A Three Book Problem

A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery, Book 7

By: Vicki Delany

Narrated by: Kim Hicks

It's a crisp early October weekend, and business is slowing down as fall descends at 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. 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, presenting Gemma Doyle with a three-book problem….

©2022 Vicki Delany (P)2022 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Gemma Does It Again!

This reminds me of when Gemma was in England at a Sherlock Holmes convention there! Blackmailing people, scheming, and murder to get a family fortune for revenge on a host! However, Gemma still solves the mystery and finds out who the blackmailers are!

Good book

I liked the book and the narration was good except for the parts of Ryan and Estrada. Their voices were grating and unfriendly. Maybe appropriate for Estrada but not Ryan the fiancé.

Barely three stars

Story is the saving grace of the book. Gemma continues to be an annoying MC. In fact she keeps getting more annoying. The continued statements she is not investigating or leaving this to the police is ridiculous. She loves sticking her nose in where it shouldn’t be. And her attitude, toward all lesser mortals, is condescending as supercilious.

One thing I don’t think I have noticed before. The description of everyone’s clothing, hair, jewelry, homes etc is not necessary at all. Is the author trying to point out her MC is just soooooo clever and intuitive and of course observant. It gets tiresome after the first dozen or so instances.

The narration: well poor Donald still sounds as if he is on his last legs and about to be expire. Louise Estrada’s heavily nasal accent is nothing most people would have ever encountered. Possibly because it doesn’t exist.

Will continue with series. All these problems have been around since book one but I have always loved Sherlock Holmes and for this reason I have continued since the beginning.