I’m a fan of Vicki Delany’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mysteries, and her amateur sleuth, Gemma Doyle. Although Gemma is on the periphery of the scene when the murder occurs in The Sign of Four Spirits, she works her unofficial investigation, using her knowledge of the people on the scene.
One of Gemma’s employees at Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, Ashleigh, recently reunited with her mother, former pop star Bunny Leigh. Although Gemma has no interest in the psychic fair that’s in West London on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Bunny is interested. She wants Ashleigh to attend a seance with her during the fair, and Ashleigh begs Gemma to attend, and be there for her. Gemma can’t say no to Ashleigh, so she and her best friend, Jayne Wilson, head baker at Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room, agree to go together.
It’s an unusual group of people at Rebecca Stanton’s home, including her visiting stepson and his wife, along with Rebecca’s niece, a couple who arrived by boat as tourists, Gemma, and several friends. But, when they enter the library for the seance, there are only twelve chairs, and the medium’s assistant asks Gemma to leave the room because the medium doesn’t need Gemma’s skepticism. Gemma might not be in the room, but she can station herself outside so she can at least hear what’s happening. She can’t see, but she can hear the screams and the call from her friend, Jayne. When Gemma flips on the lights, one of the people in the room is dead. It doesn’t take long for Gemma and several others to realize it was murder.
Ryan Ashburton, Gemma’s boyfriend, and the lead detective for the West London police department, responds to the scene, along with his partner, Detective Louise Estrada. Although it’s a locked room murder, with only twelve suspects, the detectives are stymied, and Ryan admits to Gemma they could use her assistance. As Gemma asks questions, and is in the right place at times, she puts together the clues that lead to the correct conclusion in a surprising case.
I like Gemma, modeled after Sherlock Holmes. In the course of the series, she has become quite a bit more human and likable. By book nine, it’s fun to watch her analyze people, motives, and calculate the likelihood that someone may be a killer. The Sign of Four Spirts is an entertaining story for fans of the canon and its pastiches.
The Sign of Four Spirits by Vicki Delany. Crooked Lane Books, 2024. ISBN 9781639105397 (hardcover), 288p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
I am a big fan of Vicki Delano’s Constable Molly Smith series (which she no longer writes) so I have read several books in her many other series. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue the Sherlock series but I like your review and the thought that Gemma develops more as a character so I’ll try a few more. Thanks Lesa.
You’re welcome, Susan. Like you, I loved her Constable Molly Smith series, but I could see it was winding down.
Yes, Gemma has developed more in recent books. I think it really started with A Curious Incident when a child wanted her to investigate. Surprisingly, Gemma worked well with a child.