Paige Shelton is such a prolific writer, it’s hard to keep her multiple series sorted out. That’s how I wound up reading, and enjoying, the seventh (!) entry in her Scottish Bookshop series without reading the first six. Judging by “Deadly Editions,” this is a “cozy” series with more heft than some. Heroine Delaney, sent on a quest to find a wealthy woman’s favorite book and thus win her whole library, Winds up in an ominous stew of intrigue and murder old and new. Delaney and her Scottish friends are charming, although reading the assortment of Scottish dialects can be distracting. But the negatives are balanced by regular appearances of Hector, the cutest dog in the world.

Deadly Editions by Paige Shelton is the 6th novel in A Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. We return to Edinburgh, Scotland on a snowy day as Paige begins her day at The Cracked Spine. Delaney is surprised when she receives a missive from wealthy Shelagh O’Connor inviting her to a pub that afternoon. Delaney along with three others are invited to participate in a treasure hunt. They must decipher the clues to find a valuable copy of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The winner will receive Shelagh’s entire book collection and each participant also receives a cash bonus. Delaney cannot pass up this opportunity. Things take a dark turn when robberies begin happening by someone who dresses as Shelagh did in the 1970s and then Shelagh is kidnapped. It is a pleasure to catch up with Delaney, Tom, Rosie, Edwin, Aggie, Elias, and Hamlet. The characters are well-developed and friendly. We meet some new people that are involved in the treasure hunt. Shelagh is a unique character with a beautiful home and a gorgeous library (I wanted to win it). The treasure hunt was interesting. They visit various local pubs searching for unique clues. The author provided vivid descriptions that brought them alive for me as well as Edinburgh. It was great learning about Edinburgh and Robert Louis Stevenson. There are interesting facts about The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The mystery was thought out. I like how everything tied together in this intricate whodunit. Delaney’s bookish voices added another level to the story. While I found the mystery complex, the solution was not. I kept hoping there would be a twist to surprise me. I also found the pacing to be a little slow at times. I liked the cozy moments with Tom and Delaney as well as her time spent with co-workers and their friends (and temporary houseguests) Aggie and Elias. I just loved Delaney’s attic library. It sounds like a cozy and special place. Deadly Editions is an intriguing cozy mystery with a tricky treasure hunt, clever clues, a large library, a valuable volume, and popular pubs.

Deadly Editions by Paige Shelton is the newest tome in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery Series and opens with Delaney receiving a handwritten, hand delivered invitation to discuss Ms Shelagh O'Connor's vast collection of valuable books. Well, of course, who could turn down that invitation? As it turns out it was much more than an invitation, is was an announcement of a contest, of sorts, to win the library upon the death of Ms. O'Connor, a treasure hunt with one of the four people present to be the winner. Of course, it turned into more. An interesting group of four, however, as were Ms. O'Connor and her assistant, Mr. Chantrell. Delaney recognized one of the four as a member of Edwin's small circle of friends who bid and won valuable items brought to them for that purpose. Then there was Ms. O'Connor's nephew, and a middle school librarian, as well as Delaney, herself.

Delaney is a good character, well-rounded and more in depth with every book. She and her new husband, Tom, were now living in their own seaside cottage, and Elias and Aggie were staying there as well during some renovations taking place at their cottage. Tom has given up his bachelor ways and settled into being a wonderful and supportive husband. Aggie and Elias are always supportive of Delaney, in more ways than one. A lot of secrets were uncovered during this story, as secrets to tend to mount up as one advance in years. As usual, Shelton has put together an intriguing story, made more so by its locale and its interesting cast of permanent characters. She is an accomplished writer and this book certainly can attest to that. It gets my highest recommendation.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Deadly Editions by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #deadlyeditions

Deadly Editions is another great addition to the Scottish Bookshop cozy mystery series. This time Delaney is on a scavenger hunt for a signed first edition of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The prize? A bibliophile’s entire book collection in her will. The challenge? A serial killer is once again stalking the streets of Edinburgh.

I loved trying to figure out the hunt’s clues along with Delaney and her friends. Visiting all the pubs was fun too. The mystery was just the right amount of a challenge. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'm totally reading this series out of order. But that is okay. Deadly Editions is a fun read that you don't need to have read any previous books. I've only read book 4, The Loch Ness Papers (read my review), and this is book 6 in Paige Shelton's Sottish Bookshop Mystery series.

The weather is getting warmer and with the sunny days, all I want to do is take a blanket outside with a good book. Deadly Editions is the perfect book for just that. The warmth of the sun will chase away the chill of the still snowy clime of Edinburgh. The mystery will keep you entertained so you may want to remember the sunscreen as you might lose track of time as you follow Delaney on a treasure hunt for a priceless book.

There is a great cast of characters. It is quite large actually which in a way made the city feel kind of small. I had to remind myself a few times that they live in the capital city and not in a small country village.

