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Elementary, She Read
Unavailable
Elementary, She Read
Unavailable
Elementary, She Read
Audiobook8 hours

Elementary, She Read

Written by Vicki Delany

Narrated by Kelly Clare

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

Gemma Doyle, a transplanted Englishwoman, has returned to the quaint town of West London on Cape Cod to manage her great uncle Arthur's Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. The shop - located at 222 Baker Street - specializes in the Holmes canon and pastiche and is also the home of Moriarty the cat.

When Gemma finds a rare and potentially valuable magazine containing the first Sherlock Holmes story hidden in the bookshop, she and her friend Jayne (who runs the adjoining Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room) set off to find the owner, only to stumble upon a dead body. The highly perceptive Gemma is the police's first suspect, so she puts her consummate powers of deduction to work to clear her name, investigating a handsome rare books expert, the dead woman's suspiciously unmoved son, and a whole family of greedy characters desperate to cash in on their inheritance.

But when Gemma and Jayne accidentally place themselves at a second murder scene, it's a race to uncover the truth before the detectives lock them up for good.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateJun 20, 2017
ISBN9781520078496
Unavailable
Elementary, She Read
Author

Vicki Delany

Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the United States. She has written more than 30 books: from clever cozies to Gothic thrillers, gritty police procedurals to historical fiction and seven novellas in the Rapid Reads line. She writes the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series, the Year Round Christmas mysteries and under the pen name of Eva Gates, the Lighthouse Library series. Vicki is the past president of Crime Writers of Canada. Her work has been nominated for the Derringer, Bony Blithe, Golden Oak, and Arthur Ellis Awards. She lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario.

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Reviews for Elementary, She Read

Rating: 3.8952381285714286 out of 5 stars
4/5

105 ratings18 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is my first Delany book and I enjoyed it. The character of Gemma Doyle took a bit to warm up to but she is a character that grows on you. There are still aspects about her that are a tad contradictory (how someone can be so smart but so naive at the same time). However, as she develops in future books, that may change.

    A 3-star rating from me is a good rating. It is a book that I would recommend to others. I also will continue on with the next book in the series.

    It is an awesome book that receives a 4-rating and an amazing book that garners a 5. Hopefully the next book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series will receive one of these.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    If you love Sherlock Holmes, this is the cozy mystery for you! Gemma Doyle is the part owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium in New London, Massachusetts. She is originally from England, but has been living in the USA to help her Uncle Arthur run his bookshop. Gemma enjoys Sherlock Holmes but is not fanatical about him. Her Uncle is the one who is the big fan, and for the duration of the book he is away traveling the United States.

    One day, after a large tour group leaves her shop, Gemma finds a very rare copy of a magazine, containing the first published Sherlock story, tucked into one of her shelves. She thinks one of the women in the group has left it behind, whether or not by accident is unknown. She tracks down the woman she thinks left it, and goes to her hotel. Once there, she finds the woman has been murdered! Gemma finds herself the prime suspect and is determined to solve the mystery and clear her name.

    Gemma is an interesting character. There are a lot of references to her English accent, and her love of tea. But the main thing about her is she has an almost Holmesian level of observation and deduction. This can cause her to appear rude in other people's eyes. The policewoman running the investigation develops a hatred of her. I am not sure exactly why.

    There are lots of suspects available, as the story delves into the world of Sherlock collectibles, and many people are on the hunt for that rare magazine copy. Gemma's best friend, Jayne, runs the tea shop next door, and is always willing to give Gemma a hand. She is a nice character, and helps balance out Gemma's logical personality.

    My favorite part of the book were the scenes set in the bookshop. It seems like such a nice, happy place to work. Who knew there were that many Sherlock items in the world. Although to be fair, the shop seems to sell any book with even a loose connection to Sherlock Holmes. It makes me wish I could have a little book store too.

    This is the first book in the new Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. If this book is any indication, I think this series is going to be a great success!

    I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the first in a new series and I enjoyed getting to know Gemma Doyle and her friend Jayne. Gemma manages the Sherlock Emporium in Cape Cod. It is a Sherlock Holmes themed book and souvenir shop. The store is owned by Gemma's great-uncle Arthur Doyle, who believes he is a distant relative of the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Gemma moved to the United States from England after ending her marriage and to help her uncle. Her best friend, Jayne, runs a tea room right next door. Gemma is known for her keen sense of observation and deduction and this is what pulls her into the mystery. When Gemma finds a valuable magazine hidden in her shop she uses her talents to figure out who left it there. When they try to talk to the woman, they find her dead in her hotel room. Of course Gemma becomes the prime suspect, as she has the magazine and found the body. Things are further complicated when her ex-boyfriend shows up as the lead investigator of the case.

