The Poison Pen (A Scottish Bookshop Mystery, 9) (2024)

The Poison Pen is the 9th book in the Scotish Bookstore Mysteries series. It takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland. Delaney Nichols is the main character. He came to Edinburgh to work in the Cracked Spine Bookstore. It is owned by Edwin MacAlister and Rosie and Hamlet are co-workers who work with her. Her husband, Tom owns his own pub.

Edwin called her and told her that he had an assignment that he wanted her to do. It is in the town of Roslin. He wants her to go and visit Jolie Lannister who has something she thinks will interest Edwin. She takes a cab owned by Elias who also is a good friend. Julia owns the estate, West Rosebud House. It has been in her family for over 100 years. Upon arriving at her estate they come across the groundskeeper, Homer Vanton, who was an old friend of Elias. They had worked on the docks. He has worked for the family a long time. When getting into the house they hear angry voices. Bowie Berry, Jolie's lawyer. She has brought Gilles Haig who owns an auction house to remove all of Jolie's things, Alban Dunning is Gilles assistant. Trudie, Jolia's housekeeper and good friend. Jolie is not happy with her lawyer and tells them they are not going to take anything out of her house. Jolie takes them to the shed to show them what they came to see. It is an old crusader sword. It was found in the garden by Homer who brought it to Jolie to see. They found Homer standing over the body of Alban Dunning dead with a bloody rake. Delaney texted Inspector Winter about the Alban Dunning. He comes. Homer denies killing him. What was Alban doing on the property?

Delaney and Elias went back to Edinburgh. She called Joshua who she knew when she arrived to Scotland. He worked for the National Museums of Scotland. He told her at he had just met with the new Treasure Trove Unit director, Cramer Donnell who is interested in the sword.

This is where the story gets interesting. There is so much going on that I will leave it to the reader to enjoy to the end,

I always enjoy this series and all the characters that make up the story. I look forward to the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotauk Books for this ARC.

It was delightful to return to the warm friends of The Crooked Spine bookshop in Charlotte and meet them once again as they get involved in yet another surprising investigation.

Description:
The ninth installment in the cozy mystery series by Paige Shelton and featuring amateur sleuth Delaney Nichols, set in a specialty bookshop in Edinburgh called The Cracked Spine.

Bookseller Delaney Nichols's boss's Edwin comes to her with an unusual assignment. An old friend of his, living in an estate in the village of Roslin, has found what could be a priceless relic on her property, and Delaney is tasked with investigating. Could Jolie possibly have in her possession, as she believes, a Crusader Sword? But when Delaney arrives at Jolie's estate, she is greeted by a legal team with a vested interest in the property. Delaney and Jolie manage to remove the intruders, but as they're examining the antique sword, they hear a scream, and meet a much less welcome a body.

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

My Thoughts:
The Scottish locale is charming and so are the bookshop friends. It's always fun to return to the friends in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series, they seem like such a warm and welcoming group. I found the background of the Crusader sword interesting. Those swords are priceless items. Then there is a murder before Delaney is finished checking out the sword. Of course Delaney ends up investigating. There are multiple suspects and the lots of avenues to pursue. I was surprised at the result.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.

This is part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone. Delaney is caught up in a murder investigation, once again. One of the many things I appreciate about these books is the addition of new and interesting characters. The older characters of course help Delaney with the investigation. The reader continues to gain more knowledge of the original characters. These books are always fast paced, intriguing and will definitely keep your attention. As always, I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Edwin MacAlister, owner of The Cracked Spine in Edinburgh Scotland has a special assignment for his employee, Delaney Nichols. An old friend, Jolie Lannister has found what she thinks could be a valuable artifact on her estate in Roslin. Edwin wants Delaney to take a look at it and investigate its provenance. She asks her friend Elias to drive her as she is still learning to drive on the other side of the road.

Delaney and Elias arrive to find Jolie along with her legal counsel and two men she has brought to do a full inventory of everything in and on the estate. While Jolie does appear to have a hoarding problem she feels the attorney has overstepped her bounds and asks them to leave. Jolie had instructed her groundkeeper to put the priceless item in an unusual place. Before Delaney can even get a good look at it they hear a scream. A scream that leads to a dead body.

Delaney starts to dig into Jolie’s history and she finds that her mother had made the astounding claim that she had an affair with King Edward VIII and that Jolie was the real heir to the throne instead of Elizabeth II. The only proof is a supposed journal kept by one of Edward’s secretaries. Could that be a tie to the man who was murdered? Delaney is pulling out all the stops to find out.

The people of Edinburgh and all over the UK, the commonwealths and several of us in America are still mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II. I love that Ms. Shelton included that in this story along with some royal tea about the womanising Edward VIII. It also appears that Delaney is hearing a very special new voice.

All our favorite characters return and continue to grow in logical ways. Delaney and Tom’s relationship is so sweet. She has even started borrowing his car as long as she isn’t going too far. Her responsibilities are growing in her work for Edwin. He trusts her completely. Hamlet and Rosie along with miniature Yorkie, Hector keep the bookshop running. Rosie even takes a trip with Delaney as they work to make clues fit together. Elias and Aggie are a wonderful couple too. I am happy they are part of Delaney’s life.

We meet Jolie Lannister, her right-hand woman Trudie, and her friend and groundskeeper Homer, who happens to be an old friend of Elias. These characters are well-crafted and likable even though they are not fully truthful at first.

The mystery is complex with a lot of twists and turns and Delaney follows each clue while developing and discarding different theories. She is a smart amateur sleuth assisted by some wise words only she hears. Is the artifact real? Who is the true owner? Why was it found now? And why did a man have to die? There are several different viewpoints. I do enjoy that Delaney keeps her friend Inspector Winters abreast of everything she finds and learns. I also like the way Tom gets caught up in her investigation.

