I warned up to this series slowly but am now a true fan. This story is excellent with interesting and fun characters and if course Sherlock. The dialogue is quick, smart, and fun. Sometimes Gemma seems a bit snooty but then she always does something that makes me love her again.

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.

This book was a delight to read. It had me hooked early on in the story. This was the first Gemma Doyle mystery I've read , and I look forward to reading more. Ms. Delaney is a talented author. Gemma Doyle, co-owner of a book and emporium store in New England tries to find out who killed a man who had made many enemies. The book was fast paced and filled with interesting characters. I highly recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.

I quite enjoyed this! I hadn’t read any of the previous books in the series, but I didn’t have any problems jumping right in. I liked that they incorporated a bit of Sherlock-isms, but didn’t knock you over the head with Sherlock. The mystery was a fun tie in to a Sherlock Holmes mystery and had me guessing who the murderer would be.

*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I have recently discovered this series and read book 1 and 2 of this series which I loved. I was happy to be able to read this one, book 7, as an ARC. I was a bit afraid that maybe I would get spoilers as I need to read book 3-6 but no such thing. The one thing "new" was something I already expected to happen!

This book is as fantastic as the ones I read so far. Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson, owners of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and the neighboring Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room are hired to cater a Holmes-themed weekend event at the Suffolk Gardens House. Their host, David Masterson, seems like a friendly guy, but Gemma quickly notices that the other guests don't seem to be Sherlockians as one would expect during a Holmes-themed weekend.

Then David gets murdered right in front of Gemma and Jayne. Handy that Ryan Ashburton, detective, is already at the scene as he is helping Gemma and Jayne with the catering. The guests, which also include some family of David, are all suspects. Gemma, again, helps Ryan and his partner Louise Estrada, albeit against their will as per usual, and investigates on her own. It soon becomes clear that nothing is what it seems. I had no idea where to find the killer as there were so many leads. but eventually I had my mind pinned on one person who indeed turned out to be the killer.

I absolutely love this series. The characters, the writing, the plot, they are always great. I also read this book in one day which doesn't happen a lot. But with this series, these books, when you start, you feel the need to continue and you want to know what happens. This series has a lot of twists and turns in the books and this one is no exception. Highly recommend it!!!

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. As the chosen caterers, Jayne Watson and Gemma Doyle get to work preparing lavish meals and setting up Sherlockian books and props for entertainment. Meanwhile, 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, killing the host. Gemma and Jayne are on the hunt for whoever hated the host enough to kill him.

This is is wonderful series that gets better with each new book. I ordinarily read a series in order, but reading the newest one before reading some of the previous ones did not seem to matter. I need to go back now and read #3-5. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the newest in one of my favorite series.

I'll be the first to admit, I probably wouldn't qualify for an invite to David Masterson's Sherlock Holmes event. But Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookstore and Emporium, certainly would. She and Jayne Watson are called to cater and set up the event when suddenly, one of the guests is killed with a poison dart. It seems that everyone has a motive for wanting to see Mr. Masterson dead... but who killed him?

This is the first book from this series that I've read. Still though, I found it relatively easy to follow the story. Reading earlier installations may help you get a better sense of the backstories of Gemma, Jayne, Ryan, and others, but it's not necessary to understand and enjoy the novel.

I loved Delany's descriptive writing style. It felt as if I was transported to the scene of the murder at Suffolk Gardens House! It also made it easy for me to follow along with the mystery itself and the large cast of suspects involved. However, I could see how other readers might find some scenes to be a bit too detailed and perhaps lengthier than they ought to be.

This is a great whodunnit, featuring a well-written mystery and an incredibly observant protagonist. For readers that are averse to gore and violence, there isn't very much of either in this book, making for a nice, light read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was an action packed book filled with perplexing problems, I liked it.
But it was also a bit slow in the starting, the story builds up good, but it isn't really captivating.
3 stars
Thank you publisher and netgalley for a copy.

