Delaney leads Edwin’s unique tour of Edinburgh when he is called out of town at the last minute. Delaney persuades her husband, Tom, to help since she is a transplanted American. Readers benefit from a fascinating tour of the Scottish city and a well-conceived murder mystery.

The usual characters – Delaney, Tom, Edwin (owner of the Cracked Spine), Rosie, and Inspector Winters – all get into tracking down clues, interviewing persons of interest, and revisiting sites from the tour. Paige Shelton writes an engaging novel with an intriguing plot and interesting characters.

Paige Shelton has penned many traditional mysteries. Her fans will be delighted with this new novel. I was sold from the beginning…Scotland, Books!

This adventure with Delaney was pretty delightful, even with the shenanigans. I enjoyed traveling around Edinburgh with her. There are mysterious business, missing persons, literary tours, and murder.

This is the eighth in a series. I want to go back and read any that I missed. You might too.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Minotaur Books for the gifted ARC.

This cozy mystery series set in a bookstore in Edinburgh is great for book lovers. I’ve only read the 7th and 8th books in the series, but I found they worked well as standalones.

Read for:
Edinburgh setting
Literary references
Great main character and secondary characters

I really enjoy these cozy mysteries, but I can’t say in either book I read that the mystery itself was very strong. There isn’t a lot of nuance and it’s all pretty far fetched. I found the conclusions in both books to be pretty messy.

3.5 stars - won’t hit my favorites list, but I will continue on with this series because I love escaping to Edinburgh.

I really enjoyed the mystery in this one. Too many coincidences were happening that had Delaney wondering what was going on. From Edwin and Hamlet’s quick and unexpected departure, to the incident at the inn, and someone impersonating a member of the tour group has definitely raised more questions than answers. Inspector Winters was certainly busy this go around and Tom, as always, was the ever supportive husband and assisted with the tour.

This has been an enjoyable series to read (I binged read all 8 books) and it has definitely made me want to travel to Scotland, specifically Edinburgh, sooner rather than later. Delaney is a great main character and I love her and Tom’s relationship. The crew at The Cracked Spine are all unique and the perfect people for Delaney to have in her life. The only ones missing from this story were Elias and Aggie so hopefully they will be back in future books.


Thank you @minotaurbooks @stmartinspress @paigebooks and @netgalley for this gifted ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I very much enjoy this series and this was an entertaining addition to it. I enjoyed the literary tie-ins to Edinburgh. I the characters and multiple mysteries to be solved. kept me reading. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series and I hope this will be a vey long series.

Fateful Words by Paige Shelton is the eighth book in the Scottish Bookshop cozy mystery series and the first one that I have read. Set in Edinburgh, Scotland, it features Delaney Nichols who loves her new life working at The Cracked Spine bookshop and married to pub owner Tom Shannon.

When Edwin MacAlister, Delaney’s boss, suddenly leaves town with co-worker Hamlet, she is asked to guide his yearly literary tour around the city while fellow co-worker Rosie stays at the shop. Each year Edwin selects four readers from the many that request the opportunity to participate. This year, it’s Meera, Kevin, Gunter, and Luka. Soon after checking into their inn, someone dies there. Then one of the tour members disappears. These two events are only the beginning of the mysterious events that occur during the tour and Delaney is determined to understand what is happing.

Shelton does a great job of letting readers get to know Delaney. She’s bold, intense, curious, and a little nervous about leading the literary tour group around the city. Readers get clues about the other characters through their opinions, actions, reactions, and mannerisms.

I enjoyed the literary references and historical tie-ins throughout the novel. The plot was multi-layered and complex with some twists and turns. The narrative transported this reader to Scotland. I wonder how police Inspector Winters really feels about all of Delaney’s calls and texts. With an action-packed ending, there are a couple of surprises. Themes include deaths, disappearing people, lack of communication, secrets, and much more.

Overall, this was an entertaining read with fantastic world-building. I enjoyed learning about the literary tie-ins to Edinburgh. It grabbed my attention with likeable characters and multiple mysteries to be solved. While the series is best read in order, it worked as a standalone for me. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and Paige Shelton provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for April 04, 2023.

When Delaney’s boss Edwin abruptly leaves Edinburgh on secret business, she is forced to lead his annual literary tour. The four guests have come from abroad: Ireland, England, Germany and Australia & are staying at the Green Inn. Geoff, the inn manager is killed from a fall off the inn roof & then tour member Meera disappears.

I liked the earlier books in the Scottish Bookshop mystery series but the plot is weak and convoluted in this book.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Minotaur Books. All opinions are my own.

