Category: Mystery

Death at a Scottish Christmas by Lucy Connelly

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Christmas, Contemporary, Mystery, Part of a Series, Scottish/HighlanderLeave a comment

Death at a Scottish Christmas (A Scottish Isle Mystery, #3)Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Scottish Isle Mystery #3
Publication Date: 10/15/24
Period: Contemporary – Sea Isle, Scotland
Number of Pages: 256

Dr. Emilia (Em) McRoy is looking forward to her first Christmas at Sea Isle. Em, in need of a change of pace from her job as head of ER at a major US hospital, relocated to become the village doctor and coroner for Sea Isle, Scotland. Em absolutely loves Sea Isle’s slower pace and friendly people and has made many friends since arriving in August. Now, Christmas is almost here and the village is awash in festivities gathered from cultures everywhere. The biggest event for this Christmas will be a concert in the local pub – by a renowned rock group, Bram and the Stokers. They’ve been touring in Europe and are set to tour the USA next. Normally, such a famous group wouldn’t look twice at tiny Sea Isle, but a couple of the members grew up on the Isle and they want a quiet break before heading to the US. Sadly, the break will not be the respite they had hoped for.

After a wildly successful concert, the lead singer, Bram Stoker, was found dead on the beach the following morning – and it wasn’t natural causes. Who would want to murder the charismatic, handsome singer and lyricist? Could it be a member of the band? A groupie? A stalker? A rejected lover? Or, is it someone with a long-ago past with the singer – such as Constable Ewan Campbell? With so many suspects, how can Em help to narrow them down?

All of the supporting characters we’ve come to know and love over the previous two books have roles in this tale as well. Their assistance in gathering evidence, and helping Em and Ewan work through the clues is invaluable. With so many suspects and clues, it is hard to weed out the red herrings from the actual culprit, but Em and the crew manage to do it – but not before there is a second death. You won’t know the murderer until the end, but you’ll be convinced you know with each red herring.

This was an entertaining murder mystery with a well-thought-out plot, an interesting victim, and even more interesting suspects. The author wove the investigation into all of the Christmas celebrations in a way that made you want to spend your Christmas with the residents of Sea Isle even if there was a murder being investigated. It was an enjoyable read, and I am glad to have had another visit with all of the Sea Isle residents.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

Passions in Death by J.D. Robb

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Futuristic, Mystery, Part of a Series2 Comments

Passions in Death (In Death, #59)

Barbara’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Series: In Death #59
Publication Date: 9/3/24
Period: Future – August 2061, New York
Number of Pages: 363

In some book series, you are tired of the characters and stories long before the series is done. That is not the case with J.D. Robb’s long-running In Death series. This is book fifty-nine and I have been awaiting its release just as anxiously as I did the first books. The characters have grown and broadened, the relationships have matured, and the cases have remained engrossing and complex. By the end of each book, you know the victim personally – and that is often sad, and you know the murderer personally – and that is often horrifying. I have wondered what it would be like to wander around inside this prolific author’s head. Where does she come up with so many varied plots and people – not to mention the wit and humor that softens the stories?

Near the midnight hour of a slow Monday night, New York City homicide’s Lieutenant Eve Dallas receives a call from dispatch. There has been a murder at the Down and Dirty club and the club owner, Crack, has requested Eve to investigate. Crack and Eve have a long history going back to her early days in Homicide – not to mention her own attack at the Down and Dirty Club. The garroted body of lovely young bride-to-be, Erin Albright, is lying in a pool of her own blood in the very room in which Eve herself was attacked. Eve survived to take down her own attacker, but this young woman did not – so Eve will do it for her. Eve always stands for the dead.

As we move through the investigation, we get to know Erin, her bride-to-be Shauna Hunnicut, and the close loving friends surrounding them. Could the murderer be a random stranger who just happened to be at the club? Or, could it be someone who was in her close inner circle? You’ll just have to read the book to find out!

The fun, loving, joyful pre-wedding girl party will engage your emotions and pull you into the story while the solid investigation, twists, turns, red herrings, and drama will hold you through the very last page. The plot is excellently crafted and pulls you along step-by-step. The author uses wit and humor to temper the strong emotions elicited by the murder investigation and to help showcase some of the interpersonal relationships among the ongoing characters.

This very engaging book can be read as a standalone, however, as someone who has read the entire series, I would strongly suggest reading all the books in order. If that seems a daunting task, then at least read the first 3-5 books as those give you a feel for the characters, their personalities, what brought Eve and Roarke together, and what made Eve into who she is.

If you enjoy a good whodunit with compelling plots, engaging characters, wit, humor, and a glimpse into the future – this is the book and series for you.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.