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The Cracked Spine
The Cracked Spine: A Scottish Bookshop Mystery | Paige Shelton
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 cant 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 brogueand it doesnt hurt that he looks awfully good in a kilt. But before she can settle into her new life, a precious artifact goes missing, and Edwins sister is brutally murdered. Never did Delaney think that searching for things lost could mean a killer, but if shes to keep her job, and protect her new friends, shell need to learn the truth behind this Scottish tragedy.
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suvata
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Pickpick

#StoryGraph: fiction mystery lighthearted mysterious
304 pages • first pub 2016

A cozy mystery, about book, set in Scotland — How could I not love it? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

“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.” ~ Publisher

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CleverGirl
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Bailedbailed

It just won‘t get started and I don‘t think I‘m interested enough to try again later. DNF.

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JoyBlue
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Mehso-so

Keep your expectations low for this cozy mystery. Read my brief thoughts here: https://debbybrauer.org/#the-cracked-spine

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CleverGirl
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Moving right along…

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Shannon_McKinney
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Pickpick

I quite enjoyed this cozy mystery set in a Scottish bookshop. Delaney leaves her midwestern roots in search of an adventure, after loosing her job. She arrives but suddenly finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation amongst a colorful array of characters. 4/5 ⭐️

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HeatherBlue
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Good day for a cozy mystery with my cuddly guy 🖤🐾
#catsoflitsy

Rachel.Rencher Cute 😍 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🖤🖤🖤 2y
Leftcoastzen Awww!😻 2y
43 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Born.A.Reader
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The closest used bookstore to me extended their hours for June -only on Mondays- which means I can visit after work now! This was my haul from today. 🤩❤📚

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Hooked_on_books
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Panpan

I‘ve enjoyed Shelton‘s Wild Alaska series and saw she had a Scottish Bookshop series as well, which seemed like a no-brainer. I love Scotland and bookshops, after all! But this is a dud. It takes forever to get going, can‘t seem to find a good tone, and just has some silly things in it. I‘m disappointed.

LeahBergen I didn‘t like this one either and the portrayal of the world of rare books was just so off. 2y
39 likes1 comment
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Graciouswarriorprincess
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When all your library holds come in along with the March @BookPage , you read on a cold and rainy day.

Suet624 Ouch. And yippee! 2y
50 likes1 comment
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Born.A.Reader
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I have to share my joy with people who understand. I started a new job and realized there's a library not 10 mins away! Guess who spent their lunch break there and brought home (maybe) too many books! ☝️☝️😂 #bookhaul #imighthavegonecrazy

LiteraryinLawrence That is wonderful! Enjoy the new job and nearby library! 2y
AmyG The silver lining of the new job! 🙌🏻 2y
25 likes2 comments
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Bookishlie
Mehso-so

This was on audio through Scribd. It was a 3.0 for me. I finished it, but wouldn‘t have had I been reading it. It was an ok.

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Bookishlie
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Mehso-so

An audio book. 3 stars. It was very cute but not sure I‘ll continue the series. Cozies aren‘t always my thing but I needed something to listen to during my commute. I cared enough to finish it!

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MittenGirlPeach
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Pickpick

This was a solid start to a new (for me) series. The setting is a bookshop in Edinburgh, and I can never pass up a good bookshop mystery. The characters were a bit confusing at times and there were some very predictable developments, but it was enjoyable and a quick read.
⛄️ ⛄️⛄️ of five. Another book read for #BookSpinBingo!

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Nebklvr
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Mehso-so

The Scottish atmosphere permeates this cozy mystery and the characters could step off the page. The mystery was a little meh but it was still worth a read.

28 likes1 stack add
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Smarkies
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Mehso-so

Book #4 for #cozyinthesun . As an audiobook this didn't work for me as the narrator was a bit of a let down. I have a pet peeve when narrators can't do the local accents “correctly“ especially when it is set primarily in a particular place - in this case Scotland.
@ferskner @librarybelle

Librarybelle That would be annoying! 4y
ferskner Oh wow, I haven't seen this cover yet! That's a bummer about the narrator. 4y
25 likes2 comments
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EmilyChristine
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Lunch break. Enjoying this book so far!

15 likes1 stack add
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Pogue
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Mehso-so

Listened to this and it was ok, but I don‘t think I will be getting the next one.

10 likes1 stack add
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Pogue
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An audiobook and crochet a good way to end the weekend.

