The ebook had so many missing letters in the words that it effected my ability to enjoy the story. I did like the twisty mystery and the setting of the story, but it seemed too slow and I was ready for it to end halfway through.
Thanks to #NetGalley and AThreeBookProblem for advanced digital copy.

Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson are catering a weekend party where David Masterson is entertaining friends at the Suffolk Gardens House. He’s a lover of Sherlock Holmes and asks Gemma to provide some books and props for the occasion. Detective Ryan Ashburton is assisting in the kitchen. When David asks to meet with Gemma and Jayne in the library, they are stunned and completely shocked when a dart sails through the window and into David’s neck, killing him. Gemma has a house full of suspects and knows that one of them is not David’s friend.
This was a very exciting cozy mystery. It reminded me of the closed room mysteries of the past with all of the interesting suspects and settings. Gemma seemed particularly single-minded in her investigation and wouldn’t stop until she learned the truth. This story kept me guessing until the big reveal at the end. I received an advanced reader’s copy from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

A keen eye for observation and a knack for being in the wrong place at the right time, once again puts Gemma on the trail of a killer much to the delight of her friends and chagrin of the local police. A modern-day female Sherlock, Gemma lets no item be too small to be observed and studied in the process of uncovering the guilty party! Excellent characters, delightful plot and a great setting make this a must-read book or rather series! It would be wise to read the previous books to get the backstory of the main characters, but you could enjoy this book as a stand-alone if you wish. I will say that reading the series as a whole has made the main character much more likeable and relatable, so I really do recommend reading the series in its entirety. I can't wait to see what the characters get into next as their personal lives are becoming more intriguing as well!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free ebook ARC of this title in exchange for my review.

I love cozy mysteries and have read hundreds. I've read the first few books in this series, but did not keep up with it. Still, I found I was able to remember the different characters and plot points easily as I read along.

Sadly, I think I've fallen out of love with this series. This book felt like it was drawn out too far, with not enough happening to really keep me involved and interested in reading. Cozies usually are finished in a day or two for me, but this one took the better part of a month, and not because I was too busy to read. I just lost interest too many times.

In this seventh installment of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mysteries, Gemma and Jayne are called to cater an event at a local estate, set up to be a weekend house party at an English country manor. When a murderer strikes, Gemma is on hand to help the police solve the case, in kind of a Sherlockian version of Clue. I was entertained throughout, and the identity of the murderer came as a surprise to me. Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for the advance digital copy!

Gemma Doyle returns in the 7th volume in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. Gemma and bestie Jayne, along with boyfriend/policeman Ryan, are spending their weekend helping at a Sherlock Holmes gathering at an elegant country house. Gemma quickly realizes that not all the guests are fans of Holmes, and many dislike their host, David. When she and Jayne witness the apparent murder of David in the library, Gemma's investigative skills are immediately put to use. I like the Sherlock Holmes hook in these books, but I truly dislike Gemma Doyle! She is rude, arrogant, unkind, thoughtless, and selfish. I find it hard to enjoy the mysteries when I don't care for the detective.

On a practical note, there were constant typographical errors and missing letters to the words in this preprint, enough to disrupt and slow down the reading. This is the first time that I have encountered this problem with NetGalley ARCs, so hopefully it is a problem unique to this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC.

In Vicki Delay's latest Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery, A Three Book Problem, there's to be a private Sherlock Holmes enthusiast's country party weekend at Suffolk Gardens House. Gemma Doyle, her boyfriend Detective Ryan Ashburton and her friend and business partner Jayne Wilson are there as Jayne and Gemma are catering the affair. Needless to say a murder occurs and Gemma, who could be considered a modern day Sherlock Holmes due to her astute powers of observation, is on the case. I like how Gemma does her investigation and I happily followed along as Gemma solves the mystery.

Gemma and Jayne are catering a Sherlock Holmes Victorian type party for a group of Sherlockian's. David a huge fan has decided to put on this party for a select group of people. While there Gemma gets the feeling that not everyone there are fans of Sherlock, so why were they invited. Then David ends up dead and Gemma is reading to do some sluething.

It seems that David wasn't a very well liked man among his peers as well as his family, so there are plenty of suspects and I must say I didn't figure this one out. Gemma did try her best to not get involved but the more she found out the harder it was not to snoop around. She just couldn't leave it to her detective boyfriend or Estrada!

I liked this one because it seems that even though Detective Estrada is still not a huge fan of Gemma, she is beginning to like her a bit and not give her as hard of a time. It's taken a while to get to this place and I am more inclined to like the detective a bit more as well.

I also liked this one because it it took Gemma a while to figure things out so I didn't feel so bad about not figuring it out...lol.

Gemma Doyle, co-owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium and her friend, Jayne Wilson, co-owner of a Tea Room, are hired for a traditional English Country House weekend of Sherlockians. It becomes apparent to them right away that not many of the guests like the host or each other. Just as the weekend is getting started, the host is murdered. But why and by whom? Many secrets come out before the murderer is found.

Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson have been hired to cater a house party weekend at Suffolk Gardens House for a philanthropist and noted Sherlockian scholar David Masterson. They have brought along Gemma's boyfriend Chief Detective Ryan Ashburton who is acting as an assistant. It is their first visit to the home and their first meeting with Masterson.

