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Loch Down Abbey #2
Only Murders in the Abbey
'Mrs MacBain, thank god it's you.' Without another word, he grabbed her arm and pulled her into the room, locking the door behind them. Mrs MacBain turned around, clearly offended at being manhandled, but then gasped, 'Is that blood?'
Loch Down Abbey is full of guests for a Highland Ball. Including several uninvited members of the Inverkillen clan, the Abbey's former residents. Housekeeper Mrs MacBain thinks her biggest challenge will be finding suitable rooms for everyone and keeping the peace at cocktail hour.
Until the morning after the ball, when one of the guests is discovered inside the Abbey's library - as dead as a doornail.
Who would have had motive to want them dead? And how did they manage to commit their crime and escape while keeping the door locked from the inside?
With an Abbey full of suspects and secrets, it is down to Mrs MacBain to catch the killer before they strike again...
A brilliantly twisty and deliciously witty Golden Age murder mystery to transport you to 1930s Scotland. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Janice Hallett and Richard Osman.
Loch Down Abbey is full of guests for a Highland Ball. Including several uninvited members of the Inverkillen clan, the Abbey's former residents. Housekeeper Mrs MacBain thinks her biggest challenge will be finding suitable rooms for everyone and keeping the peace at cocktail hour.
Until the morning after the ball, when one of the guests is discovered inside the Abbey's library - as dead as a doornail.
Who would have had motive to want them dead? And how did they manage to commit their crime and escape while keeping the door locked from the inside?
With an Abbey full of suspects and secrets, it is down to Mrs MacBain to catch the killer before they strike again...
A brilliantly twisty and deliciously witty Golden Age murder mystery to transport you to 1930s Scotland. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Janice Hallett and Richard Osman.
363 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2025
254 people are currently reading
507 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 8, 2025
It's four years since Loch Down Abbey was published so I was rather curious as what to expect.
Well, a lot.
A lot of people and a lot of secrets - after all that's happened in the first book, and now it seems that things have quite settled down, a lot of family members who moved to (far away) countries decide to come back for the large ball organized by Mrs MacBain, who's somewhat reluctantly accepts help from Lady Victoria (I keep seeing Maggie Smith 😉).
It takes a while for the story to lead up to the evening of the ball but it is a turning point; after the ball, there are even more secrets among the family members and the guests than you could have guessed from the first part of the book.
What I loved is how certain characters really have no idea how the world works and how the staff who are in fact now the owners of Loch Down Abbey keep on working to make it a success. The interactions between them are sometimes hilarious but you have to think about the fact that the impoverished family still thinks they are 'better' than 'the common people'.
Anyway, I can't remember precisely after four years whether or not I thought this book could have done with more editing. There are a lot of people involved but I still cannot wholly figure out who is who, especially not since Lady Victoria has four children but the grandchildren in the story are not the children of her children. I also noticed people having a conversation in one room, and in the next sentence appear to be in another room. There is a murder, yes, and of course the killer is found, but it is absolutely not clear to me what happened there. I think just some extra explanation, even a few sentences, would have added the necessary detail.
The clues as to who the killer is were far and wide between too and I had to go back a few times to see how the clues led up to finding the killer at last.
So, three stars this time and not four, but I enjoyed reading this book because it also contains a lot of sharp characterization and hilarious scenes.
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for this digital review copy.
Well, a lot.
A lot of people and a lot of secrets - after all that's happened in the first book, and now it seems that things have quite settled down, a lot of family members who moved to (far away) countries decide to come back for the large ball organized by Mrs MacBain, who's somewhat reluctantly accepts help from Lady Victoria (I keep seeing Maggie Smith 😉).
It takes a while for the story to lead up to the evening of the ball but it is a turning point; after the ball, there are even more secrets among the family members and the guests than you could have guessed from the first part of the book.
What I loved is how certain characters really have no idea how the world works and how the staff who are in fact now the owners of Loch Down Abbey keep on working to make it a success. The interactions between them are sometimes hilarious but you have to think about the fact that the impoverished family still thinks they are 'better' than 'the common people'.
Anyway, I can't remember precisely after four years whether or not I thought this book could have done with more editing. There are a lot of people involved but I still cannot wholly figure out who is who, especially not since Lady Victoria has four children but the grandchildren in the story are not the children of her children. I also noticed people having a conversation in one room, and in the next sentence appear to be in another room. There is a murder, yes, and of course the killer is found, but it is absolutely not clear to me what happened there. I think just some extra explanation, even a few sentences, would have added the necessary detail.
The clues as to who the killer is were far and wide between too and I had to go back a few times to see how the clues led up to finding the killer at last.
So, three stars this time and not four, but I enjoyed reading this book because it also contains a lot of sharp characterization and hilarious scenes.
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for this digital review copy.
February 15, 2025
I read the first Loch Down Murder Mystery, Loch Down Abbey in 2021 and enjoyed it very much, so I was looking forward to reading Only Murders in the Abbey, set in 1930s Scotland . And I’m glad to say that I thought it was even better than the first one.
The Abbey, formerly the ancestral home of the Ogilvy-Sinclair family is now an hotel, owned by several of the long-standing employees and staffed mainly by the former servants, led by Mrs Alice McBain as the Director of Operations. The manager of the hotel is The Honourable Fergus Ogilvy-Sinclair, the youngest grandson of Lady Georgina, the Dowager Countess of Inverkillen. Her eldest grandson is Lord Angus Inverkillen, the current Earl of Inverkillen.
There are so many characters in this book including family members, hotel staff and guests that I found it difficult to keep track of all of them. However the main characters are very clearly defined and there is a list of all the characters at the beginning of the book, which is a great help.
