I was offered an arc of this new cozy mystery through the SMPG Influencer program. I had read and enjoyed the previous book in the series so was excited to dive right in. Delaney Nichols, an American transplanted to Scotland, is sent by her boss Edwin to collect an ancient sword found on the property of Jolie Lannister at her mansion West Rosebud House in Roslin. When Delaney arrives though, she steps into the middle of an argument going on between Jolie and her attorney, Bowie Berry, who has brought an estate appraiser, Gilles Haig, and his young assistant, Alban Dunning, to look over the contents of the old mansion. Ms Berry believes Jolie is showing signs of a mental disorder, exhibited in hoarding disease, and wants these experts to do an inventory of the cluttered contents. Jolie had signed over power of attorney to Ms Berry 10 years ago to cover such a circumstance.

Once Jolie convinces these people to leave, she takes Delaney and her driver Elias to the outbuilding where the sword is being kept. Before long though, they hear a man yelling: the groundskeeper Homer has found young Alban murdered.

Delaney has been involved in some detecting in the past and has aided police investigations; she does the same here. Who would want the poor young man dead? And why? The situation becomes quite controversial with questions about the ownership of such national treasures as the ancient sword. There's also some old gossip to wade through involving the royal family. A very intriguing mystery plot!

Kindle Copy for Review from Net Galley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

An old friend who finds an old relic on her property that might be priceless. Delaney boss is called to look into the relic of his friend. But things get dangerous when they examine the relic as a scream is heard in the house and a murdered man body is found.

Is there a connection between the relic and the dead man? Is the relic really of historical significance or is it trash? It is a compelling read till the end.

The Poison Pen by Paige Shelton

ThePoisonPen, the 9th installment in the Scottish Bookshop series by Paige Shelton,set in a specialty bookstore in Edinborough called The Cracked Spine.

This was an interesting book. We followed a sword, valued or not, thru the whole book. I like reading books that take place in Scotland. There were a few murders along the way with many lies, twists, and turns. I recommend this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

This is part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone. Delaney is caught up in a murder investigation, once again. One of the many things I appreciate about these books is the addition of new and interesting characters. The older characters of course help Delaney with the investigation. The reader continues to gain more knowledge of the original characters. These books are always fast paced, intriguing and will definitely keep your attention. As always, I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Scottish Bookshop series is one of my favorite series. Paige Shelton has done it again, another enjoyable mystery to the series. A lovely mystery to curl up with. I highly recommend this series

Delaney's boss has come to her with an assignment, an old friend has found.what he thinks is a priceless relic and he wants her to check things out. Delaney arrives to take a look at the relic and before she has a chance too truly take a look she is interrupted. The scream that interrupted her leads to a dead body. Delaney looks at the whole incident as a mystery that she looks forward to solving. As she begins to investigate she she finds some interesting connections between the residence where she is and the murdered person. Follow along as she delves into the history and tries to put the pieces of the puzzle together to figure out who the killer might be.

The Poison Pen is the 9th book in the Scotish Bookstore Mysteries series. It takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland. Delaney Nichols is the main character. He came to Edinburgh to work in the Cracked Spine Bookstore. It is owned by Edwin MacAlister and Rosie and Hamlet are co-workers who work with her. Her husband, Tom owns his own pub.

Edwin called her and told her that he had an assignment that he wanted her to do. It is in the town of Roslin. He wants her to go and visit Jolie Lannister who has something she thinks will interest Edwin. She takes a cab owned by Elias who also is a good friend. Julia owns the estate, West Rosebud House. It has been in her family for over 100 years. Upon arriving at her estate they come across the groundskeeper, Homer Vanton, who was an old friend of Elias. They had worked on the docks. He has worked for the family a long time. When getting into the house they hear angry voices. Bowie Berry, Jolie's lawyer. She has brought Gilles Haig who owns an auction house to remove all of Jolie's things, Alban Dunning is Gilles assistant. Trudie, Jolia's housekeeper and good friend. Jolie is not happy with her lawyer and tells them they are not going to take anything out of her house. Jolie takes them to the shed to show them what they came to see. It is an old crusader sword. It was found in the garden by Homer who brought it to Jolie to see. They found Homer standing over the body of Alban Dunning dead with a bloody rake. Delaney texted Inspector Winter about the Alban Dunning. He comes. Homer denies killing him. What was Alban doing on the property?

Delaney and Elias went back to Edinburgh. She called Joshua who she knew when she arrived to Scotland. He worked for the National Museums of Scotland. He told her at he had just met with the new Treasure Trove Unit director, Cramer Donnell who is interested in the sword.

