What Kind Of Person Is Dear Holmes Right For?

Anyone who loves mysteries is a good candidate for Dear Holmes. Our detectives (readers) hail from all fifty states and more than two dozen countries on six continents. Programmers, teachers, comedians, doctors, lawyers, grandparents, and students all try their hands at solving our cases each month.

We are most popular as a gift for: Puzzle enthusiasts, voracious readers and book lovers, Sherlock fans, and anyone who loves getting a letter in the mail.

Can I Get Dear Holmes For Myself?

Yes. Many of our detectives order Dear Holmes for themselves, or together with a friend or family member. Solving together is a great way to stay connected with friends and family.

If you love solving crimes and immersing yourself in Victorian-style mysteries, Dear Holmes is for you.

What Will I Receive As A Dear Holmes Member?

As a Dear Holmes member, the #1 thing you’ll receive is mail. Before your first mystery, you’ll receive a welcome letter in the mail from Sherlock Holmes. Then, for each mystery, you’ll receive four clue letters from your latest Victorian client, followed by a letter from Holmes walking you through his solution to the case.

Each of your letters will arrive to your mailbox on fine stationery, and all of our letters are mailed with real stamps (No metered postage, we promise).

With your membership, you’ll also be eligible to compete for the coveted title of Featured Detective, which is awarded to one detective after each mystery (and the accompanying prize). You’ll also have access to any bonus content for the mystery (Coming soon: A narrated audio version of your letters).

Sound like the experience for you? You can order right here.

How Challenging Are Dear Holmes Mysteries?

Each of our mysteries requires a different set of skills to solve, and they vary in difficulty, but all should be solveable by most detectives (readers) once all the evidence has arrived and been thoroughly analyzed.

If you’re a particularly talented detective, you may sometimes be able to arrive at the solution after your second or third clue letter.

Our mysteries are self-contained. Outside research is not generally required to solve our mysteries, though it is enriching if you have the time for it (many of our cases are grounded in some historical group or event).

Do Your Monthly Mysteries Repeat?

No, they do not. As a Dear Holmes member, you’ll face a new, never-before-seen mystery each and every month. If your membership expires and you renew, you’ll receive an all-new set of mysteries to solve.

When Should I Start My Mysteries?

A new mystery starts each and every month. If you’d like to start as soon as possible, select next month at checkout. If you’d like to start after a milestone (Christmas, Hanukkah, a birthday, etc.), select the month that follows it (January for Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s).

Who Writes These Mysteries?

Dear Holmes mysteries are written by a carefully selected group of modern Sherlock Holmes writers (our mystery makers) and edited by MX Publishing, the world's largest specialist Sherlock Holmes publisher, in collaboration with Letterjoy.

Where Can I See Pricing?

For our latest pricing, please refer to our pricing page. For renewal pricing, please see our renewal page.

Note: If you’re a veteran, an educator, or a first responder and you’re planning to purchase Dear Holmes, please reach out to us so that we can set you up with a discount code; you’ve earned it.

How do I Send In My Solution To This Month’s Mystery?

We accept solutions by mail, telegram, and via our online form. For more information on solving our mysteries and entering the Featured Detective competition, visit Dearholmes.com/solve.

I Ordered A Gift. Will You Notify My Recipient?

No. We don’t want to spoil your surprise, so the first communication your recipient will get from us will be their welcome letter, which will arrive after the start date you selected at checkout. Their first clue letter will arrive simultaneously or shortly after. We do recommend notifying your recipient in advance of their start date so that they know to keep an eye out for any mysterious mail.

Do You Have A Welcome Letter I Can Present To My Recipient?

We have a brief welcome/explanation letter from Mr. Holmes which you can download and customize here. Some customers mail this to their recipient, hand-deliver it, put it under a tree, or email it. Others get creative, hiding it (the first mystery) or sending it by telegram. Regardless, it’s available for your use.

When Are Solutions To Each Mystery Made Available?

Solutions are revealed in a letter from Sherlock Holmes to members at the end of each mystery. Shortly after every member’s solution letter has been mailed, we post a transcript of the letter to our blog. Shortly after that, we name our monthly Featured Detective.

Can I Get My Letters Emailed?

We believe in the power of paper. Our letters are designed to be read on premium paper stocks, folded crisply into a cream-colored envelope and mailed to your door with a real stamp.

Our goal is to help you live, for a few minutes each week, like a victorian-era detective, and if you read our letters on an iPhone, the experience just wouldn’t feel right. For that reason, we don’t currently offer our letters in digital form.

Do You Mail Internationally?

Yes, with two caveats:

1. International postage is more expensive, so we apply a modest postal surcharge to international orders.

2. International mail can take between 7 and 21 days to arrive (This can vary considerably based on the reliability of your national postal carrier).

Can I Try My Hand At Some Of Your Older Mysteries?

Looking for practice cases? A book of practice cases is in the works and will be available in the near future.

I Have Another Question. How Do I Get In Touch??

Another question? You’re thinking like a detective already! The fastest way to get in touch with our support team is via our the form on our customer support page. You can also reach out via email or, fittingly, by letter. Our mailing address is 1101 14th Street Northwest, Suite 950, Washington, D.C. 20005.