The Burning Pages: A Scottish Bookshop Mystery

Delaney Nichols and Hamlet are invited to a Burns Night dinner, but the house is burned down, and Hamlet is accused of the crime. Delaney rushes to prove his innocence, but he may have a plausible motive.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 09 May 2022
Publisher: St Martin's Press

One winter's night, bookseller Delaney Nichols and her coworker Hamlet are invited to a Burns Night dinner, a traditional Scottish celebration of the poet Robert Burns. She is perplexed by the invitation but intrigued. The dinner takes place at Burns House itself, a tiny cottage not far from the Cracked Spine bookshop but well hidden. There, it becomes clear that Delaney and Hamlet were summoned in an attempt to make amends between Edwin, Delaney's boss, and one of the other invitees, who suspected Edwin for burning down his own bookshop twenty years ago after a professional disagreement. But after the dinner, there is another fire. The Burns House itself is burned to the ground, and this time there is a body among the ruins. When Hamlet is accused of the crime, Delaney rushes to prove his innocence, only to discover that he might actually have a plausible motive for the murder.

Delaney and Hamlet are two unlikely friends who have been working together at the Cracked Spine bookshop for several years. They are both avid readers and have a shared love for literature. One winter's night, they are invited to a Burns Night dinner by Edwin, their boss. Delaney is perplexed by the invitation, as she has never heard of Burns Night before. Hamlet, on the other hand, is excited about the opportunity to attend a traditional Scottish celebration and learn more about the poet Robert Burns.

When they arrive at Burns House, they are greeted by a group of people dressed in tartan and wearing kilts. The dinner is a lavish affair, with a feast of haggis, neeps, and tatties served on a grand table. Delaney and Hamlet are seated at a table with several other guests, including Edwin's wife and a wealthy businessman named Mr. Johnson. As they eat and drink, they are entertained by a bagpipe player and a group of dancers who perform traditional Scottish dances.

During the dinner, Edwin announces that he has a special surprise for the guests. He reveals that he has invited one of the other invitees, a man named Mr. Smith, to the dinner in an attempt to make amends for a professional disagreement that had occurred twenty years ago. Mr. Smith had suspected Edwin of burning down his own bookshop after a disagreement over a contract.

Delaney and Hamlet are both surprised by Edwin's decision to invite Mr. Smith to the dinner, as they had never heard of him before. They are also concerned about the potential for tension between the two men, as Mr. Smith is known to be a hot-tempered and aggressive individual. As the night progresses, it becomes clear that Mr. Smith is not happy to be at the dinner. He is angry and confrontational, and he constantly insults Edwin and the other guests.

At one point, Mr. Smith stands up and accuses Edwin of burning down his bookshop twenty years ago. He demands that Edwin confess to the crime and apologize to him. Edwin is shocked and embarrassed by Mr. Smith's accusations, but he refuses to confess to the crime. He insists that he has never burned down any bookshop and that Mr. Smith is mistaken.

As the night continues, it becomes clear that there is more to the story than just a professional disagreement. There are hints that Mr. Smith may have had a personal motive for the murder. He is obsessed with revenge and has been planning to kill Edwin for years. He has recruited a group of accomplices to help him carry out his plan, including a group of hackers who are able to access Edwin's computer and steal sensitive information.

As the Burns Night dinner comes to a close, there is another fire. The Burns House itself is burned to the ground, and Mr. Smith is among the ruins. Delaney and Hamlet are both shocked and horrified by the news. They rush to the scene of the fire to help with the search and rescue efforts, but they are unable to find any sign of Mr. Smith.

The next day, the police arrive at the bookshop to question Delaney and Hamlet about the fire. They are both initially reluctant to talk to the police, as they are concerned about their own safety. However, they eventually agree to cooperate with the investigation.

Over the course of the investigation, Delaney and Hamlet discover that Mr. Smith had been planning to use the stolen information to blackmail Edwin into giving him a large sum of money. He had been using the hackers to access Edwin's computer and steal sensitive financial information, which he then used to threaten him.

In the end, the police are able to arrest Mr. Smith and his accomplices. Edwin is relieved to be free from the threat of blackmail and is grateful to Delaney and Hamlet for their help in solving the case. Delaney and Hamlet are hailed as heroes by the local community, and they are celebrated for their bravery and dedication to the cause of justice.

As they reflect on the events of the night, Delaney and Hamlet realize that they have grown closer as friends. They have faced a dangerous and challenging situation together, and they have emerged stronger and more united than ever before. They are grateful for the opportunity to work together and to help solve a crime that had threatened their community.

In conclusion, "A Winter's Night" is a thrilling and suspenseful story that explores the themes of friendship, loyalty, and justice. It is a story that reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for redemption and that true friendship can overcome even the most difficult of obstacles.

Weight: 300g
Dimension: 208 x 135 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781250789488