I thought the plot was well developed. The character development was also spot on. Overall a really good mystery.

I'm happy this book is set in the USA as i think it's the perfect setting for this series.
It's a solid and enjoyable mystery that kept me guessing, the characters are as interesting as usual and the it's an entertaining and engrossing read.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
I really enjoyed the tone of this book and found the characters very warm and engaging. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between the main character Gemma and her best friend Jayne.
This book is quite a way into the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series but I read it fine as a stand-alone.
The story had plenty of twists and turns and red herrings, although I give myself a pat on the back as I did guess the murderer before the conclusion.
There is the obligatory animal side kicks in this mystery, but I didn’t find them overly cute- I thought they were a nice addition and helped create some lively moments in the story. I’m definitely interested in reading the rest of this series and other books by this author.

When I first read this book I was slightly confused because I didn’t realize it was part of a series. As I read on and familiarized myself with the characters it was easier to understand.
It was a fun cozy mystery and a cute story. The writing was easy and flowed nicely. Did I enjoy all the characters? No but that didn’t take away from it.
I do however suggest reading this series in order to fully understand. It can be read as a standalone but will better make sense if you don’t.

am continuing to enjoy this series. Gemma Doyle, with her no-nonsense, brusque nature has grown on me. Vicki Delany has softened her up a bit and she is changing the longer she is in New London. She has a reputation of solving mysteries, so it is not surprising when ten year old Lauren Tierney wants to hire her to find her cat, Snowball. It is not Gemma, but her dog Violet that finds Snowball and she is returned to Lauren. A few days later, Lauren wants to hire Gemma to help her mother, who has been accused of murder. Gemma is adamant that she is not a detective, but can not resist helping this sweet girl that she has come to like. Even though her boyfriend, Detective Ryan Ashburton, wants her to stay out of it, she and her friend and partner, Jayne Wilson, end up investigating to find out who really killed Sheila's garden club rival, Anna.

I really enjoyed seeing Gemma's soft side in this story. Gemma insists she does not like children, but she develops a sweet relationship with ten year old Lauren. She is almost like a mama bear at times. This was another great mystery. I enjoyed how this one played out, and even though there were some basic cozy mystery storylines, it was written in a fun and enjoyable way. There were only a few suspects, so Gemma had to figure out the motive first. With a few motives coming out, it had me changing my mind a few times as to the culprit. The conclusion of this story was very satisfactory and all the loose ends were tied up. A great addition to this series and I am eager to see what is next for Gemma and Ryan.

Title: A Curious Incident
Author: Vicki Delany

Ch: 23

Pg: 304

Series: Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery book 6

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Publisher: Crooked Lane Brooks



A Curious Incident by Vicki Delany is the sixth book in the Sherlock Holmes bookshop mystery series. I finished the book in a day. Unfortunately it was too predictable. Which can mean two things, I’m getting burnt out on this series m, or I’ve read to many cozy mysteries and need a break from them. I just don’t know which it is.


I do know that I still enjoyed reading this one even i figured who done but the heroine did. But I’ll keep reading cozy mysteries because they are my go to comfort read. Some readers comfort read is women’s fiction, chick lit or romance but mine is cozy mysteries.





I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

This 6th book in the series was great! The writing style is fabulous and the main female character is so different than many other cozy mystery series. I was glad to see the gang back in the USA (#5 had them in England, and I just didn't like it as much). Having the preteen girl in this book added a lot and let us see a different side of the main character. The mystery had me guessing throughout the book. I really liked this installment and look forward to the next in the series.

The plot of this book frustrated me a little. I have read nearly all the books in the Sherlock Holmes' Bookshop and this one felt like it went in circles but I still liked it enough to give it four stars.

Gemma Doyle is determined not to get involved in police matters anymore. However, a little girl who heard from her aunt that Gemma solves crimes begs her to find her cat. When Gemma does this out of happenstance, the girl brings her another problem - clearing her mother of murder. Gemma is ever determined to step back and let the police to their job. However, the clues keep falling into her lap.

