Member Reviews

I am a huge fan of Vicki Delany and this is my favorite out of all the series she writes. This is the tenth installment in the series and it finds Gemma, her friends and family back home in London to celebrate her sister's wedding. As things usually go, the trip involves a murder, this time, the murder of Gemma's ex-husband. Ms. Delany is a wonderful writer and her ability to craft an intriguing plot with twists, turns and a bit of suspense along with quirky and endearing characters is what makes me return book after book. I always know when I pick up a cozy mystery by this author that I am in for a treat so I settle in a cozy chair, pour a big glass of iced tea and let myself be carried away to wherever she takes me.

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Gemma Doyle and pals are back in London for a new adventure.. Gemma is her ultra-observant self and helps the police with their investigation into the suspicious death of her ex-husband. The plot is twisty and fun and the characters are quirky and delightful. All in all, this is a great read and highly recommended.

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The 10th book in this cozy mystery series can be easily enjoyed without reading the previous installments, thanks to ample context setting. The plot features a female business owner with a cop love interest, quirky supporting characters, and a murder mystery that the main character, Gemma Doyle, feels compelled to solve. The ending is somewhat flat, typical of cozy mysteries that prioritize charm over complex plots.

In this series' universe, Sherlock Holmes was real, yet Arthur Conan Doyle exists too. Gemma Doyle, inspired by Sherlock, is observant but cold, while her sister Pippa, a nod to Mycroft Holmes, is involved in espionage. Other characters, like Gemma's boyfriend Ryan and best friend Jayne, add depth, though some, like the Holmes enthusiast Donald and Gemma’s parents, feel unnecessary.

The book’s American tone detracts from its British setting, and while the descriptions are atmospheric, the language and setting begin to feel grating. Despite these flaws, there is potential for a TV adaptation.

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I enjoy this book. I love this series. It's good how they fit Sherlock Holmes into the story. I would highly recommend the series and the book.

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"The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime (Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries #10 by Vicki Delany has Gemma and gang back in London. Gemma's sister, Pippa, and her friend, Grant, are getting married. Maybe they can have a normal visit. Nope, Gemma's ex-husband has to go and die after requesting Gemma visit him to at their old bookstore. Gemma just has to investigate.

This one was similar in some ways to the last one that was set in London. Mostly in the way that the ones set back in the US are similar. They involve similar people and similar steps that Gemma goes through to solve the mystery. This time I felt I made a crucial clue connection way ahead of Gemma.

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The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime
A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery by Vicki Delany.

We always buy Vicki's books for our library. Our patrons love the series.

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What a great gem of a story! I haven't read the other books in this series but I didn't feel this took any enjoyment from reading this as the author did a good job of getting you up to speed with the characters and past events in the rest of the series. All in all an enjoyable read.

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A lovely and very cosy whodunnit novel.

Easy to read, the characters are mostly quite loveable and the story unfolds not too linear, hence you won't know whodunnit after the first 50 pages (usually my qualm with whodunnit stories) but it still makes sense in the end.

A very enjoyable story for a relaxing read.

The current state (July 13th) of the ARC is unfortunately that it still needs a proper proofreading, my version has oddities like "egg yoke" in it (and many, many more typos, misplaced commas, etc.). If those would remain for the published story (release date: 14th January 2025) I would have to take two more stars off, unfortunately.

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Transparency disclaimer: Receiving a free ARC version of this book via NetGalley did not influence my review in any way, shape or form.

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In this 10th "Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery" series, Gemma and her friends and family are all in London for sister Pippa's wedding to Grant. Gemma encounters her ex-husband Paul, who tells her he has a book he wants her to see. When she goes to their old bookshop to look at the book, she finds Paul dead. So begins Gemma's next investigation. Gemma continues to be an unlikeable character, bossy, annoying, arrogant. But I do like the other characters in the story, especially BFF Jayne, who needs to stop letting Gemma walk all over her. And I like the Sherlock Holmes angles in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC.

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The 10th in the Sherlock Holmes Bookstore mysteries and it took me a minute to remember the history of the characters as they were back in London and not in their normal West London, MA location. Gemma finds herself in another murder mystery while back in London for her mysterious sister’s wedding. Finding her long-ago ex-husband outside the wedding was not a happy meeting and finding his dead body the following day, even less such. A lot of time is spent discussing the various characters' touristy outings while they are balancing enjoying their visit with tracking down clues. Throughout Gemma seems to be struggling with how much to share with her boyfriend, Ryan, who is spending time with her father on a fishing trip, and who did not know she had previously been married. The family and friends interactions feel light and friendly despite the murder, Gemma’s sister’s likely job as a spy or secret government official, a bar fight, being tailed around London, and solving a murder. The outcome was not too much of a surprise despite the twists and turns. I do enjoy this series but I had a harder time getting into this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

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This is the 10th book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery series. I've read most of the series and it is great!

Gemma Doyle and her friends are all traveling to London to celebrate the wedding of Gemma's sister Pippa and long time friend, Grant.

As Gemma leaves the wedding reception she is approached by her ex-husband, Paul Erikson. He wants to show her a rare book he's come across. Gemma has had a long day and is exhausted, but she offers to stop by his book shop the following day to see it. When she arrives at the shop, she finds Paul dead in his office.

The police start their investigation, but Gemma feels she owes something to Paul and is determined to find his killer on her own.

