Review - A Wee Murder in My Shop

This is a brand new series with a Scottish theme although based in Vermont.  It has an interesting premise that incorporates a "wee ghostie" into the story.

Author: Fran Stewart

Copyright: March 2015 (Berkley) 304 pgs

Series: 1st in ScotShop Mystery series

Sensuality: mild kissing

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy paranormal Mystery

Main Character: Peggy Winn, owner of ScotShop

Setting: Modern day. Hamelin, Vermont

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review

Peggy breaks up with her "almost fiance" upon discovering him with her "former best friend" just before leaving on a business trip to Scotland. She is on a buying trip for her Scottish themed shop attempting to deal with the situation with her ex (Mason) by digging through the hidden treasures of the Scottish Highlands. She discovers a unique out-of-the-way shop and buys a beautiful old tartan shawl that once she wraps it around her shoulders discovers it has the ghost of a fourteenth-century Scotsman attached to it. Before she leaves to return to the States, she believes she has severed the connection binding "Dirk" to the shawl.

Once State-side she finds she was unsuccessful and Dirk is still bound to the shawl. She also discovers the body of her cheating ex in her shop when she opens on the first day back to her store. When the police chief arrests Peggy’s cousin based on some incriminating evidence, Peggy works to understand why Mason was killed in her shop and Dirk grows protective as a police detective begins spending more and more time with Peggy.

Peggy is a mixed-bag character, she can be ditzy but kind and caring. One minute a strong small business owner and the next silly in handling the ghost. Dirk (full name Macbeath Donlevy Freusach Macearacher Macpheidiran of clan Farquharson) is not just out of time, but grieving the loss of his beloved whose shawl he is attached to. Cousins Sam and Shoe are a whirlwind and keep the story interesting. BFF Karaline Logg is a gem and a great sidekick for Peggy. Twin Brother Drew may be disabled but doesn't let that slow him down and I hope to see more of him in the next books. Police Captain Harper is the romantic interest in the book.

Hamelin Vermont, which was founded by Scottish in early 1700s, is said to still have men wearing kilts is the small town of the story. It relies on tour buses for its economy as the backdrop.

The concept of keeping a ghost who is completely out of step with the time he finds himself in was handled fairly well, although I grew quickly tired of Peggy making a spectacle of herself explaining various things to the ghost in front of others. That was tedious. The pacing moved along steadily and I found myself reading on to see what happened next. The climax with the killer seemed entirely too rushed and suddenly the story is finished. It was a bit of an abrupt ending.

Overall it has an interesting concept that you might expect in a time-travel romance, only it is a cozy mystery - which provides a completely different flare.

Rating: Good - A fun light read, but not stellar.

Review - The Corpse Wore Tartan

 I am one of those people who actually attends Scottish Highland games and loves a rousing rendition of Scotland the Brave. I thought this cozy mystery would be fun.  I haven't read a Cat Who mystery with its rich Scottish flavor and small Moose County community in a long time, so I got this book to review from LibraryThing.  Grab some tartan plaid and let's go to the small town of Moosetookalook Maine for a formal Scottish dinner.

Author: Kaitlyn Dunnett

Copyright: Nov 2010 (Signet) 271 pgs

Series: 4th in Liss MacCrimmon Mysteries

Sensuality: N/A

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy

Main Character:  Liss MacCrimmon, proprietor of a Scottish Emporium

Setting: Modern day, small town of Moosetookalook, Maine

Obtained Through: Library Thing for an honest review

The story starts with the preparations for the Scottish Heritage Appreciation Society's yearly Burns Night Supper (celebration of Scotland's beloved poet, Robert Burns).  During the dinner Phineas MacMillan's speech harshly insults several members.  By the time the dinner is over tempers are hot and a record breaking snow storm has downed trees and power lines.  Guests are stranded at The Spruces Inn.  With a hotel full of angry Scots, what could possibly go wrong?  Well...Phineas's twin brother, Phil is found in the basement with his throat slit.  Was it a case of mistaking one twin for another?

Liss was in attendance as a liaison between Scottish Heritage Appreciation Society and the hotel.  She became the gal Friday in the event planning as well as running the gift shop with merchandise from her Scottish Emporium, providing a good way to question guests.  Meanwhile, the body of Phil is being guarded in the frigid basement until state authorities can make it to the Inn to take over the investigation.  Liss is at odds with the local police woman Sherri Willett, who insists on keeping Liss out of "police business".  

Contemptuous Phineas shows no grief for his slain brother but thinks he needs protection.  One of Liss' suitors declares his love for her complicating her life just a little more.  Can Liss piece together the scant clues and figure out what happened before everybody busts loose to go home and the killer gets away with murder?

This was my first Liss MacCrimmon mystery.  I was anticipating a cross between "The Cat Who" for cozy setting and Agatha Christie's "Then There Were None" for the trapped in a hotel suspense.  I was mistaken in my preconception, it was neither.  The story seems a bit slow and plodding until about the last fifty pages.  The setting of an old stately hotel with half fully remodeled and half still being renovated is a good setting and could have been used to heighten the suspense more.

I didn't get much of a feel for Liss.  She remained stiff to me.  Her relationship with Dan, one of two beaus in her life, seemed odd to me.  He came across as overbearing and at times even bossy.  For instance when he instructs her to blow out all her candles so she doesn't fall asleep with them on.  So the romantic interest was a bust in-my-opinion.  I have to wonder if the situation of being cut off from the town and its people robbed the story of more developed characters and thus left it a bit un-cozy.  There were several missed opportunities to bring a few characters more to life.  The story was populated with mostly strangers and other than a few tidbits here and there none of the characters were developed much, with the exception of perhaps Sherri - the Police officer called over a claim of petty theft. 

Sherri had a past that came back at her during the murder investigation.  She is plagued with wanting to do everything correctly, not screw up the crime scene or evidence until the State police arrive, filled with self doubt and painfully aware of her troubled past by a hotel staff member.  Sherri came to the rescue in saving this story from being mediocre.

It isn't all bad.  It is a nice whodunit, without being convoluted.  The climax has its tense moments and the wrap up has an "ahhhhh" moment.  I would be willing to try another and see if the characters of the townspeople are better developed.  An overall pleasant mystery to while-away a cold day with some tea and scones.

To get you into a Scottish frame of mind, here is a Scottish Tatoo.  Please give it a try, especially if you have never really dipped your toe into the bagpipe and drum corps lake.  This is 2010's opening parade of massed pipe bands at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. This annual grand celebration invites the finest Drum and Pipe bands in the world.  Give it a try :-)