Once again Gemma is involved in a murder investigation, but after all it did happen right in front of her. Hosting a Sherlock Holmes get together can be murder.
Goodreads

A delightful cozy mystery! I enjoyed it very much. If you enjoy mysteries or stories with an amateur sleuth, and do not need the graphic reality with descriptions of gore and violence, this is a good choice. You can follow the clues to solve the mystery without any threat of nightmares.

In A Three Book Problem by Vicki Delany, the seventh installment in the A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series, wealthy philanthropist and prominent Sherlockian David Masterson has rented Suffolk Gardens House, where he plans to entertain his friends in a traditional English country house weekend.
On this occasion, Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room has been chosen to cater the event, so Gemma and Jayne, assisted in the kitchen by Ryan, are directly involved in the mystery, being present at the time of the crime.
Once again, Vicki Delany delights us with an entertaining story, with frequent mentions of other books related to the life and work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his most famous creation: Sherlock Holmes.
I thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think and feel about this book.

I really like this series. Sometimes the main character can be a little annoying but in this book she is better, I like that the series is set on Cape Cod. I live near there and enjoy the virtual visit.

This is a Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery and I was glad to see the series is still going strong. The seventh release is as fresh and intriguing as the first. Delaney weaves her complex plot with engaging characters and wonderful details about Sherlock Holmes. She has a glowing endorsement from Carolyn Hart, and it is well deserved. I've enjoying every release in this captivating series and you will, too.

I enjoyed this episode of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. The author brought the main characters to life. I also loved the setting and the fact that there is a creed to follow to belong to the Sherlock Holmes club. I also loved the bit about Benedict Cumberbatch and how he was the best ever, which some agreed with and others disagreed. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my copy of A Three Book Problem by Vicki Delany in exchange for an honest review. It published January 11, 2022.
Yet another great book in this series! I just love this series! I especially loved this installment, it totally made me think of Clue! I did not see the end coming, and that is a sign of a great mystery!

Delany keeps readers on the edge of their seat when reading the books in this series and A Three Book Problem is no different. The cast of characters that she has provided will also keep you turning the pages as quickly as you can.....you will want to get to the bottom of things and find out who killed David and why. Everyone involved seems to have some reason for disliking him as well as each other it seems. As you get deep into the story and realize that the group was anything but friends, you may start wondering why there was only one murder.....but know that with Gemma and Ryan, they will solve the case and arrest the right person for the crime

A Three Book Problem is the seventh book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series, but it can easily be read as a standalone.

Gemma Doyle, owner of the favourite bookshop for Sherlock Holmes lovers, is employed by David Masterson to cater and decorate the old adobe of Suffolk Gardens House for his retreat of Sherlockians. Unfortunately on the second day of this special weekend Mr. Masterson is murdered and all the guests become possible culprits.

I've enjoyed this book. The mystery is good, the pace is nice, and the assorted group of characters make the investigation absorbing and engaging.

I'm looking forward to the next book.

Nice series and book. I enjoyed catching up with the characters in this setting. The mystery is always interesting and intriguing. I would recommend!

I really enjoyed this book although I hadn't read the previous ones in the series.
Gemma was a likeable character. Gemma and Ryan are also adorable together. I have a lot of catching up to do. I should probably go read all the previous books to get a better sense of the story.
Overall it was a really cosy mystery.
Anything with Sherlock Holmes I am definitely in!

Love the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series. Each one has a charming setting and cast of characters, and this was no exception.

A THREE BOOK PROBLEM - Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries

This book started out really good, but unfortunately, with the formatting issues of missing letters and storyline, I started to lose interest around the fifty percent mark. I may dive back into this one later; right now, it’s a DNF at 52%.

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books (Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC.), for providing me with an eBook of A THREE BOOK PROBLEM at the request of an honest review.

