Cozy Mystery Review: The Poison Pen | Paige Shelton | Scottish Bookshop Mystery #9

I’m always happy when I pop into a cozy mystery in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. It’s like taking a vacation through a book! The ninth installment in this mystery series by Paige Shelton, The Poison Pen, brings us back to visit amateur sleuth Delaney Nichols, who works at a specialty bookshop in Edinburgh called The Cracked Spine.

About the Book | The Poison Pen

Bookseller Delaney Nichols’s boss’s Edwin comes to her with an unusual assignment. An old friend of his, living in an estate in the village of Roslin, has found what could be a priceless relic on her property, and Delaney is tasked with investigating. Could Jolie possibly have in her possession, as she believes, a Crusader Sword? But when Delaney arrives at Jolie’s estate, she is greeted by a legal team with a vested interest in the property. Delaney and Jolie manage to remove the intruders, but as they’re examining the antique sword, they hear a scream, and meet a much less welcome a body.

As Delaney digs deeper, she discovers Jolie’s own fascinating history. Jolie’s mother had long claimed that her daughter was the rightful heir to the throne, not Elizabeth II, because of an affair she claimed to have with King Edward VIII. The only evidence, however, is in the form of a journal that one of Edward’s secretaries kept. The puzzles become more confusing when a connection is uncovered between this far-fetched story and the murdered man. And shortly thereafter, the journal goes missing. Delaney will have to read between the lines to put together the pieces…or become history herself.

Review | The Poison Pen

If you’re new to the series, you can certainly jump in on The Poison Pen. Each book contains it’s own mystery, so the only thing you’ll miss is the evolution of the characters and relationships over the series (though in this series, I’d say that’s minimal and the reason to read the full series is for the enjoyment of it!). This is a wonderful cozy mystery series that emphasizes the mystery over the relationships.

The book opens just after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and everyone is sad and mourning her passing. Delaney is particularly sad, since she feels that since moving to Edinburgh from America, the royal family has been more relevant to her daily life. Delaney is basically an honorary Scot now that she lives and works at The Cracked Spine bookshop in Edinburgh owned by the well-respected bookseller and collector, Edwin MacAlister. Rounding out the team are favorite characters Rosie, Joshua, Hector, and Hamlet.

Delaney has met and married the love of her life, Tom, and the two have settled into their cozy seaside cottage in Edinburgh. Delaney loves her life (and frankly, I love her life too! I wish it were my life, minus the mysterious deaths!). Delaney spends most of her time in the warehouse adjoining The Cracked Spine bookshop, assisting Edwin with curating his secret and extensive collection of rare and historical artifacts.

As the group discusses the passing of the queen, they need a distraction and it comes in the form of a new mission. Edwin asks Delaney to venture out to the West Rosebud House in Roslin. West Rosebud is the family estate of Jolie Lannister, an old friend of Edwins and rumored illegitimate heir to the throne. The estate has been in their family for over a century. Jolie has an artifact that she thinks might fit Edwin’s collection, and Edwin wants Delaney to check it out.

Delaney enlists her friend Elias to accompany her. Frankly, she’s never quite adjusted to driving on the opposite side of the road and Elias drives professionally. The pair arrive at the estate and meet Jolie’s groundskeeper Homer who is a good friend of Elias. The happy reunion is soured when they walk in on an argument between Jolie and her attorney, Bowie, who has surprised her by bringing an appraiser to review the contents of West Rosebud House. The appraiser, Gilles Haig, has also brought an assistant, Alban Dunning.

Bowie alleges that Jolie is exhibiting signs of becoming a hoarder, and that he must step in to take control of the estate. The first step is to review and inventory the contents of the estate. Delaney and Elias effectively break up the argument—prompting the unwelcome group to leave—and turn to Jolie who is understandably distraught. The trio head to the shed where Jolie has hidden the object she wanted Delaney to review—an old, dirt-encrusted sword. Delaney believes the sword is authentic, which excites the group.

The discussion is cut short when a commotion outside draws them out to find Homer standing over the dead body of Alban, Gilles’s assistant. When Homer is arrested, Delaney and Elias jump to help him. Delaney knows she must find out who the real killer is and why they murdered Alban before Homer goes down for a crime he didn’t commit. Word of the rare sword gets out, and everyone in the collection business wants it, including the Treasure Trove Unit of the Scottish government. Meanwhile Delaney discovers a connection between the murder and a journal from Jolie’s mother that claims Jolie may be the rightful heir to the throne.

If that plot doesn’t get you intrigued by this mystery, check your pulse! It’s got everything—a rare sword, an alleged illegitimate heir to the throne, murder, and an historic Scottish estate. Paige Shelton’s books are always well-written and contain fascinating mysteries. I like that she doesn’t get too bogged down in the personal relationships between the characters and keeps the mystery at the center of the plot. There are plenty of red herrings and clues to follow as the reader seeks to solve the mystery alongside Delaney. I was kept guessing until the final reveal.

An intriguing mystery and a wonderful installment in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series!

Thank you to St Martin’s Press for my copy. Opinions are my own.

What bookish mystery should you read next?