Written in Stone

Paige Shelton takes readers back to Edinburgh, Scotland in the tenth book in the Scottish Bookshop cozy mystery series, Written in Stone. It features Delaney Nichols who loves her life working at The Cracked Spine Bookshop and marriage to pub owner Tom Shannon.

Delaney wins a special festival invitation to artist Ryory Bennigan’s studio. She and Tom aren’t sure what to expect. What she finds is an artist obsessed with the Picts to the point of having his versions of their tattoos in abundance as well as vibrant red hair. She also encounters a paleontologist, Dr. Adam Pace, from her university in Kansas. He is attempting to sell an artifact that might explain the Picts’ language. However, before a deal is struct with Ryory, Dr. Pace is found dead. As usual, Delaney inserts herself into his murder investigation and finds Dr. Pace has a shady background.

Shelton does a great job of letting readers get to know Delaney. She’s bold, intense, curious, organized, and likes learning new things. She also loves museums and bookstores and seems to easily make friends. However, her safety isn’t always at the top of her concerns. The other characters come to life as well through their opinions, actions, reactions, and mannerisms. It was great catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.

I enjoyed the historical tie-ins with the Picts as well as the information on dinosaurs. The plot was multi-layered and complex with some twists and turns. However, the killer was a little too easy to discern. The narrative transported this reader to Edinburgh.

I wonder how police Inspector Winters really feels about all of Delaney’s calls and texts. She seems to work with him on every case to some degree or another. While there was an action-packed ending, there weren’t a lot of surprises. However, there are multiple crimes that are brought to a closure, but a more specific closure around an artist’s assistant would have provided some additional clarification. It blends mystery and history well, but I expected more literary references. Themes include death, family, friendship, secrets, and much more. Great world-building details, good characterization, and a solid mystery made this an enjoyable read.

Overall, this is an engaging and delightful novel that was a fast read. If you’re looking for an entertaining cozy mystery where you are likely to learn something new, I highly recommend this series. I am looking forward to reading the next book.

St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Paige Shelton provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for April 01, 2025.