I'll say the book frustrated me because this poor 11-year-old girl's parents both just up and leave her for stupid reasons and then when both are notified neither is there to take her, leave her with a complete stranger. And when the police get involved, no one goes after the parents for neglect. I just don't get that.

However, I always enjoy the colorful cast of characters in Vicki Delany's books. I appreciated we got more of Donald, the lonely Baker Street Irregular that frequents Gemma's shop. I will as always, look forward to more books in this series.

After being introduced to this series by an online book group, I immediately fell in love with Gemma and the gang.  They're such a fun and varied group of characters that they're easy to like.  Each new installment brings something new to the table and I'm constantly learning something about one of them.  

One of my bigger annoyances with Gemma in the earlier books was her rigidity.  Once she got her teeth into a mystery, there was no stopping her, and it didn't matter who she upset int he process.  She's come a long way over the series and although she still can't resist a good mystery, she's much better at thinking about how her actions affect others.  Gemma even went so far as to try her hardest to not investigate this time around.  I was shocked by how much restraint she showed, honestly, and it made her eventual caving more understandable.  If she keeps moving forward and learns how to even better balance her curiosity and snooping with being respectful, I think she'll be amazing.

There was a bit more romance in this installment which was fun for me.  Not everyone feels that way, but it doesn't bother me much since the major focus was still on the mystery.  The addition of Snowball the cat was entertaining as well.  It was nice to see a cat not half as grouchy as Moriarty!

I enjoyed the mystery and it kept me guessing right up until the end.  The author does a great job of giving you lots of suspects and supports why each might possibly be the murderer.  All the little tidbits and details that Gemma picks up on add interest for me and give the story a very Sherlock vibe, which is, of course the intention.  It was something that always amazed me with Sherlock as I'm not even close to being that observant.  

Anxiously awaiting the next in the series.  They just keep getting better and better.

Really fun story where the group is back at home. after their London adventures. Gemma is detecting again, trying to hunt down a killer. Didn't see the killer until the end. Very good read!

Gemma Doyle owns and runs the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, and is known to have helped the police solve crimes in the past. When a little girl enters her shop begging for her help, Gemma won't commit to it, but tells her she will keep her eyes open in finding Lauren Tierney's kitten. Fortunately, she's able to do so, making Lauren happy. But the next day Lauren wants to hire Gemma to keep her mother out of jail. It seems that Sheila Tierney has been accused of the murder of Anna Wentworth, once her friend. Sheila's garden was touted as the one to beat in this year's Garden Club contest, and when she awoke she found her garden destroyed. Knowing it was Anna, she had a very public confrontation with the woman, coming to blows between them. But when Anna's body is discovered later that evening, Sheila is the prime suspect.

But Gemma isn't so sure, and even though she's warned off the investigation, her innate curiousity and sharp mind won't let it go. Looking high and low for clues, Gemma might have gotten too close to the killer, and once you kill, it's easy enough to do it again...

This is one of the series that have actually gotten better over time. I will admit that I wasn't fond of the first book in the series, but I did especially like the last one and this one. Gemma isn't as pushy as she was, and she's actually kinder to people than she first appeared. She's shown her love and loyalty to those around her just by her actions. I do like the fact that Donald has a bigger role in this book, and he also is showing his affection for Gemma -- even if she's a bit wary of it, and Donald has his own way of doing things. which are rather humorous.

When Anna is killed, there actually are plenty of suspects, ranging right down to Gemma's frail elderly neighbor. But Gemma's mind is always working, and even if she can't get answers from the police, it really doesn't matter, since she's able to come to the correct conclusion on her own. It's actually fun trying to find the murderer before Gemma does; although she always has the reasons why and the murder weapon at hand in the end.

