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Scottish Bookshop Mystery #3
Lost Books and Old Bones
A delightful new mystery featuring bookseller and amateur sleuth Delaney Nichols, set in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Delaney Nichols, originally of Kansas but settling happily into her new life as a bookseller in Edinburgh, works at The Cracked Spine in the heart of town. She’s recently befriended a few medical school students after they came into the shop to sell some antique medical tomes. But when one of the students� friends is found murdered outside in the alley, Delaney takes it upon herself to help bring the murderer to justice.
During her investigation, Delaney finds some old scalpels in the bookshop’s warehouse—she finds out that they belonged to a long-dead doctor, whose story might be connected to the present-day murder. It’s all Delaney can do to race to solve this crime before time runs out and she ends up in danger herself.
Delaney Nichols, originally of Kansas but settling happily into her new life as a bookseller in Edinburgh, works at The Cracked Spine in the heart of town. She’s recently befriended a few medical school students after they came into the shop to sell some antique medical tomes. But when one of the students� friends is found murdered outside in the alley, Delaney takes it upon herself to help bring the murderer to justice.
During her investigation, Delaney finds some old scalpels in the bookshop’s warehouse—she finds out that they belonged to a long-dead doctor, whose story might be connected to the present-day murder. It’s all Delaney can do to race to solve this crime before time runs out and she ends up in danger herself.
307 pages, Hardcover
First published April 3, 2018
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2710 people want to read
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October 14, 2019
Delaney Nichols works in a specialty bookstore in Edinburgh. She hasÌýhappily settled in Scotland after leaving her home in Kansas but trouble seems to follow her wherever she goes.
A medical student who she recently met has been found dead just outside the bookshop where she works, and Delaney has decided to investigate who murdered her.
This is the third book in the series Scottish Bookshop Mystery but you don't need to read the previous books to be able to follow theÌýstory well.ÌýThe book has the typical elements of cozy mysteries and was fun and entertaining to read.
Overall, I liked it and recommend it to readers of mysteriesÌýand contemporaryÌýfiction.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetgalleyÌý
A medical student who she recently met has been found dead just outside the bookshop where she works, and Delaney has decided to investigate who murdered her.
This is the third book in the series Scottish Bookshop Mystery but you don't need to read the previous books to be able to follow theÌýstory well.ÌýThe book has the typical elements of cozy mysteries and was fun and entertaining to read.
Overall, I liked it and recommend it to readers of mysteriesÌýand contemporaryÌýfiction.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetgalleyÌý
February 22, 2018
Lost Books and Old Bones is the third book in Paige Shelton's Scottish Bookshop cozy mystery series. When this book showed up in my galley list for review, I didn't remember requesting it. But I do have this series on my cozy TBR list....so I was excited to get to read it, whether I remembered asking for it specifically or not. It was a happy surprise! This is the first book in the series that I have read, but I was easily able to jump in mid-stream and follow the story line. It does mention some past events, but the story stands on its own well enough to read without reading the prior two books. I'm definitely going to back-track now and read the other books in this series. This was a fun, entertaining cozy! I like the background theme of a rare manuscript and bookshop, The Cracked Spine, in Scotland. :)
The basics: Delaney Nicols has befriended two local medical students, Sophie and Rena, after they came into the shop to sell some rare medical books from the early 1900s. Her boss, Edwin MacAlister, was very excited to get the old tomes. At the pub with her new friends, she meets one of their professors, Dr Eban, and another student, Mallory. Dr. Eban makes Delaney uncomfortable....he's creepy and just...strange, plus he's having an affair with Sophie. Later that night, Delaney meets up with her boyfriend Tom at the bookshop, and they investigate a bit in her boss' warehouse, looking for a famous set of scalpels used by an infamous local doctor back in the days of body snatching. Thinking it's best to leave the scalpels locked up for the night, they leave them in a desk drawer in the shop and go home for the night. The next day in the alleyway outside the shop, a body is discovered. Mallory -- the student Delaney met the previous night -- has been murdered and the shop door is open. A skull was left by the body making the scene appear staged. At the pub the night before, Dr Eban had been asking about the rumored collection of antiquities owned by Delaney's boss, even mentioning the scalpels specifically. Is that a coincidence? Or is Mallory's death linked to the scalpels somehow? Is Dr Eban not just lecherous and creepy, but also a murderer? Or was the scene staged to make it appear that way?
I loved this book! I like the background theme of a rare bookshop, and its mysterious hidden warehouse of antiquities and interesting objects. It lends a cool creepy factor to the story! Delaney is a fun, intelligent main character, and all the quirky side characters (and her hunky boyfriend Tom) all add charm to the story. The mystery progresses at a nice pace with plenty of twists and suspects. It kept my attention from beginning to end. And although I could totally follow the story and characters without reading from the beginning of the series, I definitely am back-tracking and reading this entire series! Entertaining, fun, with splashes of humor and creepiness -- lovely cozy mystery!
Paige Shelton is the author of several cozy mystery series including the Farmer's Market Mysteries.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
The basics: Delaney Nicols has befriended two local medical students, Sophie and Rena, after they came into the shop to sell some rare medical books from the early 1900s. Her boss, Edwin MacAlister, was very excited to get the old tomes. At the pub with her new friends, she meets one of their professors, Dr Eban, and another student, Mallory. Dr. Eban makes Delaney uncomfortable....he's creepy and just...strange, plus he's having an affair with Sophie. Later that night, Delaney meets up with her boyfriend Tom at the bookshop, and they investigate a bit in her boss' warehouse, looking for a famous set of scalpels used by an infamous local doctor back in the days of body snatching. Thinking it's best to leave the scalpels locked up for the night, they leave them in a desk drawer in the shop and go home for the night. The next day in the alleyway outside the shop, a body is discovered. Mallory -- the student Delaney met the previous night -- has been murdered and the shop door is open. A skull was left by the body making the scene appear staged. At the pub the night before, Dr Eban had been asking about the rumored collection of antiquities owned by Delaney's boss, even mentioning the scalpels specifically. Is that a coincidence? Or is Mallory's death linked to the scalpels somehow? Is Dr Eban not just lecherous and creepy, but also a murderer? Or was the scene staged to make it appear that way?
I loved this book! I like the background theme of a rare bookshop, and its mysterious hidden warehouse of antiquities and interesting objects. It lends a cool creepy factor to the story! Delaney is a fun, intelligent main character, and all the quirky side characters (and her hunky boyfriend Tom) all add charm to the story. The mystery progresses at a nice pace with plenty of twists and suspects. It kept my attention from beginning to end. And although I could totally follow the story and characters without reading from the beginning of the series, I definitely am back-tracking and reading this entire series! Entertaining, fun, with splashes of humor and creepiness -- lovely cozy mystery!
Paige Shelton is the author of several cozy mystery series including the Farmer's Market Mysteries.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
January 8, 2018
Since feisty Delaney Nichols moved from Kansas to Scotland, her life has been filled with old books and bookish treasures; intrigue and danger. She’s found true love with pub owner Tom, and made great friends with her landlords, Elias and Aggie, and her co-workers, Rosie and Hamlet. Delaney is still carefully feeling her way around her mysterious and wealthy employer, Edwin MacAlister.
The morning after Delaney has drinks with some new friends who are medical students at the University of Edinburgh—Sophie, Rena, and their friend, Mallory—The Cracked Spine employees are horrified to find a dead body in the alley behind the shop. Worrisomely, it’s Mallory.
As history mingles into current events; the author leads readers through a grisly past filled with tales of witches, murderers, and thieves. The med students are seemingly afraid of one particular professor, a Dr. Eban, who has a fascination with a missing ex-professor’s (Dr. Robert Knox) methods of illegally acquiring corpses for teaching purposes in anatomy classes. Could Dr. Eban be a killer? Joshua, Delaney’s geeky contact at the museum, and Artair, the librarian who’s also Tom’s father, lend their expertise in researching answers.
Just as the first two stories in the Scottish Bookshop series were for me; this third story is mesmerizing. Clues are abundant, yet I couldn’t quite put my finger on the right answer, however, when the plot pieces together at the end, I marveled at Ms. Shelton’s ability to pen such a complex manuscript. I enjoyed every page of “Lost Books and Old Bones,� and highly recommend this series beginning with book one.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC provided by the author and Minotaur Books.
The morning after Delaney has drinks with some new friends who are medical students at the University of Edinburgh—Sophie, Rena, and their friend, Mallory—The Cracked Spine employees are horrified to find a dead body in the alley behind the shop. Worrisomely, it’s Mallory.
As history mingles into current events; the author leads readers through a grisly past filled with tales of witches, murderers, and thieves. The med students are seemingly afraid of one particular professor, a Dr. Eban, who has a fascination with a missing ex-professor’s (Dr. Robert Knox) methods of illegally acquiring corpses for teaching purposes in anatomy classes. Could Dr. Eban be a killer? Joshua, Delaney’s geeky contact at the museum, and Artair, the librarian who’s also Tom’s father, lend their expertise in researching answers.