What a great cozy mystery! This edition in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series finds Gemma, Jayne, and Ryan as kitchen staff and servers to a wealthy Sherlock Holmes fan who has rented a rather large estate for a fun-filled Sherlock Holmes weekend. While busy preparing the meals, setting the tables, serving the food, and cleaning up everything, Gemma also manages to be able to join in the planned festivities with the other guests. They are a rather odd mix of Sherlock fans and non-fans who don't seem to care much for each other or their host, David Masterson. Many seem very on edge around each other and some seem outright hostile. Not a comfortable party atmosphere to say the least. It might not be the fun event they expected, but comes as quite a shock when their host ends up murdered! Gemma, with her amazing powers of observation, ends up investigating to find out which of the guests could be responsible for the man's death. Of course, Ryan ditches his kitchen duties and apron and falls into his role as police officer and he and his partner, Louise, are none too pleased that Gemma is poking her nose into their case. A very good Sherlockian whodunit that leaves you guessing the identity of the killer until the very end. Everyone has motive and several have opportunity, but it's up to the master slueth to look at the facts and clues and find the guilty party. A definite good read!
* I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review.

Great cozy mystery. I have not read all the books in this series, but was not a problem in following the characters. Gemma Doyle owns a Sherlock Holmes Book shop. Her uncle gets her and her friend, Jayne, from Mrs. Hudson's Tea Shoppe, to work a weekend of Sherlock Holmes. The event is to take place at Suffolk, Gardens House, where Gemma has always wished to see. Once the weekend festivities get underway, Gemma makes some startling discoveries. Not all the guests get along, and they don't all like their host, David. More surprising, they are not all Sherlock fans. When the host I found dead, it is up to Gemma and friends to determine who the killer is.
Light, easy read, cozy mystery. Love the characters.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, but I can’t help but immediately like a main character who owns a cat, adores mystery books and has an unbridled sweet tooth.

While a house party interrupted by murder is not a unique plot, the main character is likable, intelligent and totally intrigued when clues do not add up.

This cozy mystery is a perfect light read for a lazy weemend.

This is the seventh book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery series and the third that I've read. I hope to read the earlier books.

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. Gemma Doyle is manager and part owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. Gemma's best friend Jayne Watson is manager and part owner of Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room. Gemma and Jayne are hired to cater and create the perfect Sherlockian weekend for David and his friends.

Gemma observes that the guests don't necessarily like each other and some know next to nothing about Sherlock Holmes. As she's thinking about this unusual situation, David Masterson is murdered right before her eyes.

It seems that all the guests have secrets. It's up to Gemma to figure out which one is a murderer.

Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes book shop and her friend Jayne, from Mrs. Hudson's Tea Shoppe are asked to cater a Holmes Mystery weekend at Suffolk Gardens House. As the event begins, it becomes evident that many of the guests and their host don't like each other much or have an interest in Doyle's canon. When David Masterson, the host is murdered things become heated. Gemma's beau, Ryan the local detective often relies on her insights and they again prove helpful. All of the guests have secrets that give them motive. How to untangle the threads? This is the sixth in the series and I found it less enjoyable than the preceding ones. The character development was rather weak and I failed to invest in them. Somehow the country house mystery plot didn't resonate.. I will continue to follow this author and her series as I really like Gemma and the returning character cast. The Sherlock Holmes Book Shoppe with the tidbits of lore concerning Doyle and his creations is always engaging. I would recommend readers begin with the first in the series. It is a solid cozy mystery series.

Like last-minute weekend house party guest Irene I don’t have any specialist knowledge to exchange with a circle of Sherlock experts, but luckily that’s not needed to enjoy this cozy mystery. I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series, but I can’t help but immediately like a narrator who owns a bookshop AND, when faced with a choice of two desserts, goes for both. There’s even a bookshop cat!

The idea of the mysterious house that everyone wants an excuse to see the inside of will strike a chord with, well, anyone who was ever a child desperate to see the inside of their neighbour’s house. It’s a great setting for a house party murder mystery, with the traditional flourishes including a host that meets his demise before we get to properly know and dislike him, and assorted guests who are each misrepresenting themselves in one way or another.

