Publisher's Weekly Review
In bestseller Shelton's entertaining eighth Scottish Bookshop mystery (after 2022's The Burning Pages), wealthy businessman Edwin MacAlister, who owns the Cracked Spine bookstore, selects four "winners" every year from people he's corresponded with on literary matters. The prize is a coveted all-expenses-paid weekend-long literary tour of Edinburgh led by Edwin. When Edwin and his assistant, Hamlet, are unexpectedly--and mysteriously--unavailable to lead the tour, Edwin's American expat employee, Delaney Nichols, is tapped to lead the group. The four winners, disappointed by the change, and their newly appointed guide, Delaney, begin the tour. Within 24 hours, the owner of the inn where they're staying is dead from a fall, and one of the four has vanished. Delaney gamely carries on as she leads the group to places with literary ties, including the Writers Museum and Deacon Brodie's Tavern, and the danger mounts. With the help of her husband, Tom, Delaney discovers a trail of false identities, fraud, and a killer intent on destroying Edwin. This is armchair tourism at its best, with a dash of murder for spice. Bibliophiles and cozy fans alike will be enchanted. Agent: Jessica Faust, BookEnds Literary. (Apr.)
Kirkus Review
Murder, money, and mayhem in Edinburgh. Delaney Nichols, who works at The Cracked Spine bookshop, has become proficient in many areas of research since moving to Scotland from Kansas. After delivering her wealthy boss's collection of eyeglasses and monocles to be appraised and being gifted another monocle, coincidentally engraved with the name of her husband, Tom, by the appraiser, she returns to the shop and the disturbing news that her boss, Edwin MacAlister, has been called away and that in his place, she must run his legendary literature tour for a small group of specially chosen people. This year's party includes Irishwoman Meera Murphy; septuagenarian Englishwoman Kevin Moore; Gunter, a German document specialist; and Luka King, an Australian who claims not to read. While they're staying at an inn across the square, Edwin's credit card is refused, the first hint of trouble. Next Delaney sees a man in black running from the inn; Carmel, one of the employees, staggers out after being attacked; and Geoff, the manager, falls or jumps or is pushed off the roof. The tour goes on but without Meera, who unaccountably vanishes, and Delaney eventually learns that Edwin's identity has been stolen along with much of his fortune. No stranger to murder, she has an excellent relationship with Inspector Winters, whom she feeds all the information she picks up from the group and her own sleuthing. As it becomes more and more likely that the murder has something to do with identity theft, Delaney finds herself targeted by a killer. A delightful paean to the ancient Scottish capital wrapped around a serviceable mystery. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Kansan Delaney Nichols is living and working in Edinburgh at a bookshop called the Cracked Spine, where she is tasked with cataloging the eclectic collections of owner Edwin MacAlister. With Edwin being unexpectedly called out of town, Delaney learns that she must lead an exclusive tour of the city for Edwin's four invited guests. Concerned about her ability to lead the tour and puzzled by Edwin's secretiveness, Delaney forges ahead, but soon one of the participants, who is not what she seems, disappears; an innkeeper falls to his death from the roof of the inn; and two women are attacked. Delaney, with the help of her husband, Tom, a pub owner, investigates the crimes while also trying to determine why Edwin was so suddenly called away. She shares the information she uncovers with the local police detective, but her curiosity ultimately leads her into grave danger. All is expeditiously resolved in this satisfying cozy framed by interesting details concerning Edinburgh and the history and lore of books and collectibles.
