A Three-Pipe Problem

Not to be confused with Three utilities problem.

A Three-Pipe Problem is a 1975 mystery detective novel by the British writer Julian Symons.^[1][2] A pastiche of the original Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, it takes place in the present day. The title refers to a line spoken in The Red-Headed League, referring to a particularly tricky problem that will take Holmes the time it takes to smoke three pipes to solve. It was followed by a sequel The Kentish Manor Murders.

A Three-Pipe Problem

First edition
Author	Julian Symons
Language	English
Genre	Detective
Publisher	Collins Crime Club
Publication date	1975
Publication place	United Kingdom
Media type	Print
Pages	223
Followed by	The Kentish Manor Murders

Synopsis

Overbearing and reactionary actor Sheridan Haynes has a fascination with Sherlock Holmes, and is cast to play him in a new television series. Overidentifying with the role he sets out to investigate three murders that Scotland Yard have failed to solve.