I never get tired of the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. In The Poison Pen, the ninth book in Paige Shelton’s series, bookseller Delaney Nichols is sent to a small village to check out an artifact for her boss, Edwin. But when she arrives, things take a turn for the worse, ending with a dead body.
As Delaney digs into the mystery, she uncovers a wild claim: her friend Jolie might actually be heir to the throne, thanks to an alleged affair between her mother and King Edward VIII. The only proof is a journal supposedly kept by one of Edward’s secretaries. Of course Delaney tries to get to the bottom of both mysteries.
Shelton blends history, mystery, and a touch of royal scandal into a cozy whodunit that keeps things interesting. The Edinburgh setting is as charming as ever, and the mix of bookish clues and historical mystery makes this a fun addition to the series. Fans of Delaney’s adventures or cozy mysteries in general will enjoy this one.
I received this Advanced Reader Copy of The Poison Pen from Minotaur Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher’s Description
The Poison Pen, the ninth installment in the Scottish Bookshop series by Paige Shelton, is set in a specialty bookstore in Edinburgh called The Cracked Spine.
Edinburgh is mourning the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II when Bookseller Delaney Nichols’s boss comes to her with a most 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 an item of breathtaking Scottish historical significance in her possession? But when Delaney arrives at Jolie’s estate, she is greeted by a legal team with a vested interest in the property. Jolie manages to remove the interlopers, but as they examine the priceless item, they hear a scream, and meet a much less welcome discovery: 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 purported 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. Delaney will have to read between the lines to put together the pieces…or become history herself.
