I find myself always a bit of a weird combo of annoyed and amazed in a good way at Gemma's mind. In this case, annoyed that she didn't seem to be giving Jayne her full attention despite seemingly being the one charged with doing several chores to prepare for the upcoming wedding. True, one has to admire her ability to think on her feet and delegate tasks to others but, well, there are expectations of being a bride's maid, too. Good thing she's got organized, dependable people on hand to take up the slack. Also, while she's definitely made huge strides in controlling her own tendency to appear superior, she's still got a ways to go. And, you've got to admit that anyone who'd dive into frigid waters to try to save someone takes guts. I'm definitely not liking her meandering out at night and trying to sneak into a potential murder suspect's home...alone...however.
Nope, not really going to share how this all came about, but there is definitely lots going on in this story. Wedding planning should rule but, well, she's still got a business to run, worries about Bunny's flirtation with a new guy who may or may not be legit, concerns for friends who may be struggling in many ways, and more. All while pestering people and confronting them to ask pointed questions. Detective boyfriend Ryan is already stressed when removed from the murder investigation due to friendship with the initial suspect, though glad to see he's working hard to keep Gemma and her impulse problems safe. All this said, I've grown to like not just Gemma, even when annoyed with her, but her circle of family and friends. True, Moriarty, her cat, still doesn't seem to like her but she's grown on me.
Bottom line, an enjoyable read that moves along at a steady pace, managing to create some vivid images of, uh, unusual wedding reception wear, let's say. Lots going on behind the scenes, too, including tension in the restaurant's kitchen staff. The investigation is bogged down a bit due to, well, missing Ryan's input and more than one investigation. And, of course, amidst the murder talk, it wouldn't be a Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery without lots of talk about Holmes and trying to keep up with Uncle Arthur's travels, which seem to happen in the blink of an eye. If you like clever mysteries with an equally clever sleuth, albeit a frequently annoying one, you'll enjoy this one. Thanks #CrookedLaneBooks for allowing me this early peek into Gemma's always interesting life. It's always fun to catch up with the characters and see if Gemma's social finesse has improved. Unlikely. Grin.
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