The Poison Pen (A Scottish Bookshop Mystery, #9)

by Paige Shelton

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Poison Pen is the 9th book in the Scottish Bookshop cozy mystery series by Paige Shelton. Released 9th April 2024 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out late 4th quarter 2024 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

All of the Scottish Bookshop mysteries are self contained and as such work well enough as standalones. The characters' interrelationships have developed over the course of the books, so there will be some missing backstory, but the author is adept at giving the necessary information, so readers who choose to pick up this one first won't likely experience any problems with keeping the story straight.

For lovers of very light bookstore cozies, it will likely be a good fit. This outing sees Delaney and crew investigating crusaders, ancient history, artifacts, and the true lineage to the English throne.

All in all, it's a diverting, very light, readable cozy mystery with a whimsical ensemble cast. Some of the plot setups and developments are a bit over the top, but that's a big part of why bookshop cozies are wildly popular. A strong suspension of disbelief is required. The language and content are chaste and perfectly safe for commute or work reading.

Four stars. The author is a talented and capable storyteller, and everyone loves bookstore cozies.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.