There is something about Sherlock Holmes that makes fans a bit nuts. In A Three Book Problem, the obsessive crazy fans come out of the woodwork, and Gemma finds herself smack dab in the middle of all the insanity, and unfortunately, murder. Between her bookshop emporium, the tea room, and doing catering, with a busy social life, she has little time to spend investigating a murder, but she finds that she has little choice in the matter.

Suspects line up, an entire house full of them. Clues abound but do not necessarily point to just one person. The method of murder is original and interesting. The setting of the Sherlock weekend event is picture-perfect unless you look too closely. Who wouldn’t want to spend a few days at a traditional English country house? But this house isn’t what it seems, and neither are the people invited to the unforgettable weekend away with friends. The red herrings are there but were unnecessary. Supporting characters did not play a significant enough role in this addition to the series. Ryan, in particular, although present when the murder took place, doesn’t spend as much time as he should have investigating. I would like to have seen more of the bookshop emporium and the tea room in this story and a little less of the so-called English country house.

When Gemma unveils the murderer, it will not come as a surprise to anyone. You don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out the clues and the killer’s identity. The pace of
A Three Book Problem is slower than I would have liked. Gemma isn’t a terrible character in general, but she seems rude and uncaring about anyone this time around. Even though this book did not live up to expectations, I feel this is still a good series and look forward to seeing where the author takes Gemma next. I hope we get to spend more time at the bookshop emporium and tea room and get to interact more with Jayne and Ryan.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
It's autumn at the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. A Holmes aficionado has booked a local mansion for the week and invited people to attend a gathering to watch films and discuss the works of Arthur Conan Doyle. Gemma and her crew of pals are on hand as caterers, servers and she has brought along many props to decorate the mansion in the style of Sherlock. As the guests arrive, something seems amiss. When a murder occurs, every single one of them is a suspect.
Witty, smart cozy mystery by a master of the craft. All-around fun! Author kept me guessing right to the end! I will read anything she writes.
Note: only goes to prove, not even a worldwide crisis can keep Vicki Delany from writing great escapism books.

A Three Book Problem by Vicki Delany has Gemma Doyle along with Jayne Watson and Detective Ryan Ashburton are heading to Suffolk Gardens House to cater a Sherlockian weekend for Mr. David Masterson. It is going to be a traditional English country garden weekend with delectable delights from Jayne and plenty of talk about Sherlock Holmes. Ryan has put aside his detective’s badge to don an apron to help Jayne in the kitchen. Gemma soon notices that several of the guests know nothing about the Great Detective nor do they seem to like their host. On the second day, Gemma is in the library with David. He stops talking midsentence and collapses. Gemma rushes over to assist David and finds a dart in his neck. The EMTs are quick to arrive, but it is too late for David. Ryan ditches his apron to take up his detective badge. One of the houseguests did David in. Gemma who cannot resist a mystery begins searching for clues and subtlety questioning the guests. Can Gemma with help from her friends sets out to bag a killer? A Three Book Problem is the seventh A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. I thought the story was well-written with developed characters and good dialogue. It was nice to check in with Gemma, Jayne, and Ryan. I like the premise of a country house weekend where a murder takes place. I thought, though, that the pacing was slow. The story dragged from beginning to end. The book lacked humor and action. The mystery had a unique method of murder which I loved. The identity of the killer was not a mystery to me. There are obvious clues to help readers solve the crime long before the reveal. The reason why can be figured out as well. It all wraps up at the end without much help from Ryan (who I find frustrating). I believe scenes could have been eliminated that would have helped this story. The book needed a good jolt of caffeine. While this was not my favorite book, it will not stop me from picking up the next A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. A Three Book Problem has Doyle and Watson on the hunt for a killer at a country estate with a deadly dart, ungrateful guests, scrumptious cuisine, Sherlockian folklore, dedicated detectives, and a crumbling manor house.

I enjoy this sort of modern retelling of Sherlock Holmes as in it has aspects of what made Sherlock, Sherlock. Gemma owns the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and ends up solving mysteries much the same way Sherlock did. And she has her own Watson in the form of tea shop owner and best friend Jayne Wilson. As well as her own Lestrade in the from of Police Detective Ryan Asburton. Each book in this series just keeps getting better and better. This series is perfect for fans of cozy mysteries as well as fans of Sherlock Holmes.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of A Three Book Problem, (A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery #7) by Vicki Delany from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.

