This was a fun, cozy mystery, that takes place in a manor on the edge of town, instead of the tea shop and bookstore. The house isn't in the best shape but it is the house best suited to the Sherlock Holmes weekend.

The story progressed at a decent pace, with little tidbits about the random weekend visitors being introduced here and there. I knew who the killer was (based on their ability) but I didn't know who was the killer until the reveal. That sentence will make more sense when you read the book.

I enjoy all of Vicki's books and look forward to reading the next one in the series.

A Three Book Problem

by Vicki Delany

Jayne and Gemma, recurring characters in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery Series, are invited to a retreat at a local mansion. Jayne, who runs a tearoom, is required to cook for the group, and Gemma, who has a Sherlock Holmes shop, is requested to provide atmospheric props. The focus of the event is to be Arthur Conan Doyle’s works about the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. Oddly, it seems the participants do not like the host, know each other, or necessarily have an interest in Sherlock Holmes lore.

There is a murder right in front of the two ladies by an unusual method. Gemma, an expert in deductive reasoning, applies her skills in a Sherlock fashion as she tries to ascertain which one of the invited guests benefited from the death of their host.

As I jumped into the series with the seventh book, I think the character development must have occurred earlier. I could not find much appeal to the recurring characters or to the ones who are clearly only a part of this one book. None are likable. The pace of the book is slow and any exciting action is limited to two scenes. I did not guess the identity of the murderer until the end; the climax was handled well. On the whole, this book is missing a zing that a good mystery should have. Sadly there is nothing that makes me want to go back to read other books in the series.

I have read two cozy mysteries by Vicki Delany in her Tea by the Sea series that I enjoyed very much. Delany has experienced success with her Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery Series, so A Three Book Problem may not work as a standalone or just may not have been the right book for me.

I would like to extend my thanks to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 7th in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery Series. I don’t recommend it as a standalone.

Publication: January 11, 2022—Crooked Lane Books

Memorable Lines:

It was a beautiful fall day, the rising sun shining through trees ablaze in shades of rusty orange, yellow, and red, leaves crushing underfoot, the air crisp and cool, full of the whisper of winter soon to come.

Humiliation, I’ve found, is one of the most powerful motives for murder there is. More powerful than money.

“Are you going to climb the fence again?” Jayne said. “Absolutely not. I have a rule to seek illegal ingress to a property only once.” “What does that even mean?” “It means that in case I had to return, I learned the code.”

A Three Book Problem is Vicky Delany's is the seventh installment in her Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series.

Another great addition to this series and my must read.
I love that the same recurring characters are present in every book, as well as the array of new ones, and they are always so vivid and realistic that I never had a problem of imagining them and "seeing" them in my mind. They make the story stand out and bring it to life, the dialogue is excellently written. The book is steady paced, the language easy to read and highly entertaining.
I absolutely adore how smart and observant Gemma, our main heroine is. She is such a delight to read about and even learn from, and she stands out from a lot of similar characters.
I also find it very rewarding to see all our favorite people develop and grow further in each installment.
The plot is well thought out, clues are all presented and clearly shown so all readers can try to solve the mystery along with the heroine if they so wish.
This is a must read for true cozy mystery lovers!

Another enjoyable addition to this series! I love Gemma and her friends and getting to visit with them again, this time in a English-style manor home, was a nice change from the bookstore/teashop. Parts of this book (and series) do not work for me because I am not a fan of Sherlock Holmes so the Holmes-like observations are lost on me. I do find them somewhat fascinating but I tend to skip over them. It doesn't change how I feel about the setting and the characters but it does somewhat limit my enjoyment of the story. And I still don't understand why detectives constantly want to date the women who continually show them up by solving their cases for them.

2.5 stars
I don’t like cozies that have a pile of unfamiliar characters. This one has a typical And Then There Were None setup, and with the crew at a different location for the majority of the book, I really miss the shops and Moriarty.

