A Scandal in Scarlet: A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery
By Vicki Delany
Crooked Lane
November 2018

Review by Cynthia Chow

After an exhausting day manning her uncle’s Cape Cod Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, Gemma Doyle – well, her cocker spaniel Violet, to be exact – spots West London’s Scarlet House lit up in flames. As half owner of the adjacent Mrs. Hudson’s Tearoom, Gemma soon finds herself enlisted in helping to host an emergency auction in order to raise funds to repair the historical museum, as well as donating a copy of The Valley of Fear for the cause. The museum was already in disarray before the fire though, with new chair Kathy Lamb modernizing Scarlet House in ways that alienated traditionalists and supporters of the previous board chair Robyn Kirkpatrick. Unfortunately, the auction is ended before the first bid is made when Gemma discovers Kathy’s body, strangled to death with an Emporium teacup craft.

Although Louise Estrada directly correlates Gemma arrival in town with the rise of the murder rate, the detective is beginning to accept Gemma’s remarkable observational and deductive skills. Also finally conceding to Gemma’s investigative talents is her boyfriend Detective Ryan Ashburton, who would prefer that she remain on the sidelines but also bows to her insight and conclusions. The manager of Mrs. Hudson’s Tearoom, Jayne Wilson, does her part to assist Gemma by reminding her that not everyone likes to be shocked by psychic-seeming declarations and lack of (time-consuming) social skills. Although Gemma was initially confident in leaving the investigation in the hands of the police, a taunt by her eminently unlikable nemesis Maureen Macgregor has Gemma once again donning her investigative cap to query ex-spouses, black widows, resentful volunteers, and angry heirs.

For some reason, anything related to Sherlock Holmes always reminds me of winter and Christmas. Perhaps it’s the wool coat. Whatever the season, this latest installment by the extremely prolific Vicki Delany delivers yet another entertaining twist on the Great Detective. Gemma has learned to be a little more nuanced with her interrogations, although she still proves to be a little abrupt with an amused Ryan and rather forthright with her approach to suspects. Seeing Gemma become more adept with social interactions is always a delight, as is her knowledge and appreciation of Sherlock Holmes. Following her deft train-of-thought as she spots clues and human reactions is thrilling fun for readers, especially when conducted by such a likable and still very human heroine. This continues to be a surprising and always compelling mystery series, filled with humor and the perfect added dash of romance.

Another delightful time spent at the Sherlock Holmes bookstore. Interesting characters, adorable dog, murder mystery, and an intriguing story. I look forward to reading the next one.

Gemma Doyle is back and murder victims seem to follow her no matter what. First, she witnesses a fire in the small-town museum, then at an auction to raise funds for said museum, the head of the museum board is found dead, by none other than Gemma herself. As she begins digging into the murder, she discovers yet another murder victim.

I really like Gemma's self growth in this book. She is realizing that not everyone appreciates her uncanny observations and is taking the advice of her friend, Jayne, and trying to be more subtle.

I love Vicky Delany's wit and the town of West London, plus Moriarty, the shop cat. Hopefully he and Gemma will warm up to each other soon.

I'm excited that Uncle Arthur has come back to West London and hope he will be Gemma's partner in crime in the next book. 4.7 stars

I voluntary reviewed this book on netgalley. #vickydelany #netgalley #scandalinscarlet

I was drawn to the series out of curiosity of the series name and the covers. I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes Mysteries so naturally, I was curious about this series. I read the first book and immediately follow up with the other two books in the series. I am very glad I decided to try reading this series no matter how I chose it.

Gemma Doyle is a very intelligent protagonist, she does have a Sherlockesque personality. All the characters including Gemma are wonderful with their strong personalities. The storyline is great and the mystery has a great pace and several well-placed red herrings to keep you guessing. I love that Gemma had to step outside her normal routine in this book and become a little more involved in the community fundraising. This was a wonderful storyline to see more of the town and more of Gemma's powers of deduction.

I recommend this book as well as the rest of the series to mystery lovers especially fans of the cozy genre. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.

I have really enjoyed these books - my mother is a huge Sherlock Holmes fan so I know quite a bit about him just from her talking about him and from the movies that I watched with her when I was younger and I love the idea of a bookshop dedicated to the Great Detective.

