Elementary, She Read

By: Vicki Delany

Narrated by: Kelly Clare

Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2017 Vicki Delany (P)2017 Dreamscape Media, LLC

An enjoyable experience!

I listened to this while in my car. I became so engrossed that I couldn’t wait to go places with this book. I had also been listening while walking and cooking. Gemma Doyle is a wonderful character. I enjoyed both the story and the narration. I can’t wait to start the next book in this series.

The Beginning Of Gemma Doyle

I was first listening to this in Winter 2020, at the beginning of January, and loved how the beginning of Gemma Doyle’s adventures unfold! The very first shop helper was the murderer of her grandfather’s people! And Gemma became Sherlock Holmes of New England!

The narrative , great explanations and and an overall sense of humor, purpose book.

I loved it ! How can I get Nr. 2 sequence?
Love the author very smart book‼️‼️‼️

Loving this entertaining book!

Great easy reading entertaining, relaxing,refreshing read! The author has done a very nice job and enjoy the easy friendships and that she includes her pets as well!

A nice listen!

I am always up for a Sherlock "Holmesian" story, and this one was enjoyable, but not so engaging that I wish to pursue the series. Narrator does an excellent job and the story is makes an excellent use of parts of the Homes Canon, but I really did not connect with the characters in a way that makes me want to pursue it further.

Sherlock Holmes inspired cozy mystery

Being a Sherlock Holmes and cozy mystery fan, I decided to give this series a try. The plot was interesting and made you think about “fairness” but the main character, Gemma Doyle, is just not likable. I understand the author’s attempt to give Gemma the same fabled powers of observation as Sherlock Holmes but her demeanor is off-putting and brusque. I did not find myself rooting for her to win. The other characters held my interest more than Gemma. I enjoyed the reader, Kelly Clare. Since the plot had a few fun twists and turns I might be willing to give the second book a chance.

Really enjoyed this!

What a fun read/listen. Will download the next one now! Great characters and decent twist.

Easy Listen with Good Twists

The story is an easy listen as well as easy to follow. There are several events that are “yup saw that coming” along with good twists. Though I didn’t care for the voice of the narrator, it didn’t keep me from finishing the books.

Great listen

Good story, characters well developed. Excellent narration. There was no sex and no bad language. There was also no graphic violence. In other words, perfect cozy mystery. Searching now for the next book in this series,

Enjoyable

Enjoyed this book. Story was very good, narration excellent and kept me listening. Good read.