    The story had a lot of Sherlock Holmes trivia, but this did not overpower the mystery. It was nice getting to know some of the characters in the town and I hope we see more of them in future books. The police were not as free with information as I have seen in other cozies, which was a nice change. Gemma and Jayne play off each other well. It looks like Gemma and Ryan may be rekindling their romance in future books, but only time will tell. I had no idea who the perpetrator was in this story until it was revealed at the end, but it was a fitting ending. I think this is a nice beginning to a new cozy mystery series and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Mystery lovers get a bonus when they read Elementary, She Read. Not only do they get a first-rate mystery that keeps you guessing from page one, they also get excellent crime fiction recommendations. I've already mentioned that the whodunit is definitely my cup of tea in this first Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery, and I'm happy to report that the Cape Cod setting ranks high, too. Gemma Doyle isn't your usual heroine for a cozy mystery series. Normally such sleuths are girl-next-door types, but Gemma has an edginess to her, an abrasiveness. She's an introvert. She has a touch of OCD when it comes to how merchandise is presented on the bookshop shelves. She can be completely thoughtless when it comes to restaurant reservations... but she has an absolutely killing eye for detail. This woman isn't supposed to be your average girl-next-door. No, she's much more like Sherlock Holmes himself, and I found myself liking Gemma immensely. I also liked the other main character, Gemma's best friend Jayne, and I'm looking forward to meeting Uncle Arthur in a future book. For an elderly man in his nineties, he spent his entire time on the road in Elementary, She Read. Sounds like quite a guy, doesn't he? For cat lovers, there's the resident feline, Moriarty, who can't stand Gemma. That's okay-- I can't stand Moriarty. But don't get me going on the subject of allergies and having fur babies in bookshops and libraries. I'd much rather wax poetic about this book and wait impatiently for the next!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    First in a series, this book is a lot of fun. Gemma runs a Sherlock Holmes bookstore. She sells recent editions, anything written about Holmes and trinkets and some collectibles. She does not deal in the competitive world of original copies.When an elderly woman stops in during a very busy day and then slips out without purchasing anything, Gemma is puzzled but too busy to worry about it. She and her assistant, Ruby, deal with the crowds. When everything clears out and Gemma and cleaning and straightening up the stock she finds a magazine. Specifically the original edition in Beeton's Christmas Annual for 1887. Gemma is a not a huge Holmes fan but employs many of the great detectives logical reasoning.What follows is a fairly complicated story on potential suspects in the murder of the elder woman who left behind the magazine. Gemma is one of those suspects.I enjoyed the story and am looking forward to the next in the series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Gemma Doyle runs a Sherlock Holmes memorabilia store in West London, Cape Cod. While a tour group is shopping in her store a woman comes in and hides a magazine among the books but Gemma sees her doing this. After everyone leaves she gets the magazine and thinks it's a valuable 1st edition signed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. People start getting murdered and she's the main suspect because she's a 'know-it-all' and a busy body who thinks the police don't know what they're doing except for the handsome detective Ryan who she once dated.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Gemma Doyle returned to West London in New England to help her Uncle Arthur run his bookstore, a huge homage to Sherlock Holmes. Her uncle prefers buying trips to the actual running of a business, so her presence really helps him out. The tourist town is a stop for buses and weekenders alike, many who enjoy not just the books, but Holmes knick knacks that Gemma carries. In fact, I can only imagine how many people will check out Laurie R. King (a longtime resident of my own TBR list) after repeated mentions in the story. A hidden, bound periodical sets Gemma and her friend Jayne (owner of Mrs. Hudson's teashop and shared wall), into quick a bit of murder, mystery and suspense. Gemma's biggest character flaw may be in knowing how observant she is. I have not read all of the Holmes canon, so don't know if this follows any one particular book, but suffice to say, Gemma must be the one most like the famous detective, even though it is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that her uncle purports to be distant cousins with. All in all, a good start to a new series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I love a good mystery and this one was great. Gemma has returned to London to manage her Great Uncle's shop. I liked how when she found something she took the initiate to get it back to the owner even after running into a dead body and finds herself the main suspect. It is a great book for any mystery lover.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Gemma owns a Sherlock Holmes themed emporium in West London in Cape Cod. When a priceless magazine is found on one of her shelves she is pretty sure who left it. When she goes to find the woman, she finds her dead body. Gemma finds herself om the list of suspects and is determined to clear her name.This series is walking an interesting line. Gemma is hyper observant, ala Holms. And she could be really annoying but her personality saves her. She seems to be unaware that her observations are unique. She is funny. And although her powers of observation are awesome, her deductive powers are a bit off. The other characters in the book are also well defined and they help keep Gemma from being too smart for her own good. There a a lot of explanation of the mystery at the end, but other than that I really liked to book a lot.