She’s done it again!
Another charity tea!
My best friend and business partner Jayne Wilson (she runs Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room and I manage the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium) has agreed to put on yet another tea for charity.
At least this time it won’t be a full formal afternoon tea for a hundred and twenty people under an event tent as described in The Cat of the Baskervilles. But still. . .
This one is going to be held in the tea room itself, at 220 Baker Street, as part of an auction for Scarlet House, the West London museum, which suffered extensive fire damage last week. That the museum wasn’t completely destroyed is only thanks to my cocker spaniel Violet, although people are praising me for altering the fire department.
Now I know all the shops on Baker Street are doing their bit for the auction. After all the museum brings a lot of tourists to our town. But just for once couldn’t we give something, rather than doing extra work? My uncle Arthur is donating a first edition copy of The Valley of Fear.
Oh, well. It’s just going to be a small affair, with cream tea rather than a full formal afternoon tea and only two choices of tea. And I, thank heavens, haven’t been asked to serve this time.
I’m sure it’ll all go perfectly smoothly. Sure, there’s some tension between museum board chair Kathy Lamb and local shop owner Maureen McGregor, and the previous board chair was pushed out by Kathy, and some of the museum volunteers resent the new management style, and they say Kathy’s ex-husband is regretting his hasty re-marriage, and the commodore of the West London Yacht Club is exceptionally hostile to the new Mrs. Lamb.
What can possibly go wrong? It’s only a cream tea.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of A Scandal in Scarlet. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends November 14, 2018. Good luck everyone!
Meet Gemma Doyle and the gang from the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room in the series by Vicki Delany. The fourth book, A Scandal in Scarlet, is now available from Crooked Lane Books.
Gemma and Jayne donate their time to raise money for the rebuilding of a burned out museum―but a killer wants a piece of the auction.
Walking her dog Violet late one night, Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop, acts quickly when she smells smoke outside the West London Museum. Fortunately no one is inside, but it’s too late to save the museum’s priceless collection of furniture, and damage to the historic house is extensive. Baker Street’s shop owners come together to hold an afternoon auction tea to raise funds to rebuild, and Great Uncle Arthur Doyle offers a signed first edition of The Valley of Fear.
Cape Cod’s cognoscenti files into Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room, owned by Gemma’s best friend, Jayne Wilson. Excitement fills the air (along with the aromas of Jayne’s delightful scones, of course). But the auction never happens. Before the gavel can fall, museum board chair Kathy Lamb is found dead in the back room. Wrapped tightly around her neck is a long rope of decorative knotted tea cups―a gift item that Jayne sells at Mrs. Hudson’s. Gemma’s boyfriend in blue, Ryan Ashburton, arrives on the scene with Detective Louise Estrada. But the suspect list is long, and the case far from elementary. Does Kathy’s killing have any relation to a mysterious death of seven years ago?
Gemma has no intention of getting involved in the investigation, but when fellow shopkeeper Maureen finds herself the prime suspect she begs Gemma for her help. Ryan knows Gemma’s methods and he isn’t happy when she gets entangled in another mystery. But with so many suspects and so few clues, her deductive prowess will prove invaluable in A Scandal in Scarlet, Vicki Delany’s shrewdly plotted fourth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.
Purchase Link
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About the author
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than thirty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. She is currently writing three cozy mystery series: the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series for Crooked Lane, the Year-Round Christmas mysteries for Penguin Random House and, as Eva Gates, the Lighthouse Library series, for Crooked Lane Books.
Vicki lives and writes in bucolic Prince Edward County, Ontario. She is a past president of the Crime Writers of Canada. Her work has been nominated for the Derringer, the Bony Blithe, the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak, and the Arthur Ellis Awards.
Visit Vicki at vickidelany.com, on Facebook and on Twitter at @vickidelany.
All comments are welcomed.
A fun series, and this one sounds even better than the others.
I really enjoy this series! I am a huge Sherlock fan, have been since I was 10 and read The Speckled Band.
Thank you for the chance to win this book.