Gemma is a great main character and I love how Jayne is the perfect "Watson"; always trying to keep Gemma out of trouble, but usually stumbling headfirst into it with her. They work very well together and even though Gemma drives Jayne to distraction sometimes, they are good friends and perfect foils for each other, and their friendship truly adds to the story.

The other characters are also very interesting, intriguing and truly add to the story, EVEN Maureen. You love to hate her and that is just what the author is striving for. I am still not crazy about the romance aspect of these books, but at least the author toned it down in this one. Don't get me wrong, I like Ryan Ashburton very much, but I HIGHLY doubt that he would be allowed to keep his job in real life because of his involvement with Gemma and all of her antics.

This was a very good story - a bit sad too. Two characters, not much liked, murdered. And no one really mourned them. How sad is that? And it makes for a lot of suspects! I honestly didn't have a clue who it was until the end when something is revealed and then I knew who and why. That said, the reveal was still very well done and there were a couple of surprises that kept me from being disappointed.

I really like this series and am so glad that I was talked into reading it. I am looking forward to the next one in this series very much.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Scandal in Scarlet is the most recent addition to Vicky Delany’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries. When the Scarlet House is partially destroyed by fire, Gemma Doyle of All Things Sherlock Bookshop and her best friend and partner in Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room, Jayne Wilson, volunteer to host a special tea and auction to raise funds for the repairs. With the West London elite in attendance and tens of thousands of dollars worth of donations to auction, the tea party is a success but the auction never occurs. As the auction is set to begin, Gemma and Jayne find Scarlet House volunteer chairperson Nancy Lamb strangled to death in the back room of the Tea Room.

The police are called and Gemma’s fellow WLPD Detective Ryan Ashburton and his partner, Detective Louise Estrada, arrive to begin the investigation, starting by questioning all who were present. When the back door is found unlocked it seems possible that those present may not be the only viable suspects, but then since the murder weapon was an ornamental rope from the Tea Room it appears the pool is once again narrowed.

When fellow shop owner Maureen moves to the top of the suspect pool having just had a very vocal altercation with Nancy before she was murdered, she pleads with Gemma to help prove her innocence. Even though Gemma has told Ryan she will stay out of it, her own curiosity and the pleading of Maureen moves her to begin a cursory investigation. But the suspects are many, and when a second body is found by Gemma and Jayne, and Gemma gives chase to the escaping assailant with the only outcome being the K9 detective’s excitement when he circled back from the chase to corner Gemma back in the house.

The hunt is stymied, the suspects too many, and the solid clues too few. That is until a chance remark by one of the Tea Room employees proves to be the key that makes the puzzle pieces fall into place in Gemma’s mind. When they do, there is a mad dash with Jayne at her side to confront the person responsible for both deaths, and when that person takes flight, Gemma and Jayne commandeer a boat to give chase, joined by the Coast Guard and the West London Police Department. And, incidentally, Gemma also is able to solve a 7 year cold case as a result of her involvement in this one.

Once again, Ms. Delany has spun a page turning tale that will keep you guessing until the end. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries are an engaging and fun series, and A Scandal in Scarlet, the fourth book in the series, continues on with this tradition. I adored the beginning sentences about Gemma and her dog, Violet (huge dog lover here!), and the book whisked me right into an enjoyable mystery with a possible arson, two murders and an older unsolved murder. Plenty of twists and turns abound, and Delany does a wonderful job with her cast of characters and suspects. I was able to solve the mystery ahead of our protagonist, Gemma, but I kept turning the page to see what route she would take to figure it all out. Quirky characters, such as Gemma's employee at the book shop, Donald, and Uncle Arthur, keep me smiling, and they really help to set this cozy apart. This series is also a must read for any British enthusiasts. I look forward to the next Sherlock Holmes Bookshop novel!

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane for an ARC in exchange for a review.

liked the story. With numerous twists and secrets, the story was pretty engaging. Jayne and Gemma's friendship was well portrayed. Jayne knows that Gemma cannot take a no for an answer. She even cancels her date with Jack so that she can keep an eye on her best friend. Ryan and Gemma's relation was cute. From exes to rekindling their romance, that was lovely.

