Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

What a fabulous new installment to the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series! Delaney’s life in Scotland is so much more than she dreamed! I love the rare and antique books and more at The Cracked Spine, her store family, and now her fiancé! We also get to know Delaney’s parents and brother who come from their farm in Kansas for her most special day. It will be made even more unique as she befriends an elderly man with an obsession with Nessie, the Loch Ness monster, and her family gets to watch her help solve a murder.

As Delaney and Tom’s wedding day approaches, the clergyman who was going to perform their ceremony was no longer available. Delaney went to meet with Reverend Nisa Bellows to see if she will do the honors. As she walked into the church, she bumped into an older man. After he disappeared, she saw a deck of cards with a Nessie drawing on them in a plastic baggie. She mentions it to Nisa, who agrees to tell her where to see Norval Fraser and deliver the cards to him.

Meeting the sweet, eccentric Norval is fascinating, especially when considering his work about Nessie and attempting to prove her existence. He knows Edwin, owner of the Cracked Spine, and had offered to give Edwin all his research, no charge, with one requirement – that he continue the research Norval spent his life on. As they get to know each other, Delaney learns that Norval believes his father was taken by Nessie because of what occurred when Norval was a young child. Norval saw his Da for the last time at the lake. While it is rumored that his father left his family and started a new one with a young widow, Norval won’t accept it.

Within days of meeting, Norval appeared early at the bookshop when her landlord, Elias, was dropping her off to work. Norval was visibly shaken and believed something happened to his great-nephew, Gavin MacLeod. Elias and Delaney take him to Gavin’s apartment, where Elias finds the younger man murdered. When the police arrive, they determine that Norval is the only real suspect they have because Gavin had been stabbed with a Nessie-handled knife, and the only identifiable fingerprints are Norval’s. Norval might have some mental challenges, but a murderer? Norval pleads for her help to find the proof of his innocence in his apartment, stuffed somewhere among the photos, stacks of papers, and Nessie souvenirs. Delaney, with the help of Edwin, Elias, and Tom, begins to try to prove Norval innocent before he ends up in worse places than the local psychiatric ward. In the meantime, will she find the proof that Nessie is real?

All characters are as well defined as necessary for their roles. Delaney is my favorite – she is a brilliant young woman who learned about researching antiquities when working at a museum in Kansas, experience proven invaluable at the bookshop. She is also a warm, caring person who would do her best to help others in need. Those traits often get her involved in mysteries and murder, and thankfully, the local Inspector now respects her. While he doesn’t always ask for her opinion, he still listens to it. It was great to spend time with Delaney’s family as they are introduced to her Edinburg.

The plot is beautifully planned and executed with a mystery that proves a challenge to solve. Plot twists continued to shuffle who the killer might really be, as well as whether or not Nessie is real. I simply couldn’t figure out who the killer was; the end brought several surprises! I very much enjoyed this cozy mystery because of the characters, subjects, and the inability to know who and why the killer was. I highly recommend it to fans of the author and this series, the ancient setting of Scotland, and those who appreciate well-written cozy mysteries.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Delaney and Tom’s wedding is just a couple of weeks away and they are in need of a new pastor to perform the ceremony after their original one passes away. On her way into the church to meet a potential replacement, she meets Norval Fraser, a man who has researched the Loch Ness Monster his entire life. Delaney finds herself drawn into the man’s obsession and they become fast friends. He is very protective of all of his papers and wants to be sure someone will continue his work after he is gone. He had hoped his nephew would take the mantle but when the nephew is killed and police believe he is responsible he reaches out to Delaney for help to find the murderer and to protect his papers. Delaney already has her hands full with her upcoming wedding and her family arriving from Kansas but she can’t say no to this man. Believing the truth will set Nordal free she jumps in with both feet to find it. But she may be up against the beast itself before she can get there.

I loved absolutely everything about this story! A wedding, a priceless book, Americans visiting Scotland for the first time, and Nessie featured throughout it all.

