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Liss MacCrimmon Mysteries #6
Bagpipes, Brides and Homicides
Dunnett returns to the small town of Moosetookalook, Maine for the sixth Scottish-themed Liss MacCrimmon mystery, in which a historical re-enactment takes a murderous turn.
282 pages, Hardcover
First published July 31, 2012
122 people are currently reading
494 people want to read
About the author
Kaitlyn Dunnett
20 books353 followersKaitlyn Dunnett is a pseudonym used by Kathy Lynn Emerson, author of the Mistress Jaffrey Mysteries, the Face Down Mysteries featuring Susanna Appleton, 16th century gentlewoman, herbalist, and sleuth, the Diana Spaulding 1888 Quartet, and the award-winning How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries, plus an assortment of other books.
As Kaitlyn she writes the Liss MacCrimmon series set in Moosetookalook, Maine and the Deadly Edits series set in rural Sullivan County, New York.
She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime and other professional organizations and blogs regularly with Maine Crime Writers.
As Kaitlyn she writes the Liss MacCrimmon series set in Moosetookalook, Maine and the Deadly Edits series set in rural Sullivan County, New York.
She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime and other professional organizations and blogs regularly with Maine Crime Writers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
April 6, 2021
Liss is getting married, and her overbearing mother arrives to boss everyone around and drive Liss crazy. There's a Scottish festival, and an obnoxious professor is involved. Like in most cozies, the obnoxious character is soon dead, and Liss's father is the primary suspect.
Between preparing for her wedding, proving her father innocent, and running her business, Liss is kept hopping.
Not bad, if not especially realistic.
Between preparing for her wedding, proving her father innocent, and running her business, Liss is kept hopping.
Not bad, if not especially realistic.
October 3, 2012
I'm not going to read any more of this series. I am really tired of overbearing, demanding middle-aged parents who want to control every aspect of the lives of their adult offspring. And I am even more unenthusiastic about adult offspring who cave in and roll over about these issues, even ones as important as a wedding. I have no respect for the heroine after reading this entry in the series, so it will be my last by this author.
August 18, 2012
A little disappointing. Liked Liss' father but mother just annoyed me. Usually a fine series but just felt this one was lacking.
September 3, 2012
I liked this book because Liss and Dan finally got married. I don't like that her mother was so bossy and basically took over the wedding. (I hate it when characters I like let other characters walk all over them just so the author can advance the plot.) The murder was a bit contrived too, and I didn't really care who killed him or why.
August 3, 2018
This was the book in which Liss's mother first appears in person. Since the mother-daughter relationship is based on my own, I tend to find it very believable. As the author's note says, the Henry Sinclair legend is real (if not necessarily true). I've used it in other books I've written (as Kathy Lynn Emerson) and WIlla Somener's ancestors are characters in one of them, LETHAL LEGEND. The other is FACE DOWN ACROSS THE WESTERN SEA in my Lady Appleton series. The epilogue suggests there might be a book set in Scotland on Liss and Dan's honeymoon and, in fact, I did intend to have them witness a crime while they were there and be involved in solving it after their return to Maine, but somehow the story never quite worked and I went on to write a Halloween book next instead.
August 19, 2014
I have enjoyed the series until now. Liss is just like her mother - over bearing and irrational. Unable to listen to reason and to basically a whiny spoiled brat. Seriously, the state police and lawyers don't know how to do their jobs? Two words - control freak. By the time I got to the wedding it was too late to even enjoy it.
February 25, 2017
I got very, very frustrated with Liss's mother - Vi. I also had a hard time believing a young lady as determined as Liss has been couldn't stand up to her mother's plans for the wedding.
Vi's waffling over whether she thought her husband was innocent was awful. So was the fact that she'd never told her daughter that she'd had a mastectomy. Although, LIss seemed to totally drop the subject once she'd had her initial bout of anger.
All the characters seemed to have outbursts of emotion immediately followed by calm, rational behavior. Liss griping about her mother planning her wedding was countered by Liss completely ignoring things that needed to be sorted out to run all over trying to figure out who murdered a professor, because obviously all the police in Maine are too stupid to think of the things she does.