Just as the first two stories in the Scottish Bookshop series were for me; this third story is mesmerizing. Clues are abundant, yet I couldn’t quite put my finger on the right answer, however, when the plot pieces together at the end, I marveled at Ms. Shelton’s ability to pen such a complex manuscript. I enjoyed every page of “Lost Books and Old Bones,� and highly recommend this series beginning with book one.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC provided by the author and Minotaur Books.
April 7, 2018
Dollycas Thoughts
Delaney Nichols is feeling more at home in Edinburgh. She has fallen in love, made new friends and is feeling confident about her job at The Cracked Spine. Her friends are all in medical school and recently brought a box of medical books into the shop hoping to sell them quickly. The owner of The Cracked Spine, Edwin MacAlister, buys them thinking they very rare.
Delaney and her friends have an unusual night out in a pub where Delaney meets one of their professors. Her friends tell her the man is “odd� and Delaney has to agree, he is definitely hiding something and maybe her friends are hiding something too. Then the next day she learns one of her friends was murdered behind her store. She is questioned by the police and feels there is much more to the story behind the young woman’s death. She starts doing some investigating on her own. Items in her very own research area could play a major part in helping her solve the case.
This is a complex mystery with many facets that all twist together to solve and help make sense of what led to a young woman’s death. It also has its share of eerie moments. So fitting for a story set in a shop full of curiosities, I loved how history and historical items are what really drove this story.
Delaney is a fabulous protagonist. She has a curious nature and loves to do research, exactly what she needs to sleuth out the truth. I loved her trips to the university, library, and museum to try to find the answers she needed. It was so much fun to tag along as she made each new connection or discovery. I also enjoy the way her relationship with pub owner Tom is evolving. She also has an extraordinary group of people around to support her. Her boss, coworkers, and landlords have really become her Scotland family.
Ms. Shelton does an excellent job of storytelling. She whisks us away to Scotland with such ease. I have never been there but her words make it very easy to imagine each and every place her words take us.
I have completely escaped into all three books in this series. They can all stand alone but I recommend you read them all in order so you can see Delaney’s growth from her arrival from Kansas to her life now in Scotland, plus the stories are fantastic reads.
Delaney Nichols is feeling more at home in Edinburgh. She has fallen in love, made new friends and is feeling confident about her job at The Cracked Spine. Her friends are all in medical school and recently brought a box of medical books into the shop hoping to sell them quickly. The owner of The Cracked Spine, Edwin MacAlister, buys them thinking they very rare.
Delaney and her friends have an unusual night out in a pub where Delaney meets one of their professors. Her friends tell her the man is “odd� and Delaney has to agree, he is definitely hiding something and maybe her friends are hiding something too. Then the next day she learns one of her friends was murdered behind her store. She is questioned by the police and feels there is much more to the story behind the young woman’s death. She starts doing some investigating on her own. Items in her very own research area could play a major part in helping her solve the case.
This is a complex mystery with many facets that all twist together to solve and help make sense of what led to a young woman’s death. It also has its share of eerie moments. So fitting for a story set in a shop full of curiosities, I loved how history and historical items are what really drove this story.
Delaney is a fabulous protagonist. She has a curious nature and loves to do research, exactly what she needs to sleuth out the truth. I loved her trips to the university, library, and museum to try to find the answers she needed. It was so much fun to tag along as she made each new connection or discovery. I also enjoy the way her relationship with pub owner Tom is evolving. She also has an extraordinary group of people around to support her. Her boss, coworkers, and landlords have really become her Scotland family.
Ms. Shelton does an excellent job of storytelling. She whisks us away to Scotland with such ease. I have never been there but her words make it very easy to imagine each and every place her words take us.
I have completely escaped into all three books in this series. They can all stand alone but I recommend you read them all in order so you can see Delaney’s growth from her arrival from Kansas to her life now in Scotland, plus the stories are fantastic reads.
January 23, 2020
4 stars
This is my favorite of the first three books in the series. Delaney’s friends and co-workers weren’t hiding things from each other and the mystery itself was top notch taking in real life historical events of
Along with an excellent mystery some new characters were introduced my favorite among them being
Cozies Reading Challenge
This is my favorite of the first three books in the series. Delaney’s friends and co-workers weren’t hiding things from each other and the mystery itself was top notch taking in real life historical events of
Along with an excellent mystery some new characters were introduced my favorite among them being
Cozies Reading Challenge
August 19, 2018
When I first received Paige Shelton’s Lost Books and Old Bones, I wasn’t aware that it’s the third book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. I think I might have enjoyed it more if I had read the first two books beforehand. While I had no problem following the plot, it was when it came to the characters and their relationships with one another that I felt like I was missing out on something. The main character, Delaney Nichols, often talks about characters in relation to what happened in the past, so, I couldn’t always fully grasp what she was talking about. That being said, Lost Books and Old Bones isn’t without its faults.
In Lost Book and Old Bones, a medical student is murdered in the alley behind the bookshop where Delaney works. While Delaney wasn’t friends with the victim, she did meet the victim on the night that the murder took place. So, for whatever reason, Delaney takes it upon herself to try to solve the murder. This was the first problem that I had with this book. I’m not entirely sure how old Delaney’s supposed to be, but, from what I could gather, I would guess her age to be around late twenties, maybe early thirties. Why a woman this old thinks that solving a murder is any of her business, I have no idea. Delaney seems to think that just because she’s solved one or two mysteries before that she’s cut out to be a detective. I mean, doesn't she have anything better to do with her time, like, I don't know, actually doing her job at the bookshop? If anything, Delaney needs to learn how to mind her own business, and accept the fact that she’s not Nancy Drew. Her preoccupation with the murder comes across as a little pathetic and paints her as a nosy parker and a know-it-all. She’s insufferable, always knowing the answer to everything and always doing the right thing. However, the worst part is that Delaney actually thinks that she’s helping, that she’s doing this out of the kindness of her heart because she’s just that nice of a person. Barf. I also felt like Delaney’s relationship with Tom could have been explored further, especially considering how the book ends in regard to their relationship. But, who knows? Maybe the first two books in the series focus more on Delaney and Tom as a couple?
Additionally, I felt like Lost Books and Old Bones was mostly made up of filler. I get that mystery books often use red herrings to distract the reader and to make the mystery harder to solve, but, the red herrings in Lost Books and Old Bones just didn’t work, and never really made sense, especially after everything was “explained�. It was also easy enough to guess who the murderer was . Due to this, the reveal wasn’t all that shocking, and I felt like it could have used a more in-depth explanation. Furthermore, I felt like Shelton constantly repeated the same information over and over again. How many times does the reader have to be told that Delaney isn’t that good of friends with Rena and Sophie? Or my personal favourite (at the start of Chapter 13), when we’re told three times on the same page that Delaney is ordering coffee and muffins for her and Rena. This constant repetition of information drove me bonkers, and it was hard to overlook when it happened so frequently.
Overall, I thought that I was going to enjoy this book a lot more than I actually did.
*I received a copy of this book through a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ giveaway.
In Lost Book and Old Bones, a medical student is murdered in the alley behind the bookshop where Delaney works. While Delaney wasn’t friends with the victim, she did meet the victim on the night that the murder took place. So, for whatever reason, Delaney takes it upon herself to try to solve the murder. This was the first problem that I had with this book. I’m not entirely sure how old Delaney’s supposed to be, but, from what I could gather, I would guess her age to be around late twenties, maybe early thirties. Why a woman this old thinks that solving a murder is any of her business, I have no idea. Delaney seems to think that just because she’s solved one or two mysteries before that she’s cut out to be a detective. I mean, doesn't she have anything better to do with her time, like, I don't know, actually doing her job at the bookshop? If anything, Delaney needs to learn how to mind her own business, and accept the fact that she’s not Nancy Drew. Her preoccupation with the murder comes across as a little pathetic and paints her as a nosy parker and a know-it-all. She’s insufferable, always knowing the answer to everything and always doing the right thing. However, the worst part is that Delaney actually thinks that she’s helping, that she’s doing this out of the kindness of her heart because she’s just that nice of a person. Barf. I also felt like Delaney’s relationship with Tom could have been explored further, especially considering how the book ends in regard to their relationship. But, who knows? Maybe the first two books in the series focus more on Delaney and Tom as a couple?
Additionally, I felt like Lost Books and Old Bones was mostly made up of filler. I get that mystery books often use red herrings to distract the reader and to make the mystery harder to solve, but, the red herrings in Lost Books and Old Bones just didn’t work, and never really made sense, especially after everything was “explained�. It was also easy enough to guess who the murderer was . Due to this, the reveal wasn’t all that shocking, and I felt like it could have used a more in-depth explanation. Furthermore, I felt like Shelton constantly repeated the same information over and over again. How many times does the reader have to be told that Delaney isn’t that good of friends with Rena and Sophie? Or my personal favourite (at the start of Chapter 13), when we’re told three times on the same page that Delaney is ordering coffee and muffins for her and Rena. This constant repetition of information drove me bonkers, and it was hard to overlook when it happened so frequently.
