Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Disappearing Diva - Book Review

Book: Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Disappearing Diva
Authors: Gemma Halliday and Kelly Rey

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Humour
(2nd in Series – can be read as a standalone)

Publisher: Gemma Halliday Publishing

Publication date: 14 August 2018
Print Length: 316 pages
ASIN: B07DP3NBH7

Synopsis:

From #1 Kindle and New York Times bestselling author Gemma Halliday and USA Today bestselling author Kelly Rey comes a story about Sherlock Holmes, two savvy female detectives, and one chance to catch a killer and the hot Dr. Watson at the same time…

If there's one thing Martha "Marty" Hudson can't say no to, it's her best friend Irene Adler. So when Irene's little white lie about a fake detective named Sherlock Holmes turns into a real case from an actual paying client, Marty is all in. But their simple missing person case takes a deadly turn when the missing "person" ends up being a missing corpse.

Rebecca Lowery was an opera singer in life and, according to her sister, who hires the famous detective to find her, a diva with capital D. When her body goes missing after a supposedly accidental fall, Marty & Irene can think of several people who might want the diva to disappear permanently—especially if her missing body is actually hiding evidence of her murder. Is it the boyfriend with a temper and a shady record, the jealous understudy who's now stealing the show, the creepy undertaker with possible ties to the underworld, or the estranged sister herself who now inherits everything?

Marty and Irene aim to find out, even while trying to keep cool around the hot ME, Dr. Watson, and dodging questions from the Irregulars blogger, Wiggins, about the mysterious man behind the name Sherlock Holmes. Will the ladies be able to pull this one off? Or are they in over their heads…and possibly about to take their own final bows?

BOOK REVIEW BY NADANESS IN MOTION

  

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Disappearing Diva by Gemma Halliday and Kelly Rey is an exciting, fast-paced, highly enjoyable cozy mystery. I loved every bit of it.

The book has all the aspects Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes is popular for – but differently. Holmes "hardly a celebrity. Especially considering he didn't actually exist" is how the book begins. The address for the now popular but elusive detective is in Baker Street, while Irene Adler is the narrator's best friend and main accomplice in creating the detective façade. Let's not forget Dr. Watson. ;)  

Martha "Marty" Hudson and Irene Adler are confronted with a strange case of a missing corpse. A Barbara Lowery claims that upon coming to the local mortuary, she discovers that the woman they were to bury is not her sister, Rebecca, a play singer.

"I tried to file a missing persons report but…well, I guess that wasn't quiet the right division."

Missing Corpses Division? Irene typed.

Marty and Irene begin to search for clues leading up to the "disappearing diva" and as they trudge in the investigation, they discover that Rebecca was more than disliked by a few people. Several with motives to take her out of the spotlight.

"So what about Rebecca did someone not want seen?"

The novel is narrated from Marty's first person perspective, showing Marty's constant fear of getting their fake "Sherlock Holmes" business discovered by the police. She is down to earth, and while it would be normal for her millionaire best friend to take the spotlight, I liked that the authors made Marty the narrator. She's also funny and smart and I particularly liked how she began following the clues that made up Rebecca's life prior to her death.

"He pushed up his sleeves, the better to intimidate us with his Popeye forearms."

One of the things I loved about Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Disappearing Diva is the use of "show don't tell" and the humour. The book is simply hilarious! Both Marty and Irene are cynical and the encounters and people they face make for great laughs.

"Do you think we should knock on that door?"

"I think we should leave and never come back," Irene said. "Rebecca Lowery probably jumped out of her casket and ran off by herself when she got a look at this place."

We also get a bit of romance as Marty crushes over Dr. Watson, whose appearances though few are important. The reader can't help but hope for a happy ending for the may-be-couple.

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Disappearing Diva is five-star must-read by all levels. It's pace is fast and as the duo run around trying to solve the mystery and get paid – because Marty's inherited house is falling apart – the reader can't help but keep reading to find out who "misplaced" Rebecca and why.

Note: I received a free copy of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Disappearing Diva in exchange for an honest review as part of the blog tour.


Add the book on Goodreads.

Keep up with the rest of the blog tour via Lori Great Escapes including author interviews, guest posts, and more reviews.

About the Author:

Gemma Halliday is the New York Times, USA Today & #1 Kindle bestselling author of the High Heels Mysteries, the Hollywood Headlines Mysteries, the Jamie Bond Mysteries, the Tahoe Tessie Mysteries, the Marty Hudson Mysteries, and several other works.

