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 - Donut Disturb

 I haven't read any of the previous fourteen books in the series but I was able to jump right in just fine.  This new-to-me cozy mystery series features an upscale bakeshop owner as amateur sleuth.  See what I thought of it, and if you've read any of the books in this series, leave a comment about what you thought.  

Author: Ellie Alexander

Copyright: June 2022 (St. Martin's) 285 pgs

Series: 15th in Donut Disturb Mysteries

Sensuality: Mild

Mystery Sub-genre: cozy mystery

Main Characters: Juliet Capshaw, owner of Torte-a friendly, family bake shop

Setting: Modern day, Ashland, Oregon (a Shakespearan themed town)

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review

Book Blurb: "Love is in bloom in Ashland, Oregon. The Shakespearean hamlet is bursting with fresh spring energy. Fragrant lilacs and the sweet aroma of vanilla cake fill the air as everyone in town gathers at Lithia Park for the celebration of the year—Thomas and Kerry’s wedding.

It’s a picture perfect day. Guests gather on picnic blankets in front of the bandshell to watch Kerry walk down the aisle and wed Ashland’s favorite detective in training, Thomas. Jules and her team at Torte have been tasked with catering the outdoor reception and everything is going according to plan, until a wedding crasher shows up.

The uninvited guest isn’t just someone looking to score a free glass of champagne. It’s Kerry’s estranged father who is supposed to be behind bars. Kerry is distraught. Jules vows to do everything she can to make sure that there are no other surprises on her friend’s big day. But when the bassist for Heart Strings, the wedding band, is found stabbed with the blunt end of his instrument Jules’s promise takes on new meaning. Now she’ll have to slice through the five tiered cake and a bevy of potential suspects in order to track down a killer before they turn the knife on her." 

My thoughts:

Ashland, the town where this novel takes place, is a truly cozy town.  The characters who populate this mystery and delightful (for the most part).  The police chief is called The Professor even, how charming is that?  I found the interpersonal relationships of the townspeople one of the strongest elements of the book.  Although, I wasn't enjoying Carlos much, which is difficult since he is Juliet's husband.  The mystery was solid with a few mis-directions.  The killer reveal was exciting with good tension and a highlight of the book.  The wrapup is typically just tying up loose story strands, but in this case it was touching and stood out.  I am looking forward to starting at the beginning of the series.

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

Review - The Art of the Decoy

I love art related mysteries and this one involves the sort of items you would find on "Antiques Roadshow".  Although not the world of paintings and sculptures, the art of hand carved hunting decoys was still very interesting.

Author: Trish Esden

Copyright: April 5, 2022 (Crooked Lane Books) 320 pgs

Series: 1st in Scandal Mountain Antiques Mysteries

Sensuality: some allusions to intimacy 

Mystery Sub-genre: Amateur Sleuth, Art Mystery

Main Characters: Edie Brown, antiques dealer

Setting: Contemporary, Scandal Mountain Vermont-just south of Canadian border

Obtained Through: NetGalley for honest review

Book Blurb: "After her mother is sent to prison for art forgery, Edie Brown returns to Northern Vermont to rebuild her family’s fine art and antiques business. She’s certain she can do it now that her mother is gone. After all, butting heads with her mom over bad business practices was what drove Edie away three years ago, including a screwup that landed Edie on probation for selling stolen property.

 

When Edie scores a job appraising a waterfowl decoy collection at a hoarder’s farmhouse, she’s determined to take advantage of the situation to rebuild the business’s tarnished reputation and dwindling coffers. In lieu of payment, Edie intends to cherry-pick an exceptional decoy carved by the client’s renowned Quebecoise folk artist ancestors. Only the tables turn when the collection vanishes.

 

Accused of the theft, Edie’s terrified that the fallout will destroy the business and land her in prison next to her mom. Desperate, she digs into the underbelly of the local antiques and art world. When Edie uncovers a possible link between the decoy theft and a deadly robbery at a Quebec museum, she longs to ask her ex-probation officer, and ex-lover, for help. But she suspects his recent interest in rekindling their romance may hide a darker motive.

 

With the help of her eccentric uncle Tuck and Kala, their enigmatic new employee, Edie must risk all she holds dear to expose the thieves and recover the decoys before the FBI’s Art Crime Team or the ruthless thieves themselves catch up with her." 

Edie, has a lot of anger towards her mother, still remembers her grandparents death in a plane explosion, and is a mixed bag. At times I related with her, and at other times I felt she had impulse control problems and was reckless.  Tuck is her uncle, a dear man who loves african violets.  Kala Acosta is an intern who lists items online for sale, handles social media, computers, and research.  Shane Payton as Edie's former parole officer and former lover.

The plot is figuring out who stole the decoys under an extreme timeline, then murder strikes and the pressure is on to untangle the net quickly closing around Edie. I felt things picked up once the murder occurred. 

My Thoughts: I love paintings and sculptures, so the decoys didn't really interest me albeit I'm sure they are culturaly significant. I found myself frustrated a few times with Edie for her taking extreme risks (it was something like yelling during a horror movie not to go in the basement!)  But overall the characters were good, in particular Kala stole the show as an auxillary character.  The potential romance with Shane didn't work for me and I didn't feel anything there. No chemistry.  This is solidly an amateur sleuth as it isn't a cozy. A smidgen darker than a cozy while still being in a small town, and thus it has touches of a literary novel mixed in, which some may like.

Rating: Good - A fun read with an interesting premise and more literary, troubled character style.