My sister reads me the letters to/from Holmes every week, and together we play detectives over the phone. It’s our special game which keeps us in touch on a regular basis.
Susan M.
Verified Customer
All Of Your Renewal Questions, Answered*
*Except “What is the solution to this month’s mystery?” That’s your job.
-+How long do renewals/extensions take to process?
If you renew at least two weeks prior to the original expiration of your membership, there should be no gap in service. Otherwise, your mysteries will resume with the start of the next mystery.
-+Will I Receive All-New Mysteries?
Yes. You’ll receive an all-new batch of mysteries. We change our letters every week.
-+What's The Difference Between a Bundle & a Membership?
The packages on this page are memberships. Memberships offer our best pricing and exclusive perks. They renew automatically, but you can cancel or change plans at any time. Bundles are our one-time offering. They do not autorenew.
-+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.
-+Who Writes Your Mysteries?
Dear Holmes mysteries are written by a carefully selected group of modern Sherlock Holmes authors (our mystery makers) and edited by MX Publishing, the world's largest specialist Sherlock Holmes publisher, in collaboration with Letterjoy.
-+Is There a Discount For Subscribing?
Yes. The pricing above includes our subscribe-and-save discount.
-+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).
-+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 the form on our customer support page.
You can also reach out via email or, fittingly, by letter. Our mailing address is PO Box 70587, Washington, D.C. 20024.
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