The title A Poison Pen is a bit puzzling. I ran a search and the word “pen” is not mentioned in the book other than in the title, and “poison” was only mentioned once. That being said I got totally caught up in the story and had a very short personal suspect list. I was flabbergasted that one of those names was correct.

A Poison Pen is the 9th book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery and is a compelling read with well-developed engaging characters in a unique setting. Jolie’s West Rosebud House was quite a place and she was a very interesting character. I hope this isn’t the last we see of her, Trudie, and Homer.

I was offered an arc of this new cozy mystery through the SMPG Influencer program. I had read and enjoyed the previous book in the series so was excited to dive right in. Delaney Nichols, an American transplanted to Scotland, is sent by her boss Edwin to collect an ancient sword found on the property of Jolie Lannister at her mansion West Rosebud House in Roslin. When Delaney arrives though, she steps into the middle of an argument going on between Jolie and her attorney, Bowie Berry, who has brought an estate appraiser, Gilles Haig, and his young assistant, Alban Dunning, to look over the contents of the old mansion. Ms Berry believes Jolie is showing signs of a mental disorder, exhibited in hoarding disease, and wants these experts to do an inventory of the cluttered contents. Jolie had signed over power of attorney to Ms Berry 10 years ago to cover such a circ*mstance.

Once Jolie convinces these people to leave, she takes Delaney and her driver Elias to the outbuilding where the sword is being kept. Before long though, they hear a man yelling: the groundskeeper Homer has found young Alban murdered.

Delaney has been involved in some detecting in the past and has aided police investigations; she does the same here. Who would want the poor young man dead? And why? The situation becomes quite controversial with questions about the ownership of such national treasures as the ancient sword. There's also some old gossip to wade through involving the royal family. A very intriguing mystery plot!

The Poison Pen is the ninth book in the A Scottish Bookshop Mystery series by Paige Shelton.

Edwin, the owner of a Scottish bookstore, asks Delaney Nichols to visit with his old-time friend, Jolie Lannister. Jolie has found what she feels might be a legendary Crusader Sword that she wants to turn over to Edwin. When Delaney arrives at Jolie’s estate, she finds Jolie is in a discussion with her lawyer, Bowie Berry, and Giles Haig, an auctioneer and his assistant. Jolie is a hoarder, and Berry plans on using that to prove Jolie’s competency. Haig is there to evaluate Josie’s estate. Jolie sends Berry and Haig on their way and takes Delaney to a nearby shed to show her the sword. If the sword is a Crusader Sword, it belongs in a museum, as Scottish law says it is illegal for private citizens to own historical items. As they are returning to the house, they come across Homer, Jolie’s gardener, standing over the dead body of Haig’s assistant. Homer was holding the knife that had killed the assistant. Jolie asks Delaney to investigate the death, and she contacts Inspector Winters to help with the investigation.

When Jolie was a child, a story that was going around was that Jolie was a “love child” of Edward VIII. An aide to Edward VIII reportedly wrote a journal supporting this story. Still, the journal has gone missing, and Delaney wonders whether this might have anything to do with the murder of Haig’s assistant.
I love this series; the books are well-written and plotted. The characters are well-developed, believable, and engaging.

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this engaging series.

Pro
* It’s good to return to the Cracked Spine and the crew
* Very well-paced and designed puzzle/mystery
* Elias & Aggie
* Well-developed and complex new characters
* Perfectly timed choice of historical element in this one
* Delany’s genuine connections to the people in her new homeland

Con
* Overuse of a handful of Scottish words becomes bit gimmicky
* I don’t buy the “bumbling police” trope in this one
* Delany is still over the line intrusive sometimes

Thank you to Paige Shelton, Books, and NetGalley for an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely series and I enjoyed this book quite a bit ! The characters are so interesting. I do wish the “bookish voices “ she hears were more frequent in the novel.

The Poison Pen is the ninth book in The Scottish Bookshop Mystery series by Paige Shelton.
Delaney Nichols plays a stellar character in this cozy mystery that's bound to leave readers wanting more.
Delaney works in a specialty bookshop, The Cracked Spine,
in the town of Edinburgh.
Her boss Edwin always has a problem he needs her help with, so when he asks her to visit an old friend, to determine if she's really in possession of a priceless relic, Delaney knows she's in for an interesting visit.
The story revolves around a Crusader Sword, and the people involved have their own motives for finding it, and owning it.
Delaney soon finds herself in a bizarre situation, and the adventure will leave the reader breathless, wondering what is truth and what is fiction.
I loved this book, each story is a lesson in history and I found this one to be quite good.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

I have loved this series from book 1 and I always look forward to a new book because it is like getting to go to Scotland, hang out in an excellent bookshop with some of my most favorite book friends [seriously, who would NOT want to hang out with Elias and Aggie??] and just soak up all that Edinburgh has to offer [minus the murder pleaseandthankyou! ;-) ]

This outing finds Delaney doing an errand for Edwin in regards to a sword; she takes Elias with her and one of the coolest parts of the story is that he reconnects with an old friend. That was just lovely. The sword however, is not [lovely], and it leads all the key players down a bunny trail of deception, questionable ethical practices, blackmail and of course, murder.

I was pretty sure I knew who was involved pretty quickly, but that never took away from one second of this book. There is just so much more going on than just the sword [though THAT story is...interesting] and the murder; Jolie Lannister's story alone could have been a whole book [it will help if you know even the basics about Edward and Wallis, but if you don't, Google is your friends. It will really open your eyes to just how close the world was to having a much different WW2], and I hope that we see her [and Homer and Trudie] again in a future book. Delaney [and therefore all of us readers as well] gets a new bookish voice and it was a lovely tribute to a great lady who is still greatly mourned.