Overall, I thought that I was going to enjoy this book a lot more than I actually did.
*I received a copy of this book through a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ giveaway.
March 9, 2018
A cozy mystery to curl up by the fire with and lose yourself for a while. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. Delaney, from Kansas, has moved to Scotland and is working in the bookshop The Cracked Spine. She befriends some medical students from the local university and, after a night out with them at a bar, a friend of the students who was as the bar with them is murdered behind The Cracked Spine. Delaney is full of questions and sets out on her own investigation.
I enjoyed the backdrop of the rare bookshop and the backstory of murders that took place in the past. This was a fun book with a bit of intrigue, a bit of romance, and a bit of history all rolled into one. The book was paced well and kept my attention throughout.
Thanks to Paige Shelton and St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.
I enjoyed the backdrop of the rare bookshop and the backstory of murders that took place in the past. This was a fun book with a bit of intrigue, a bit of romance, and a bit of history all rolled into one. The book was paced well and kept my attention throughout.
Thanks to Paige Shelton and St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.
March 27, 2018
Delaney moved to Scotland from the US to work for a bookseller. She has been in Scotland for about a year, and has recently been friendly with a couple of the local medical students. One night, Delaney goes out with the medical students and meets some of their friends. The next morning, one of the women Delaney had met the night before is found murdered just outside the bookshop. Delaney is curious as to why the woman was outside the bookshop, and suspects it may have something to do with the bookshop's "secret" warehouse.
The 3rd book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. This is the first book I have read in this series.
I love the setting. Delaney works for a bookshop in Scotland that specializes in rare books. Delaney was likable, though I wish I had read the first two books in the series to know more about her. Since reading Lost Bones and Old Books, I have checked with my local library and they have the first two books in the series. I'll be picking them up soon to read them.
This cozy mystery was interesting and incorporated some history about the Burke and Hare murders that took place in Edinburgh 1828. Burke and Hare were two men who killed people and sold their corpses to a local doctor for dissection and study.
I received an eARC from Minotaur Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be published in April 2018.
The 3rd book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. This is the first book I have read in this series.
I love the setting. Delaney works for a bookshop in Scotland that specializes in rare books. Delaney was likable, though I wish I had read the first two books in the series to know more about her. Since reading Lost Bones and Old Books, I have checked with my local library and they have the first two books in the series. I'll be picking them up soon to read them.
This cozy mystery was interesting and incorporated some history about the Burke and Hare murders that took place in Edinburgh 1828. Burke and Hare were two men who killed people and sold their corpses to a local doctor for dissection and study.
I received an eARC from Minotaur Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be published in April 2018.
April 3, 2018
I love books and bookstores, so if I find a story about a bookshop, I’m a happy camper. Delaney Nichols moved from Kansas to work at The Cracked Spine Bookshop in Edinburgh, Scotland. Delaney’s new friends, students at Edinburgh Medical School, bring in a set of old medical books to sell to the bookshop. After a night out with her new friends, one of them is murdered. Delaney must figure out how the present day murder is linked to the books, past murders, and a group of doctors/instructors at the medical school. This book held my attention from the beginning—I couldn’t wait to see how all the pieces fit together. Delaney and the supporting cast are well-written and likable. The descriptions of the locations around Edinburgh made me want to travel there immediately! I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book that I received from the author.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book that I received from the author.
March 27, 2018
3.5 stars
This book has some great things going for it. It's set in the lovely town of Edinburgh. The heroine, Delaney Nichols, works in a dream job, an antique bookstore. She has come from Kansas for this opportunity and in this third book of the series is in a serious relationship with local pub owner, Tom.
This story revolves around the famed Scottish scandal where people were murdered so their corpses could be sold to the Edinburgh Medical School. The scalpels used by the Dr. who bought the corpses are sold to the owner of Delaney's bookstore. He also buys some beautiful hand illustrated books of anatomy. Then a dead body is found in the book store. Are these events connected?
Now here's where it gets annoying to me. Delaney immediately takes it upon herself to investigate the murder. It never ceases to amaze me how people just answer her questions. Why does no one including the Doctors at the Medical University, tell her to mind her own business? Why are they intimidated by her and jump through all the hoops she requires? She is like the tattle tale in the second grade and tells everyone to go to the police. She even tells the murderer this although she doesn't know it's the murderer yet. She got on my nerves. Not only that, she doesn't do a stitch of work. All the days of the investigation, she goes to the book store but does absolutely no work. What a great employer she has.
So, as with many cozies, if you are able to put common sense aside, this is a fun read. Did I mention, it's in Edinburgh?
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
This book has some great things going for it. It's set in the lovely town of Edinburgh. The heroine, Delaney Nichols, works in a dream job, an antique bookstore. She has come from Kansas for this opportunity and in this third book of the series is in a serious relationship with local pub owner, Tom.
This story revolves around the famed Scottish scandal where people were murdered so their corpses could be sold to the Edinburgh Medical School. The scalpels used by the Dr. who bought the corpses are sold to the owner of Delaney's bookstore. He also buys some beautiful hand illustrated books of anatomy. Then a dead body is found in the book store. Are these events connected?
Now here's where it gets annoying to me. Delaney immediately takes it upon herself to investigate the murder. It never ceases to amaze me how people just answer her questions. Why does no one including the Doctors at the Medical University, tell her to mind her own business? Why are they intimidated by her and jump through all the hoops she requires? She is like the tattle tale in the second grade and tells everyone to go to the police. She even tells the murderer this although she doesn't know it's the murderer yet. She got on my nerves. Not only that, she doesn't do a stitch of work. All the days of the investigation, she goes to the book store but does absolutely no work. What a great employer she has.
So, as with many cozies, if you are able to put common sense aside, this is a fun read. Did I mention, it's in Edinburgh?
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
March 16, 2018
For me, this one was just...okay. There was virtually no context to introduce the new characters and I just didn't connect with them. It was an great plot, lots of twists and turns and the very creepy Dr Eben. I enjoyed the history (The Burke & Hare story is always fascinating) and of course, the little bookshop and its treasures, both human and inanimate, are a big draw for me but I found it was difficult to hold my interest and I struggled to finish it. Still, this is a great series and there's a lot to love for cozy mystery fans.
March 21, 2018
Oh this was so good! I have book hangover. I loved Lost Books and Old Bones by Paige Shelton. This is a great read. This cozy mystery is Scotland based and a great mystery with lots of twists, history and fun artifacts await you inside!
A dream job, friends and family made up of the people you surround yourself with. Local lore and legend and a whole lot of mystery and fun await you. Book three is one you are going to want to read. Actually the series is binge worthy. This one is out April 3rd by Minotaur books and one not to miss!
A dream job, friends and family made up of the people you surround yourself with. Local lore and legend and a whole lot of mystery and fun await you. Book three is one you are going to want to read. Actually the series is binge worthy. This one is out April 3rd by Minotaur books and one not to miss!
April 2, 2018
4 Stars!
Ah another cozy mystery. Yup, I just described this as a cozy mystery. What does that mean? It means it's a book that keeps your attention (mystery) but is also something that makes you feel good and cozy when reading. It could possibly make you cozy up on the couch as well.
This read was a similar one for me from the last one I read (, see previous review). It was the kind of book that kept you engaged but also wasn't so dark that you had to prepare yourself mentally before reading.
This is the third book in the series and the first one I've read of it. We meet Delaney who is from Kansas who moved to Edinburgh. If you're reading this you probably like books right? Well you're in luck because this is a bookshop mystery and Delaney works in a bookshop! She is in love with the local pub owner and befriends some of the local college students. One night they are out and run into Dr. Edan who you off the bat know has something wrong with him. One day, she finds one of her friends murdered. Delaney goes from bookshop keeper to a detective! She finds some clues in the book shop that may lead to the killer....
Something I loved about this book was some of the language was Scottish. I'm not sure why I loved it so much but I thought it added a nice feel to it!
I would recommend this book if you're looking for something cozy + a good mystery!
This book comes out April 3, 2018. Thank you to Minotaur books/St. Martin's Press for my ARC!
Ah another cozy mystery. Yup, I just described this as a cozy mystery. What does that mean? It means it's a book that keeps your attention (mystery) but is also something that makes you feel good and cozy when reading. It could possibly make you cozy up on the couch as well.
This read was a similar one for me from the last one I read (, see previous review). It was the kind of book that kept you engaged but also wasn't so dark that you had to prepare yourself mentally before reading.
This is the third book in the series and the first one I've read of it. We meet Delaney who is from Kansas who moved to Edinburgh. If you're reading this you probably like books right? Well you're in luck because this is a bookshop mystery and Delaney works in a bookshop! She is in love with the local pub owner and befriends some of the local college students. One night they are out and run into Dr. Edan who you off the bat know has something wrong with him. One day, she finds one of her friends murdered. Delaney goes from bookshop keeper to a detective! She finds some clues in the book shop that may lead to the killer....