Even then, Liss wasn't nearly as thorough as she often is.
I only waded through the whole thing in hopes of a lovely wedding, and even then, Liss gave in to her mother on everything. Fortunately, it was a brief chapter.
All in all, a very frustrating book.
Vi's waffling over whether she thought her husband was innocent was awful. So was the fact that she'd never told her daughter that she'd had a mastectomy. Although, LIss seemed to totally drop the subject once she'd had her initial bout of anger.
All the characters seemed to have outbursts of emotion immediately followed by calm, rational behavior. Liss griping about her mother planning her wedding was countered by Liss completely ignoring things that needed to be sorted out to run all over trying to figure out who murdered a professor, because obviously all the police in Maine are too stupid to think of the things she does.
Even then, Liss wasn't nearly as thorough as she often is.
I only waded through the whole thing in hopes of a lovely wedding, and even then, Liss gave in to her mother on everything. Fortunately, it was a brief chapter.
All in all, a very frustrating book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2012
Bagpipes, Brides, and Homicides
By Kaitlyn Dunnett
Copyright August 2012
Publisher Kensington
Moosetookalook, Maine, has never seen so many bare legs walking its streets. It could only mean one thing: the Western Maine Highland Games are in town for the weekend. But instead of wondering who’ll win the hammer throw, everyone’s asking who got kilt…
Even if Liss MacCrimmon, soon to be Mrs. Dan Ruskin, spends her days running the Moosetookalook Scottish Emporium, all she wants is a simple white wedding as she walks down the aisle accompanied by her father. When it comes to weddings, however, her mother, Vi, has another idea about tradition. Instead of white, Vi sees tartan, tartan, and more tartan.
What bonnie luck then that Liss and Dan’s wedding is scheduled on the same weekend as the Western Maine Highland Games. What could make a nuptial weekend more memorable than a hammer throw or medieval reenactment group to go along with the tossing of the bouquet? How about a charming college professor found slashed to death by his own reproduction of a broadsword?
But who’d go medieval on a professor, no matter how nutty? Turns out the deceased had plenty of enemies, including a line of female conquests stretching back to the dark ages, a band of picketers protesting his historically questionable theories, and a strapping collegiate with a howdy-doody smile. And topping the suspect list is Liss’s own father, Donald “Mac” MacCrimmon!
As much as Liss tries to keep her fingers out of the sleuthing cake, she finds herself again dead center of a Moosetookalook murder mystery. If Liss doesn’t solve this one, and quick, she might never say “I do,” let alone “’til death do us part.”
Liss is a very nervous bride to be. It’s not just the plans for the wedding (which her mother wants to take over), it’s also finding a dress (which her mom has already designed in her head), keeping up with her online sales, and spending quality time with her fiancé. On top of all that she’s got another murder to solve so that the nuptials can take place on schedule.
Why is Liss involved in another murder you might ask… well her dad’s under suspicion of killing a college professor that his wife once had an affair with. Don’t you just love it when your past comes back to bite you in the butt?
All Liss wanted was a romantic Church Wedding, something that was simple and elegant. I totally loved the book and the fact that the romance between Liss and Dan is there to be seen, and even the love between her parents. All in all this is a great summer read for anyone looking for a cozy to take along to the beach or on summer vacation.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher who only asked for a fair review in return.
By Kaitlyn Dunnett
Copyright August 2012
Publisher Kensington
Moosetookalook, Maine, has never seen so many bare legs walking its streets. It could only mean one thing: the Western Maine Highland Games are in town for the weekend. But instead of wondering who’ll win the hammer throw, everyone’s asking who got kilt…
Even if Liss MacCrimmon, soon to be Mrs. Dan Ruskin, spends her days running the Moosetookalook Scottish Emporium, all she wants is a simple white wedding as she walks down the aisle accompanied by her father. When it comes to weddings, however, her mother, Vi, has another idea about tradition. Instead of white, Vi sees tartan, tartan, and more tartan.