Lauren is delightful, actually acting like an eleven-year-old would act, instead of being a adult in a child's body, as many writers portray them. Her actions are those as they should be, and it shows her eagerness for love and acceptance without actually saying so.

When Gemma starts asking questions, there's no stopping her, and when she gets too close to the killer, they plan to put her out of commission, but still she presses on, this time more deeply, and at last comes to the realization of the identity which we might have known (or not) all along. This is a welcoming addition to the series, and I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to the next. Recommended.

A Curious Incident
A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery
by Vicki Delany

Summary-A Curious Incident
Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookstore and Emporium, has a problem. A little girl in the shop wants to hire Gemma to find her missing cat, Snowball. Lauren Tierney is even willing to pay Gemma to search for the missing feline, Gemma turns down the job because she won’t make a promise she can’t keep. On a walk with her dog Violet, Gemma finds Snowball and Lauren is happily reunited with her cat.
A week later Lauren returns to hire Gemma again; this time Lauren wants Gemma to clear Lauren’s mother Sheila of a murder charge. Sheila is accused of murdering Anna Wentworth. Both women belonged to the West London Garden Club. Sheila accused Anna of having an affair with Sheila’s husband, David. Sheila also accused Anna of destroying Sheila’s garden, ruining her chance of winning the coveted best garden trophy. Shelia made the accusations in front of garden tour members and the two women ended up in a physical altercation and had to be pulled apart. Now Anna is dead, and Sheila is the prime suspect in the murder.
Gemma promises her boyfriend Detective Ryan Ashburton she won’t get involved and will tell Lauren to let the police handle the case. But Gemma’s curiosity won’t be ignored and so she sets out to see what she can discover and do the job Lauren hired her to do.
Recommendation(s)
The Sherlock Holmes references throughout the book make it a fun read. Delany’s writing makes the case a difficult one to solve. Recommended.
Author information/links
Vicki Delany
Publishing information
Published by Crooked Lane Books
Jan 12, 2021 | 304 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4| ISBN 9781643854748

#ACuriousIncident #Netgalley

GIMME ALL THE COZY, BOOKSHOP MYSTERIES, CAUSE THIS BOOK WAS JUST SO GOOD! The whole Sherlock Holmes inspired plot just won my heart. 😍 I so need to read the first 5 books in the series! <3

Gemma Doyle was such a fascinating character. I couldn't help but be mesmerized by her determination to solve the toughest of mysteries. Her quirks made reading A Curious Incident so much fun. :') The pacing, plot continuation, the twists and turns - everything about this book was perfect. I've read a lot of cozy mysteries recently, and I think I've found my favorite one in Gemma's story. I kept on turning the pages as fast as I could to know who the murderer was. The intrigue aspect of the book was 💯

I think what made A Curious Incident stand out to me was the well-balanced humor - cozy mysteries tend to focus too much on including hilarious incidents to make the mystery a light-hearted read, but the author, Vicky Delany didn't go overboard on that factor. I really appreciated that.

5/5 ⭐ Highly recommend.

I love cozy mysteries and this is my first read by this author. A fun read. I highly recommend and look forward to reading more from Vicki Delany.

Gemma had a hard time as an amateur sleuth in her home town, her clashes with the law enforcement officers always left her battered and bruised from their dislike and emotional barrage. They took umbrage with her investigative efforts, even though they were the benefactors of it. She was good at what she did, being a curious busy body, and wasn’t phased by their rude behaviors, nor their threats, helping her friends and those in need went without saying. This has been an engrossing, captivating, and all-out intriguing cozy read, where Gemma gets to be the hero of the moment, in the eyes of an eleven-year-old, by helping her solved two painful mysteries.

I love getting lost in a murder mystery with Gemma Doyle. And all things Sherlock Holmes just adds to the appeal. Even though this is the sixth book in the series, it would work as a stand-alone book. Gemma is surrounded by wonderful friends, especially Jayne. There are lots of twists and turns and the story will keep you guessing up until the very end. The author has done a fabulous job of developing the characters over the series and you feel like you know them personally…even Moriarty, the cat! I can’t wait to see what mystery Gemma will find herself immersed in as the author continues to entertain us with her gift of writing and spot-on intrigue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

This is the sixth book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series by Vicki Delany set in West London on Cape Cod, Massachusetts featuring Gemma Doyle.

Gemma Doyle manages Great Uncle Arthur's Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. The shop is located at 222 Baker Street and is also the home of Violet, Gemma's cocker spaniel. In addition, Gemma co-owns the adjoining shop, 'Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room', which is run by her best friend and business partner Jayne Wilson. Gemma has a reputation for being a bit of a mystery-solver, so when 11-year-old Lauren Tierney loses her kitten, Snowball, she asks Gemma for help. Gemma serendipitously locates Snowball whilst out walking Violet, much to Lauren's delight. When Lauren's mother, Sheila is accused of murdering garden club member Anna Wentworth, Lauren turns to Gemma for assistance for a second time.

Once again I'm starting a series late to the party at book six! With her kindness, resourcefulness and sassy attitude, I was pleased to be in Gemma's company. Vicki Delany has surrounded Gemma with a great supporting cast and Jayne especially is easy to warm to. Gemma and Jayne are both in relationships; Gemma is with her detective boyfriend Ryan Ashburton, and Jayne's love interest is restaurateur Andy Whitehall. Of course, Violet, Gemma's lovable spaniel, deserves another mention.

The author has written a very strong mystery here too. With its great plot, the pacing is comfortable and I enjoyed trying to unearth clues alongside Gemma despite police objections. Even though I was able to figure out the identity of the killer, there were enough misdirections to keep me guessing awhile. Vicki Delany's abundant humorous touches had me chuckling and helped to make A Curious Incident a really compelling, fun read. I was totally entertained from beginning to end so bring on book #7!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

Vicki Delany continues her Sherlock Holmes bookshop mysteries with A Curious Incident. Gemma Doyle, proprietor of the Sherlock Holmes bookshop is dragged into solving the murder of Anna Wentworth. Sheila Tierney's award worthy garden was vandalized and she blamed Anna who wound up dead shortly thereafter. Sheila's daughter's kitten Snowball had gone missing and been found by Gemma. Then Sheila disappears and Lauren, the daughter, is left with Gemma. Gossip suggested that both women had motives to dislike each other. Red herrings hang around all over this story. Gemma as usual uses Sherlockian logic to help the police find the real murderer. Cozy with good humour.

A pup, peonies, and partners make for a curious mystery in this latest Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. The last thing that Gemma Doyle expected to do was take a case for $10 from a little girl, or to give temporary lodgings to her new "client." There is a lot more than flowery sentiment going on in the Garden Club where tempers flair, something definitely smells and it is not just the fertilizer. Is this a case of ivy envy or could there be a more nefarious explanation? Gemma and Jayne are hot on the trial of clues even if Detective/boyfriend Ashburton does not agree. One thing that I have noticed in this series is that as they go on, Gemma becomes just a little bit more sentimental and like a slightly overbaked macaron, her hard shell is cracking just a bit. Oh but Jayne's macarons would never be overbaked and I absolutely love the idea of tea with raspberry macarons and mini coconut cupcakes!

A Curious Incident is the sixth book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. Although, I haven’t read all the books in this series, I have thoroughly enjoyed the ones I’ve read. Gemma is the co-owner of the bookshop along. I love the Sherlock Holmes theme. While Sherlock and Arthur Conan Doyle are mentioned, the Sherlock theme is not overbearing. Gemma is dating a detective named Ryan. I appreciated the fact that when Gemma does find out information, she does pass it along to him. Gemma’s best friend Jayne runs Mrs. Hudson’s, a tea shop connected to the bookstore. This series is so much fun with plenty of red herrings that kept me guessing throughout. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.