Who has not heard the tale of the Loch Ness Monster? It was about time Delaney paid the creature a visit to see for herself if their really something residing in the Loch. Nordal’s vast amount of papers and his stories really pushed her desire to see if the monster really exists. The man is clearly haunted by his memories and Delaney realizes he needs someone to pay attention. It was heartwarming the way she took this man under her wing, especially because she herself is so new to Scotland. Her need to prove his innocence overtakes almost everything else, including her wedding but her hunky pub owner fiance completely understands.

That leads me to the romantic side of this story. Delaney has found the perfect mate in Tom and we see it abundantly in this story. He takes care of her but trusts her and gives her the freedom to pursue her endeavors. He is ready to step in when she needs him but knows when to back off. She supports him thoroughly too. I am excited about their future.

This installment brings her adopted Scotland family, the staff at the bookstore, her landlords, Tom and his father together with her biological Kansas family to celebrate their upcoming nuptials. Delaney gets sidetracked with the murder and her new friend, so I was so pleased the way the two families got along. Meeting her folks and her brother gave us a clearer picture of the protagonist I have grown to love over the course of this series.

Again, Paige Shelton’s words deliver her readers to Scotland. The town, the countryside, the rain, and the infamous loch. We follow Delaney each and every step of the way. Ms. Shelton paints such vivid imagery.

You will find myth, a rich history, mystery and love within these pages. The ending left me breathless. Such fantastic storytelling took me away. The reality around me seemed to disappear as I became immersed in a tale I couldn’t put down. In fact, I sad when the story ended. My virtual escape ended much too soon. I just was not ready to leave Scotland behind.

This book will be on my list of best reads of 2019 for so many reasons. It can be enjoyed on its own but to experience the character development and the passage of time I strongly encourage reading the series from the start. This story receives my Paradise Rating! 10 stars!

This mystery series has never failed to transport me to glorious Scotland and the world of Delaney and the where she works, The Cracked Spine. First off, while this can be read as a stand alone, reading them in order gives the reader the best reading adventure. Here we are in the fourth entry in the series and Delaney is on top of the world, her life is almost too good to be true. She is counting down the days to her wedding with oub owner Tom - a dreamy hunk if ever there was one. She loves her new home and her job and even having to entertain her family when they arrive for the wedding can't put a cloud over her days. Maybe it was a bit too good to be true? The officiating minister dies and Delaney has to scramble to find a replacement or the wedding is on hold. When she is off to meet a possible stand in, she crosses paths with Norval, an elderly gentleman coming out of the church yard. She sees that he has dropped something and ends up searching him out to return it. That starts another complication in motion - he is a Nessie fanatic - totally immersed in Loch Ness lore, in search of any evidence that the monster does exist. He and Delany forge an instant bond and not much later, he asks that she take over his papers and passion.
The mystery arrives front and center when Norval asks Delaney to go with him to his great-nephews home as he has not been able to get in touch with him. The reason - he is very dead from being stabbed and Norval becomes prime suspect number one. Delaney knows her new friend couldn't be the killer and sets about finding out who really did in the man. All the while juggling her wedding and all that it entails.
For me, this series has it all - great characters, a well crafted mystery with the right amount of twists, turns and red herrings, an awesome location (I love Scotland) and a romance. I wish I had been invited to the wedding. As I was not, alas, I was happy to have read about all of the plans and happenings and I'm looking forward to the next book.

I’ve read this series since the beginning and have to say that I recommend reading the books in order. In order to understand how the characters have gotten to this place in their journey, you need to have the background stories.

The sleuth in this series is Delaney. She has moved from Kansas to Scotland for a job at The Cracked Spine, a bookstore of some repute. Delaney has found her new home in Edinburgh and is engaged to the love of her life.

Her family has arrived for Delaney’s marriage just as murder has occurred. At the same time, a mystery regarding the Loch Ness Monster is provided to Delaney to solve. She takes it on it hopes that it will prove a man innocent of the charge of murder.

