New York Times bestselling author Paige Shelton returns with the next installment of The Scottish Bookshop Mystery series, The Stolen Letter Delaney Nichols is confident she’s doing what she loves–case in point, just one day after returning from her fabulous European honeymoon, she’s eager to get back to the Cracked Spine, the bookstore where she works. But as she disembarks her bus and hurries … she disembarks her bus and hurries toward the shop she and another woman collide, sending a stack of books the woman is carrying to the ground.
Delaney’s hapless victim’s name is Mary, and the two women can’t help but notice that they bear an uncanny resemblance to one another. According to Mary, they both also look like the long-beheaded Mary Queen of Scots. Even stranger, Mary believes she is the reincarnation of the Scottish queen. But peculiar as Delaney’s doppelganger is, she doesn’t have time to dwell on it: on her arrival to the bookshop, she learns the Edinburgh city council wants to close the Cracked Spine, citing code violations, and she’s determined to stop them.
But when Mary’s husband dies in a car explosion–and Delaney learns he was the very member of city council who proposed that the city take a closer look at the bookshop’s construction–she starts to wonder if her meeting with Mary wasn’t an accident. Edinburgh has become as filled with intrigue and deception as any European court, and Delaney is determined to get to the bottom of this royal mystery.
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The Stolen Letter is the 5th book in the Scottish Book Shop Mystery series. Once again I was transported to Edinburgh, Scotland and the Cracked Spine book shop. The story is full of quirky characters, a beautiful setting, and an interesting plot. I liked how this time we were exploring the idea of past lives, as with Delaney I’m not a non believer.
There are several possible murderers, and kept me guessing for quite a while. I was drawn into this story right away and did not want to put it down, even if my eyes were drooping and my kindle smacking me.
Overall, I found it to be a very entertaining read that made me long to visit Scotland and read more on Mary Queen of Scots. I highly recommend this to my fellow mystery lovers.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
The Stolen Letter by Paige Shelton has Delaney Nichols heading back to work after her honeymoon with her new husband, Tom. As she heads towards The Cracked Spine, Delaney runs into a woman carrying a large number of books. After helping retrieve the volumes, Delaney introduces herself to Mary who looks remarkably like her. Delaney is to learn from Mary Stewart that they both look like Mary, Queen of Scots, and Mary states that she was the Queen of Scots in a past life. Mary then invites Delaney, Tom and Rosie to dinner that evening. Rosie has surprising news to share with Delaney once they are alone. It seems The Cracked Spine has not passed an inspection and the Edinburgh city council will be voting in a week to shut down their beloved bookstore. The next morning, they hear a BOOM and learn that Henry Stewart, Mary’s husband and a member of the city council, died in a car explosion. Delaney is astonished when she discovers that Henry was the one pushing for the vote to close The Cracked Spine. Something does not add up and Delaney intends to get answers so she can save the bookshop. The Stolen Letter is the fifth novel in A Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. It can be read alone for those new to this series. I was eager to read The Stolen Letter when I saw it involved Mary, Queen of Scots. She is one of my favorite historical figures along with Queen Elizabeth I. Delaney Nichols enjoyed her honeymoon with her new hubby, Tom Shannon, but she is eager to return to The Cracked Spine. Delaney loves her job and the people who work there. When Delaney hears that her beloved bookstore is in jeopardy, she takes action. Delaney is fierce when it comes to The Cracked Spine. I felt Edwin should play a bigger role (it is his shop) and I was happy to see that Edwin stepped up when it counted. Rosie, a shop employee, is a delight. I liked how she was involved in the investigation. I enjoyed the author’s word imagery which brings the book to life. I could envision Edinburgh with its charming shops, cobbled streets and cozy pubs. The mystery is complex with its suspicious suspects, misdirection and various clues. I just love a twisty whodunit. I bet you will be surprised when the solution is revealed. I found The Stolen Letter to be well-written with genuine, friendly characters. I could tell the author did her research on Mary, Queen of Scots. There were some details that were new to me. It was also interesting to learn about Burgess Tickets and the Freedom Casket they came in. The ending was wonderful. It was unique and surprising. The Stolen Letter is a great addition to A Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. The Stolen Letter is an entertaining cozy mystery with a perplexing puzzle, an insidious inspection, a remarkable reincarnation, a crafty councilor, lost links, and a determined Delaney.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Delaney Nichols has returned from her honeymoon and can’t wait to get back to work at The Cracked Spine. But she is waylaid and she collides with a woman carrying a large stack of books. As she helps the woman. Mary, pick up the books she realizes the woman could be her doppelganger. Their resemblance is remarkable and the woman was also on her way to The Cracked Spine. Mary tells Delaney that they both resemble Mary Queen of Scots and that she firmly believes she is a reincarnation of the Scottish queen. Delaney is totally confused and taken aback by this but she is in for another even bigger shock when she arrives at her beloved bookshop. It seems the city council of Edinburgh is closing down the shop for unknown code violations. No one can even remember an inspector coming into the shop or receiving notification of any violations. Delaney jumps right into action trying to save the store.