This was a really excellent read and I highly recommend this series to all who love books about books, a little magical realism, a good mystery, and some of the best book characters out there right now.

Thank you to NetGalley, Paige Shelton, and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Scottish Bookshop mysteries is one of my favourite series because of the setting (an old bookshop in Edinburgh with a hidden warehouse full of artefacts) and the characters, who are all charming in their own way. This time, most of the story takes place away from the bookshop but it’s still fascinating it so many ways.

There’s a (possibly) priceless relic, shady characters, a claiment to the throne, (alleged) royal affairs, and the ethics of who owns treasures of historical significance. Add on a cast of familiar old characters and some new faces and this cozy mystery has it all.

There’s so much going on and the addition of some new faces keeps this story moving along at a wonderfully fast pace. I was so excited to see find out if the relic was what they thought it might be and then the journey that the relic takes is just a roller-coaster of ups-and-downs. That, along with the murder mystery and finding out if Jolie is really royalty, definitely held my interest for the entire book.

One of the things that this book touches on a lot is how things aren’t always black and white. Life is a lot of grey areas, and several of the characters in the book demonstrate that in a variety of ways. A huge part of this story is who “owns” a treasure that is found and has historical significance. The family that has owned it for generations? The person who found it on their land? The country? The local museum? Whoever can afford to purchase it? All of these come into play often throughout this series, but especially in this one and it was interesting to see how each character – from Edwin, to Delaney, to Joshua – felt about these issues.

Delaney makes a wonderful main character/amateur sleuth. She’s smart, logical and not reckless (most of the time). and she is always considering different points of view. She doesn’t take too many risks and is always quick to keep her police enforcement friends in the loop. I love how well she has settled into life in Scotland and her and Tom make a lovely married couple.

All in all, this was another wonderful addition to the series and I hope there’s more to come!

* Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for review purposes.

Because I get through so many books a year, I keep a journal with a summary of the story in each one I read. This one started out well but the conclusion seemed overly complex and muddy; it was tough summing it up succinctly enough to fit in my journal. I am glad it was all spelled out in the end because I was having difficulty piecing it all together with all the different characters involved. Other than that, I enjoyed my visit with Delaney and her friends. The writing flowed smoothly, as usual, and drew me into the story from the very beginning. I look forward to the next installment.

I received a copy from #NetGalley and #MinotaurBooks for an honest review.

Delaney's boss has come to her with an assignment, an old friend has found.what he thinks is a priceless relic and he wants her to check things out. Delaney arrives to take a look at the relic and before she has a chance too truly take a look she is interrupted. The scream that interrupted her leads to a dead body. Delaney looks at the whole incident as a mystery that she looks forward to solving. As she begins to investigate she she finds some interesting connections between the residence where she is and the murdered person. Follow along as she delves into the history and tries to put the pieces of the puzzle together to figure out who the killer might be.

I received an ARC of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

In Scotland, Delaney Nichols, of Kansas, and her co-workers are mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Delaney has been sent to visit the village of Roslin where a possible Crusader sword has been found on the property of local eccentric Jolie Lannister. Ewin wants Delaney to take a look at the sword he may be interested in acquiring. Delaney is a bit out of her league but she's curious enough to check it out. Elias tags along for protection and encouragement. Right away Elias recognizes the groundskeeper, Homer, as an old army buddy, a sure sign Delaney is safe at Rosebud. However, when Delaney arrives, Jolie is besieged by an angry lawyer threatening power of attorney over Jolie, who may or may not have "lost her mental faculties" and become a hoarder. Bowie Berry brings along auction house personnel, Gilles Haig and Alban Dunning. After the departure of the uninvited guests, an upset Jolie invites Delaney to the outbuilding where the sword is kept for safe keeping. While Delaney is with Jolie and her companion, Trudie, in a shed looking at the sword and Elias dashes off to check on Homer, Alban is tragically murdered with Homer's rake! The police take away Homer for questioning and Elias is incensed. IF Homer did it, it was to protect Jolie and Trudie. The new Treasure Trove Unit Director swoops in and accuses Edwin of stealing the sword! Delaney asks Inspector Winters to come handle the case and contacts Tom's ex-girlfriend, Bridget, for scoop. It is soon revealed that Jolie's eccentricity does not just extend to hoarding. Long ago her mother claims to have had an affair with former King Edward VIII, Jolie's real biological father and not so long ago, Jolie tried to make a claim for the throne! It seems the only shred of evidence is in the pages of a journal kept by a supposed personal secretary of the former king. Only one other person had a connection to that journal and that person is now dead. Is there a connection between the journal and the sword? The Treasure Trove Unit Director wants the sword examined for authenticity and Delaney volunteers to do it, along with her father-in-law Artair. This action may cause some hard feelings among interested parties and a when a shocking event occurs, Delaney isn't sure what to think or who to trust. The Queen's words keep echoing in Delaney's head, offering comfort and advice.

This is an excellent mystery, albeit convoluted. I had my suspicions about the murderer all along but it didn't seem possible or probable. I rather feared it was going to be a likable character in spite of the impossibility. There are several red herrings and some unanswered questions.

The beginning of the story was a little bogged down by mourning the queen. Sure I miss her too and may or may not have purchased a souvenir of her life but I felt it was a little much especially for Delany. I would also like to nitpick and inform Delany that the diner was not actually invented in the midwest but in Rhode Island, as a lunch wagon. It's still there (a modern version), in Providence, feeding workers downtown every evening and there are several historic diners in the region that serve up amazing pancakes. Maybe the midwest has the best pie in America. I do like learning about where Delaney is from and having that connection. Kansas is not just point A, Delaney's starting point. She has deep roots there and it's her home. She was excited to introduce Tom to her American midwestern culture. That's cute.