Something I loved about this book was some of the language was Scottish. I'm not sure why I loved it so much but I thought it added a nice feel to it!
I would recommend this book if you're looking for something cozy + a good mystery!
This book comes out April 3, 2018. Thank you to Minotaur books/St. Martin's Press for my ARC!
March 24, 2019
This is one of the more "meaty" cozy mystery series out there. Very well crafted. There are quirky characters but they don't overpower the story. She is also really good at tying up all her loose ends. If you're looking for a new cozy, this is for you.
May 13, 2019
Scotland, Books, wonderful characters, and a mystery to keep you guessing makes it impossible to put this book down once you get started. The writing is just superb at really drawing the reader in while providing a fascinating visual. The area is full of charm and twists that you will never see coming. The little history tidbits are just the icing on top of the cake. Perfect for fans of cozies. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
March 28, 2018
Series: Scottish Bookshop Mystery #3
Publication Date: 4/3/18
Oh! My! I’ve definitely found a new series to start reading. This is my first book by this author but it definitely will not be my last! The mystery is well plotted, the story is wonderfully written and the characters are both relatable and likable. The setting is perfect (Edinburgh) and the author’s descriptions make you feel as if you are right there with the characters. This author includes lots of actual interesting history that she weaves seamlessly into the story. Though this book is part of a series, I had no trouble with understanding the character relationships, so it could be read as a stand-alone. However, the book intrigued me so much that I am going to read the first two books in the series as soon as I can. I’m really looking forward to them and the next books in the series as well. One of the things that I loved was that it was not so filled with sub-plots that you were constantly dragged away from the main plot. Of course, I also like the romance.
Almost a year ago Delaney Nichols left Kansas for her dream job at The Cracked Spine in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Cracked Spine deals in new books as well as antique books, manuscripts, maps, etc. Since her arrival in Scotland, she’s already helped in investigating two murders and she’s certainly glad that is all behind her.
In the last few months, she’s made friends with two students, Sophie and Rena, from the University of Edinburgh Medical School. While they are at a club, celebrating the completion of a big exam, she notices some strange interactions and people and she also meets another student, Mallory and likes her very much. She also meets the odd Dr. Eban who is an instructor at the school. At the end of the evening, she and the students go their separate ways � Mallory and Sophie take one cab, Delaney takes another and Rena takes yet another.
Delaney (I just love that name) gets a call from the bookstore the following morning and is told she needs to get there as soon as she can. As Delaney approaches the store, she is met by chaos. There are police cars, crime scene investigators, policemen and a detective all over the outside of the lovely old bookstore. What in the world is going on? The shop had been broken into and a body had been found outside in the close (alley). Then, she learns that she knows the victim.
As someone who is always intrigued by a mystery, Delaney can’t just sit by and allow the police to do all of the investigating. She shares all she learns, but she refuses to sit idly by and allow others to investigate. Besides, she’s intrigued by some things she knows and doesn’t want to share.
The supporting characters are lovable and quirky and her boyfriend/lover, Tom is just perfect for her. She cares for him more and more but is unsure how long the relationship will last because he has dated half the women in Edinburgh and none of the relationships last more than a few weeks. Strangely, they have been dating for almost a year, so she wonders what is different and how soon he’ll leave her. One of my favorite characters is Artair, Tom’s father. He’s delightful.
I definitely loved the book and recommend it as a great read with a combination of mystery and romance.
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"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Publication Date: 4/3/18
Oh! My! I’ve definitely found a new series to start reading. This is my first book by this author but it definitely will not be my last! The mystery is well plotted, the story is wonderfully written and the characters are both relatable and likable. The setting is perfect (Edinburgh) and the author’s descriptions make you feel as if you are right there with the characters. This author includes lots of actual interesting history that she weaves seamlessly into the story. Though this book is part of a series, I had no trouble with understanding the character relationships, so it could be read as a stand-alone. However, the book intrigued me so much that I am going to read the first two books in the series as soon as I can. I’m really looking forward to them and the next books in the series as well. One of the things that I loved was that it was not so filled with sub-plots that you were constantly dragged away from the main plot. Of course, I also like the romance.
Almost a year ago Delaney Nichols left Kansas for her dream job at The Cracked Spine in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Cracked Spine deals in new books as well as antique books, manuscripts, maps, etc. Since her arrival in Scotland, she’s already helped in investigating two murders and she’s certainly glad that is all behind her.
In the last few months, she’s made friends with two students, Sophie and Rena, from the University of Edinburgh Medical School. While they are at a club, celebrating the completion of a big exam, she notices some strange interactions and people and she also meets another student, Mallory and likes her very much. She also meets the odd Dr. Eban who is an instructor at the school. At the end of the evening, she and the students go their separate ways � Mallory and Sophie take one cab, Delaney takes another and Rena takes yet another.
Delaney (I just love that name) gets a call from the bookstore the following morning and is told she needs to get there as soon as she can. As Delaney approaches the store, she is met by chaos. There are police cars, crime scene investigators, policemen and a detective all over the outside of the lovely old bookstore. What in the world is going on? The shop had been broken into and a body had been found outside in the close (alley). Then, she learns that she knows the victim.
As someone who is always intrigued by a mystery, Delaney can’t just sit by and allow the police to do all of the investigating. She shares all she learns, but she refuses to sit idly by and allow others to investigate. Besides, she’s intrigued by some things she knows and doesn’t want to share.
The supporting characters are lovable and quirky and her boyfriend/lover, Tom is just perfect for her. She cares for him more and more but is unsure how long the relationship will last because he has dated half the women in Edinburgh and none of the relationships last more than a few weeks. Strangely, they have been dating for almost a year, so she wonders what is different and how soon he’ll leave her. One of my favorite characters is Artair, Tom’s father. He’s delightful.
I definitely loved the book and recommend it as a great read with a combination of mystery and romance.
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"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
May 26, 2018
3,5/5
Toujours aussi cosy, avec une ambiance parfaitement écossaise. Comme d’habitude dans cette série la résolution du mystère est tirée par les cheveux, mais j’ai apprécié suivre l’intrigue !
Toujours aussi cosy, avec une ambiance parfaitement écossaise. Comme d’habitude dans cette série la résolution du mystère est tirée par les cheveux, mais j’ai apprécié suivre l’intrigue !
July 4, 2018
Eh, 2.5 stars. This was one of my first "cozy bookshop mysteries" and the genre sounded right up my alley but I think I've polluted my mind with too much Karin Slaughter/Tana French, etc. to find this truly enjoyable. I kept telling myself it was supposed to be fluffy and light but the characters, how they speak to each other and much of the writing just didn't click with me. It also didn't help that I chose to read the third book in a series- although I read a couple of reviews stating you didn't need to read them in order I think for me it would've helped develop a relationship with the characters more. If you like these kinds of books then I do think you'll enjoy this one!
February 14, 2018
Lost Books and Old Bones by Paige Shelton was a pure delight to read. Ms. Shelton never fails to intrigue me with her research of Scotland's rich heritage. This time it involves the University of Edinburgh's medical college and it was fascinating.
Delaney has settled into her new life and may have found the love of her life in Tom. Delaney and Tom's relationship is so open and supportive as Delaney tries to help solve the mysteries that seem to find her wherever she goes. I love The Cracked Spine bookshop! Rosie, Hamlet, Edwin, Elias, Aggie and Tom are so well developed that I feel like I would recognize them on a street in Edinburgh if I were to visit. Ms. Shelton's descriptive writing always makes me feel like I am present as Delaney travels throughout the city; and her research of Scottish history enlightens me with every book. The mystery is complex, the suspects are multi-layered and the twists kept me guessing until the reveal.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Minotaur Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own. I would like to sincerely thank Minotaur Books for allowing me to read and review the book.
Delaney has settled into her new life and may have found the love of her life in Tom. Delaney and Tom's relationship is so open and supportive as Delaney tries to help solve the mysteries that seem to find her wherever she goes. I love The Cracked Spine bookshop! Rosie, Hamlet, Edwin, Elias, Aggie and Tom are so well developed that I feel like I would recognize them on a street in Edinburgh if I were to visit. Ms. Shelton's descriptive writing always makes me feel like I am present as Delaney travels throughout the city; and her research of Scottish history enlightens me with every book. The mystery is complex, the suspects are multi-layered and the twists kept me guessing until the reveal.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Minotaur Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own. I would like to sincerely thank Minotaur Books for allowing me to read and review the book.
