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 - Murder at a Scottish Castle

Traci Hall is the USA Today bestselling author of over fifty books across an array of genres, from cozy mysteries to contemporary seaside romances, YA, and nonfiction. She is also the co-author of the Salem B&B Mystery series as Traci Wilton which I have reviewed a few of those.  

This is my first Scottish Shire of hers and I will have to go back to the beginning of this series because I love books based in the UK. Although this isn't the first book in the series, I had no problem jumping in and feeling at home with the story, characters, and setting. 

Author: Traci Hall

Copyright: Jan 2024 (Kensington Cozies) 305 pgs

Series: 5th in A Scottish Shire mystery series

Sensuality: mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy, Amateur Sleuth

Main Characters: Paislee Shaw, owner/operator of Cashmere Crush Sweater & Yarn Shop

Setting: Modern day, Nairn, Scotland

Obtained Through: Publisher for an honest review, Netgalley

Book Blurb:  "With the summer days getting shorter in the seaside village of Nairn, the annual bagpiping competition at Ramsey Castle promises to be quite the end-of-season blowout. Paisley has snagged a special invitation from the dowager countess, who wants to showcase her cashmere goods in the castle gift shop, and she’s brought her son Brody, Grandpa, and their black Scottish terrier Wallace.

There’s a fierce rivalry between Robert Grant, the Earl of Lyon, and last year’s winner Jory Baxter, with Grant loudly vowing to show up the blowhard Baxter and claim clan bragging rights. But the reigning champion has barely put the reed to his lips when he turns red and collapses, soon to take his dying breath. DI Zeffer suspects foul play."

MY Thoughts:

  Paislee Shaw is a single mother also caring for her grandfather while running her own small business.  She is resilient and has little time nor extra money which is why getting to sell her hand knit sweaters at the castle is a big opportunity.

Her best friend, Lydia, is married and trying to help Paislee date more.  Hamish McCall, Fordythe High Primary's headmaster has gone on two dates with Paisley and is a good guy, steady and dependable.  Detective Inspector Mack Zeffer seems to like Paislee but it is a really slow burn there.  Her son Grady is a good kid and Grandfather is a little eccentric but loves her dearly.  I was afraid Robert Grant, the Earl of Lyon, and head of the Castle would be offered up as a romantic interest, but thankfully that wasn't the direction since he is a suspect.  Sorcha, the dowager countess and Robert's mother, is working hard to bring extra income into the castles accounts since it is expensive to keep and she seems genuine.

The castle and the town of Nairn are charming and you get a bit of insight into the Great Highland Bagpipe (GHB) and other styles of bagpipes.  I thought it was interesting.  This comes in with rumors that the murdered man had cheated at the prior year's competition to win--only how do you cheat at bagpipes?  Plus how do you kill a person in front of everyone during a competition?

The pacing was full with Paislee trying to investigate per Sorcha's request, run her shop, knit special orders, deal with a sudden major home repair, go on a date with Hamish, and deal with a car failing her. 

The killer reveal was a bit scary and unexpected, well done there.  All in all this was full of interesting characters and a good mystery.  A good escape in this story and immersive setting.

Rating:  Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

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

Review - Death at a Scottish Wedding

I started with the first book in this new series:

1) An American in Scotland (click here)

The second book is released featuring a deadly wedding held in a Scottish castle.  Talk about a great setup for murder!

Author: Lucy Connelly

Copyright: January 2024 (Crooked Lane Books) 265 pgs

Series: 2nd in A Scottish Isle mystery series

Sensuality: mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy, Amateur Sleuth

Main Characters: Emilia McRoy, American ER Doctor, now all purpose country physician and coroner

Setting: Modern day-- Sea Isle, Scotland

Obtained Through: Publisher for an honest review, Netgalley

 Book Blurb:  "Finally feeling like Sea Isle, Scotland is becoming her new home, American doctor Emilia McRoy is delighted when she is invited to a wedding at Morrigan's Castle. Her friends have warned her that it's a three-day party and it's bound to get wild, not to mention the impending snowstorm. Constable Ewan Campbell, owner of the castle, ensures their safety with the blizzard. What he didn’t ensure, is that all of his guests would survive the night alive. When Emilia explores the impressive castle, she finds a dead man [ex-boyfriend of the bride who wasn't invited] in one of the turrets.

 The snowstorm hits and the local police can’t reach the castle until it lets up. With no one able to leave, the family insists they carry on with the wedding, which makes Emilia's job as the coroner a bit easier—the suspects are in one place­––and complicated because the killer has Emilia in his sights. The fact no one claims to know the victim isn't helping. Why would someone no one knows be murdered at a castle in the middle of nowhere?

It’s up to Emilia to uncover the mystery who the victim is, so the killer doesn’t get away Scot free."