The book begins the morning after a Highland Ball as Hudson, one of the co-owners of the Abbey, is doing his rounds when he finds a dead body in the Small Library, which had been locked for the Ball. The name of the victim is not revealed. The narrative then goes back to the fortnight before the Ball, introducing the characters and their relationships and it is not until the second half of the book that the identity of the victim is revealed.
Detective Inspector Jarvis from the local constabulary is called in to investigate, but as Mrs McBain thinks he is not ‘the sharpest axe in the shed’. And it is mainly down to her to get to the bottom of the mystery – how a murder could take place in a locked room, who had the motive to commit murder and how was the opium trade in Shanghai involved. As the victim had been stabbed to death the number of suspects includes all the men at the ball who were in Highland dress which includes a sgian-dubh, (pronounced ‘skeen doo’), a small single-edged knife, worn as part of Highland dress in the sock of a kilted Scot. So, there are many suspects, making the investigation tremendously complicated and involving many red herrings, and twists and turns as several secrets and scandals are revealed.The Epilogue introduces yet another unexpected turn.
How on earth Beth Cowan-Erskine kept so many strands in play, set in a richly described location and with believable characters is totally beyond me. But she did, with immense skill making this a most enjoyable book. As she describes it it is ‘a lunatic world’ that she has created. I really hope there will be a third Lock Down Murder Mystery.
Many thanks to the publishers for a review copy via NetGalley.
The Abbey, formerly the ancestral home of the Ogilvy-Sinclair family is now an hotel, owned by several of the long-standing employees and staffed mainly by the former servants, led by Mrs Alice McBain as the Director of Operations. The manager of the hotel is The Honourable Fergus Ogilvy-Sinclair, the youngest grandson of Lady Georgina, the Dowager Countess of Inverkillen. Her eldest grandson is Lord Angus Inverkillen, the current Earl of Inverkillen.
There are so many characters in this book including family members, hotel staff and guests that I found it difficult to keep track of all of them. However the main characters are very clearly defined and there is a list of all the characters at the beginning of the book, which is a great help.
The book begins the morning after a Highland Ball as Hudson, one of the co-owners of the Abbey, is doing his rounds when he finds a dead body in the Small Library, which had been locked for the Ball. The name of the victim is not revealed. The narrative then goes back to the fortnight before the Ball, introducing the characters and their relationships and it is not until the second half of the book that the identity of the victim is revealed.
Detective Inspector Jarvis from the local constabulary is called in to investigate, but as Mrs McBain thinks he is not ‘the sharpest axe in the shed’. And it is mainly down to her to get to the bottom of the mystery – how a murder could take place in a locked room, who had the motive to commit murder and how was the opium trade in Shanghai involved. As the victim had been stabbed to death the number of suspects includes all the men at the ball who were in Highland dress which includes a sgian-dubh, (pronounced ‘skeen doo’), a small single-edged knife, worn as part of Highland dress in the sock of a kilted Scot. So, there are many suspects, making the investigation tremendously complicated and involving many red herrings, and twists and turns as several secrets and scandals are revealed.The Epilogue introduces yet another unexpected turn.
How on earth Beth Cowan-Erskine kept so many strands in play, set in a richly described location and with believable characters is totally beyond me. But she did, with immense skill making this a most enjoyable book. As she describes it it is ‘a lunatic world’ that she has created. I really hope there will be a third Lock Down Murder Mystery.
Many thanks to the publishers for a review copy via NetGalley.
April 5, 2025
Well this was so much fun. I loved the first book, so when I saw the second was out I broke my kindle buying break. I’m glad I did; these are such fun mysteries with great characters. I still pictured Downton characters as some of these - Mrs MacBain is Mrs Hughes, Lady Georgina is the Dowager Countess, etc.
There’s a lot more going on in this than the first book (that I recall). The cast of characters is much larger and it took me a minute to remember who was who sometimes. The political climate is interesting and amping up.
I can’t wait to see where Loch Down goes in the future.
There’s a lot more going on in this than the first book (that I recall). The cast of characters is much larger and it took me a minute to remember who was who sometimes. The political climate is interesting and amping up.
I can’t wait to see where Loch Down goes in the future.
April 18, 2025
"Mrs MacBain turned around, clearly offended at being manhandled, but then gasped, 'Is that blood?'"
3,5/5!
Only Murders in the Abbey picks up some time after the events of the first book and follows, like its predecessor, the inhabitants of Loch Down Abbey, an old fancy mansion in the Scottish Highlands. The Abbey, now a hotel under the leadership of the capable Mrs MacBain, is planning to host its first ball. And while the Inverkillen family causes chaos - as they always do when they gather together - everything seems to be going perfectly until a body is discovered.
It was fun getting back into the world of Loch Down Abbey and its eccentric characters. This book, just like the first book in this series, was a fun, cozy mystery with a lot of laugh-out-loud moments and some snarky exploration of class, written in a delightfully over-the-topic way. Many of the characters are written to be rather extreme examples of the tropes they fall into - Bella is not just a rich bitch, she is the ultimate rich bitch, and Angus is not just a lazy aristocrat used to getting his way, he is suuuper egotistical and lazy. Jarvis is not just a slightly dumb cop, he is hilariously useless at his job. This kind of exaggerated style creates a lot of comedy, especially when you are reading from MacBain's point of view, who has spent years of her life navigating the moods and whims of the Inverkillen family. Through her eyes you can see the profound disconnect between the upper and the lower class and how those old class dynamics, though they are changing in the 30s and MacBain and her colleagues are no longer their servants, are really hard to shed, especially when the ones who used to hold more power are so incapable of accepting change. Speaking of Macbain, I have to say she is truly god's strongest soldier - she owns and runs a hotel, deals with the likes of Bella and Angus with way more empathy and patience than I would be able to and also solves a murder. She is a fun leading sleuth and I love how she uses her knowledge, experience and her role as a "servant" to her advantage.
