Tom said, “Mikey got lucky.”
“I think he was trying to protect her but, in the end, he just couldn’t any longer. He was smart to save the evidence, but he should have spoken up sooner. He’s in some trouble.”
“Any word on the letter?” Tom asked.
Reluctantly, and after the Scottish authorities had become involved, I had to hand over the letter.
It was going to be a very big deal. And I had an in with the person who would be in charge of transcribing and preserving it. Joshua had been chosen to do the job. He’d already told me I’d get to be the first one to read his transcription. I couldn’t wait. I’d take Mary with me, but I hadn’t told her that yet.
“Joshua will let me know the second it’s ready. Maybe the second before.” I smiled.
Tom’s phone rang and I watched as he seemed pleased by what the caller was telling him.
“Aye, that’s wonderful. All right. We’ll be there.” He disconnected the call.
“What?” I asked.
“The house is ready, love. The electrical is fixed. It’s ready to move into. What about you? I don’t want to rush you, but are you ready?”
I looked around my wonderful cottage and at my wonderful husband. Elias, Aggie, and I were going to be friends, family, forever. But it was time. There was a blue cottage by the sea waiting for Tom and me and our life together.
“I’m so ready,” I said.
It was time for our next chapter.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As always, thank you to my agent Jessica Faust, editor Hannah Braaten, assistant editor Nettie Finn, and everyone at Minotaur. It’s so cool that you all aren’t tired of me yet. An extra shout-out to cover designer, Mary Ann Lasher. I love this cover so much! Thank you. As I was finishing up this book, a box of letters written by Mary, Queen of Scots, was found in a museum storage facility in Scotland. Since Mary plays a role in this story, I couldn’t help but feel the timing was somehow fortuitous. I love it when stuff like that happens. If you’re interested in reading the real letters, the Smithsonian Mag online has a great article on it.
As far as I know, the Robert Burns’s Burgess Ticket is real, but not housed in the Writers’ Museum. It would be a good place to put it though.
Mary, Queen of Scots, is a completely fascinating historical figure. I loved researching her life. In fact, I ended up reading much more about her than I would ever use in this book. If you have interest in knowing more about the martyred queen, I fully recommend you begin with Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart, by John Guy. It was captivating, and is on my reread list.
Any mistakes regarding Edinburgh government are not only mine, but purposeful for the benefit of the story. Apologies.
Thanks always to Charlie and Tyler. Love you both so much.
ALSO BY PAIGE SHELTON
SCOTTISH BOOKSHOP MYSTERY SERIES
The Cracked Spine
Of Books and Bagpipes
A Christmas Tartan (a mini-mystery)
Lost Books and Old Bones
The Loch Ness Papers
COUNTRY COOKING SCHOOL MYSTERY SERIES
If Fried Chicken Could Fly
If Mashed Potatoes Could Dance
If Bread Could Rise to the Occasion
If Onions Could Spring Leeks
FARMER’ MARKET MYSTERY SERIES
Farm Fresh Murder
Fruit of All Evil
Crops and Robbers
Red Hot Deadly Peppers (a mini-mystery)
A Killer Maize
Merry Market Murder
Bushel Full of Murder
DANGEROUS TYPE MYSTERY SERIES
To Helvetica and Back
Bookman Dead Style
Comic Sans Murder
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PAIGE SHELTON had a nomadic childhood, as her father’s job as a football coach took her family to seven different towns before she was even twelve years old. After college at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, she moved to Salt Lake City. She thought she’d only stay a couple years, but instead she fell in love with the mountains and a great guy who became her husband. After many decades in Utah, she and her family now live Arizona. She writes the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series, which begins with The Cracked Spine and the Alaska Wild mystery series beginning with Thin Ice. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
One
Two
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Eight
Twenty-Nine
Thirty
Thirty-One
Thirty-Two
Thirty-Four
Thirty-Five
Thirty-Six
Acknowledgments
Also by Paige Shelton
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
First published in the United States by Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group
THE STOLEN LETTER. Copyright © 2020 by Paige Shelton-Ferrell. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
www.minotaurbooks.com
Cover design by David Baldeosingh Rotstein
Cover illustration by Mary Ann Lasher
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Shelton, Paige, author.
Title: The stolen letter / Paige Shelton.
Description: First edition. | New York: Minotaur Books, 2020. | Series: A Scottish bookshop mystery; 5
Identifiers: LCCN 2019049216 | ISBN 9781250203878 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781250203885 (ebook)
Subjects: GSAFD: Mystery fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3619.H45345 S76 2020 | DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019049216
eISBN 9781250203885
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.
First Edition: April 2020