What bonnie luck then that Liss and Dan’s wedding is scheduled on the same weekend as the Western Maine Highland Games. What could make a nuptial weekend more memorable than a hammer throw or medieval reenactment group to go along with the tossing of the bouquet? How about a charming college professor found slashed to death by his own reproduction of a broadsword?
But who’d go medieval on a professor, no matter how nutty? Turns out the deceased had plenty of enemies, including a line of female conquests stretching back to the dark ages, a band of picketers protesting his historically questionable theories, and a strapping collegiate with a howdy-doody smile. And topping the suspect list is Liss’s own father, Donald “Mac” MacCrimmon!
As much as Liss tries to keep her fingers out of the sleuthing cake, she finds herself again dead center of a Moosetookalook murder mystery. If Liss doesn’t solve this one, and quick, she might never say “I do,” let alone “’til death do us part.”
Liss is a very nervous bride to be. It’s not just the plans for the wedding (which her mother wants to take over), it’s also finding a dress (which her mom has already designed in her head), keeping up with her online sales, and spending quality time with her fiancé. On top of all that she’s got another murder to solve so that the nuptials can take place on schedule.
Why is Liss involved in another murder you might ask… well her dad’s under suspicion of killing a college professor that his wife once had an affair with. Don’t you just love it when your past comes back to bite you in the butt?
All Liss wanted was a romantic Church Wedding, something that was simple and elegant. I totally loved the book and the fact that the romance between Liss and Dan is there to be seen, and even the love between her parents. All in all this is a great summer read for anyone looking for a cozy to take along to the beach or on summer vacation.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher who only asked for a fair review in return.
August 9, 2012
Having just attended our daughter's wedding, I was in the mood for a murder mystery set around a wedding. Ms. Dunnett wrote so clearly that I felt I was present at the vows.
Our Scottish sleuth, Josie MacCrimmon is reeling, not just from her Mother's interference in her wedding plans, but from sensing tension between her parents. The tension grows until it blows when Mrs. MacCrimmon's husband, Don is accused of murdering her former college love affair, Professor A. Leon Palsgrave, who is chairing the Medieval Scottish Conclave at the Western Maine Highland Games.
This Professor Palsgrave has not only upset Liss' wedding venue, the games have to move to 'The Spruces' which is Moosetookalook's fancy hotel, but has also caused protestors to pop out to contest a reenactment of a battle between Henry Sinclair and the Native American Indians that may or may not have actually happened. Professor Palsgrave is also known as a womanizer so when he pops up dead by broadsword, the suspect pool is full.
Liss finds herself having to accept her Mother's plans for the wedding and work on making sure her father is not arrested.
The novel ticks us down days by days until the wedding and games. That kept the tension up. I found the details of a Scottish Medieval wedding fascinating and colorful. I enjoyed this book.
Our Scottish sleuth, Josie MacCrimmon is reeling, not just from her Mother's interference in her wedding plans, but from sensing tension between her parents. The tension grows until it blows when Mrs. MacCrimmon's husband, Don is accused of murdering her former college love affair, Professor A. Leon Palsgrave, who is chairing the Medieval Scottish Conclave at the Western Maine Highland Games.
This Professor Palsgrave has not only upset Liss' wedding venue, the games have to move to 'The Spruces' which is Moosetookalook's fancy hotel, but has also caused protestors to pop out to contest a reenactment of a battle between Henry Sinclair and the Native American Indians that may or may not have actually happened. Professor Palsgrave is also known as a womanizer so when he pops up dead by broadsword, the suspect pool is full.
Liss finds herself having to accept her Mother's plans for the wedding and work on making sure her father is not arrested.
The novel ticks us down days by days until the wedding and games. That kept the tension up. I found the details of a Scottish Medieval wedding fascinating and colorful. I enjoyed this book.
