Paige Shelton’s Scottish Bookshelf Mystery Series is the next of the most popular and recommended Cozy Mystery series that I will be highlighting. As I mentioned last month, I have read The Cracked Spine as part of my effort to cover some of the most popular Cozy Mystery series.
Delaney Nichols, 29 years old, had just been laid off from her job working in a Wichita, Kansas museum when she spotted a quirky ad:
Wanted: A bold adventurer who would love to travel the world from a comfortable and safe spot behind a desk that has seen the likes of kings and queens, paupers and princes. A humble book and rare manuscript shop seeks a keenly intelligent investigator to assist us in our search for things thought lost, and in our quest to return lost items to their rightful owners. This multitasked position will take you places you can’t even imagine. Apply only if you’re ready for everything to change. Please note: the position is located in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Before she knew it, Delaney had the job. She had interviewed for an hour and a half over the phone with Edwin MacAlister, the owner of The Cracked Spine, a small bookshop in Edinburgh, Scotland, specializing in rare books (and other rare things), and was immediately offered the job.
Delaney, who was seeking an adventure and a job that she could throw herself into, has a striking appearance:
I’d been afflicted with the brightest tones: the fieriest red hair, the palest skin dotted with orange freckles, and light green eyes. I’d long ago become used to people’s reactions when they first saw me back home in the small town close to my family’s farm. There was usually a double take, sometimes a small gasp, and then a big forced smile to cover their shock at all my … glow. However in Wichita and Scotland, it seemed, no one had so much as given me a second glance.
When she gets off the plane in Edinburgh, she meets Elias McKenna, a cab owner and small-time landlord, who, along with his wife Aggie, quickly become Delaney’s new friends.
In the bookshop, Delaney meets the other employees, Rosie (“old, probably closer to seventy than sixty”) and Hamlet, a young man who works in the bookstore part time while attending school. When she meets him, Hamlet is dressed like, well, “Hamlet”, since he is also engaged in acting in local theater.
Edwin, the shop owner, is very wealthy, and he has a many wealthy friends who become suspects in the murder investigation that inevitably ensues.
Delaney becomes engrossed, you might say obsessed, with solving the murder that happens soon after her arrival in Edinburgh. Through dogged persistence, she eventually discovers the killer.
Delaney meets a romantic interest, Tom Fletcher, the local pub owner, very soon after arrival. Tom of course is wearing a Kilt when they meet. Their mutual attraction is instant:
I didn’t realize we were still holding hands. He smiled—almost sheepishly—and pulled his hand away. I had a sense that something pushed me from behind and wanted me to step closer to him. I resisted but it wasn’t easy.
“I’m glad you’re real,” I said before I could stop the words from propelling out of my mouth.
He cocked his head and blinked and then smiled.
Silly American.
“I’m glad you’re real too, Delaney. Please come by the pub anytime. If you haven’t tried Scottish whisky, you must. At least a sip. On me.”
And, there is a touch of paranormal in the book. Delaney hears voices from books. She has done so since she was a child. These voices seem not to be the normal recollections of things she has read, but actual voices that speak to her. In this book, at least, the voices do not play much of a part. But, I guess they become more important as the series progresses.
One thing I like about the book is that there is not much time wasted trying to explain Delaney’s obsession with trying to solve the murder. She just seems to be the super curious type of person who becomes doggedly obsessed when she is presented a puzzle to solve.
I have to say, this Cozy has a number of elements that I ordinarily don’t find super attractive:
- I am ordinarily not a great fan of paranormal elements (there are exceptions, of course — see my discussion of Aunt Dimity’s Death for one notable exception!)
- The way Delaney discovers the killer is, shall I say, a little short of being due to logical deductions following from the clues in the book.
- Delaney’s new life, including an instant set of friends, love interest, great job, etc., seems a bit much — quite a bit closer to fantasy than I normally go for.
Nevertheless, I really loved this book! I think I can forgive Paige Shelton for these elements that I don’t ordinarily enjoy, because I love the characters, I love the setting, and the writing is so good that the fantasy and paranormal aspects of the story are carried off so well. I was swept up in the fantasy so quickly that, for me, the pages just flew by. I’m a new Paige Shelton fan.
What about you? Did you enjoy The Cracked Spine? What did you like about it?
Click here to read more posts about the most popular and recommended Cozy Mystery series.