Gemma immediately has some questions. The variety of guests seem strange. Some like her friend Donald are Holmes scholars, but others seem to have no interest in the Great Detective at all. The guests don't seem known to each other and they don't seem to be friends of Masterson either. Add to this that the "staff" turn out to be poor young relatives of Masterson playing the parts of housekeeper and butler.

The house, which a a weekly rental and is for sale, is less than Gemma would have thought. It's much more poorly constructed and maintained than something for sale in the multimillions. The whole situation is strange and tense.

When Masterson is murdered by a poisoned dart to the neck while meeting with Gemma and Jayne about meal plans, Gemma finds herself reluctantly assisting the police in tracking down the killer. Gemma is really trying to stay out of police business but her unique insights can only help them.

The story was filled with twisty plot details as more is learned about the weekend guests. There are all sorts of secrets and rivalries among them that are gradually revealed.

This was an engaging and entertaining cozy mystery that is the seventh book in the series. While reading some of the earlier books might be helpful for insights into Gemma and Ryan's relationship, the book stands alone quite well with enough background information given for understanding.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series is one of my favorites and this one did not disappoint. Gemma, Jayne and Ryan are invited to participate in a Sherlock Holmes weekend event at Suffolk Gardens House. The home looks beautiful but is in disrepair, and not everyone seems to be there for the same reasons. And did I mention, there also happens to be a murder? I will admit that some of the earlier books in the series are my favorites but if you are a cozy mystery fan, you can never go wrong with this series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the first book I've stumbled across from the " A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery" series. Though it felt that I would need prior knowledge of the previous instalments to truly know the characters, it wasn't too difficult to know the characters from a "standalone" standpoint. Enjoyed the pacing and I'm looking forward to more.

Well-paced and interesting cozy mystery with enough twists and turns and red herrings to keep me guessing and turning the pages. It's the first book I've read in the series, but I was able to follow along without any problems.


Many thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

I have read books 1, 6 and 7 in this series now so I still have some catching up to do. This will not be a problem because they are all nice, entertaining, easy reads.

In A Three Book Problem Gemma Doyle and her friends are all attending a Sherlock Holmes themed house party - Gemma is providing expertise and items from her book shop, Jayne is handling the meals and Ryan is there for general back up duties. The guests are very mixed and do not seem to like each other much. Of course a murder occurs and Ryan is obliged to return to his normal police duties.

The mystery is good with many potential suspects and Gemma is able to be very helpful as she is living in the house with all of them! I liked the way the author set this scene with our normal main characters transposed to different surroundings. The ending was a little surprising as I did not really suspect the actual murderer during the course of the story.

This was an enjoyable cosy, well written and interesting.

3.5 stars

Sherlockian bookstore owner Gemma Doyle is back. The very British Gemma and her business partner Jayne are catering a Sherlock event at a local mansion. But things are odd from the beginning: some of the participants are clearly not interested in the subject, and there are old animosities at work.

When the host of the event is found murdered -- in a way reminiscent of one of Holmes's stories -- Gemma is on the scene and so feels obligated to investigate. While her boyfriend, a detective with the local PD, and the police chief tell her to keep away, they are not above asking the very logical and perceptive Gemma for clues.

Readable, but with a lot of characters to keep track of and no great amount of suspense. Gemma's shop is not the setting of this mystery and its absence is felt. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is the 7th book in a series. I have not read the others, but this reads well as a stand alone. Admittedly, you know the characters have history, but you can still understand and follow along. This is a fun cozy mystery. If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan you will probably appreciate it more than I did. I am sure that I did not get all the references to Holmes and Watson. Still this was an enjoyable fun read. Interesting story. 4 stars

This is the first book I read from this author and it didn’t disappointed me. The characters are believable and well described. The plot is very interesting and has a twist that I didn’t expected. It has all the elements of a good murder mystery and I’d totally recommend it.

Cozy mysteries are my favorite and I especially love when I find a long series to get invested in. This is a book that you really need to read the whole series to really “know” the characters. It’s an interesting series that is easy to read and get in!

Love this cozy mystery!!

A Three Book Problem is book 7 in the A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries and starts off in early October as Gemma and Jayne are preparing for a weekend gathering for lovers of Sherlock Holmes. Suffolk Gardens House has been rented for the affair by the wealthy and prominent resident David Masterson.

The characters are well-crafted and if you have read the previous books, ones that you know feel you personally know. I quite enjoyed the storyline and the book kept me guessing until the very end.

Kudos to the author.

A Three Book Problem
A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery
by Vicki Delany
Pub Date 11 Jan 2022
Crooked Lane Books
Mystery & Thrillers


I am reviewing a copy of A Three Book Problem through Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley:




On a crisp early October weekend when business is slowing down and fall descends on the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium and adjacent Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room. 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.




While the Chosen Caters Jayne Wilson and Gemma Doyle get to work preparing elaborate meals and setting up Sherlockian books and props for entertainment, in the meantime police detective Ryan Ashburton has taken time away from his duties to assist in the kitchen. It quickly becomes apparent that David's guests don't like each other. -or their host. Plus, some of them aren't even acquainted with the adventures of the Great Detective.






Before Gemma can ponder their relationships a poisoned dart sails through the window of the library, presenting Gemma Doyle with a three-book problem.



I give A Three Book Problem five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!