Vicki Delany

Cape Cod tearoom owner Lily Roberts leaves New England for old England to attend a party for an aristocratic centenarian--but what goes on there is anything but noble . . . Long ago, Lily's grandmother Rose worked as a kitchen maid at Thornecroft Castle, and now Elizabeth, dowager countess of Frockmorton, is celebrating her one hundredth birthday. Rose still has fond feelings for her onetime employer, so a group trip to Yorkshire is planned. It's also an opportunity for Lily to visit her boyfriend, who's currently working in England--and to indulge in some British tea. Much has changed, however, and the ancestral home is now a luxury hotel, which will be closed for a week to accommodate the big bash, much to the chagrin of Elizabeth's grandson, Julien--leading Lily to overhear an argument among the younger generation about the fate of the family fortune. Little do they know that Elizabeth plans to sell the famous Frockmorton Sapphires out of the family for the first time in centuries . . . The icing on the cake comes when the jewels suddenly vanish--and things really go nuts when a party guest dies from an allergic reaction to almonds that someone smuggled into Lily's coronation chicken sandwiches. Now she'll have to scour the property to find out who would commit murder in such a manor . . .

Lily Roberts's Cape Cod tearoom is hosting a bridal shower--until a gruesome gift sends the guest of honor running in fear . . . Members of the Reynolds and Hill families are staying at Lily's grandmother's bed and breakfast, and now they've gathered at Tea by the Sea to sip some delicious blends while they shower bride-to-be Hannah Hill with presents. But the last package Hannah unwraps contains a beheaded Raggedy Ann doll, similar to the last gift from her father before he died long ago, and she's chilled to the bone. Lily senses that the shocking anonymous gift just might be related to other tensions she's picking up on. The mothers-in-law have been sniping at each other--and then Lily overhears the groom's father, Ralph, offering his son a very sizable bribe to call off the wedding. She's relieved when Greg angrily turns him down, but with so many people steamed at each other, can this event possibly go smoothly? The answer is no. It suddenly has to be postponed--when Ralph is found dead in his bed, a bottle of whiskey beside him. When tests indicate the booze was infused with a lethal substance, it becomes a murder case. Now, to find out whether all this family drama led to a fatality, Lily will have to turn up the heat . . .

Gemma Doyle, of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, and Jayne Wilson, of Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room, are immersed in preparations for the presentation of the latest book by the famous author Renalta van Markoff. The event attracts a multitude of characters, both admirers and detractors, who do not hesitate to hurl their reproaches at the author, until, suddenly, Renalta collapses in the middle of the presentation. The writer's death uncovers all kinds of secrets, but there is one that is still in the air: who is behind the novelist's murder? Determined to solve the case, Gemma and Jayne will adopt the deductive method of Holmes and Watson -eliminate the impossible to discover the improbable- until they find the culprit.

Bookshop owner Gemma Doyle heads to London for a wedding, but when a body is found in connection with a rare book, Gemma sets out to sleuth the slaying in bestselling author Vicki Delany's 10th Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery. Gemma Doyle and her friends have packed their bags and headed to London for her sister Pippa's wedding. Waiting for her in the hotel lobby is none other than Gemma's ex-husband, Paul Erikson. Paul has a rare book he wants her to see-calling it "the real deal"-so Gemma agrees to meet him at their old shop, Trafalgar Fine Books, the following day. But when Gemma arrives, accompanied by Grant, a rare book dealer, they find Paul dead in his office. Paul had been down on his luck, but Gemma never expected this. Had he borrowed money from people he shouldn't have? And where is the valuable book he was so anxious for Gemma to see? It's nowhere to be found in the shop. Because of their previous relationship, Gemma feels she owes something to Paul and vows to find his killer. As Gemma and her best friend Jayne Wilson follow Paul's trail of friends, enemies, clients, and ex-lovers through London to Yorkshire, she realizes the puzzle of Paul's last days is more twisted than she originally thought. This mystery is anything but elementary, and Gemma and Jayne have to use all their wit to get to the bottom of it before their time in London--or in life--is over.