I had fun with every little plot line and I enjoyed watching the characters be put through all kinds of challenges. Bella has had to flee Shanghai due to war and has been separated from not just her husband but, more importantly to her, her money, clothes and jewellery. On top of that, she can no longer simply waltz into Loch Down and cozy up in her rooms, no. She is a frustrating, truly abysmal person, but goddamn she is fun to read about. It was quite satisfying to read about her having to I feel quite similarly about Angus. He is an egotistical asshat a lot of the time, but I loved his chapters. I was cackling when he had to, gasp, work to earn some money and I was shaking my head when, in the end, it was revealed that Lady Georgina is a funny one - occasionally dreadfully clever, but often profoundly arrogantly stupid. Her nearly fainting when someone said the word "prostitute" in front of her made me cackle. Fergus and Elspeth continue to be the only reasonable, well-adjusted and kind Inverkillens and even though they didn't have much personal development, I did like them. Mr Lawlis, the Inverkillen fam's lawyer, was but a small character but he too made me laugh with just how tired he was of the Inverkillens nonsense. I can imagine how many gray hairs dealing with this family has given him over the decades. Jarvis is lowkey cute - very stupid and shit at his job, but cute - and I love how he just accepts MacBain as his sleuthing partner. And I loved how proud MacBain always was of him whenever he - on the rare occasion - had a good idea.
Alongside MacBain and Jarvis's fun duo dynamic, I also liked the Inverkillen children and just how profoundly incompatible they are. They are loyal to each other, not out of immense personal love but out of a shared responsibility for their name and title, but they can also hardly have a conversation without arguing. Angus and Bella are especially fun cause they are both so bitchy and, obviously, their already difficult dynamic was made extra awkward by the fact that Angus ran away to Tangier with Bella's husband, with whom he'd had a secret affair for a long time. That would ruin a sibling bond, I think. I liked how Elspeth is the only one everyone in the family seems to love cause she is just genuinely pleasant, and I liked seeing how easily Fergus has gotten used to his new role as a colleague to MacBain and the others, who used to be "beneath" him. Though the book pokes a lot of fun at upper class people, it does not portray everyone as an irredeemable idiot. Ross, MacBain's brother, and Elspeth's secret romance was not something I was that interested in, so that was one of the lesser interesting and fun dynamics. I was also a bit bummed that Bella and Hugh's children, though at Loch Down, didn't appear pretty much at all. I would've loved to see what they thought of Hugh just ditching them all, being with their mum (who also ditched them) again and so on.
The central mystery was fun because it was not just one big mystery but many smaller mysteries wrapped up in one. Occasionally this made it hard to keep track of who knew what and who lied about who, but, in the end, it all wrapped up in a rather satisfying way, albeit with a few twists that felt like they came out of nowhere a little bit. I liked how, slowly, it was revealed what a I liked the little side plot relating to Lawrence and I liked how not everything ends cleanly and perfectly in the story. One of the
I hope there will be a third book in this series. These stories are nothing groundbreaking or totally uniquely brilliant, but they are really good fun and they make me smile. I have not been doing well, mentally, so a book like this was exactly what I needed to cheer me up. This book also ends with some nice, not exactly cliffhangers, but indications of perhaps turbulent times ahead. For example, the
I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a Downton Abbey meets Agatha Christie meets sitcom cozy murder mysteries!
3,5/5!
Only Murders in the Abbey picks up some time after the events of the first book and follows, like its predecessor, the inhabitants of Loch Down Abbey, an old fancy mansion in the Scottish Highlands. The Abbey, now a hotel under the leadership of the capable Mrs MacBain, is planning to host its first ball. And while the Inverkillen family causes chaos - as they always do when they gather together - everything seems to be going perfectly until a body is discovered.
It was fun getting back into the world of Loch Down Abbey and its eccentric characters. This book, just like the first book in this series, was a fun, cozy mystery with a lot of laugh-out-loud moments and some snarky exploration of class, written in a delightfully over-the-topic way. Many of the characters are written to be rather extreme examples of the tropes they fall into - Bella is not just a rich bitch, she is the ultimate rich bitch, and Angus is not just a lazy aristocrat used to getting his way, he is suuuper egotistical and lazy. Jarvis is not just a slightly dumb cop, he is hilariously useless at his job. This kind of exaggerated style creates a lot of comedy, especially when you are reading from MacBain's point of view, who has spent years of her life navigating the moods and whims of the Inverkillen family. Through her eyes you can see the profound disconnect between the upper and the lower class and how those old class dynamics, though they are changing in the 30s and MacBain and her colleagues are no longer their servants, are really hard to shed, especially when the ones who used to hold more power are so incapable of accepting change. Speaking of Macbain, I have to say she is truly god's strongest soldier - she owns and runs a hotel, deals with the likes of Bella and Angus with way more empathy and patience than I would be able to and also solves a murder. She is a fun leading sleuth and I love how she uses her knowledge, experience and her role as a "servant" to her advantage.
