Review by Amanda. The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton. 2 Tea Cups

The Cracked Spine
By: Paige Shelton
Genre: Cozy mystery

In need of a good adventure, Delaney Nichols takes the leap and moves to Edinburgh, Scotland to start a job at The Cracked Spine. She doesn't know much about what she's gotten herself into, other than that the work sounds exciting, and that her new boss, Edwin MacAlister, has given her the opportunity of a lifetime. Edwin has promised that she'll be working with "a desk that has seen the likes of kings and queens, paupers and princes," and Delaney can't wait to get started.

When she arrives, she meets her new Scottish family; also working at the Cracked Spine are Rosie, perpetually wrapped in scarves, and 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 unexpected bonus is Tom the bartender from across the street, with his piercing eyes, and a rolling brogue -- and it doesn't hurt that he looks awfully good in a kilt.

But before she can settle into her new life, a precious artifact -- a previously undiscovered First Folio of Shakespeare's plays -- goes missing, and Edwin's sister is murdered, seemingly in connection to the missing folio. Delaney decides to do some sleuthing of her own, to find out just what the real story is behind the priceless folio, and how it's connected to the tragic death, all without getting harmed herself.

Review by Amanda

2 Tea Cups

I really liked the concept of this novel. American girl picks up and moves to Scotland after she is offered a job at a book store. What will happen when she gets there? Is there really a job at the book store? Does she hate her new life?

Life for Delaney is Scotland is quite wonderful. She has a great job, friendly co-workers and seems to make friends who like to offer her things (like a house!). This would never happen to me! First of all it would be highly unlikely for me to even the job, but then to have everything absolutely fall in place. Yeah right.

So Delaney's happy, happy life comes to a bit of a halt when her employer's sister was killed and a Shakespeare play was stolen. Obviously, Edwin (Delaney's employer) is devastated and Delaney takes it upon herself to solve the mystery.

The fact that is novel is highly unrealistic is what killed it for me. Everyone was so friendly, happy and trustworthy. I'm surprised that everyone was so trusting of Delaney even though she had just started the day before.

The mystery aspect impressed me and I didn't know who it was until it was revealed. Of course, the same went for Delaney where the murderer just revealed them self and told her all of the their plans and motives.

Overall, the novel was just too over the top for me, as well as the Scottish accents. It was really hard to read and to understand.

I would recommend this novel for those who don't mind unbelievable cozies and those who are a fan of Scotland.

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Cracked-Spine