Jenny Colgan’s latest novel, The Secret Christmas Library, might encourage you to escape to the Scottish Highlands while hoping to be snowed in at a castle for the holidays. Well, not me. I hate snow and winter, but the story was still a delightful love story to books and those who love books.
Meet Mirren Sutherland. “Mirren was a lifelong book obsessive, who never felt she had quite enough books, who could really only feel secure with half a dozen unread paperbacks propped up by her bedside table, three library cards, two Kindles, and an emergency set of Douglas Adams in the bathroom, in case the lock broke.”
Mirren’s Christmas in London this year looks boring compared to last year when she fell for Theo Palliser who works for an antiquarian bookseller. She and Theo searched for a rare book, and then he ghosted her. She’s visiting the donated book at the British Museum when a man asks about the person who “found” the book. Mirren admits it was her, and he gives her an unusual business card, and says to call if she wants a job.
Curious, Mirren calls the number, and Jamie McKinnon hires her to find a book in his house. He even sends a train ticket, but she’s not expecting the McKinnon Carriage, a private car on the train. She’s also not expecting Theo to be her companion on the train. It seems they’ve both been hired to search for a book in the family castle, a book hoarder’s paradise where Jamie’s grandfather left clues to a treasure. While Jamie, Mirren, Theo, the housekeeper and Jamie’s sister are snowbound in the dusty rundown castle, they’re desperate to find clues to a valuable book that may save the estate from taxes.
Colgan’s description of the wintery estate is delightful, despite the dark stairways, electric outages, and spiders. The castle really is a treasure for book lovers, even if it’s in ruins. Naturally, there’s a romance, and secret family history. The characters are endearing. A winter escape to a Scottish castle filled with books. What more does any book lover want?
Jenny Colgan’s website is https://www.jennycolgan.com/
The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan. William Morrow, 2025. 320p.
(And, just because I find the British cover delightful, here it is.)
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley from the publisher through NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review.
I would love to read that one!
It’s a charming book, Carol.
I like that British cover too. Thanks very much for including it in your post Lesa. When I get round to reading the book (it currently lives on my shelves here) I will imagine that cover as I read!
I do, too, Lindy. So many times I prefer the British cover.
This really sounds fun! I don’t know the author, but it sounds like I should.
Kim, She writes sweet books.
I think I’d prefer to be stranded by a flash flood that washes out the bridge than by snow.
Hmm. Debatable, Glen, but I hate snow, so you may be right.