I had fun with every little plot line and I enjoyed watching the characters be put through all kinds of challenges. Bella has had to flee Shanghai due to war and has been separated from not just her husband but, more importantly to her, her money, clothes and jewellery. On top of that, she can no longer simply waltz into Loch Down and cozy up in her rooms, no. She is a frustrating, truly abysmal person, but goddamn she is fun to read about. It was quite satisfying to read about her having to I feel quite similarly about Angus. He is an egotistical asshat a lot of the time, but I loved his chapters. I was cackling when he had to, gasp, work to earn some money and I was shaking my head when, in the end, it was revealed that Lady Georgina is a funny one - occasionally dreadfully clever, but often profoundly arrogantly stupid. Her nearly fainting when someone said the word "prostitute" in front of her made me cackle. Fergus and Elspeth continue to be the only reasonable, well-adjusted and kind Inverkillens and even though they didn't have much personal development, I did like them. Mr Lawlis, the Inverkillen fam's lawyer, was but a small character but he too made me laugh with just how tired he was of the Inverkillens nonsense. I can imagine how many gray hairs dealing with this family has given him over the decades. Jarvis is lowkey cute - very stupid and shit at his job, but cute - and I love how he just accepts MacBain as his sleuthing partner. And I loved how proud MacBain always was of him whenever he - on the rare occasion - had a good idea.
Alongside MacBain and Jarvis's fun duo dynamic, I also liked the Inverkillen children and just how profoundly incompatible they are. They are loyal to each other, not out of immense personal love but out of a shared responsibility for their name and title, but they can also hardly have a conversation without arguing. Angus and Bella are especially fun cause they are both so bitchy and, obviously, their already difficult dynamic was made extra awkward by the fact that Angus ran away to Tangier with Bella's husband, with whom he'd had a secret affair for a long time. That would ruin a sibling bond, I think. I liked how Elspeth is the only one everyone in the family seems to love cause she is just genuinely pleasant, and I liked seeing how easily Fergus has gotten used to his new role as a colleague to MacBain and the others, who used to be "beneath" him. Though the book pokes a lot of fun at upper class people, it does not portray everyone as an irredeemable idiot. Ross, MacBain's brother, and Elspeth's secret romance was not something I was that interested in, so that was one of the lesser interesting and fun dynamics. I was also a bit bummed that Bella and Hugh's children, though at Loch Down, didn't appear pretty much at all. I would've loved to see what they thought of Hugh just ditching them all, being with their mum (who also ditched them) again and so on.
The central mystery was fun because it was not just one big mystery but many smaller mysteries wrapped up in one. Occasionally this made it hard to keep track of who knew what and who lied about who, but, in the end, it all wrapped up in a rather satisfying way, albeit with a few twists that felt like they came out of nowhere a little bit. I liked how, slowly, it was revealed what a I liked the little side plot relating to Lawrence and I liked how not everything ends cleanly and perfectly in the story. One of the
I hope there will be a third book in this series. These stories are nothing groundbreaking or totally uniquely brilliant, but they are really good fun and they make me smile. I have not been doing well, mentally, so a book like this was exactly what I needed to cheer me up. This book also ends with some nice, not exactly cliffhangers, but indications of perhaps turbulent times ahead. For example, the
I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a Downton Abbey meets Agatha Christie meets sitcom cozy murder mysteries!
July 20, 2025
Di una banalità disarmante.
February 13, 2025
I am delighted to return to Loch Down Abbey and its colorful inhabitants with their secrets and murders to solve.
Set in the 1930s in the Scottish Highlands, the story picks up a few years after the events of Loch Down Abbey. What once was the residence of the Ogilvy-Sinclair family, is now a luxury hotel. While some members of the family have remained on the estate working for the hotel, others have scattered around the world, but they are now returning for the first Highland Ball organized by Mrs McBain, the former head housekeeper and now the owner of Loch Down Abbey Hotel. The return of the Inverskillen clan means drama and having to deal with arguments and rivalries between the siblings. Add uninvited guests full of luggage and secrets and there is enough for Mrs McBain and her staff to keep busy. Luckily, the ball seems to go smoothly until one of the guests is found murdered the next morning. It is up to Mrs McBain to help constable Jarvis find the killer.
I didn’t know that Loch Down Abbey was the first in a series so when I saw that there was going to be a new book I was really excited because I adored it. And Only Murders in the Abbey is a fantastic sequel. If you love cozy crimes with humour and eccentric characters, then this is the right book for you. The Ogilvy-Sinclair family is once again self-centered and too immersed in their own problems to notice anyone else around them, while Mrs McBain manages to keep everything under control in a calm and steady manner even in front of the most demanding guests.
Only Murders in the Abbey is a wonderful read: well-paced, beautifully-written, a murder full of twists, and, my favourite of all, with a Scottish backdrop. I hope there will be more books in the series!
Set in the 1930s in the Scottish Highlands, the story picks up a few years after the events of Loch Down Abbey. What once was the residence of the Ogilvy-Sinclair family, is now a luxury hotel. While some members of the family have remained on the estate working for the hotel, others have scattered around the world, but they are now returning for the first Highland Ball organized by Mrs McBain, the former head housekeeper and now the owner of Loch Down Abbey Hotel. The return of the Inverskillen clan means drama and having to deal with arguments and rivalries between the siblings. Add uninvited guests full of luggage and secrets and there is enough for Mrs McBain and her staff to keep busy. Luckily, the ball seems to go smoothly until one of the guests is found murdered the next morning. It is up to Mrs McBain to help constable Jarvis find the killer.
I didn’t know that Loch Down Abbey was the first in a series so when I saw that there was going to be a new book I was really excited because I adored it. And Only Murders in the Abbey is a fantastic sequel. If you love cozy crimes with humour and eccentric characters, then this is the right book for you. The Ogilvy-Sinclair family is once again self-centered and too immersed in their own problems to notice anyone else around them, while Mrs McBain manages to keep everything under control in a calm and steady manner even in front of the most demanding guests.