There is more than a treasure hunt going on in this book. There is a larger mystery but it is tied to the treasure hunt, Delaney is sure of it. I had my suspicions and did solve a bit of it before the end but I didn't get the whole mystery figure out.

If you are looking for a truly entertaining read, then you need to pick up this cozy mystery.

My review will be published at GIrl Who Reads on Tuesday, April 6 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2021/04/deadly-editions-by-paige-shelton-review.html

A cozy mystery that features a Scottish bookshop and a treasure hunt...sign me up! Deadly Editions by Paige Shelton is a solid edition to her Scottish Bookshop series. Great characters and even though it’s warm here, the descriptions of snowy Scotland left me looking for a sweater. The only thing I struggled with was the Scottish dialect. I don't remember it being distracting in previous books in the series, but I felt that it was in this entry. Perhaps it's just the mood I am, but I noticed it much more and it kept making me pause when I just wanted to be turning pages.

Another great Scottish Bookshop Mystery from Paige Shelton. I love all of the main characters in this book series and how well they fit into each other's lives.

Once again, I had no idea who the killer was or what their motive was until the reveal. I loved the added mystery of the "treasure hunt" and all of the Edinburgh landmarks Paige writes into this novel. These books always make me want to visit Scotland again.

I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

Deadly Editions, by Paige Shelton (Scottish Bookshop Mystery #7) 4 stars

Delaney Nichols receives an intriguing invitation from Shelagh O'Conner, who has a vast collection of rare books. Ms. O'Conner is a wealthy woman with a murky past. The meeting has Delaney and three others participating in a scavenger hunt for a rare edition of "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". The winner will get Ms. O'Conner's entire library upon her death. The starts will a clue to a location that will provide the next part of the puzzle. In the midst of the hunt, Ms. O'Conner is abducted from her home and a seemingly unrelated strangers dies. It is now a race to find Ms. O'Conner and the the book. Can Delaney help solve the mystery and save a life?

This was an intriguing mystery that relies on getting the background on certain individuals and trying to ascertain if they have connecting relationships. Delaney has to pull the facts together to solve this puzzle. The relationship between Delaney and her friends are crucial to the plot - by providing information or being a sounding board. It is nice to have Delaney on good terms with the local police. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC.

Deadly Editions is the sixth book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series by Paige Shelton.

Delaney Nichols has received an invitation to Deacon Brodie’s Tavern to discuss Shelagh O’Connor’s possibly participating in a treasure hunt that she is planning. Delany had doubts about doing the treasure hunt but finally decided to attend once she heard how extensive Shelagh’s library was. When Delaney arrives at Shelagh’s home, she is amazed by the library’s vast collection of books. Three other people will be joining in the treasure hunt, Tricia, a librarian, Jacques, a cousin of Connor’s, and Birk, a good friend of Edwin MacAllister, owner of The Cracked Spine, and Delaney’s employer. The group will be searching for a valuable edition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and the winner will get O’Connor’s extensive library. The other members will get a very substantial cash award. The other members include Tricia, a librarian, Jacques, Shelagh’s cousin, and Birk. Delaney is familiar with Birk, as he is a close friend of Edwin MacAllister, her employer.

Delany learns from Rose, a co-worker, that O’Connor has an obsession with the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde book and its characters. When she was a teenager back in the 1970s, O’Connor would dress similar to Mr. Hyde and stroll around town. One evening she was arrested for murder while dressed as Mr. Hyde, but those charges were later dropped.

Delaney and Birk have decided to team up searching for the clues that will lead them to find the hidden book. These clues will take them to several pubs in Edinburgh. Shortly into their treasure hunt, there are several house robberies, and a mysterious man dressed as Mr. Hyde is spotted in the area, and about this time, O’Connor goes missing. There is also a couple of deaths that are either friends or employees of O’Connor. Delaney will call on coworkers Rose and Hamlet and her husband, Tim, and Elias, her former landlord, to help with the search for O’Connor.

It is always lovely to visit with Delaney and the staff of the Cracked Spine bookshop. The stories are always well-written and plotted with a look at the city of Edinburgh. The cast of characters is exciting, likable, and well-developed.

I will be watching for the next book in this informative and exciting series.

This is a series that transports me to Scotland so that I can spend time with Delaney at The Cracked Spine.

It's a well-written book that provides just enough descriptive detail so that I feel that I'm there but doesn't bog the story down. I loved the 'treasure' hunt as part of the story and how the mystery was connected to the hunt.

The characters are likeable and have become to feel like friends to me. The relationships are continuing to develop so it was nice to 'catch up' with everyone.

I'm already looking forward to the next book!

Could this be a very rich woman playing with her fellow Scots? Shelagh O’Conner has set up a contest and the winner gets to have her very valuable book collection. Yes, this is a Scottish bookstore mystery!