Gemma begins her investigation with the help of her best friend Jayne, and eventually the whole group of friends are helping out. They travel from London to Yorkshire meeting people and gathering clues about the last days of Paul's life, eventually leading them to Paul's killer and the reason for his death.

#TheIncidentoftheBookintheNighttime

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Gemma and the entire family are in London to celebrate Pippa's wedding. While leaving the reception, Gemma's ex-husband is waiting in the lobby. He asks to see her the next day and she agrees. When she arrives at the bookstore they used to own together, Paul is found dead in his office. Of course Emma, Jayne, Donald and the family work together to figure out who did it and why. A quick read, lovely setting, and it was fun to learn a little bit more about Pippa. Thanks to NetGalley, Ms Delany, and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to more in the series.

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Gemma and her beau as well as friend Jayne and our favorite Sherlock Holmes expert, Donald, are in London for the wedding of Pippa, Gemma's sister. Little does Gemma know that the wedding will lead her into investigating the murder of her ex-husband. Who killed him at the bookstore that was formerly owned by Jemma and her ex? Gemma can't give up a good mystery and follows the clues just as Holmes would --deducing and noticing things others do not. Pippa adds a mystery of espionage, her parents add supporting background and London adds the right setting. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

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It was a very interesting cozy murder mystery and the storyline kept me on my toes the entire time. Even though this is the tenth book in this series (but the first I’ve read so far) the author made sure every previous event was thoroughly explained, so you don’t feel like you’ve missed out on something. I’m a fan and I think I’ll also give the previous books in this series a go!

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This was a great addition to the series, although it wasn't my favorite. Pippa is getting married in London, so Gemma and the gang are off. There celebration its marred by the murder of ex husband, Paul. Loved the different setting, change in this case was good. As always the characters are fun and relatable. Overall, another great read by Vicki Delany.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Vicki Delany is one of the best cozy mystery writers out there and I was _so happy_ to get an early copy of her latest Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. This series is, essentially, a gender-swapped Sherlock Holmes series set in modern day. In this one, Mycroft/Pippa is getting married, so the gang is off to London! I really appreciate the switching up of the locations (let's be honest, how many murders can a small town have?) and this book was a joy from start to finish. Highly recommended!

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3 stars
Vicki Delany's latest instalment in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series, "The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime," takes protagonist Gemma Doyle back to her native London for her sister Pippa's wedding. What should have been a joyful occasion turns dark when Gemma's ex-husband, Paul, unexpectedly appears and seeks her help with a rare book. The next day, Gemma discovers Paul murdered in his shop, setting off a twisty mystery that intertwines with her family and old acquaintances.

Delany's storytelling prowess shines through as she weaves a tightly plotted tale filled with intriguing characters and unexpected turns. Readers are treated to a mix of suspense and dry humour, adding depth to the narrative without overshadowing the mystery itself. Gemma's investigative journey is engaging, balanced with genuine moments of familial connection and personal reflection.The series' strength lies in its ability to integrate elements of Sherlock Holmes lore seamlessly into modern-day sleuthing, drawing parallels between Gemma's relationships and those of Holmes and his associates. Whether familiar with the series or new to it, readers will appreciate Delany's skilful handling of both character development and plot complexity.

Overall, this book delivers a captivating story offering a satisfying blend of mystery, humour, and familial intrigue that will leave fans eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

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THE INCIDENT OF THE BOOK IN THE NIGHTTIME is the tenth book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries by Vicki Delany. This newest release springs an unexpected secret that few knew about protagonist Gemma Doyle—an ex-husband!—and sets the stage for a twisty mystery! Gemma, her detective boyfriend, along with all her close friends, is back in London for her sister’s wedding. What should have been a time filled with joy and celebration quickly turns dark when Gemma’s ex-husband, Paul, ambushes her at the reception and begs her for help with a rare book. When Gemma arrives to see the book at his shop, she finds him murdered. Ms. Delany knows how to weave a tightly plotted tale filled with intriguing characters and a murder mystery to stump the most seasoned of armchair detectives. I also love how she interjects humorous yet dry repartee, which gave me a few chuckles to lighten the story. With wonderful character development along with multiple plotlines to follow, it’s no wonder that I always move each new release to the top of my TBR list as soon as it’s in my hands.

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Another five star installment in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series by Vicki Delany. Gemma and the gang are in London for Pippa's wedding and find themselves embroiled in another murder. An added pleasure in this installment is that we gain insight in the mysterious working world of Pippa. I am especially enjoying watching Ms. Delany weave into her books the magic of Sherlock Holmes and especially the relationship between Gemma and Pippa which mirror the relationship between Sherlock and Mycroft. Definitely a five star read for any fan of the series or even for somebody who has not read any of the previous books in this series.

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Thanks to netgalley for providing me with this ARC. What a little gem! I have to admit, the title and Sherlock Holmes reference pulled me to select this book and it held my attention all the way through.
I haven't read any other books in this series but I didn't feel this hampered my enjoyment as the author did such a good job of describing the setting, characters and past events in the rest of the series.
Gemma and her family members hunt for her ex husbands killer whilst on vacation whilst in London for her sisters wedding.
Plot wise, I wasn't shocked with the ending or surprised at the reveal of the killer which left me with a bit of an anticlimatic feeling to be honest.

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