Sherlockians will delight at the latest charming installment of national bestselling author Vicki Delanyโs fourth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.
Gemma and Jayne donate their time to raise money for the rebuilding of a burned out museumโbut a killer wants a piece of the auction.
Walking her dog Violet late one night, Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop, acts quickly when she smells smoke outside the West London Museum. Fortunately no one is inside, but itโs too late to save the museumโs priceless collection of furniture, and damage to the historic house is extensive. Baker Streetโs shop owners come together to hold an afternoon auction tea to raise funds to rebuild, and Great Uncle Arthur Doyle offers a signed first edition of The Valley of Fear.
Cape Codโs cognoscenti files into Mrs. Hudsonโs Tea Room, owned by Gemmaโs best friend, Jayne Wilson. Excitement fills the air (along with the aromas of Jayneโs delightful scones, of course). But the auction never happens. Before the gavel can fall, museum board chair Kathy Lamb is found dead in the back room. Wrapped tightly around her neck is a long rope of decorative knotted tea cupsโa gift item that Jayne sells at Mrs. Hudsonโs. Gemmaโs boyfriend in blue, Ryan Ashburton, arrives on the scene with Detective Louise Estrada. But the suspect list is long, and the case far from elementary. Does Kathyโs killing have any relation to a mysterious death of seven years ago?
Gemma has no intention of getting involved in the investigation, but when fellow shopkeeper Maureen finds herself the prime suspect she begs Gemma for her help. Ryan knows Gemmaโs methods and he isnโt happy when she gets entangled in another mystery. But with so many suspects and so few clues, her deductive prowess will prove invaluable in A Scandal in Scarlet, Vicki Delanyโs shrewdly plotted fourth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.
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