Gemma's dog Violet and the shop-cat Moriarty - the two animals that steal the show! Though Moriarty doesn't like Gemma, he manages to shoo away the perp when there's a break-in at Gemma's bookshop. Maureen, the rude shopkeeper from across the street - everybody hates her. When she comes the prime suspect in Kathy's murder, she comes to Gemma for help. But the lady is downright rude to Gemma, and this makes anyone hate her! Then there's Detective Estrada who believes that Gemma started the fire in the museum because she seeks attention! *rolls eyes!*

Overall, this was an okay story. Since I haven't read the first three books, I am not very familiar with the series. But this can be read as a standalone as there are no references made to the previous books in this series. The writing was okay. I wouldn't call the story boring but at the same time, it wasn't very engaging. The mystery behind the whodunit was very good. The identity of the perp was pretty obvious in the end.

Gemma's deduction skills were really good. She solves two murders - one of which happened seven years ago. So kudos to her deduction skills. Somehow I could not connect much with the characters. Gemma and Jayne were fine, but others, nope.

A Scandal in Scarlet was a good read. Cozy with a Sherlock twist and a couple of vamps ( the two rude ladies).

My Rating: 3.5/5 (rounding it off to 4)

This is one of my favorite series and each book seems to be better than the last one. Gemma has become a bit less abrasive and has no intention of getting involved in another murder investigation. That goes out the window when, one evening while walking her dog, Violet, she is alerted by Violet to smoke in the air. Upon investigation, it turns out the local historical museum is on fire. The house is saved but there is heavy damage and much of the antique furnishings are lost. To help the museum get back in business it is decided that an auction will be held. The venue will be the tea room attached to Gemma's bookstore, owned by Gemma's partner (in crime solving, too), Jayne. Before the auction can begin there are some nasty confrontations, the major one between Maureen (a merchant across the street who's painting look like paint by numbers kits) and Kathy, the director of the museum. Disaster strikes when Kathy fails to appear to start the auction and her strangled body is found in the store room amidst the items for the auction. As nothing has been stolen, no motive there. Who hated Kathy enough to kill her? Maureen, disliked by just about every person who came in contact with her, turns to Gemma for help. The police have their sights set on Maureen as the killer.
Kathy's isn't the only murder and Gemma finds herself looking into an unsolved possible murder from seven years ago. What ties these crimes together? Leave it to Gemma and Jayne to get to the bottom of it, all of it.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries set in small coastal towns with realistic characters and satisfying puzzles, be sure to put this series on your to be read list. You won't be disappointed.

Oh, to be on Cape Cod for a beautiful summer day! Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson have more business at Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium and Mrs. Hudson’s Tearoom than ever, and a challenging new mystery to solve. They are each uniquely delightful; Gemma is trying hard to be less blunt and not express her deductions as they come to her.
After a late evening at work, Gemma and Violet, Great-Uncle Arthur’s cocker spaniel, are out for a walk when Violet alerts her to fire in the magnificent Scarlet House, built in 1648 and now a historical museum. After calling 911, she pounds on the door to see if anyone is inside, but the door is locked. First responders come quickly so she and Violet can go home.
The Scarlet House fire resulted from an accident rather than arson, so the board of directors plan to repair the building immediately. That will take a good amount of money, however, so the board is going to have an auction hosted by Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room. Great Uncle Arthur is donating his favorite pristine first edition copy of a Sherlock Holmes tale that is over a century old, and others donate expensive jewelry, gift packages, and more. Between the tea and scones and the start of the auction, however, the auctioneer hasn’t been seen. Gemma goes to the storeroom to see what is keeping Kathy Lamb, who is also chairperson of the museum board. Her ex-husband and his new, older, wealthy wife are present, as is the loudly obnoxious shopkeeper from Beach Fine Arts, Maureen MacGregor, who tried to donate a paint-by-number painting. When Gemma went back to the storeroom, she found Kathy on the floor, strangled, with the “weapon” still in place.
Instead of an auction, there is a police investigation. Gemma has no plans to get involved, as Ryan, the man she loves and local lead detective is more important to her than getting in the middle of another murder. Until Maureen, the obnoxious neighbor, comes pleading. Maureen is not a friend, but Gemma is sure she is innocent and chooses to simply ask a few questions here and there. As things often seem to happen, Gemma is suddenly tangled up in a case that gets more intense, with more suspects than Sherlock can wave his pipe at.
I do enjoy Gemma and Jayne; they are a fabulous, friendly duo. Jayne has mellowed the very British Gemma, helping change her from someone who bluntly spoke her mind to someone with more tact, especially when trying to creatively get information from people. Ryan still gets frustrated with her, but as the charming man who loves her, he accepts Gemma as she is. He appreciates how hard she is trying to change. All characters are well defined as befitting their roles.
This reader was stumped by the mystery! There are so many possible suspects, so many who didn’t like the way Kathy handled things at the museum, and most of the town really disliked the next person killed. There are stunning plot twists, sometimes helping bring the resolution closer…or not. Overall, I was very impressed with the resolutions and surprises! This is a wonderful fourth in the series that can be read as a standalone, but I think you might enjoy reading all of them. I highly recommend A Scandal in Scarlet, with a beautiful summer setting at the Atlantic Ocean that is a fabulous read any time of year!

