holmes a bit weird at first, and the first person narration grating (given Gemma is meant to be very logical and deductive and unemotional and observant ie she is meant to be a modern Holmes - I understand the intention but in this instance it took a while to get used to). By about the middle of the book I was used to both and the narrative was enough to carry the less enjoyable aspects of the story.

If you like easy, cozy reads set in small towns then this is for you. The cast of characters is pretty standard for a small town cozy (note though - not diverse. This is pretty typical of the genre but I note it here specifically because there is only one obviously described poc and he's... a gardener. Do people who arent white sometimes work as labourers, maids, pool cleaners etc? yes. But also as many other things and honestly in this book it sticks out as a tired stereotype)

I enjoy this series. Good mystery, good characters. New addition to the family at the end. Will continue to read series.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Gemma Doyle owns a Sherlock Holmes themed bookshop, she often stumbles across the crimes of the town of West London on Cape Cod causing discontent among the police force.

In this sixth installment of A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series Gemma decides to help a young girl, Lauren, to clear her mother of murder charges.

The dead body of Anna, a great and well known gardener is found in the darkest part of the park. Without any witness and any evidences the detectives look in the victim’s life and they find out that Anna has fought with a fellow gardener the morning of the murder so all suspicion falls on Sheila. Has Sheila really murdered her ex best friend? Will Gemma succeed to solve this intricate case?

A Curious Incident was an enjoyable novel with a good mystery.
I liked the setting and the plot and the characters. Gemma is a nice, witty character that made me smile throughout the book and the side characters also add depth to the story.
The only thing I couldn't make up an opinion over is Gemma's love relationship with the detective Ryan Ashburton but I'm curious enough to know more about them to keep reading this series, cheering for their happily ever after.

Don't worry if you haven't read the previous books in the series you can easily follow the story because a new mystery is solved at the end of every book.

A Curious Incident will keep you trying to piece the murder together while running a business and watching a young child. The suspects all seem to have a reason to commit murder. Intriguing.

When I started reading A Curious Incident from noted crime writer Vicki Delany, I didn’t realize it was part of a series. After I finished reading, I learned it was the sixth book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series. It didn’t matter. A Curious Incident is a treat for mystery readers and a non-guilty pleasure for fans of Sherlock Holmes.

Gemma Doyle is an Englishwoman who manages her great-uncle Arthur’s bookstore, Sherlock Holmes Bookshop, at 222 Baker Street in West Lincoln on Cape Cod. She’s also an amateur sleuth - she prefers “consulting detective” - who manages to get entangled in any cases that happen in the area. Police detective and boyfriend Ryan Ashburton wishes she would not get involved, and his partner Louise Estrada gets infuriated when Gemma gets caught up in their investigations.

Young Lauren Tierney asks for Gemma’s help finding her lost kitten Snowball. When Gemma stumbles upon the kitten that evening, Lauren is convinced that Gemma can solve any case. A few days later, Lauren wants to hire Gemma (for ten bucks) to clear her outspoken mother Sheila, who is the main suspect in the murder of Anna Wentworth.

On the day of the local gardening society’s judging for its top award, Sheila storms into Anna’s yards and attacks Anna, accusing her of wrecking Sheila’s garden. That night, Anna’s body is found in the woods near the neighborhood walkway. Despite promising Ryan that she will let the police handle the case, Gemma keeps getting drawn back into the investigation. While Gemma is trying to figure out who destroyed Sheila’s garden and who murdered Anna, another mystery gets added to the puzzle. Was someone trying to kill Gemma?

Fans of Sherlock Holmes will appreciate the references to Sherlock Holmes - the character, the books, and even his famous portrayer Benedict Cumberbatch. Mystery fans will enjoy the quick-paced story which captivates the reader. As additional characters are introduced, Delany provides enough clues to keep the reader guessing who committed which crimes and why. In the end, loose ends are tied up in a way that makes sense without being too obvious,

The only downside to starting with book six of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries? Adding the previous five books to an already lengthy To Read list.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

There is always something exciting going on at the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, as well as at the tearoom next door.

Gemma is always busy. She is also well known for poking about in things that don’t concern her. And putting herself in danger. When she finds little Lauren Tierney perched on the stool in the shop, she has no idea that things are about to get even more hectic.

As Gemma tries to explain to Lauren that she is not an actual detective, Lauren begs her to please help her find her missing cat, Snowball. Gemma may not know much about sniffing out cats, but her dog Violet does! When Violet drags Gemma into the back of a garden, they find the cat shut into the shed. By accident?

With Snowball back in Lauren’s arms, Gemma is able to give herself a quick pat on the back for that quick find. But when a few days later Lauren is back looking to hire her again, Gemma doesn’t know what to say. Since Lauren would like to hire her to clear her own mother of murder charges.

This is one of my favorite series. A bookshop and a teashop right next to each other? Yes, please! While Gemma tries hard to stay out of trouble, she seems to be a magnet for it. Do people seriously murder their competition in a garden club? I’m sure they do. Remember the cheerleader mom? These are some seriously good characters. I was even suspicious of the old people.

Another excellent addition to the series!

NetGalley/ January 12th, 2021 Crooked Lane Books

amateur-sleuth, cosy-mystery, family-dynamics, friendship, law-enforcement, murder-investigation, pets, suspense, verbal-humor, small-business, small-town*****

Even though this is sixth in series, that doesn't in any way spoil the fun if the reader hasn't yet read the others. Set in the small Massachusetts town of West London in Cape Cod, British ex-pat Gemma Doyle Gemma tries her best to stay out of the crime described adequately in the publisher's blurb. I was somewhat surprised and disappointed that the boyfriend came across more as an insecure cop becoming more of a bully than in previous books, so I wonder what will come of that. I like her relationship (or lack of one) with bookstore cat Moriarty and her devotion to her dog, Violet. The story is entertaining as well as humorous which is the perfect combination. Of course I enjoyed it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!