Paige Shelton

"In need of a good adventure, Delaney Nichols takes the leap and moves to Edinburgh, Scotland to start a job at The Cracked Spine. She doesn't know much about what she's gotten herself into, other than that the work sounds exciting, and that her new boss, Edwin MacAlister, has given her the opportunity of a lifetime. Edwin has promised that she'll be working with "a desk that has seen the likes of kings and queens, paupers and princes," and Delaney can't wait to get started. When she arrives, she meets her new Scottish family; also working at the Cracked Spine are Rosie, perpetually wrapped in scarves, and who always has tiny dog Hector in tow; Hamlet, a nineteen-year-old thespian with a colored past and bright future; and Edwin, who is just as enigmatic and mysterious as Delaney expected. An unexpected bonus is Tom the bartender from across the street, with his piercing eyes, and a rolling brogue and it doesn't hurt that he looks awfully good in a kilt. But before she can settle into her new life, a precious artifact a previously undiscovered First Folio of Shakespeare's plays goes missing, and Edwin's sister is murdered, seemingly in connection to the missing folio. Delaney decides to do some sleuthing of her own, to find out just what the real story is behind the priceless folio, and how it's connected to the tragic death, all without getting harmed herself"--

A Scottish Bookshop Mystery

The Cracked Spine

Amanda

DNF- It's a bit dry. It's clearly intended to be a series and thus there's way too much time spent on the set up. The "bookish voices" are a little weird. Not scientific or supernatural just there? The story itself just never grabbed me. I gave up about a third of the way in because I just didn't care.

Izza

3 stars | This was pretty entertaining, but I had some issues with the storyline. Mainly I thought it was pretty strange that Delaney decided to "investigate" when she had only just moved to Scotland didn't even know these people and nobody ever questioned her actions. Also the author seems to not know the difference between introvert and agoraphobic and that seriously bugged me. I'm probably going to read the next one in the series at some point though. I need to know what will happen with Tom and I like the McKenna's.

Diana

A humble book shop finds itself in the midst of a murder plot in the first novel of bestselling author Paige Shelton’s glittering new series. Delaney Nichols is on the literary adventure of a lifetime when she leaves the States for Edinburgh, Scotland, to take a job at The Cracked Spine. A legendary bookshop filled with special editions and rare manuscripts, it’s a house of biblio delights—one as eclectic as those who work there: the spirited and ever-curious Rosie, along with her tiny dog, Hector; a nineteen-year-old thespian named Hamlet (of course); and Edwin, the big boss, who Delaney likes but just can’t get a read on. Then there’s Tom, the bartender from across the street, whose gentle brogue pulls at Delaney’s heart strings—and who can rock a kilt like none other. “Move over Claire Fraser; American bibliophile Delaney Nichols is about to take Scotland...by storm!”—Ellery Adams But before she can settle into her new life, a precious artifact from the shop goes missing—and Delaney is terrified to find out that Edwin’s sister is brutally murdered. Never did Delaney think that her dream job would turn into a living nightmare. Can she, along with Tom and her coworkers, help close the book on this killer mystery...before it’s too late? “This fun-filled read takes plenty of twists and turns on the way to the satisfying ending.” —Publishers Weekly

Julie Nicole Waldvogel

What a wonderful first book in a mystery series! It takes a lot for me to give a book five stars, but this was a nonstop read for me. I loved the setting and the always enrapturing plot. 

Sarah Sammis

Amber Gibbons

Wanted: A bold adventurer who wants to travel the world from a comfortable and safe spot behind a desk that has seen the likes of kings and queens, paupers and princes. A humble book and rare manuscript shop seeks a keenly intelligent investigator to assist us in our search for things thought lost, and in our quest to return lost items to their rightful owners. Never an adventurer, no one was more surprised than Delaney Nichols when she packed her bags and moved halfway across the world to Edinburgh, Scotland to start a job at The Cracked Spine, a bookshop located in the heart of the city. Her new boss, Edwin MacAlister, has given her the opportunity of a lifetime, albeit a cryptic one, and Delaney can’t wait to take her spot behind the desk. The Cracked Spine is filled with everything a book lover could want, each item as eclectic as the people who work there; the spirited and lovable Rosie, who always has tiny dog Hector in tow; Hamlet, a nineteen-year-old thespian with a colored past and bright future; and Edwin, who is just as enigmatic and mysterious as Delaney expected. An extra bonus is Tom the bartender from across the street, with his cobalt eyes, and a gentle brogue—and it doesn’t hurt that he looks awfully good in a kilt. But before she can settle into her new life, a precious artifact goes missing, and Edwin’s sister is brutally murdered. Never did Delaney think that searching for things lost could mean a killer, but if she’s to keep her job, and protect her new friends, she’ll need to learn the truth behind this Scottish tragedy.

The Cracked Spine A Scottish Bookshop Mystery

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