This is where the story gets interesting. There is so much going on that I will leave it to the reader to enjoy to the end,

I always enjoy this series and all the characters that make up the story. I look forward to the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotauk Books for this ARC.

The Poison Pen, the ninth installment in Paige Shelton's Scottish Bookshop series set in the fascinating Cracked Spine bookstore in Edinburgh, weaves together history, mystery, and the quaint charm of the Scottish village of Roslin. Bookseller Delaney Nichols is once again at the center of a unique investigation, tasked with unraveling the secrets surrounding a potentially priceless relic discovered on a village estate.

Shelton's writing captures the essence of Edinburgh and its surroundings, immersing readers in the atmospheric world of The Cracked Spine. The plot unfolds at a leisurely pace, allowing for the exploration of historical nuances and character backstories. While this adds depth to the overall experience, those seeking a faster-paced mystery might feel that the narrative meanders a bit.

Nevertheless, the novel offers a satisfying blend of mystery and historical intrigue. Delaney Nichols continues to be a likable and relatable protagonist, and the Scottish Bookshop series remains a delightful choice for readers who appreciate cozy mysteries set against the backdrop of unique and bookish locales. (I received an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.) The Poison Pen is a solid addition to the series, providing a cozy escape for those who enjoy a leisurely unraveling of historical mysteries in the heart of Edinburgh.

The Poison Pen is the ninth installment of A Scottish Bookshop Mystery series and follows Delaney as she digs deeper into Scottish history and the history of an eccentric individual. Delaney travels to the village of Roslin to visit with an old friend of her boss and determine if the item she’s found on her property is authentic and what it means. While she’s there a young man is found dead and the intriguing history of Jolie is called into question as everything seems to be tied together to solve the mystery.

I’m really enjoying this series and have already started to plan a trip to Scotland and have added some of the sites mentioned in this series on the list. Delaney is a great main character and I love her and Tom’s relationship and can’t wait to see what their future holds. The crew at The Cracked Spine are all unique and the perfect people for Delaney to have in her life.



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

It’s amazing that we’re nine books in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series and it’s still going strong. I enjoyed everything that I read and thought the mystery elements worked overall. I thought the characters had a great overall feel and they worked overall in the mystery. I hope there is more in this series.

The Scottish Bookshop series is one of my favorite cozies and is one I recommend constantly to readers. Paige Shelton has added another successful mystery to the series with The Poison Pen. The usual characters are here, along with the mysterious quest assigned to Delaney by Edwin at the start of the story. This time, it involves a Crusader Sword, so we learn a little bit about the Battle of Roslin and weaponry, but we also learn a little bit more about Edwin’s past and how it entangles, ever so briefly, with the British Royal Family.

All in all, a lovely book for a cozy afternoon of reading. And if you haven’t read the other Scottish BookShop mysteries, go get them and binge!

I read this as a stand alone and it was easy to follow. I have read other Paige Shelton series based in Alaska so expected it would be worth my time - and it was.

American Delaney Nichols' husband Tom is used to her 'voices' and inquiring mind. A bookshop is Delaney's perfect employment for a researcher. Called out to Jolie Lannister's home by her boss. Edwin, a Crusader Sword becomes the center of the mystery. Quite an entertaining history and a a twisty plot kept me turning pages.

Not too many characters to keep track of. I might be looking into pervious books as I wheedle down my TBR pile.

I really love this series and always look forward to returning to the bookshop. Since I happened to be in Edinburgh when the queen died last year, this felt extra resonant to me.

This is a fun read with lots of interesting characters. The plot works, and I was happy to see certain relationships deepened or at least maintained, despite some touchy moments.

I'm not looking for supernatural elements in my mysteries (in fact, I avoid them), but I did want a bit more of the bookish voices. For me, those voices are always just Delaney's subconscious, serving up choice tidbits at the relevant moment. So I wanted a few more of those.

My only real issue is the complete turnaround of a decades-old mental health issue with very little effort and no treatment. So unbelievable it sort of ruins the ending for me. The only reason it didn't ruin the book is that no plot elements actually hinged on it.

Overall, it's a lovely Scottish read that kept me flipping screens until the end.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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

This is another good read in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. Delaney once again finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. Along the way we meet new friends and catch up with old friends.

I will say that this book seems to have more Scottish phrases than previous ones in the series. It's a bit over the top with 'lass' and 'ta' being used multiple times in almost every exchange.

