Title: The Cracked Spine
Author: Paige Shelton
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Release Date: March 29, 2016
Pages: 304
Book Source: Hardcover

5star

Never an adventurer, no one was more surprised than Delaney Nichols when she packed her bags and moved halfway across the world to Edinburgh, Scotland to start a job at The Cracked Spine, a bookshop located in the heart of the city. Her new boss, Edwin MacAlister, has given her the opportunity of a lifetime, albeit a cryptic one, and Delaney can’t wait to take her spot behind the desk.

The Cracked Spine is filled with everything a book lover could want, each item as eclectic as the people who work there; the spirited and lovable Rosie, who always has tiny dog Hector in tow; Hamlet, a nineteen-year-old thespian with a colored past and bright future; and Edwin, who is just as enigmatic and mysterious as Delaney expected. An extra bonus is Tom the bartender from across the street, with his cobalt eyes, and a gentle brogue―and it doesn’t hurt that he looks awfully good in a kilt.

But before she can settle into her new life, a precious artifact goes missing, and Edwin’s sister is brutally murdered. Never did Delaney think that searching for things lost could mean a killer, but if she’s to keep her job, and protect her new friends, she’ll need to learn the truth behind this Scottish tragedy.

My Review:

I recently read To Helvetica and Back by Paige Shelton, and although it was written very well, I just couldn’t get into the characters. That was not a problem with The Cracked Spine. I loved all the characters, and am looking forward to getting to know them more in the future books of the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series.

Delaney decides to move to Scotland and begins a new job in a bookstore, and while it’s not magical in a Warehouse 13 sense, I feel as if some supernatural elements are lurking around, and I can’t wait to see how they progress in upcoming books. Delaney does have a gift where once she reads a character’s words, she’ll hear them speak to her later on. I can see this coming in handy if she needs help solving future mysteries.                          

Shelton did a wonderful job developing Delaney’s character as well as her three co-workers, the store dog (whom is adorable), and the love interest, a Scottish bar owner who is known to wear kilts. And the way she describes the town, makes me want to hop a plane and explore the village.

The mystery was well written too. She put in enough red herrings, that I didn’t know who the killer was until they were revealed. I’m looking forward to more Scottish Bookshop mysteries, and to seeing if more supernatural elements make their way into the books.

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