The story twists and turns and, as these cozy mysteries do, comes out right at the end.

I’ll be interested to see where the series heads from this point on.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

The Loch Ness Papers is the fourth book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. This is the second book I have read, and I can honestly say it works well as a standalone.

I have come to really like most of the characters in this series. The main character, Delaney, has what she thinks of as ‘'”bookish voices”. They appear to be thoughts that usually come from her subconscious into her mind as quotes from books to help her understand the things that happen around her and guide her in the direction she should go. Other enjoyable people are the ones she works with at The Cracked Spine bookstore.

This story takes place in Edinburgh and much of it revolves around the existence of the Loch Ness Monster and people who say they have seen it or want to. When a the nephew of an avid Loch Ness collector is murdered, Delaney hopes to help solve the crime while trying to pull together her wedding which has been running into more than a few easy-to-solve problems.

The mystery was enjoyable to read. The author is very skilled in telling a good story and knowing how to slowly reveal more details. If you like cozy mysteries, this is one that you should pick up.

The Loch Ness Papers by Paige Shelton is book four in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. Delaney and Tom are set to ne married in one week. Delaney's parents are arriving in a couple of days. The last fitting for the wedding dress has happened when Delaney accidentally meets an old man whose life has been consumed by the Loch Ness monster. He lived at the loch as a child and is convinced that his father was taken by the monster. His apartment is full of research and Nessie souvenirs. After the one meeting he would like to leave his "research" to Delaney. She doesn't want it; she would not continue with it. In just a couple of days he is dead: murdered. Delaney spends her entire wedding week investigating-go figure.

These books by Paige Shelton transport you to modern day Edinburgh, with plenty of history thrown in , just for fun. I chose this series so I could visit Scotland and they have yet to disappoint. Between Delaney and her cohorts: Elias and Aggie, Tom and his father, the folks at the Cracked Spine bookshop where she works, the readers gets a real feel for he life in Scotland. It is a delightful life, full of challenges, both professionally as a "curator" of a large collection and as an unofficial "investigator." This is a particularly compelling mystery given the focus on the monster. The Loch Ness monster has long been a controversy with hordes of believers around the world. Leopold was not taken by the monster but the week Delaney spends looking into his mystery is compelling and challenging, as much for the reader as the writer. Good job, Paige Shelton. I highly recommend this book. Read it for yourself.

I received a free ARC of The Loch Ness Papers in exchange for a fair and honest review. #netgalley #thelochnesspapers

I'm always looking for new to me cozy mysteries so when I saw The Lock Ness Papers at Netgalley and learned it was part of the Sottish Bookshop Mystery series, I had to request it. It is book 4 in the series, and I haven't read the previous books, but I still really enjoyed it.

While you can tell the relationships have been developing over the course of the series, the mystery is definitely a stand-alone. I think it helped me that Delaney's family were visiting for the first time, so there were plenty of introductions to introduce a reader to the cast of regular characters.

Have read MC Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series, I knew I liked Scottish mysteries and I'm thrilled to be able to add Paige Shelton to my list of must-read authors.

I loved getting to know Delaney Nichols, her bookshop family, her Scottish family, and her family from Kansas. It is a delightful cast of characters. I liked that Delaney and her boss, and fellow amateur detective, Edwin were the kind of characters that are an annoyance to the local police. They seemed to be liked and respected by Inspector Winters. Delaney is also not nosy. She is curious and with her background in research, it makes sense that she would be drawn to mysteries and people's stories.

In this story, there are two mysteries. One, is the monster of Loch Ness real? And two, who killed Gavin, the great-nephew of a local (and somewhat famous) monster hunter?

Both mysteries tie together nicely as well as provide some Scottish history. There is also a bit about King Arthur.

The Loch Ness Papers is a light read and more about finding out family history. The characters are never really in any danger nor are there really any high tension moments, which I appreciated after reading some high anxiety-inducing thriller. It was just a really enjoyable story.