Only Murders in the Abbey is a wonderful read: well-paced, beautifully-written, a murder full of twists, and, my favourite of all, with a Scottish backdrop. I hope there will be more books in the series!
October 24, 2024
Ihan kelpo, nopealukuinen kirja. Tarina etenee jouhevasti. Henkilöiden reaktiot asioihin yllättävät, toisinaan kovin suuri reaktio ja toisinaan reaktio tuntuu jäävän syntymättä? Pidän asetelmasta.
April 21, 2025
My abiding memory of the first book is the humour, which was often a bit slapstick and also dark and funny enough to have me laughing aloud. This time around, there isn’t so much to laugh about.
For starters, things have moved on a bit. The Inverkillens no longer own Loch Down Abbey – it’s been sold to some of the staff and a single member of the family now helps to run the place as a hotel. So far it’s been a success – to the extent that Mrs McBain has decided to hold a ball to celebrate the heyday of Loch Down Abbey when such events were part of the season. A lot is riding on this – everyone has worked very hard to make it a grand event. So when some of the Inverkillen family members – who’d been conveniently in other parts of the world, harrying other unfortunate servants and being generally impossible – decide to pitch up in the days running up to the ball, it doesn’t make Life any easier.
While I don’t think it’s necessary to have read the first book, I do think you might flounder a bit if you don’t. Apart from anything else, a lot has happened to various family members and their behaviour might not make sense if you don’t know their backstory. As for the central murder mystery – this time around, it is main the narrative engine driving the story forward.
Cowan-Erskine’s ability to weave together motivations, possible suspects and a raft of red herrings, while also providing a convincing denouement is impressive. I read a depressing number of murder mysteries where the author can’t put together the vital elements with this level of skill, so it was treat to find the whodunit so satisfactorily wrapped up. If you have a weakness for country house murder mysteries, where many of the characters are eccentric and not necessarily likeable – then give this one a go. While I obtained an arc of Only Murders in the Abbey from Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
For starters, things have moved on a bit. The Inverkillens no longer own Loch Down Abbey – it’s been sold to some of the staff and a single member of the family now helps to run the place as a hotel. So far it’s been a success – to the extent that Mrs McBain has decided to hold a ball to celebrate the heyday of Loch Down Abbey when such events were part of the season. A lot is riding on this – everyone has worked very hard to make it a grand event. So when some of the Inverkillen family members – who’d been conveniently in other parts of the world, harrying other unfortunate servants and being generally impossible – decide to pitch up in the days running up to the ball, it doesn’t make Life any easier.
While I don’t think it’s necessary to have read the first book, I do think you might flounder a bit if you don’t. Apart from anything else, a lot has happened to various family members and their behaviour might not make sense if you don’t know their backstory. As for the central murder mystery – this time around, it is main the narrative engine driving the story forward.
Cowan-Erskine’s ability to weave together motivations, possible suspects and a raft of red herrings, while also providing a convincing denouement is impressive. I read a depressing number of murder mysteries where the author can’t put together the vital elements with this level of skill, so it was treat to find the whodunit so satisfactorily wrapped up. If you have a weakness for country house murder mysteries, where many of the characters are eccentric and not necessarily likeable – then give this one a go. While I obtained an arc of Only Murders in the Abbey from Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
February 3, 2025
Loch Down Abbey #2
Set in 1930s Scotland. The estate was once owned by an aristocrat, but now it's a hotel. The general manager of the hotel is the former housekeeper, Mrs McBain. The son of the family who used to reside there, Fergus, is also a manager. The hotel is fully booked for a Highland Ball. Many of the InverKillen clan turn up for the ball, but most of them haven't been invited. The next morning, a bady is found in the library. The local policeman was sent for. No one was allowed to leave. Who was the murderer, and why was the victim killed?
When I saw there was a new book in the Loch Down Abbey series, I just had to request it. The story is descriptively written, the pace was steady, the characters are well-developed, and I enjoyed the plot, but there were quite a lot of characters. There were some funny moments, espically with the InverKillen family. As most cosy crime books, there were plenty of twists and red herrings. I hope there are more books to come in this series.
Published 13th February 2025
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HodderStoughton and the author #BethCowanErskine for my ARC of #OnlyMurdersInTheAbbey in exchange for an honest review.
Set in 1930s Scotland. The estate was once owned by an aristocrat, but now it's a hotel. The general manager of the hotel is the former housekeeper, Mrs McBain. The son of the family who used to reside there, Fergus, is also a manager. The hotel is fully booked for a Highland Ball. Many of the InverKillen clan turn up for the ball, but most of them haven't been invited. The next morning, a bady is found in the library. The local policeman was sent for. No one was allowed to leave. Who was the murderer, and why was the victim killed?
When I saw there was a new book in the Loch Down Abbey series, I just had to request it. The story is descriptively written, the pace was steady, the characters are well-developed, and I enjoyed the plot, but there were quite a lot of characters. There were some funny moments, espically with the InverKillen family. As most cosy crime books, there were plenty of twists and red herrings. I hope there are more books to come in this series.
Published 13th February 2025
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HodderStoughton and the author #BethCowanErskine for my ARC of #OnlyMurdersInTheAbbey in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2025
Only Murders in the Abbey" is the second book in the Loch Down Abbey series, set in the picturesque yet turbulent 1930s Scotland. The story unfolds at Loch Down Abbey, a grand estate now a grand hotel. The hotel is full of guests for the Highland Ball. Including members of the Inverskillen clan. Many of them who where not invited but have turned up for the ball. Expecting to have free lodgings.
