Dollycas's Thoughts

Edwin MacAlister, owner of The Cracked Spine in Edinburgh Scotland has a special assignment for his employee, Delaney Nichols. An old friend, Jolie Lannister has found what she thinks could be a valuable artifact on her estate in Roslin. Edwin wants Delaney to take a look at it and investigate its provenance. She asks her friend Elias to drive her as she is still learning to drive on the other side of the road.

Delaney and Elias arrive to find Jolie along with her legal counsel and two men she has brought to do a full inventory of everything in and on the estate. While Jolie does appear to have a hoarding problem she feels the attorney has overstepped her bounds and asks them to leave. Jolie had instructed her groundkeeper to put the priceless item in an unusual place. Before Delaney can even get a good look at it they hear a scream. A scream that leads to a dead body.

Delaney starts to dig into Jolie's history and she finds that her mother had made the astounding claim that she had an affair with King Edward VIII and that Jolie was the real heir to the throne instead of Elizabeth II. The only proof is a supposed journal kept by one of Edward's secretaries. Could that be a tie to the man who was murdered? Delaney is pulling out all the stops to find out.

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The people of Edinburgh and all over the UK, the commonwealths and several of us in America are still mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II. I love that Ms. Shelton included that in this story along with some royal tea about the womanising Edward VIII. It also appears that Delaney is hearing a very special new voice.

All our favorite characters return and continue to grow in logical ways. Delaney and Tom's relationship is so sweet. She has even started borrowing his car as long as she isn't going too far. Her responsibilities are growing in her work for Edwin. He trusts her completely. Hamlet and Rosie along with miniature Yorkie, Hector keep the bookshop running. Rosie even takes a trip with Delaney as they work to make clues fit together. Elias and Aggie are a wonderful couple too. I am happy they are part of Delaney's life.

We meet Jolie Lannister, her right-hand woman Trudie, and her friend and groundskeeper Homer, who happens to be an old friend of Elias. These characters are well-crafted and likable even though they are not fully truthful at first.

The mystery is complex with a lot of twists and turns and Delaney follows each clue while developing and discarding different theories. She is a smart amateur sleuth assisted by some wise words only she hears. Is the artifact real? Who is the true owner? Why was it found now? And why did a man have to die? There are several different viewpoints. I do enjoy that Delaney keeps her friend Inspector Winters abreast of everything she finds and learns. I also like the way Tom gets caught up in her investigation.

The title A Poison Pen is a bit puzzling. I ran a search and the word "pen" is not mentioned in the book other than in the title, and "poison" was only mentioned once. That being said I got totally caught up in the story and had a very short personal suspect list. I was flabbergasted that one of those names was correct.

A Poison Pen is the 9th book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery and is a compelling read with well-developed engaging characters in a unique setting. Jolie's West Rosebud House was quite a place and she was a very interesting character. I hope this isn't the last we see of her, Trudie, and Homer.

Because I get through so many books a year, I keep a journal with a summary of the story in each one I read. This one started out well but the conclusion seemed overly complex and muddy; it was tough summing it up succinctly enough to fit in my journal. I am glad it was all spelled out in the end because I was having difficulty piecing it all together with all the different characters involved. Other than that, I enjoyed my visit with Delaney and her friends. The writing flowed smoothly, as usual, and drew me into the story from the very beginning. I look forward to the next installment.

With each installment, I seem to have a new favorite in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series and The Poison Pen is no exception.

One thing I really liked is that Delaney interacted with different side characters, so we got to see a bit more of Elias and Rosie in this book.

The plot surrounding a mysterious relic was very fun and meeting a handful of new interesting characters is always a treat.

This series has been a favorite since I read book one and it just keeps getting better!

Well done, Paige!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Another excellent addition to this cozy mystery series that I LOVE! I can't get enough of Delany and the gang at the Cracked Spine. I'm sad I binged this and will have to wait another year for the next installment. 😔

"The Poison Pen" by Paige Shelton is a captivating mystery that takes readers on a thrilling journey through the historic streets of Edinburgh. Set against the backdrop of Queen Elizabeth II's recent passing, the novel follows bookseller Delaney Nichols as she embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind a priceless relic and a centuries-old family secret.

Shelton masterfully blends elements of Scottish history, royal intrigue, and murder mystery to create a narrative that is both atmospheric and engrossing. From the picturesque village of Roslin to the grand estate where the relic is discovered, the author's vivid descriptions transport readers to the heart of Scotland, immersing them in its rich cultural heritage.

