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    Of Books and Bagpipes
    Of Books and Bagpipes
    Of Books and Bagpipes
    Audiobook8 hours

    Of Books and Bagpipes

    Written by Paige Shelton

    Narrated by Carrington MacDuffie

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Delaney Nichols has settled so comfortably into her new life in Edinburgh that she truly feels it's become more home than her once beloved Kansas. Her job at the Cracked Spine, a bookshop that specializes in rare manuscripts as well as other sundry valuable historical objects, is everything she had dreamed. Her latest task includes a trip to Castle Doune to retrieve a hard-to-find edition of an old Scottish comic, an "Oor Wullie," in a cloak and dagger transaction that Edwin has orchestrated.

    While taking in the sights Delaney is startled to spot a sandal-clad foot at the other end of the roof. Unfortunately, the foot's owner is dead and, based on the William Wallace costume he's wearing, perfectly matches the description of the man who was supposed to bring the Oor Wullie.

    As Delaney rushes to call off approaching tourists and find the police, she comes across the Oor Wullie. Instinct tells her to take the pages and hide them under her jacket. It's not until she returns to the Cracked Spine that she realizes just how complicated this story is and endeavors to untangle the tricky plot of why someone wanted this man dead, all before getting herself booked for murder.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateJul 4, 2017
    ISBN9781541476844
    Of Books and Bagpipes
    Author

    Paige Shelton

    PAIGE SHELTON had a nomadic childhood, as her father's job as a football coach took her family to seven different towns before she was even twelve years old. After college at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, she moved to Salt Lake City. She thought she'd only stay a couple years, but instead she fell in love with the mountains and a great guy who became her husband. After many decades in Utah, she and her family moved to Arizona. She writes the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series and the Alaska Wild series. Her other series include the Farmers’ Market, Cooking School, and Dangerous Type mystery series.

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    Reviews for Of Books and Bagpipes

