3.5 Stars. This was a fun cozy filled with some of my favorite mystery tropes - namely the "manor house murder" along with the Sherlockian tie-in. Sherlock fans will love the detailed references to both the stories and the movie versions mentioned here, as a group of Sherlock fans gather for a weekend of trivia and appreciation and end up with a murder on their hands (and all taking place in a reproduction English Manor house, with formal victorian dinners and plenty of Sherlock nostalgia provided by Gemma). **Thank you so much to both NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!!**

I do have to say I'm finding the Crooked Lane books I've been reading a cut above the average in terms of cozies, and often are just great contemporary mysteries period. This one did have plenty of those classic era of crime fiction vibes right alongside the contemporary cozy vibe. The mystery itself was interesting, especially with the unexpected "murder by dart", and the wide array of seemingly inappropriate guests invited for the strange Sherlock weekend. The who-dunnit was neither too obvious nor too far-fetched.

The only slight turn off I had was in the attitude of the main character, Gemma and her apparent rudeness to everyone (friends included). Since this is the first book I've read in this series I thought maybe it was some character trait explained previously, and it didn't occur to me until about 3/4 of the way through that maybe they were drawing a parallel between Gemma and Sherlock? But instead of being eccentric, lacking in social niceties and caught up in the moment ala Sherlock, I just felt Gemma was just plain rude (like I said it could be explained in earlier books, but her rudeness seemed weird and off-putting in terms of any lack of explanation in this particular book). I'm hoping reading some of earlier books will alter this sort of confusing opinion I had towards the MC.

I will definitely pick up the previous books in the series now though as I really liked the setting, the mystery itself and the Sherlockian angles. Definitely recommend for cozy fans, especially bookish themed ones, and Sherlock lovers...along with those who, like me, love themselves a fun "manor house murder".

If you run a Sherlock Holmes themed bookshop and emporium being asked to arrange a weekend retreat based around the great man himself is an opportunity not to be missed. Which is how bookshop owner Gemma Doyle, best friend Jayne Watson, and the off duty Detective Ryan Ashburton find themselves at Suffolk Gardens House taking charge of all things Sherlock.

While Jayne provides a five star culinary experience, with Ryan as her assistant, Gemma arranges the entertainment for wealthy Sherlockian David Masterson and his enthusiastic guests. However, it soon becomes clear things aren't as Gemma envisaged, with some of the visitors unaware and uninterested in the escapades of Sir Conan Doyle's greatest hero.

When a murder takes place right in front of Gemma and Jayne, the kitchen maid reverts to his original employment and begins the difficult job of discovering whodunnit and why. As Gemma hunts down clues and unearths personal secrets she realises that, if you scratch the surface, nothing is quite as it seems at Suffolk Gardens.

This is the seventh in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery series and although the first I've read I didn't feel disadvantaged. There were enough background hints to explain most of the main protagonists' stories so far and, after six previous books, they all gelled together nicely. The actual whodunnit was very well though out and although the possible suspect pool was limited I still was nowhere close with my assumptions.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed this book by the excellent Vicki Delany and, even if you haven't dipped into this series before, it's definitely worth giving it a go.

This is the 7th book in this series, I have read the entire series and find it always delightful and a fun sleuth. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinions are my own. The author also writes one of my favorite series as Eva Gates.

Gemma and her employees are hired to cater a spectacular event devoted to Sherlock Holmes fans at a wealthy country estate. The event is fraught with disagreements among the attendees and when a murder occurs by poison dart Gemma is on the case as a savvy smart investigator.

I liked this next in series had the author provided many clues throughout to the murder. I like the setting and charcters of this series. i look forward to the next in series.

I love cozy mysteries, so I was excited about this bookish one. I've never read any others in this series, but it could stand alone. At times, the plot lagged, which pulled me out of the story a bit and cause me to feel a bit disconnected. I really liked the Sherlock Holmes angle. There were a few key phrases that the author really overused that stuck out.

The best thing about this book is the title, as it reminds me of the famous Three Body Problem from Physics. From there it is just another cozy mystery with a long list of unremarkable characters and an irritating, nosy woman who owns a Sherlock Holmes store and is hired to host and cater a Sherlock Holmes weekend where someone is murdered by poison dart. I imagine that there are some fans of this genre who might enjoy this, but I’m afraid I found it a tad banal so I didn’t finish it.
Thanks to Net Gallery for providing an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It's got an interesting mystery with an unusual method of death. The characters are great. #AThreeBookProblem #NetGalley.

