Thistle & Tale Bookshop Murder (Book One)

When librarian Moira MacLeod inherits her great-aunt's bookshop in the remote Scottish village of Glencairn, she expects nothing more than dusty shelves and a quiet life among the Highland mist. Instead, she discovers a mysterious journal filled with cryptic notes about "dangerous secrets" and finds herself the reluctant guardian of centuries-old mysteries. The weekly mystery book club seems harmless enough—until visiting manuscript expert Elena Petrov collapses during tea service, poisoned by monkshood from the shop's own herb garden. As Inspector Grant investigates, Moira uncovers a web of intrigue stretching back to the aftermath of Culloden, where Jacobite treasure hunters and academic rivals clash over a legendary document that could rewrite Highland history. With only Burns, the shop's intuitive Golden Retriever, as her guide through the village's secrets, Moira must navigate suspicious locals, threatening strangers, and her own family's hidden legacy. But in a place where the past refuses to stay buried, some guardians will kill to protect what they've sworn to preserve. Perfect for fans of Louise Penny and Ann Cleeves, The Thistle & Tale Bookshop weaves Highland folklore with cozy mystery traditions, creating an atmospheric tale where ancient secrets meet modern murder, and where the most dangerous treasure isn't gold—it's knowledge. "A delightful debut that captures the misty magic of the Highlands while delivering genuine thrills. Moira MacLeod is a heroine worth following into the fog." First in the Thistle & Tale Bookshop Murder series.