At the center of the story is Delaney Nichols, a charming and resourceful protagonist whose passion for books and penchant for solving mysteries make her a delight to follow. As she delves deeper into the secrets of Jolie's family history, Delaney uncovers layers of deception, betrayal, and long-buried truths that keep the pages turning.

What sets "The Poison Pen" apart is its cleverly crafted plot, filled with twists, turns, and unexpected revelations. Shelton keeps readers guessing until the very end, skillfully weaving together multiple storylines and tying up loose ends in a satisfying conclusion.

In addition to its captivating mystery, the novel also explores themes of identity, inheritance, and the power of storytelling. Through Jolie's fascinating family history and the tantalizing possibility of royal lineage, Shelton raises thought-provoking questions about the nature of truth and the legacy of the past.

Overall, "The Poison Pen" is a gripping and atmospheric read that will appeal to fans of historical mysteries and amateur sleuths alike. With its richly drawn characters, intricate plot, and evocative setting, Paige Shelton's latest novel is sure to leave readers eagerly awaiting her next literary adventure.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Poison Pen is my introduction to the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. Despite being unfamiliar with the series, I was able to enjoy reading The Poison Pen without feeling lost or confused. The story is a very interesting one, and I just loved the fact that it was in Scotland, with a nice array of characters. The pace was nice, I enjoy when things are not rushed. The mystery is solid and written in an intelligent manner. It definitely got me interested into reading the previous books in the series.

The Poison Pen by Paige Shelton takes us back to the Cracked Spine bookshop in Edinburgh and Delaney, an American transplant. Her boss, Edwin, the owner of the Cracked Spine, has asked her to visit an old friend of his and bring home an object that was found on the grounds of her home. Elias drives her as she is still not comfortable with driving on the other side of the read. As they arrive, they meet an old friend of Elias’, Homer, who is the groundskeeper. The grounds look wonderful, but the “mansion” is nearly in ruins. When they enter they find the lair of a hoarder, the mistress and Edwin’s friend, Jolie Lannister. They can barely make there way through the small aisles created between all the stuff. Just leaving is her lawyer and some folks from an auction house, apparently not invited. Shortly, they get her to take them out to the shed, where they have been storing their find. It is astonishing and must be taken to Edwin immediately, as he is the expert. It quickly turns into a tiff between them and people at the museum over ownership. It get interesting.

Delaney is a good character. She has found love in Scotland and is married to Tom who is only peripherally involved in her investigations. She has Aggie and Elias, with whom she lived when she first arrived; as well as Rosie at the bookshop, who is a font of information, both about Scotland and about Edwin, since she has known him forever. There are more characters, all as well-written as they need to be, all interesting. The mystery is a good one, and Delaney sets about discovering exactly what is going on, which is not easy as so many people have things to hide. Shelton always gives us a touch of Scottish history, which adds to the character of the book. It is a good read, one of an excellent series. Thanks, Paige, for creating Delaney and the Cracked Spine!

I was invited to read The Poison Pen by St. Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #PaigeShelton #ThePoisonPen

I've only read one other installment of the Scottish Bookshop series ("Fateful Words"), but Edwin played a much bigger role in that story than this one. It almost seemed as if he was trying to fade into the background in "The Poison Pen." As a result, Delaney becomes the featured character.

While I enjoyed the story, it didn't capture my attention as much as "Fateful Words" did. Perhaps it was because there seemed to be less danger involved and a lot more running around trying to track down leads. I'm not certain what it was, but it just didn't draw me in as well.

Regardless, it was a good story and I don't have any specific complaints. I'm hoping the next book brings more of the Cracked Spine team back into the story, especially Edwin, who is such a quirky character.

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

The Poison Pen is the ninth book in the A Scottish Bookshop Mystery series by Paige Shelton.

Edwin, the owner of a Scottish bookstore, asks Delaney Nichols to visit with his old-time friend, Jolie Lannister. Jolie has found what she feels might be a legendary Crusader Sword that she wants to turn over to Edwin. When Delaney arrives at Jolie’s estate, she finds Jolie is in a discussion with her lawyer, Bowie Berry, and Giles Haig, an auctioneer and his assistant. Jolie is a hoarder, and Berry plans on using that to prove Jolie’s competency. Haig is there to evaluate Josie’s estate. Jolie sends Berry and Haig on their way and takes Delaney to a nearby shed to show her the sword. If the sword is a Crusader Sword, it belongs in a museum, as Scottish law says it is illegal for private citizens to own historical items. As they are returning to the house, they come across Homer, Jolie’s gardener, standing over the dead body of Haig’s assistant. Homer was holding the knife that had killed the assistant. Jolie asks Delaney to investigate the death, and she contacts Inspector Winters to help with the investigation.

When Jolie was a child, a story that was going around was that Jolie was a “love child” of Edward VIII. An aide to Edward VIII reportedly wrote a journal supporting this story. Still, the journal has gone missing, and Delaney wonders whether this might have anything to do with the murder of Haig’s assistant.
I love this series; the books are well-written and plotted. The characters are well-developed, believable, and engaging.

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this engaging series.

One can always rely on Paige Shelton to write a good book. This one is solid….interesting story, quirky characters, imaginative setting. My only complaint is the title. With such subjects to choose from as swords, blades and hoarding, this was a very weak title.Thanks to #NetGalley and #ThePoisonPen for advanced digital copy.

The Poison Pen is book #9 in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series by and can be read as a stand-alone.
🌕🌕🌕🌕/5

Bookseller and amateur sleuth Delaney Nichols has been asked by her boss Edwin, an antiquarian to authenticate a timeless Scottish relic found on his friend Jolie’s property. When Delaney arrives she’s greeted by Jolie’s “legal team”. Once the interlopers leave they take a look at the relic only to discover a shocking murder has just taken place!
Who would commit such a crime and why? Is Jolie’s controversial family history involving a royal bloodline involved?
Delaney must dig deep to put the pieces of this complex puzzle together.

What I Enjoyed:
🗡️ Learning about true Scottish history ( Battle of Culloden, the Crusaders) this was well researched. The Treasure Trove is real and is a division of the National Scottish Museum in Edinburgh.
🗡️ A well crafted array of characters who each play an important role.
🗡️ The plot and sub plot were intertwined and complimented each other.
🗡️ The villain’s identity had me stumped until the end!

What Could Have Been Improved:
🗡️ Delaney’s curiosity and need for justice put her friends in dangerous position. She wasn’t worried about those consequences and she should have known better.
🗡️ I’d like to have seen a true partnership with detective Winters. Text messages and calls with updates are not realistic standard procedures. Felt odd.

Summary:
This was such a thrilling reading experience! I recommend the book if you enjoy traditional/cozy mysteries, found family, Scottish history.

Thank you to
for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Poison Pen is book #9 in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series by Paige Shelton.

While I enjoy the mysteries in this series, I keep coming back for the characters. I enjoy seeing how they develop and grow throughout the series. This book was interesting because it took place soon after Queen Elizabeth II’s death. Delaney is on an intriguing assignment to see about a valuable item when there is a murder. This was an entertaining story that I couldn’t put down.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I think this is the first book I've read that has mentioned the Queen's passing. It isn't really central to the story, but Delaney's "bookish voice" (her intuition) for this book is Queen Elizabeth.

The Poison Pen is the 9th book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. You don't have to read the previous books to enjoy this one. I've read 5 books in the series, but they are all standalone mysteries, and enough background is provided on the characters so you know who everyone is. I like that the character backgrounds aren't just info dumps but flow in a natural way so even long-time readers aren't bored by it.

I enjoyed the mystery in this book. Actually, there are kind of two mysteries - one is the murder and the other is about an ancient sword that is found. We get to learn a little bit of Scottish history as Delaney attempts to authenticate the sword. Because the sword might be considered a national treasure, the Treasure Trove Unit is involved. I thought that this was made up for the story, but I googled it and there is a real Treasure Trove Unit at the National Museum of Scotland. The name just sounds a little funny for a real organization, but at the same time, I like it.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Rosie seemed to play a bigger role than usual and I really like her. She is a no-nonsense woman who is kind of like the mother of the group. But at the same time she provides levity to the story with some of her comments.

If you are looking for a fun cozy mystery with a little Scottish history thrown it, then this is the book to read.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Thursday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/04/the-poison-pen-by-paige-shelton-review.html

An interesting mystery starring a transplanted American to Edinburgh where she has settled, gotten married and works in a bookstore. Of course, murder soon follows. The latest case has Delaney branching out beyond books to look at an antique found on a person estate. Things get complicated from there. I think it is well crafted with good characters and a satisfying mystery that is complex but believable.

