I read Elementary She Read for part of my continuing series that I call the Most Popular and Recommended Series. And, I am so glad that I finally decided to read it >> after her books being recommended many times.
This book is narrated in the first person by the sleuth, Gemma Doyle who describes herself as:
… the half owner, manager, head shop clerk, and chief duster of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium in the Cape Cod town of West London, Massachusetts. As well as reprints of the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle books, we carry new books representing anything and everything in the pastiche or vaguely derived from the Holmes legend.
The bookshop and emporium is located in the fictional town of West New London, Massachusetts, and it’s address is on Baker Street. Gemma is said to be a distant relative of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and her Uncle Arthur (who owns the shop with her) has been a big fan and collector of Sherlock Holmes related manuscripts and books for a long time. Gemma, who is British, came to West New London five years earlier to take over the running of her Uncle Arthur’s shop.
West New London is a charming Cape Cod town that is built near the water. Gemma live with her dog Violet in Uncle Arthur’s house which is within walking distance of the shop. As though the book and emporium aren’t enough of things related to Sherlock Holmes in the story, adjoining the shop is “Mrs Hudson’s Tearoom.” Uncle Arthur and Gemma co-own this tea room/bakery with Jayne Wilson, Gemma’s best friend.
The mystery in Elementary She Read revolves around the discovery by Gemma of an early edition of the earliest Sherlock Holmes story in the bookshop. Gemma figures out who probably left the old magazine there, and Gemma and Jayne go looking for her. Soon they discover a body, and the hunt is on!
The book has many of the hallmarks of modern Cozies. Gemma has a mysterious romantic past. The small town setting, the main characters running a small shop, the main characters former relationship with the town’s chief detective are also plot devices that are typical nowadays of our beloved genre.
What elevates this book, however, is the great writing. As I read more and more of the book, Gemma became very “real” to me. I found myself entering the town of West New London and regretting the moments when I had to put the book down and return to my real world. What better praise for a book than to say that you can get lost in it!
Elementary She Read, published in 2017, is the first of four books in the series so far with the fifth book, There’s A Murder Afoot, scheduled to be published in January 2020. If the quality of this series holds up (as I believe it will), we will be entertained by Gemma and the goings on in West London for many, many more enjoyable hours.
Click here to read more posts about the most popular and recommended Cozy Mystery series.
P.S. Vicki Delany writes the Lighthouse Library Mystery Series as Eva Gates.
Elaine Behrendt says
I follow both series..love them both!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Elaine, this one is certainly off to a very good start!
Amy says
I really love this series. An online book club I’m in read the second book last year or the year before and I’ve read them all – except the first for some weird reason – since then. Happy to hear you enjoyed this so much!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Amy, it’s always odd when that sort of thing works out! I’d definitely recommend looping back around and picking this one up too.
Amy says
I hope to, soon! I’m all caught up on the series and it really does get better with each book.
Tari H says
I just love this series, and I’m glad you’ve started reading it and love it too! Thanks for the heads-up on book 5–I looked it up and it sounds awesome! I think you’ll like all the books in the series as much as you did the first. I can highly recommend Vicky’s Year-Round Christmas series too!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tari, thanks for the recommendation! I’m certainly planning on continuing this series when I can find the time. And now I’ll have to check out the Year-Round Christmas series as well!
Margo O says
I also discovered this series and really enjoy it. Like you, Gemma and the town became very real to me. I was fortunate in that she had already written 2 books so all I had to do was wait for the next books written (which is very hard to do).
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margo, it’s definitely a series worth following.
DaShannon says
Totally adding this cozy to my TBR list. Also wondering if you recommend a YouTube cozy channel. Surely some faithful blog readers know of one to recommend. If not maybe I’ll have to add one 🙂 I absolutely love the cozies.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
DaShannon, I don’t spend much time on YouTube these days.
DaShannon says
I might have been unclear, I’m not looking for a cozy channel to watch on YouTube. I’m looking for any BookTubers on YouTube sharing cozy book reviews. For as many YA BookTubers I see for young adult fiction and modern fiction I just can’t seem to find any vloggers talking about cozies, which I find odd since it feels like so many of us devour reading them.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
DaShannon, hmm, that would certainly be interesting! I’m not sure if there’s a sort of Cozy YouTube person like you describe. I’m not sure how many serious Cozy fans are technically inclined enough to put together a good YouTubing solution – I wouldn’t be able to handle this site without my husband’s and son’s technical support.
Amber says
Courtagonist usually focuses on cozies
stellans says
I thoroughly enjoyed this series, and I’m looking forward to the next one due soon. I liked the main protagonist (and her uncle!) and her dog, though I thought the silly woman across the street was extraneous to the story.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stellans, there are usually a few parts of most books that could see a bit of trimming. There’s definitely been a movement toward longer books lately, which I think contributes to that.
Rita Ingersoll says
I was wondering if you knew if Miranda James is going to write any more Souther Ladies Books? I just finished the most recent Cat in The Stacks , Six Cats a Slayin, I really enjoy her books. Thank you for any information.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rita, I haven’t heard anything about a new Southern Ladies mysteries, but there should be a new entry out in the Cat in the Stacks series some time this year, titled The Pawful Truth.
Rita Ingersoll says
Yes I have already pre ordered that one. Just love her books. Make me feel good! Thank you for taking the time to answer!
Kimberley Cornwell says
I absolutely adore this series and have read every one. I can assure that each entry just gets better and better. Gemma is the best and her friendship/business partnership with Jayne is just perfect. They don’t always agree but you know that the affection is real.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kimberley, thanks for the recommendation! This is definitely a series that I hope to catch up with after trying the first out, and hearing that the rest are up to this level is great news.
Ruth Anne B says
Thanks so much for telling your readers about Elementary, She Read. I just put a hold on it at our local library and there are no other holds on it, so I expect to be enjoying this book in a couple of days!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ruth, you’re welcome, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
tim Armknecht says
I’m 71 , been reading mysteries & thrillers since high school. I’ve read all of Louise Penny, Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Patrica Cornwell, Sue Grafton, James Patterson’s Alex Cross and bunches and bunches more. I guess a cozy or more but never zeroed in on cozy. Sayers & Penny cozy??? Ruth Rendell???
Well gonna bounce around these .coms with some tea and Dr Pepper. See what happens in a couple of years.??
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tim, I’d definitely say that that Sayers and Penny are both fairly Cozy… Penny a bit less. Ruth Rendell and James Patterson less so, but both are so good that I have them on the site anyway! (I do include some series that are particular favorites, even if they aren’t “quite” Cozy…)
Elaine A. Farwell says
My husband and I have just started watching the Videos of Sherlock Holmes starring Benedict Cumberbatch. I am now looking forward to reading Vicki Delany’s “Elementary She Read.” I love the Cozy Mysteries dealing with books.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Elaine, books are certainly a favorite theme for many Cozy readers – it’s certainly one that most Cozy readers would identify with, after all!
Karen Scoppa says
I discovered this series when it first came out and agree that Gemma is so real I wanted to go to her shop and Jayne’s.
I love that do tea when they close the shop.
I also chuckle over all the Holmes dodads they sell.
I have to thank you for all the insight and knowledge you give us. I am always reading a book and seem to gravitate to cozies
Thanks and keep up the great work. My shelves are nearly bursting with “to be read” book
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Karen, you’re welcome! I’m glad to hear so many people are already fans of this great series!