history-of-Picts, family-business, local-law-enforcement, Edinburgh Scotland, family-dynamics, ex-pat, amateur-sleuth, bookseller, bookshop, cozy-mystery, famous-persons, poisons, murder-investigation, relics, unputdownable, artifact*****
An invitation won to visit with famous but rather reclusive Pict-obsessed artist, a professor from Delaney's alma mater in Kansas, a museum-worthy artifact, and murder. I really enjoyed this latest addition to a series that always has a good investigation combined with Scottish history lessons. I didn't know that the Picts just simply disappeared!
I requested and received an uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Pub Date Apr 01, 2025
#WrittenInStone by @paigebooks Paige Shelton #ScottishBookshopMysteriesBk10 @stmartinspress
@minotaur_books #cozymystery #NetGalley #cozymystery #edinburgh @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble ***** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #kobo #Waterstones #bookseller #poison #fakebones #pictishHistory #academicfraud #paleofraud

This is the 10th book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series by Paige Shelton.
Delaney and her husband are taking part in the Hidden Door Festival. They received an invitation to tour the studio of Ryory Bennigan a reclusive artist.
When Dr. Adam Pace is murdered Delaney assists the police by using her skills to solve the mystery.
What I love about this series is being immersed into the culture and I get the chance to go back to Edinburgh without leaving home.
Scandals, secrets, fakes, frauds, Picts, twists and more.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Title: Written in Stone
Series: A Scottish Bookstore Mystery #10
Author: Paige Shelton
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pub Date: April 1, 2025
My Rating: 3.4.Stars
Pages: 297


Although Delaney Nichols is a Kansas native she runs a specialty bookshop in Edinburgh called ‘The Cracked Spine’. Married to pub owner Tom for nearly a year, Delaney wins a special Hidden Door Festival invitation to the studio of artist Ryory Bennigan. She and Tom aren’t sure what to expect. They are aware reclusive artist, Ryory Bennigan, is a talented sculptor; however when they meet him he is covered in blue inked tattoos as well as vibrant red hair similar to those of the Picts people. (Certainly wasn’t what I was expecting!)

I have read other Paige Shelton’s stories so knew it was going to be enjoyable.
I am a cozy mystery fan and assume since you are reading this you are as well. As you know many end with recipes of food served. In this case, there is the situation with poisonous fish; which made it laugh- true I know that is serious but I laughed as I knew there certainly wouldn’t be a recipe provided.

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 1. 2025.

To Dig or not to Dig?

This cozy mystery by Paige Shelton is the 10th installment to the Scottish Bookshop Mystery Series. I have always loved this series and have been an avid reader since the first book. I can’t help but be nostalgic when a new one comes out.

But onto the story! This one is about a reclusive artist who has an obsession with the Picts. It’s definitely a whodunit with a great start up. Lots of interesting twists and turns. I’ve always loved the way Shelton intertwines history and mystery. It makes for an educational and entertaining read.

I love the last line of the book. It’s been a great ride and can’t wait to see where it goes.

Thank you to Minotaur Books & Netgalley for allowing me to receive an advanced copy of Written in Stone.

Loved it,
Anxiously waiting for the next,
x Sarah - Anneoftucson Reviews

I would do anything to be part of the team at The Cracked Spine. Shelton delivers another wonderful installment of this cozy mystery series. I like that Tom is included more in this book, however I don’t feel like we got a lot of his personality. I did like the mystery though I felt there were a lot of characters and not as much development. I love this series so much and will happily await the next book!

WRITTEN IN STONE is the tenth book in the Scottish Bookshop Mysteries by Paige Shelton. Once again, I was captivated by protagonist Delaney Nichols and the utterly charming city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Not only does the author immerse the reader in the culture and ancient buildings, but she weaves in modern day life, which thrives in the castle’s shadow perched atop Castle Rock. I simply adore the Cracked Spine Bookshop where Delaney works, and her close relationship with the other employees who have become her friends/almost family since she moved to Scotland. In this newest release, Delaney and her husband are taking part in the Hidden Door Festival and have received an invitation to visit a reclusive artist’s studio, that of Ryory Bennigan. I was fascinated by the artist’s devotion to the long-lost Picts and their art. I’d never heard of this ancient group of people, but Ms. Shelton does an admirable job intertwining some of the known history in such a creative way, it never felt like I was reading anything but fiction.

