Be prepared for everything from Scottish archeology to tattooing to murder in Written in Stone, book ten in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series.
Delaney is an American, who runs a bookstore in Edinburgh Scotland. Delaney’s Scottish husband, Tom, owns a nearby pub. One day Tom and Delaney are visiting a renowned artist, Ry, when his assistant is taken ill. Later, the man they met earlier at Ry’s house is found poisoned. Are the two events connected? Delaney is determined to find out.
Written in Stone includes a lot of Scottish history especially regarding the Picts tribe. There are also long explanations of Scottish architecture, archeology, and dinosaur bones. I found it interesting but it does slow down the pacing a bit. However, I like reading this series for the delightful characters and they are also highlighted here. The mystery itself was my biggest disappointment. The motive was a bit murky and not revealed to the reader until the final pages. I would say that Written in Stone is not a fair play mystery. For that reason alone, I am giving the book 3 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advanced review copy.