She does accept a dinner invitation from Mary where she meets her husband, Henry. The next day he dies in a car explosion and Delaney finds out he was the member of the council behind the pressure to close The Cracked Spine. This leads her to believe her meeting with Mary was not coincidental at all. She is going to do everything to save the bookshop and be sure the right person is booked for murder too!
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I do love the way Paige Shelton tells a story. They are so easy to escape right into.
This time we see Delaney get fierce when her dream job is in jeopardy, in fact, all of the characters really step up. Owner of the shop, Edwin MacAlister, is a little overwhelmed at first but does rally when Delaney makes it clear his help is truly needed and he pulls in a big gun. It was truly cool the way the story played out.
This author’s descriptive writing is just wonderful. Vivid images overtake my mind and take me right to Scotland allowing me to follow right in Delaney’s footsteps. From her amateur sleuthing to settling into to married life and getting ready to move into their new home. She is always able to give her stories a unique twist making it stand out in this genre.
The Stolen Letter is a great addition to this series. The characters are engaging and genuine. The mystery is twisty and entertaining. It checks all my cozy boxes to make it a Perfect Escape!
Series: Scottish Bookshop Mystery #5
Publication Date: 4/7/20
Number of Pages: 304
I thoroughly enjoyed this complex, intricately woven, fun story. I love that there is just the tiniest tad of the paranormal in the series – not enough you’d hardly notice, but it adds a fun bit to the story. I’ve loved Delaney from the beginning when she was in the US and found the intriguing advertisement for a position at a lovely Scottish bookshop – and the series was off and running. This can certainly be read as a standalone book, but to really understand Delaney and her relationship to all of the folks in Scotland you really will want to read from the beginning.
Delaney is so very, very excited. She and Tom have just returned from their glorious two-week honeymoon on the continent and she’s headed back to the very best job at the very best place in the whole world. She adores the bookshop, The Cracked Spine, at which she works, and her co-workers are more family than not. As she’s on her way and happily anticipating seeing everyone, she bumps into an older lady – literally. But – WHOA – that lady looks exactly like an older version of Delaney – they could be mother and daughter.
Delaney, Tom, and Rosie are invited to the woman’s home for dinner – and what a dinner it is. The lady, Mary Stewart, believes that she was Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, in another life – and her home is a replica of a castle. Delaney senses some tension among Mary’s family members, but nothing really overt. When Mary’s husband, Henry, dies in an explosion the next day – well – the mystery gets started in full.
There are unhappy things going on at the bookshop as well. Can the two be related? Why would they be? Stranger things have happened though. Edwin is enigmatic as always, Tom is handsome and supportive, Rosie is sweet, Hamlet is smart, and Inspector Winters is respectful. Can this crew solve both mysteries? How will Tom’s ex-girlfriend fit into the picture? Can she and Delaney become friends? Oh – you’ll have to read the story to find all the answers.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Delaney is back from her honeymoon and excited to get back to work doing what she loves working at The Cracked Spine, a bookstore unlike others. While on her way in she runs into a woman who is the spitting image of herself, just older. She soon learns the woman’s name is Mary and she just happens to be heading to the bookstore to sell off some books. The two get to chatting and Delaney soon learns that not only do the two resemble Mary Queen of Scots, but Mary actually thinks she was her in a past life. After Mary leaves Delaney learns that the bookstore might be closing so she doesn’t have time to think anymore of her chance meeting. She knows that she has to do ever in her power to stop this from happening. After learning of the death of Mary’s husband Delaney finds out that not only was the man on the council that is trying to close the bookstore but he was behind them wanting to take a closer look at the store itself. She then asks herself was meeting Mary a true accident or was there a more nefarious reason for the chance encounter. Delaney knows that she must find the answers and quick, not only to keep the bookstore open but from having her world turned upside down! this was a.wonderful read filled with a lovely cast of characters, a beautiful setting, and a mystery that you can’t help but dive into.
Love the setting, the characters, the story, everything. Looking forward to reading the next one.
