Fateful Words by Paige Shelton takes us back to Edinburgh, Scotland where Delaney Nichols finds herself with an unexpected assignment. I thought Fateful Words was well-written with realistic, developed characters. The main cast is comprised of friendly characters that you enjoy getting to know. We get to learn more about Delaney in each book. I appreciated the descriptions of The Cracked Spine and Edinburgh. The author really brings the city and its rich history alive. The mystery was multifaceted which I loved. There is plenty going on to keep things lively especially in the second half. Delaney asks questions and searches for clues. She slowly starts putting the pieces together. The whodunit ramps up for an eventful reveal. I like that Delaney keeps Inspector Winters updated. You have to wonder how Inspector Winters feels about Delaney’s texts and phone calls (it has to get annoying). This was a fun mystery to solve. We get to catch up with Rosie, Tom, Edwin, Hamlet, and Hector (such a sweetie). Fateful Words is the eighth A Scottish Bookshop Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those who are new to the series. I have read the series in order which has allowed me to get to know Delaney and her friends. I enjoyed the literary references as well as the folklore, historical tidbits, and the historical sites referenced. I felt like I was touring Edinburgh with Delaney and the tour group. Delaney’s intuition or her bookish voices were a little silent this time around. They can be a touch obscure. Delaney has to figure out what they mean and how they fit into the puzzle. Fateful Words is my favorite A Scottish Bookshop Mystery thanks to its complex mystery with its intriguing twists. Travel to Edinburgh in Fateful Words with a beautiful boon, a missing superior, tour troubles, a book excursion, an odd death, and an enigmatic mystery. ( )

The atmospheric Edinburgh streets form the setting for this mystery novel. When four literary tour attendees arrive at the Cracked Spine bookshop, Delaney takes charge of leading the tour since Edwin, the bookshop owner, is absent. What starts out as an exciting adventure into the famous local sights and scenes turns into a mysterious time of mayhem. The hotel where the guests are staying seems to be the hub of illegal activities, and Delaney ends up in the middle of trying to solve the mysteries that seem to be growing and growing. Identity theft, a suspected suicide, and people who are not what they appear abound in this cozy mystery.

Although part of a series, enough background information is provided to introduce readers new to the series to the characters and settings. Readers familiar with The Cracked Spine series will revisit old friends here.The addition of tour guide facts for each of the visited tour sites adds authenticity to the story, although these might seem extraneous to some readers.

This is a clean novel without swear words, overt or descriptive violence, or intimacy scenes. I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )

Every time I read one of the A Scottish Bookshop mystery novels I wish I could visit this store and these characters. The characters all compliment each other well and they are all welcoming and friendly. I love how Delaney finds herself in the middle of all of these mysteries each and every time. There were a lot of twists in this novel, with the tour group, the murder, the disappearances, and the money. I am glad the group was able to solve the mystery and I hope we see some of the tour group characters again in a future book. ( )

Delaney, originally from Kansas, is now living her dream life in Edinburg with pub owner husband Tom, and working at The Cracked Spine bookstore. But, when she is told that her boss, Edwin, is away on a mysterious trip to London and she will have to conduct his yearly tour of the city which is scheduled to start the the following day, she isn’t happy. Every year, Edwin picks four people from all over the world for this tour and Delaney knows these people will be looking forward to meeting Edwin. Worse, she has never taken the tour herself and, even with the help of Rosie, the store clerk, she is worried she’ll disappoint the tour group.

Still, she is determined to do her best with a little help from Tom. But things don’t get off to to a great start. When she checks the hotel the group will be staying at, she is told Edwin’s credit card was rejected and the group will be asked to leave. Delaney is shocked - she knows Edwin is wealthy. She pays the bill herself figuring he will reimburse her. But this is only the beginning of the troubles the tour group encounters. The hotel desk clerk is assaulted, the manager falls off the roof (or maybe he was he pushed off) and a member of the tour group goes missing. Delaney asks the remaining members of the group if they want to continue the tour or wait for another time. They all want to continue so Delaney, Tom and the group add their own investigation to the tour.

Fateful Words is the eighth book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series by Paige Shelton. I love cozy mysteries set in bookstores and when I saw this one, I couldn’t pass it by.. I am so glad I didn’t because it did not disappoint. It’s well written with an interesting mystery and likeable characters and it kept me guessing throughout. I also enjoyed all the bookish information about Edinburgh, a city I visited and loved a very long time ago but now want to revisit to see the sites Delaney mentions on the tour.This is the first book I've read in the series but it definitely won’t be my last.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review ( )

Fateful Words is the eighth book in the A Scottish Bookshop Mystery series by Paige Shelton.

When Delaney arrives at The Cracked Spine bookstore, she learns Edwin has been called away to London and taken Hamlet with him. Being called away couldn’t have come at a worse time. Edwin picks four customers from his customer base for an all-expenses paid tour of Edinburgh, which will begin today. Delaney knows she can’t do as well as Edwin but will strive to do a respectable job. Delaney stops by the inn where the group will be staying and learns that Edwin’s credit card has been rejected. She knows there was an error and pays the bill with her card. Later that day, as Delaney and her husband, Tom, leave his pub, they notice someone dressed in black running from the inn. As they get to the pub, they find the desk clerk lying on the ground; she has been beaten and probably received a concussion. While waiting for her to be transported to the hospital, they hear a scream from the side of the inn. They find that the inn manager has either jumped or was pushed from the inn's roof.

Delaney asks the group if they want to continue with the tour or come back at another time, and they all agree to continue the tour. One group member disappears a day or two into the tour. Delaney, Tom, and tour group members will begin investigating the disappearance of the group member and investigate if the manager's death was an accident or murder.

I love this series. The books are well-written and plotted. The author skillfully includes the history of Scotland and Edinburgh. The characters are enjoyable and well-developed, and I would love to be friends. There were enough twists and turns that I was kept guessing until the end. The book reads at a steady pace.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. ( )