Edwin the owner of The Cracked Spine bookshop hosts an invitation only yearly tour of Edinburgh. This year he has gone to London on an emergency. So now Delaney has been convinced to do it in his place.
On the first night of the tour things don't start off very good. One of the tourists disappears, now Delaney needs to keep track of the others, as she tries to figure out what is happening.
I love getting to go back to Edinburgh and walk the twisted streets. Getting to revisit places I have seen and the history.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Wonderful series I really enjoyed the latest addition.Love the setting Edinburgh Scotland and the characters that come alive.Paige Sheltons writing never fails to draw me in keeps me involved. #netgalley #fatefulwords.

Title: Fateful Words
Author: Paige Shelton
Genre: Cozy mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5

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.

This was a solid read. I love the bookstore setting—and the family of employees there. I feel like the people on the tour, and Delaney herself, were willfully overlooking some obvious tells and warning signs here, and I really didn’t find it believable about her calling the inspector every other second, but this was a fun read, with a lot of cool details about Edinburgh.

Paige Shelton lives in Arizona. Fateful Words is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 4/8.)

Great characters and a well-plotted mystery. I loved getting to know the participants in Edwin’s literary tour and was a little sad when they all headed home, wishing Luka was a full-time character. As always, the setting was fantastic and though I figured out who the guilty party was early on, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. Highly recommended and while the mystery itself is a standalone, there’s a lot of backstory that is better explained as the series grows so try to start at the first one.

Fateful Words by Paige Shelton takes us back to Scotland and Delaney, Tom, and the crew at the Cracked Spine. Every year Edwin hosts an exclusive tour of Edinburgh highlighting the places where books and movies take place. It is by invitation only and Edwin pays all the costs for the participants. This year, much to her surprise, the day before the guests arrive, Delany is tasked with hosting the tour, and Edwin and Hamlet have whisked themselves off to London for some mysterious reason. She is intimidated but Rose has all Edwin’s notes and Tom has offered to accompany her so all is well. Or so it seems until things start happening. When Delany checks at the inn to be sure everything is ready, she is greeted by the news that Edwin’s card has been declined. She offers her own, knowing this is an error. Later, the manager, Geoff, with whom she had spoken, appears to have thrown himself off the roof, causing his death. This tour is not starting off well.

As always, Shelton has made this character-driven novel, a delight, not only with the regulars but with an influx of new and interesting personas to round out the mix. Delaney’s insatiable curiosity can’t keep her for investigating: so many strange things kept happening, mostly small things, but when taken together paint an interesting picture. It was a good mystery, with all the characters and clues in place. Shelton has made this into any endearing setting and one that always makes the reader feel a part of the bookstore, the pub, and the story. Excellent job, Paige Shelton.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Fateful Words St Martin’s Press, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #PaigeShelton #FatefulWords

Delaney Nichols is an American living and working in The Cracked Spine, a bookstore in Edinburgh, Scotland. Edwin, the store's owner, is out of town under mysterious circumstances, and his annual guided tour of Edinburgh falls into Delaney's lap. She is worried about Edwin but can't get any answers. She feels unprepared for the challenge because she is not a native to the city, but her husband, pub owner Tom Shannon is happy to pitch in.

The tour members are disappointed Edwin is not their guide but are persuaded to give Delaney a chance rather than return in a year. The door soon goes off the rails with an attack that leaves someone injured, a suspicious death and a mysterious disappearance.

As the reader, you feel like you're part of the tour as well. The descriptions of the city, landmarks and history make the book an experience. The plot moves deliberately, with several subplots nicely wrapped up in the end.

Fateful Words is the eighth in the Scottish Bookshop Mysteries. I didn't realize I was so far into the series. It stands well on its own, but I look forward to backtracking to read the previous volumes.

I received this Advanced Reader Copy of Fateful Words from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press /Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed this entire series set in atmospheric Edinburg Scotland at a historic bookkstore. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

Delany has the shock of her life when her boss suddenly leaves her in charge of a literary tour group of Edinburg. She is in for further shock when they attempt to check into the hotel where he made reservations and his card is declined. Delany steps up and continues to assure the group the tour will go on. When one member dies the apparent victim of a rooftop murder Delany is on the case. When another member disappears on tour Delany knows foul play is involved and soon is piecing together clues and suspects as she does so well.