Read 3.16.2021
WOW WOW WOW!!!!!
Delaney Nichols loves working at the bookshop, The Cracked Spine, and living in Scotland. As she’s hurrying to work after returning from her honeymoon, she bumps into a lady named Mary. They’re both surprised by how much they look alike then Mary surprises Delaney even more by claiming to be the reincarnation of Mary Queen of Scots. But Delaney’s soon preoccupied by the possibility of the bookshop closing and discovering that Mary’s husband is part of the council pushing for the store’s closing. When Mary’s husband is killed after seemingly changing his mind, Delaney believes that everything is connected.
I have really enjoyed this series and this book is no exception. The book’s well-written with wonderful characters and it’ll pull you in from the beginning. The story will keep you guessing as you go along with Delaney as she looks for anything that will allow The Cracked Spine to remain open. I’m really looking forward to the next book. I highly recommend both book and series which I suggest you read in order for the most enjoyment and benefit.
I can’t say enough wonderful thing about Paige’s Scottish Bookshop Mysteries, and The Stolen Letter did not disappoint. I mean, come on! The setting is Scotland in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle…in an old bookstore with a mysterious secret room filled with interesting artifacts! What’s not to love?
The characters are a delight, especially the MP, Delaney Nichols, a young woman who relocated from the States to work for an eccentric book store owner that belongs to a secret group of collectors. That she can hear the words from the pages of books whispering hints and clues to help her solve mysteries? Yeah…it is everything a good mystery story should be! I was hooked from book one before I finished the first page!
This latest installment had me losing sleep and I gave myself a break from my schedule to curl up for a weekend to read it all the way in one sitting. It was worth losing sleep over. I can’t wait for the next in the series.
I enjoyed the story and how it incorporated real life details of both the city and Mary Queen of Scots. The author does a good job incorporating real Scottish elements in this series. The mystery had me guessing.
I did find the story a little slow going and there’s quite a preposterous element towards the end. Some readers may find some of the characters a bit unbelievable, but I rolled with it until the end.
I got this book from my public library.
In the fifth book in this wonderful series, Delaney Nichols, a transplanted Mid Westerner, has returned from her honeymoon and is looking forward to being back in the Cracked Spine bookshop. Her life is just right – she’s married to a great guy, Tom Shannon and she loves her job and has some great friends. What could mess that up? Well, when she bumps into a woman named Mary on the street, her life takes a strange detour. Would anyone believe that, first of all, the woman is a dead ringer for Delaney as well as Mary, Queen of Scots and she claims to be the incarnation of the queen. If that isn’t enough to wrap your head around, things heat up for the bookshop. The local city council are on a mission to shut the store down siting code violations. No way will Delaney and the other employees and friends of the shop let that happen.
Soon a death becomes part of the situation – it turns out that the aforementioned Mary is married to the member of the city council who started the move to shut down the shop. Now he’s dead in a car explosion and the puzzle becomes a lot more complicated. Can Delaney, Rosie, Edwin, Tom and the friends of the Cracked Spine untangle the puzzle, solve the crime and save the bookshop? This was one of those special mysteries that kept me reading well past my bedtime and transported me to the lovely city of Edinburgh without needing to pack and find my passport.
My thanks to the publisher, Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
The Stolen Letter by Paige Shelton is the newest in her Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. Delaney and Tom have returned home from their honeymoon and Delaney is on her way to the Cracked Spine, the bookshop where she works. She can’t wait and so, may not be paying her total attention when she runs into a woman, literally, who has an arm full of books and is looking for the Cracked Spine. They enter together and two startling things happen: the woman is an older version of Delaney and she believes her self to have been Mary Stuart, the Queen of Scots, in a previous life. She is a lovely woman and quickly becomes friends with everyone at the shop and invites them all to dinner. Delaney accepts for she and Tom. Not everything is wonderful at the shop, however. The Cracked Spine is being forced to close, based on an inspector’s report that says the building is unsafe. No one remembers the inspection and they have not been able to get a copy of the report, but Edwin is working on it. Things get dicey when, the next day, their host from the night before is blown up by a car bomb. Of course, Delaney has two projects: the murder and the shop closure.
The people who work at the shop and their associates are all interesting characters. Shelton continues to provide new and intriguing information with each new book. They feel like family and the Cracked Spine feels like home. Marcy, Queen of Scots is an interesting and controversial character and Shelton brings all of that controversy into this story. It feels like being there. People are odd and Shelton always finds a way to portray even the oddest as lovable. This is an interesting read: plenty of history, plenty of mystery, and plenty of fun. I recommend it highly.