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

Another fun-filled romp from Vicki Delany! A Scandal in Scarlet is the fourth cozy in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery series.

Gemma is walking her dog late one night when she sees flames behind the window of the historic Scarlet Museum. A candle left burning is ruled the cause of the fire. Due to interior damage, Kathy and the rest of the museum’s Board decide to have an auction to raise money for repairs. Jayne, co-owner with Gemma of Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Shop next door to Gemma’s bookshop, volunteers to hold the auction.

Only one business refuses to donate an item for the auction, the uniformly disliked Maureen. When Maureen brings a truly hideous painting to donate the day of the auction, refuses to pay the entrance fee, and starts a loud fight with Kathy, Kathy’s day couldn’t get worse. But then she sees her recently ex-husband with his new older wife sitting in the back of the room. She goes into a backroom to recuperate after the two shocks. When she doesn’t come out to begin the auction, Gemna and Jayne find her in the back room strangled. The decorative cord used to kill her is missing from the front of the tea shop implying that one of the attendees did the crime. However, a back door to the alley was also unlocked so there was access from outside.

Kathy was not well liked by half of the museum’s Board and volunteers leading to plenty of disgruntled suspects. When Gemma is asked to help the hated Maureen to clear her name, she agrees and the game is afoot.

I adore this series! Gemma and Jayne are genuine, relatable, and seem like old friends. The mystery is rather difficult to solve, which makes this a great choice for armchair detectives. Gemma’s romance with handsome Detective Ryan is moved forward a bit as is her friendship with Grant. A Scandal in Scarlet has something for all cozy readers. 4 stars!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. It's the second one I read in this series and I think it was better than the previous one.
It took me a while to warm up to Gemma in the first one I read and I found her more "human" in this one.
The mystery is very good, full of twists and turns and possible culprits.
It kept me guessing till the end and I like the way all the questions were answered.
The cast of characters is interesting and likeable, my favourite one is Moriarty the cat :)
A very good mystery, highly recommended!
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for this ARC

It's the busy tourist season in this fourth book in the delightful Sherlock Holmes Bookshop cozy series, and I really think Gemma should give her assistant Ashleigh a raise. As soon as Ashleigh turns up for her shifts, Gemma is out the door on her investigations, leaving Ashleigh up to her eyebrows in customers. Yes, the young woman definitely deserves a raise, but since I enjoy Gemma's sleuthing so much, I really don't want her to spend all her time in the bookshop either!

One of the bonuses readers get in A Scandal in Scarlet (and the other books in the series) are wonderful recommendations for other books to read. You can't go wrong by following Gemma's suggestions-- and I have to admit that Delany's descriptions of the series' Cape Cod setting make me want to start packing and head east for a long visit.

As always, the author provides a well-paced, solid mystery with plenty of misdirection to keep readers guessing. Actually, there are two mysteries to solve, and I was totally wrong about the solution to the seven-year-old crime. (Love it when that happens!) The cast of characters is strong, too. Eagle-eyed Gemma is just prickly enough to keep readers amused without annoying them too much, and Jayne is the sidekick every amateur sleuth needs. She will follow Gemma anywhere because-- as Jayne says-- "Someone's got to keep you out of trouble." And-- hopefully-- Vicki Delany will keep us supplied with tales of Gemma's investigations for a good long time to come.