Jemma, much like the famous detective Sherlock Holmes, must use her sharp reasoning skills and an impressive English accent to investigate the case of a darting victim at a peculiar gathering. The party, held at a mysterious Victorian home, was to discuss the Cannon while dressed in period attire. However, the host of the event receives little praise from the guests. With the help of her best friend, the talented baker and cook Jayne Wilson, and her clever and handsome detective boyfriend, Ryan Ashburton, Jemma has an advantage over Sherlock. Everyone at the gathering is a potential suspect, with motives, real or perceived, including the grieving widow who may be putting on an act. This book is an excellent read filled with unexpected twists, and insightful deductions, and even includes mini mushroom tarts to enhance the experience.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

David Masterson is a prominent Sherlockian and a wealthy philanthropist and a frequent customer of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. He has decided to invite some friends and other Sherlockians for an English country house weekend at the Suffolk Gardens House. He has hired Gemma and Jayne to cater the event and use items from the Emporium to stage the house with all things Sherlock-related. They have also enticed Detective Ryan Ashburton, Gemma’s boyfriend to join them to help with preparing and serving the food.

David’s “friends” are not what Gemma, Jayne, and Ryan were expecting. Some appear to know nothing about Sherlock Holmes or act like they are not really happy to be there. Most seem to have ulterior motives for attending the weekend.

While meeting with Jayne and Gemma in the library a poison dart flies through the window screen and penetrated David’s neck and he quickly dies. With the good detective on the premises, the investigation quickly starts but it also puts Gemma and Jayne right in the thick of things. They know the killer has to be a guest of David’s and they aren’t going to miss their chance to question each of them.

Will they be able to throw the book at the guilty party or will the killer book it out of the Suffolk Gardens House and get away with murder?

This is one of my favorite cozy series!

Vicky Delany is a master storyteller. She has created such strong characters that continue to grow and evolve in each book. Gemma and Jayne have such a strong relationship and work together so well. They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and even those out. Gemma’s observation skills are extraordinary and Jayne is the sounding board to help the clues fall into place. I am so happy to see Ryan and Gemma’s relationship going so well. He does value her talents even though he would like her to leave the investigating to him and his partner Louise. He is a smart man though and is just happy that Gemma shares her findings and theories with him sometimes with Louise simmering in the background.

The secondary characters were very interesting. As more of the victim’s life/lifestyle was uncovered it was clear to see everyone with the exception of Gemma, Jayne, and Ryan could have had a reason to kill the man. It was like I had a virtual Rolodex as I tried to keep track of all the information provided, shuffling the cards several times moving different people to the top of my personal suspect list. I was still shuffling right up until all was revealed.

The Suffolk Gardens House was a great setting for this basically closed-room mystery although it is an isolated big house with several rooms. The property had been on the market for some time but from the house to the garden it had not been maintained well. The author’s descriptions brought the place to life for me. It also made me imagine what a gem it could be had it been built and maintained better. The garden if taken care of could be amazing.

A Three Book Problem was a splendid who-dun-it with engaging characters full of twists and turns. You truly can’t go wrong with any book written by Vicki Delany. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. The Game is a Footnote hits store shelves on January 10, 2023.

A Three Book Problem works for all cozy mystery fans, whether they’ve read the first six books in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series or not.
Tea shop owner Jayne Watson was hired to prepare all of the meals for a Sherlock Holmes-themed weekend at the Suffolk Garden House, and she enlisted friends Gemma Doyle and Gemma's boyfriend Ryan Ashburton to assist her during the weekend. When Gemma’s great-uncle Arthur is unable to attend, Gemma takes his place in the weekend’s events. In her dual role as guest and kitchen assistant, Gemma has unique access to the mansion and its inhabitants.
Host David Masterson allegedly selected his guests because of their interest in Sherlock Holmes. The houseguests are an unsettling group, some of which have questionable interest in Sherlock Holmes. Not surprisingly, money is a common pull, and the guests and helpers want to stay close to David to stay close to the money.
One mansion dweller who wants to get closer to the money murders David with a dart. Gemma is immediately cleared from suspicion, so she is able to gather information for Ryan, who has to leave the mansion and put on his police hat to bring the killer to justice. Will Gemma uncover the guests’ secrets and solve the case, or will this be one time when the killer gets away with the crime?
Fans of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series will appreciate that the latest book is as fun and fresh as its predecessors, with the right Holmesian touches tying it to Delany’s series. It’s enjoyable catching up with Gemma, Jayne, and Ryan. They’re familiar, but they’re still interesting and developing.