This was a good little cozy mystery! I love Sherlock Holmes and that’s really why I wanted to read this book. I had not read the previous books in this series but for me that didn’t affect this book. I really liked Gemma and like Sherlock she was really observant. I thought the mystery was good. This book had a lot of characters and most were not very nice.
I really enjoyed this book and most likely will be going back to read the previous ones.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Being a lifelong Sherlock Holmes fan, I was excited to review this book. The main character, Gemma Doyle, is no relative of Sir Author Conan Doyle. But she does run a Sherlock Holmes bookshop. She is hired to provide material for a group of Sherlockians gathering at a country home. The host doesn't make it. And Gemma swings in to action.

I found the main character to be very entertaining and refreshing. The mystery wasn't very deep. Not a lot of deductive abilities needed to figure this one out. But it was an amusing read.

Unfortunately the copy that downloaded to my kindle was missing words and letters which made it very hard to read so I had to give up reading after the first chapter. It was a shame as I've read previous books by the author and enjoyed them.

Thank you for the arc.

Complicated convoluted plot .Written from the point of view of Gemma, an Englishwoman living in New England, it is set in a countryhouse weekend devoted to Sherlock Holmes. The book did not grab my interest until the last few chapters and even then was not particularly suspenseful. Lots of chasing around foloowing dead ends .... Still not convinced by the crime and I won't read anything else by this author. I realised part way in that i had read another in the series (which I didn't think was great either)
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you #Netgalley for the advance reader copy of A Three Book Problem by Vicky Delaney in exchange for an honest review. Gemma Doyle runs the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium in Cape Cod. Jayne is her chef in Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room and Ryan is the sous chef and detective. They get a beautiful house for a Sherlock and Watson party. Jayne and Gemma are also catering for a Sherlockian weekend, where a person gets killed by a poison dart. This was a quirky story and I didn't know what was going to happen next. I had not read any in series and now want to read the others.

⭐⭐⭐.5 Stars ~ Rounded up ~ Love the book cover!
This is my sixth Vicki Delany novel; and #7 in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. Although I haven’t read this entire series, I have read and loved “Elementary, She Says" ] as well as "The Cat of the Baskervilles" in this series. I also enjoyed "White Sand Blues"] in the Ashley Grant series.
As a mystery book fan, I totally love book shops and one that has an adjacent tea room has got to be the BEST! I actually did a Google search for “Sherlock Holmes Tea Set” and Yes! They are available!
I am ready for a “Sherlock Holmes” theme book discussion with deerstalker hats & magnifying glasses.

Aww there are some twist and turns that I want and expect in a mystery!!!
Ms. Delany once again delivers an enjoyable read 😀
Yep! I am looking forward to her next story!

Want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 11, 2022

Gemma Doyle is on hand to solve this latest murder mystery. Gemma, Jayne, and Ryan are the hired hands for a Sherlockian weekend. The host is murdered. Gemma cannot help herself, she puts the pieces together to be on hand to solve the crime. Very enjoyable book series.

Where to begin. First let me say I will not be reviewing the content of A THREE BOOK PROBLEM since the publisher has made it nearly impossible to do so. I am barely into the second chapter and am having a difficult time following the story since the copy I downloaded to my Kindle has so many typo’s I spend half of my time trying to discern what the words are……and there are at least two (or more) of these “missing in action” letters per page.

Some examples: Several sentences begin with “E’ which should be THE as well as the word THIS which appears on the page as IS and AT’S which should be THAT’s. Many words that have a double F such as Staff, Stuff or Stiff only have Sta or Stu or Sti printed on the page. The same applies to words with IF,FI or FL in the word such as RST which is FIRST, BE TTED which is befitted or nger which is FINGER or my personal favorite OORBOARDS which is FLOORBOARDS. Well, you get the idea. And all of this appeared in just the first chapter.

I do realize that the plot is supposed to be about an expert on Sherlock Holmes, but I did not realize that it was I who was supposed to be the detective and was charged with trying to deduce what the missing letters are and exactly was going on in the story. Did anyone proofread this before it was released for download??

TO THE PUBLISHER: Should you wish to check this out for yourself, be my guest. If the appropriate corrections are made and readers are able to read and enjoy the story without the unnecessary distraction currently involved, feel free to forward me a corrected copy for review.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

—Jenn McKinlay, NYT and USA Today bestselling author of Better Late Than Never

"Vicki Delany is one of many great mystery writers and with this book, she has stepped it up a notch.. The first book in her new series displays Gemma Doyle, a wonderfully protagonist that runs the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, that has quirky characters and appeal of old books flourish. I enjoyed every all the information the story displayed. Using the Cape Cod setting was enchanting and the interesting points that kept me turning pages late into the night. This is book is fast, fun, and full of Sherlockian lore. Kudos for a charming, a smart character as observant as The Amazing Detective himself.”

