Title:	The Burning Pages
	Author:	Paige Shelton
	Published:	April 5, 2022, Minotaur Books
	No. of Pages:	304
	Cover Price:	$26.00 Hardcover, $13.99 Kindle

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The Burning Pages is the seventh installment in the Scottish Bookshop series by Paige Shelton. Delaney is invited to a Burns Night Dinner (celebration of Robert Burns Birthday) along with Hamlet from the Cracked Spine Bookstore where they are both employed. The dinner is held in a wee cottage near the bookstore, and the dinner ends up being a disaster. Later that night, the wee cottage burns down and one of the attendees is found dead in the rubble. Unfortunately, Hamlet is the prime suspect, and Delaney must investigate to prove that Hamlet isn’t the murderer. There is also some intrigue regarding Hamlet and the owner of the bookstore which serves as a sub-story to the novel.

Shelton does an excellent job of capturing the ambience of Scotland, which helps make the story charming. The characters seem genuine and although many of us haven’t had much experience with Scots, they are believable as typical Scots. Shelton does a good job of developing the characters, and Delaney, her new husband, Hamlet, et al are very likeable.

Even though this would be considered a cozy mystery, there is some suspense that builds, and the main characters are in danger at times. The interactions between the main characters are enjoyable, and this book will keep mystery lovers reading well past their bedtimes. The dénouement is surprising, and even though readers will try to guess just who really did it, it will be a surprise at the end.

After reading this excellent novel, most readers will want to read the previous novels in the series. They are good for all ages of mystery lovers and have plenty of ups and downs. This is a great series.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.