To Helvetica and Back was my first introduction to Paige Shelton. The idea of a murder mystery set in a typewriter store was enough to catch my attention. Also, how cute is the store name: Rescued Word?! We’re in Star City, Utah, a sleepy town known for skiing. Clare learned everything about repairing typewriters from her grandfather, Chester. He opened the shop years ago and loves that his granddaughter has taken up the family business. Murder is rare in this town, so when Clare learns someone was killed behind her store, she is shocked. Even worse, she was in the store at the time. The police ask if her cameras catch anything, but not much is found. They don’t have many leads but wonder if Clare is involved. The man who was killed had tried to steal a typewriter. It’s not even rare, which stumps her. Her curiosity wins out. She starts snooping about who owned it before. She winds up digging up town secrets and annoying some of her neighbors.
This was a breezy read with an unpredictable mystery. I didn’t quite know where it would lead until the very end. Shelton’s writing is quite accessible. I loved the store cat and its moods. The grandfather and the other elderly residents were something else. Clare isn’t the smartest detective since she ruffles some town feathers. She does have a knack for research and is tenacious. I’m not rushing for the next book and will continue the series. I enjoyed the audiobook narration and read this pretty quickly.
I went for another Shelton series. This time set in Scotland in a rare bookstore. The Cracked Spine introduces us to Delaney. She is an archivist who moves from Kansas to Edinburgh to work in the shop. The owner Edwin hires her to help organize his varied collection. Upon arriving, Delaney meets a friendly taxi driver who happens to be renting a cottage. A happy coincidence that solves her accommodation problem. Unfortunately, we learn that Edwin’s sister is missing. He is worried and not focused on training Delaney. He’s a bit vague about what her real job is too. He takes her to an auction and reveals he gave his sister a super rare manuscript. Something worth killing for when they learn she was murdered. The police suspect a bookshop colleague who last visited her. Edwin also won’t tell the police about the manuscript. He wants to track it down himself. Delaney doesn’t like hiding things from the police. She reluctantly agrees to keep the secret but decides to do some investigating of her own. She asks around at the sister’s building. The sister was a recovering addict. The building is not the nicest. The taxi driver helps Delaney because he doesn’t want this American poking her nose into trouble. We meet several colorful characters who may all be suspects.
I liked the idea of an archivist as a protagonist. The investigative action here is understated. It’s mostly Delaney meeting people and observing. What was most interesting was Edwin’s secret collection that’s hidden from the public. I want to know more about this collector group and what they have. The circumstance around Edwin’s sister was sad. She was trying to kick her addiction and murder before she proved to everyone she was better. I’m hoping the next mystery isn’t something as personal for him.
After reading the Noodle Shop mysteries, I wanted a new series that wouldn’t also make me hungry. Both of these series hit the spot. I’m a sucker for a pun title. If you like books about books and typewriters, give either of these a try. I mainly read The Cracked Spine to travel on the page back to Edinburgh. To Helvetica and Back has more of that small-town charm vibe of Murder She Wrote. Both are great audiobooks to try if you’re in a reading slump. They’ve got low stakes and charming characters.