Body on Baker Street: A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Crooked Lane Books (September 12, 2017)
Synopsis
Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson are busy managing the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium on Baker Street and adjoining Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room in anticipation of the store’s upcoming book signing with the illustrious Renalta Van Markoff, author of the controversial Hudson and Holmes mystery series. But during the author Q&A session, dedicated Sherlockian Donald Morris verbally attacks Renalta and her series for disgracing Sherlock’s legacy, only to be publicly humiliated when the author triumphantly lashes back and gains the upper hand. That is until Renalta collapses on the table―dead.
Donald insists he didn’t do it and pleads to his friends to clear his name. Fortunately, Gemma and Jayne have no shortage of suspects between author’s bullied personal assistant, her frustrated publicist, the hapless publisher, a handsome rare book dealer, an obsessively rabid fan, and a world of other Sherlock enthusiasts with strong objections to Renalta’s depiction of the Great Detective. It’s up to the shrewd sleuthing duo to eliminate the impossible and deduce the truth before the West London police arrest an innocent man in Body on Baker Street
Guest Post
Stocking the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium
By Vicki Delany
Great Escapes Book Tour Sept. 2017
When I first had the idea of creating a cozy series around a Sherlock Holmes Bookshop, I thought the idea would be fun but a bit far-fetched. It’s been rather surprising to discover it really would be possible to have an entire store of nothing but Sherlock Holmes.
I dove into the crazy world of Sherlock, and I’ve had a lot of fun stocking my fictional shop.
First, the stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There were sixty original Sherlock Holmes stores, including four novels. Not a lot with which to stock an entire store, but the legions of books they’ve inspired is incalculable, what’s call the pastiche – novels and short story collections in which Sherlock and Dr. Watson are characters, in some form or another (e.g. Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell series). I expanded the bookshelves by including a section of Gaslight novels, meaning books set in the Victorian or Edwardian eras, most of which are mysteries (e.g. Gaslight series by Victoria Thompson or the Molly Murphy series by Rhys Bowen). We also have a non-fiction section for books about Sir Arthur, his writing, his contemporaries, and their life and times.
And then we can stock merchandize. DVDs of TV shows and movies, posters, life-sized cut-outs, puzzles, games, coloring books, mugs, cups, tea towels. The list is practically endless.
All of the stuff sold in the Sherlock Holmes bookshop can be found in the real world. All, that is, except for the books in the Hudson and Holmes series by Renalta Van Markoff, for reasons which shall become clear in Body on Baker Street, the second book in the series.
I’ve enjoyed finding Sherlock pastiche and gaslight books and dropping their names into the books. It’s been a hoot trying to match a real book to a fictional character who comes into the shop.
After engaging in a frenzy of shopping, my customers have to go someplace for refreshments and where better than next door to Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room. There they can enjoy a cream tea or full afternoon tea, perhaps served in a Sherlock themed tea pot and cups. Quite a few of the things Jayne serves in the tea room have been made by me at some time, or at least eaten by me!
Research is tough but someone has to do it.
About the Author
Vicki Delany
The first in Vicki’s Sherlock Holmes bookshop series, Elementary She Read
Vicki lives and writes in Prince Edward County, Ontario. She is the past president of the Crime Writers of Canada.
Website * Facebook * Twitter (Vicki) * Twitter (Eva)
Giveaway
Check out the other blogs on this tour
September 11 – Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf – CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 11 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
September 12 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW, GUEST POST
September 12 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT
September 13 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 13 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
September 14 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
September 14 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW
September 15 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
September 15 – Babs Book Bistro – REVIEW
September 16 – Varietats2010 – REVIEW
September 16 – Carole’s Book Corner – REVIEW
September 17 – Bookworm Cafe – REVIEW, GUEST POST
September 17 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 18 – CelticLady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 18 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
September 19 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW
September 19 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, GUEST POST
September 20 – Book Babble – REVIEW
September 20 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST
September 21 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
September 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
September 22 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – INTERVIEW
September 22 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
September 22 – That’s What She’s Reading – REVIEW
September 23 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW
September 23 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
September 24 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 24 – A Cozy Experience – REVIEW
Loved the description of the book. Great name for a bookstore, looking forward to reading.