July 21, 2018
Delaney Nichols of Kansas in America has been in Scotland for about a year now working at the quirky bookshop The Cracked Spine. She loves her job and is fiercely protective of her boss, Edwin's, secret warehouse full of historic treasures. Delaney isn't above burning the midnight oil but to balance that she'll also spend a night at the pub every now and again with her new friends. It helps that she's dating hunky bar owner Tom. Delaney and her new friends Sophie and Rena, and their friend Mallory, medical school students at the University of Edinburgh, go out to blow off steam after the students finish a dreadfully difficult exam. Delaney gets an earful about their creepy professor who is obsessed with early 19h-century serial killers William Burke and William Hare. That's an interesting coincidence because Delaney met Rena and Sophie when they sold some antique medical texts based on the bodies Burke and Hare killed. The next morning one of Delaney's new friends is found murdered in the close behind the shop. A human skull is found next to the body and the shop window was broken. Delaney worries someone tried to break into the warehouse and steal something that may have belonged to Burke and Hare. Her friends seem to be hiding something and the medical school faculty has a keen interest in those Burke and Hare books. Could the events be related? A nosy reporter is on Delaney's case to tell all. The reporter has a vendetta against Delaney as the woman used to date Tom. Can Delaney trust Tom will be faithful to her? What happens when he "leaves 'em" her? Can she really deal with it as cavalierly as she thinks?
This book follows the novella "A Christmas Tartan" which I have not yet read. Allusions to that story are made but I successfully skimmed over them so I wasn't spoiled.
This mystery is so good I stayed up really late reading every page. Though I guessed a lot of things, there are so many red herrings that the reveal is a big surprise. The relationship plot is developing but feels a little thin. There's not much chemistry between Delaney and Tom. My biggest complaint is that the plot relies on A LOT of coincidences. THIS just happened to be overlooked by the police, THAT just happened to be missed by the cleaners and oh this person has the right connections to find out what Delaney needs to know. My other real critique of this novel is that it's LONG. There's too much going on and Delaney does some stupid stuff in the course of her investigation. She stumbles across the truth by accident. My only other complaint is that Elias and some of the other quirky characters are not very present.
We do meet some new characters in this novel. Delaney's friends Sophie, Rena and Mallory are all under intense pressure as medical students. They seem a bit odd to me. They put up with a lot from their creepy professor and Delaney suspects they're not telling her the whole truth. I found them a little hard to warm up to. Sophie seems more outgoing and vulnerable. Mallory seems the most normal of the three. Then there's Lola, the young woman who always answers the door to the building where Sophie and Rena live. I think she is really odd. She's nosy for one thing but hides it well. I wasn't surprised at the revelation's about her. I figured that out long before Delaney did. Delaney's other friend Joshua is delightfully charming. He's an academic without being a stuffed shirt. I liked the chemistry between Joshua and Delaney even if it's supposed to be platonic.
The medical school faculty seem like an unusual bunch. Dr. Eban has an unhealthy obsession with Hare and Burke. Yes they helped advance medical science but they went about it in the wrong way. Grave robbing is one thing but killing innocent people is another. They were criminals in accordance of the law. I wonder what happened to the one that wasn't caught? That comes up randomly towards the end of the story. Dr. Eban's wife, Dr. Carson, is described as "fierce." That's one way of putting it nicely. In America someone would probably say she's a b-word. Brilliant yes but personality wise a real you know what. I almost feel sorry for her husband but if he's cheating on her, he deserves the tough time she gives him. Boris, the father of the murder victim, is another faculty member. He seems the most normal yet he didn't stand by his friend when his friend needed him. Dr. Glenn, the final faculty member, an ex-faculty member, accused of shady dealings is certainly an interesting character. He was introduced too late in the story to really get a sense of who he was. It sounds like the U of E attracts unusual faculty in the world of this story. Gaylord, Delaney's new lawyer and Tom's friend is a fun, quirky character. He needs to be developed a bit more to fully get to know him. Finally we have Inspector Raymond Pierce, another American. He's so strict and reticent that he could easily be a British Inspector. His backstory is a mystery for now.
Returning characters of course include the bookshop staff. There's not enough of them in this story. Little Hector appears briefly to help provide comfort. Edwin is a little less mysterious in this novel as he comes to accept the fact that certain people need to know certain things. Atair appears briefly later in the story to help move the plot along. Tom, of course, is as hunky and charming as always. He's very sweet to Delaney and respects her nosiness. The relationship plot concluded with a bit too much fo a quick BANG for me.
I love the setting so much I want to keep reading more about The Cracked Spine, especially the books and the warehouse.
This book follows the novella "A Christmas Tartan" which I have not yet read. Allusions to that story are made but I successfully skimmed over them so I wasn't spoiled.
This mystery is so good I stayed up really late reading every page. Though I guessed a lot of things, there are so many red herrings that the reveal is a big surprise. The relationship plot is developing but feels a little thin. There's not much chemistry between Delaney and Tom. My biggest complaint is that the plot relies on A LOT of coincidences. THIS just happened to be overlooked by the police, THAT just happened to be missed by the cleaners and oh this person has the right connections to find out what Delaney needs to know. My other real critique of this novel is that it's LONG. There's too much going on and Delaney does some stupid stuff in the course of her investigation. She stumbles across the truth by accident. My only other complaint is that Elias and some of the other quirky characters are not very present.
We do meet some new characters in this novel. Delaney's friends Sophie, Rena and Mallory are all under intense pressure as medical students. They seem a bit odd to me. They put up with a lot from their creepy professor and Delaney suspects they're not telling her the whole truth. I found them a little hard to warm up to. Sophie seems more outgoing and vulnerable. Mallory seems the most normal of the three. Then there's Lola, the young woman who always answers the door to the building where Sophie and Rena live. I think she is really odd. She's nosy for one thing but hides it well. I wasn't surprised at the revelation's about her. I figured that out long before Delaney did. Delaney's other friend Joshua is delightfully charming. He's an academic without being a stuffed shirt. I liked the chemistry between Joshua and Delaney even if it's supposed to be platonic.
The medical school faculty seem like an unusual bunch. Dr. Eban has an unhealthy obsession with Hare and Burke. Yes they helped advance medical science but they went about it in the wrong way. Grave robbing is one thing but killing innocent people is another. They were criminals in accordance of the law. I wonder what happened to the one that wasn't caught? That comes up randomly towards the end of the story. Dr. Eban's wife, Dr. Carson, is described as "fierce." That's one way of putting it nicely. In America someone would probably say she's a b-word. Brilliant yes but personality wise a real you know what. I almost feel sorry for her husband but if he's cheating on her, he deserves the tough time she gives him. Boris, the father of the murder victim, is another faculty member. He seems the most normal yet he didn't stand by his friend when his friend needed him. Dr. Glenn, the final faculty member, an ex-faculty member, accused of shady dealings is certainly an interesting character. He was introduced too late in the story to really get a sense of who he was. It sounds like the U of E attracts unusual faculty in the world of this story. Gaylord, Delaney's new lawyer and Tom's friend is a fun, quirky character. He needs to be developed a bit more to fully get to know him. Finally we have Inspector Raymond Pierce, another American. He's so strict and reticent that he could easily be a British Inspector. His backstory is a mystery for now.
Returning characters of course include the bookshop staff. There's not enough of them in this story. Little Hector appears briefly to help provide comfort. Edwin is a little less mysterious in this novel as he comes to accept the fact that certain people need to know certain things. Atair appears briefly later in the story to help move the plot along. Tom, of course, is as hunky and charming as always. He's very sweet to Delaney and respects her nosiness. The relationship plot concluded with a bit too much fo a quick BANG for me.
I love the setting so much I want to keep reading more about The Cracked Spine, especially the books and the warehouse.
April 9, 2018
Lost Books and Old Bones
Scottish Bookshop Mystery #3
By Paige Shelton
ISBN: 9781250127792
paigeshelton.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
A delightful new mystery featuring bookseller and amateur sleuth Delaney Nichols, set in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Delaney Nichols, originally of Kansas but settling happily into her new life as a bookseller in Edinburgh, works at The Cracked Spine in the heart of town. She’s recently befriended a few medical school students after they came into the shop to sell some antique medical tomes. But when one of the students� friends is found murdered outside in the alley, Delaney takes it upon herself to help bring the murderer to justice.
During her investigation, Delaney finds some old scalpels in the bookshop’s warehouse—she finds out that they belonged to a long-dead doctor, whose story might be connected to the present-day murder. It’s all Delaney can do to race to solve this crime before time runs out and she ends up in danger herself. (From Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ)
Review:
It is so good to be back in Edinburgh with Delaney, who has lived there for about a year since leaving Kansas! She answered a compelling ad for a special position at a unique bookshop, The Cracked Spine. Again I am impressed by the depth research of history and antiquities in this beautiful setting, the intriguing, well-written mystery, and the characters who make it the great series it is. Lost Books and Old Bones, third in the series, can be read as a standalone. It is also the best to date, but don’t miss the first two!
Delaney’s new friends, Rena and Sophie, attend med school at University of Edinburgh. They met at the bookstore when Rena sold a collection of rare medical books to help pay for her school. They are at a pub on a Friday night after a particularly challenging exam. Mallory, a friend of Rena and Sophie, joins them, and they have a good time until their prof shows up at the pub. Slipping out, Mallory and Sophie leave, then Rena has an odd, fear-tinged request for Delaney: If anything happens to Rena, would she watch over Sophie? She was also concerned that Sophie might be in too deep with Dr. Eban � meaning what? After their plan to have a fun evening, things quickly turned too serious.