Also, before I forget: People may post spoilers in their comments, so if this is a series you think you might enjoy starting, don’t read the comments!
Cheryl M. Palmour says
I just finished the latest in The Cracked Spine series. I have enjoyed reading each one of the books. The characters are fun and interesting. I have also learned more about Scotland and some of the landmarks in and around Edinburgh. I would definitely recommend this series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cheryl, I really enjoyed the first book in the series. This is one I will be continuing — if I ever get the time! It is fun to read about other countries, and the characters are interesting.
Janice G says
I’ve read all the books in this series and have enjoyed them all. I don’t think that the paranormal aspects play much of a part in the books but just represent an interesting side note of Delaney’s personality. I especially like reading about the history and myths of Scotland.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Janice G, I am glad the paranormal does not come to play a huge part later in the series. I agree that it provides an interesting insight into Delaney’s character.
Karen S says
Loved the characters and the location of the cozy. I enjoyed Delaney’s sense of adventure and smart remarks. I cannot wait for her next volume.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Karen S, I also enjoyed the location and the characters. Delaney sure seems to be full of irrepressible curiosity!
Susy S says
I had read her Country Cooking School mysteries and she was doing a signing with one of my favorite authors, so I read The Cracked Spine. I also really enjoyed it, but as you said, she did not use the level of reasoning and logic I usually expect.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susy S, for some reason, I was fine with it in this book. I also liked that the author did not try to justify overly much Delaney’s need to try to solve the murder.
Susy S says
Agreed. Sometimes it is just what a person has to do and trying to explain takes away from the story.
I have the latest book in the series (bought at the signing), but I have to get the ones in the middle, so it is not even near the top of my TBR list.
Nancy says
Having purchased the book, I was disappointed. Early on, the author gives such a detailed description of the bookshop interior that I just gave up.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nancy, many times I, too, have a problem with overly-detailed descriptions. I don’t think the “over-descriptions” (if I can call it that) continued throughout the book, or else I think I would have noticed it. I understand what you are saying, though.
Susy S says
My perception of that description was more about how overwhelming and odd it was. I skimmed through much of that to get on with the rest of the story.
Bek says
I haven’t yet read “The Loch Ness Papers,” but I have read the others. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one. I just flat LIKE Delaney, although I’m wildly jealous of her job and how she got it! I’d have done that in a heartbeat 35 years ago!
BTW…does the comment box support HTML? Italics, boldface, etc?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bek, I agree that the whole situation she gets into does seem too good to be true — but I think that is one of the book’s charms. Sometimes a little fantasy is fun.
About the HTML — I will have to ask my son (or husband). EDIT: My son says he thinks it does.
Bek says
I’ll give it a try, and we’ll see! this should be italicized
Bek says
Yep. It does!
Patty says
I not only read The Cracked Spine, but finish the next 3 in the series. I really like this series and can’t wait the next. I loved the characters and love reading books centered in Scotland. Delaney is adventurous and just nosey enough to make the series delightful. Paranormal was just a side bar, not distracting in the least.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Patty, really glad you are enjoying the series. Some characters (such as Delaney) just have something about them — hard to put my finger on exactly what it is, but I just want to know what she does next.
Larry W. says
Danna: I have been reading your blog for a very long time and have really enjoyed it.
I recently read this book very interesting although a bit quirky.
I will be reading more of this series soon.
Please continue keeping us informed about the happenings in the world of Cozy Mysteries.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Larry W, thanks for the kind words. I like “quirky” books sometimes! Glad you are enjoying the book.
Robin says
I love this new character and storyline – have read all in the series so far and can’t wait till the next one comes out. But I wanted to respond to those who are a bit impatient with detailed descriptions. I have been a mystery reader for 59 years – and I have found that if you can get through the descriptions of places, events, etc – even if they seem a bit detailed (or boring) they form the necessary background to the story. Detailed descriptions are in the grand style of British writing from the mid-last century. Elizabeth Goudges villages and homes in her stories become almost as much of a character in the story as her people do. Having a detailed explanation of the scenery around the character helps me to visualize the character better. I even found that with stories like this, google maps helps! I go on and bring up the street they are on, the royal mile, the hike up to the castle. It helps put me in the story – so I now embrace these detailed descriptions! This series is now one of my new favorites.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Robin, thanks for the explanation of detailed descriptions. I am glad you enjoyed the book and will continue with the series. Me too!