I do wish we had found out what happened to the dress shop owner and seamstress. Perhaps it will be revealed in a future book and be sure I will be picking up future books in this series (as well as going back and reading the first 3 in the series).

This book took me four days to finish. F O U R. That alone should explain the 2 star rating. But in case it doesn't, I will try and break it down for you here.

First, let me say, I loved all the previous books. Totally and completely loved them and the stories and the mysteries. Delaney is one of my favorite book characters right now and I was so excited that there was going to be a fourth book. I like the bookshop The Cracked Spine and all its workers and I love the story of how Delaney ended up in Scotland. In fact. there really isn't a character in these books that I didn't like. So when I started this, I expected it to be a one day, only put it down to pee, kind of read.
I was wrong. Oh. So. Very. Wrong.

I am not sure what happened, but all the magic disappeared with this book. *POOF* and it was gone. And this should have been a magical one. Delaney and Tom are getting ready to get married and her family is coming. Magical right? Well, not when there is murder and fraud and the possibility of The Loch Ness Monster being real. And even if you can find magic in all of the, the writing [strangely enough] was tepid. And I just didn't care about anyone. Or the story. Or who the murderer was [and when it was revealed and the why, not only didn't I really care, I wasn't surprised at all]. It all just fell tremendously flat for me. And that, when you love a series as much as I loved this one, is a horrible disappointment.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book continues the Scottish Bookstore Mystery series.

Delaney Nichols is the MC, who is originally from Kansas, but now lives in Scotland. Delaney works at The Cracked Spine, a bookstore owned by Edwin MacAlister. The bookstore is a very interesting place with all kinds of items that have been discovered or continue to be discovered as Delaney helps Edwin organize the “Dark Side”, which is a warehouse where he keeps the things he has collected over his lifetime.

Delaney and her fiance Tom are planning their wedding. Delaney's family come over from the U.S.

We are treated to more of the recurring characters at the bookshop, Edwin, Hamlet, Rosie and the Hector, the miniature Yorkie. Delaney's landlord, Elias, returns as well. All the characters have well-defined personalities and it was a joy reading more about them.

In this mystery, however, much revolves around the myth of Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, and those who believe they have seen her. The lives of families Nessie has touched over several generations are told around the unraveling of the murder Delaney and her friends and family work to solve.

There is also a bit about the legend of King Arthur, for those who are interested in that.

All in all, it was an interesting mystery but the highlight for me was the individual characters themselves.  I look forward to learning more about them as the series continues.

I received an advanced digital copy of The Loch Ness Papers by Paige Shelton from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

Delaney Nichols is living the good life in Scotland. She's engaged to a man she loves and she enjoys her job at The Cracked Spine. She also occasionally acts as an amateur sleuth when mysteries pop up around her. In this book, a local Loch Ness monster enthusiast, and recent friend of Delaney, is accused of murdering his nephew. Of course, Delaney steps up to help find the killer. Though Delaney is curious with the mystery, she has other things going on... she is getting married, and her family is in town for her wedding.

The 4th book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series by Paige Shelton. Delaney moved from the US to Scotland to work at The Cracked Spine, a rare books shop. Soon after moving to Scotland, she met Tom, and they fell in love. In each book, Delaney has a new mystery to solve. A light and entertaining series for fans of cozy mysteries. I recommend reading them in order, as it helps understand the characters better.

This book has Delaney helping a new friend... who is obsessed with the Loch Ness monster. Lots of talk about Nessie. Not much talk about The Cracked Spine, which, from previous books, sounds like an amazing book shop. Even though Delaney's family is visiting from Kansas, but she mostly focuses on the mystery, and not on her family and upcoming wedding.

I'll admit, this is not a very exciting book. Personally, I like the characters and can handle the mostly predictable stories. If you like easy reading cozies, and Scotland appeals to you, then it's worth picking up. A delightful addition to the series.

I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's always a pleasure to visit with Delaney Nichols in Edinburgh and to wander the aisles (and the storeroom) of The Cracked Spine Bookshop, and this certainly holds true for The Loch Ness Papers. There's a lot going on in this book: wedding preparations, trips to Loch Ness, rare books, visiting family, and-- of course-- murder. In Shelton's capable hands, the plot does not seem overburdened, although I would be less than honest if I didn't admit that I had a problem or two with the book. At least I can say that I think the problem lies more with the reader (me) than the book. Let me explain.

There's a glitch in the driving time to Loch Ness that had me scratching my head for a second, and I thought the identity of the killer was very easy to deduce. But that's technical stuff and not what bothered this reader the most.

The pastor scheduled to conduct the wedding ceremony dies. Delaney asks for suggestions for a replacement from her friends and doesn't break a sweat. Another decidedly major part of the wedding goes horribly awry, and Delaney sheds a tear or two and goes back to helping Norval, the elderly man accused of murder. Her family arrives, horribly jetlagged, and she bundles them in a car to take them to Loch Ness because she has to interview someone about Norval. Once her family has finally recuperated from their flight, Delaney keeps on investigating and lets her friends show them around Edinburgh. Huh?

Quite frankly, if that were me, Norval could find another savior. I would be working harder on the bits of my wedding that have gone wrong (and probably ripping out a handful or two of my hair along the way). And I would definitely be taking charge of showing my family around as much of Scotland as I could. I could not understand Delaney's laissez-faire attitude. Then two things dawned on me. One, this entire series has a fairy tale quality to it. Delaney walks into her dream job with perfect co-workers. She falls into the perfect place to live-- and it's complete with a built-in chauffeur. She finds her dream man. Good things happen to good people, and who doesn't like to read about that once in a while? The second thing that occurred to me was that I've never had the kind of support group that Delaney has. Between family and friends whom she trusts completely, she can hand over those wedding disasters and know that they are going to be taken care of. Makes me a bit jealous, that does, but personal relationships, loyalty, and trust certainly add to the heart-warming feeling of this entire series.

Now all I want to know is...what's Delaney's next adventure going to be?

3.5 stars

In the newest addition of this cozy mystery series, Delaney Nichols, has her plate full. Not only is she marrying her hunk of Scottish Pub owner, Tom, but her family has arrived from Kansas and wants to be entertained. Then to add to the mix, she gets involved in trying to prove the existence of the Loch Ness Monster.

A man she meets wraps her up into the investigation of the Monster and then his nephew is murdered and he is arrested for the crime. No matter that she has a wedding and out of the country family visiting, Delaney throws everything aside to investigate the murder and the secret of the Monster.

The one thing that drives me crazy is the random use of Scottish pronunciations. She always substitutes tae for the but that just gets annoying. Occasionally she drops in an aye or a wee but just make up your mind. Either write it all in Scottish or not. Stop the tae's. It's just annoying.

Other than that it's a cute cozy mystery that has my two favorite things, Scotland and a book store. It's a delightful combination.

Delaney Nichols is preparing for her wedding and after meeting with the minister who will officiate, Delaney literally runs into Norval Fraser, an elderly man obsessed with the Loch Ness monster. Norval draws Delaney into friendship and when Norval's nephew is found murdered, Delaney has to help keep Norvasl from being blamed. All this at the same time as her wedding nears, her family arrives from the US and The Cracked Spine receives a very rare and expensive book returned by a penitent family member of the thief.

Love the story, but it seemed a bit over the top, fantasizing the truth of the Loch Ness monster. I also thought it minimized Delaney's feeings about her wedding.

Delaney has settled nicely into her new life in Edinburgh, Scotland, and thinks she's living a fairytale life – until the pastor meant to officiate at her upcoming wedding passes away unexpectedly and she needs to find a last-minute replacement. While engaged in this search, she meets an elderly man who is, to put it mildly, obsessed with the Loch Ness monster. When a body is found and the old man is at the top of the suspect list, Delaney can't abandon her new friend and works to clear his name.

This is the fourth book of this series, and I'm growing to like it more and more with each book. The relationships between the recurring characters is explored a bit more in each book, and I would love to spend some time with Edwin, Rosie and Hamlet at the bookshop, Tom and Artair at the pub, and spend a night or three in Elias and Aggie's guest house. It would be as much fun getting to know them would be as it would be to spend time exploring Edinburgh. The mystery in this book almost seemed to take a back seat to some of the rest of the story, but it was still enjoyable. The moment the character was introduced, I suspected there was something not quite right, but it wasn't until later in the book that I realized just how "off" things really were. I look forward to reading the next book in the series when it is released!

Paige Shelton and the Loch Ness Monster? It didn’t take anything else to sell me on this book!

Author Paige Shelton truly knows how to transport a reader. After reading THE LOCH NESS PAPERS, I feel my passport should have a stamp for Scotland. The entire Scottish Bookshop Mystery series makes me feel as though I have spent a fair amount of time in that beautiful land.

Protagonist, Delaney, has a lot going on in her life in this story. She’s juggling wedding plans, a visit from her family, a murder mystery, and perhaps one of the great mysteries of all time, the Loch Ness Monster. Through the brilliant writing of author Paige Shelton, Delany manages to keep all her balls in the air. Okay, most of them.

I really enjoyed this book. The whodunit may have been a bit predictable, but I’m okay with that. Sometimes I like guessing who the bad guy/gal is. It gives me a feeling of satisfaction when I get to the reveal. And what a reveal it was! Even though I wasn’t surprised with the killer, there was action and angst, and a twist so unlike any other I have read in a cozy, it left me grinning from ear to ear.

Thank you, Paige Shelton for bringing back that excited kid feeling I always get when reading about Nessie. And for sharing with us the wonderful mystery of, THE LOCH NESS PAPERS.

When the story started I thought it might focus around King Arthur and then maybe the Loch Ness Monster. But of course then there was a murder and let's not forget the wedding. I do not want to give any spoilers so let's just say it all comes together nicely in the end.

I really enjoyed the history/mythology aspect of this story and it has unique twists that will make you think twice. There are characters you'll want to root for and others you'll want to get to know better. This is the fourth book in A Scottish Bookshop Mystery series but could easily be read as a stand alone. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

Delaney Nichols is one very, very busy young lady. A bit over a year ago, she was laid off from her job at the museum and had decided that what she really needed was an adventure. When she saw the advertisement from Edinburgh, Scotland – someone wanted to hire someone with just her skills – she was ready to pack up and leave Kansas. She’s now been in Edinburgh for a year, she’s acquired a wonderful set of friends she calls her ‘Scottish family’ and she will be getting married in a few days. Her family, mother, father, and brother will even be in Edinburgh in just a few days. On top of all that, the officiant that was to perform the wedding ceremony has died and she has to find another one – with only a week left until the wedding.

It is raining cats and dogs and Delaney is heading into the church to speak to an officiant recommend by her future father-in-law. As she dashes in toward the red door, she smacks into an old man, Norval Fraser. For some reason, she feels drawn to Norval as she helps him right himself. Then, after he departs, she notices something lying on the ground – obviously, it belongs to the old man. He certainly seemed an odd, blatherskite sort of fellow. He’s obsessed with the Loch Ness Monster (Nessie) and wants Delaney to take over his research and prove that Nessie really exists.

A couple of days later Delaney encounters Norval awaiting her outside the bookstore where she works. It is barely 5:30 AM and Norval says he’s been waiting for some time. He’s worried about his nephew who doesn’t answer his phone. Delaney doesn’t understand the fierce worry but agrees to accompany Norval to his nephew’s home – where they find him deceased -stabbed in the back.

The police believe Norval is the murderer because of the knife and fingerprints – but – those can be misleading. Delaney doesn’t believe that Norval is capable of that kind of violence, but then she doesn’t know him that well. At any rate, she’ll do what she can to help find the killer and prove Norval innocent. Now, in addition to all of the other things she has to do, Delaney has to find a killer.

Enter a long, tall Texan dressed in black and you just add another layer to the mystery. Who is he really and why is he trying to return a book that the bookstore never owned? The book is a very, very valuable one about King Arthur and the round table, but there is just something fishy about both the man and his story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I hope you will as well. The characters are wonderful as you’ll know if you have read the series from the beginning. If you haven’t, I’d suggest you read the previous book because you’ll love them. The book is well-written and tightly plotted with multiple mysteries, new characters added to the series and a really lovely romance. What more could you ask for?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Loch Ness Papers is the 4th book in the Scottish Book Shop Mystery series. Once again I was transported to Edinburgh, Scotland and Loch Ness. The story is full of quirky characters, a beautiful setting, and an interesting plot. I liked how the author used Scottish dialects/slang throughout and while reading I heard it in my mind the voices of the different characters. There are several possible murderers, and kept me guessing for quite a while.

I’ve always been fascinated by myths of other countries and loved the way the Loch Ness Monster (Nessie) is central to this tale. Where I grew up in Canada, we had our own version called the "Ogopogo" which is a lake monster reported to live in Okanagan Lake, in British Columbia.

Overall, I found it to be a delightful read that made me long to visit the mountains of Scotland and Loch Ness. I highly recommend this to my fellow mystery lovers.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.

3.5/4 stars

In this 4th installment of author Paige Shelton's Scottish Bookshop Mystery series, we find our stalwart Kansas born bookseller and heroine, Delaney Nichols, walking on cloud nine. She's made friends and her home in beautiful Edinburgh, Scotland and is about to marry her handsome Scottish pub-owner, Tom Shannon. Everything was on track; that is until Father O'Brien passed away a week ago and Delaney needs to find another officiant, post haste. At Tom's father's recommendation, she travels over to Dean Village in search of Reverend Nisa Bellows who hopefully can step into the breach. Just as she's about to reach the church's side door, she bumps shoulders with a doddering old gentleman who had apparently dropped something, which was not immediately noticed. When Delaney tries to catch up to him to return it, he is no where in sight. After a short visit with Reverend Nisa, who had just met with the old man, Delaney offers to bring the lost item to the man's flat.

When Delaney meets dear old Norval, there is almost an immediate bond created between two curious souls. Reverend Nisa had shared with Delaney Norval's obsession with all things, "Nessie" (The Loch Ness Monster). Obsession was no understatement as Delaney notices all the Nessie trinkets and piles of research in Norval's flat. He shares with Delaney his eagerness to pass along his life-long research project on Nessie to someone who will carry on after he's gone. Would she be willing to do it? Not wanting to dash the man's hopes, Delaney says that she'll think about it. There's a knock on the door. It's Norval's great-nephew, Gavin MacLeod. Gavin's quite brusque with Norval and with her. When Gavin's dead body is found the next day, it is Norval who is held on suspicion of murder and Delaney will do whatever it takes to exonerate her new friend. Mind you, all of this is done while planning for next weekend's wedding.

This is a delightful and charming cozy mystery. There's humor and tenderness shared among the characters. The descriptions of the magnificent Scottish landscape are rich, atmospheric and rather painterly. It is heartwarming to imagine ordinary people doing extraordinary things, such as the actions of our dear Delaney. It's no wonder that she makes quite an impression on everyone whom she meets.

If a feel good cozy mystery, with an exquisite Scottish tableau and lots of red herrings appeals then this could well be a book for you.

I am grateful to St. Martin's Press for having provided a free Uncorrected Digital Galley of this book via NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Thank you NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Paige Shelton for the ARC to review. I did not realize this book was
part of a mystery series when I requested it. I picked the book for the title and I loved it. I usually don't read books that are in a series, however, I really enjoyed this. The story line was good and the characters very enjoyable. I have traveled to Scotland several times and have family there. I was total transported and could feel myself right there in Edinburgh with the characters. I will start this series from the beginning. I highly recommend.