Tag: Clara McKenna

Review: Murder At Glenloch Hill by Clara McKenna

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Edwardian Age (1901-1910), Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, Scottish/HighlanderLeave a comment

Murder at Glenloch Hill (A Stella and Lyndy Mystery Book 6)Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Stella and Lyndy Mysteries #6
Publication Date: 11/26/24
Period: Edwardian – Scotland
Number of Pages: 293

Stella and Lyndy take a short jaunt to Scotland to meet Stella’s distant cousin and cheer on her soon-to-be brother-in-law, Freddy, as he plays in the British Open. Things don’t go as smoothly or as pleasantly as they had hoped when Stella stumbles across a dead body. The dead man is none other than Freddy’s father, Edwin (we’ve met him in previous books), and, unfortunately, he and Lyndy had an altercation the previous evening.

With plots, subplots, and mysteries galore, Lyndy soon becomes the focus of the investigation. Will the inept investigator jail Lyndy and forget about anyone else? Stella knows she has to solve the mystery if she wants to save Lyndy—and save him she will.

This was another delightful addition to the series and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Stella and Lyndy. I also enjoyed seeing the growth in Alice, Lyndy’s sister, as she seems to blossom while away from her mother. Lyndy and Stella’s relationship has also deepened and I enjoyed learning they were trying to conceive.

Overall, this was a well-written mystery with compelling characters, victims, and villains. You’ll vacillate between potential murderers – which is it? What reason did they have for murdering Sir Edwin? I hope you will enjoy this mystery as much as I did!

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

Murder on Mistletoe Lane by Clara McKenna

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

Murder on Mistletoe Lane (Stella & Lyndy #5)Murder on Mistletoe Lane by Clara McKenna
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Stella and Lyndy Mystery #5
Publication Date: 10/24/23
Period: Edwardian
Number of Pages: 304

I always get so excited when it is time for a new Stella and Lyndy Mystery to be released. This time they are celebrating their first Christmas together at Morrington Hall and Stella wants so very much to share some of her family’s Christmas traditions with Lyndy and his family. Just two or three small things – a couple of dishes to be served and popcorn stringing. However, Stella’s mother-in-law denies her even that small pleasure, and the cook is the same. Lyndy has had thoughts of him and Stella moving into Pilley Manor where Stella lived prior to their marriage – and I surely hope they do that because I do not like that wretch of a mother-in-law she’s saddled with.

They have guests coming for Christmas, Sir Edwin Kentfield, his wife Lady Isabella, and their son Freddy. Stella senses some undercurrents about the arrival of the guests, but she doesn’t know them or their history with Lyndy’s family. Then again, Lyndy doesn’t have a clue either as he’s never met them. Why were virtual strangers invited to spend Christmas?

Soon, strange things are happening – things are disappearing from Stella’s room. Small things, but one of them is very meaningful to her. With strange interactions between Lady Atherly and the housekeeper who soon turns up dead, and not long after, another seemingly unrelated death occurs, Christmas is turning out to be strange indeed. How will Stella and Lyndy manage to help Inspector Brown solve the murders, the thefts, the missing person, and the letch who has his eye on Stella? The layers are many, the clues few, the suspects varied, and the identity surprising.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and, of course, I loved Stella and Lyndy. Sadly, I think they were the only ones in the book I really liked this time. Morrington Hall is not my favorite setting for the books as I much prefer it when they are traveling or are somehow away from Morrington to solve mysteries. That is for purely selfish reasons as I don’t like Lyndy’s family and if Lyndy and Stella are away, I don’t have to deal with my dislike while reading the story.

I sincerely hope you will give this book and this series a try and that you will love it as much as I did. HAPPY READING!

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

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