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Gemma Doyle runs a bookshop on Cape Cod specializing in Sherlock Holmes. When she finds a priceless copy of the first Sherlock Holmes story hidden on her book shelves, she uses her phenomenal and nearly photographic memory to figure out who left it there. When she and her friend Jayne who runs Mrs. Hudson't Tea Room next door go to find her, they discover that she has been murdered. Gemma is not particularly pleased to find that one of the investigators is Ryan Ashburton. She and Ryan had a close relationship until they unexpectedly broke up and he took a job in Boston. His partner is Louise Estrada who seems to take an immediate dislike to Gemma. Now Gemma not only has to fend off a detective who is certain she is guilty but also collectors who have heard rumors that she has possession of the priceless Sherlock Holmes artifact.Gemma is busy investigating and has a lot of suspects. Is it the new book dealer who moved into town? Is it someone in the family of the man who left the priceless artifact to the nurse who cared for him in his final illness? Is it the son of the nurse (and murder victim) who inherited the story?I liked Gemma who was perceptive and clueless at the same time. I liked her relationship with her friend Jayne. When I learned the reason that Ryan left her, I took a real dislike to him but he did grow on me as the story progressed. I would be eager to read more adventures for Gemma and her friend Jayne.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I'm a fan of Vicki Delany's Molly Smith series, so was excited to get a chance to preview her new Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. Gemma Doyle and her Uncle Arthur co-own aa Sherlock Holmes bookshop and they are partners with Gemma's friend, Jayne Watson, in Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room. (Yes, Holmes and Watson...and the parallels don't stop there.). Gemma is a female version of Sherlock, and not very likable at first. But she grows on you, and by the end of the story, I was quite fond of her character. The mystery revolves around a special and valuable magazine that Gemma finds hidden in her shop. The woman who hid the magazine is soon found murdered, and Gemma is the prime suspect in the crime. Gemma, with Sherlock's keen eye for detail, is on the hunt for the killer. If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan, you will enjoy this new mystery by Vicki Delaney.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Digital audiobook narrated by Kelly Clare First in a new (to me, at least) series starring Gemma Doyle, “a transplanted Englishwoman [who] has returned to … Cape Cod to manage her great uncle Arthur’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium.” This has all the elements of a successful cozy mystery series: an amateur sleuth who is frequently smarter than the police and incredibly nosy, a cute pet (in this case the black cat named Moriarty), a job in a retail shop that brings her into contact with many public persons, a best friend who runs a complimentary business, and a supporting cast of “helpers.” I loved all the book references, and thought the basic premise was sufficiently plausible to keep me interested and engaged. I’m likely to continue this series. Kelly Clare does a good job of voicing the audiobook. She sets a good pace and does a good job of giving Gemma a recognizable British accent.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Gemma Doyle, formerly from England but now the co-owner (along with her Uncle Arthur) of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium in a small Cape Cod town finds herself a suspect in a murder investigation when she makes a hotel visit to talk with a woman who left a potentially valuable magazine in her bookstore. Gemma has remarkable attention to detail and an uncanny ability to make deductions. When her ex-boyfriend began the investigation, he recognized her innocence but when another detective became the lead investigator because of his previous relationship with Gemma, she rises to the top of the suspect list. Determined to prove her innocence, she begins investigating with the help of her friend Jayne, half-owner of the tea shop attached to the bookstore. The solution screamed at me from the time the magazine first appeared in the shop, but the author gave readers an entertaining pursuit of the mystery's solution with several red herrings. Although the author achieved well-developed characters, she did so by overdoing it in some instances, making it less interesting. I listened to the audiobook.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A British expat running a Sherlock Holmes bookshop on Cape Cod, finds what appears to be an incalculably valuable original of A Study in Scarlet hidden on her shop shelves. When she attempts to return it to the woman she suspects of hiding it there, she finds a dead body instead. I wasn't sure about this one at the beginning. Gemma (how is that pronounced anyway? Soft g or hard?) is obviously supposed to be a modern day, female version of Holmes with superpower levels of analytical skill and a slightly detached personality. The thing is, Delany doesn't seem to appreciate the subtle difference between absent/single-mindedness and thoughtlessness. Gemma is thoughtless a couple of times at the start of this book, without remorse or shame. Holmes was cold-bloodedly objective, but he was always a gentleman. Things get better in the second half of the book, although the use of the evil nemesis trope had my eyes rolling around in my head a bit. The mystery plotting was really excellent, and while I suspected something wonky, I didn't see where the author was taking me until I was there. Overall, it wasn't as strong as it could have been, but it was good. I enjoyed it enough to look forward to coming back to it. Not sure if I'll read the next one or not though. Maybe.