After a chance meeting with a fellow American, a paleontologist from Kansas also interested in the Picts and claiming to have found a valuable artifact, Delaney is horrified to find he was murdered shortly after their encounter. With the police not making any progress on finding the killer, Delaney and her innate curiosity, starts digging into the paleontologist’s life and past. With secrets and scandals, poisonings and Picts, fraud and fakes, the tightly plotted mystery takes the reader on a fast-paced ride. There were twists I didn’t see coming and suspects that had me second guessing myself with every turn of the page. With a heart stopping reveal, Delaney proves that she’s a brave and determined woman and I can’t wait to find out what new adventures she finds herself in!

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

I was so excited when I received a galley of this book! I have been waiting not so patiently after finishing the last book in the series. The author did not disappoint. I was so immersed in the bookstore we all missed with our favorite characters.

I had this book on my NetGalley shelf for a long while as I wasn’t in the mood to read it. It was a shame because it was really enjoyable! It was much different than I expected as k thought it was going to be a more “fluffy” cozy mystery but it wasn’t. It was cozy but had more to it than a mindless whodunit.

I also loved learning about the Picts. The author did a great job in educating about unpopular history without sounding like they were preaching to the readers. It was done in a fun and engaging way.

I actually would love to listen to this book in audio form as I think I would really enjoy it so I’ll keep an eye out for it!

I am thankful to have gotten an eARC for free from SMP Minotaur Books through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Delaney and her husband Tom are thrilled to have been selected to meet the Scottish artist, Ryory Bennigan, as well as tour his studio. Ryory is specialist regarding the ancient tribe of Picts and because of that he is heavily tattooed. While there, Delaney & Tom are introduced to Dr. Adam Pace, who turns out to be a professor from Delaney's alma mater in Kansas. When he is found murdered, Delaney helps the Scottish police to find who and why the murder happened.

Fun series, looking forward to more!

The tenth installment in the series and it doesn’t disappoint. Delaney wins the chance to meet a well known artist at a festival. At the meeting, she encounters an individual who is later found dead. As Delaney starts to solve the murder, she learns more about dinosaur bones and the Picts. Inevitably Demaney does learn enough to help the police solve the crime, and further embeds herself in her little community with Edinburgh.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.

This is the tenth book in this mystery series set in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is readable as a standalone mystery. Ex-pat American, Delaney, is happily settled in her life and marriage to Scotsman, Tom. She loves her job at The Cracked Spine bookshop. There’s always something interesting happening either at work or in the city. This time, she’s thrilled when she scores a rare invitation to visit the workshop of reclusive artist, Ryory Bennigan. Ryory specializes in recreating Pictish stone carvings from the 2,000 year old tribes that once inhabited modern day Scotland. While at Ryory’s studio, Delaney and Tom encounter Dr. Adam Pace who teaches at Delaney’s alma mater. When Dr. Pace is discovered dead, Delaney assists the police by using her resources and skills to solve this puzzling mystery.

I learn so much when I read these books. They’re brimming with Scottish history and literary fun. This new addition wasn't any different. Delaney Nichols and the crew at The Cracked Spine are some of my favorite amateur sleuths. I can't wait to see what they get up to next.

Mystery is not a genre that I usually gravitate towards but I couldn’t keep this one down! I loved the coziness that this book made me feel. Along with atmosphere of being in Scotland in a bookshop I could really cuddle up with this book! I loved Sheltons style of writing and I would definitely check out more in this series.

The Scottish Bookshop series, of which Written in Stone is book 10, Is always an enjoyable historical look at Scotland. Paige Shelton does a nice job of exploring the history of Scotland, as well as describing Scottish cultural life in this series of cozy mysteries. Although Shelton doesn't live in Edinburgh, I always feel like I am walking through my favorite town to visit. Her descriptions of Edinburgh are nicely done.
In Written in Stone, readers learn a great deal about the Picts, a tribe that lived in northern Scotland during the early Middle Ages, who were noted for their decorative blue tattoos. I like Delaney and the other characters in this series. Their friendship comes across as genuine, which is a talent of Shelton, in creating communities of friends, who feel real to readers. I suspect for many readers, Delaney'a friends feel like old friends and the Cracked Spine feels like a real Bookstore. This series is enjoyable, fun, and a fast easy read.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Fans of Shelton should not be disappointed in reading Written in Stone.

Written in Stone is the latest installment (#10) in the Scottish Bookshop mystery series. I really enjoy this series because each book provides a wealth of information about Scottish history and culture. In this book, the focus is archaeology, with the ancient people called the Picts at the center. Delaney and her co-workers meet a variety of intriguing characters, and I enjoyed seeing them sift through loads of information to try and solve the murder of a visiting academic. There may have been a few too many coincidences and fortuitous events to be believable, but the result was a fun cozy mystery that kept me entertained. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

"Written in Stone” the 10th instalment in the "Scottish Bookshop Mystery” series by Paige Shelton. I really enjoy this series and have started collecting in hardcover. Delaney will have to dust off her magnifying glass to uncover the truth behind this case… or risk becoming a pile of bones herself.