The morning after the ball a body is found in a locked library. The local bobby is sent to investigate what went on. Making sure the guests don’t leave. Which is a big task as there is several people there with their own agendas. Who wants that person dead and why?
At first, I was a bit concerned as I have not read the first book n this series. But it was easy to get into. But for me personally thought that the main subject of the book (Murder) to a long time to get going. There was a lot of build up to this story. Which at times I thought about giving up. But I am glad I carried on. This is interesting read with a whole load of eclectic characters. 3,5 stars from me.
The morning after the ball a body is found in a locked library. The local bobby is sent to investigate what went on. Making sure the guests don’t leave. Which is a big task as there is several people there with their own agendas. Who wants that person dead and why?
At first, I was a bit concerned as I have not read the first book n this series. But it was easy to get into. But for me personally thought that the main subject of the book (Murder) to a long time to get going. There was a lot of build up to this story. Which at times I thought about giving up. But I am glad I carried on. This is interesting read with a whole load of eclectic characters. 3,5 stars from me.
February 5, 2025
Set in atmospheric 1939 Scotland, Only Murders in the Abbey is the second in the series, a delightful discovery for Golden Age mystery fans. Locked room mysteries are tricky to get right and I admit to being pleasantly surprised with the conclusion.
Loch Down Abbey has gone through changes, including function and ownership. A Highland Ball is held with a range of guests and interesting family drama on hand. But things take a sinister turn when murder is on the menu and guests grow wary and suspicious.
Spoiled and entitled characters add zip to the story. I'd hate to have friends like them but they can be fun in books. My favourite character is Mrs. MacBain who is full of common sense and diplomacy, an excellent counter balance. Scotland has a special place in my heart and though there are Scottish details, I longed for more. Still. This was a fun book to dive into headfirst and get lost in.
Loch Down Abbey has gone through changes, including function and ownership. A Highland Ball is held with a range of guests and interesting family drama on hand. But things take a sinister turn when murder is on the menu and guests grow wary and suspicious.
Spoiled and entitled characters add zip to the story. I'd hate to have friends like them but they can be fun in books. My favourite character is Mrs. MacBain who is full of common sense and diplomacy, an excellent counter balance. Scotland has a special place in my heart and though there are Scottish details, I longed for more. Still. This was a fun book to dive into headfirst and get lost in.
February 13, 2025
1930's the aristocratic and the servants run what's now a Horel so they're comedy as wellp as murder.
The morning after the 1st Ball they've organised a body is found. Bit of a downer after a great night for all (well most) I really enjoyed this read a disfunction familyfrom the aristocracy that could make fit a great TV series not a Downton Abbey but a lot of fun. There are some great characters that some you'll love and some you'll hate several extras to watch for and a fantastic storyline with several avenues running from it.
This is a wonderful read and a great whodunit with all the intriguing clues and read herrings the hapless Detective Jarvis and the hotel manager (that's what we call them nowadays or a different fancy title) getting to grips with the case..
So I highly recommend this as a great read if your looking for a murder mystery a bit of humour and an escape from life as an books should be.
The morning after the 1st Ball they've organised a body is found. Bit of a downer after a great night for all (well most) I really enjoyed this read a disfunction familyfrom the aristocracy that could make fit a great TV series not a Downton Abbey but a lot of fun. There are some great characters that some you'll love and some you'll hate several extras to watch for and a fantastic storyline with several avenues running from it.
This is a wonderful read and a great whodunit with all the intriguing clues and read herrings the hapless Detective Jarvis and the hotel manager (that's what we call them nowadays or a different fancy title) getting to grips with the case..
So I highly recommend this as a great read if your looking for a murder mystery a bit of humour and an escape from life as an books should be.
December 16, 2024
The novel takes place at Loch Down Abbey, a former stately home turned hotel, and the mystery and murder at the centre involves the guests and staff who are at the hotel - including the Inverkillen family who used to live at the estate.
While the central mystery to this story was good, I found the pacing of the reveals to be a bit disjointed. I also didn't particularly enjoy the narrative structure, and could find myself confused at times when moving from character perspectives quite suddenly especially as there was a lot of characters to keep track of.
Overall this was an ok read, and one I'd recommend to someone looking for a quick paced historical crime with a Scottish backdrop. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this novel, in exchange for an honest review.
While the central mystery to this story was good, I found the pacing of the reveals to be a bit disjointed. I also didn't particularly enjoy the narrative structure, and could find myself confused at times when moving from character perspectives quite suddenly especially as there was a lot of characters to keep track of.
Overall this was an ok read, and one I'd recommend to someone looking for a quick paced historical crime with a Scottish backdrop. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this novel, in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2025
Loch Down Abbey is now a country hotel run by the estate's former housekeeper, Mrs McBain. The hotel's inaugural highland ball ends with a death in the library, and what follows is a complex classic murder mystery with numerous motives, opportunities, suspects, and a detective who needs the intelligence and people skills of Mrs McBain to solve the crimes. The copious characterisation and scene setting in the early part of this story are worth persevering with as it contains crucial clues and connections. The mystery is twisty, and the setting is vibrant and easy to visualise. The cast of characters has hidden agendas and secrets. Some are unlikeable, but this does not necessarily make them guilty. I like the evocative 1930s setting with insightful social and political observations and the twisty mystery. It's an entertaining story.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
February 25, 2025
1930s Scotland. The snobbery amongst the aristocracy even if they hadn’t a penny to their name hasn’t died down as yet and the Inverkillen clan is not exempt from this trait. Original owners of the Loch Down Abbey now run as a hotel, some of them uninvited guests seem to think they are above all the rest.