The plot line and investigation go along fine with really nothing for me to like or dislike, but as the reveal nears, information dumps start to occur. Yuck.

Finally, I feel like Vicki Delaney forgot which series/character she was writing. Gemma is so RUDE, like a snotty teenager bullying her way around and ignoring common courtesy and her adult obligations. I don’t recognize her at all.

I had been enjoying this series very much and hope this one is just a fluke. Thank you to Vickie Delany, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am fond of country house settings and the planned activities for this Sherlock Holmes weekend would be a great idea in real life as well as for this story.

Gemma has never been my favorite cozy character and nothing changes. There was also a lot of detail repeated, such as, the run down state of the rented home, Jayne busy working, etc. This slowed things down for me and my attention would start to wander after the solid beginning.

The country house setting definitely limits the number of suspects, especially since 5 are series staples, but the author makes a good try at keeping us guessing. In part, because anyone could really be the killer until the very end. I liked the reason why we're told Gemma knew who the killer is (besides the fact that there's a big scene first which confirms it).

I enjoyed Gemma and crew getting out of the usual routine. This is the second (London) or third ( a vacation somewhere?) to have done so.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I do like Gemma and her cast of friends. I like the cafe and bookshop. Although she really doesn't spend much time in either one. This time she is involved in setting the stage for a Sherlock Holmes weekend gathering. The house is not far from town but gives the feel of escaping into the past with all guests and staff staying at the mansion. David is the host to the weekend and has selected the guests. Gemma and Jayne are the kitchen staff. The story is well underway before the mystery begins with a death in the house. From that point on the mystery is a foot. I do like how Gemma goes about finding clues. The guilty one was well hidden this time so I didn't see it coming. A nice escape read with plenty to keep me guessing.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

The seventh Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery shifts the setting to a stately English home for a weekend event organized by Jayne Wilson and Gemma Doyle for David Masterson, a prominent Sherlockian. The guest list includes five individuals, along with the support staff. During a meeting with Jayne and Gemma, a poison dart kills David, and the investigation begins.

Vicki Delany writes an intriguing mystery incorporating all appropriate elements, moving at a comfortable pace.

Getting to read this was way harder than it should have been. The formatting of the ARC was hideous and made it near impossible to read [<i>I understand that ARC's are not perfect and one expects some mistakes in spelling and grammar and the like, but not missing words, missing letters from the words, missing sections of the text. THAT, IMO, makes it near impossible to read and review and that is what we got, which is really not okay</i>], which then meant waiting for the book to be published in hopes that it was at a online library so one could read it [SO grateful for Hoopla and their large selection of eBooks]. When you are really excited for a book, waiting is difficult enough, but when you are lucky enough to get an ARC and then for it to be unreadable. the wait becomes close to unbearable.

And then, after all that, the book was just marginally okay. All the right things were there and in place - Gemma, Jayne, Ryan etc, an interesting murder [not sure we've had one quite like this one before, which made it more exciting], a Sherlockian weekend [that ends up having little to no Sherlock trivia AT ALL], etc etc etc. The thing is, even with all the things that make these books in this series fantastic, it just fell flat. There was no spark, no excitement over who the killer was, nada. Just meh. And after once observance from Gemma, I knew who the killer was and soon after knew the why. Add to that a very anticlimactic ending/reveal and I just feel - meh. Maybe it is because of all the hassle it took to actually read this, though I don't really think so. There was absolutely something missing in this book and I am sad because of it. I absolutely adore this series and am pretty disappointed in this one. Does it mean I am done with the series? Absolutely not. I recognize that everyone has bad days/books and that doesn't mean you stop reading that author because of one tepid book out of 7. I can only hope that the next one gets back to the amazingness that this series has been.

