Kristina A. reviewed The Game is a Footnote (Sherlock Holmes Bookshop, Bk 8) on + 1528 more book reviews
The Game is a Footnote by Vicki Delany is the eighth A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. I found The Game is a Footnote to be a slow starter as we are given the detailed history of Scarlet House in West London, Massachusetts. I normally enjoy each new addition to this series, but I could not get into The Game is a Footnote. The author gave detailed descriptions of people's attire along with their hairstyles (do I really need to know what each person is wearing down to their socks). In one scene, Gemma notes what is on the nightstand in an individual's bedroom. We are even told the title and author of the book along with the placement of the bookmark. Gemma is a smart woman who is quick to notice details. I found two scenes that were out of character. Jayne mentions to Gemma that spending the night at Scarlet House reminds her of childhood sleepovers and pajama parties. Gemma is clueless and needs an explanation (you cannot tell me she did not read about it in a book or see it in a movie). The other scene is regarding Moriarty and a lily plant. Gemma has no idea that a lily is poisonous to cats (would you let a cat chew on a plant). The mystery is straightforward. The whodunit can easily be solved. The why is a no brainer thanks to certain details being mentioned a few times. There is a subplot that did not fit. It distracts Gemma from the main mystery. I thought the person involved acted out of character. The romance between Gemma and Ryan baffles me. There does not seem to be any chemistry and he does not appreciate her problem-solving abilities. Gemma's sister, Pippa comes to town for a visit. Pippa is one smart cookie. I like what she added to the story and the mystery. It made the whodunit more intriguing. The Game is a Footnote has a spooky mystery with a historic house, a bruhaha in the barn, shifting items, a displeased detective, an absent assistant, and a sleuthing shopkeeper.
Lori C. (dollycas) reviewed The Game is a Footnote (Sherlock Holmes Bookshop, Bk 8) on + 705 more book reviews
Dollycas's Thoughts
A ghost appears to be haunting the historical reenactment site Scarlet House in West London, Massachusetts in the latest Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. The museum board asks bookshop owner Gemma Doyle to give her input on the problem. While she doesn't believe in ghosts she reluctantly agrees to spend the night in the home with her friend Jayne and Jayne's fiancé Andy. Two others camp out in the barn to observe things there. A big storm blew in, they all heard some weird noises, and something upset the barn animals but Gemma had no explanation for any of it. She assumes someone is playing some practical jokes. Then the next day, following a meeting to report on their sleepover Gemma and Jayne find a dead body in the barn.
Involved in another murder investigation, Gemma and Jayne delve into the site's history, its board, and volunteers in hopes to uncover who is behind the murder and the mischief at Scarlet House.
Add to that Gemma's sister Pippa arrives from England for a surprise visit and Ashleigh, Gemma's unique employee, left in the middle of her shift and is now missing. Oh, and bookshop cat Moriaty has a medical emergency.
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Ms. Delany has packed a lot of mayhem into this book and I wouldn't ever expect anything different.
The characters in this series are strong and well-developed. I did enjoy that it was Jayne's mother, Leslie, that got Jayne and Gemma mixed up with the people at Scarlet House. I also enjoyed Pippa's surprise visit. Readers are able to see a different side of both Gemma and Jayne. Another character is introduced which brings havoc to the story regarding Ashleigh. I questioned some of the behavior but it worked as a distraction as intended. I was drawn into all the character's interactions easily.
The main mystery was pretty straightforward with clues nicely dropped in all the right places. The darn Gemma is a brave soul traveling around the drafty old house by herself while a thunderstorm was booming outside. I wouldn't have done it. She also goes to do some investigating without Jayne by her side and she lands herself in a real fix that she eventually got herself out of. I love this woman. Her keen way of observing things everyone else misses and the way she brings the clues all together are always fun to observe. I want to be just like her in my next life. She pulled this mystery together for a fantastic reveal. While I was on the right track there was a nice little twist that I really enjoyed. She also kept at it to solve the mystery of the missing Ashleigh too.
I love the way Ms. Delany tells a story. Her descriptive style paints wonderful pictures of time and place and brings her characters to life. It was so easy to escape into this story.