The following morning brought terrible news. Hamlet, the student who works at the Cracked Spine, arriving at work at the same time as Rosie, a long-term employee of the bookshop, found the front door unlocked and the body of a young woman in the alley. It was Mallory, and a human skull is next to her body.
Delaney does not want to get involved in another police investigation, but she simply can’t keep from asking questions. Delaney’s boyfriend Tom assists in getting an attorney for Delaney when she meets with police, simply because she very briefly knew the deceased and was out with her and their mutual friends the evening before. The author introduces a labyrinthe of unusual clues and red herrings that lead from the legendary Dr. Robert Knox from the 1800’s to Dr. Jack Glenn, alleged murderer missing more than a decade. This time, Delaney’s “bookish voices� are less than forthcoming with hints of who to beware of.
Delaney is a sleuth that I enjoy, and hope to follow through many new adventures! She is so three-dimensional that I could almost see her to step off the pages, along with her boyfriend, Tom, owner of Delaney’s Wee Pub (not named after her). She is the first woman he has dated for any length of time, which rankles Bridget, a thwarted girlfriend from their university days, now a local journalist looking for a big scoop. There is an eclectic group of characters, many of whom are not who they seem to be. All are defined well, most are very likable.
The mystery this time focuses on Delaney’s friends outside the book shop rather than the people associated with The Cracked Spine or its owner, Edwin. I did, however, miss seeing her landlord, Elias, and his wife, Aggie, more prominent in earlier novels. They became fast friends when Delaney moved across the pond, and Elias has been a great tour guide and sleuthing helper. The mystery is stunning; there are perfect red herrings and a fabulous mix of past and present meeting in the halls of medical and historical knowledge. The author’s knowledge of Scotland is impressive, showing Delaney and her med school friends to be brilliant and � at least for Delaney � able to read the clues and change course when necessary. Finding the real bad guy/ gal was a real challenge, and I was surprised to see who it really was. While I had slight suspicion of the person, it wasn’t someone seriously considered. I highly recommend Lost Books and Old Bones � as well as the rest of the series � to cozy mystery lovers who appreciate bookshops and libraries, universities and museums, Scotland, and one of the more intelligent, contemporary sleuths in the British Isles.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
March 30, 2018
4.5 STARS
Full disclosure�.I read this one simply because I liked the title and cover. Yes I was lured in by a pretty cover with the word ‘books� in the title and I loved the sweet dog. I can never resist a book with a cute dog on the cover. I’m terrible. I didn’t care if it was the third book in a series, or if it an over the top cozy. I just saw the cover and title and I just had to read it!From what I gather, this series is a popular cozy series and I can see why�..who doesn’t dream of leaving small town America and opening a book shop in Scotland where you solve mysteries?! This is my dream right here and I was all about it for this book!
Yes I felt a little out of place in the series, obviously there was a back story and much I was missing but I don’t think it had a huge impact on the story as a whole. If you are, like me, jumping into the series blind, I think you would be alright but if you want to fully enjoy the characters and how they all know each other etc, then I think you would want to start from the beginning of the series itself.
If you can get past jumping into the series three books in, what awaits you is a fun backdrop with an interesting mystery that will intrigue readers and fans of the cozy genre. I loved how the book shop worked within the story and I thought it added a lot to the atmosphere and feel of the book. The mystery itself was fun, not overly complicated or fast paced but fun all the same. I enjoyed trying to work it out on my own and loved discovering clues right along with Delaney.
Delaney is sassy and has a lot of spunk. I liked her immediately and found her to be an excellent heroine! I want her life. When I think about connecting with a character, I think about someone like this. She’s such a great lead and I think a lot of readers will like her immensely!
There is enough suspense to keep readers excited about the mystery, sometimes in cozy books, readers get to caught up in the setting and quirky characters—at least I do—but in this book the mystery itself was the main focus. Yes I loved the character and setting etc but for me the mystery was what shined brightest.
I totally want to go back and read the other books in the series now. I can see why so many people love this series and I am excited that I have discovered something new to read! If you love cozy mysteries and haven’t yet started this series�.pick up this book and the other two and start reading right away! If you have been eagerly awaiting this book to come out because you are a long time fan then get excited because this one is a great read!
Full disclosure�.I read this one simply because I liked the title and cover. Yes I was lured in by a pretty cover with the word ‘books� in the title and I loved the sweet dog. I can never resist a book with a cute dog on the cover. I’m terrible. I didn’t care if it was the third book in a series, or if it an over the top cozy. I just saw the cover and title and I just had to read it!From what I gather, this series is a popular cozy series and I can see why�..who doesn’t dream of leaving small town America and opening a book shop in Scotland where you solve mysteries?! This is my dream right here and I was all about it for this book!
Yes I felt a little out of place in the series, obviously there was a back story and much I was missing but I don’t think it had a huge impact on the story as a whole. If you are, like me, jumping into the series blind, I think you would be alright but if you want to fully enjoy the characters and how they all know each other etc, then I think you would want to start from the beginning of the series itself.
If you can get past jumping into the series three books in, what awaits you is a fun backdrop with an interesting mystery that will intrigue readers and fans of the cozy genre. I loved how the book shop worked within the story and I thought it added a lot to the atmosphere and feel of the book. The mystery itself was fun, not overly complicated or fast paced but fun all the same. I enjoyed trying to work it out on my own and loved discovering clues right along with Delaney.
Delaney is sassy and has a lot of spunk. I liked her immediately and found her to be an excellent heroine! I want her life. When I think about connecting with a character, I think about someone like this. She’s such a great lead and I think a lot of readers will like her immensely!
There is enough suspense to keep readers excited about the mystery, sometimes in cozy books, readers get to caught up in the setting and quirky characters—at least I do—but in this book the mystery itself was the main focus. Yes I loved the character and setting etc but for me the mystery was what shined brightest.
I totally want to go back and read the other books in the series now. I can see why so many people love this series and I am excited that I have discovered something new to read! If you love cozy mysteries and haven’t yet started this series�.pick up this book and the other two and start reading right away! If you have been eagerly awaiting this book to come out because you are a long time fan then get excited because this one is a great read!
August 9, 2018
This is the first book in the series of three that I have read, but I was able to follow the story line with no problem. It does mention some past events, but the story can be read as a stand alone without reading the prior two books. After reading this one, I will go back and read the first two. I absolutely loved the history and setting in the book. After visiting Scotland last fall, I was able to revisit the sites I had seen and learn more about the story of Burke and Hare that I had heard about in the dungeons and underground. Now, on to the story.
Delaney Nicols works at The Cracked Spine, a bookstore in Edinburgh. She befriends two medical students, Rena and Sopie, and buys a couple of books from them. Little do they know that they are rare and valuable manuscripts. Later that night while socializing at the local pub, she meets another friend Mallory and one of their professors, Dr. Eban. She thinks there is something off about Dr. Eban and there is something that bothers her. After leaving, Delaney meets her boyfriend Tom at the bookstore to show a famous set of scalpels used by an infamous local doctor back in the days of body snatching. After viewing them, locking them in the desk and locking the store, they head home. The next morning when Delaney arrives at work, she finds out that the store was broken into and Mallory is dead in the alley with a skull placed beside the body. A mystery to be solve for sure.
I enjoyed this book very much. The setting of a rare bookshop in old Edinburgh, a hidden warehouse where the owner hides/stores rare antiquities and the whole medical school link made the story feel a bit spooky without being too creepy. Delaney is an intelligent main character, who makes friends easily and is nice and friendly. She is also perseverant and does not give up easily. Along with Delaney there are all the quirky secondary characters, most of them working at the university and the bookstore. Tom, Delaney's boyfriend is her sounding board and helps her solve the mystery, even with all the red herrings. I was completely surprised by the ending and the big reveal, but it was realistic and in hindsight, the clues were there. A lot of history is told throughout the story that made it even more interesting for me. The publisher, St. Martin's Press, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The opinions stated are my own.
Delaney Nicols works at The Cracked Spine, a bookstore in Edinburgh. She befriends two medical students, Rena and Sopie, and buys a couple of books from them. Little do they know that they are rare and valuable manuscripts. Later that night while socializing at the local pub, she meets another friend Mallory and one of their professors, Dr. Eban. She thinks there is something off about Dr. Eban and there is something that bothers her. After leaving, Delaney meets her boyfriend Tom at the bookstore to show a famous set of scalpels used by an infamous local doctor back in the days of body snatching. After viewing them, locking them in the desk and locking the store, they head home. The next morning when Delaney arrives at work, she finds out that the store was broken into and Mallory is dead in the alley with a skull placed beside the body. A mystery to be solve for sure.
