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Ally McKinley Mystery #1
Murder in the Scottish Highlands
Join Ally McKinley at her cosy little guesthouse in the Scottish Highlands for whisky by the fire, beautiful mountain views and… a murder to solve?
For recently retired Ally McKinley, the tiny village of Locharran is the perfect place to open the guesthouse of her dreams in a lovingly restored old Scottish malthouse. Before long she is making friends with the locals, including Hamish Sinclair, the earl who owns the nearby castle. But things take an unexpected turn when her first paying guest, American tourist Wilbur Carrington, is found sprawled across her cobblestoned courtyard with a dagger in his back…
With the police baffled, Ally’s instincts get the better of her, and she can’t resist launching her own investigation. In no time at all she and her Labrador puppy Flora are on the case, making enquiries over tea and excellent shortbread. She finds that Wilbur, a keen amateur genealogist, was convinced that he was the rightful Earl of Locharran… Even worse, he had plans that would put many people out of their jobs and even their homes.
But which of the locals resorted to murder? The hotel owner furiously trying to save his business? Locharran Castle’s fiercely loyal housekeeper who’d do anything for the earl? Or the earl himself, whose entire way of life was threatened by what Wilbur knew?
Looking for clues, Ally finds a faded photograph in a hidden drawer in Wilbur’s room. Could this be the key to solving the mystery? But when one of her suspects dies in a suspicious accident, Ally realises that things are getting a wee bit too close for comfort… Can she uncover the truth or will a killer get off scot-free?
For recently retired Ally McKinley, the tiny village of Locharran is the perfect place to open the guesthouse of her dreams in a lovingly restored old Scottish malthouse. Before long she is making friends with the locals, including Hamish Sinclair, the earl who owns the nearby castle. But things take an unexpected turn when her first paying guest, American tourist Wilbur Carrington, is found sprawled across her cobblestoned courtyard with a dagger in his back…
With the police baffled, Ally’s instincts get the better of her, and she can’t resist launching her own investigation. In no time at all she and her Labrador puppy Flora are on the case, making enquiries over tea and excellent shortbread. She finds that Wilbur, a keen amateur genealogist, was convinced that he was the rightful Earl of Locharran… Even worse, he had plans that would put many people out of their jobs and even their homes.
But which of the locals resorted to murder? The hotel owner furiously trying to save his business? Locharran Castle’s fiercely loyal housekeeper who’d do anything for the earl? Or the earl himself, whose entire way of life was threatened by what Wilbur knew?
Looking for clues, Ally finds a faded photograph in a hidden drawer in Wilbur’s room. Could this be the key to solving the mystery? But when one of her suspects dies in a suspicious accident, Ally realises that things are getting a wee bit too close for comfort… Can she uncover the truth or will a killer get off scot-free?
246 pages, Paperback
First published August 28, 2024
2606 people are currently reading
2197 people want to read
About the author
Dee MacDonald
16 books264 followersThe Runaway Wife is Dee’s first (published) novel but in fact she wrote her very first book – at around seven years of age! This was a love story which she duly illustrated before sewing all the pages together up one side. Writing was what she ‘was good at’ in school and she won several essay competitions, but then life got in the way and she didn’t pick up a pen again until after retirement.
Dee left Scotland and headed for London at the beginning of the swinging sixties. After typing her way round the West End she became an air stewardess on long haul routes with BA (then BOAC) for eight years. After that she did market research at Heathrow for both the government statistics and for BA, she became a sales rep and was the receptionist at the Thames Television Studios in Teddington when they had the franchise.
She then ran a small B&B for ten years in Cornwall, where she lives with her husband. Dee has one son and two grandsons who live locally.
Her second book, The Getaway Girls, will be published in July.
Dee left Scotland and headed for London at the beginning of the swinging sixties. After typing her way round the West End she became an air stewardess on long haul routes with BA (then BOAC) for eight years. After that she did market research at Heathrow for both the government statistics and for BA, she became a sales rep and was the receptionist at the Thames Television Studios in Teddington when they had the franchise.