I have been getting into these Cozy Mysteries lately and loving them. They are so easy to read as well as being fun. And this was just like that.

It is a mystery so has some substance but it is also clever, even exciting and I love it is set in the Sherlock Holmes Library. How good is that!

Great characters, great story, great mystery and great fun. I'm not sure what else to say.

A Three Book Problem: A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery (ISBN9781643857985) by Vicki Delany
Gemma Doyle (owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium) and Jayne Wilson (owner of Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room) are hired by philanthropist David Masterson to stage and cater a Sherlockian weekend at Suffolk Gardens House, a Twentieth-Century replica of a stately English country estate. Ryan Ashburton, Gemma’s detective boyfriend, joins them to assist in the kitchen.

As the guests arrive, it becomes clear that they are don’t like each other and so the mood, which should be celebratory, is sadly argumentative. Furthermore, not all are Sherlockian experts; some barely know about Sir Arthur Conon Doyle’s Canon and his accomplished detective. Host Masterson meets privately with Gemma and Jayne to discuss that evening’s elegant dinner when he is struck in the neck with a poisoned dart. Murder is now on the menu.

This book is the seventh in a series of mystery novels by Delany and the first in the series for me. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the literary references, beginning with the title of the book, A Three Book Problem, based on Holmes’ “a three-pipe problem.” There is a clear reference to The Sign of Four, a Holmes adventure in which the murders are accomplished by poisoned blow darts. But, who is the murderer? Delany’s cast of characters are worthy of the Sherlockian Canon. Gemma is the amateur Sherlock Holmes, hunting down clues and asking the tough questions. There are many others at the weekend gathering, but I’ll leave the rest of the characters for you to discover as you read this fine novel.

I recommend this book: 4 stars.

Thoroughly enjoyed the mystery. It was fun, with exciting events and brilliant description of period decor and clothes that added to the story's aesthetic.

Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson find themselves, once again, in the middle of a murder. Serving as caterers and staff for a "Sherlock Holmes" themed house party, the ladies quickly realize all is not what it seems in the relationship between the swanky guests. When the host is murdered, Gemma and Jayne must root out a murderer before there's more victims!

What a fun mystery! I like Gemma and her character was, in my opinion, more open and showed more compassion than in the other books. Jayne was featured more in this book and I enjoyed the way their very different personalities played off each other. The descriptions of the period clothing and house decor added to the book. Having Ryan act as house staff and detective added a fun element to the story. The mystery was fast-paced with twists and turns galore! I thought I knew "whodunit" but I was wrong. It's so entertaining to step into the world of Gemma Doyle! I'm ready for another visit!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

When Gemma Doyle and her best friend Jayne Hudson are asked to cater a Sherlock Holmes weekend at the majestic Suffolk House, they agree, Both of them have always wanted to see the interior, and this is their chance. But what they don't expect is to find that the people host David Masterson has invited are hostile toward each other. What's more, some of them don't even know anything about Sherlock Holmes, which sets Gemma to wondering. At least she has help from her boyfriend, West London Police Detective Ryan Ashburton, who has taken time off to help them.

But after a tense first night, Jayne and Gemma have plans the next day to meet someone in the library. That is, until that person is killed by a poisoned dart, which struck accurately and fatally. Now Jayne and Gemma are in the middle of another murder investigation, and with a surfeit of suspects, Gemma's got to use her attention to detail to discover a killer before they kill again...

I initially didn't care for the first book in this series, but I am glad that I stuck with it. Each book has gotten better than the last, and the characters are evolving in their lives with each one. It's delightful to become involved with them, living in their world temporarily, and taking in the descriptions of West London, the characters, and their problems. This book, -- a three book problem, as it were -- is from Sherlock Holmes, when he would have a particularly sticky problem, and call it a three pipe problem. The titles are whimsical and anyone familiar with Holmes will understand them. But be aware that even if you are not familiar with Holmes that you will still enjoy the books.

Gemma is off and running once again wondering who would want to kill the person, and so begins her questioning of the guests for the week. Sometimes subtle, sometimes not; she intends to find out who had something to hide and why they wanted this person dead. But it soon becomes apparent that finding a killer isn't as easy as it could be, when everyone seems to not want to talk about it and even shies away from her.

So between the police doing what they need to do and Gemma doing what she's inclined to, we have a mystery that is not easy to solve and a group of people who might have all had a reason to kill. It gives a tantalizing story of greed, lies, blackmail, and murder, and keeps you on your toes while you search for a killer. When the ending comes, it is a surprise indeed, which makes it more than ever a most pleasant read. Highly recommended.