Thank you to NetGalley, Vicki Delany and Crooked Lane Books [and Hoopla!!!] for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Three Book Problem
A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery
by Vicki Delany

Prominent Sherlockian David Masterson has rented Suffolk Gardens House, a 20th century replica of an English country home in West London, Massachusetts, for a weekend of all things Sherlock. He’s hired Gemma Doyle, co-owner with her Uncle Arthur of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, and her best friend Jayne Wilson to prepare and serve meals, snacks, and drinks during the weekend. In reality, Jayne Wilson, head baker, part owner and manager of Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room is preparing all the food, while Gemma, Ryan Ashburton (Gemma’s significant other) are kitchen staff for the weekend.

As Gemma moves among the guests serving food and drinks, she realizes the guests aren’t all there to celebrate Sherlock. In fact, most of them don’t have much in common at all. As the evening continues, Gemma picks up on a layer of hostility simmering between some of the guests. The next day the hostility turns to murder. Ryan ditches his role as kitchen staff and assumes his real life role as lead detective with the West London police department and Gemma finds herself involved in another murder investigation. But a mistake on Gemma’s part may allow someone to get away with murder.

I’ve really grown to like this series and all the Sherlock tie-ins. Delany excels at keeping the reader engaged in solving the murder until the reveal. A Three Book Problem is the seventh book in this series, and I hope there are many more.

A Three Book Problem is the 7th book in the Sherlock Holmes Mystery series by Vicki Delany.
Gemma and Jayne are preparing a party for prominent Sherlockian David Masterson, complete with decadent meals and Sherlockian props. It is not long before it is apparent that the guests don’t get along with each other, or their host .. and when a poison arrow flies through the window, Gemma realizes she has some big problems.

This book as a little different than the others in the series,
I don’t want to expand to much for fear of spoilers, But I always enjoy a book where the crime is at a gathering and all the guests are suspect.

I would recommend this book to all readers who love a great cozy mystery.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane for an E-ARC of this book which I voluntarily reviewed.

This is the seventh novel in a series and the first I've read. I thought it read well on its own. Gemma, manager of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, and Jayne, owner of Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room, are chosen as caterers of weekend Sherlockian get together. Ryan, local police detective and Gemma's romantic partner, is roped into assisting in the kitchen.

The host of the weekend, David Masterson, is a wealthy man and a prominent Sherlock fan and authority. It becomes evident that the people he has invited to the weekend at the Suffolk Gardens House don't like him and some know nothing about Sherlock. When a murder occurs in Gemma's presence, she is on the case, often to the dismay of detective Ryan.

I liked this cozy mystery. I thought the characters were done well although I did have trouble liking Gemma. I liked learning from the people who knew much about Doyle and were really into the Sherlock works. It was interesting that they were knowledgeable of the movies produced and actors involved, debating who was best. The pace of the book is not fast as much of the narrative centered on relationships rather than investigative technique. The murderer reveal came almost by accident although there were many clues to the identity. While Gemma claimed deductive reasoning in the end, she didn't share it with readers until after the reveal.

I do wish more had been said somewhere about the title of the book and the play on the three pipe problem, an allusion to the length of time it would take Sherlock to figure out a complex mystery.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

A THREE BOOK PROBLEM is the seventh book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series by Vicki Delany. This has long been one of my favorite series and while this newest release might not be my favorite of the bunch, it still proved to be a captivating read full of intrigue and clever homage to the Great Detective. With the backdrop of a weekend working and socializing at a Sherlockian getaway at a crumbling manor house, the scene is set for an old-fashioned whodunit. Protagonist, Gemma Doyle, owner of Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, has agreed to work alongside Jayne Wilson, her best friend and part owner of Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room, to cater the weekend event. Rounding out the trio of friends at the event is Ryan Ashburton, Gemma’s boyfriend and local police detective. He’s taken time off from his job to help out. In previous books, Ryan’s been more standoffish due to the murder investigations he’s been involved in but, in this informal setting, it was much easier to get to know him a little bit better which I appreciated. One of the great strengths of Ms. Delany is her character development and character growth over the course of the series. They are memorable and capture my imagination… including Gemma’s elusive and quite mysterious great-uncle Arthur, a renowned Sherlock expert.