She then ran a small B&B for ten years in Cornwall, where she lives with her husband. Dee has one son and two grandsons who live locally.
Her second book, The Getaway Girls, will be published in July.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
November 11, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up **
🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴
Murder in the Scottish Highlands is the 1st-book in the all-new Ally McKinley Mystery series.
This series is set in the, you guessed it, Scottish Highlands, and follows recently retired, Ally McKinley, who fell in love with the small village of Locharran while on holiday. Shortly thereafter, she purchased the dilapidated old malthouse to transform it into a B&B.
After an extensive renovation, the B&B has now opened and Ally is slowly adjusting to life in Locharran. It's quite a change of pace for her in comparison to bustling-Edinburgh.
Her new life is up-ended though when her first paying customer, an American tourist, Wilbur Carrington, is found dead with a dagger in his back in the Malthouse courtyard.
Murder is not good for business. Ally needs to get this mystery cleared up and quickly if she has any hope of actually making the Malthouse B&B a success.
The local police seem baffled, so Ally decides to take matters into her own hands. As a retired television researcher, Ally is used to digging deep to get answers. She doesn't plan to stop until she figures out the truth behind Carrington's murder.
This was so cute. IMO, a great start to a new Cozy Mystery series. I loved how quickly MacDonald kicked it off, delivering us a body in the 1st-Chapter, which was great as it left so much time for solving the mystery.
I also really enjoyed Ally as a main character. She's smart and resourceful. Additionally, I found her reasons for being there and her motivations behind the B&B understandable.
The setting, as well, was really fun. I felt like MacDonald succeeded in bringing all the small village vibes. Even the landscapes were described beautifully. I had no issues picturing where we were and I was loving every minute of it.
It was occasionally wonky in places, but overall, it kept me smiling and engaged throughout.
I feel like, as with many Cozy Mystery series, I will enjoy each consecutive book more and more as I become attached to this quirky cast of characters. There's a lot of room for this series to grow. I'm looking forward to it!
Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I love getting in on a Cozy Mystery series early, and I def plan to stick with this one!
🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴🥃🏴
Murder in the Scottish Highlands is the 1st-book in the all-new Ally McKinley Mystery series.
This series is set in the, you guessed it, Scottish Highlands, and follows recently retired, Ally McKinley, who fell in love with the small village of Locharran while on holiday. Shortly thereafter, she purchased the dilapidated old malthouse to transform it into a B&B.
After an extensive renovation, the B&B has now opened and Ally is slowly adjusting to life in Locharran. It's quite a change of pace for her in comparison to bustling-Edinburgh.
Her new life is up-ended though when her first paying customer, an American tourist, Wilbur Carrington, is found dead with a dagger in his back in the Malthouse courtyard.
Murder is not good for business. Ally needs to get this mystery cleared up and quickly if she has any hope of actually making the Malthouse B&B a success.
The local police seem baffled, so Ally decides to take matters into her own hands. As a retired television researcher, Ally is used to digging deep to get answers. She doesn't plan to stop until she figures out the truth behind Carrington's murder.
This was so cute. IMO, a great start to a new Cozy Mystery series. I loved how quickly MacDonald kicked it off, delivering us a body in the 1st-Chapter, which was great as it left so much time for solving the mystery.
I also really enjoyed Ally as a main character. She's smart and resourceful. Additionally, I found her reasons for being there and her motivations behind the B&B understandable.
The setting, as well, was really fun. I felt like MacDonald succeeded in bringing all the small village vibes. Even the landscapes were described beautifully. I had no issues picturing where we were and I was loving every minute of it.
It was occasionally wonky in places, but overall, it kept me smiling and engaged throughout.
I feel like, as with many Cozy Mystery series, I will enjoy each consecutive book more and more as I become attached to this quirky cast of characters. There's a lot of room for this series to grow. I'm looking forward to it!
Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I love getting in on a Cozy Mystery series early, and I def plan to stick with this one!
September 10, 2024
EXCERPT: Ally tapped gently. Then, getting no answer, knocked more loudly. 'You OK, Mr Carrington?'