Included in the prize is a very valuable copy of Robert Louis Stevenson’s book, “The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” The pubs around Edinburgh are the scene for the drama and clues are set up in each pub. The rules are fairly simple: follow the clues and the one who solves the puzzle gets the entire book collection.

The contestants are literally tripping over each other to get to the pubs and the clues. The rules state each must thoroughly investigate each clue before looking into the next clue. Sounds fairly simple until some of the contestants seem to be throwing monkey wrenches into the task.

A murder is added to the scene causing everyone to try to help the police solve the murder. The protagonist, Delaney Nichols, is an amateur sleuth. As she follows the clues to solve the mystery and win the prize she is confounded by the disappearance of Ms. O’Conner. The issue becomes completion of the riddle/contest and helping to find Ms. O’Conner. Will she be found dead or alive and will the books actually go to the winner?

This book had many interesting diversions and the conclusion was satisfying. I recommend this book to those who have the time to enjoy a good mystery. 4 stars - CE Williams

Cozy mysteries are one of my top favourite genres, and this series is high up the list of the best ones.

Just like its predecessors, it has a wonderfully intriguing plot and mystery. It’s quite frankly delicious. You just want to sink your teeth into this story.

If you love series with incredible character arcs, adorable romance, books about books, and mysteries that keep you guessing until the reveal, I highly recommend these! If that’s not enough, the Scottish setting is lovely and will leave you wanting to pack up your life and move there pronto.

I always enjoy spending time with Delaney and the rest of the employees of the Cracked Spine in one of my favorite cities, Edinburgh. It's like visiting with dear friends. This time Delaney undertakes a treasure hunt with the focus on Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. The deal is that the winner gets a first edition of the book, an undisclosed amount of money and a very choice book collection. The hitch is the person who is running the show. Shelagh O'Connor has a checkered past that involved a murder and she is fixated on Jekyll and Hyde. Delaney is a bit hesitant but the prize is too good to dismiss and so the hunt begins, leading them on a tour of local pubs searching and solving clues. Old murder and new murder re in the mix and I was totally hooked by the twists, turns and red herrings that had me wondering how on earth the various threads were going to come together for the final reveal.
This series is worth a solid 5 stars and each of the six entries gave me everything I desire in a well crafted mystery. Great characters, wonderful location, a book theme (always a big plus) and a very satisfying puzzle to keep me guessing to the final chapter. I can't wait for the next book.
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Delaney Nichols is invited to take part in a treasure hunt to find a first edition copy of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The prize is the library of an eccentric wealthy older woman, Shelagh.
The story has so many wonderful and creepy elements. It’s winter. There are so many secrets and ways that the past influences the future. Shelagh has a vivid imagination. There are interesting pubs. We get time with Elias and Addie, Rosie and Hector and Brigid.
I enjoyed how the author brought in elements of the theme book - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
I like that the author gives us time to come down after the climax of the story. It ends a book better than an abrupt end after the murderer is caught.
I love what Tom did for Delaney in their blue house by the sea. Their relationship is one of my favorites in cozy mysteries.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book prior to publication.

This sixth book in Paige Shelton's Scottish Bookshop cozy series continues to charm readers. What's not to like about a treasure hunt in Edinburgh, Scotland with a rare library as the prize? Shelton likes to weave in a bit of Scottish legend and lore into each book. Previous topics have been as varied as Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Loch Ness monster. In Deadly Editions, it's Robert Louis Stevenson's groundbreaking The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

The mystery is a good one, aided by treasure hunt clues and the erratic behavior of Shelagh O'Conner. In fact, O'Conner is so eccentric that she keeps readers off-balance, which is certainly a good thing for leading armchair sleuths astray.

As is true in any good cozy series, the focus of the story is on the main character. Kansas transplant Delaney Nichols continues to lead the charmed life that any reader could envy, with her perfect job at the Cracked Spine Bookshop, her perfect circle of friends and co-workers, and her perfect soulmate. While I'm living a little fantasy of my own as I read about her, one of the things I do love about Delaney is the fact that she never fails to contact Detective Inspector Winter whenever she has any new information. She's not the type of amateur sleuth who automatically assumes she knows more than all the trained professionals. I would imagine that this is the main reason why Winter seems content to let her do her thing.

If you're in the mood for something light and fun, filled with nuggets of information, a mysterious treasure hunt, and the stuff some fantasies are made of, be sure to pick up Paige Shelton's Deadly Editions. Then all you have to do is sit back and enjoy.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We return to Edinburgh on a snowy morning. Delaney Nichols loves her job but is a little leery about a message inviting her to meet with socialite Shelagh O’Conner. Shelagh is known for her fantastic library but she also has a questionable past that includes misdeeds and murder. She was cleared of the murder but as a fan of Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde, her hijinks still give people pause. Delaney does attend the meeting and is intrigued by Shelagh’s plan for a treasure hunt culminating in a winner take all prize that includes all the books in her library and a large cash award. The quest is to find a unique first edition of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson. Delaney agrees to take part and is excited to search for the treasure.

