Friday 13 January 2023

The Game Is a Footnote (Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery #8) by Vicki Delany


Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson are back on the case when a body is discovered in a haunted museum in bestselling author Vicki Delany's eighth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.

Scarlet House, now a historical re-enactment museum, is the oldest building in West London, Massachusetts. When things start moving around on their own, board members suggest that Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, might be able to get to the bottom of it. Gemma doesn’t believe in ghosts, but she agrees to ‘eliminate the impossible’. But when Gemma and Jayne stumble across a dead body on the property, they’re forced to consider an all too physical threat.

Gemma and Jayne suspect foul play as they start to uncover more secrets about the museum. With the museum being a revolving door for potential killers, they have plenty of options for who might be the actual culprit.

Despite Gemma's determination not to get further involved, it would appear that once again, and much to the displeasure of Detective Ryan Ashburton, the game is afoot.

Will Gemma and Jayne be able to solve the mystery behind the haunted museum, or will they be the next to haunt it?  (Summary via Goodreads)


You cannot help but get lost in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series by Vicki Delany.  The storyline and the characters and the town and the jobs and the murders are all things that will have you watching for the next book in the series so you can return to West London, Massachusetts whenever you can.

Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson are best friends and co-business owners.  Gemma and her Uncle Arthur own the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium and they co-own Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room with Jayne.  Jayne and her fiance, Andy, are planning their wedding with the help of Gemma unfortunately Gemma is not being very helpful when Jayne's mother, Leslie, asks for help in the latest book in this series.

The Game is a Footnote is the eighth book in the series and Leslie is on the board for the Scarlet House, a historical re-enactment museum, and asks Gemma to meet with the board members when some mysterious things occur that make members uncomfortable.  After Gemma and Jayne meet with the board members, Gemma believes there is an different explanation for why things are moved around and not "ghosts" like the members believe.  So Gemma, Jayne, and Andy decide to spend the night to see what they can find out.  Unfortunately Gemma cannot explain things when a volunteer who takes care of the animals in the barn is found dead on another occasion.

Gemma knows that her boyfriend Detective Ryan Ashburton and his assistant and team can come to a conclusion regarding Dave Chase's death but Gemma knows that there is more going on under the surface and she is determined to bring it to light.

Readers cannot get enough of this series.  Even without the murders and mystery, you will love reading about the town, the people, and the relationships.  You cannot help but wonder what Gemma's assistant, Ashley, is going to dress up as when she comes to work and you will love the storyline that Delany takes with Ashley in this book.  And now that Jayne and Andy are engaged, you will be longing to see where Gemma takes the plans....if she can ever get around to focusing on them.  And Delany brings Gemma's sister, Pippa, into town for a surpise visit and you know something is behind that.  No matter what is going on readers will be on the edge of their seats loving every word !!!

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