    4/5

    96 ratings11 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This was an interesting cozy. Good characters and twists. I’ll read more by this author.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoy this series, but I must say that with this book I miss the narration of the previous two by the amazing Carrington MacDuffie. Susan Boyce is fine, but MacDuffie makes you think there are at least 3 different narrators, her voices are incredible! Still a fun listen while I go about my daily obligations.
    • 5/5
      This is the second book of the Scottish Bookshop Mysteries set in Scotland.Delaney Nichols has gone to Castle Doune to get an edition of an old Scottish comic, Oor Wullie, for her boss, Edwin MacAlister, from an actor who portrayed William Wallace. Edwin is the owner of the Cracked Spine bookshop in Edinburgh. Delaney found a body and now the mystery begins. Delaney is reminding me of Jessica Fletcher in the Murder She Wrote books and movies. I like both of the characters.The Cracked Spine is a bookshop in Edinburgh that specializes in rare manuscripts and other valuable historical objects. Delaney had accepted a job after her position at a museum in Kansas was cut due to budget. Also working at the Cracked Spine are Hamlet and Rosie; Rosie's terrier, Hector, is one of the characters who welcomes customers.Other characters from book 1, The Cracked Spine, are in this book. I am enjoying the series. I am listening to the book on You Tube. A 5* book.
    • 3/5
      I am so grateful to a reader friend that reminded me about this series! I can't believe I read Book 1 in 2019. I definitely won't wait as long to return to this enchanting series!As mentioned in my review of Book 1, "The Cracked Spine"... "In reading this cozy mystery, the delight of having Delaney being introduced as “Delaney Nichols from Kansas in America” to everyone in her new locale in Edinburgh made me smile every time and it was fun to learn their reactions as well as Delaney’s reactions to the Scottish accent, vehicles being driven on the left side of the road, the new foods, men in kilts and particularly a certain handsome pub owner. I loved the individuality of new boss Edwin MacAlister, new coworkers Hamlet, Rosie and Rosie’s dog Hector that also makes Delaney feel part of The Cracked Spine bookshop family." Delaney has a unique talent that does not come into play as much in this murder investigation but I delighted in her becoming so comfortable with her new job and place to live that she now refers to Scotland as home. A little romance in a cozy is always sweet and pub owner Tom Shannon and Delaney continue to explore their friendship. Delaney's undertaking a special favor for her boss Edwin MacAlister and so the mystery begins that also gives us more insight into Edwin's past history. But in this mystery, I especially loved Delaney's visits to see Tom's father, Artair, a librarian at the University of Edinburgh. As they both have an interest in cataloging antiquarian treasures their conversations related to the history of evidence in this investigation were engaging and of special interest. I remembered the name William Wallace from Mel Gibson's portrayal in the film "Braveheart" but since it's been a while not the specifics. The publican said it best, “Aye. We Scots love the films but your Hollywood isn’t much for the facts,” Tom added.
    • 3/5
      Definitely not as good as the first one, but if you're looking for a mystery steeped in a Scottish setting, you might be able to overlook a few weaknesses. As much as I love the setting - Edinburgh, in a bookshop - and I generally like all the characters a lot, the tone of the MC's 'investigating' didn't work for me at all. Her need to know came across feeling super entitled; even when a thread to the mystery was tenuous at best, she'd just bluntly expect people to divulge their deepest secrets. And the secrets behind this mystery plot are pretty deep and definitely dark, in spite of the bright cozy feel of the story overall. The plotting of the mystery was excellent as the author wove a very intricate and detailed plot that went back 50 years. There's a lot to like here, but I do wish the author could find a better balance for her main character, or at least create a backstory that justifies her invasiveness. Doing so would elevate these mysteries a clear step above the average.
    • 4/5
      Enjoyed this mystery with quirky characters set in Scotland. The narrator is an American young woman employed to catalog antiquarian treasures who becomes involved in a mystery involving William Wallace reinactors.
    • 4/5
      Delaney Nichols is still settling in to her new job, new country , and new home so when her boss asks her to pickup a package at a castle, she heads on out.Unfortunately, she finds the man she was to meet dead. Worrying about her employer's possible involvement, she isn't totally truthful when she is questioned by the police. Thinking that if she had been earlier, the young man would be alive, Delaney sets out to find the murderer and solve the secret of the rare manuscript she was to have received.The characters are charming and still evolving so this was fun to see how an American would adjust t a foreign country. The mystery was entertaining and kept me interested until the end.
    • 4/5
      This is such a delightful cozy mystery, with no fewer than three very good candidates for murderer and a bucket full of red herrings. The American heroine is bright, inquisitive and spunky. For the most part, locals don't know quite what to make of her. But she has her fans, not the least of whom is Inspector Winters of the local constabulary. If you enjoy a bit of murder and mayhem thrown in with your bagpipes and William Wallace reenactors, then here's the book for you!I was hooked from the start and enjoyed the entire journey from cover to cover. Well done, Ms. Shelton!I am grateful to publisher Minotaur Books and Goodreads First Reads for having provided a free advance reader copy of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.Synopsis (from ARC's back cover):Bookseller and amateur sleuth Delaney Nichols finds a dead body in a castle outside Edinburgh and must investigate how this murder is connected to a rare manuscript.Delaney Nichols has eased into her new life in Edinburgh and doesn’t miss her old life in Kansas at all. Her job at the Cracked Spine, a bookshop that specializes in rare manuscripts as well as other sundry valuable historical objects, is going swimmingly. One day, Edwin MacAlister, Delaney’s boss, sends her to Castle Doune, an hour outside the city limits. There she is to meet a contact and pick up a hard-to-find edition of an old Scottish comic, an “Oor Wullie.” While taking in the sights from the castle’s ramparts, Delaney sees a sandal-clad foot. That foot is attached to a man in an old-fashioned costume, and he matches the description of man who was supposed to bring the Oor Wullie. He’s dead, but there are no visible reasons as to why or how. As Delaney goes to call the police, she spots some papers fluttering around a side wall. When she discovers that it’s the Oor Wullie, she can’t fight the urge to take it and hide it under her jacket. It’s not until she returns to the Cracked Spine that she realizes just how complicated this story is; she endeavors to untangle the tricky plot of why someone wanted this man dead, but not before putting herself in danger.
