The Poison Pen: A Scottish Bookshop Mystery

by Paige Shelton

Overview

The Poison Pen, the ninth installment in the Scottish Bookshop series by Paige Shelton, set in a specialty bookstore in Edinburgh called The Cracked Spine.

Edinburgh is mourning recent the death of Queen Elizabeth II when Bookseller Delaney Nichols's boss comes to her with a most unusual assignment. An old friend of his, living in an estate in the village of Roslin, has found what could be a priceless relic on her property, and Delaney is tasked with investigating. Could Jolie possibly have an item of breathtaking Scottish historical significance in her possession? But when Delaney arrives at Jolie's estate, she is greeted by a legal team with a vested interest in the property. Jolie manages to remove the interlopers, but as they're examining the priceless item, they hear a scream, and meet a much less welcome discovery: a body.

As Delaney digs deeper, she discovers Jolie's own fascinating history. Jolie's mother had long claimed that her daughter was the rightful heir to the throne, not Elizabeth II, because of an affair she claimed to have with King Edward VIII. The only evidence, however, is in the form of a purported journal that one of Edward’s secretaries kept. The puzzles become more confusing when a connection is uncovered between this far-fetched story and the murdered man. Delaney will have to read between the lines to put together the pieces...or become history herself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250890627
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	12/24/2024
Series:	Scottish Bookshop Mystery Series , #9
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	78,024
Product dimensions:	4.12(w) x 6.75(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

PAIGE SHELTON is the author of the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series and the Alaska Wild Series, which begins with Thin Ice. Her other series include the Farmers’ Market, Cooking School, and Dangerous Type mystery series. She lives in Arizona.

Editorial Reviews

"Featuring a close group of well-drawn friends, the latest in the cozy Scottish Bookshop series will appeal to fans... [a] satisfying story." —Booklist

Praise for the Scottish Bookshop Mystery Series:

"Entertaining....This is armchair tourism at its best, with a dash of murder for spice. Bibliophiles and cozy fans alike will be enchanted." —Publishers Weekly on Fateful Words

"A satisfying cozy framed by interesting details concerning Edinburgh and the history and lore of books and collectibles." —Booklist on Fateful Words

"Suspenseful....Shelton easily keeps us turning pages." —New York Journal of Books on The Burning Pages

"Danger, intrigue, and adventure combine in this quirky-fun whodunit!" —Woman's World (best new books) on The Burning Pages

"Historical Burns references add spice to a complex series of intertwined mysteries." —Kirkus Reviews on The Burning Pages

"Engrossing....Cozy fans will be enchanted." —Publishers Weekly on The Burning Pages

"Boasts numerous plot twists, appealing characters, and a lovingly described setting." —Booklist on The Burning Pages

"Captivating...Ghostly pubs and blustery winter scenes help create a suitably sinister atmosphere, while distinctive characters and judicious use of Scottish dialect add to the story's appeal." —Publishers Weekly on Deadly Editions

"Filled with literary references that will tickle bibliophiles." —Kirkus Reviews on Deadly Editions

"Vivid descriptions of Edinburgh enhance the well-crafted plot. Cozy fans will look forward to the further adventures of smart and intuitive Delaney." —Publishers Weekly on The Stolen Letter

"Shelton stocks her tale with appealing characters and intriguing Nessie lore. Cozy fans will be rewarded."

—Publishers Weekly on The Loch Ness Papers

"Shelton’s lovely depictions of Edinburgh, its denizens, and its bookshops will enchant lovers of cozies with a Scottish setting." —Publishers Weekly on Lost Books and Old Bones

"The history Delaney uncovers...is fascinating and nicely woven into the tale." —Booklist on The Stolen Letter

From the Publisher

2024-02-03
An ancient artifact may be the motive for murder.

Several weeks after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Delaney Nichols is still feeling sad, but an unexpectedly diverting adventure begins when her boss, Edwin MacAlister—owner of the Cracked Spine bookstore in Edinburgh—asks her to research a rare and valuable object that an old friend recently discovered on her property. When Delaney’s friend Elias drives her to the estate of Jolie Lannister, a large gothic mansion reminiscent of horror films, she’s shocked by the clutter inside. Jolie’s lawyer, Bowie Berry, is there with an auctioneer she hired on her own initiative to inventory the house and possibly sell some of the contents. The object in question, which Jolie has kept hidden in a garden shed, seems to be a medieval Crusader sword covered in grime and rust. Near it they find the body of auction house assistant Alban Dunning, killed with a garden rake. Delaney texts Inspector Winters, the friend she’s worked with on several murder cases, and soon her expertise and desire to help Jolie have her deeply involved. The sword is eventually taken to the Scottish government’s Treasure Trove Unit, whose new director at first accuses Edwin of stealing the sword but eventually allows Delaney to clean and examine it. On top of all this, there’s the possibility that Jolie is the biological daughter of the Duke of Windsor, the abdicated king, and may have a claim to the throne. So many questions without answers have Delaney and her friends working full-out to find the truth.

Historical information and an interesting cast of characters make up for the easily solved mystery.

Kirkus Reviews