There is a ghost in the museum, or at least that’s what some of the caretakers of the museum think. Gemma is pressed into service to find this ghost or debunk the theory. What she finds is a dead body. And there are some strange things going on at the museum, and some are quite threatening. Adding to the mix is the arrival of Gemma’s brilliant sister Pippa who just happens to be near to Gemma’s town and decides to visit. Purely a spur of the moment act . . . or was it? The interaction between these two sisters is a delight to read, and Pippa is especially entertaining. This cozy is an intriguing and interesting mystery, with its roots going back many decades into history. This series and the continuing characters just keep getting better with each installment. ( )

It's always fun to return to West London, MA and the world of Gemma and Jayne's bookshop/teashop. The site of one of the founding families of West London is where most of the story takes place. When the West London historical society wants Gemma to use her famed powers of observation to help decide if the goings on at Scarlet House are real or paranormal, she is bemused, but plays along. A side story involving Gemma's shop assistant Ashleigh and an aging popstar adds another layer to the book. And the return of Gemma's sister Pippa ramps up the mystery of what may really be going on at Scarlet House. ( )

The Game is a Footnote by Vicki Delany is the eighth A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. I found The Game is a Footnote to be a slow starter as we are given the detailed history of Scarlet House in West London, Massachusetts. I normally enjoy each new addition to this series, but I could not get into The Game is a Footnote. The author gave detailed descriptions of people’s attire along with their hairstyles (do I really need to know what each person is wearing down to their socks). In one scene, Gemma notes what is on the nightstand in an individual’s bedroom. We are even told the title and author of the book along with the placement of the bookmark. Gemma is a smart woman who is quick to notice details. I found two scenes that were out of character. Jayne mentions to Gemma that spending the night at Scarlet House reminds her of childhood sleepovers and pajama parties. Gemma is clueless and needs an explanation (you cannot tell me she did not read about it in a book or see it in a movie). The other scene is regarding Moriarty and a lily plant. Gemma has no idea that a lily is poisonous to cats (would you let a cat chew on a plant). The mystery is straightforward. The whodunit can easily be solved. The why is a no brainer thanks to certain details being mentioned a few times. There is a subplot that did not fit. It distracts Gemma from the main mystery. I thought the person involved acted out of character. The romance between Gemma and Ryan baffles me. There does not seem to be any chemistry and he does not appreciate her problem-solving abilities. Gemma’s sister, Pippa comes to town for a visit. Pippa is one smart cookie. I like what she added to the story and the mystery. It made the whodunit more intriguing. The Game is a Footnote has a spooky mystery with a historic house, a bruhaha in the barn, shifting items, a displeased detective, an absent assistant, and a sleuthing shopkeeper. ( )

This is the eighth book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery series and the third book I have read in this series. I enjoy Gemma and Jayne's sleuthing and their ability to insert themselves into every mystery in their town of West London. I love Gemma as an employer, she is the only one concerned by her employees disappearance. I initially did not enjoy the narration of this audiobook as I have read the previous books and had my own voices for these characters in my head. Once I got used to the voices, I enjoyed Kim Hicks's narration of this novel and I would look for more books narrated by Kim in the future. ( )

Although The Game Is a Footnote brought my attention to how museums and historic places suffered-- and continue to do so-- due to the pandemic, it is filled to the brim with the things that I love about this series. There is an excellent mystery here in which, although I deduced the whodunit early on, it took me a long time to put together the whydunit.

Gemma is her usual irascible yet brilliant self. Jayne still follows her around in a fruitless attempt to keep her out of trouble. There's a surprise visit or two. Gemma's employee Ashleigh causes her own problems, and Moriarty the shop cat gets to chew the scenery and steal a scene.

I love the interplay between the characters, and I especially enjoyed how the history of Scarlet House and its family was woven into the mystery. Somehow prolific author Vicki Delany knew that, if a mystery involves an old house, I'm usually the first one up the porch steps to knock on the door.

The Game Is a Footnote is a thoroughly enjoyable mystery that has me looking forward to the next installment and smiling at one of the lessons learned in the story's climax. What lesson? Why, never underestimate a woman who knits, of course!

(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley) ( )