Tom is hunky, I get it. He's a nice guy but a little two-dimensional. In the end, he loses his temper at Delaney for doing something stupid and unnecessary. The staff at the Cracked Spine have grown closer than ever. Rosie is motherly and protective of everyone. Sweet little Hector intuitively knows when humans are in need of his comfort. He's a true lap dog. Hamlet is not torn in his loyalties. He is faithful to Edwin who has taken him in and given him a chance. Edwin is eccentric but fair. He may have a collection of priceless treasures squirreled away, but when he wants to sell something, he gives the money to charity. Having Delaney catalog his treasures has freed him up to be semi-retired and pursue other interests. He's a decent chap. Elias and Aggie are back in this adventure. Hooray! Elias is special to Delaney. He looks out for her, keeps her safe but encourages her as a father would. She sees a lot of her own father in Elias and knows she must have instinctively been drawn to choose Elias's taxi when she first arrived at the airport. Aggie is a loving and supportive wife and cares deeply about her husband. She gets a little hysterical in her worry though. Bridget is a force of nature and enjoys messing with Delaney who is an honest and open Midwesterner. They don't quite understand each other all the time but they get along and are willing to share information. I'm not sure Bridget is always ethical when researching her stories but she does provide a lot of clues.

Inspector Winters is a fair cop. He trusts Delaney and I appreciate that she checks in with him. However, wouldn't this case be out of his jurisdiction? It seems like a case of national significance for a special task force to handle the sword and another unit for the murder. I'm not sure how that works. Joshua, a friend who works at the museum, is torn. He works for the officials but is friends with Delaney, Edwin, Rosie and especially Hamlet, a young man near his own age. Officially, Joshua should report what he sees in the warehouse but he's savvy enough not to look too closely or ask questions. He's in a tough spot though and unsure how to be a friend AND keep his job. They'll work it out. I think he's fair-minded.

The victim, Alban Dunning, sounds like a lovely young man. His murder is such a tragedy. He was quiet and kept himself to himself. Apparently he had a rough childhood and is trying to overcome it. He did one thing wrong in his younger days and it may have come back to haunt him. He may not have had a wide circle of friends but those who knew him will miss him.

I like Jolie. I think she's delightful. I don't think she's a hoarder so much as a recluse afraid of the outside world or maybe depressed from being alone for so long. She may have mild mental health issues but she proves she is capable of overcoming whatever it wrong with a little motivation. She can't help being who she is. Her mother sounds like a real character. I'm sure the villagers' claims had no merit and she did more good than harm. Her claims about Jolie's parentage seem dubious and everyone knows Jolie doesn't have a claim to the throne. Illegitimate royals don't inherit anything AND Edward VIII was no longer king when Jolie was born in 1947. Jolie is confused and I don't blame her. Jolie is unfailingly kind to everyone. She treats her servants like family and is always lovely to Delaney. Yet, Jolie might be a pathological liar. I think one white lie leads to more and more so that may be the situation here. She can't possibly be the murderer since she was with Delany, YET someone hints at something in Jolie's past that may complicate matters. It doesn't make a lot of sense though. Trudie, Jolie's even more elderly companion, is devoted to Jolie. They've been family for a long time and Trudie is very loyal. She's protective of Jolie and trying to help. I like her but I'm not sure she's 100% trustworthy. Homer Vanton, an old army buddy of Elias's, looks like a frail old man yet he manages to keep the grounds of Rosebud looking fresh and neat. He has even recently done some renovations to the grounds. Wow! He loves Jolie and Trudie like family though and would do anything to protect them. The victim was killed with his rake and he was the only one around. I hope he didn't do it. That would be devastating for Elias.

Bowie Berry, on the other hand, is entirely unlikable. She claims to have Jolie's best interests at heart but Jolie is wise enough to realize her supposed lawyer hasn't contacted her in MONTHS or pulled power of attorney before. Jolie's hoarding is nothing new but the discovery of the sword is. Is the timing a coincidence? I don't believe in coincidences but I can't believe Trudie or Homer would spill the beans or contact Bowie out of worry. Bowie is a nasty piece of work. She comes across as super *itchy and somewhat mysterious. I sure hope she's the murderer. She left the property before the murder though so I don't know how it could be. Plus she would have had to walk on the grounds and I get the impression she's a high heels kind of person. I was hoping she would be the murder victim!

Gillies Haig, an auction house representative, is on hand to do an emergency appraisal of Jolie's home. Shouldn't she be given a head's up beforehand, a court evaluation and a chance to clean? Something sounds shady to me. Delaney knows this man from previous dealings and has found him to be fair and decent. Why is he here then? He seems a little uncomfortable with the confrontation. Did he not know this was happening? What is his part in the tragedy?

The new Treasure Trove Unit Director, Cramer Donnell, is ... odd. Cramer has concerns about Joshua's friendship with the Cracked Spine staff. I think he's going to be Edwin and Delaney's nemesis. He's one of those intense black and white people who has the law on his side. However, I wonder if his passion for Scottish history is going to color his judgment and tempt him into doing something like... murder? He wasn't there but he could have been in the village, come via walking path and circled back afterwards. It's a longshot but convenient. Late in the book we meet Daken Miler, a lawyer and senior partner at the firm where Bowie claims to work. He can't or won't tell Delaney much but he gives her hints. As a senior partner in a law firm, he'll know how to get away with murder. He has a motive but again, how and where did come from and go afterwards? I get a weird vibe from him. Tom thinks Daken is a good guy just because Daken comes to the pub and behaves decently. Can we trust Tom's judgment?

I couldn't put this mystery down and can't wait for the next one!