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. 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.

I really like the writing of Paige Shelton, and in particular, this series set in 'Scotland. The characters are well written, and through the descriptions of the literary tour, we learn a lot of Scottish history. I have read all the previous books in this series and thank NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this newest installment.

This is the 8th book in the Scottish Bookshop Mysteries, and like the others builds on the characters from the original book, but can be read as a stand alone if one wishes. The author does a great job of giving you enough details that you will not be lost, but at the same time not revealing important parts of the other books in case you wish to read those as well. Which, I do recommend as they are really good.

The most appealing thing about these books is the descriptions of the places in Scotland. As our main character is giving the tour about town to the folks who have come to get a literary tour, you feel as if you, too, are a part of that tour. However, it is a tour that ends up having a murder as part of it, which our main character Delaney helps to solve.

The minor characters in her books are always fascinating, and I enjoyed the inclusion of several of the ones I have come to love from the other books, but I also liked the new character Luka who is part of the tour group. He would be a great one to find again in a future story.

The mystery itself happens in the middle of the various places Delaney is taking her tour group on, and clues pop up along the way. Though I felt the murder mystery was not as well done as some of the others this author has done, it was still a good book and well written. I recommend to cozy mystery readers, and those who love stories that take place in Scotland. It is a delightful romp, and one worth reading.

If ever there was a fictional bookstore that I would like to visit, it would be The Cracked Spine. I just love that name. Edwin owns the shop and Delaney, a transplant all the way from Kansas works here and assist her husband Tom at his pub. When Edwin is called out of town, under rather mysterious circumstances, he asks Delaney to cover his much anticipated, yearly literature tour. As if that isn’t nerve-racking enough, murder winds up on the table of contents, along with identity theft, and some puzzling questions.
I’m not going to venture into spoiler territory, but I just love the places Delaney took the group as she filled in for Edwin. It made me want to hop on the next flight and experience the sights,without any murders though. Even though Delaney is a wealth of good information, if I was Inspector Winters, I might not be so glad to hear from her so often(IYKYK).
Another enjoyable cozy mystery, and a good addition to this series.

Delaney is stuck with leading the annual personalized tour of Edinborough when her boss Edwin has to leave on some sort of secret business. She's nervous and very worried about Edwin.

Things don't start off well when the manager of the inn where the tour guests are staying falls, or is pushed, off the roof and the counter girl is attacked and is in a coma. Things get even worse when one of the four tour guests disappears.

Delaney is not going to investigate on her own and is constantly on the phone with her police contact since more and more unexpected things keep happening.

This was an engaging episode in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. I especially liked all of the tourist attractions that Delaney showed off for her guests.

This book was so amazing! I loved the storyline and the characters were well written! The mystery was interesting and kept my attention!! I would highly recommend this book to everyone!!

Edwin leaves town suddenly and without explanation, leaving Delaney to conduct a literary tour around Edinburgh, one that Edwin hosts annually for a small, select group of readers. As she gets to know the tour participants, though, she gets the feeling that something isn’t quite right. When the manager of the inn where the group is staying dies under unusual circumstances, and then a member of the group disappears, Delaney must figure out what is going on and who is behind it.

I have read and enjoyed every book this author has published to date, and this book was no exception. I always want to book a trip to Edinburgh after reading books from this series. The characters feel like old friends, although we didn’t see much of Edwin, Hamlet or Elias in this story, and I missed them. We got a good bit of Edinburgh’s literary history, though, most of which was new to me.

I really appreciate that Delaney immediately passes on to the police any bit of information she uncovers, even when she’s not sure it’s significant. I’m not sure the police appreciate it, though – who wants their workday to be interrupted so often, especially when trying to conduct a murder investigation? The murder victim at first appeared to be just your average Joe, but as the story continued, it became clear that was not the case, and there were several viable suspects. I narrowed it down to just a couple of them, but wasn’t entirely sure I had it right until just before it was revealed in the book.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series and visiting with the staff of The Cracked Spine again.

I have read the Scottish Bookshop mystery series from the beginning and look forward to each new addition. I don’t think you need to have read others in the series to enjoy this one, but it never hurts either.

Delaney is left in charge of a small tour group when Edward and Hamlet take off to London. I don’t understand why their reason for going had to be kept secret. I think it was something I would have let my friends/employees know about for a couple of reasons, but I guess it adds to the tension.

The tour starts off on the wrong foot, with the manager of the inn where the group is staying falling to his death from the roof. Then, at lunch the next day, one of the tour group goes missing. I’m happy that the remaining three continue on with the tour, although it’s probably a questionable decision. I liked the mini-tour of Edinburgh and hearing the stories Delaney shares with the group. I would love to visit sometime.