Despite the story being one of mystery and murder, foreign spies, theft on an enormous scale and espionage, I found the antics, attitude and behavior of the family to hold my interest more. The utter callousness of Bella, the selfishness of Alastair, the arrogance of the Dowager and the rational brother Ferguson trying to hold a business together and not allow the hard work he and his team have done, go into ruin in a week due to the stupidity, selfishness and avarice of his family.
The story resulting in murders was good but the family intricacies were better.
Despite the story being one of mystery and murder, foreign spies, theft on an enormous scale and espionage, I found the antics, attitude and behavior of the family to hold my interest more. The utter callousness of Bella, the selfishness of Alastair, the arrogance of the Dowager and the rational brother Ferguson trying to hold a business together and not allow the hard work he and his team have done, go into ruin in a week due to the stupidity, selfishness and avarice of his family.
The story resulting in murders was good but the family intricacies were better.
March 24, 2025
Poor. Shoddy research ( since when did Scotland have 'Vicars'?) and the aristocratic Scottish family, and others, seem to have picked up American speech patterns ( 'train station', 'go talk to...', 'go fetch...' ) And the fact of a character's homosexuality is treated as if it's the 2020s, not the 1930s, until said character's sexuality becomes a plot-point, motive-wise. There's also a lot of pro-noun trouble; the reader is left to work out for him/herself just who is speaking. For instance, say a male character finishes speaking. The author will then write, 'he did this...' or 'he did that...' And then the reader discovers 'he' is NOT the person who has just finished speaking, but the person he was talking to! And, a bugbear of mine; in the mini-biographical note on the author, the impression is given that Scotland is somehow 'in' England'. It's not.
January 5, 2025
This is the second book in this cozy crime series set at fictional Loch Down Abbey and set in a beautifully described Scottish village. Having not read the first book the initial worry was that I would not be able to pick this up but despite the vast quantity of characters I was able to do so easily and throughly enjoyed the book.
Well written and told at a good pace I enjoyed the plot and the characters and will be going back to read the first in the series.
Good cozy crime which can be read as a standalone and I will also be looking out for future books in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Well written and told at a good pace I enjoyed the plot and the characters and will be going back to read the first in the series.
Good cozy crime which can be read as a standalone and I will also be looking out for future books in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2025
Loch Down Abbey is full of guests for a Highland Ball. Including several uninvited members of the Inverkillen clan, the Abbey's former residents. Housekeeper Mrs MacBain thinks her biggest challenge will be finding suitable rooms for everyone and keeping the peace at cocktail hour. Until the morning after the ball, when one of the guests is discovered inside the Abbey's library - as dead as a doornail.
The second book in the series & a well written murder mystery. The characters had depth & the pace was good. I do like Mrs MacBain, a part owner of the hotel & housekeeper. There were twists, turns & red herrings & I was kept guessing until the end. I look forward to more in the series
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
The second book in the series & a well written murder mystery. The characters had depth & the pace was good. I do like Mrs MacBain, a part owner of the hotel & housekeeper. There were twists, turns & red herrings & I was kept guessing until the end. I look forward to more in the series
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
March 27, 2025
I read Loch Down Abbey during Covid, and it was a great way to spend some of the long days in quarantine. So when I saw this available for pre order on Apple Books, I was excited. I think this one was better than the first, there was more twists and turns going on in the story. It was definitely an entertaining read. It would have been four stars for me, but whomever edited this book needs to be fired. There were words like “the” and “a” missing throughout the book, “to” in place of “the” and when it should have been “too”. In Part Two, in the chapter Two Days After the Murder, “But I wanted to Colonel to know”. What? The horrible editing job was very distracting. But overall, I enjoyed the story.
August 7, 2025
Starts slowly but builds to a frenzied and complex crescendo and resolution. It could really have done with more character development of the main characters, e.g. Mrs MacBain, Mr Jarvis. Mr Jarvis is really inconsistently depicted, and he would have been funny if he’d been more cleverly drawn and wasn’t a normally functioning detective for most of the book. It should not be described as a humorous book. It’s clearly modeled after an Agatha Christie closed house (hotel) mystery with many candidates for the murderer - but there are too many candidates! It is an interesting depiction of last century British class hierarchies. But I was ready to scream if one more character began a sentence with “Erm…,” British-speak for “Umm.” I swear it appeared on every page.
November 30, 2024
A little longer than it needs to be, but a fine mystery to escape into. Meet a sizeable cast of laughable characters with or without any sense. Then there are the horde of unruly children, secret passages, Mrs. MacBain the intrepid housekeeper, and the spoof of the local constabulary!
Another example of great fun with some obvious and some very sneaky spoofs. A most enjoyable read!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook/PDF copy without TTS from Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley.
Avail Feb 13, 2025 #OnlyMurdersInTheAbbey by Beth Cowan-Erskine #LochDownAbbeyBk2 #NetGalley #HodderFiction #HodderBooks #CozyMystery #HistoricalFun
Another example of great fun with some obvious and some very sneaky spoofs. A most enjoyable read!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook/PDF copy without TTS from Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley.