I enjoyed this book very much. The setting of a rare bookshop in old Edinburgh, a hidden warehouse where the owner hides/stores rare antiquities and the whole medical school link made the story feel a bit spooky without being too creepy. Delaney is an intelligent main character, who makes friends easily and is nice and friendly. She is also perseverant and does not give up easily. Along with Delaney there are all the quirky secondary characters, most of them working at the university and the bookstore. Tom, Delaney's boyfriend is her sounding board and helps her solve the mystery, even with all the red herrings. I was completely surprised by the ending and the big reveal, but it was realistic and in hindsight, the clues were there. A lot of history is told throughout the story that made it even more interesting for me. The publisher, St. Martin's Press, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The opinions stated are my own.
April 9, 2018
This was my first foray into this series, although I have read other books by this author and let me tell you it was a delightful read. Delaney is out with some friends from the local medical school and is having a blast but one of the girls is acting weird and she doesn't know what to make of it. When the evening comes to an end Delaney and Rena head out, Rena says something cryptic that worries Delaney but there isn't much she can do if the girl won't tell her more. The next morning she receives a call, while enjoying breakfast with her boyfriend Tom, from the bookstore. They rush to The Cracked Spine to find police all over the place, a body has been found and it ends up being one of her new friends but not the one she thought it would be. Why was she at the bookstore and who would want to kill such a vibrant young woman? Follow along as Delaney hunts down clues to help her figure out who the killer could be. Will the secret room remain a secret now that the police know about it? Did one of the other medical students have something to with the girls death and why are they acting funny? Could it have something to do with the weird professor and his interest in an old serial killer? There are so many avenues to look down which made for a fantastic read and a fabulous whodunit. The author manages to weave together a mystery that will have you guessing the whole way through which leaves me excited about going back to the beginning and taking in all that has happened before not to mention what happens next.
June 26, 2018
This was a very good read - I am so glad that there was an audiobook of this so I was able to experience it. I really enjoy Delaney and all of her friends and co-workers. I love the setting and how settled into Scotland she has gotten. And I love how she gets involved with mysteries, even when she isn't trying to [much was the case here].
Murder and mayhem reigns here and the story is very interesting as they Incorporated the true life story of Burke and Hare [serial killers who killed for medical school to have cadavers - they were not particularly concerned with who they killed and the Dr. that they sold to is believed to have known that they were doing it. NOT nice all the way around] into their story-line. It was very interesting how the author did that and of course made me spend time looking up so much information about said serials killers.
Very good edition to this series - I enjoyed it very much and am looking forward to further editions of this story!
***I received this ARC from NetGalley in return for a unbiased review
Murder and mayhem reigns here and the story is very interesting as they Incorporated the true life story of Burke and Hare [serial killers who killed for medical school to have cadavers - they were not particularly concerned with who they killed and the Dr. that they sold to is believed to have known that they were doing it. NOT nice all the way around] into their story-line. It was very interesting how the author did that and of course made me spend time looking up so much information about said serials killers.
Very good edition to this series - I enjoyed it very much and am looking forward to further editions of this story!
***I received this ARC from NetGalley in return for a unbiased review
March 11, 2018
Lost Books and Old Bones is the 3rd book in this series by Paige Shelton.
I haven't read the first two, they are on my kindle TBR list.
When I began this book, I had it in my head that I might not understand the dynamics at first, since I hadn't read the previous two. I was proven wrong right away. The story flowed smoothly and I was able to connect quickly with the characters.
Delaney Nichols is a feisty character and her personality added a fun dimension to the story.
Delaney works at The Cracked Spine, a unique bookstore in Edinburgh.
A native of Kansas USA, Delaney is thrilled with this new adventure in her life. It helps that she has a good group of friends and that special someone in her life. Tom, her pub man, is a fun character, and I like them as a couple.
A set of rare medical books seems to be the catalyst for a whirlwind of disaster for Delaney and The Cracked Spine.
A dead body, a nosy reporter and Delaney's inquisitive mind set the makings of a clever mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.
I'm excited to read the first two books in this quirky, colorful mystery series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
I haven't read the first two, they are on my kindle TBR list.
When I began this book, I had it in my head that I might not understand the dynamics at first, since I hadn't read the previous two. I was proven wrong right away. The story flowed smoothly and I was able to connect quickly with the characters.
Delaney Nichols is a feisty character and her personality added a fun dimension to the story.
Delaney works at The Cracked Spine, a unique bookstore in Edinburgh.
A native of Kansas USA, Delaney is thrilled with this new adventure in her life. It helps that she has a good group of friends and that special someone in her life. Tom, her pub man, is a fun character, and I like them as a couple.
A set of rare medical books seems to be the catalyst for a whirlwind of disaster for Delaney and The Cracked Spine.
A dead body, a nosy reporter and Delaney's inquisitive mind set the makings of a clever mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.
I'm excited to read the first two books in this quirky, colorful mystery series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
March 16, 2022
I will never understand how books like this one ever get published. It should have never left the editor's desk it's that bad. I am glad I got it from the library and didn't pay for it but I'm sad they had to, what a waste of money. Rant and observations first, plot such as it is last.
This book seems like a first draft by a half-rate author and needed a massive amount of editing. Also, it's a book set in Scotland written by an American who I doubt has traveled to the country she picked and it shows. The use of local words is fine but don't try to put the accents into your writing, it's distracting and annoying tae = to and it's all over the place same with sae = so and guid = good and much more. It gets really bad towards the middle of the book with 5 out of 7 words in a sentence being misspelled for the accent of the word when it's unnecessary. It was very annoying, hard to get past and made the dialogue very choppy. There is a lot of repetitiveness with information going as far as repeating the same sentence with a little mixing up of the words 3 to 4 times on the same page! Plus every once in a while this information is contradicted when the character says the complete opposite before going back to the original statement. Red herrings are okay but not when you get so distracted by them they become the plot of half the book only to be dropped later for another path that was never developed so by the end of the book you feel cheated or that the book was really two versions stuck together. By the time you get to the reveal and find out you spent half the book on something insignificant and irrelevant you really don't care about the book at all.
So this is book three in this little cozy mystery series about a middle-aged mid-western woman who moved to Scotland to work in a bookshop. This book is supposed to be a standalone but it has a ton of references to the first two books in the series and if you didn't read them you are missing a few big pieces and it makes this story feel clunky and that bits are missing here and there. Also, this is written without flaws in a dreamland-like setting. Everything is literally perfect for the MC. Too perfect.
Our MC is a genius who moves halfway around the world to work (but not really work because she spend ALL her time playing detective and not actually doing her real job) in a bookshop where she fits right in, pretty much takes over, everyone loves her (not sure why she is exceedingly nosy and bossy), finds the perfect man (I mean dream like perfect idea of a man) who runs a pub (she refers to him as my pub owner instead of his name)that matches her name who can drop everything at a moments notice to be with her. She noses her way into everyone's business then tells them what to do or tattles on them to the police or other people who have no business knowing these things about someone they never met and the people she's talking about don't seem to mind at all.
She also sees/is involved in a crime and thinks she can solve it and that the police are just for show and nothing bad will happen to her. She starts her own investigation and acts like the police and everyone just tells her everything (seriously everyone comes to her or can drop everything they are doing when she shows up to spill their guts even though she then tells the police or just tells them to go to the police or she will) to which her reply is to tell the police or she will, oh and all my friends of which there aren't many (I guess because of her problem getting into their private business and bossing them around and trying to shame them, none of them are close to her). Ugh! Oh and she hears voices and enjoys this even when they tell her what to do. She eagerly awaits and longs for the voices to speak to her. Certifiably crazy.
So our MC Delaney has been in Scottland for just about a year and is enjoying a night out with some acquaintances. They introduce her to another friend and one of their college teachers. The next day the woman she had just met is found dead behind her place of work. Delaney immediately starts to investigate because she knew the victim for all of an hour. She proceeds to stick her nose into everyone's business and boss them about and basically become a tattletale while chasing down gossip and rumors in an effort to find the killer. She spends a week running all over the place to do this and eventually stumbles onto the killer who of course hurts her, might kill her, and blabs every dirty detail before being apprehended. Delaney then celebrates and gets a surprise that means she'll live happily ever after.
This book seems like a first draft by a half-rate author and needed a massive amount of editing. Also, it's a book set in Scotland written by an American who I doubt has traveled to the country she picked and it shows. The use of local words is fine but don't try to put the accents into your writing, it's distracting and annoying tae = to and it's all over the place same with sae = so and guid = good and much more. It gets really bad towards the middle of the book with 5 out of 7 words in a sentence being misspelled for the accent of the word when it's unnecessary. It was very annoying, hard to get past and made the dialogue very choppy. There is a lot of repetitiveness with information going as far as repeating the same sentence with a little mixing up of the words 3 to 4 times on the same page! Plus every once in a while this information is contradicted when the character says the complete opposite before going back to the original statement. Red herrings are okay but not when you get so distracted by them they become the plot of half the book only to be dropped later for another path that was never developed so by the end of the book you feel cheated or that the book was really two versions stuck together. By the time you get to the reveal and find out you spent half the book on something insignificant and irrelevant you really don't care about the book at all.