I really enjoyed this book. The characters really make it, you get to feel them so well, their characters are deeply expressive. The whole sword thing isn’t the focus of the story, nor the murder but who the people are and how they interact. By the way there is no poison or pen in the story. #ThePoisonPen #NetGalley

When called to the home of an old friend of Edwin's, Delaney is expecting to look at on old sword discovered on the grounds. She doesn't expect to find a body.

As Delaney investigates, she has to deal with a woman who has a problem with telling the truth, a shady lawyer, and a director of the Treasure Trove Unit who has his own agenda.

This is the ninth mystery starring Delaney who is an American transplant to Scotland who loves her job dealing with antiquities at the bookshop Edwin owns. She has a tendency to discover bodies wherever she goes. Over the course of the series, Delaney has made a number of friends who make appearances in this story including Inspector Winters who is her friend in the police.

The story is set shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth which plays into the story both because Delaney occasionally has voices in her head which offer her clues. Usually, the voices are from works of literature. In this one the voices are Elizabeth's from some of her speeches.

I enjoyed the story because I like Delaney and her circle of friends. The mystery had some nice twists and turns too.

Edinburgh, Scotland. Queen Elizabeth II has just passed away in Scotland. Paige Shelton’s The Poison Pen (Scottish Bookshop Mysteries, #9) finds Delaney teary while riding in Elias’ cab listening to the radio which is only discussing Queen Elizabeth II’s passing. I agree. It was a very sad time! Delany’s boss at The Cracked Spine Bookshop, Edwin, has a new ‘project’ for Delaney - evaluating a “priceless relic”. The relic is the possession of a friend of Edwin’s in Roslin which is about seven miles south of Edinburgh. Off to Roslin go Delaney and Elias, and that is when the difficulties began for me. The character Delaney meets did not seem to fit to me. The story as it unfolded felt disjointed and unbelievable. Plus the relic that had been discovered appeared to me to have been hastily buried. Thus, I knew it had been stashed there right from the start. Unfortunately, the rest of the story just was not up to par for this series which I usually enjoy. The title also seemed off. I did figure it out, but I wish the title was a better fit. 3 stars.

Edwin proposes a new project for Delaney. A friend of Edwin's has something for Delaney to archive. She invites Elias to drive her to Rosalin to the estate of Jolie Lannister. Jolie is dealing with a lot at the moment of their arrival. Her attorney is trying to clean her house out. It's filled with stuff. Jolie shows Delaney and Elias a sword. A dirty sword found in the garden. It might be a crusaders sword. As they are leaving the shed. They find a dead body and the gardener is found over the body. Delaney starts to investigate to help clear the Gardener.

The mystery on this one was really good. I loved how all the pieces connected. It kept me on my toes. This author does a fantastic job and I hope she continues to write more mysteries.

This series is always a fun read. I didn't know there was such a thing as the Treasure Trove Unit - it sounds kind of made up but there really is such a unit at the National Museum of Scotland. Read my full review at Girl Who Reads.

I did not do myself any favors jumping into the ninth installation of a mystery series, but this was still an engaging read for those who love historical royal Scotland and suspenseful mystery solving. There's a bit of humor and a lot of intrigue, and I adored the setting and voices of Scotland. For fans of the author and ongoing series, and also for anyone who enjoys movies like Indiana Jones or National Treasure. The modern chase in a historical context is a great anachronistic read, and it's especially fun to imagine the dialogue heavy text in a Scottish brogue.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Shelton makes the weirdest choices about what is done "on page" versus off page. She will detail at length a meal, the nuances of Scots language, and getting dirt off artifacts, but then completely truncate a fight between main characters to one paragraph of telling instead of showing. It is a very weird and frustrating habit.

All in all i liked the new characters and the mystery, but the writing really annnoyed me this time.

If you’re new to the series, you can certainly jump in on The Poison Pen. Each book contains it’s own mystery, so the only thing you’ll miss is the evolution of the characters and relationships over the series.

The book opens just after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and everyone is sad and mourning her passing. Delaney is particularly sad, since she feels that since moving to Edinburgh from America, the royal family has been more relevant to her daily life. Delaney is basically an honorary Scot now that she lives and works at The Cracked Spine bookshop in Edinburgh owned by the well-respected bookseller and collector, Edwin MacAlister. Rounding out the team are favorite characters Rosie, Joshua, Hector, and Hamlet.

Delaney has met and married the love of her life, Tom, and the two have settled into their cozy seaside cottage in Edinburgh. Delaney loves her life (and frankly, I love her life too! I wish it were my life, minus the mysterious deaths!). Delaney spends most of her time in the warehouse adjoining The Cracked Spine bookshop, assisting Edwin with curating his secret and extensive collection of rare and historical artifacts.

As the group discusses the passing of the queen, they need a distraction and it comes in the form of a new mission. Edwin asks Delaney to venture out to the West Rosebud House in Roslin. West Rosebud is the family estate of Jolie Lannister, an old friend of Edwins and rumored illegitimate heir to the throne. The estate has been in their family for over a century. Jolie has an artifact that she thinks might fit Edwin’s collection, and Edwin wants Delaney to check it out.

Delaney enlists her friend Elias to accompany her. Frankly, she’s never quite adjusted to driving on the opposite side of the road and Elias drives professionally. The pair arrive at the estate and meet Jolie’s groundskeeper Homer who is a good friend of Elias. The happy reunion is soured when they walk in on an argument between Jolie and her attorney, Bowie, who has surprised her by bringing an appraiser to review the contents of West Rosebud House. The appraiser, Gilles Haig, has also brought an assistant, Alban Dunning.

