Murder in Chelsea is the 15 installment of the Gaslight series by Victoria Thompson and for fans who’ve been following the adventures of midwife Sarah Brandt and police detective Frank Malloy, this will be the book you’ve all been waiting for.

The story begins when Sarah finds out that someone has been asking about Catherine, the little girl she’s been hoping to adopt. And, that someone is claiming to be Catherine’s mother. Sarah is sick with worry but wants to do the right thing and she’ll ask Malloy for his help. Of course this is a murder mystery so someone dies, there’s a murderer to be found and the truth must come out.

Part of the reason I was racing through to the end of this book was not so much the mystery but I wanted to know what was finally going to happen between Sarah and Malloy. The author has been promising that readers would be happy. The series spans two years in the characters’ lives so it’s not really that long but for readers who’ve eagerly read through 14 books, well, it’s been quite a wait. And, waiting that long of time I was expecting a bit more than just a few pages at the end. I won’t post any spoilers but if you read this series I’d love to hear if you thought the resolution worked well?

I also know this is a mystery not a romance but I just really like these characters. I don’t expect mysteries to have a romance element to them but if they do and if they are written so that it doesn’t feel tacked on then I am all for it.

How about you? Do you care if your mystery has some romance in it or do you just want the characters to stick with solving crimes?

As much as I consider myself a mystery fan can you believe I’ve never read a Sherlock Holmes mystery? I’ve seen the big blockbuster movies, I’ve watched the latest BBC production, and I’ve seen some other productions, but I’ve never read one of the stories.

Now I’m getting ready to delve into The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel by Anthony Horowitz. This Holmes-inspired story makes me think maybe I should try to get in a real Holmes mystery first. Unfortunately I don’t think I have enough time to do so as my mystery book group meets next week.

I am excited about this book:

“He had greeted me warmly, and as I took my place opposite him, I felt the strange sensation that Iw as awakening from a dream. It was as if the last two years had never happened, that I had never met my beloved Mary, married her and moved to our home in Kensington, purchased with the proceeds of the Agra pearls. I could have still been a bachelor, living here with Holmes, sharing with him the excitement of the chase and the unravelling of yet another mystery.”

Now, if I was to read a Holmes mystery first which one would you recommend? Ok, guys, I’m off to read because the game’s afoot!