The Game is a Footnote is a marvelous addition to this series. It truly was A Perfect Escape!
A ghost appears to be haunting the historical reenactment site Scarlet House in West London, Massachusetts in the latest Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. The museum board asks bookshop owner Gemma Doyle to give her input on the problem. While she doesn't believe in ghosts she reluctantly agrees to spend the night in the home with her friend Jayne and Jayne's fiancé Andy. Two others camp out in the barn to observe things there. A big storm blew in, they all heard some weird noises, and something upset the barn animals but Gemma had no explanation for any of it. She assumes someone is playing some practical jokes. Then the next day, following a meeting to report on their sleepover Gemma and Jayne find a dead body in the barn.
Involved in another murder investigation, Gemma and Jayne delve into the site's history, its board, and volunteers in hopes to uncover who is behind the murder and the mischief at Scarlet House.
Add to that Gemma's sister Pippa arrives from England for a surprise visit and Ashleigh, Gemma's unique employee, left in the middle of her shift and is now missing. Oh, and bookshop cat Moriaty has a medical emergency.
_____
Ms. Delany has packed a lot of mayhem into this book and I wouldn't ever expect anything different.
The characters in this series are strong and well-developed. I did enjoy that it was Jayne's mother, Leslie, that got Jayne and Gemma mixed up with the people at Scarlet House. I also enjoyed Pippa's surprise visit. Readers are able to see a different side of both Gemma and Jayne. Another character is introduced which brings havoc to the story regarding Ashleigh. I questioned some of the behavior but it worked as a distraction as intended. I was drawn into all the character's interactions easily.
The main mystery was pretty straightforward with clues nicely dropped in all the right places. The darn Gemma is a brave soul traveling around the drafty old house by herself while a thunderstorm was booming outside. I wouldn't have done it. She also goes to do some investigating without Jayne by her side and she lands herself in a real fix that she eventually got herself out of. I love this woman. Her keen way of observing things everyone else misses and the way she brings the clues all together are always fun to observe. I want to be just like her in my next life. She pulled this mystery together for a fantastic reveal. While I was on the right track there was a nice little twist that I really enjoyed. She also kept at it to solve the mystery of the missing Ashleigh too.
I love the way Ms. Delany tells a story. Her descriptive style paints wonderful pictures of time and place and brings her characters to life. It was so easy to escape into this story.
The Game is a Footnote is a marvelous addition to this series. It truly was A Perfect Escape!
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Although The Game Is a Footnote brought my attention to how museums and historic places suffered-- and continue to do so-- due to the pandemic, it is filled to the brim with the things that I love about this series. There is an excellent mystery here in which, although I deduced the whodunit early on, it took me a long time to put together the whydunit.
Gemma is her usual irascible yet brilliant self. Jayne still follows her around in a fruitless attempt to keep her out of trouble. There's a surprise visit or two. Gemma's employee Ashleigh causes her own problems, and Moriarty the shop cat gets to chew the scenery and steal a scene.
I love the interplay between the characters, and I especially enjoyed how the history of Scarlet House and its family was woven into the mystery. Somehow prolific author Vicki Delany knew that, if a mystery involves an old house, I'm usually the first one up the porch steps to knock on the door.
The Game Is a Footnote is a thoroughly enjoyable mystery that has me looking forward to the next installment and smiling at one of the lessons learned in the story's climax. What lesson? Why, never underestimate a woman who knits, of course!
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
Gemma is her usual irascible yet brilliant self. Jayne still follows her around in a fruitless attempt to keep her out of trouble. There's a surprise visit or two. Gemma's employee Ashleigh causes her own problems, and Moriarty the shop cat gets to chew the scenery and steal a scene.
I love the interplay between the characters, and I especially enjoyed how the history of Scarlet House and its family was woven into the mystery. Somehow prolific author Vicki Delany knew that, if a mystery involves an old house, I'm usually the first one up the porch steps to knock on the door.
The Game Is a Footnote is a thoroughly enjoyable mystery that has me looking forward to the next installment and smiling at one of the lessons learned in the story's climax. What lesson? Why, never underestimate a woman who knits, of course!
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
