Fateful Words: A Scottish Bookshop Mystery

by Paige Shelton

Overview

In Fateful Words, the eighth Scottish Bookshop Mystery from beloved author Paige Shelton, bookseller Delaney Nichols stakes her reputation—and her life—when a literary tour turns deadly...

When Edwin, Delaney’s boss at the Cracked Spine bookstore, leaves town on secret business, Delaney is called upon to guide his yearly literary tour around Edinburgh. But on the first night of the tour, at the inn where the tour group is staying, the inn manager falls—or is pushed—off the roof of the inn, and killed. Then, one of the tour members disappears, leaving a trail of puzzles in her wake.

In a race against the clock, Delaney sets out on the expedition of her life, following clues around Edinburgh to get to the bottom of this mystery. Exploring sights from Greyfriars Bobby to the Royal Mile to the Sir Walter Scott Monument, she'll have to put the pieces together quickly, or the bookstore's survival could be on the line...as well as her own.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250789556
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/23/2024
Series:	Scottish Bookshop Mystery Series , #8
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	24,272
Product dimensions:	4.10(w) x 6.70(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

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

Editorial Reviews

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

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

Praise for the Scottish Bookshop Mystery Series:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Shelton stocks her tale with appealing characters and intriguing Nessie lore. Cozy fans will be rewarded."
—Publishers Weekly on The Loch Ness Papers

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

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

From the Publisher

02/20/2023

In bestseller Shelton’s entertaining eighth Scottish Bookshop mystery (after 2022’s The Burning Pages), wealthy businessman Edwin MacAlister, who owns the Cracked Spine bookstore, selects four “winners” every year from people he’s corresponded with on literary matters. The prize is a coveted all-expenses-paid weekend-long literary tour of Edinburgh led by Edwin. When Edwin and his assistant, Hamlet, are unexpectedly—and mysteriously—unavailable to lead the tour, Edwin’s American expat employee, Delaney Nichols, is tapped to lead the group. The four winners, disappointed by the change, and their newly appointed guide, Delaney, begin the tour. Within 24 hours, the owner of the inn where they’re staying is dead from a fall, and one of the four has vanished. Delaney gamely carries on as she leads the group to places with literary ties, including the Writers Museum and Deacon Brodie’s Tavern, and the danger mounts. With the help of her husband, Tom, Delaney discovers a trail of false identities, fraud, and a killer intent on destroying Edwin. This is armchair tourism at its best, with a dash of murder for spice. Bibliophiles and cozy fans alike will be enchanted. Agent: Jessica Faust, BookEnds Literary. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

2023-02-08
Murder, money, and mayhem in Edinburgh.

Delaney Nichols, who works at The Cracked Spine bookshop, has become proficient in many areas of research since moving to Scotland from Kansas. After delivering her wealthy boss's collection of eyeglasses and monocles to be appraised and being gifted another monocle, coincidentally engraved with the name of her husband, Tom, by the appraiser, she returns to the shop and the disturbing news that her boss, Edwin MacAlister, has been called away and that in his place, she must run his legendary literature tour for a small group of specially chosen people. This year’s party includes Irishwoman Meera Murphy; septuagenarian Englishwoman Kevin Moore; Gunter, a German document specialist; and Luka King, an Australian who claims not to read. While they’re staying at an inn across the square, Edwin’s credit card is refused, the first hint of trouble. Next Delaney sees a man in black running from the inn; Carmel, one of the employees, staggers out after being attacked; and Geoff, the manager, falls or jumps or is pushed off the roof. The tour goes on but without Meera, who unaccountably vanishes, and Delaney eventually learns that Edwin’s identity has been stolen along with much of his fortune. No stranger to murder, she has an excellent relationship with Inspector Winters, whom she feeds all the information she picks up from the group and her own sleuthing. As it becomes more and more likely that the murder has something to do with identity theft, Delaney finds herself targeted by a killer.

A delightful paean to the ancient Scottish capital wrapped around a serviceable mystery.

Kirkus Reviews