MY Thoughts:  Emelia is still recovering from the death of her husband and is finding Scotland healing her grief.  Best friends Mara, Angie, and Abigail are the besties we all wish we had.  Constable Ewan, the wealthy laird and constable is the potential romantic interest.  This is an extreme slow burn of a romance with some head-butting between them with obvious chemistry, I hope the author will give us a bit more in the next installment because the few hints that Ewan may like her are few and stiff.  I can see Ewan waiting to see if she is going to stick around before becoming invested in her, but throw us readers something to hang onto.

The castle is a great setting, but I wish it's atmosphere had been punched up a wee bit because I love a creepy gothic atmosphere.  All the Scottish wedding traditions are a great touch and added so much to the sense of place.  

The plot is a classic stranded with a murderer premise with the investigation trying to answer why the victim snuck into the wedding, who helped him to get into the castle, and who killed him... and is attempting to kill the bride and stop Emelia in her gathering of evidence.  All these questions have many possible answers that seem all over the place and thus confusing the investigation.

The pacing did seem a little off at times. The second in a series is always tough and the stranded setting is challenging to keep enough movement and sense of urgency.  I was still interested and kept turning the pages, though.  For me some of the wedding guests' personalities started to grate on me--as if I were stuck there with them!

Rating:  Excellent - A fun read! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

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

Review -A Stroke of Malice

I have been following this series since the very first.  Here are my reviews of the prior books in the series (click on the title):

1) The Anatomist's Wife
2) Mortal Arts     
3) A Grave Matter
4) A Study In Death 
5) As Death Draws Near  
6) A Brush with Shadows
7) An Artless Demise

I am very honored to have several author interviews and guest posts from Ms. Huber:
1)  2012 
2)  2014 
3)  2015 
4)  2016 
5)  2019 

Now for my review of the newest addition to the series.

Author: Anna Lee Huber

Copyright: April 2020 (Berkley) 380 pgs

Series: 8th in Lady Darby Mystery series

Sensuality: Mild and era innuendo

Mystery Sub-genre: Historical Mystery

Main Character: Kierra, Lady Darby

Setting: 1832, Traquair, Scotland

Obtained Through: Publisher ( Netgalley) for honest opinion

Cover blurb: "January 1832. After enjoying a delightful few weeks with her family, expectant mother Kiera and Sebastian Gage have been invited to the Duchess of Bowmontʼs Twelfth Night party in Traquair, Scotland. Though she normally avoids such fashionable, rambunctious events, Kiera is ready to join in the festive merrymaking. But upon their arrival at the opulent estate, it becomes obvious that all is not merry in their hostess’s home. The family appears to be under a great strain, and someone seems determined to cause mayhem among the guests with a series of forged notes.

Matters swiftly turn from irksome to downright deadly when the party goers stumble upon a decomposing body in the castleʼs crypt. The corpse is thought to be the duchesses' son-in-law who had purportedly traveled to Paris more than a month earlier. It is evident the man met with foul play, and Kiera and Gage soon realize that a ruthless murderer walks among them—and may well be a member of the duchessʼs own family. And when the investigation takes a treacherous turn, Kiera discovers just how deep the killer is willing to dig to keep their secrets from ever seeing the light of day."  

Lady Darby is pregnant which makes her involvement more delicate and even puts her and the baby in danger.  Her new husband Sebastian Gage has a lot of stress because of Kiera's situation and the murderer gets too close to her.  

Bree, Kiera's personal maid and Anderley, Gage's rough spoken valet are relied upon to help them get answers. Plus there may be some feelings between the two developing.  The Duchess's family secretive, contentious, and generally unhappy.  

What is more gothic than a Scottish castle?  This has atmosphere dripping from the walls and gives the overall impression of family secrets.  Absolutely a great setting used to its fullest potential. 

Steady plotting adds to the setting to create a Hitchcock-esque reading experience that builds in tension.  The pacing is spot on and I found it hard to put down at all.

The killer confrontation is in line with the series expectation of exciting and nail-biting.  Perfection on that score.  The wrap-up provides satisfaction and a void, as I want the next book immediately.

I have come to regard this series as one of my go-to reads historical mysteries.  As soon as a new book is available, I scoop it up.  It never fails to draw me in and Kiera as the lead is more than likeable.  She is relatable while maintaining the historical accuracy, transcending the era and connecting on universal themes.  This book is a great addition to the Lady Darby canon with plenty of chills and thrills.  

I do have one concern.  Too often the magic of the series is hindered once children are born.  I've know a series to end with the birth of a child.  I am hoping this series won't suffer and Kiera is just as active in the investigation as she has been all along.

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

Here is a short video highlighting Traquair castle, likely the setting for the book, to get an idea of the great gothic atmosphere in the book.   https://youtu.be/paSS6lPIjTw