A country house weekend gathering murder sort of story, solved nicely by our clever bookseller. ( )

A Three Book Problem works for all cozy mystery fans, whether they’ve read the first six books in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series or not.

Tea shop owner Jayne Watson was hired to prepare all of the meals for a Sherlock Holmes-themed weekend at the Suffolk Garden House, and she enlisted friends Gemma Doyle and Gemma's boyfriend Ryan Ashburton to assist her during the weekend. When Gemma’s great-uncle Arthur is unable to attend, Gemma takes his place in the weekend’s events. In her dual role as guest and kitchen assistant, Gemma has unique access to the mansion and its inhabitants.

Host David Masterson allegedly selected his guests because of their interest in Sherlock Holmes. The houseguests are an unsettling group, some of which have questionable interest in Sherlock Holmes. Not surprisingly, money is a common pull, and the guests and helpers want to stay close to David to stay close to the money.

One mansion dweller who wants to get closer to the money murders David with a dart. Gemma is immediately cleared from suspicion, so she is able to gather information for Ryan, who has to leave the mansion and put on his police hat to bring the killer to justice. Will Gemma uncover the guests’ secrets and solve the case, or will this be one time when the killer gets away with the crime?
Fans of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series will appreciate that the latest book is as fun and fresh as its predecessors, with the right Holmesian touches tying it to Delany’s series. It’s enjoyable catching up with Gemma, Jayne, and Ryan. They’re familiar, but they’re still interesting and developing.

But all cozy mystery fans rejoice, because those new to the series will enjoy the book as well. It is an entertaining standalone book that provides a complete story that gives new readers everything they need to enjoy it. As someone who joined the series in the middle, I must warn you that you will want to read those earlier books. The setting, characterization, and characters are so enjoyable that it would be difficult to stop reading the series after just one book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing a review copy of the book. ( )

A Three Book Problem by Vicki Delany is the latest installment in the "A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery" series. In this book, we see the main characters, Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson, facilitating and catering for a weekend gathering of Sherlock Holmes aficionados. During the course of this book, the author gives tribute to the great detective as the characters work on solving the murder of the weekend's host while remaining in the house with all suspects. True to form with her earlier books, this author tantalizes the reader with bits and pieces of clues leading to the identity of the killer but also employs many misdirects so as to not reveal the true identity until the climax of the novel.

Ms. Delany has a writing style that catches the interest of the reader to such an extent that I could not put this book down until the end and I am looking forward to the next installment in this 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.

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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. ( )