No response. She opened the door.
The room was empty. The bed had not been slept in, the curtains had not been closed and the complimentary tea tray had not been touched.
Bewildered, Ally was making her way back towards the door when she heard a loud scream from somewhere below, outside at the back of the building, where the old malthouse outbuildings - now her laundry room and shed - surrounded a cobblestoned courtyard. Leaning out of the window, which overlooked the courtyard, Ally spotted Morag in her familiar purple anorak, her handover her mouth, staring in horror at the prone figure spreadeagled at her feet. Straight away Ally recognised his distinctive greying-red hair, and the newly acquired Barbour and tartan scarf. What drew her eye most especially, however, was the horn-handled dagger protruding from the centre of his back.
Mr Carrington's back.
Wilbur S. Carrington as he liked to sign his name.
ABOUT 'MURDER IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS': For recently retired Ally McKinley, the tiny village of Locharran is the perfect place to open the guesthouse of her dreams in a lovingly restored old Scottish malthouse. Before long she is making friends with the locals, including Hamish Sinclair, the earl who owns the nearby castle. But things take an unexpected turn when her first paying guest, American tourist Wilbur Carrington, is found sprawled across her cobblestoned courtyard with a dagger in his back…
With the police baffled, Ally’s instincts get the better of her, and she can’t resist launching her own investigation. In no time at all she and her Labrador puppy Flora are on the case, making enquiries over tea and excellent shortbread. She finds that Wilbur, a keen amateur genealogist, was convinced that he was the rightful Earl of Locharran… Even worse, he had plans that would put many people out of their jobs and even their homes.
But which of the locals resorted to murder? The hotel owner furiously trying to save his business? Locharran Castle’s fiercely loyal housekeeper who’d do anything for the earl? Or the earl himself, whose entire way of life was threatened by what Wilbur knew?
Looking for clues, Ally finds a faded photograph in a hidden drawer in Wilbur’s room. Could this be the key to solving the mystery? But when one of her suspects dies in a suspicious accident, Ally realises that things are getting a wee bit too close for comfort… Can she uncover the truth, or will a killer get off scot-free?
MY THOUGHTS: Murder in the Scottish Highlands is the first in a new series by Dee MacDonald featuring the newly retired Ally McKinley. Her children think her quite mad - moving to the middle of nowhere and starting a business at her age! Even Ally occasionally wonders at her sanity in coming to a remote place where everyone seems to know everyone else's business and the locals swing like a pendulum from welcoming to downright hostile in the blink of an eye.
As this is the first in a series, there is a lot of getting to know the characters; and characters they are. There's a kind but lecherous laird, the acid-tongued Queenie and her downtrodden sister Bessie who run the general store, a lovely black labrador pup named Flora, and a handsome vet, amongst others.
This is not a town which greets strangers with open arms. Quite the opposite. So when a brash American arrives at the B&B upsetting the locals with his ridiculous claims, is it any wonder he winds up dead?
I enjoyed this cosy-mystery with its vast pool of suspects. There are many humorous, but not silly, moments and the plot flows well. I like Ally's character and that she doesn't over-rate her own abilities and put herself into dangerous situations. This is a well thought out and constructed novel.
I enjoyed this author's Kate Palmer series, and the Ally McKinley series shows promise of being every bit as good. I'll definitely be reading the next book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.2
#MurderintheScottishHighlands #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Dee MacDonald grew up on an isolated farm in the Scottish Highlands. An only child, she’d often get fed up with reading and listening to a crackling radio, so her mother encouraged her to draw and to write ‘wee stories’, which she’d sew together into little books.
As an adult, her working life took her all over the globe as an air stewardess, into the world of TV, where she worked in Market Research and Sales, and then into hospitality, running B&Bs for over ten years.
After first finding her love of writing as a little girl, Dee became a published author of cosy crime and women’s fiction in her seventies. She lives by the sea in Cornwall with her husband, and has one son and two grandsons.
