Delaney Nichols, originally of Kansas but settling happily into her new life as a bookseller in Edinburgh, works at The Cracked Spine in the heart of town. She’s recently befriended a few medical school students after they came into the shop to sell some antique medical tomes. But when one of the students friends is found murdered outside in the alley, Delaney takes it upon herself to help bring the murderer to justice.
During her investigation, Delaney finds some old scalpels in the bookshop’s warehouse - she finds out that they belonged to a long-dead doctor, whose story might be connected to the present-day murder. It’s all Delaney can do to race to solve this crime before time runs out and she ends up in danger herself.
Eh. Not great, but not bad. The MC, Delaney was pushy - I'd have gotten really shirty with her had I been one of the other characters. Very woman-with-a-mission; even though it wasn't of the 'I can do the police's job better' variety, it was still overbearing and unrealistic.
I did like the Burke and Hare theme though, and I thought they mystery itself was well plotted and a little diabolical, even if part of it didn't work.
The murder suspect is accused of killing three patients on the table - the first one is called a botched appendectomy. So if he isn't the murderer, how did the real murderer kill three of his patents in surgery while making it look like his fault? If they happened post op, it was never specified.
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I usually like these for the ambiance (Edinburgh), this history sprinkled throughout and the setting of a bookshop with an attached room of treasures, collected over time by the owner. I'll keep reading them, unless Delaney continues to be pushy and overbearing.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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15 July, 2018:
Finished reading
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15 July, 2018:
Reviewed