When the host is murdered, by a poisonous dart no less, Gemma has the unique opportunity of being right in the midst of things. Not only is she helping serve the catered meals to the guests, but she’s one of the Sherlock experts, representing her uncle and their shop. This gives her plenty of occasions to ask questions and observe the behavior of the guests and the staff hired by the host. And since the manor house is out in the middle of nowhere, Gemma realizes that the murderer must be someone staying at the house with them. Could it be the sulky housekeeper or the rude butler? Or could one of the guests, who are supposedly there because of their love of all things Sherlock Holmes, have cause to wish their host harm? As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that there are secrets to uncover and clues to suss out. Ms. Delany proves once again that she’s a masterful storyteller with the ability to create a memorable book!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Vicki Delany continues her delightful cozy Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery with A Three Book Problem.
Philanthropist and Sherlockian David Masterson invites a curious assortment of guests to a Sherlock weekend at a faded mansion. Masterson ends up dead by poisoned dart from a blowpipe. Most of the guests had reasons to dislike Masterson or had no interest in Holmes. Lots of red herrings and intellectual puzzles. Very satisfying read.

Gemma Doyle – not related to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – co-owns and runs a Sherlock Holmes-themed bookstore in Cape Cod. However, in this book Gemma, best friend Jane, and most of the action, takes place in Suffolk Gardens House, built to look like an old-school English country estate. This makes it perfect for a weekend of Sherlock-related chat, games, movies … and of course, murder!

I went straight into this from the previous instalment, A Curious Incident, and that perhaps leads to a slightly lower mark for this one. It’s still my favourite book-themed cosy mystery series, not least because it is a mystery first with the genre trappings (a little romance, pets, scones, etc) kept firmly as background. However, I found the plot just a little derivative – mystery standard, if you like – compared to previous novels.

We start with a disparate group being gathered in a big house for a party weekend, only for tensions to start to show almost instantly. Why these people, especially when several seem to have no interest in Sherlock Holmes, which was supposed to be the theme? Gemma is soon trying to figure out motives for attendance, and of course who had motive for murder.

I still love Gemma as a main character, she’s a little unsocial and very logical. Still, I don’t think this one finds her at her best, as the plot requires her to be almost abrasively nosy into the other guests’ personal lives.

Still, it was – as ever with the series – a fun read, and I wish other cosy mysteries got the balance as right with the different elements.

A Three Book Problem is the book #7 in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series by Vicki Delany.

A wealthy man, David Masterson, rents an estate to replicate an old English home yo host a Sherlock Holmes themed event at estate. Gemma Doyle Wilson provides props and Jayne Wilson is in charge of the food. The guests are an odd assortment and many have a motive for murdering their host.

The pace of this book was very slow. This was the first book I’ve read in the series so I’m not sure if they all are similar or it was just this book. There was a lot of discussion about the menu and clothes and very little action. The method of the murder was unique and there were multiple suspects to keep you guessing.

I own all the earlier books in the series so I will try those and see if the pacing issue was because they were not in the shop. This was an ok book for me.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

What I Loved:

The Country House Mystery. David brings a group of Sherlock Holmes lovers (and some unsavory characters) to a replica English country house in Cape Cod. When someone decides David is better off dead with a dart in his neck, our favorite sleuth Gemma decides to investigate. However, the only person who could have done it was at the manor house for the weekend… This is my absolute favorite setting of the mystery genre. A classic Agatha Christie set up, the country house mystery gives the audience a fighting chance of figuring out “whodunnit,” and in classic style, the murder victim has enemies galore. Ms. Delany executed the setting perfectly.