Bowie alleges that Jolie is exhibiting signs of becoming a hoarder, and that he must step in to take control of the estate. The first step is to review and inventory the contents of the estate. Delaney and Elias effectively break up the argument—prompting the unwelcome group to leave—and turn to Jolie who is understandably distraught. The trio head to the shed where Jolie has hidden the object she wanted Delaney to review—an old, dirt-encrusted sword. Delaney believes the sword is authentic, which excites the group.

The discussion is cut short when a commotion outside draws them out to find Homer standing over the dead body of Alban, Gilles’s assistant. When Homer is arrested, Delaney and Elias jump to help him. Delaney knows she must find out who the real killer is and why they murdered Alban before Homer goes down for a crime he didn’t commit. Word of the rare sword gets out, and everyone in the collection business wants it, including the Treasure Trove Unit of the Scottish government. Meanwhile Delaney discovers a connection between the murder and a journal from Jolie’s mother that claims Jolie may be the rightful heir to the throne.

If that plot doesn’t get you intrigued by this mystery, check your pulse! It’s got everything—a rare sword, an alleged illegitimate heir to the throne, murder, and an historic Scottish estate. Paige Shelton’s books are always well-written and contain fascinating mysteries. I like that she doesn’t get too bogged down in the personal relationships between the characters and keeps the mystery at the center of the plot. There are plenty of red herrings and clues to follow as the reader seeks to solve the mystery alongside Delaney. I was kept guessing until the final reveal.

An intriguing mystery and a wonderful installment in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series!

Thank you to St Martin’s Press for my copy. Opinions are my own.

THE POISON PEN, the ninth installment in author Paige Shelton's wonderfully appealing Scottish Bookshop mystery series finds Delaney Nichols once again caught up in an investigation despite her best intentions to NOT get involved.

As the story opens, the staff of The Cracked Spine bookshop is still mourning the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth II (a nice touch to give the book a loosely specific time frame). Delaney is preparing to visit an acquaintance of shop owner Edwin MacAlister.

She has an item that she wants authenticated before she proceeds on a course of action. But when Delaney arrives, she's stymied (and then threatened) by a lawyer before she is barely in the door. Refusing to back down, Delaney is also shocked to discover that Edwin's friend Jolie Lannister is a hoarder. While the house isn't a complete wreck there is STUFF everywhere.

All that is set aside when Jolie soon reveals what she wanted Edwin (and by proxy, Delaney) to see. It's a sword. But perhaps not just ANY old sword. It might be a Crusader sword which would make it an incredible historical find. Unfortunately before more can be done, all the assembled parties hear a scream and soon discover that someone has been murdered on the grounds.

The groundskeeper is the initial suspect but there's nothing really tying him to the victim. As the investigation ramps up, Delaney soon stumbles across a number of hurdles. Jolie seems to be lying to her, a snotty museum director is trying to claim the sword for himself. That puts her in conflict with her friend Joshua and soon Edwin is even implicated in a negative newspaper article. If not for the murder, at least his sometimes quasi-legal dealings with historical objects.

But as Delaney digs deeper, the museum director becomes more of an obstacle and there's the matter of that lawyer who is proving slippery to get in touch with. And she might not be quite as honest as you'd hope.

It will take all of Delaney's skills and friends to find out who killed the victim and why? Is it tied to the sword or something entirely separate? What is the connection between Jolie and Edwin? And how can Delaney bring a murderer to justice before she becomes their next target?

I loved the plot of THE POISON PEN and how it centered around an ancient sword. Growing up, I was fascinated by all kinds of swords and I liked reading about the details surrounding how to confirm the authenticity of the one in this story. Like the characters, I gasped at one point while Delaney was working on the sword.

The continued growth of the supporting cast of the series makes them so richly fulfilling to read. With Edwin, Rosie and Hamlet from The Cracked Spine, the mostly friend inspector who values Delaney's inquiries and the back and forth playfulness with Delaney's husband Tom, it's a cast that continues to entertain alongside the mystery. Elias, who was on hand as Delaney's driver, really had some great character bits in the story too. A throwaway line about Delaney and Elias opening up a detective agency had me wondering what that would be like.

In the end, the plot ratcheted up the intensity and the stakes as it moved headlong towards its resolution. Paige Shelton has consistently provided plenty of thrills with the Scottish Bookshop series and THE POISON PEN continues that winning track record. It provides a taut mystery, great storytelling and characters who feel like home each time you open a new book in the series.

Full review here: https://readwithme2018.com/2024/04/15...

When I read the blurb for The Poison Pen and saw that a) it was a mystery and b) it was set in Scotland, I knew I needed to read it. I have a love of all things Scottish. That figured into my acceptance of St. Martin’s Press’s widget, and I am glad I did. I enjoyed reading this book.

The Poison Pen is the ninth book in the A Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. Technically, it could be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the first eight books before this one. Some references to previous storylines and characters confused me, but those references are also explained.

The main storyline in The Poison Pen follows Delaney as she recovers what could be a Crusader sword from the estate of an eccentric heiress and attempts to solve the murder of a young man. Several more minor storylines supplement the main storyline. I found all the storylines to be engaging. They didn’t lose my interest and kept me reading the book.

The primary storyline centers around Delaney, the sword, and the young man’s murder. The author has an interesting way of writing this storyline. The suspect and motive were identified right away. However, the author holds back on some details and introduces a secondary suspect and motive towards the end of the book. I liked Delaney’s investigation and was fascinated by her job.

As I mentioned above, there were several secondary storylines. A good portion of them fleshed out the main storyline. But the storyline with Jolie and her claims was very interesting. I liked how the author wove Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson into that storyline. What I enjoyed most was that the author intentionally left it unanswered.

The mystery in The Poison Pen is two-pronged. It separated into the mystery of the Crusader sword and the mystery of the young man’s murder. I couldn’t figure out how or why they were related until Delaney cracked the sword mystery. Then, everything came into place for the young man’s murder. Who was behind everything didn’t surprise me; I felt that person was involved. The reasons also didn’t surprise me- greed makes people do stupid things. But it was the secondary person involved and their reason that surprised me. I should have seen that twist coming, but I didn’t.

