REVIEW: A Scandal in Scarlet

A Scandal in Scarlet
Author: Vicki Delany

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.**