Sherlockians will delight at the latest charming
installment of national bestselling author Vicki Delany’s
fourth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.
Gemma and Jayne donate their time to raise money for the
rebuilding of a burned out museum—but 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 it’s too late to save the museum’s priceless
collection of furniture, and damage to the historic house is
extensive. Baker Street’s 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 Cod’s cognoscenti files into Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room,
owned by Gemma’s best friend, Jayne Wilson. Excitement fills
the air (along with the aromas of Jayne’s 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 cups—a gift item that Jayne sells at
Mrs. Hudson’s. Gemma’s 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
Kathy’s 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 Gemma’s methods and he isn’t 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 Delany’s shrewdly plotted
fourth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.