Sace Gorgeous! Looks really warm. 💚 5y
19 likes1 comment
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myellenbee
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1. Ulysses by James Joyce
2. The Harry Potter series
3. Too many, all the books...
4. Unbelievable-My Front Row seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History by Katie Tur . 4
5 #annkuch13 , # BookishGirl06 #stillsearchingforCarmenSanDiego
#wondrouswednesday

ImperfectCJ If you decide to tackle Ulysses, check out the tagged book. I was ready to toss Ulysses across the room until I found Campbell's analysis to read alongside it. 5y
myellenbee @ImperfectCJ Thanks for the suggestion I'll keep it in mind. My dad loved James Joyce was kind of a scholar on him. I'd be reading it in his memory so might need the help. 5y
8 likes2 comments
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mrsmarch
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Time to read a book THAT ISN‘T A COURSE BOOK. Final grades tomorrow. Breathing in to paper bag tonight. Apparently, my elbow is a good chin rest. #dogsoflitsy

Lreads So precious! 😍❤️ 5y
JulietReads I want to boop his nose. 😍 5y
tpixie How sweet. There to calm you!! 5y
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Bklover Oh that sweet face !❤️❤️ 5y
Caterina PRECIOUS what a good dogggg and a most boopable nose 😍😍😍 5y
Tamra Tweek! 😆 5y
Sleepswithbooks 🥰🥰🥰 5y
56 likes7 comments
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Sharpeipup
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Soubhiville 🤣😂🤣 fun photo! 5y
22 likes1 comment
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Sharpeipup
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Calling it a night. @24in48 #24in48 #readathon

8 hours
3.5 books read

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Sharpeipup
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1. Just started The Cracked Spine #book2
2. Ravenclaw
3. New Amsterdam
#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain
#24in48 @24in48

32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Slajaunie
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Pickpick

I absolutely adored this book! The characters, the setting, the story...🥰. Delaney is a perfect main character for this book. I love the mystery, romance, history, and the books! I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who likes a mystery. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

89 likes3 stack adds
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Slajaunie
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My reading buddies as I enjoy this mystery about books.📚🥰

AJones Cute pix! 💙 🐶 🐈 5y
94 likes1 comment
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Slajaunie
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Finished book one of the new year and starting on book two, tagged.

Kaye Good job ! 👍🏼 5y
Slajaunie @kaye Thanks! 5y
Crazeedi Looks intriguing ! 5y
94 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Loric
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Mehso-so

This cozy mystery had all the elements to interest me, a mystery, a bookstore, an amateur sleuth and Scotland, but just fell short. While I enjoyed the quirky characters, much of the story was too far fetched, not at all believable. I believe this is the authors debut so for that I give credit. I am not sure I will read the others in this series, at least not now. Overall 2.5 stars from me

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janeycanuck
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Mehso-so

Meh. Not entirely sure why I finished this, I didn‘t particularly enjoy the way the author portrayed Edinburgh or its residents. But I‘ve now got one book under my belt for #24in48 with nearly 5 hours of reading done.

9/13 for #13books13weeks

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janeycanuck
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Why yes, I will sit outside with dinner and my book, thank you.

Hooked_on_books What a cool little stand you have for your ereader! 6y
Joe_Jones That was such a fun book as was the sequel! 6y
janeycanuck @Hooked_on_books it‘s called a stump stand and it‘s fantastic. It‘s rubber, has three angles you can put things at, and it‘s heavy so it stays in place. Highly recommend. 6y
janeycanuck @Joe_Jones gonna have to disagree with you there. The story may be fine but her “interpretation” of Edinburgh and its residents is... disappointing. 6y
35 likes4 comments
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Kshakal
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Pickpick

This book was a mixed bag for me... it was a definite first book in a series but it has the potential to get better and better as the series continues. I loved the setting and all of the secondary characters (I mean who doesn‘t love a Scot in a kilt!). Overall, a cute cozy!

41 likes2 stack adds
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BooksTeasAndBookishThings
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We are celebrating our anniversary a week early, and had a fun weekend! This is how we ended our day today and all of these were bargain priced except the mystery. ❤️ (Books-A-Million)

Cinfhen Happy early anniversary 🥂 6y
BooksTeasAndBookishThings @Cinfhen Thank you!!! 😘 6y
98 likes2 comments
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Kshakal
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My mom and are spending some quality time reading while waiting to go to a school event!!!

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mabell
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Mehso-so

Ok, but I didn't like it enough to be a pick. I found the characters endearing, and the situation shaping up to be interesting as the series goes on. My main issue was with the MC. Likable, but too pushy and probing - going places and asking questions that were really none of her business - to the point it was rude and unreasonable.
The reader did well, but as @drokka commented, a speaker with a native Scottish accent would have been preferable.

