Review - Death at a Scottish Christmas

I have read all of the books thus far of this new series based in Scotland, always fun.  

1)  An American in Scottland (click here) 

2)  Death at a Scottish Wedding (click here) 

 This book releases Oct 15, so here is an advance review so you can put this on your holiday reading in several months!

Author: Lucy Connelly

Copyright: Oct 2024 (Crooked Lane Books) 256 pgs

Series: 3rd in Scottish Isle Mysteries

Sensuality: Adult topics, mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy, amateur sleuth

Main Character: Dr. Emilia McRoy, American ER Doctor, now all purpose country physician and coroner

Setting: Contemporary, Sea Isle, Scotland

Obtained Through: Publisher via Netgalley for honest review

 Book Blurb:  "Sea Isle, Scotland, is magical during the holiday season, and Dr. Emilia McRoy can’t wait to enjoy everything her village has to offer. But when the lead singer of a famous band is murdered in the village, just as they were about to launch a world tour, her holiday instantly comes to a halt. 

As the band’s future hangs in the balance, Emilia discovers that the victim was working on new music that has since disappeared. Were these new lyrics worth killing for? And if so, who is the culprit? It seems more than one person wanted this music star dead. Shockingly, beloved constable Ewan Campbell becomes the prime suspect in the investigation, putting a damper on the town’s festivities.

With an ever-growing list of suspects, Emilia will need all the help she can get to figure out who is framing poor Ewan. Between a secret Santa that wants her dead, stalkers, and killer holiday celebrations, Emilia must see the devil in the details and discover the truth before it’s too late."

MY Thoughts:

Dr. Emilia McRoy is one of my favorites. She's a mix of smart and practical with a vulnerability that makes her stand out among cozy mystery main characters.  

Best friends Mara, Angie, and Abigail are present providing friendship and support as always.  Jasper is an addition to the friends and I already am fond of him.  Ewan, the wealthy laird of the town and constable is more present than ever in this outing.   There is a hint of this slow burn perhaps heating up a tiny bit, which is delicious.  I love how this is a gradual building of interest.  All of the suspects are fleshed out well and seem complicated.

Any mystery with a band involved can be complicated with fans and industry shenanigans but this one has an interesting twist that gives this an added touch of reality.  I read this book quickly for me, I could barely put it down to do "real-world" things.  The author always makes the setting come alive and in this case we get the many varied customs surrounding the winter holiday which were fascinating.

The killer reveal was well done and satisfying, even sad.  I loved the wrapup with the holiday celebration and Ewan showing a touch of sentiment.

Overall, this is a wonderful story with heart, solid mystery with plenty of facets to keep you guessing, and a cast of characters that feel real.  I want to live in Sea Isle, it becomes so alive.  I already want the next book. 

Rating:  Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.

Thank you for reading this blog and please recommend to friends and family who will enjoy it.

Review - An American in Scotland

 I love finding a new series when the first book is released and I've discovered this one at the beginning of its journey.  I also love books set in England/Ireland/Scottland since that is my ancestry.  So this new series by a new author is right up my alley, in my wheel-house, etc.  Join me on a trip to a small Scottish town where murder welcomes the new doctor within hours of her arrival.

Author: Lucy Connelly

Copyright: April 2023 (Crooked Lane) 304 pgs

Series: 1st in Scottish Isle Mysteries

Sensuality: n/a

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy mystery, amateur sleuth

Main Character: Dr. Emilia McRoy, new American Dr & Coroner in town

Setting: Contemporary, Sea Isle-Scotland

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review

Book Blurb:  "Sea Isle was supposed to be the fresh start Dr. Emilia McRoy dreamed of.  Far from the busy emergency room across the Atlantic in Seattle, she hoped to settle down and begin this new chapter as a small-town doctor to the quirky residents who immediately welcomed her.  When she stumbles across a dead body, she starts to think that she may not be as Scot free of the drama and intrigue as she initially thought.

Emilia soon learns she has bigger issues at hand. It starts with realizing she'll work closely with the less than helpful local constable, Laird Ewan Campbell.  Her luck continues when she discovers that part of her new responsibilities includes being the coroner for the very body she found.  Finally, when the body goes missing before she can even begin the autopsy, Emilia must convince the townspeople that a crime did, in fact, occur.  The deeper she digs into the picturesque town, the more suspicious she becomes.  And then there are her sleep issues.  It may be due to the ever-growing list of suspects, a number of threatening letters, or the surprise visitor who breaks into her house at night.  But she’s never backed down before, and she doesn’t intend to start now.

Someone doesn’t want this doctor to treat the ailments of Sea Isle, but Emilia McRoy is determined to find the murderer before they kilt again."

My thoughts:  Dr. Emilia McRoy is a well written character, she acts like a smart doctor which I really appreciate.  We've all read stories where the heroine is supposed to be smart, but sure doesn't act that way. I enjoyed how she and Laird Ewan Campbell, the head honcho of the land in Irish tradition, butt heads at first. I felt that was realistic with her being an emergency room doctor/surgeon and used to being revered in her circles.  The townspeople soon become the family she didn't know she needed and that makes this new series special.  Abigail and her autistic brother Tommy are gems and the pub owner, Mara, becomes fast friends with Emilia.  

The murder mystery is well thought out and a nice puzzle, particularly since everybody in town is new to Emilia.  The sense of a lurking threat is palpable and the suspense is high with somebody getting into her Doctor's office in the  repurposed church where she also lives. 

The Scottish sea-side landscape is vividly portrayed.  I've always wanted to visit, more now than ever. Emilia meets town's people as she employs her emergency room skills with farm accidents to delivering babies.

This new series is a perfect combination of developed, realistic characters and good plotting with a steady pace.  I have many series I follow, but this just shot up to the top of my list of must reads.  It will be hard to wait for the next in this series to release.  I can't recommend this new cozy mystery series highly enough, I think you will enjoy this too.

Rating:  Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.