… an intriguing and solid entry filled with twists, turns and plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing to the very last chapter! …

Gemma and crew are at it again in this entry in the Sherlock Holmes Bookstore Series. When Donald enlists Jayne and Gemma to cater for his friend David Masterson’s Sherlock Holmes themed Weekend at Suffolk Gardens House, a notorious estate, it’s all hands-on deck. David a dedicated devotee to the Sherlock Holmes franchise throws a mysterious weekend for friends and family to revel in the greatness of all things “Sherlock.” Gemma assists with the weekend which is supposed to be an opportunity to highlight her Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and the neighboring Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room, run by Jayne, but instead it turns out to highlight the mysterious murder of the host David. When all in attendance become suspects Gemma steps up to do some sleuthing despite being asked not to. In the past Gemma has been accused of sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong causing quite a bit of animosity on behalf of the police, including Gemma’s boyfriend, Ryan, and his partner Detective Estrada. As the weekend progresses it becomes evident that David had a lot of enemies and Gemma is on the hunt for the one who hated him enough to want him dead.

I am a devoted fan of the series, and this book did not disappoint me. Although not my favourite in the series it was still an intriguing and solid entry filled with twists, turns and plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing to the very last chapter!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Gemma Doyle is helping her friend Jayne with a catering event. This event is perfect for Gemma as well because it is an event for
Sherlock enthusiasts. (Gemma owns the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop in town.) Gemma and her boyfriend, Detective Ryan Ashburton have agreed to assist Jayne, as well as be a part of the festivities for the weekend. The guest of honor, who is also the host, has pulled out all of the stops to make the weekend as realistic as possible for the fans. After someone dies while standing right next to Gemma, the fun weekend is suddenly not so merry. With a myriad of suspects staying at the house for the weekend, Ryan and his other police detective colleagues insist that no one can leave. They want the "show to go on" so to speak. They hope by continuing the weekend festivities, they will find a murderer in the midst. Vicky Delany always provides a wide array of suspects that will have you guessing and trying to solve the mystery before the final pages. The character engagement in this book was off the charts. They were so different from one another and you will find yourself imagining exactly what each person would look like. As always I enjoy a good Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery. The book is clean with just the right amount of suspense and mystery.

“A Three Book Problem” the 7th instalment in "A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop" Mystery series by Vicki Delany. It can easily be read as a standalone but I recommend reading in order.

Gemma Doyle is back on the case in bestselling author Vicki Delany's seventh Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery when a poisoned dart ends in demise.

I enjoyed this mystery, thought it flowed well and kept my attention. The setting of West London in Cape Cod is idyllic and this time we are at a big manor house .

I loved the characters of Gemma and BFF Jayne along with Donald and Ryan who the story entered around. Gemma and Ryan's relationship is progressing nicely and I like how they are compromising to keep things harmonious. I look forward to the next book in this series and seeing where their relationship goes.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, with enough twists to keep you interested. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Vicki Delany's 7th Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery, A Three Book Problem, was such a fun cozy to read! Imagine a weekend house party for Sherlock experts at an exclusive garden estate in West London, and then imagine that the host is murdered in broad daylight right in from of our protagonist, Gemma Doyle! With a mansion full of suspects there's a lot going on, and I was kept guessing up until the surprise reveal at the end. A+++

This is such a fun series, and I had a great time with this cozy mystery. I loved the plot, the twists and turns, and the characters!

I have read the other books in this series I knew the main characters. The addition of the other characters fitted into the story line well. The story line was good but I was disappointed in the fact that it was dragged out and at the end I lost interest.

This is a great edition to Delaney's Sherlock Holmes's Bookshop series. Gemma Doyle and Jayne Watson have been hired to cater a Sherlock Holmes weekend at the Suffolk Gardens House. The renter, David Masterson is murdered with a poisoned dart in the library. While the bookshop and tea room are not as center stage in this book as in the others, we do still get to see Gemma try, and fail, to not involve herself in the investigation. Delaney keeps you guessing as to who the murderer is until the very end. A very enjoyable read. I hope to keep seeing more of this series.

The story was attractive for me because of the Sherlock Holmes connection.

There was a Sherlock Holmes bookshop (what could be better than that) complete with all the gee gaws that made up
Holmes and his side kick. We have a Sherlockian David having a massive weekend do at the old world manor with a full
Sherlockian theme including dress and food of the era. We have Jayne serving the food and various others helping out
from housekeeping to bartending all different from their usual jobs.

When the host gets killed by a poisoned dart of all things, the frolic stops and the serious work of detection starts.
Gemma who was the co ordinator for the weekend is now on full alert to find out whatever she could to help the detectives,
though sadly they feel that her help is more hindrance than anything else. This does not stop her though.

This was a pleasant cozy and my first introduction to the series. Good as a stand alone.

