FATEFUL WORDS

Murder, money, and mayhem in Edinburgh.

Delaney Nichols, who works at The Cracked Spine bookshop, has become proficient in many areas of research since moving to Scotland from Kansas. After delivering her wealthy boss's collection of eyeglasses and monocles to be appraised and being gifted another monocle, coincidentally engraved with the name of her husband, Tom, by the appraiser, she returns to the shop and the disturbing news that her boss, Edwin MacAlister, has been called away and that in his place, she must run his legendary literature tour for a small group of specially chosen people. This year’s party includes Irishwoman Meera Murphy; septuagenarian Englishwoman Kevin Moore; Gunter, a German document specialist; and Luka King, an Australian who claims not to read. While they’re staying at an inn across the square, Edwin’s credit card is refused, the first hint of trouble. Next Delaney sees a man in black running from the inn; Carmel, one of the employees, staggers out after being attacked; and Geoff, the manager, falls or jumps or is pushed off the roof. The tour goes on but without Meera, who unaccountably vanishes, and Delaney eventually learns that Edwin’s identity has been stolen along with much of his fortune. No stranger to murder, she has an excellent relationship with Inspector Winters, whom she feeds all the information she picks up from the group and her own sleuthing. As it becomes more and more likely that the murder has something to do with identity theft, Delaney finds herself targeted by a killer.

A delightful paean to the ancient Scottish capital wrapped around a serviceable mystery.