Dear Holmes Mysterious Mail vs Letters by Lanternlight

Side-by-side comparison of two snail mail subscription clubs.

Dear Holmes Mysterious Mail

Dear Holmes Mysterious Mail

Solve a Victorian mystery one letter at a time

Rating: 4.8/5 (189 reviews)
PriceFrom $14/mo — 3, 6, and 12-month plans available. Does not auto-renew.
FrequencyWeekly letters, monthly mysteries
ShipsWorldwide
CountryUS

A monthly mystery subscription where you receive in-character letters from Sherlock Holmes, Watson, and Victorian clients - and must piece together the solution yourself.

Dear Holmes is a narrative mystery subscription that unfolds entirely through the mail. Each month, subscribers receive letters from Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, and their latest Victorian client, along with physical clue packets and handcrafted evidence. Cases are written by modern Sherlock Holmes authors and edited by Dear Holmes mystery editors in partnership with MX Publishing, the world's largest specialist Holmes publisher. A companion podcast provides audiobook-quality narrations of each case. The experience is deeply immersive and rewards careful readers.

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Letters by Lanternlight

Letters by Lanternlight

Handwritten cozy mystery stories delivered to your mailbox

PriceFrom $59.99 — One-time purchase per story
FrequencyTwice monthly
ShipsUS only
CountryUS

Letters by Lanternlight delivers immersive, handwritten cozy mystery stories through the mail. Each story unfolds through letters from protagonist Lydia Bellweather, complete with tactile clues and keepsakes for a screen-free reading experience.

Letters by Lanternlight offers immersive, handwritten cozy mystery stories delivered through the mail. Each story unfolds through letters from protagonist Lydia Bellweather, who uncovers secrets in Huckleberry Hollow and other locations. The experience includes tactile clues and keepsakes, inviting readers to engage with the mystery in a screen-free format. The service aims to rekindle the joy of connection to storytelling and a community of fellow readers. Variants include 24-letter stories (e.g., Murder at Sugar and Spice Bakery, The Vanishing Compass) and 6-letter mini-mysteries (e.g., The Portrait of Deception, The Woman Who Didn't Exist, Mistletoe and Mayhem). All-in-one story boxes are also available for those who prefer to receive all letters at once.

mystery letters cozy handwritten immersive storytelling mail fiction screen-free

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