A Three Book Problem is the seventh book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. The story follows Gemma Doyle and her friends as they spend a weekend working at a local manor house where a wealthy Sherlockian is hosting an English country weekend. Gemma and Jayne are in charge of catering and Sherlock based activities, but soon begin to notice the tension in the air. For a weekend that is meant to serve as a catalyst for discussions about Sherlock Holmes, very few of the guests seem to actually know much about him. Despite the tension, Gemma and Jayne go about their jobs, until they are called to meet with the host of the weekend and they find themselves dealing with death.

This cozy mystery was such a fun read! While I have not read any of the other books in the series, I did not find myself lost in any way. In fact, it made me very interested in reading all of the other books starring Gemma Doyle. Gemma was likable and funny, and it was interesting to watch the way she saw the world around her. Her demeanor would seem off putting in other situations, but when coupled with her observational skills, they were endearing. The rest of the cast bounced off of our main character well. The suspects were well rounded and well thought out. The dislike and distrust each of them had for one another added to the atmosphere of the country manor house.

Now, for the important part, the mystery. The death surprised me in the way it happened as well as when it occurred. It was a bit of a twist to have the victim die right in front of our protagonist. From there, bits and pieces of information were then strung along through Gemma’s very insistent questioning, despite the fact that she is just another normal person, and not anyone officially investigating the murder. While I appreciated the mystery a great deal and enjoyed following along, the pacing was a bit off in a few places. The questioning and running from here to there seemed to take a long time and took away from some of the urgency of the matter, even though it happened just a couple days worth of time. Normally, I can guess the solution, but this one kept me on my toes. I flew through the last few chapters of the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are unbiased and my own.

⅘ for a fun read that encourages me to read the rest of the series! I can’t wait to see more of the characters!

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, since it's the seventh in a series that I haven't read. However, it was a cozy mystery that made me fall in love with the characters. I would recommend this book for sure, and I'll also be seeking out the rest of the series to read!

The plot of the book was such a great page turner. The plot of the book was very well written. I truly cannot wait to read another wonderful book from this great new to me author. This was a truly great book.

I have not read any of the other books in this series, but this did no affect my reading of A Three Book Problem

I enjoyed the premise of the book, and I found the characters fun and likeable (for the most part).
I enjoy a good whodunnit, and throw in Sherlock Holmes and I knew this would be intriguing.

Lots of suspects and red herrings are thrown in for good measure, and though I had my suspsicions on the culprit, I wasn't 100% sure until all was revealed.

I did feel that this story did drag. There were scenes that I felt could have been taken out that would have left this book with a much better pace and flow - but this is just my thoughts on it, and others won't feel this.

I enjoyed this story enough that I would read more in the future.

Gemma has be asked to help host a Sherlock get-together. David Masterson is a wealthy Sherlock devotee. He rents a mansion on the edge a town and wants Gemma to provide trivia and games about the famous detective. Her friend Jayne is providing the food. Everything comes to an abrupt end when Masterson is murdered right in front of Gemma and Jayne!

Gemma is hot on the trail of the killer. This is a fun cozy. There are characters you dislike, others are likeable but quirky. There are several suspects and twists. The story is easy-to-read and kept me turning the pages.

I love this series, and Vicki Delany’s writing, but I very regretfully had to DNF this book. Not because of the book per se, but because my ARC is missing all the “th’s” and “f’s”. I went as far as I could filling in the blanks but it was too frustrating. I’m sorry, I’ll try to get a library copy!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A book for Sherlock Holmes fans.

This was a book I got into fairly quickly, was interested in and would recommend to those who like this genre.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Business is slow at the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and the Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room and when the owners, Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson were asked to cater a weekend Sherlock Holmes mystery event, their money problems would be solved. The host and Sherlockian, David Masterson has rented the famous Suffolk Garden House and has invited a group of interesting guests.

As the guests arrive and the festivities begin, strange things begin to happen. The guests aren’t cordial to each other and seem to have nothing in common with the theme of the event. So why are they invited and what secrets are they holding tight? But before Gemma can probe into the connection between these guests and David, he’s murdered and Gemma follows the clues to solve the mystery.

Three Book Problem by Vicki Delany is the seventh installment in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. I’m not a stranger to reading Delany’s several other cozy mystery series, however this is my first time reading the author’s cozy mystery in this series. I always believe it’s best to read the first book in a series to get acquainted with the characters and their personalities and witness any growth within the characters, yet this can be read not in order.

Book themed cozy mysteries are one of my favorite to indulge in, but Three Book Problem was a slow read. It started off at a good pace, but fell off and never regained my interest. The characters all were unlikeable and I felt Gemma was rude to everyone, including her friends. There weren’t any surprised resolutions or encouragement to solve the mystery.

I will continue to read Vicki Delany’s cozy mysteries, unfortunately not the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for a digital advanced reader’s copy which I voluntarily read and expressed my honest opinion and review.