The mystery had a lot of things going on – missing people, murder and attempted murder, and secrets at the inn. Delaney, as always, wants to figure out what’s going on, but she does a good job of keeping the police updated on what she finds out as she digs around. It’s a bit complicated, but all the threads tie together well in the end. Honestly, I think if Edward had been a little more forthcoming and a little less out of communication, it wouldn’t have gotten as out of control, but it was still a fun book.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Goodreads giveaways and NetGalley for both a print and digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This is Number 8 in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series, and the first one I’ve read. This easily works as a stand-alone, and now I’m going to seek out the first one to learn more about The Cracked Spine bookshop, owner Edwin MacAlister and bookseller/assistant Delaney Nichols.

I’m always up for a cozy mystery, especially when it includes a bookstore. And this one takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland! Part of the fun of Fateful Words is the literary tour of the city that threads its way throughout this novel. I felt like I was traveling along with the other tourists, and no jet lag! This isn’t a city I’m familiar with, so in addition to descriptions of the various sites, I enjoyed the literary folklore and facts.

As far as the mystery angle – there were lots of possible suspects, clues, and red herrings that kept me guessing about who was the bad guy/gal. The climax was exciting, the plot intricate and well-written, and the main characters likeable.

If you’re in the mood for an intelligent cozy murder mystery and a tour of Edinburgh, this is the book for you.

Kansas born Delaney has married a Scotsman and is settled in Edinburgh, working in a charming bookshop. When her boss, Edwin, is mysteriously called away on the eve of his annual literary tour of the city, the task of leading it is left to her. The first day is not without mishap….a man falls from the top of the hotel where her guests are staying, the receptionist there is knocked unconscious, and one of the tour group seems to have a secret of her own. As the tour progresses, Delaney is caught up in finding clues about what is happening.

This is the eighth in the Scottish Bookshop series; it is the first I have read. It worked well as a stand alone. An intriguing, cozy mystery with an intricate plot and some delightful characters, there were twists and turns as the story unfolded in this fast paced read. I liked this book and look forward to reading the next installment in the series. I particularly enjoyed learning about some of the history and landmarks (although some might be fictional!) of Edinburgh.

I will leave my review on Amazon and B&N on April 4th

Very interesting read Fateful Words is the 8th book in the Scottish Bookshop Mysteries series. It started off quickly and kept me intrigued for the remainder of the book. I would recommend this book to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Matin's Press and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Fateful Words by Paige Shelton is book #8 in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. This was an intriguing cozy mystery. I was fascinated by all the twists and turns. There are complex mysteries here, murder and identity theft. Unraveling these mysteries keeps amateur sleuth Delaney Nichols quite busy. In addition to following along as Delaney works to solve the mysteries I really enjoyed the tour of Edinburgh. I have visited there a couple times and this tour brought back great memories. Thank you, Paige Shelton.

"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."

You know, to work in a bookshop in Scotland I'd be willing to risk my life and the occasional murderer, just saying...

Another great Scottish adventure with Delaney Nichols in Edinburgh, Scotland. Delaney moved from Kansas to Scotland to work for wealthy Edwin MacAlister at The Cracked Spine Bookshop. She’s responsible for cataloging his vast warehouse filled with valuable collectibles and antiques. As the story begins, Edwin has abruptly taken Hamlet, another employee, to London. Rosie, who manages the bookshop, tells Delaney Edwin’s in trouble, but okay. Other than that cryptic comment, Rosie’s lips are sealed. Meanwhile, Edwin says Delaney must take over an annual literature tour of Edinburg for him—four guests are arriving that day and expect the royal treatment! Once the guests are there; mystery and murder are afoot.

Author Paige Shelton takes readers on a whirlwind tour of Edinburgh, and introduces several historical places all sightseers should see when visiting, plus some less known fascinating folklore and facts. Delaney embarks on a hunt for a killer as she strives to keep Edwin’s guests from harm during their stay. The plot is well-written, interesting, and moves at a good pace. Tom, Delaney’s husband, helps her a lot in this story, as does Inspector Winters. When Edwin trouble is revealed, it just so happens to coincide with the murder mystery, and readers will see how well this plot is woven together. There are bizarre diversions around every corner!

By the time the exciting conclusion is reached, everything is explained. Great story! I highly recommend to readers.

I honestly reviewed an unedited, digital arc provided by NetGalley and Minotaur/St. Martin’s Press. All options are my own.