Hoarding and the reasons behind it are showcased in this book. Jolie’s situation was not as extreme as cases that I have heard about (she didn’t hoard food/urine/trash); it was still pretty bad. I did feel that Jolie’s recovery was a little fast, but then again, if I had people in and out of my house (and it looked like hers), I would have started cleaning too. Thankfully, Jolie seems to have a sound support system with her staff (who genuinely care for her). I am interested in seeing if she will appear in upcoming books.

The end of The Poison Pen was interesting. The author wrapped up the main storyline in a way that I liked. She also left me wondering if there will be a book 10.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Paige Shelton for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Poison Pen. All opinions stated in this book are mine.

Virtually shadowing Delaney as she works her way through the maze of oblique, confusing clues is also reather like doing a complicated jig-saw puzzle. A large, complex jig-saw puzzle. Just when you think you've found the right piece, boom, nope, and you throw up your hands in frustration. Yet, after you take a few deep breaths (and probably collect the pieces you've also tossed away in frustration), the puzzle slowly, achingly slowly, begins to come together.

Who killed the seemingly innocuous Alban? He seemed to have no real enemies or, for that matter, friends. Elias, who drove Delaney to an appointment at Jolie Lannister's home, is friends with Homer, the man found standing over the victim with a bloodied rake. The story, with all its maddening twists and turns and countless detours, is off-and-running from that point. As always, Shelton's writing is excellent, managing to capture both Delaney's horror and her need to establish order in what she's seen. In the process, we learn quite a bit about not just Scottish history and pride, including a few Scottish phrases, but how strict relic related laws are about not just the handling of such items as a (maybe) Crusader sword, but who has custody of such items. Delaney's boss Edwin, always a bit mysterious, doesn't always seem to quite follow the exact letter of the law but means well, we discover. So, who are the others lusting after the sword and what might they do to obtain it? And, what the heck does the late Queen Elizabeth and once king Edward and Wallis Simpson have to do with anything?

I won't detail the plot. It's complicated and at times seem to go off in different directions. In the process of watching Delaney try to tie all the clues together, you'll get to meet some interesting characters. Long time readers will delight in getting a glimpse of Edwin MacAlister's past as well as getting to know Delaney's husband Tom's father a bit better. Then there is Jolie, a long time target of gossip involving the royals, who turns out to be a hoarder in fear of being forcibly removed from her home by an obnoxious lawyer. Why is the lawyer suddenly so insistent? Why show up after the discovery of the sword? And, oh, speaking of swords, there's even some swordplay. Good thing Delaney seems to have Inspector Winters on speed dial. And, who is....oh, never mind. Enough teasers. All in all a sometimes perplexing but always satisfying read with interesting characters and story lines. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for inviting me along for this virtual visit to Delaney and Scotland. Always a pleasure

Queen Elizabeth II, a sword and Delaney solving the mystery, what more could you want?!

Edwin’s colorful past again comes into play as he involves Delaney in a new mystery. An old friend reaches out, wanting him to come see what they’ve found at their home. Edwin sends Delaney, who not yet comfortable driving, gets a ride from her friend Elias. Upon arrival they meet a long, lost friend of his. While there, they of course, encounter a murder.

Throughout this series, Delaney has had what they call her bookish voices that help to guide her as she solves the mysteries and researches the history of the items that they come across. In this story the ninth of the series her bookish voices are replaced with Queen Elizabeth, who has just recently passed at the start of the story. During the car trips and on tv, several tributes are played that stick with Delaney.

Delaney has fully embraced her new life with her new husband, Tom, and the family that she’s created in her new home of Scotland. This leads to her being affected more deeply by the Queen’s passing than she may have been if she had been living in the States.

At several points in the story, the murder seemed to take a backseat to the mystery surrounding the find. There are a lot of familial ties and types of families explored. I wonder if that means there’s a new family on the horizon for Delaney and husband Tom (maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part).

I like that Delaney has learned a few lessons from her earlier mystery solving, and kept her family up-to-date on her movements. Due to the distance to/from the murder scene, Delaney was away from the bookshop more than she was there.

While there was a resolution to the mystery (I was surprised!) I still felt like a couple of things were left open. Though not enough, where you felt like there was a cliffhanger or anything that took you out of the enjoyment of the story. Just for my own personal satisfaction I felt like there were a couple of minor things that were left unresolved.

I love the way that the current-day relevancy to the recent passing of the Queen and the tie-in with the historical nature of what the Crooked Spine does was woven together.

I am looking forward to what comes next for Delaney and her Crooked Spine family.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story.

Happy Reading!

THE POISON PEN is the ninth book in the Scottish Bookshop Mysteries by Paige Shelton. I’ve been waiting with great anticipation for this new release and once the book was in hand, devoured it from the very first word to the last sentence. Set in Edinburgh, right after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the author captures the somber mood of the country and of protagonist Delaney Nichols. I greatly enjoy the character of Delaney. As a transplanted American, married to a Scotsman, she’s immersed herself in her new country. As a caring and compassionate person, she’s made her friends into family and I love spending time—on the page—with all of them. The addition of Scottish words and brogue used throughout, brings authenticity of the culture and characters to life. I also enjoyed the bits of history sprinkled into the story. Ms. Shelton’s strong descriptive language makes the reader feel like they’re walking the cobbled streets of the city or seeing the century-old rundown mansion that belongs in a horror film through Delaney’s eyes.

