Thistles and Thieves The Highland Bookshop Mystery Series: Book 3

A quiet bicycle ride through the rolling hills beyond Inversgail turns grim for Janet Marsh when she discovers the body of Dr. Malcolm Murray. The elderly doctor and his bike lie at the bottom of a steep slope, sprawled in the burn, his damaged bicycle tangled in a patch of thistles. The scene, with tire tracks at the narrow roadside, hints at a vehicle's involvement, yet no driver comes forward, casting a pall of suspicion over what first appears to be a tragic accident. How could the well-loved, retired doctor meet such an end, and why would someone leave him to perish?

Just a few days after the doctor's death sends ripples through the small Scottish town, a curious package arrives at the doorstep of Yon Bonnie Books. It is a box filled with vintage first editions, accompanied by a cryptic note: “Please look after these books. Thank you.” Janet and the women of the bookshop are initially delighted by the unexpected treasure, but their joy soon gives way to mystification. What does "look after" truly mean? Are they free to sell these literary gems, and what are these odd, penciled notes scribbled in the margins?

Their curiosity piqued, the women begin to dig, suspecting the books might be connected to Dr. Malcolm Murray or his reclusive brother, Gerald. Janet and Christine decide to visit Malcolm's home, only to find his sister in a state of confusion and anger, and clear evidence of a burglary. The mystery deepens, suggesting a link between the doctor's demise and the strange arrival of the books.

The unsettling chain of events escalates when Janet and Christine venture to Gerald Murray's modest croft house. They find the door ajar, and inside, a horrifying scene awaits them: Gerald lies dead, stabbed with a regimental dagger. Now, two brothers are gone, their deaths seemingly intertwined, and the women of Yon Bonnie Books find themselves increasingly entangled in a web of deceit and danger.

As Police Scotland strives to determine if the Murray brothers' deaths are connected and who is responsible, Janet and her fellow bookshop owners pursue their own investigation. They are determined to uncover the truth behind how and why that box of vintage books ended up on their doorstep. The police, however, eye the women with growing suspicion, wondering if the Yon Bonnie crew are as adept with burglary tools and finding bodies as they are with books.

The hunt for answers leads them through the close-knit community of Inversgail, where secrets are often buried deep beneath the surface. Each penciled note, each whispered rumor, and each hushed conversation brings them closer to understanding the true meaning of "look after" and the deadly implications it holds. The women must navigate a treacherous path, trusting their instincts and their shared love of books, to expose the truth before they, too, become victims of the thistles and thieves that plague their Highland home.