But all cozy mystery fans rejoice, because those new to the series will enjoy the book as well. It is an entertaining standalone book that provides a complete story that gives new readers everything they need to enjoy it. As someone who joined the series in the middle, I must warn you that you will want to read those earlier books. The setting, characterization, and characters are so enjoyable that it would be difficult to stop reading the series after just one book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing a review copy of the book.

I’ve read a lot of the books in this series now! This is similar to some others in the series- it’s enjoyable and relaxing to read. It’s fun to hangout with the gang again of Gemma and Jayne. A good cozy mystery

Gemma is a tough character to like. Having read the previous books in this series, she has grown on me. The book was set almost entirely at a nearby country house. The pace of the book was a bit slow, but the mystery kept me guessing until the end. I look forward to the next installment.

Vicki Delany’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series reaches its seventh installment with A Three Book Problem and it’s still going as strong as ever. Best friends Gemma Doyle and Jane Watson have a great dynamic as well as an uncanny ability to solve the most perplexing of mysteries, and Gemma’s love interest Detective Ryan Ashburton does his bit too.

This time around, Gemma has agreed to help Jane cater for a swanky weekend house party at Suffolk Gardens House, an event that happens to have a Sherlock Holmes theme. The party is being hosted by David Masterson, a mega rich Sherlockian who happens to be an online acquaintance of Gemma and Jane’s friend Donald, for an eclectic group of guests who don’t seem like they would have wanted to spend time together if they had a choice.

To her distinct lack of surprise, Gemma discovers that she is neither a natural hostess nor a good commis chef; however, the weekend quickly becomes more to her taste in the most unfortunate of manners when Masterson is murdered with a poisoned dart. With the possible suspects comprising the closed circle of party guests, Gemma determines to track down the killer before the police get a chance to do so.

A Three Book Problem is an action-packed and amusing cosy mystery that is perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes. The central mystery is nicely perplexing and the cast of characters generally engaging. It’s a whole lot of fun to solve the murder mystery alongside Gemma and Jane.

I can’t believe that this series is already on Book 7! I’m still not bored of the characters or the situations they find themselves in – author Vicki Delany always seems to be able to keep things fresh. I love that Sherlock Holmes and his stories take a more centre stage in this book – I mean, yes, Gemma runs the Sherlock Holmes bookshop, but this time she and Jayne are working at a book club dedicated to discussing the Holmes canon so I got to indulge my love of the Great Detective even more than usual.

Gemma Doyle is a great amateur detective and consistently is one of my favourite cozy mystery protagonists. She is intelligent and observant, without being too annoying about it and she has a healthy dose of cynism and caution that serves her well. Once in a while she’ll do something impulsive (or, all the time, if you ask Officer Estrada) but most of the time she stays pretty level-headed. Her bluntness and lack of tact may be annoying to some, but I find it hilarious. Her shop, The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium always sounds like a great place to spend an afternoon.

I also like how many of the supporting characters have developed through this series, including Gemma’s boyfriend, Ryan, and Gemma’s best friend and business partner, Jayne. Plus, no adventure would be complete with a mention of Gemma’s Uncle Arthur, who is often globe-trotting for the most trivial reasons.

The books in this series are always light in tone, descriptive and quick-paced and A Three Book Problem is no exception. I think one of the ways that Delany keeps things fresh with this series is by putting her characters in new settings. While the characters are familiar to the reader, the new setting puts a new perspective on things and makes it all feel slightly new. This time, Gemma and Jayne spend most of the book at Suffolk Garden House, a large ‘country house’ that would be the perfect setting for any Agatha Christie mystery.

And while there is murder afoot, this book isn’t overly-serious, as befits a cozy mystery. Instead, there are some humourous moments and the dialogue never gets bogged down. You get enough information so that you can definitely read this book as a standalone, but as with all long-running series, there’s a more recognition and familiarity if you’ve read more of the series.

As for the murder itself, this is (as always) a spoiler-free zone, so I’ll just say that the murderer was not who I expected. There are some interesting twists and turns to throw the reader off their guard just enough to keep them guessing.

Overall, this was another enjoyable addition to the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series and I’m already looking forward to Gemma’s next adventure.

*** Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for providing me with an e-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.