Elementary, She Read (A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery)
by Delany, Vicki
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN 10
- 1683312686
- ISBN 13
- 9781683312680
- Seller
-
Frederick, Maryland, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Crooked Lane Books. Used - Very Good. Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner’s name, short gifter’s inscription or light stamp.
Reviews
On Mar 17 2017, a reader said:
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).
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Details
- Bookseller
- Wonder Book (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- Q16P-00535
- Title
- Elementary, She Read (A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery)
- Author
- Delany, Vicki
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 1683312686
- ISBN 13
- 9781683312680
- Publisher
- Crooked Lane Books
- Place of Publication
- New York
- This edition first published
- 2017
Terms of Sale
Wonder Book
RETURNS are cheerfully accepted up to 30 days. We ship out within 1-2 business days and U.S. Standard Shipments usually arrive within 6-9 business days, Priority 3-6.
About the Seller
Wonder Book
Biblio member since 2003
Frederick, Maryland
About Wonder Book
With 3 stores less than 1 hour outside the DC/Metropolitan area (1 in Gaithersburg, 1 in Frederick and 1 in Hagerstown, MD), we have the largest selection of books in the tri-state area. Wonder Book and Video has been in business since 1980 and online since 1997. We have over 1 Million books for sale on our website and another 1 Million books for sale in our 3 locations. We have a very active online inventory and as such, we can receive multiple orders for the same item. We fill those orders on a first come first serve basis, but will refund promptly any items that are out of stock. Since 1980 it has always been about the books. ALL kinds of books from 95 cent children\'s paperbacks to five figure rare and collectibles. A merging of the old and new is where we started, and it is where we are today. Our retail stores have always been places where a reader can rush in looking for a title needed for a term paper that is due the next day, or where bibliophiles can get lost \"in the stacks\" for as long as they wish. In 2002 USAToday recognized us as \"1 of 10 Great Old Bookstores\", and we have been featured in numerous other newspaper and TV stories including Washington Post and CSpan.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....