If you’re in the mood for a lightweight cozy mystery with a vaguely historical literary air then this will suit you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

Awesome cozy mystery with a great, strong main character. The plot kept me on my toes

Gemma Doyle is back in book number seven of Vicki Delany’s A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. Gemma, and her teashop partner Jayne, are hired to cater a traditional Sherlock era English country house style weekend for Sherlockian scholar David Masterson. To assist in the kitchen Gemma has asked boyfriend Detective Ryan Ashburton to play scullery maid, while her friend Donald is part of group of Sherlockian enthusiasts. Thinking this would be an academically-enhanced weekend, Gemma is surprised to discover that many have limited to no knowledge of the Great Detective, and that there is an undercurrent of disdain for each other but mainly their host. Intending to do the catering and keeping her nose out of anyone’s business, Gemma is waylaid when David Masterson is struck down in front of her and Jayne using a poisoned dart.
I have read all of the books in this series, and it is in my always read category. Strictly speaking, you do not have to read these novels in a row as previous mysteries have no bearing on the current one. It might help to understand a small portion of the relationships, but Delany is very good about informing the reader without overwhelming them. Delany’s descriptive writing brings about such vividness to the characters and their surroundings that it is like a world within a world. Everything is plausible, even the murders themselves.
To make everything feel even more plausible is the fact that Delany includes real life authors and their work. To use specfics, Donald and Gemma have a quick discussion about Laurie R King’s 2021 novel. Again it is like that feeling of reading someone’s journal of an actual event, and less about a work of fiction. A world within a world.
There is one thing that I believe must writers do when they start a series, and I absolutely hate it. There is always that one person who hates the main character. Whether the reasoning is jealousy or some old feud doesn’t seem to matter. It is a trope that I simply cannot get behind. After seven books, I would like to see that character show some personal growth, especially if the main character is attempting to be accommodating to them as well. Louise Estrada might be a fine detective in the novel, but I feel that, like in real life, holding a grudge will simply prevent her from opportunities that Gemma could possibly open to her. Sadly, the reality is that these individuals do exist in the real world, and it is wise of Delany to include them in her novel.
The mystery itself was different from her previous ones in the series. This time none of Gemma’s friends or family were directly involved, and I think that gives Gemma a different change of tone. It is obvious that she has a curious nature, but it did not have the same feelings for a stranger as it did a loved one. It was also more complex with strangers because the readers were at the beginning learning about each suspect with Gemma, instead of feeling like we were catching up to her or being told “Oh by the way”. There were two things I was expecting in the explanation. However, the murderer was not who I expected, and I think that the reasoning made perfect sense. The way Delany writes her endings are prefect examples of how mysteries should end, with clear reasoning and no loose ends.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lanes for the e-Advanced Reader Copy. Overall I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

The characters Gemma Doyle and her friends return with cozy book 7, The Three Book Problem, in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mysteries by Vicki Delaney. Gemma and her friends work at Suffolk Garden House catering a Sherlock weekend for a wealthy fan of Sherlock Holmes when a murder occurs on the property. Gemma is once again pulled into the mystery as she tries to solve the murder before another murder happens.

Gemma by far is my favorite character in the book but she is also the star character. This book was by far one of the better books in this series and it kept me guessing who the murderer was right up until the end. There wasn’t really anything in the book I didn’t enjoy but you need to like cozy mysteries otherwise you may find the story drags or is not gripping enough. I give The Three Book Problem four stars.

Perfect suspens, I truly enjoyed reading this book. The setting of the story is very well depicted, and the characters are described vividly.
i received a copy from NetGalley, all opnions are mine.

I've read all of the books in this series and always enjoy returning to West London and Gemma and her friends, though you could read this book even if you hadn't read the previous ones in the series. This house party mystery kept me guessing.

Cleverly written, with interesting characters and a captivating plot. Despite being a part of a series, this one reads well as a standalone.