Another strong outing for this mystery series! This is the ninth book in this series and easily read as a stand-alone. It’s always a pleasure to return to Edinburgh’s The Cracked Spine bookstore and ex-pat American, Delany Nichols. Now happily married to her Scottish love, Delany is asked by her boss, Edwin, to meet an old friend of his who might have something of historical and financial significance on her family estate. When Delany discovers a woman with hoarder tendencies but who is, otherwise, perfectly mentally capable, she also realizes that the found treasure is of major historical significance. Things move rapidly from there, including intrigues, questionable motives, and crimes. I enjoyed this visit and look forward to the next.

THE POISON PEN is the ninth book in the Scottish Bookshop Mysteries by Paige Shelton. I’ve been waiting with great anticipation for this new release and once the book was in hand, devoured it from the very first word to the last sentence. Set in Edinburgh, right after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the author captures the somber mood of the country and of protagonist Delaney Nichols. I greatly enjoy the character of Delaney. As a transplanted American, married to a Scotsman, she’s immersed herself in her new country. As a caring and compassionate person, she’s made her friends into family and I love spending time—on the page—with all of them. The addition of Scottish words and brogue used throughout, brings authenticity of the culture and characters to life. I also enjoyed the bits of history sprinkled into the story. Ms. Shelton’s strong descriptive language makes the reader feel like they’re walking the cobbled streets of the city or seeing the century-old rundown mansion that belongs in a horror film through Delaney’s eyes.

The author builds anticipation for murder and mayhem from the beginning. To distract from mourning, Delaney’s boss, owner of The Cracked Spine bookshop, asks her to join him in examining a priceless relic recently found by a friend of his. And from there the tale takes off with an ancient sword, a long-ago royal scandal, a distant claim to the throne, and murder. As Delaney investigates the death of a young man found near where the sword was uncovered, the clues entwine with that of the mysterious sword. Her search takes her from the grounds of the mansion, to the “dark side” of The Cracked Spine, and to the National Museum. And she learns more than she’d like about the Scottish government’s laws on discovered relics. As she uncovers clues and gets closer to discovering the truth, I like that Delaney doesn’t take unnecessary chances and instead, relies on her friends to have her back. The Poison Pen is a must-read if you enjoy a well-plotted mystery filled with intrigue, charming characters, and a tribute to Scotland and Queen Elizabeth II.

In The Poison Pen, Delaney is sent by her boss, Edwin, to meet an old friend of his about something found on her estate. The friend is an eccentric older woman who has turned into a bit of a hoarder. The manor is stuffed with things, but clean. The item turns out to be a crusader sword. A lawyer is trying to take control of the lady’s estate because of her hoarding, but the timing is suspicious. When a murder occurs that same day, there are two mysteries to solve: is it a true crusaders sword and who is the killer?
I love the characters in this series and the setting in Edinburgh, a beautiful city. Delaney, a transplant American, loves the city and the circle of friends have become her family in her new home. I enjoyed this book very much and hated for it to end.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Opening a novel by exposition of past books is just irritating and off-putting. I couldn't lose myself in the story after the info dump and set the book aside.

The Poison Pen is Book 9 in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. Each of Paige Shelton's novel have been able to function as a stand alone novel. While Shelton's novels are clearly part of a series, it is not necessary to read them all, but it will likely be more fun for readers, who would like to delve into their characters lives from the very beginning. Like many British mysteries, the murders occur off stage, as they did for Shakespeare, as well, at least right up until Act 5. Although Shelton doesn't need to worry about a dead body littering the stage for the entirety of the work, the tradition of the murder occurring off stage makes for a pleasant change for many American readers, who see far too much murder and mayhem on television, which perhaps is why I love British mysteries so much.

There is much to like about The Poison Pen. The plot is creative and imaginative. Readers also learn a lot about the laws dealing with Scotland's historical artifacts and how they are handled. The characters are familiar to me and will be to anyone who has read previous Shelton novels, but the author still provides just the right amount of detail to help new readers find their way. The multiple plot lines gets a bit convoluted at times, but everything is all tied together quite nicely at the end. The Poison Pen was good suspense and a good read.

Thank you to the author, to publisher St Martin's Press Minotaur, and to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC to read in exchange for my honest review. My comments above reflect my honest opinion.

The Poison Pen is book 9 in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery by Paige Shelton.
I enjoyed visiting the The Cracked Spine and being in the company of Delaney and her friends.
The cast of characters are very interesting, likable and well-developed.
The author’s writing enables the reader to have vivid images of Edinburgh
Shelton does an excellent job of storytelling.
She does a phenomenal job of describing Scotland with such ease. Her words make it so easy to imagine each and every place her words take us.
The pace of the mystery was spot-on and there were enough suspects to keep me guessing as I turned the pages faster and faster.
I was captivated from the first page to the last. As soon as I turned the final page I was already missing these characters.
It is filled with mystery, suspense, and some of my absolute favorite characters of all time.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.