The Speckled Band is my favourite story. Thanks for entering the contest.
A great series! Hope to be able to read this one soon.
Sounds like a fun series. I’m impressed by the author’s range of work.
I haven’t tried this series yet but it sounds entertaining 🙂
Donah42 at aol dot com
This is one of my favorite series! II am really looking forward to spending time with Gemma, Jayne, and the rest of the gang. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book.
Another series I haven’t tried yet. I am a Sherlock Holmes fan. This could be the start of a long time reading of her books. Add Vicki Delaney to my to be read list.
I hope you do, Linda. Thanks for entering the contest
I am looking forward to reading the next adventure of Gemma. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
I enjoy this series. It is the perfect setting. Sherlock Holmes bookstore and a mystery .
I love this series! Vicki is a favorite author, and combined with Sherlock —what could be better? I miss Molly Smith though!
Thanks Gail. Sometimes I miss Molly too! Never say never
A friend mentioned this series and I thought it sounded charming. I have Body on Baker Street in my tbr. Your books sound wonderful to read by the fire during this season with a cup of tea near to hand.
Thanks Dru Ann for the chance to enter the giveaway. Vicki Delaney’s books always promise a great read and I’m sure this book will not disappoint.
Love this series and look forward to reading this book. Thanks for the chance.
New to this series but I love the lighthouse library series. Can’t wait to get my hands on this series, sounds fun. Thank you for the giveaway.
Can’t wait to start reading this series. Thanks for the giveaway.
Looks like a wonderful series!
I love this series. The friendships are realistic and relatable. There’s always a clever mystery and the story itself is always well written and holds my interest.
I’m so pleased you like the relationships. I think they are the heart of a cozy mystery.
I would love to win. This is a series I’ve been wanting to read.
Yes please Dru, I’d love to add this to my collection. I love the series.
Looks like a good book. Thanks for the chance to win. Love the cover.
Looks like a good series. New to me so I’ll have to check ✔ it out
Thanks for sharing
😍🍯🐝😍
Shared on Twitter 😍❤😍
https://mobile.twitter.com/LindaMoffitt02/status/1061667316818198528
I love, love, love this series and am so excited that there is another book coming out. Thanks for the chance to win!
I love cream teas — I wish I had a tray right now! Thanks Dru Ann and Vicki for the giveaway ~
Another new series for me to try–it sounds interesting, and I love the Sherlock Holmes angle.
I love bookshops, tea, and mysteries. This book looks like my cup of tea.
I have been hearing a lot about this book and I would love to win and read it!
For a series these are the best. Love series in books. Thank you
Oh, I’d love to read this. Ty so much for the giveaway. legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com
Love Gemma and her friends!
This series is still on my tbr list. I would love a chance to win a copy to give me that push to read the whole series.
This would be a new series for me, and it is time I started it. Thanks for the opportunity.
This is such a fun series. Sounds like Gemma will be busy.
Would really like to read. Sounds like great series.
Thanks for the chance! I read all books Vicki Delany writes.
I love reading cozy mysteries. Thanks for the opportunity. This series is great
Absolutely love 💕 this series! The cover is so awesome! Can’t wait to read this new cozy! Thank you so very much dear Dru and dear Vicki for the chance!! 😻💜😊
I cannot wait to read this book…..
Thank you for the giveaway…..
Thanks for hosting me, Dru. And thanks to everyone who stopped by to comment.
This is such a fun series! I’m looking forward to reading this book.
This is a great series. I cannot wait to read this next installment! Thanks for the chance to win!
A new book in a series I love. Hopefully, I will a copy. Thanks for the chance.
Just on the off chance I’m not too late, I thought I’d comment. Love this series and am all caught up and ready to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love this series! Thanks for the chance to win the newest book!
Sounds like a winner.
**** WINNER ****
A Scandal in Scarlet is Beverly Guy
Congratulations!
Thanks so much Dru and Vicki! I am so super duper excited to have won! I love your awesome contests Dru! Thank you again so much! Can’t wait to read it! God bless you both!!! 💜🙏😻😊