I received a free ARC of The Stolen Letter from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thestolenletter
I love how this series goes beyond fiction and causes me to delve into history and legends.
The Stolen Letter is the fifth book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series.
Delaney and Tom have returned from their honeymoon and she is excited about being back at her dream job at The Cracked Spine Bookshop. As Delaney is about to enter the bookshop she bumps into a lady also heading for the store. Once they catch themselves, they are both surprised at how much they look like each other. Once inside, the lady introduces herself as Mary. Mary goes on to say that she feels she is the reincarnation of Mary Queen of the Scots and reportedly has a letter that will confirm this. She soon invites Delaney, Tom, and co-worker at Cracked Spine, Rosie, to dinner at her house. They were quite surprised when they arrived at Mary’s house, as it closely resembled the castle that Queen Mary lived in. After dinner, Mary’s husband and their son-in-law had a small argument and the party broke up before Mary was able to provide any more information on her past life. The next morning a car-bomb explodes in Mary’s husband’s car, killing him.
Also going on at the Cracked Spine, Delaney learns that the bookstore is about to be closed. There was, reportedly, a safety inspection of the building and violations were found and the Edinburgh council will be soon voting on its closing. Delaney and her co-workers believe that possibly the car explosion and the closing of the store may somehow be related. They set off to find who might be behind the possible demise of The Cracked Spine.
I love this series. The stories are well-written and plotted with enjoyable and well-developed characters. Once again the reader is afforded a look into Scottish rulers and history, and it is done in such a way that it provides an interesting look into Scotland’s past and is not overdone. There were enough twists and turns, that kept me guessing until the end.
I’m very much looking forward to the next book in this interesting and exciting series.
Delaney Nichols travelled from Kansas to Edinburgh, Scotland to work for wealthy, mysterious Edwin MacAlister at The Cracked Spine bookshop. She made fast friends with her landlords and fellow employees, and just married Pub owner, Tom Shannon, the love of her life.
The thrilling fifth installment of this outstanding cozy series has Delaney and her friends winding through the historical path of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a modern Mary look-a-like who believes she’s the dead Queen reincarnated. When Mary’s husband, Henry is allegedly murdered, the ‘royal’ mystery shifts into high gear and a captivating chase is on to figure it how the past could shape the present deadly happenings.
A second mystery winds between the lines; concerning the city council accusing Edwin that the shop building has code violations and the shop must close! Of course, the very idea causes mutiny between the employees and the city. It’s Edwin’s word against theirs unless he, Delaney, or Rosie can find the papers needed to prove Edwin’s right, and the accusations are false.
Author Paige Shelton’s writing is brilliant! She expertly lays the plot; the pacing is wonderful; I never felt lost or confused as to anything that was happening; and Ms. Shelton perfectly builds the tension through the final revealing scenes. I highly recommend this story!
I honestly reviewed a galley arc provided by the author. Thank you.
The Stolen Letter by Paige Shelton was another excellent entry into this series. Ms. Shelton’s writing is so descriptive that it always makes me feel as if I am visiting Delaney, Rosie, Edwin, Hamlet and Tom in Edinburgh.
The plot in this one is complex,quickly paced with enough twists and turns to keep me totally engrossed in the story. Ms. Shelton added some indepth historical information regarding Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, which is woven into the plot as well as a character’s belief in reincarnation. All of this plays a part in the mystery and with the secondary characters. I really do love this series and I’m ready to go back now to visit The Cracked Spine.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Minotaur Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
The Stolen Letter by Paige Shelton is the 5th installment of the truly wonderful Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. I have read, and own, every single book from this series thus far, and I truly feel that it just keeps getting better and better with each book.
Even though I have read the previous four books, I still feel that someone could jump into the series with this book alone and still enjoy the journey. (However, one should definitely not miss out on the series as a whole. It is too good to miss!)
What I like most about this series that sets it a part from others is the stunning location and the author’s ability to incorporate the scenes, life, and local in prose to the reader makes me feel like I have taken a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland myself. Also, I love The Cracked Spine bookshop. It is my dream to live there and own this shop.
I also love the depth and warmth of the cast of characters. I love their interactIons and their relationships. Delaney and Tom are perfect in every way!
I also loved the plot for the murder/mystery element. Incorporating the historical Mary Queen of Scots into the current day mystery created an excellent puzzle to decipher…it was so ingenious!
I have to give this book 5/5 stars as I love the location, the mystery element, the characters, and the charm that has been created for this series by Ms. Shelton. A true gem.