Gemma's books have received numerous awards, including a Golden Heart, two National Reader's Choice awards, a RONE award, and three RITA nominations. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her boyfriend, Jackson Stein, who writes vampire thrillers, and their four children, who are adorably distracting on a daily basis.

Connect with Gemma Halliday via her Website and Facebook page.

  

Purchase Links: Amazon B & N iBooks Kobo Smashwords

Love in an Elevator: A Romantic Comedy Anthology - Book Blast & Giveaway

Love in an Elevator: A Romantic Comedy Anthology

Laugh, swoon, and escape with this romantic comedy anthology!

Will an elevator ride change her life? In HOLD THE LIFT by Aven Ellis, Sierra Crawford ends up meeting sexy British hockey player Jude Parker after their elevator sticks. Sierra finds herself getting to know Jude—and she likes what she sees. But he wouldn’t be interested in a food-obsessed assistant editor right? Sierra knows she’s quirky—her fondness of Magic 8 Balls is proof of that—so there’s no way he could look her way. Or can he?

In DOWN, THEN UP by Beth Labonte, Lauren Oswald never expected to see her college love, Jamie, again. Not after the way things ended. She certainly doesn’t expect to see him ten years later at a bachelorette party in Vegas, waiting inside a hotel elevator. Slightly older. Different haircut. No wedding ring. Same eyes. As the pair embark on a late night errand, Lauren is flooded with memories of how Jamie became the one that got away—and she realizes that this one night could be their last chance to make things right.

In GOING UP? by Whitney Dineen, Fiona Kitchen had a dream when she moved to New York and it wasn’t taking a job as an elevator operator in a posh, West Side, apartment building. She also didn’t expect to meet a hot handyman, a Columbian drug lord and a notorious mob boss and then fall for one of them in a big way. Life in the Big Apple isn’t quite turning out the way she planned, but who said that was a bad thing?

In Becky Monson’s TAKING A CHANCE, Liza Parker has a fear of heights, crowds and small spaces. So what’s a girl like her doing on a crowded elevator going to the top of the Empire State Building? Freaking out, that’s what she’s doing. Enter Jay Sanders, a tourist who thinks he might be able to help Liza face her fears, but she has to be willing to spend the day with a complete stranger. Maybe taking a chance on Jay is just what Liza needs.

In HAPPY TO BE STUCK WITH YOU by Rich Amooi, Becca has had an office crush on Daniel—Mr. Delicious—for over a year. Getting stuck in an elevator with him was the last thing she expected. If only she can control her claustrophobia. To make matters worse, they're also stuck with an eighty-year-old man who has a weak bladder, and a penchant for playing cupid. But life is unpredictable. Sometimes, getting stuck is the best thing that can happen.

Computer genius Maisy Potter crosses an ocean to take her dream vacation at an English country estate … where the winsome Mark Prebys works below stairs. With him, Maisy discovers a carefree happiness she's never known. But will the troubles dogging her from back home, a secret or two whispered behind the parlour curtains, and misunderstandings to beat the band extinguish the magic they think they've found in each other? And if not, what happens when Maisy's enchanting holiday ends? Find out in UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS … AND THE LIFT IN BETWEEN by Geralyn Corcillo.

In THE ONLY WAY IS UP by Lindy Dale, Meet Bailey Burns: hottest thing on the literary circuit. And the most reluctant. After fainting in a lift and regaining consciousness to find herself kissing a stranger, Bailey thinks her week can’t get much worse. But it can. Much worse. Bailey is about to be proposed to by a crazed fan wearing a vampire costume. She’s about to discover she’s in relationship with the guy she kissed. Not only that, but said guy happens to be her new PR manager. Oh dear!

In OUT OF ORDER, by Dee Ernst, Grace has sworn off good-looking men. As soon as she starts dating one of them, she transforms from a mature, confident woman to a needy teen-aged girl. So when she meets Seth, the best-looking man she’s ever seen, she makes the right choice — forget all about him. But a neurotic golden retriever and a broken elevator keep bringing them together. Is the world working against her… or maybe the gods are finally smiling?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * iTunes

Praise for the Book

"...fun, easy, and highly entertaining reads, perfect for when you have a night in and need a little hit of frivolity and a happily ever after."-Author Jennifer Collin

"Touching, funny, and--true to the elevator theme--an uplifting and wonderful ride." -Author Jo Perry

Grab a copy of Love in an Elevator for just 99 cents this week only!

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

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