Avail Feb 13, 2025 #OnlyMurdersInTheAbbey by Beth Cowan-Erskine #LochDownAbbeyBk2 #NetGalley #HodderFiction #HodderBooks #CozyMystery #HistoricalFun
February 4, 2025
What an eclectic mix of characters! Mrs McBain is the main character, a very capable woman who is part owner of the hotel. Then there are the aristocratic members of the family who once owned the estate and some of them still act as though they have servants to run after them. Alongside these are the hotel guests. There is a murder at the beginning but then the reader is given the events leading up to the murder. It is a very complicated affair and I had no idea who the culprit was. I had read the first book but this book could be read as a stand-alone. I did enjoy it, although some characters needed a wake up call as to their current situation and how to behave. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 11, 2025
A me era già piaciuto il libro, questo l'ho trovato ancora più divertente e accattivante.
Misteri e strane figure infestano l'hotel ed ex magione degli Inverkillenn, mentre un ballo epocale è alle porte. Ma preparatevi perché dopo le danze ci sarà anche un omicidio da risolvere.
Tanti personaggi, anche se ho trovato più semplice ricordarmi i vari nomi questa volta, ma se amate le atmosfere di Downton Abbey e i gialli televisivi allora il libro è perfetto per voi. Colpi di scena su colpi di scena e una famiglia contraddistinta da dei componenti uno più fuori di testa dell'altro e un'investigatrice/capo dell'hotel veramente perfetta: Alice McBain spero torni presto sul mio scaffale.
Misteri e strane figure infestano l'hotel ed ex magione degli Inverkillenn, mentre un ballo epocale è alle porte. Ma preparatevi perché dopo le danze ci sarà anche un omicidio da risolvere.
Tanti personaggi, anche se ho trovato più semplice ricordarmi i vari nomi questa volta, ma se amate le atmosfere di Downton Abbey e i gialli televisivi allora il libro è perfetto per voi. Colpi di scena su colpi di scena e una famiglia contraddistinta da dei componenti uno più fuori di testa dell'altro e un'investigatrice/capo dell'hotel veramente perfetta: Alice McBain spero torni presto sul mio scaffale.
December 24, 2024
liked the story a lot. The idea of a family manor turned into a hotel and the whole family coming back was interesting and the story was amusing. I really liked the way the characters were confronted with it and how it showed their development from the first part of the series. They were still as loveable and strange as always and I can imagine some more stories with them. I really liked Mrs McBain and her capability to solve the crime, The policeman Jarvis was a good Dr Watson in a way.
I can recommend this book!
I can recommend this book!
June 19, 2025
Molto bella questa seconda “parte”. L’immensa dimora dei conti Inverkillen è diventata un bellissimo hotel, gestito perfettamente da quelli che erano i precedenti servitori della famiglia. Al centro c’è sempre lei, l’ex governante, brillante e intuitiva. Questa volta deve risolvere un omicidio, un’ospite dell’albergo che viene trovata morta dopo una serata di gala. Da qui pian piano si scoprono molti segreti, e molte vite verranno sconvolte, ma alla fine tutto verrà alla luce.
Ormai affezionata ai personaggi, spero che prossimamente ci potrà essere una nuova avventura.
Ormai affezionata ai personaggi, spero che prossimamente ci potrà essere una nuova avventura.
August 22, 2025
I really liked this and even though this was the 2nd book in a series i think it works well as a standalone. The opening section really gripped me and i loved the wide range of characters in this. They all felt so different in their voices and how they were characterised. I really liked how this was paced and i flew through this. I can't wait to read the first book in the series and any more that are written by Beth Cowan-Erskine.
I recieved this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I recieved this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
December 13, 2024
My review of the first book starts "What a little ray of sunshine this book is.", so you can imagine I rushed to this one.
It has a murder, and quite a bit of guessing from me as to the who did it and why. Everyone and anyone could have.
Murder aside, the highlight of the book is truly the family and the way their lives are tangled, and how the treat each other and those around them.
I don't need a crime to make me come back for them, I'm coming back anyway.
Incredibly good fun.
It has a murder, and quite a bit of guessing from me as to the who did it and why. Everyone and anyone could have.
Murder aside, the highlight of the book is truly the family and the way their lives are tangled, and how the treat each other and those around them.
I don't need a crime to make me come back for them, I'm coming back anyway.
Incredibly good fun.
April 12, 2025
# Loch Down Abbey mystery
A cleverly written mystery set in an old Abbey. There is a murder during a Highland ball. No shortage of suspects emerge. That however isn't the only mystery here there is the hunt for a rare ruby belonging to the Chinese government that several people are looking for. I followed the clues that were thread through the book a red herrings. I wasn't sure who the murder was.
A cleverly written mystery set in an old Abbey. There is a murder during a Highland ball. No shortage of suspects emerge. That however isn't the only mystery here there is the hunt for a rare ruby belonging to the Chinese government that several people are looking for. I followed the clues that were thread through the book a red herrings. I wasn't sure who the murder was.
July 17, 2025
Five shiny starts for a fun, surprising, twisty mystery. I was blown away by all the plot twists that I simply did not see coming, something I crave in a mystery. The characters are fun, funny, and a bit kooky, which added another layer to this well written take. I'm hoping the author will be cranking out another Loch Down tale in less time than it took her to write this second book in the series. No pressure, Ms. Cowan-Erskine, but I sincerely hope you have the next book underway.
March 13, 2025
Murder made fun
This book is the second in a series. It is clever and fast. The characters have more definition than the first book. The twists and turns are frequent and well thought out. I enjoyed this follow up. Needs to be proofread for spelling and grammar. Looking forward to a third book.
This book is the second in a series. It is clever and fast. The characters have more definition than the first book. The twists and turns are frequent and well thought out. I enjoyed this follow up. Needs to be proofread for spelling and grammar. Looking forward to a third book.
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