So this is book three in this little cozy mystery series about a middle-aged mid-western woman who moved to Scotland to work in a bookshop. This book is supposed to be a standalone but it has a ton of references to the first two books in the series and if you didn't read them you are missing a few big pieces and it makes this story feel clunky and that bits are missing here and there. Also, this is written without flaws in a dreamland-like setting. Everything is literally perfect for the MC. Too perfect.
Our MC is a genius who moves halfway around the world to work (but not really work because she spend ALL her time playing detective and not actually doing her real job) in a bookshop where she fits right in, pretty much takes over, everyone loves her (not sure why she is exceedingly nosy and bossy), finds the perfect man (I mean dream like perfect idea of a man) who runs a pub (she refers to him as my pub owner instead of his name)that matches her name who can drop everything at a moments notice to be with her. She noses her way into everyone's business then tells them what to do or tattles on them to the police or other people who have no business knowing these things about someone they never met and the people she's talking about don't seem to mind at all.
She also sees/is involved in a crime and thinks she can solve it and that the police are just for show and nothing bad will happen to her. She starts her own investigation and acts like the police and everyone just tells her everything (seriously everyone comes to her or can drop everything they are doing when she shows up to spill their guts even though she then tells the police or just tells them to go to the police or she will) to which her reply is to tell the police or she will, oh and all my friends of which there aren't many (I guess because of her problem getting into their private business and bossing them around and trying to shame them, none of them are close to her). Ugh! Oh and she hears voices and enjoys this even when they tell her what to do. She eagerly awaits and longs for the voices to speak to her. Certifiably crazy.
So our MC Delaney has been in Scottland for just about a year and is enjoying a night out with some acquaintances. They introduce her to another friend and one of their college teachers. The next day the woman she had just met is found dead behind her place of work. Delaney immediately starts to investigate because she knew the victim for all of an hour. She proceeds to stick her nose into everyone's business and boss them about and basically become a tattletale while chasing down gossip and rumors in an effort to find the killer. She spends a week running all over the place to do this and eventually stumbles onto the killer who of course hurts her, might kill her, and blabs every dirty detail before being apprehended. Delaney then celebrates and gets a surprise that means she'll live happily ever after.
August 8, 2018
In a spontaneous moment of nostalgia for my grad-student days in Edinburgh, I chose this book without reading the previous ones in the series just on spec'.
What I found was an only slightly enlightened version of the usual geo-culturally ignorant Americanised version of Life Overseas, which says more about the day-dreams of a traumatised USA circa 2018 than anything else. If I could award 1.5 stars it would be: ok for some, but not really for me; thanks anyway.
The set-up is substantial if fantastically contrived: a young American (deliberately mid-west by the way) gains employment in a antiquarian Grassmarket area bookshop with an only slightly eccentric but understanding employer, an apparently handy and effortless residential cottage, several non-competitve fellow employees, a sweet little dog and, (it gets even better) a perfectly adoringly modern (read: respectfully 21st C), handsome pub owner as a boyfriend!! Who wouldn't want to live in this Fictional Nirvana? While I avoided Rebus territory assiduously when I lived in various old and new town locations, this ain't the Edin'bh I know. What it sounds like is the idealised premise for a Creative Writing assignment that went wild. Is that how Shelton started all this?
Ah but this is all fiction for the American audience! And I can imagine a Cosy publisher's glinting eyes as the new seam of gold appeared.
Shelton's story plods along too self-consciously being 'mysterious' for two thirds of the book and the Burke and Hare history gets over mined. Which seems a shame since Shelton's actual murder mystery core is pretty clever and original. However, it's not helped by shrouds of clunky scenes of dialogue and suspicions that the author insists are there but the reader can't fathom. Yet it's hard not to miss the contrivances, the trail of odd typos (?), the rather shallow characters, and Shelton's too often use of certain phrases: poor Delaney is forever 'jumping out of her skin'. For someone who seems doomed to a series of nefarious discoveries, I worry for her stressed heart and constant need for the NHS.
Overall the main feature I look for in fiction is the writing style and for a series based on the love of books and thus I assume not just history but a love of language and literature as well, Shelton's writing remains uninspired and pedestrian at best. It was easy to skip through to the last two chapters to discover the finale and I didn't feel one iota of guilt towards the writer.
I am mildly curious about how this miraculous premise was introduced so I might check out the first in this series.
What I found was an only slightly enlightened version of the usual geo-culturally ignorant Americanised version of Life Overseas, which says more about the day-dreams of a traumatised USA circa 2018 than anything else. If I could award 1.5 stars it would be: ok for some, but not really for me; thanks anyway.
The set-up is substantial if fantastically contrived: a young American (deliberately mid-west by the way) gains employment in a antiquarian Grassmarket area bookshop with an only slightly eccentric but understanding employer, an apparently handy and effortless residential cottage, several non-competitve fellow employees, a sweet little dog and, (it gets even better) a perfectly adoringly modern (read: respectfully 21st C), handsome pub owner as a boyfriend!! Who wouldn't want to live in this Fictional Nirvana? While I avoided Rebus territory assiduously when I lived in various old and new town locations, this ain't the Edin'bh I know. What it sounds like is the idealised premise for a Creative Writing assignment that went wild. Is that how Shelton started all this?
Ah but this is all fiction for the American audience! And I can imagine a Cosy publisher's glinting eyes as the new seam of gold appeared.
Shelton's story plods along too self-consciously being 'mysterious' for two thirds of the book and the Burke and Hare history gets over mined. Which seems a shame since Shelton's actual murder mystery core is pretty clever and original. However, it's not helped by shrouds of clunky scenes of dialogue and suspicions that the author insists are there but the reader can't fathom. Yet it's hard not to miss the contrivances, the trail of odd typos (?), the rather shallow characters, and Shelton's too often use of certain phrases: poor Delaney is forever 'jumping out of her skin'. For someone who seems doomed to a series of nefarious discoveries, I worry for her stressed heart and constant need for the NHS.
Overall the main feature I look for in fiction is the writing style and for a series based on the love of books and thus I assume not just history but a love of language and literature as well, Shelton's writing remains uninspired and pedestrian at best. It was easy to skip through to the last two chapters to discover the finale and I didn't feel one iota of guilt towards the writer.
I am mildly curious about how this miraculous premise was introduced so I might check out the first in this series.
May 28, 2018
Delaney is at it again! In Paige Shelton’s Lost Books and Old Bones (A Scottish Bookshop Mystery #3), Delaney meets a few female medical students who are attending The University of Edinburgh’s Medical School, and they are all out celebrating the fact that exams are over! Delaney has only known two of the students for about three months, and she meets another female medical student the night at the pub. Delaney also meets one of the professors, Dr. Eban, who teaches anatomy. One of the students, having celebrated a bit too much, is ‘freaked� that the professor is at the pub, but Delaney likes the professor and begins to wonder why the student keeps referring to Dr. Eban as odd.
The next day Delaney is called to the bookshop early, and she realizes something is very wrong. When she arrives, she discovers that two of her co-workers discovered a dead body ‘in the close� (alley) behind the bookshop where Delaney works. To Delaney’s horror, it is the med. student she had met only last night. This all happens very quickly in the beginning. Now, Delaney feels she must help the police find the killer, again. There are subplots, new characters, trips around Edinburgh, and Delaney’s ‘pub owner�! Lots of excitement and this book makes me realize just how much I am homesick for Edinburgh (even though I am an American!!). A complicated enthralling mystery. 41/4 stars!
The next day Delaney is called to the bookshop early, and she realizes something is very wrong. When she arrives, she discovers that two of her co-workers discovered a dead body ‘in the close� (alley) behind the bookshop where Delaney works. To Delaney’s horror, it is the med. student she had met only last night. This all happens very quickly in the beginning. Now, Delaney feels she must help the police find the killer, again. There are subplots, new characters, trips around Edinburgh, and Delaney’s ‘pub owner�! Lots of excitement and this book makes me realize just how much I am homesick for Edinburgh (even though I am an American!!). A complicated enthralling mystery. 41/4 stars!
January 29, 2020
Honestly, I read cozy mysteries for the general feel of them than the mystery part. It’s the settings and the characters that draw me in. I have no great affinity with all things Scottish but I do love a book themed setting, be it library or store, so that is what attracts me to this series.
The theme of this instalment is a mishmash of medical books and the crimes of Burke and Hare, which has interested me in the past.
As I read this series I do wonder what actual Scots think of it. Do they find it terribly cliched? I suspect they do but for me, this is an entertaining enough series to read.
The theme of this instalment is a mishmash of medical books and the crimes of Burke and Hare, which has interested me in the past.
As I read this series I do wonder what actual Scots think of it. Do they find it terribly cliched? I suspect they do but for me, this is an entertaining enough series to read.
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