My first Shelton cozy was enjoyable enough, and a fast read to boot. I had no problem jumping in at book 7 of this mystery series- the mystery was contained and didn't rely on knowledge from previous installments to get the most out of it. A twenty year old missing persons case and arson case is wrapped up in a current case of a similar nature- arson and murder, all centering around bookshops and the 18th century poet, Robert Burns.
There were a few things I appreciated. The writing style was smooth, the dialogue was natural, and the author kept me turning pages wondering what was going to happen next. I was engaged and interested, for the most part. The way that Delaney (our MC) communicated openly with the police chief was refreshing- most cozies see the protagonist keeping secrets from the authorities while they attempt to solve the mystery entirely on their own, regardless of the stakes or danger involved.
Here's what I didn't like. The setting, for one. Besides the occasional mention of a Burns statue or the city of Edinburgh, this story could have taken place anywhere. I felt no sense of specific place. This might have been further explored in the earlier books, but there was no description of setting at all. Secondly, the characters all felt wooden and one-dimensional. Delaney is a beige MC; nothing interesting about her, nothing that stands her apart. Her husband is Best Husband Ever (TM) and her brother is Knight in Shining Armor (TM). Neither stray from these roles, and it gets old, fast. Then we have eccentric bookstore owner Edwin, and token Scottish manager Rosie, who's the only one with a Scottish brogue on page. The characters are just uninteresting, and it makes me sad because it means I probably won't be reading another book in this series.
All in all, the story was intriguing, it's a page turner, but the characters are bland and nothing to write home about. A fine cozy, but there are better out there.