DISCLSORE: Thank you to Bookouture via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Murder in the Scottish Highlands by Dee MacDonald for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
No response. She opened the door.
The room was empty. The bed had not been slept in, the curtains had not been closed and the complimentary tea tray had not been touched.
Bewildered, Ally was making her way back towards the door when she heard a loud scream from somewhere below, outside at the back of the building, where the old malthouse outbuildings - now her laundry room and shed - surrounded a cobblestoned courtyard. Leaning out of the window, which overlooked the courtyard, Ally spotted Morag in her familiar purple anorak, her handover her mouth, staring in horror at the prone figure spreadeagled at her feet. Straight away Ally recognised his distinctive greying-red hair, and the newly acquired Barbour and tartan scarf. What drew her eye most especially, however, was the horn-handled dagger protruding from the centre of his back.
Mr Carrington's back.
Wilbur S. Carrington as he liked to sign his name.
ABOUT 'MURDER IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS': For recently retired Ally McKinley, the tiny village of Locharran is the perfect place to open the guesthouse of her dreams in a lovingly restored old Scottish malthouse. Before long she is making friends with the locals, including Hamish Sinclair, the earl who owns the nearby castle. But things take an unexpected turn when her first paying guest, American tourist Wilbur Carrington, is found sprawled across her cobblestoned courtyard with a dagger in his back…
With the police baffled, Ally’s instincts get the better of her, and she can’t resist launching her own investigation. In no time at all she and her Labrador puppy Flora are on the case, making enquiries over tea and excellent shortbread. She finds that Wilbur, a keen amateur genealogist, was convinced that he was the rightful Earl of Locharran… Even worse, he had plans that would put many people out of their jobs and even their homes.
But which of the locals resorted to murder? The hotel owner furiously trying to save his business? Locharran Castle’s fiercely loyal housekeeper who’d do anything for the earl? Or the earl himself, whose entire way of life was threatened by what Wilbur knew?
Looking for clues, Ally finds a faded photograph in a hidden drawer in Wilbur’s room. Could this be the key to solving the mystery? But when one of her suspects dies in a suspicious accident, Ally realises that things are getting a wee bit too close for comfort… Can she uncover the truth, or will a killer get off scot-free?
MY THOUGHTS: Murder in the Scottish Highlands is the first in a new series by Dee MacDonald featuring the newly retired Ally McKinley. Her children think her quite mad - moving to the middle of nowhere and starting a business at her age! Even Ally occasionally wonders at her sanity in coming to a remote place where everyone seems to know everyone else's business and the locals swing like a pendulum from welcoming to downright hostile in the blink of an eye.
As this is the first in a series, there is a lot of getting to know the characters; and characters they are. There's a kind but lecherous laird, the acid-tongued Queenie and her downtrodden sister Bessie who run the general store, a lovely black labrador pup named Flora, and a handsome vet, amongst others.
This is not a town which greets strangers with open arms. Quite the opposite. So when a brash American arrives at the B&B upsetting the locals with his ridiculous claims, is it any wonder he winds up dead?
I enjoyed this cosy-mystery with its vast pool of suspects. There are many humorous, but not silly, moments and the plot flows well. I like Ally's character and that she doesn't over-rate her own abilities and put herself into dangerous situations. This is a well thought out and constructed novel.
I enjoyed this author's Kate Palmer series, and the Ally McKinley series shows promise of being every bit as good. I'll definitely be reading the next book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.2
#MurderintheScottishHighlands #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Dee MacDonald grew up on an isolated farm in the Scottish Highlands. An only child, she’d often get fed up with reading and listening to a crackling radio, so her mother encouraged her to draw and to write ‘wee stories’, which she’d sew together into little books.
As an adult, her working life took her all over the globe as an air stewardess, into the world of TV, where she worked in Market Research and Sales, and then into hospitality, running B&Bs for over ten years.
After first finding her love of writing as a little girl, Dee became a published author of cosy crime and women’s fiction in her seventies. She lives by the sea in Cornwall with her husband, and has one son and two grandsons.