This is the first cozy that I have seen that has addressed the death of Queen Elizabeth. The characters are quite broken up about it. My aunt would have disapproved of such an emotional display in the true tradition of the British stiff upper lip but that isn't as much of a thing today as it use to be. Outside of whatever someone may think about the monarchy and aristocracy, this book praises how Queen Elizabeth dedicated her life to the country and to acts of service. She was in her nineties and doing over 300 public appearances a year. Do you know of anyone working that hard at that age?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Kansas transplant Delaney Nichols has worked at the Cracked Spine Bookstore in Edinburgh for several years. She was asked to visit a friend of her boss, Edwin, to evaluate a recent find on her property. She gets her cab driver friend and former landlord, Elias to drive her to Jolie Lannister's home. There they find, Homer, an old friend of Elias working as gardener. Inside is Bowie Berry, Jolie's sometime lawyer, and an auctioneer and his assistant. The house is VERY cluttered and chaotic and Bowie is there to take over cleaning and getting rid of much of Jolie's things. Jolie finally gets rid of her and the auction people (who were unaware that it was an ambush by Ms. Berry.) Jolie and her housekeeper serve tea and then take Delaney and Elias on a tour of the grounds and finally to an unsecured garden shed is a Crusader's sword?!!
Before they can barely examine it, there is shouting, and they find Homer standing over the body of the auction assistant, Alban Dunning. with a bloody rake. He insists that he didn't do it. While the police attempt to sort out the murder, the sword is taken to the National Museum's Treasure Trove director, Cramer Donnell .
The sword is destroyed in front of Delaney and others by someone who worked at the Museum and should have known better. He is fired and escorted out.
After many twists and turns, Delaney figures out "who dun it", but not before getting herself and husband, Tom, in danger.
This is a great addition to this series and can be read as a stand alone, but you will miss so nuances without the history of the characters.
It is wonderful to see the interaction of Delaney and her adopted Scots family, but I think many of them could do without the danger her curiosity and need for justice sometimes put her in.
Highly recommend this book and the rest of the series too.
I give it TEN STARS!

Paige Shelton has been writing the Scottish Bookshop Mysteries for a while now. This new book is the ninth in the series and a delightful entry.

This time the events take place not long after Queen Elizabeth’s death. Delaney is asked to take a look at an artifact. It is possible that this has a deep historical significance. However, a lot is going on when Delaney arrives, including an intruder.

The story goes deeper. Is Jolie, the person Delaney was meeting, an heir to the throne? Readers can imagine how this will unfold but the fun is in the story.

This is a good traditional mystery. I liked the location, characters and story line. Recommended to fans of cozies.

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

American ex-pat and Scottish bookseller Delaney has done it again. The amateur sleuth has become entangled in a murder, a hoarder’s life, a pushy attorney, and a possibly stolen national artifact. Can Delaney solve the crime and determine the proper answers to the other questions? You will spend a delightful few hours steeped in Scottish history and surrounded by Delaney’s friends and loved ones while reading The Poison Pen.

The book’s plot had a few surprises along the way. The villain’s identity stumped me until the exciting conclusion. If you want to read a cozy with well drawn characters and a challenging mystery, pick up The Poison Pen. 4 stars

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

The Poison Pen is the 9th book in a cozy mystery series. We follow Delaney, a woman from Kansas who has a background in rare books and artifacts. She goes to Scotland for a new job at a bookstore and she keeps getting caught up in mysteries. This one is about a Crusade sword and some shady business.

I enjoyed this book! I love all of the characters and the relationships throughout the book. I love the setting. Scotland is definitely a dream vacation for me and this book describes it well. I thought the mystery was interesting and it was a good cozy mystery.

I do feel it was a bit too long for me and I wish it would've been shortened a bit. I would still recommend this to people looking for a cozy mystery!

Thanks so much to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

While this book can be read as a stand-alone, since I had never read anything by Paige Shelton I had to start at the beginning. I like to read series in order, that way I know the characters and how they are all related to each other. The Poison Pen deals with Jolie and her house of oddities. Where did the sword come from? Cam Delaney put the clues together to figure out the mystery of the sword and who committed murder? I'm not going to tell you what happened, but this book (and the rest of the series) are a great mystery and I couldn't figure out the culprit until right before it was revealed. Great story!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.

I love this series, set in a Scottish bookstore. There are always interesting storylines, which can be read a stand-alones, but are enhanced by familiarity with the characters and their relationships. This book revolves around a potentially stolen ancient Scottish sword, a possible claim to the throne, and interesting side characters with large mansions and museum work. I loved it and can't wait for the next one! Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the advance digital copy!