Fateful Words by Paige Shelton ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Edwin is mysteriously called away just as his annual literary tour of Edinburgh is about to start. Delaney is tapped to lead the group but she's not sure she can fill Edwin's shoes. While this hand-picked group of 4 is disappointed (as part of the point of this tour is to spend time with Edwin), they are eager to see the sights. Unfortunately, Edwin's absence isn't the only snag in the trip - a noxious smell, an impersonator, and a death - all threaten the tour. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

April 2023; Minotaur Books; 978-1250789532
audio, ebook, print (304 pages); cozy mystery

I've wanted to take a literary tour for some time so I really liked the setting of Fateful Words.  It was fun learning about the various sites in Edinburgh. It made me want to do a literary trip even more. 

The tour participants are interesting and fun as well. I wonder if we will see them again - one is a bookshop owner in London so it is conceivable that she could make another appearance. And because Edwin couldn't do this trip he did offer for them all to come back next year to do the tour with him.

There is a lot of mystery packed into this novel. First is the mystery of why Edwin has suddenly left Scotland with Hamlet. Only Rosie seems to know the reason and she isn't sharing. Then there is an attack on the workers at the inn and one of the tour guests mysteriously becomes sick every time she goes into her room. And someone is not who she says she is.  With so much going on it isn't surprising that Delaney is having to call Inspector Winters every five seconds.

Fateful Words is book 8 in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series - though it is only the 3rd book in the series I've read. I think this is m favorite one so far. If you haven't started this series yet, you can jump right in with this. Because of the tour group, Delaney's backstory is easily conveyed as they all get to know one another so the reader gets the information too without it being an info dump.

If you want to travel the world but don't have a passport, pick up this book.

Buy Fateful Words at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

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