DISCLSORE: Thank you to Bookouture via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Murder in the Scottish Highlands by Dee MacDonald for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 2, 2024
This is the first book in a new series which introduces us to Ally McKinley, recently retired and now starting up her own business in the Scottish Highlands. She has decided to put all her funds into converting an old Scottish malthouse into a B&B and has just started taking guests when one of them is found dead in the courtyard.
When it is discovered that the victim has been murdered Ally decides to help solve the crime as quickly as possible before local gossip ruins her chances of success with the B&B. There are lots of red herrings and many well written and interesting characters. Ally is smart and sensible and she already has a potential romantic interest in the form of a local vet. A brand new labrador puppy called Flora completes the picture.
An excellent start to the series and I will be happy to read more.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
When it is discovered that the victim has been murdered Ally decides to help solve the crime as quickly as possible before local gossip ruins her chances of success with the B&B. There are lots of red herrings and many well written and interesting characters. Ally is smart and sensible and she already has a potential romantic interest in the form of a local vet. A brand new labrador puppy called Flora completes the picture.
An excellent start to the series and I will be happy to read more.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 24, 2024
Ally McKinley had left her home in Edinburgh, travelling to the small hamlet of Locharran and the Auld Malthouse she'd purchased, turning it into a B&B. Her guests were light on at the moment, but she hoped things would improve when the summer months arrived. But when her daily help, Morag, arrived one morning, Ally was startled by a loud scream, which she saw was from Morag when she looked out the window. Beside her was the body of one of her guests, the American man who'd been causing disruptions in the community.
As the local police officer, Rigby, attempted to discover the killer's identity, Ally felt sure she would do a better job. The townsfolk were disturbed by the thought of a killer among them, and when a second person was killed, Ally knew she needed to help Rigby so they could all go back to normal. But would she discover who the culprit was?
Murder in the Scottish Highlands is the 1st in An Ally McKinley Mystery series by Dee MacDonald and I enjoyed it very much. I loved Ally's new puppy, Flora; Hamish was a fun character, and Ross, the vet, was a lovely guy. Ally is a perfect MC with her B&B in Locharran, Scotland; even gossipy Queenie and her sister Bessie are likeable characters. I'm looking forward to Ally's next adventure. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
As the local police officer, Rigby, attempted to discover the killer's identity, Ally felt sure she would do a better job. The townsfolk were disturbed by the thought of a killer among them, and when a second person was killed, Ally knew she needed to help Rigby so they could all go back to normal. But would she discover who the culprit was?
Murder in the Scottish Highlands is the 1st in An Ally McKinley Mystery series by Dee MacDonald and I enjoyed it very much. I loved Ally's new puppy, Flora; Hamish was a fun character, and Ross, the vet, was a lovely guy. Ally is a perfect MC with her B&B in Locharran, Scotland; even gossipy Queenie and her sister Bessie are likeable characters. I'm looking forward to Ally's next adventure. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2024
(Rounded down from 3.5 stars)
Murder in the Scottish Highlands is a good start to a new cozy mystery series set in (obviously) the Scottish Highlands. It features a 60-something widow, Ally, who decides on a new chapter in her life and moves from Edinburgh after having had an old “malthouse” renovated into a small Bed & Breakfast in a small village.
The mystery is a good one - who killed the American who was staying in her guesthouse? He had been blabbing about him doing research that showed he’s the real Earl and that he had plans to turn the entire Earl’s estate into a sort of theme park, which would mean locals losing their jobs for the current Earl as well as turning out the Earl’s long-term tenants. So there are a lot of people who might want this guy dead!
Ally’s background is in doing research for a TV station in Edinburgh and she decides (of course) to get involved because she doesn’t think the local detective is doing enough to solve the case.
I enjoyed all the side characters and the Highland atmosphere (it’s a place I’d dearly love to visit one day). The amount and speed of the local gossip was pretty amazing to this city girl.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Murder in the Scottish Highlands is a good start to a new cozy mystery series set in (obviously) the Scottish Highlands. It features a 60-something widow, Ally, who decides on a new chapter in her life and moves from Edinburgh after having had an old “malthouse” renovated into a small Bed & Breakfast in a small village.
