Book Review: A Three Book Problem by Vicki Delany

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.