February 22, 2013
I seem to be reading a lot of books lately that don't strike a chord with me! This is a pretty good series and I usually enjoy the books, but this one started out really badly (it ended up much better). Authors who allow their main character to be manipulated and walked on by their mother/grandmother/brother,etc because they're "family" and "there's just nothing you can do when their minds are made up" make my stomach hurt. I want to read about a strong, independent woman who is polite and kind, but who can stand up for herself! I almost quit reading this one because of this issue, but I'm glad I persevered because as the book progressed she grew a little bit of a backbone and the mystery part was worth finishing the book. I hope in future books that her parents have returned to their home far away and it's not an issue any more. If the mother stays in the next one, I probably won't read it.
February 10, 2013
I have read most of the books in this series. In general, Liss MacCrimmon is a nosy woman who runs a Scottish Emporium in Moosetookalook, Maine. She butts in where she is not supposed to and has earned a reputation as a "crime solver." This installment is worse than the others. Liss is getting married and then her father is suspected of the murder of Leon Pelsgrave, a Professor at the local college, an old suitor of Liss's mother. Liss is even more annoying in this book. She bullies and questions every person even remotely in the vicinity of the murder and is even warned to stop interfering in a crime investigation by the state police. Then she lets her mother railroad her wedding plans to suit herself but can't speak up to her. The mystery itself is very transparent and I knew who did it from the end of the first chapter. I guess I'm finished with this one.
August 18, 2014
I've read alol of the Liss MacCrimmon mysteries---and ethis one was my least favorite. Liss's dad is a suspect in a college professor's murder. She determines that she and she alone is capable of saving him and proving his innocence. Despite the fact that everyone---her father and mother, her fiance, her friends, every police office involved, the other suspects---tell her to butt out sh keeps plowing on. It really got irritating. I was half hoping someone would whack her with a broad sword just a nick to scare the heck out of her. No such luck. Unless you're prepared for a heroine that really grates oyou, don't bother with the book. you,
March 24, 2015
Rereading to refresh my memory and I still like this one a lot. After all, the mother is supposed to be annoying! And Liss does improve their relationship in the course of the novel.
Full disclosure here. Yes, I did write this book under my pseudonym. The Kaitlyn Dunnett books are light reading-- cozies with eccentric characters and yes, sometimes absurd situations. What else would you expect from a series set in a place called Moosetookalook, Maine?
Full disclosure here. Yes, I did write this book under my pseudonym. The Kaitlyn Dunnett books are light reading-- cozies with eccentric characters and yes, sometimes absurd situations. What else would you expect from a series set in a place called Moosetookalook, Maine?
October 29, 2012
Why do I get suckered in by (misleading) titles? Should have realized I'd read another in this series, and was irritated by that one, too. It's a cozy mystery, to begin with, but there's really nothing Scottish about it--not even bagpipes. And if I were to murder anyone in this book, it would be Liss's mother.
April 18, 2016
Highland games, a wedding, and of course a mystery. The biggest mystery was if there was going to be a handfasting. Lol.
January 30, 2020
""Moosetookalook, Maine, has never seen so many bare legs walking its streets. It could only mean one thing: the Western Maine Highland Games are in town for the weekend. But instead of wondering who'll win the hammer throw, everyone's asking who got kilt ...
"Even if Liss MacCrimmon, soon to be Mrs. Dan Ruskin, spends her days running the Moosetookalook Scottish Emporium, all she wants is a simple white wedding as she walks down the aisle accompanied by her father. When it comes to weddings, however, her mother, Vi, has another idea about tradition. Instead of white, Vi sees tartan, tartan, and more tartan.
"What bonnie luck then that Liss and Dan's wedding is scheduled on the same weekend as the Western Maine Highland Games. What could make a nuptial weekend more memorable than a hammer throw or medieval reenactment group to go along with the tossing of the bouquet? How about a charming college professor found slashed to death by his own reproduction of a broadsword?
"But who'd go medieval on a professor, no matter how nutty? Turns out the deceased had plenty of enemies, including a line of female conquests stretching back to the dark ages, a band of picketers protesting his historically questionable theories, and a strapping collegiate with a howdy-doody smile. And topping the suspect list is Liss's own father, Donald 'Mac" MacCrimmon!