I loved visiting Edinburgh, Scotland and the Cracked Spine book shop again . I liked how this time we were exploring the Picts blue tattoos and artifacts.

There were several possible suspects, and kept me guessing for quite a while. I was drawn into this story right away and did not want to put it down.

Overall, I found it to be a very entertaining read that made me long to visit Scotland.

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Minotaur Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is the latest installment of the Scottish Bookshop series. I've loved the series...until now. Perhaps it was the mood I was in or my tastes have changed. I wasn't really that interested in the plot and the constant use of 'aye' and 'lass' really seemed excessive.

Kansas born Delaney has married a Scotsman and is settled in Edinburgh, working in a charming bookshop. Delaney is thrilled; she and her husband have been invited to visit the home/studio of reclusive artist Ryory whose speciality is recreating historic Picts, stone carvings from the tattooed tribes who lived in Scotland more than 2,000 years ago.There, she has a chance meeting with Dr. Adam Pace who is from her home state and teaches at her alma mater. When Dr. Pace is murdered and nefarious activities on his part are revealed, Delaney, along with her cohorts from the bookshop, cannot resist investigating.

An intriguing, cozy mystery with some delightful and quirky characters, this is a fast paced read. Although seeped in history, the role of 3D printers in the story made it quite contemporary. I liked this book and look forward to reading the next installment in the series. I particularly enjoyed learning more about the history of Scotland and a revisit to Edinburgh is always welcome.

Indeed, this is a cozy mystery with all the folks at the bookshop, as well as a couple of others, who feel like old friends when you start reading. They make a great team when they work together, each with their own distinct personality. I enjoyed the book, though I suspected the perpetrator when he first showed up at the beginning, but all the stuff about the Picts and other artifacts was a distraction for me. Perhaps if I were more interested in dinosaurs and such things I would have enjoyed it more. However, I do love the writing style and the quick pace of this series and would read another one, if there is one. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

Written in Stone is the 10th book in the Scottish Bookshop series. It takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland. Delaney NIchols is the main character. She works at the Cracked Spine bookshop owned by Edwin MacAlister. She is married to Tom who owns Delaney's Wee Pub. Rosie also works there with her dog, Hector. Hamlet also works there.

The Hidden Door Festival is a special invitation only on-site experience auxiliary annex program belongs to artist Ryory Bennigan exclusive. The festivalis a pop-up artistic event, mostly musical, literary, paintings and scultures. Ryory's art was carved stone.He had a historical intrigue of the lost population - the Picts. Their existance was only written in stone left behind of carved symbols of animals, etc. Ryory carved his stones like the picts. They painted pictures on their bodies. Ryory did the same.

This year Ryory was going to open his studio to a limited number of visiters. Tom and Delaney got an invite to attend. They arrived at his studio for their appointment. As they came into the hallway to the stairs they ran into Bridget McBride, Tom's old girlfriend, coming out of the building. She works for a local newspaper as a reporter. She was still mad at Tom for breaking up and gave him the cold shoulder but became friends with Delancy. They went up the stairs to the studio and was met by Ami, his assistant, who asked them to wait. While waiting Ami brought an older man out. He apologized for taking up some of their time. He introduced himself as Adam Pace. He was a professor at the Universariy of Kansas in the states. Delaney told him that she was also from Kansas and had gone to the university. She told him where she worked and told him to come there to catch-up. After he left they went to met Ryord. He invited them to try their luck and carved a stone. He started the design and then had Tom and Delaney took over.. Ryory took them into another room. When they got there they hear a moan and found Ami on the floor. She felt sick and dizzy. They got the ambulance to take her to the hospital.

At the bookshop she told Rosie, Edwin and Hamlet about what happened. Hamlet knew Ami from the university. The next day they all arrived early as they were excited that Ryory was coming to their store. When he arrived he told them that he was suppose to met Dr. Pace for breakfast but when Dr. Pace didn't arrive he went to his house but when he got there the police were there. Dr. Pace had been murdered. Delaney wanted to investigate to figure out what happened.

This is where I will leave the story to the reader to enjoy. It is filled with lots of twists and turns and suspense to the surprising conclusion.

I really enjoy this series. I have read it from the first book. You get to know the people involved in the story and look forward to the next adventure.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC.