There's a Murder Afoot: 01/28/20

There's a Murder Afoot by Vicki Delany is the fifth of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mysteries. January sixth is Holmes's birthday and the slowest time of the year for the bookshop. Gemma, Jayne, and Ryan head to London for the Sherlock Holmes convention. Gemma is there to give a speech and pick up uncle Arthur's award.

Gemma's uncle, an art forger of note, is at the convention selling his unique homages to the original Strand illustrations. He clearly has ruffled some feathers as evidenced by a mysterious man who warns Gemma and her parents about him. And then on the same night as Gemma's speech, he's found strangled, and Henry, Gemma's father is next to his body.

Gemma and company decide to prolong their London stay to investigate the uncle's murder. They have help from Gemma's older sister who seems have as many ties to British government as fictional Mycroft does.

The plot's fun but a little drawn out in parts. There's too much time spent playing armchair tour guide. There's also too many gags around near disasters at the bookshop back in West London.

The core plot though is satisfying. The clues are there and an observant reader can figure everything out before Gemma and friends.

Four stars

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