"As much as Liss tried to keep her fingers out of the sleuthing cake, she finds herself again dead center of a Moosetookalook murder mystery. If Liss doesn't solve this one, and quick, she might never say 'I do,' let alone 'till death do us part.' "
~~front flap
I only read these book to get a wee hit of Scottish. Otherwise, they're part of the new cozy genre, wherein the heroine is intrepid but lacking in common sense. At least this time the boy friend/fiance didn't rescue her from the clutches of the murderer, who is all set to dispatch her.
Nice little nothing book -- nothing because you don't have to pay any attention to the plot or the clues, since there's little of the former and a dearth of the latter. Mind candy.
"Even if Liss MacCrimmon, soon to be Mrs. Dan Ruskin, spends her days running the Moosetookalook Scottish Emporium, all she wants is a simple white wedding as she walks down the aisle accompanied by her father. When it comes to weddings, however, her mother, Vi, has another idea about tradition. Instead of white, Vi sees tartan, tartan, and more tartan.
"What bonnie luck then that Liss and Dan's wedding is scheduled on the same weekend as the Western Maine Highland Games. What could make a nuptial weekend more memorable than a hammer throw or medieval reenactment group to go along with the tossing of the bouquet? How about a charming college professor found slashed to death by his own reproduction of a broadsword?
"But who'd go medieval on a professor, no matter how nutty? Turns out the deceased had plenty of enemies, including a line of female conquests stretching back to the dark ages, a band of picketers protesting his historically questionable theories, and a strapping collegiate with a howdy-doody smile. And topping the suspect list is Liss's own father, Donald 'Mac" MacCrimmon!
"As much as Liss tried to keep her fingers out of the sleuthing cake, she finds herself again dead center of a Moosetookalook murder mystery. If Liss doesn't solve this one, and quick, she might never say 'I do,' let alone 'till death do us part.' "
~~front flap
I only read these book to get a wee hit of Scottish. Otherwise, they're part of the new cozy genre, wherein the heroine is intrepid but lacking in common sense. At least this time the boy friend/fiance didn't rescue her from the clutches of the murderer, who is all set to dispatch her.
Nice little nothing book -- nothing because you don't have to pay any attention to the plot or the clues, since there's little of the former and a dearth of the latter. Mind candy.
July 21, 2023
Another interesting story.....
Dunnett returns to the small town of Moosetookalook, Maine for the sixth Scottish-themed Liss MacCrimmon mystery, in which a historical re-enactment takes a murderous turn.
Thanks to the Western Maine Highland Games, Moosetookalook, Maine, has never seen so many bare legs walking its streets. But instead of wondering who’ll win the hammer throw, everyone’s asking who got kilt. Especially Liss MacCrimmon, purveyor of the town’s Scottish Emporium, since it’s also her wedding weekend. And nothing scotches up nuptial bliss like a dead body.
But who’d go medieval on a professor, no matter how nutty? As much as Liss tries to keep her fingers out of the sleuthing cake, she finds herself again dead center of a Moosetookalook murder mystery. If Liss doesn’t solve this one, and quick, she might never say “I do,” let alone “’til death do us part”…
Dunnett returns to the small town of Moosetookalook, Maine for the sixth Scottish-themed Liss MacCrimmon mystery, in which a historical re-enactment takes a murderous turn.
Thanks to the Western Maine Highland Games, Moosetookalook, Maine, has never seen so many bare legs walking its streets. But instead of wondering who’ll win the hammer throw, everyone’s asking who got kilt. Especially Liss MacCrimmon, purveyor of the town’s Scottish Emporium, since it’s also her wedding weekend. And nothing scotches up nuptial bliss like a dead body.