This is a fun addtion to the series and a enjoyable cozy read . I loved the setting, the charcters and the well plotted sleuth. Well done to the author. I look forward to the next in series.

I'm new to this series set in a Scottish bookstore, but I think I'll be checking out the other stories in this series. In this cozy little mystery set in Edinburgh, Scotland, Delaney has to give the literary tour to 4 people around Edinburgh as her boss Edwin has left town for some mysterious reason. Being from Kansas but now married to a Tom, a local pub owner, Delaney is very wary about this new task but rises to the occasion and thinks to offer a fresh perspective from one who is new to Scotland. Besides using Edwin's itinerary she adds literary thoughts and quotes from books. However, things go awry when the group is witness to the murder of the inn keeper where they are staying and then other strange things begin happening. Should Delaney continue with the tour, what would Edwin do? Getting to know her group, they continue only to have more odd things happen when one of their group disappears. Now what? Delaney and Tom try to figure out the mystery to find the murderer and also what is really going on at the inn. Lots of twists and turns, this story will carry you on as you follow along with Delaney in her quest to solve the mystery. I think it has just the right ingredients to keep you interested as you curl up and read and sip your tea or Scottish whiskey. In the genre of cozy mysteries, it was a fun read and had all the elements.

Delaney Nichols has been asked by her boss Edwin from the Cracked Spine Bookshop to host his annual tour of Edinburgh for the 5 lucky winners. Delaney isn't sure that she is truly qualified since she only moved to Scotland a few years ago but with Edwin's notes and her husband Tom with her, she takes on the assignment, Things get very mysterious when one of the tourists disappears after the manager of the B&B where the guests are staying falls or is pushed to his death while the front desk clerk is brutalized and in a coma. Should Delaney continue the tour or shut it down before more people are hurt?

I always feel as if I've really been to Edinburgh every time I visit the Cracked Spine because of the wonderfully descriptive narratives.

While I haven't read any of the other books in this series, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Delaney, Edwin and the rest of the Cracked Spine bookstore gang. Now, I'm looking forward to going back and reading more of this series.

Edwin has an annual tradition of inviting four people to his bookshop for a personalized tour of Edinburgh. Only this year, an unexpected emergency has called him away, and American transplant Delaney is the only one remotely capable of guiding their guests.

The only problem is, one of their guests isn't who she says she is, and murder and mayhem soon transpire. The question is, can Delaney figure out what's going on and where Edwin has disappeared to before time runs out?

I highly recommend this story for anyone who enjoys literary tours, bookshop mysteries, and close-knit communities.

Thank you to Paige Shelton, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Yes this is a cozy mystery but it's also a bit of a love letter to literary Edinburgh. Delany is both happy and a little worried when she must lead the annual tour of Edinburgh for important visitors because Edwin has disappeared and then it turns out that his credit card was declined. She's been working for him for a while now and she's used to unusual things happening but this is odder than usual. And then Geoff, the manager of the inn is pushed off the roof- was it one of the visitors? Delany, an intrepid American, and her husband Tom, who owns the pub across the street from the Inn, and their friend Inspector Winter investigate. Each of the four visitors has a secret, as, obviously, does Edwin (well, he has more than one). I like this series for the characters but also for the atmospherics-Shelton always makes me want to get on a plane to Scotland (I usually find myself wiki'ing things). It's a great addition to the series but will also be fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very satisfying read.

Every year four lucky people are chosen to participate in a literary tour of Edinburgh conducted by Edwin, the owner of a Scottish bookstore. When Edwin suddenly leaves on mysterious business just before the latest tour, he hands over the tour to his employee Delaney with little notice. After greeting the group she directs them to the local inn, where Edwin had made reservations. The first problem arises when the manager of the inn threatens to turn them away. Edwin’s card had been declined and Delaney was forced to pay for the reservations. Despite the setback, the participants are eager to begin. Delaney provides a delightful tour that takes the group from the Royal Mile to the Sir Walter Scott monument. She regales the group with tales of famous authors and points out little known locations. Delaney’s husband Tom, a local bar owner, accompanies the group to add support and stories of his own. Returning to the inn, Delaney discovers an attack on one of the employees followed shortly by the manager’s fall from the roof of the building. The next day Meera, a member of the tour group, disappears. When Delaney discovers that Meera was an imposter, she questions the timing of the disappearance and a possible connection to events at the inn. The mystery of Edwin’s sudden departure also preys on her mind. Making a number of observations as she conducts her tour and reaches out to the manager’s wife along with Tom, she is in constant contact with Inspector Winters, who she has worked with in the past. Following one of her suspects leads to threats on her own life.

Fateful Words is a mystery that moves slowly as the tour winds its’ way through the city. Paige Shelton gives the reader a diverse group that works well together. It is not until late in the story that she reveals Edwin’s reason for his sudden disappearance and how it eventually ties into the events at the inn. This is a cozy mystery that will also appeal to book lovers. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing this book for my review.

Delightful cozy mystery that takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland. I really enjoyed the setting (and the related historical and literary references) and the characters. The plot was multilayered and complex. This was the 8th in this series and the first one I've read but I found it to be fine as a standalone. Would definitely read more of this series.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It moves along at a pace that is perfect for the story, which makes it an easy and enjoyable read. The characters are amazing and no matter what happens you want to be there for them. This book has to be on your TBR list, there is no doubt about it. It is a must read.

Fateful words is another home run by Paige Shelton. Is the 8th book in the series A Scottish Bookshop Mystery. I do believe this could be a stand-alone, but I would encourage you to read the series from the beginning – you will be glad you did. This story is about an annual tour that Edwin gives to four lucky participants, however, this year, he has left the city and asked Delaney to show the visitors around the city. Never having conducted a tour, and being a foreigner herself, Delaney is unsure about her capabilities. The tour does not start out well when a woman falls out of a nearby doorway calling for help, and the manager of the inn falls to his death. Things go from bad to worse, and of course Delaney is there finding clues to what is going on. I love the characters of this series. I also enjoy the description of old Edinburgh and can picture myself walking the streets along with the characters. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

In Fateful Words, Delaney is a Kansas expat working in an Edinburgh bookstore when her boss mysteriously disappears right before hosting his annual tour of the area. Despite her ex-pat status, Delaney steps in as head of the small global tour group.

The tour relates books including The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and the Hogwarts series to the history and culture of the Edinburgh’s Grassmarket area. Unfortunately, a tragedy interrupts the first day when a nearby inn, where the tour group is staying, has both a death and an assault. Delaney decides to investigate with the help of her Scottish husband and pub owner, Tom. More twists and turns of plots ensue.

Fateful Words is both a cozy mystery but also a bit of a literary travelogue to historic Edinburgh. While all the rain was rather discouraging, I have to say the book genuinely makes me want to visit.

If you like a twisty cozy mystery containing realistic characters and a nice literary setting, don’t miss Fateful Words. 4 stars!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

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

I really enjoy Paige Shelton as an author and always look forward to the next book in this series. I don't know what it was about this one, but it seems lacking compared to previous Bookshop books. For one, Edwin was super cagey about his disappearance when there was no need for it. There was hardly any Hamlet in this book. And there was nothing about Elias and Aggie - did I forget something from the last book? Where are they? It was pretty confusing.

"Fateful Words” the 8th instalment in the "Scottish Bookshop Mystery” series by Paige Shelton. I really enjoy this series and am collecting in hardcover. Bookseller Delaney Nichols stakes her reputation—and her life—when a literary tour turns deadly...

I loved visiting Edinburgh, Scotland and the Cracked Spine book shop again. I liked how this time we were exploring as a tourist on a literary tour.

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 and the Royal Mile.

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

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

This novel is my introduction to the author’s work; it is also the eight installment in the ongoing Scottish Bookshop Mystery, and while the book was very readable, there were more than a few references to prior events, while some of the relationships between recurring characters are never made clear.

Which is to say, I found the writing uneven and the mystery unsatisfying.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

The novel hinges on the premise that Delaney, an American expat living in Edinburgh, and recently married to a Scot, works for a wealthy, if eccentric, man who owns a bookstore (The Craked Spine–also the title of the first book in the series), and who, among other things, organizes regular all-paid ‘literature tours’ for groups of four people at a time–usually people he’s never met in person before, though in some cases he’s corresponded with them for years.

Only, Delaney’s boss is called away without warning–or explanation–the very morning one of these tours is to start, and she’s therefore pressed into service as a guide.

Of course, no sooner the tour starts that odd things start happening, with the first night ending with a woman attacked at the inn where Edwin’s guests are to stay for the duration of the tour, and the body of the manager found nearby, and we are, of course, off to the races: people who aren’t who they say, or say all they know, for any number of reasons; some more violence, a couple of disappearances, and so on.

Things just keep happening, and more characters show up, until there’s a dramatic scene followed by some more explanations and filling-in of some of the blanks by other characters; the end.

I’m being pithy here, but this is yet another supposed cozy mystery where the main character is supposed to be an amateur sleuth working to solve a mystery, but in which mostly things just happen around, and to, her.

Delaney is a fair narrator, in that the reader knows exactly what she knows, and sees, and thinks, but she’s by no means a good or organized investigator.

On top of which, there are too many things happening that she doesn’t know–and therefore that the reader can’t know–so that it’s inevitable that Delaney fumble her way to being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

However, several elements of the ‘mystery’ are so heavily telegraphed very early on–Meera’s identity, why Edwin has to leave with such urgency, etc.–, that it doesn’t make sense for Delaney not to put two and two together and get four, even if that wouldn’t have helped her answer all of the questions being raised.

Another irritant is the same character inconsistency I noted in one of the main characters in another cozy mystery I read recently: Delaney is suspicious of someone, but when another character shares his own suspicious, she immediately makes light of them–and that is never explained.

Which brings me to the ending: not only is it incredibly abrupt, the final explanations do not fill in all the holes or answer all my questions. As a mystery reader, this doesn’t make me happy.

Beyond all this, I found all the characters flat; I didn’t get a sense of any of them as distinct individuals. I mean, the book is over 280 pages, and I still have no idea how old Delaney is supposed to be. Mid-twenties? mid-forties? No clue. I have no idea how long she’s lived in Scotland, or how long she’s been married, or much of anything about her. The most interesting thing we learn about Delaney is the “bookish voices” (lines from books) that she’s supposed to hear at significant moments, and honestly, the gimmick didn’t really work for me.

Another thing that bothered me is which things the author chooses to share versus which were entirely elided.

The full first chapter, for example, introduces a whiff of woo-woo, perhaps to go along with Delaney’s ‘bookish voices’, that doesn’t do anything for the plot.

And I don’t need to know that Delaney and her husband grabbed “a piece of toast each” before “hopping in the car” etc etc unless this matters to the story. Which, as you can guess, it doesn’t. There are a bunch of these little transitions that, again, don’t add anything to the plot.

Meanwhile, I’m still not sure who Hamlet is to Edwin or Rosie, whether Rodger is a recurring character or not, what happened to the night clerk at the inn, and more.

And yet–and this is important–I read the ARC in two sittings, and I’m intrigued enough about the setup that I plan to read the first in the series (if nothing else, to figure out some of the relationships between the recurring cast of characters).

Fateful Words gets a 6.50 out of 10 (and at least .50 of that is the readability)

I had so much fun reading Fateful Words! This was my second read in the series and Delaney already feels like an old friend. The death in this mystery is not as "off the page" as murders are in most cozy mysteries, so be aware of that. On top of the unknowns of the death, there was an unknown situation going on with Edwin (owner of the bookshop) that caused concern for all the characters. It had me as a reader concerned too! What added so much to this story was the literary tour, usually led by Edwin, that Delaney had to lead this time. It was a blast to tour Edinburgh and get to know the tour guests too. I really enjoy the mysteries that Paige Shelton weaves and how she unraveled what was happening in this story. I'm excited to continue this series and visit this wonderful Scottish city, bookshop, and characters again.

Fateful Words is out April 4th. Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for my e-arc!