This is the second book that I've read from the series. The first is The Body on Baker Street which is the second book of the series. I was entertained the first time that I decided to read this but since I didn't get to read the book before this, I feel like I missed a lot. Gemma Doyle is a great lead character but I still can't seem to connect with her. That's not to say she isn't interesting. She definitely is, so as the other residents of West London. There is an obvious character development from Gemma since book two which I appreciate. The case investigation is as fun as before but this time I was able to guess the culprit right away. Overall, this is an entertaining cozy mystery series which I don't mind following.

*review will post on 11/13/18 on my blog.

My first introduction to this series was by an online mystery reading group earlier this year.  Although I hate not starting a series at the beginning, the book they were buddy reading was Body on Baker Street, the second in the series.  I figured that was close enough to the beginning that I wouldn't be too lost so I dove in.  I am so happy I took that chance.   

As much as I enjoyed that first book, Gemma Doyle annoyed me quite often.  I liked her, but I didn't, if that makes any sense.  However, since the story had been a good one, I moved on to the next in the series, The Cat of the Baskervilles.  I was pleasantly surprised with the character development Gemma experienced in that third novel.  This fourth novel, Scandal in Scarlet, gives Gemma even more needed character development plus a good dose of self-awareness.  She's still very much Gemma, but takes the time to think about things before she says them.  Gemma finds herself saying, "Jayne tells me..." quite often, which made me happy because she was finally taking her friend's cautioning words and adapting them into her actions.  Now, she doesn't always do what Jayne suggests, but she's not being as abrasive and annoying as she was in earlier books.  

The mystery portion of this novel was also stepped up as well, giving us a lot more to think about as we move through the story.  Gemma, for once, is willing to listen to Ryan and not get involved, but Maureen from the shop across the street, doesn't give her much choice in the matter.  It was fun seeing Gemma stumped as far as who the culprit was.  Too many suspects and not enough information kept her from putting it all together until the last minute.  Even when I like a character, it's good to see them stumbling and doubting themselves on occasion. Of course, you don't want them to be like this all the time, but in Gemma's case, it was time.  She's always so self-assured and confident that she's right that it could get annoying.  This case was a bit humbling for her, even if she did figure it all out in the end - plus an added bonus at the very end.  

For me, this has been the best book in the series to date.  I'm happy that Gemma and Ryan are working things out and trying to have a relationship again.  I think that them being together gives her a reason to try harder.  Also, he's kinda loveable, right?  In future books, I hope we get to know more about Grant and Donald because they both interest me.  Oh, and please let Jayne find a boyfriend worth her effort so Gemma can leave that alone as well.  Although I know she means well, she's driving Jayne nuts.  

Whether you're a Sherlockian or not (I am), this is a fun little series full of exciting and engaging characters and well-written mysteries.  For me, there's always the added bonus of Gemma's book recs as well as her allusions to older Sherlock-related television shows and movies I've never heard of before.  If that's not your thing, then sit back and enjoy Gemma and Jayne getting themselves into trouble all for the sake of solving the mystery.

I finished A Scandal in Scarlet by Vicki Delany last night. I really enjoy this series. I found that in this one I was not able to guess the killer and that for me is the best. I love the way that Gemma, the main character, is written. A book store attached to a tea room is very appealing to me and I loved this particular story. It was happy/sad and cozy all at the same time. If you are a fan of Sherlock themed mysteries, that read and feel like a modern day Sherlock and Holmes story come read this! I love the cover as well.

While walking her dog late one night, Gemma Doyle sees the local museum is on fire and calls the fire department. Her quick action saves the building, but much of the antique furniture and items inside The Scarlet House could not be saved. The town of West London and its businesses decide to work together and hold an auction to help repair and re-open the museum. The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium donates a basket of Holmes-related items, and Gemma's uncle donates a signed first edition copy of The Valley of Fear. The fundraiser never gets started though because the chairwoman of the museum board is found dead in a back room filled with donations for the auction. A local businesswoman is the top suspect. She's rude, difficult and annoying....but Gemma knows she isn't a murderer. Can she solve the case?