But who’d go medieval on a professor, no matter how nutty? As much as Liss tries to keep her fingers out of the sleuthing cake, she finds herself again dead center of a Moosetookalook murder mystery. If Liss doesn’t solve this one, and quick, she might never say “I do,” let alone “’til death do us part”…
September 16, 2021
Entertaining listening 🔰😀
Another will written romantic thriller adventure mystery novel in the Liss MacCrimmon Series book six with lots of interesting will developed characters. The story line is set in western Maine where Liss MacCrimmon is getting married at the Scottish festival. Then murder and her father is accused. Liss MacCrimmon races to find 🚺the real murder before the wedding. Liss finds the murder and gets married and is on her way with husband to Scotland. I would recommend this series to readers of romantic mysteries. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening to books 📚 2021
Another will written romantic thriller adventure mystery novel in the Liss MacCrimmon Series book six with lots of interesting will developed characters. The story line is set in western Maine where Liss MacCrimmon is getting married at the Scottish festival. Then murder and her father is accused. Liss MacCrimmon races to find 🚺the real murder before the wedding. Liss finds the murder and gets married and is on her way with husband to Scotland. I would recommend this series to readers of romantic mysteries. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening to books 📚 2021
December 3, 2022
The only thing I hate more than holidays is pretentious weddings. It says a lot about my obsession with Dunnett's series that I don't mind a bit that so many are centered on holidays, and even this one about the wedding debacle kept me spellbound. Before starting this series, my only interest in Scotland was Hamish Macbeth, but this nostalgia for ancient Scottish traditions is interesting. Since it is usually only someone who deserve to die who gets murdered in this series, I was seriously worried about Vi (Liss's mom) in the first couple chapters. That's the first twist--many more to follow.
January 19, 2020
A lame plot that felt completely contrived throughout. I worked out whodunnit about halfway through and couldn’t see why everyone else was so slow. Liss’ mother is an annoying harridan and Liss is a wuss who just caves. Any other woman would have told her mother to take a hike but not that politely. Not only that, her mother actually believed her husband was the culprit. Seriously. Out of nothing but years spent married to the man, she decides he’s the killer? I’m surprised Liss didn’t haul off and smack her.
August 3, 2024
The plot was fairly interesting, and I enjoyed the competing versions of history however, there was one huge problem with Bagpipes, Brides -- Vi. I'm sure I've read stories that featured worse mothers but at the moment, I can't think of any. From telling her daughter that her mastectomy was none of her business to completely controlling Liss' wedding, Vi's presence ruined what should have been a fun read.
July 1, 2017
This June Book Club for Foodies: Tales You Can Taste selection and Bridal Shower menu was a fun read for the wedding month. Even though this a Fun Read - short and not thought provoking - the author did a nice job incorporating Scottish traditions. With its Maine setting, Moosetookalook is cute name for the town. The author even replied to my email and FB messages.
May 19, 2018
This is the first book I have read of this series and the whodunit was intetesting and fun. I could not understand why Liss and Dan were getting married. There was no passion in their relationship. I kept expecting Liss to fall for someone else. Her mother was a real pain too taking over the wedding and thinking Liss's Dad was really the murderer.
July 25, 2019
I have read several books in this cozy mystery series. Nice for when I'm in the mood for something light. I do have to say that I appreciate how the author has this heroine's business doing primarily on-line sales. It makes it more believable that she can leave her store for long periods of time while she runs off to investigate murders.
August 22, 2022
I got this book at a library book sale as a possibility of a new series to read. It was okay. I did not really like the heroine. Why are so many cozy mystery heroines so unappealing. Ditto for her mother. The only character I thought might be interesting is Dan and he is basically an afterthought. I didn't enjoy the story or story line. Not the series for me.
May 30, 2019
Not happy with this series anymore. Vi, the mother is so annoying. A spoiled brat. But what I didn't like the most was Liss's attitude that she, and only she could and should solve the murder. Her character just became to conceited.
July 26, 2025
Learned about some Scottish history and traditions. The mystery was okay though I figured out pretty quickly who the killer was. I didn't care for Liss's mother and can't believe Liss or anyone would be okay with someone dictating every aspect of their wedding like that.
February 16, 2017
the mother was so irritating in this book, I couldn't finish it
January 8, 2018
3.85cute cozy mystery
April 19, 2018
This is the first one in this series that I didn't enjoy. I missed not having her friends and fiance more in the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews