In this book of the series of A Scottish Bookshop Mystery, Delaney Nichols is searching in a treasure hunt for the first edition of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
This is book seven of the series but can be a stand alone read. The chracters from the other books are included but since more characters are added in each book, I did not see enough of the original characters.
Another murder to be solved in this book as in the other books.
I have liked the references to Scotland and makes one want to return or see it for the first time.
Books in order: The Cracked Spine, Of Books and Bagpipes, A Christmas Tartan, Lost Books and Old Bones, The Loch Ness papers, The Stolen Letter, Deadly Editions, The Burning Pages (2022) and Fateful Words (2023).
Delaney is from the United States and works at the Cracked Spine book store in Edinburgh with Hamlet, Rosie, and Edwin.
I gave it a 5 star rating. ( )

Delaney Nichols receives a secretive invitation to participate in a scavenger hunt where the grand prize is the inheritance of Shelagh O’Connor's entire library which is filled with first editions. Shelagh had been very enamored of the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in her youth and had even been caught portraying the character back in the 70's so when a figure is seen resembling Shelagh in her disguise of years past, and then robberies and death follow, all eyes look for Shelagh, but she's been kidnapped.

Following Delaney and the other characters as they try to decipher the clues to solve the treasure hunt and figure out who has taken Shelagh was loads of fun and very entertaining. So unique in a mystery, I loved it. ( )

Deadly Editions by Paige Shelton is the 6th novel in A Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. We return to Edinburgh, Scotland on a snowy day as Paige begins her day at The Cracked Spine. Delaney is surprised when she receives a missive from wealthy Shelagh O’Connor inviting her to a pub that afternoon. Delaney along with three others are invited to participate in a treasure hunt. They must decipher the clues to find a valuable copy of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The winner will receive Shelagh’s entire book collection and each participant also receives a cash bonus. Delaney cannot pass up this opportunity. Things take a dark turn when robberies begin happening by someone who dresses as Shelagh did in the 1970s and then Shelagh is kidnapped. It is a pleasure to catch up with Delaney, Tom, Rosie, Edwin, Aggie, Elias, and Hamlet. The characters are well-developed and friendly. We meet some new people that are involved in the treasure hunt. Shelagh is a unique character with a beautiful home and a gorgeous library (I wanted to win it). The treasure hunt was interesting. They visit various local pubs searching for unique clues. The author provided vivid descriptions that brought them alive for me as well as Edinburgh. It was great learning about Edinburgh and Robert Louis Stevenson. There are interesting facts about The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The mystery was thought out. I like how everything tied together in this intricate whodunit. Delaney’s bookish voices added another level to the story. While I found the mystery complex, the solution was not. I kept hoping there would be a twist to surprise me. I also found the pacing to be a little slow at times. I liked the cozy moments with Tom and Delaney as well as her time spent with co-workers and their friends (and temporary houseguests) Aggie and Elias. I just loved Delaney’s attic library. It sounds like a cozy and special place. Deadly Editions is an intriguing cozy mystery with a tricky treasure hunt, clever clues, a large library, a valuable volume, and popular pubs. ( )

Deadly Editions is the sixth book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series by Paige Shelton.

Delaney Nichols has received an invitation to Deacon Brodie’s Tavern to discuss Shelagh O’Connor’s possibly participating in a treasure hunt that she is planning. Delany had doubts about doing the treasure hunt but finally decided to attend once she heard how extensive Shelagh’s library. When Delaney arrives at Shelagh’s home, she is amazed by the library’s vast collection of books. Three other people will be joining in the treasure hunt, Tricia, a librarian, Jacques, a cousin of Connor’s, and Birk, a good friend of Edwin MacAllister, owner of The Cracked Spine, and Delaney’s employer. The group will be searching for a valuable edition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and the winner will get O’Connor’s extensive library. The other members will get a very substantial cash award. The other members include Tricia, a librarian, Jacques, Shelagh’s cousin, and Birk. Delaney is familiar with Birk, as he is a close friend of Edwin MacAllister, her employer.

Delany learns from Rose, a co-worker, that O’Connor has an obsession with the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde book and its characters. When she was a teenager back in the 1970s, O’Connor would dress similar to Mr. Hyde and stroll around town. One evening she was arrested for murder while dressed as Mr. Hyde, but those charges were later dropped.

Delaney and Birk have decided to team up searching for the clues that will lead them to find the hidden book. These clues will take them to several pubs in Edinburgh. Shortly into their treasure hunt, there are several house robberies, and a mysterious man dressed as Mr. Hyde is spotted in the area, and about this time, O’Connor goes missing. There is also a couple of deaths that are either friends or employees of O’Connor. Delaney will call on coworkers Rose and Hamlet and her husband, Tim, and Elias, her former landlord, to help with the search for O’Connor.

It always nice to visit with Delaney and the staff of the Cracked Spine bookshop. The stories are always well-written and plotted with a look at the city of Edinburgh. The cast of characters are very interesting, likeable and well-developed.

I will be watching for the next book in this informative and exciting series. ( )

This sixth book in Paige Shelton's Scottish Bookshop cozy series continues to charm readers. What's not to like about a treasure hunt in Edinburgh, Scotland with a rare library as the prize? Shelton likes to weave in a bit of Scottish legend and lore into each book. Previous topics have been as varied as Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Loch Ness monster. In Deadly Editions, it's Robert Louis Stevenson's groundbreaking The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

The mystery is a good one, aided by treasure hunt clues and the erratic behavior of Shelagh O'Conner. In fact, O'Conner is so eccentric that she keeps readers off-balance, which is certainly a good thing for leading armchair sleuths astray.

As is true in any good cozy series, the focus of the story is on the main character. Kansas transplant Delaney Nichols continues to lead the charmed life that any reader could envy, with her perfect job at the Cracked Spine Bookshop, her perfect circle of friends and co-workers, and her perfect soulmate. While I'm living a little fantasy of my own as I read about her, one of the things I do love about Delaney is the fact that she never fails to contact Detective Inspector Winter whenever she has any new information. She's not the type of amateur sleuth who automatically assumes she knows more than all the trained professionals. I would imagine that this is the main reason why Winter seems content to let her do her thing.

If you're in the mood for something light and fun, filled with nuggets of information, a mysterious treasure hunt, and the stuff some fantasies are made of, be sure to pick up Paige Shelton's Deadly Editions. Then all you have to do is sit back and enjoy.

(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley) ( )