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.
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.
Review of The Cracked Spine
Review (3.5 Stars): I’m a huge fan of Paige Shelton and I was so excited to hear that she had a brand new series coming out. In this story, Delaney Nichols moves all the way to Scotland to take a job at bookshop called The Cracked Spine. As she tries to settle in to her new surroundings and her new life, she becomes involved in a murder investigation when her boss’ sister turns up dead. Now, to protect her new life and her new companions, she will help find a killer before her new career becomes her last.
I thought The Cracked Spine was a very charming mystery and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next for Delaney and her friends. The story started off a little slow for me but that changed quickly and the story moved along nicely until the very end. The characters were very entertaining and the background descriptions made you feel like you were sitting in the middle of Edinburgh, Scotland, right along with Delaney. This is the first in a brand new series and I think that this is a good way to start off this series. Looking forward to reading book number two so I can spend more time getting to know Delaney and the rest of the colorful characters at The Cracked Spine.
