Reviewed: 28 September 2024

The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime

by: Vicki Delaney

A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery - Book 10

Rating: (3.5/5)

A wedding, a blast from the past, and ... a murder

Gemma and friends travel to England for sister Pippa’s wedding to rare book dealer Grant who moved to England after meeting and falling for Pippa during her visit to West London . Suffering from jet lag and leaving to rest, the last person that Gemma expected to encounter was her ex-husband, Paul. An ex-husband that Ryan doesn’t yet know about.

Jayne and Donald always have Gemma’s back and this time is no different as they travel through Gemma’s old stomping grounds looking for answers to the death of Paul. Donald even gets a chance to use his brolly again and Ryan gets a punch or two in himself.

We are treated to more about Gemma’s past before she moved to America. As well as the relationship between Gemma and Pippa.

The subplot felt a bit forced. I get why it was included but still a bit forced.

I liked that some characters from their past adventure in England make an appearance. I always enjoy Gemma’s family, this time is no exception.

I enjoyed the investigation, Gemma’s reminiscence and all the characters. I think it made Gemma more human. I have liked her through the series but in some cases she came across cold. We learn that she, like the rest of us can be swept away and make unwise decisions.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story.

Happy Reading!

Release Date: 14-January-2025

British, Cozy Mystery, NetGalley, Female-Led

Plot Summary

Bookshop owner Gemma Doyle heads to London for a wedding, but when a body is found in connection with a rare book, Gemma sets out to sleuth the slaying, in bestselling author Vicki Delany’s 10th Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.

Gemma Doyle and her friends have packed their bags and headed to London for her sister Pippa’s wedding. Waiting for her in the hotel lobby is none other than Gemma’s ex-husband, Paul Erikson. Paul has a rare book he wants her to see–calling it “the real deal”–so Gemma agrees to meet him at their old shop, Trafalgar Fine Books, the following day. But when Gemma arrives, accompanied by Grant, a rare book dealer, they find Paul dead in his office.

Paul had been down on his luck, but Gemma never expected this. Had he borrowed money from people he shouldn’t have? And where is the valuable book he was so anxious for Gemma to see? It’s nowhere to be found in the shop. Because of their previous relationship, Gemma feels she owes something to Paul and vows to find his killer.

As Gemma and her best friend Jayne Wilson follow Paul’s trail of friends, enemies, clients, and ex-lovers through London to Yorkshire, she realizes the puzzle of Paul’s last days is more twisted than she originally thought.

This mystery is anything but elementary, and Gemma and Jayne have to use all their wit to get to the bottom of it before their time in London–or in life–is over.