LeahBergen There wasn‘t enough about BOOKS in this mystery. It drove me crazy! 😠 6y
mabell @LeahBergen Just because she went to work in a *book* store, doesn't mean the storyline would at all relate to BOOKS ... clearly your expectations were too high 😂 6y
LeahBergen @mabell 😂 Right? She was supposed to be this “book whisperer” type of character and don‘t EVEN get me going on the Shakespeare First Folio stuff. 6y
mabell @LeahBergen Now I want to hear about the first folio stuff! 😂 6y
37 likes4 comments
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mcipher
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#allthebooksof2017
#firstreadoftheyear
I forgot about this book! I didn‘t really enjoy it so it was an inauspicious bookish beginning to the year (but things got better).

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stacybmartin
Mehso-so

This was a light and fluffy (well, as fluffy as a murder mystery can be) cozy mystery - perfect setting of a Scottish bookstore. The characters just weren‘t very well-developed - apparently it‘s the first of a series so maybe they get better?

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stacybmartin
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Next up on #labsoundtrack - a cozy mystery!

SilversReviews Love the cover. 6y
Cathythoughts Great cover 👍 6y
52 likes2 comments
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Soubhiville
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Hooked_on_books Congrats on your win! 7y
67 likes2 comments
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amrsprout
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Pickpick

Simple little silly mystery with books and kilts. Perfectly wonderful.

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underthebelljar
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And #bookhaul number 2! 😬 Two cozies, two classics, and one by Anne Lamott.

josie281 Anne 💕 7y
minkyb I really enjoy Anne too @josie281 ! 7y
underthebelljar @josie281 @minkyb I have only read a little bit of Bird by Bird by her and I was curious about her memoirs that deal more with spirituality and faith. Hope to get to it soon! 7y
See All 9 Comments
josie281 Her Twitter and IG feed are great as well. Little doses of happy. 7y
Lmstraubie Love Anne Lamott!!! It's also great to listen to her books because she narrates them. 7y
underthebelljar @josie281 I'll have to check that out! 7y
underthebelljar @Lmstraubie Good to know! I'll have to see if my library has any of her books on audio. 7y
UwannaPublishme Listening now to my first Anne Lamont book-Grace Eventually. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 7y
underthebelljar @UwannaPublishme I hope you're liking it! I'll be looking for that one too. 7y
57 likes1 stack add9 comments
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johnnie_cakes
Pickpick

All I need from a good cozy is some endearing characters, and a smile on my face when I finish. This one delivered on both accounts. Who wouldn't want to run off to Scotland for an adventure? Delaney was a little flaky, but that didn't bother me. I really did finish this with a big smile on my face, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

26 likes3 stack adds
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johnnie_cakes
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The store book group meets tonight, so I get to sit in a corner and read while they discuss their selections. And I'm wearing my @outofprint HP shirt.

todd Love it! 7y
LeahBergen Perfect! How is that book? I've had my eye on it. 7y
johnnie_cakes @LeahBergen I'm really enjoying it so far. I'm only a 1/3 of the way into it, but the characters have really charmed me. 7y
41 likes1 stack add3 comments
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MeikyuuAgeha
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If there was ever a Job Ad like this I would jump on it so fast! Loving this book!

melissanorr I really enjoyed that one and am looking forward to reading the second in the series! 7y
53 likes1 comment
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mcipher
Mehso-so

Finished this morning and I was glad to be done with it. I liked the feeling of evoked - sort of a Nancy Drew nostalgia, but the bumbling heroine being repeatedly rescued and also how annoying she was just didn't work for me. Plus it was just so pat - everything fell into place perfectly for her, she just happened to solve the mystery.. Finally, "whodunnit" was just lame ?.

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mcipher
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So this isn't getting me closer to my "read non-fiction" goal, but I'm almost done with book 1 of my ? ? 2017 goal. ?

19 likes1 stack add
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PatienceFortitude
Bailedbailed

Not even fond memories of Edinburgh bookstores could keep me reading. Too twee! I bailed almost before the body.

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mcipher
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Starting this cozy bookstore mystery tonight. I haven't read any of that genre in a while!

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drokka
Mehso-so

The story had potential, but the only characters I enjoyed were the taxi driver and his wife. Everyone else seemed to be their against their will. Now for a list of pet peeves:
American characters and their dread of 'driving on the other side of the road'. Seriously? It's no different, just a mirror image. Narrations set in Scotland should be done by a Scot, especially when only one major and one very minor characters are the only non-Scots.

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Jess_Read_This
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🍴📖Lunching with a new friend... #lunchwithbooks