Gemma Doyle regenta, junto a su gato Moriarty, la Sherlock Holmes Bookshop, una librer a especializada en el famoso detective y ubicada en el n mero 222 de Baker Street de Cape Cod. Tras la visita de un grupo de jugadoras de bridge, Gemma encuentra una revista rara y muy valiosa que contiene la primera historia de Sherlock Holmes. Un hallazgo trascendente que deja de parecer fortuito cuando una de las mujeres que visitaron la tienda aparece muerta. Desde el principio, Gemma ser la principal sospechosa, pero, con ayuda de su amiga Jayne, que dirige el Sal n del T de la Se ora Hudson, se pondr n manos a la obra para investigar y limpiar su nombre siguiendo las pistas de un atractivo experto en libros raros. Gemma Doyle runs, together with her cat Moriarty, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop, a bookstore specializing in the famous detective and located at 222 Baker Street on Cape Cod. After a visit from a group of female bridge players, Gemma finds a rare and highly valuable magazine containing the first Sherlock Holmes story. A transcendental finding that ceases to seem fortuitous when one of the women who visited the store is found dead. From the beginning, Gemma will be the main suspect, but, with the help of her friend Jayne, who runs Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room, they will get to work to investigate and clear her name by following the clues of an attractive rare book expert.

Lily Roberts's Cape Cod tearoom is hosting a bridal shower--until a gruesome gift sends the guest of honor running in fear ... Members of the Reynolds and Hill families are staying at Lily's grandmother's bed and breakfast, and now they've gathered at Tea by the Sea to sip some delicious blends while they shower bride-to-be Hannah Hill with presents. But the last package Hannah unwraps contains a beheaded Raggedy Ann doll and triggers a bloodcurdling scream. A doll like this was the last gift from her father before he died long ago, and she's chilled to the bone. Lily senses that the shocking anonymous gift just might be related to other tensions she's picking up on. The mothers-in-law have been sniping at each other--and then Lily, out walking her dog, overhears the groom's father, Ralph, offering his son a very sizable bribe to call off the wedding. She's relieved when Greg angrily turns him down, but with so many people steamed at each other, can this event possibly go smoothly? The answer is no. It suddenly has to be postponed--when Ralph is found dead in his bed, a bottle of whiskey beside him. When tests indicate the booze was infused with a lethal substance, it becomes a murder case, and of course, accusations are flying wildly with the guests all too willing to believe the worst about each other. Now, to find out whether all this family drama led to a fatality, Lily will have to turn up the heat ...

The slay bells are ringing in this festive seventh installment of national bestselling author Vicki Delany's Year-Round Christmas mystery series, perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Donna Andrews. Rudolph, New York, shop owner Merry Wilkinson's best friend Vicky Casey is newly engaged to Chef Mark Grosse and is moving into the historic Cole House-a home surrounded by drama, intrigue, and a possible haunting that is in desperate need of renovation. The wedding is just three weeks away, but all is not bliss for the newly engaged couple as estranged relatives of the late owner fight over her will. Then, late one night, Vicky and Merry come across a dead body in the garden of Cole House-and Mark is the one standing over the corpse. As Detective Diane Simmonds focuses on Mark as the prime suspect, Vicky asks for Merry's help to clear her fianc 's name in time for the wedding. As they dig deeper into the connection between the house, Cole relatives, and town residents, past and present, it becomes clear that plenty of people wanted the victim dead. With a bakery to run, the busy Easter weekend fast approaching, a house to renovate, and a fianc to clear of a murder accusation, Vicky's wedding may end up on the chopping block. It's up to Merry to put aside the chocolate bunnies and stuffed rabbits and help her best friend save her wedding-and her life.

