The Cracked Spine A Scottish Bookshop Mystery Review A True Armchair Adventure Novel!

Saturday was a cold, rainy and windy afternoon and the perfect time to pick up my Ipad, settle into the couch with a cozy blanket and a perfect cup of tea. As I opened my Kindle app and began reading The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton, I knew in the opening "Wanted Add"  that this was going to be a very special cozy mystery and one I knew straight away I would love.

"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."

Who would not want to apply for that job? I am telling you I think I might even pay for an opportunity to do so! I could not put own The Cracked Spine and I read it in one sitting. I was immediately caught up in the story, characters and charm that was evident in the warm and welcoming characters that main character Delaney encounters once landing in Scotland for her new job.  

"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."

This cozy mystery  is even more inviting then the lovely cover would have you believe and one of the most diverting and enjoyable stories I have read this year. This may actually become one of my most favorite series.  The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton is out March 29th, you can pre order a copy from Amazon by clicking here. 

You can also order from The Book Depository by clicking here.

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com