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I'm not a crazy Holmes fan, but started on the Basil Rathbone movies then read all of the A.C. Doyle's original works along with a few of the Mary Russell and watch Elementary and Sherlock. This book fits in nicely, Gemma is very much like the observant Holmes and her deductions drive much of the story forward , Jayne plays her Watson role very well without any bumbling or doctoring replacing that with baking. I'll read the next one in this series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Every so often I need my Sherlock fix—hurray for Canadian Author Vicki Delany; her new series Elementary, She Read: A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery was just what I needed. The mystery is set in West London, Cape Cod (I must visit) on Baker Street of course. The main character is Gemma Doyle, originally from England, and she runs the bookshop and investigates crimes, but this time it seems she might be in over her head. Her friend Jayne runs the shop next door called Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room, and together they have found a dead body and some rare items. What I love about this story is the characters: Gemma is funny with that quintessential English humor. Jayne is friendly, but cautious, and the police Detectives are strict about Gemma staying out of their case, and one in particular is so hateful towards Gemma it’s scary. And there are many more interesting people to discover in this murder mystery. 4 stars
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Gemma runs and co-owns a Sherlock Holmes shop with books and related items. When she finds what may be a valuable original Strand magazine stuck in her rack, she knows the game’s afoot. And when bodies begin to appear, she knows she is likely to be the number one suspect. This entertaining tale is well plotted and chock full of interesting characters.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Elementary, She Read by Vickie Delany is the first book in the new A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. Gemma Doyle moved to West London, Massachusetts five years ago, after the breakup of her marriage. Her Uncle Arthur had been running the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop that he opened on his own, but his wanderlust is returning. Gemma became part owner of the bookshop at 222 Baker Street and took over the day-to-day running of the store. Since the store cannot support itself carrying just Sherlock Holmes books, she added movies, knickknacks and other Holmes related merchandise (and added Emporium to the store name). Gemma is also half owner in Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room (next door) with her friend, Jayne Wilson. One day while a tour group is in the shop (after having tea), a little mousy woman comes in with a white shopping bag. Gemma watches her until her attention is diverted by customers with their purchases. After the shop is closed for the day, Gemma checks the area where she last saw the woman. She finds a rare copy of Beeton’s Christmas Annual from 1887 (a magazine) hidden among the books. The white bag the woman was carrying is found in the trash along with a postcard from a local hotel. Jayne and Gemma head to the hotel to see if they can find the owner. They approach her hotel room and find the door ajar. Upon entering the room, they find her dead on the bed. Gemma sends Jayne to call 911 while she checks out the room for clues and snaps a few photos. The police are skeptical about how Gemma and Jayne found the body. Ryan Ashburton, West London homicide detective and Gemma’s ex-boyfriend, knows how Gemma’s mind works, but his partner, Detective Louise Estrada does not. Gemma determines it is up to her to find the killer and clear her name. Her observation skills are going to be put to the test in Elementary, She Read!Elementary, She Read was one book I was really looking forward to reading. It sounded like it would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, the author made a very unlikeable main character. Gemma Doyle believes she has superior observation skills and likes to flaunt it. In contradiction, Gemma will promise to do something and then forgets. She can keep the store inventory in her head, but forgets to make a simple phone call (for instance). She treats her employee shabbily. I found the writing to be very detail oriented. The readers are provided detail descriptions on people, rooms, and the many items that are sold in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. I give Elementary, She Read 3 out of 5 stars. The detectives (actually the whole police department) are maligned. Detective Louisa Estrada comes across as a villain. Ryan tells Gemma (more than once) to stay out of the investigation. He then shares information with her. I know this is fiction, but I doubt this would happen in reality (especially if the person in question is a suspect). I found information to be repeated especially the price of the rare magazine. I would love to tell you that the mystery was perplexing, but it was not. The culprit was easily identified. Since the murder occurred early in the book, the story seemed long. I wish there had been a little more of a lead in to the crime. I enjoyed the description of Beeton’s Christmas Annual. This captured my interest and led me to a search for more details on it. Elementary, She Read had potential with the premise, but the character of Gemma just ruined it for me. I wish the author had made Jayne the narrator for the story (or not made Gemma so obnoxious).