I like the way she writes, which is important since, alas, so many cozies are not all that well-written. Plenty of interesting characters, comfy setting, and well-plotted. I am definitely becoming a Vicki Delany fan. ( )

Gemma Doyle hosts a last minute author signing for a demanding author. When the author visits in advance to see the venue, she is confronted by a woman claiming she stole her book. Even one of her regulars expresses his displeasure with the author because they do not stay true to the Sherlock Holmes canon. There's also an incident later that evening while dining out. Two days later at the official visit, Gemma had sent her assistant to get the requested specialty water at a nearby shop. As requested, they break the seals and put two by the podium and two at the counter to move to the signing table later. Of course, something happens to the water. There are several suspects that rise to the top. This installment is better than the first in the series. I enjoyed the author's British accent for Gemma, but she needs to work on her North Carolinian one. It sounded like no one I've ever met from that state. It's a great installment, and I look forward to the next in series. ( )

I thought this book was even better then the last but not as much as Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates another pseudonym that the author uses. The reason I preferred this book over the first book in the series is that in book one Gemma the main character is a prime suspect, so everything she does is to clear her name, in this one she works just as hard trying to clear someone she has no great love for. The other nice thing about this series so far is that the focus is firmly on the mystery and not so much Gemma's private life. ( )

Gemma Doyle runs the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium on Baker Street in West London, MA. Her best friend, Jayne, is next door at Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room. In this second book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series, Gemma and Jayne are excited (and stressed) about the last minute visit of famous author Renalta Van Markoff to the shop. Markoff writes the Hudson and Holmes book series. The books are a bit controversial (and definitely non-canon) because Holmes and Mrs. Hudson are lovers, with Mrs. Hudson being the real genius instead of Sherlock. With only a day or so to prepare a huge signing event, Gemma and Jayne are stressed and worried that something will go wrong. And, of course it does. At the signing a local Sherlock fan who hates Markoff's books makes a huge scene, accusing her of disgracing the beloved classic characters. The author gives as much as she gets, and ends up winning the argument......but, then she promptly drops dead. After his huge public fight with the author, Donald Morris is immediately the number one suspect -- but he swears he didn't do it. Markoff was a difficult person. Gemma and Jayne have no limit on suspects who might have wanted her dead. Can they investigate and deduce the truth before Donald faces murder charges?

I am a big Sherlock Holmes fan. So for me, this cozy series by Vicki Delany is just a joy to read. I love the facts and tidbits about Sherlock and Arthur Conan Doyle sprinkled throughout the books. I like Gemma as a main character, and all of the supporting characters are interesting, quirky and delightful. I catch myself wishing the bookshop and tea room were real. I would SO love to have lunch there and browse the shop after! :) The books are a nice mix of mystery and background theme. And there are always enough suspects to keep the reader guessing til the end. Lots of humor, too!

I will definitely be reading more of this series!

Vicki Delany is the author of several mystery series. For more information on her books, check out her website: http://vickidelany.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** ( )

I think I would have enjoyed "Body On Baker Street" if I'd left more of a gap between reading it and the first Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery, "Elementary, She Read". "Body On Baker Street" deserved to have me come at it fresh rather than for me to be constantly comparing it the first book.

That said, I enjoyed myself listening to "Body On Baker Street". The plot involves the murder of a flamboyant author of a set of Holmes pastiche novels.

This was a great vehicle for exploring some of the more bizarre aspects of publishing and promoting books and at the extremes of "Sherlockian" fandom.

I loved the premise of the pastiche: that Mrs Hudson was secretly having an affair with Holmes and worked alongside him to solve the mysteries of the day, I can imagine the outrage this would cause.

The plot was a clever way of having the murder take place where Gemma Doyle and her friend and business partner Jayne Wilson can't help but become involved. The flamboyance of the author, the strangeness of her fans and detractors and the secrets in her entourage all fed into the humour of the book while making it more and more difficult to figure out whodunnit.

At one point, Gemma loses all perspective - who in their right mind breaks INTO a police station?- and I liked the way Vicki Delaney used Gemma's friends to keep her from crossing the line from determined investigator to total nutjob.

The resolution was as well worked out and as satisfying as the misdirection along the way. Gemma got to work it all out without stretching my belief too far and we got a little more development of the relationship between her and her friends.

I'll be back for more of this series but I'm going to leave it a month or two so I can get the most out of the books. Besides, book three is called "The Cat Of The Baskervilles", how could I resist that? ( )