Meanwhile, several Edinburgh homes have been robbed similar to those in Shelagh’s past. Is she up to her old tricks or is there a copycat? A murder takes everything up a notch especially because the deceased is connected to Shelagh. Then Shelagh is kidnapped.

So Delaney with the help of her husband Tom, friends Elias, Aggie, and co-workers Rosie and Hamlet are busy trying to decipher treasure hunt clues while trying to find Shelagh and catch a killer all while not becoming the next victims.

I enjoy each visit to The Cracked Spine and catching up with Delaney, Rose, Hamley, and sometimes Edwin. Edwin trusts his staff and has taken a step back from his business. Aggie and Elias are staying with Tom and Delaney while work is being done on their cottage. The two couples get along famously and it nice to see them all together. All these characters are so well-developed and engaging.

The new characters introduced are a diverse bunch. Shelagh’s backstory was very interesting and her home was a unique place. The other characters are all connected to her in some way and many become worthy suspects.

I found the treasure hunt part of the story very entertaining. Visiting the different pubs searching for clues was fun. The pubs ranged from traditional to modern and all the descriptions provided crystal clear images. Other settings were also wonderfully described. I love Tom and Delaney’s home including their new library reading area. I am sure they will spend many hours there as would I if I had such a fantastic place.

The kidnapping and murder mysteries are very well-plotted. The plot and subplots are all intricately woven together. The tie-in to Jeckyl and Hide really added something unique to the story. Twists upon twists lead up to an exciting reveal that kept my eyes glued to the pages. Delaney’s unique “bookish voices” always make me smile as she tries to figure out what they are trying to tell her.

Paige Shelton writes stories that are so easy to escape right into. Deadly Editions was no exception. I was captivated from the first page to the last. As soon as I turned the final page I was already missing these characters. Until next year, Ms. Shelton. I will be waiting

Having just gone back and reread #4 and then reading for the first time #5, it was lovely to have both the characters AND the back storylines firmly in my mind for the reading of this, the 6th book in the series. And what a story it is - murder, mayhem, Robert Louis Stevenson. So much fun and a little bit of the creepies too, if I am being honest. I am not sure that I would have been as brave as Delaney and company were. There were moments where I was, quite literally, on the edge of my seat.

That being said....
I guessed the killer early on [I do read a lot of mysteries and quite often guess correctly early on] and then guessed other aspects of the story [fairly early on] that played out accordingly. I didn't know the why, so that was a complete surprise and I think that the author did a good job of leaving it open at the end for more issues with these same characters. We will see.
Thankfully, the story was really good, so much so that knowing who the killer was didn't detract from the story. The hunt for the clues and all the stuff about Robert Louis Stevenson really added to the story and I came away knowing more than I did going in and also left me with a hankering to do a reread of several of his books. Very well done. I am so glad that I went back and reread and restarted this series; it reminded me why I love this author and her books.

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

The Sottish Bookshop mysteries are always light and appealing, and this one was particularly so. There's a scavenger hunt for an old book, taking place in the pubs in Edinburgh, and Shelton's descriptions of the area are fully realized and engaging. The book is based on murders centered around "Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde," so the literary references are known to most readers. The characterization is strong, and the characters are...well...characters. This cozy is a wonderful diversion from message-driven mysteries and the general malaise of these times.

From the first chapter to the last, this entry in the series had me riveted. It was more than just a whodunit, it was also a treasure hunt, and a look into the novel Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. So many nuances to this story, that I almost lost sleep trying to finish it!

The other thing about this series that is absolutely wonderful, The Setting; it is a character as much as the protagonist. It does not just take place In Edinburgh, Scotland; the setting is essential to the plots. The author crafts it so well, you feel like you have been drinking a pint in the pub yourself. And, in this book, you will be taken on a journey to explore its depths. I have to admit to using Google Earth to see the ground myself, and was amazed at how much detail I already had in my head just from the words on the page. And, I found, my head the locations matched Google Earth. How fantastically this author described the scenes!

If you have not read any of the previous books in the series, you will not feel lost. The author does a wonderful job of giving enough history behind each of the main characters to let you enjoy the book without spoiling the plots of the others. However, I highly recommend that you do read the others, and if you have read the previous ones, you will be absolutely delighted with this entry. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would, as I feel this book really was a fun ride for me. In a time where I cannot go many places, this took me away on an adventure, and more.

This fascinating mystery unfolds as readers follow along on a treasure hunt for a rare book. Please see my review at www.reviewingtheevidence.com.