I love this series...not just because of the Sherlock Holmes theme, but also because the author mentions many Sherlock related books in each story. I end up with quite a few new titles on my TBR each time a new book comes out in this series! I love the idea of a Sherlock Holmes book and gift shop with a tea room right next door! And located on Baker Street, too. :) As a devout Sherlock Holmes fan, it makes me smile. Gemma is a great main character...she is intelligent, loyal and feisty when required. Her friend Jayne and all the rest of the secondary characters round out the theme and the plots quite well. Quirky, sweet and awesome.

A Scandal in Scarlet is the 4th book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. I enjoy this series and will definitely continue reading! The mystery was nicely paced this time with plenty of suspects and twists to keep me interested. All in all, an entertaining cozy mystery!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Its the height of summer in West London on Cape Cod and transplanted Englishwoman Gema Doyle is very busy with customers at her bookshop, which specializes in Sherlockiana and other mystery fiction and non-fiction. Gemma staggers home late one night, only wishing to fall in bed but her dog, Violet, needs a walk and has other ideas. While on their stroll, Gemma and Violet pass a local historical home, Scarlet House, which operates as a small museum. They smell smoke and see flames and quickly report the fire. After a brief investigation, the fire marshal determines that it was probably started by a docent who carelessly locked up and left a candle burning. There is a lot of damage to the house, but Gemma doesn't see anything suspicious about it. That changes when Gemma, and her partner, Jayne, are asked to host a tea and silent auction to benefit the museum for needed repairs and replacement of lost items.

During the organizational meeting the tensions within the museum staff and volunteers surface. There has been a recent forced change in the leadership of the Scarlet House organization, with accompanying ill-feeling. The new head, Kathy Lamb, is competent, if prickly. Gemma puts that down to a recent messy divorce that has left Kathy much reduced in her circumstances. When she is murdered at the auction, the ex-husband is the prime suspect for a while, but there are plenty of suspects to go around, including the ex's wealthy new wife. A second murder leads Gemma to do what she does best, ask questions and make deductions, causing friction with her policeman boyfriend, Ryan Ashburton.

I highly recommend this series with its Cape Cod setting, well-rounded characters, and twisty puzzles. I did not catch on to the real perpetrator until the very end of A Scandal in Scarlet. Gemma herself is a bit of an acquired taste with her confrontational style and reckless determination to get to the bottom of things. One of the things I appreciate is the reading suggestions Gemma gives her customers. Even though I am a Sherlock fan, I always discover new books to check into.

Thanks to Crooked Lane and NetGalley for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

West London, Cape Cod stands in for London, UK in this delightful series featuring Gemma, a bookshop owner who doubles a sleuth. This time around, she finds herself, in classic cozy fashion, investigating the murder of the less than wonderful chair of the local museum board, which is not appreciated by her love interest and local Law enforcement officer Ryan. You don't have to be a Sherlock Holmes fan or to have read the earlier installments in this series to enjoy this one, although you'll chuckle more if you know the inside Sherlock allusions. Heads up that Gemma can be a pill sometimes but that's part of her charm. Thanks to net galley for the ARC.

The 4th in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery Series

Gemma is back! As she and Violet take a late night stroll after a busy day, Violet alerts Gemma to smoke coming from The West London Museum.

Thankfully the entire building is not a loss, but the Baker Street Vendors decide to quickly pull together an auction hoping to raise enough funds for repairs.

Gemma's Uncle Arthur may be traveling the world, but he generously donates a signed first edition book worth a lot of money.

But before the auction even begins the Chairman of the museum board is found strangled in the storage room. And the people attending are a real mixed bag of characters who have their own little and not so little secrets.

Gemma says she isn't getting involved in this one, but we know better. That's why we love her.

Delaney is such a great storyteller and her characters are wonderfully done. Gemma is a strong, independent woman as are all of the female characters. There are no simpering females waiting for rescue here.

A very good series and I look forward to many more!

Netgalley/November 13th 2018 by Crooked Lane Books