Sherlockians will delight at the latest charming installment of national bestselling author Vicki Delanyβs fourth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.
Gemma and Jayne donate their time to raise money for the rebuilding of a burned out museumβbut 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 itβs too late to save the museumβs priceless collection of furniture, and damage to the historic house is extensive. Baker Streetβs 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 Codβs cognoscenti files into Mrs. Hudsonβs Tea Room, owned by Gemmaβs best friend, Jayne Wilson. Excitement fills the air (along with the aromas of Jayneβs 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 cupsβa gift item that Jayne sells at Mrs. Hudsonβs. Gemmaβs 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 Kathyβs 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 Gemmaβs methods and he isnβt 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 Delanyβs shrewdly plotted fourth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.
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