The author builds anticipation for murder and mayhem from the beginning. To distract from mourning, Delaney’s boss, owner of The Cracked Spine bookshop, asks her to join him in examining a priceless relic recently found by a friend of his. And from there the tale takes off with an ancient sword, a long-ago royal scandal, a distant claim to the throne, and murder. As Delaney investigates the death of a young man found near where the sword was uncovered, the clues entwine with that of the mysterious sword. Her search takes her from the grounds of the mansion, to the “dark side” of The Cracked Spine, and to the National Museum. And she learns more than she’d like about the Scottish government’s laws on discovered relics. As she uncovers clues and gets closer to discovering the truth, I like that Delaney doesn’t take unnecessary chances and instead, relies on her friends to have her back. The Poison Pen is a must-read if you enjoy a well-plotted mystery filled with intrigue, charming characters, and a tribute to Scotland and Queen Elizabeth II.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an arc of this and it was a good reminder to check where in the series we are before saying yes to arcs. I probably would have passed had I known it was 9 books in but like with most mysteries, you can usually dive in and I rounded the 3.5 stars up since maybe if I were more familiar with the characters I wouldn't have had a few of the issues I did.

My biggest problem was why was a book seller called in to help evaluate a crusader sword? I assumed this was something I could have answered had I known the series and it wouldn't have bothered me then (but it did)

Delany and her friend Edwin are called in by Joile Lancaster, an older woman whose mother always claimed was the illegitimate daughter of Prince Edward. Joile's groundskeeper found a potential crusader's sword but when they get to her house, Joile's lawyer, Berry, is there trying to force her to sell everything in the house because 'she's mentally ill and the lawyer is taking control.' Her mental illness? She's a hoarder of antiques.

Delany and Edwin's arrival puts a halt to that and Delany begins an uneasy friendship with the older woman but before that can happen a) we get too much of Delany looking for garbage smells in the house (no seriously you can hoard things without it being garbage and the house needing condemned) which annoyed the heck out of me and b) a young man, Alban is found dead and the groundskeeper might be to blame.

Hoping the help Joile (who was Edwin's long time friend), Delany gets involved with both the investigation and with examining the sword. There's also a new director of the treasury trove department who does some baffling stuff that made no sense (and how Shelton gets around explaining it was weak)

I wish there had been a few more potential suspects. I wish that Delany would do sensible things like at least tell Joile immediately when she learns some things about Berry for instance. So yeah a 3.5 read for me because of some of those things. Also I don't get the title reference at all which is neither here nor there but it was something that made me go hmm.

When a sword is found on the grounds of Jolie Lannister’s estate she contacts Edwin, the owner of an Edinburgh bookstore who also deals in relics. Edwin asks Delaney Nichols, an American employee, to evaluate the sword to determine if it is a Crusader Sword. Delaney’s arrival at the estate interrupts a meeting between Jolie, Bowie Berry, her lawyer, and Giles Haig, an auctioneer. Jolie is a hoarder and. Berry is using the estate’s condition to question her competence and have Giles sell off the home’s contents. After removing the unwelcome intruders Jolie takes Delaney to see the sword, hidden in a shed. A shout leads them to Homer, the groundskeeper, who is found standing over the body of Giles’ assistant. Delaney contacts Inspector Winters, who she has worked with on previous cases. Keeping the sword hidden violates Scottish regulations on the discovery of relics and leaves the sword’s ownership in question. Delaney worries that withholding the discovery from Winters will damage his trust in her. While Jolie wants Delaney to investigate the murder, she holds back information and Delaney is not sure she can trust her.

This is a fast paced mystery that contains a number of red herrings. The Lannister family is notorious for claims made by Jolie’s mother that Jolie is actually the child of Edward VIII and should have inherited the throne instead of Elizabeth. A journal kept by one of Edward’s secretaries that refers to their relationship is stolen from the estate, leaving the question of whether the death is related to the sword or the theft of the journal. In addition to Paige Shelton’s cozy group at the bookshop and Tom, Delaney’s supportive husband, she introduces a conniving lawyer, a deceitful museum director and an interesting bit of history. Then there is Hector, the bookshop’s sweet dog who will steal your heart. This is one of my favorite series and I am looking toward to Delaney’s next adventure. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press - Minotaur for providing this book for my review.

The Poison Pen by Paige Shelton takes us back to the Cracked Spine bookshop in Edinburgh and Delaney, an American transplant. Her boss, Edwin, the owner of the Cracked Spine, has asked her to visit an old friend of his and bring home an object that was found on the grounds of her home. Elias drives her as she is still not comfortable with driving on the other side of the read. As they arrive, they meet an old friend of Elias’, Homer, who is the groundskeeper. The grounds look wonderful, but the “mansion” is nearly in ruins. When they enter they find the lair of a hoarder, the mistress and Edwin’s friend, Jolie Lannister. They can barely make there way through the small aisles created between all the stuff. Just leaving is her lawyer and some folks from an auction house, apparently not invited. Shortly, they get her to take them out to the shed, where they have been storing their find. It is astonishing and must be taken to Edwin immediately, as he is the expert. It quickly turns into a tiff between them and people at the museum over ownership. It get interesting.

Delaney is a good character. She has found love in Scotland and is married to Tom who is only peripherally involved in her investigations. She has Aggie and Elias, with whom she lived when she first arrived; as well as Rosie at the bookshop, who is a font of information, both about Scotland and about Edwin, since she has known him forever. There are more characters, all as well-written as they need to be, all interesting. The mystery is a good one, and Delaney sets about discovering exactly what is going on, which is not easy as so many people have things to hide. Shelton always gives us a touch of Scottish history, which adds to the character of the book. It is a good read, one of an excellent series. Thanks, Paige, for creating Delaney and the Cracked Spine!

I was invited to read The Poison Pen by St. Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #PaigeShelton #ThePoisonPen