    • 2/5
      Of Books and Bagpipes by Paige Shelton is the second book in A Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. Delaney Nichols works at The Cracked Spine in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her boss, Edwin MacAlister has sent her on a special errand to Castle Doune to pick up a rare copy of Oor Wullie (an old Scottish comic). Delaney only knows that her contact will be in costume. She is driven by friend and landlord, Elias (also a cabdriver) who wishes to keep Delaney safe while on this errand. Delaney is looking around and notices a body backward on a staircase. It turns out to be the man Delaney was to meet. While awaiting the police, Delaney does find the book which she quickly hides out of sight. Upon returning to The Cracked Spine, she shares what happened with Edwin (and then the rest of the staff). The deceased is Billy Armstrong, son of an old friend of Edwin’s, Gordon Armstrong. Gordon had died two years previously in a boat fire. The group is shocked when Gordon shows up later that day in the bookshop. Gordon wants to know what happened to his son. They find out that Gordon had sent the book to Edwin via Billy, and it contained the details on what had happened two years prior. Delaney starts seeking the truth and to uncover who killed Billy Armstrong. She is aided by her friends at The Cracked Spine and her “bookish voices”. Delaney will need support if she is to uncover the lies and expose a killer.I had not had the opportunity to read The Cracked Spine since its publication. I discovered that it is better to read the first book (The Cracked Spine) before starting Of Books and Bagpipes. Some background details are provided on the main character, but not all the needed information is included. Of Books and Bagpipes is an arduous novel to read. I found the Scottish dialogue difficult to decipher. If it was just in small sections, it would be manageable (but it was not). The pace of the book is slow and untangling the interchanges significantly slows down the reading. There are several obscure and famous Scottish authors mentioned throughout the novel. I believe most readers will like the inclusion of this information. I give Of Books and Bagpipes 2.5 out of 5 stars. The saving grace of this story is the mystery. It is complicated and challenging to solve. A reader needs to pay close attention to the details to unscramble the clues and crack the case. Also, included in the novel is information on various historical sights. While the information is interesting, it does bog down the story. I was not a fan of Delaney’s boss, Edwin. I find that he keeps too many secrets. I believe the author was trying to make him mysterious, but it does not quite work. I wish the author had stuck with a warehouse full of unusual and unique items (instead of all the secrets and lies). I did not see how Delaney’s “bookish voices” enhanced the book. I would have preferred ghosts. Ghosts associated with old historical sites (like Castle Doune) or maybe spirits that live in The Cracked Spine (I prefer this scenario). While Of Books and Bagpipes was not to my liking, I am a fan of Paige Shelton’s other series (especially A Dangerous Type Mystery series).
    • 4/5
      Paige Shelton has crafted an excellent puzzle of a mystery filled with plenty of misdirection to keep readers guessing. Her main character has just the right amount of budding romance with the handsome Tom, and she furthers her Scottish education by traveling by train and visiting Sterling and the Wallace Monument. If you overlook her tendency to trip over dead bodies, you have to admit that Delaney is having the perfect adventure in Scotland. She's not faced with too much culture shock because she's surrounded by a buffer of friends consisting of her co-workers, Tom, and her landlords Elias and Aggie. She doesn't even have to brave public transportation all that much because Elias has a taxi and insists on driving her to many of the places she needs to go, just like an overprotective father. I do have to admit to one small grievance (other than Delaney keeping evidence from the police): Edwin MacAlister himself. All his secrets, all his being unable to be reached by telephone or any other means, not only makes him a rather puzzling sort of businessman, it makes him downright annoying. He needs to show more trust in his employees/chosen family. I'd also like to know more about the treasures in that warehouse of his, but it may be a bit premature to ask him for a guided tour, especially since I've just filed a complaint.I'm ready... Bring on Delaney's next adventure in Scotland!
    • 4/5
      Of Books and Bagpipes is the second book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series and Delaney still can't stay out of trouble. Which his just how we like her. This time out she is on a job for her boss when she discovers a dead William Wallace reenactor at a nearby castle. (Side note: I did learn some things I didn't know about William Wallace and that time period which was a nice bonus) Murder? Well, it wouldn't be much of a mystery if it wasn't. The story is a bit farfetched and you don't want to spend too much time analyzing what you think is going to happen next. Instead you want to spend time with the characters and the setting. It took no time at all for me to imagine myself in Scotland and hearing the conversations in my head in a strong Scottish brogue. All of our favorite characters are back and as quirky as ever. Humor? Plenty of it. This is a cozy book and I mean that in the best possible way. A perfect choice to curl up in your favorite reading spot on a cold Winter's night, with a wee dram of scotch.