Gemma’s Investigation. One of my biggest gripes about this series as a whole is that Gemma butts into murder investigations despite knowing that her local police and detectives (handsome boyfriend Ryan and partner Estrada) are actually competent and capable of doing their jobs. It is what broke her and Ryan up years ago, and a constant struggle in their relationship now. However, in A Three Book Problem, Gemma manages to balance her natural insatiable curiosity with restraint in light of the official the police investigation, and generally waits until Ryan and Detective Estrada ask for her opinion before giving it. And she still catches the killer and hands the case to them in a neat bow, but does it respectfully.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

The Pace. As much as I enjoyed reading about the intriguing dinner party and tension building, it too way too long for the murder to happen. Almost a third of the book is build up, then the murder, then an indeterminate amount of time waffling without a lot of mystery solving. I found myself skimming more than I should have.

While the pace was my only main complaint about Three Book Problem, this wasn’t make favorite in the series. It felt a little stagnant, even though it ended on a high note (scenes with Gemma and Ryan are always high points). While this “carbon neutral” installation of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series is not the best in the series, it certainly didn’t turn me away either.

This is the 7th book in the successful Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series of mystery stories most of which are set in contemporary Cape Cod. The stories feature Gemma Doyle, an expat Brit, who left England to operate a Sherlockian bookstore in West London Massachusetts with her uncle, Arthur Doyle . He may may be a distant relative of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the original Sherlock Holmes stories

In this adventure, Gemma is hired to stage a Sherlock Holmes themed country house weekend party. It is sponsored by a wealthy Sherlock Holmes fan, David Masterton, who has rented a posh mansion in which to hold the event. The invited guests are a rag tag group of people with no apparent connection to one another or their host. Two of David''s relatives are "hired" to act as butler and housekeeper for the weekend. The festivities have barely begun when David is killed by a poison dart shot from outside his library while he is meeting with Gemma. Gemma begins to apply her amateur sleuthing skill to find the killer, much to the chagrin of her current boyfriend who is the police detective assigned to the case.

The invited guests are a closed circle of suspects, each of them not quite what they appear to be at first blush. There's also a cast of recurring characters to assist Gemma as she investigates, including her best friend Jayne who operates a tearoom next to her bookshop and Donald Morris a Sherlock Holmes aficionado. Uncle Arthur Doyle disappears on a sudden visit to a friend in Spain and therefore does not figure in this book.

It's a well told story, with an exciting suspenseful ending, as Gemma sorts out whodunnit. Although it's formulaic, the plot s solid and the storytelling is well-paced. The atmospheric Cape Cod background and Sherlock Holmes trivia add interest. The book can be read as a standalone without the need to read others in the series.

All in all, it's a readable and enjoyable puzzle mystery story.

I received a complementary advance reading copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an independent review.

This is the 7th book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series by Vicki Delany set in West London on Cape Cod, Massachusetts featuring Gemma Doyle.

Gemma Doyle manages Great Uncle Arthur's Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. The shop is located at 222 Baker Street and is also the home of Violet, Gemma's cocker spaniel. In addition, Gemma co-owns the adjoining shop, 'Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room', which is run by her best friend and business partner Jayne Wilson. Gemma has a reputation for being a bit of a mystery-solver, so when rich philanthropist David Masterson hosts a party at rented Suffolk Gardens House and winds up later killed by a poisoned dart Gemma starts investigating.

I started this series late to the party at book six. With her kindness, resourcefulness and sassy attitude, I was pleased to be in Gemma's company again. Vicki Delany has surrounded Gemma with a great supporting cast and Jayne especially is easy to warm to. Gemma and Jayne are both in relationships; Gemma is with her detective boyfriend Ryan Ashburton, and Jayne's love interest is fiancé Andy Whitehall, a restaurateur. Of course, Violet, Gemma's lovable spaniel deserves another mention and Peony, her other dog.

The author has written a very strong mystery here. With its great plot, the pacing is comfortable and I enjoyed trying to unearth clues alongside Gemma. I was unable to figure out the identity of the killer; there were many misdirections to keep me guessing. Vicki Delany's occasional humorous touches had me chuckling and helped to make A Three Book Problem a compelling, fun read. I was totally entertained from the beginning so bring on book #8!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.