Lily Roberts's Cape Cod tearoom is hosting a bridal shower--until a gruesome gift sends the guest of honor running in fear . . . Members of the Reynolds and Hill families are staying at Lily's grandmother's bed and breakfast, and now they've gathered at Tea by the Sea to sip some delicious blends while they shower bride-to-be Hannah Hill with presents. But the last package Hannah unwraps contains a beheaded Raggedy Ann doll and triggers a bloodcurdling scream. A doll like this was the last gift from her father before he died long ago, and she's chilled to the bone. Lily senses that the shocking anonymous gift just might be related to other tensions she's picking up on. The mothers-in-law have been sniping at each other--and then Lily, out walking her dog, overhears the groom's father, Ralph, offering his son a very sizable bribe to call off the wedding. She's relieved when Greg angrily turns him down, but with so many people steamed at each other, can this event possibly go smoothly? The answer is no. It suddenly has to be postponed--when Ralph is found dead in his bed, a bottle of whiskey beside him. When tests indicate the booze was infused with a lethal substance, it becomes a murder case, and of course, accusations are flying wildly with the guests all too willing to believe the worst about each other. Now, to find out whether all this family drama led to a fatality, Lily will have to turn up the heat . . .

Thanks to the Great Teacup Shortage, Cape Cod tearoom proprietress Lily Roberts is already feeling the strain. But when a family fracas turns deadly over an antique tea set, she'll really have to pour through the clues before another crime is brewed up. With a "beautifully described setting and a cast of charming, small-town characters" (Booklist), this new installment in award-winning crime writer Vicki Delany's Tea by the Sea Mystery series is a delightful treat for fans of Laura Childs' Tea Shop Mysteries Afternoon tea isn't just about flavorful brews and delicious treats. It's also about presentation--fine china teacups (never mugs ), with carefully coordinated saucers and plates. With her fragile stock running low, Lily visits an antiques fair where she snaps up a charming Peter Rabbit-themed tea set in a wicker basket, perfect for children's events. But a few days later, a woman named Kimberly marches into the tearoom, rudely demanding to buy it back--then later returns and removes an envelope hidden in the basket's lining. An acquaintance of Lily's named Rachel is on the trail of the tea set too. Apparently, she and Kimberly are half-sisters, searching for their mother's final will. But it's more than a storm in a teacup when one of the sisters is found dead on the grounds of the B&B owned by Lily's grandmother, Rose. Is this a simple case of greed boiling over, or are there other suspects in the blend? It'll take some savvy sleuthing from Lily, Rose, and their allies to find the answers before a killer shatters more lives . . .

Gemma Doyle won't be spooked when a body shows up at the psychic fair in bestselling author Vicki Delany's ninth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery. When a psychic fair arrives in West London, Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, wants nothing to do with it. But somehow, at the urging of Donald Morris, an enthusiastic Sherlockian, she finds herself talked into attending a s ance, along with baker and best friend Jayne Wilson, store assistant, Ashleigh, and former pop star Bunny Leigh. But to her surprise, Gemma finds herself banned from the s ance and shown the door. Curious, she listens in from outside the room. The medium informs a disappointed Donald that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will not be able to make it tonight. Then, Gemma hears a voice cut off, a cry for help, a scream. Gemma bursts into the library to see that someone has collapsed on the table--dead. The windows are all locked, and Gemma was guarding the only door. Someone in this room is a murderer. But who? The game is once again afoot for Gemma Doyle, as she hunts a killer. But, this time, is the killer of flesh and blood or had the medium summoned doom from beyond the veil?

It's beginning to look a lot like murder in the sixth installment of this charming cozy mystery series, perfect for fans of Donna Andrews and Jacqueline Frost. It's the beginning of December in Rudolph, New York, America's Christmas Town, and business is brisk at Mrs. Claus's Treasures, a gift and d cor shop owned by Merry Wilkinson. The local amateur dramatic society is intensely preparing a special musical production of A Christmas Carol. But it's not a happy set, as rivalries between cast and crew threaten the production. Tensions come to a head when a member of the group is found dead shortly after a shopping excursion to Mrs. Claus's Treasures. Was someone looking to cut out the competition? Everyone in the cast and crew is a potential suspect, including Aline, Merry's mother, and Merry's shop assistant Jackie O'Reilly, who was desperate for a starring role. It could be curtains for Christmas--and for Merry--unless the killer can be ferreted out of the wings.