The mystery is a good one - who killed the American who was staying in her guesthouse? He had been blabbing about him doing research that showed he’s the real Earl and that he had plans to turn the entire Earl’s estate into a sort of theme park, which would mean locals losing their jobs for the current Earl as well as turning out the Earl’s long-term tenants. So there are a lot of people who might want this guy dead!
Ally’s background is in doing research for a TV station in Edinburgh and she decides (of course) to get involved because she doesn’t think the local detective is doing enough to solve the case.
I enjoyed all the side characters and the Highland atmosphere (it’s a place I’d dearly love to visit one day). The amount and speed of the local gossip was pretty amazing to this city girl.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
September 2, 2024
Murder in the Scottish Highlands is a fun read. Ally is a likeable main character and the imagery of the delightful Scottish village is superb.
As this is the first in a series there is lots about getting to know the supporting characters as Dee MacDonald introduces each of the residents of the village and how they interact with each other.
There are a mixed lot of characters who all had a good reason for wanting the tourist dead.
I did feel like the murder investigation slowed through the middle of the book until the end when it was all wrapped up very quickly.
Lots of humour, cups of tea, local gossip and the introduction of a love interest for Ally make this a fun and entertaining read. I finished this eager for the next book.
As this is the first in a series there is lots about getting to know the supporting characters as Dee MacDonald introduces each of the residents of the village and how they interact with each other.
There are a mixed lot of characters who all had a good reason for wanting the tourist dead.
I did feel like the murder investigation slowed through the middle of the book until the end when it was all wrapped up very quickly.
Lots of humour, cups of tea, local gossip and the introduction of a love interest for Ally make this a fun and entertaining read. I finished this eager for the next book.
August 24, 2024
Dee Macdonald has ( inc me ) a big loyal following and her Kate Atkinson books were going to be hard to follow up, of course though this first book in a new series is just as good, as we knew would be
We meet Ally who has moved to Locharran and set up a B and B, no sooner is she having paying guests when one is murdered and body found in her backyard, Ally then becomes a sleuth as she tries to solve the murder and what follows next in the story
As always there are a plethora of wonderful characters, including the thin lipped village store owner and her sister who thrive on gossip, Morag the fiesty cleaner and the local Earl who is the village Casanova, brilliantly written and I pretty much loved every character met
Very nicely set up for a new series and Ally and the village are both going to be new favourites with readers, old and new alike
Such a good author who writes books to make you remember why you enjoy reading so much
We meet Ally who has moved to Locharran and set up a B and B, no sooner is she having paying guests when one is murdered and body found in her backyard, Ally then becomes a sleuth as she tries to solve the murder and what follows next in the story
As always there are a plethora of wonderful characters, including the thin lipped village store owner and her sister who thrive on gossip, Morag the fiesty cleaner and the local Earl who is the village Casanova, brilliantly written and I pretty much loved every character met
Very nicely set up for a new series and Ally and the village are both going to be new favourites with readers, old and new alike
Such a good author who writes books to make you remember why you enjoy reading so much
August 29, 2024
A cosy mystery set in the Scottish Highlands. Had me thinking of Hamish Macbeth and rugged scenery. Also had me thinking eccentric characters, small towns that love gossip and hate incomers, and many mentions of cups of tea. Basically everything I imagined ended up in the pages of this book.
Dee MacDonald has certainly gone all out on the cosy elements in this book. There's a great cast of characters and they do have that Scottish Highlands feel. By the end of this book, you will feel like you've known many of the characters for years. A good sign, especially if we expect to see more books in this series. The book is also filled with good-natured humour and believable characters, giving this story a truly comfortable vibe that is immediately relaxing.
The mystery was fine. I was happy following protagonist, Ally, as she donned her amateur sleuth hat to solve the crime. One part of this did not make sense to me, that Ally would welcome the help of two guests in her B&B in the investigation. I'm trying to understand how it would be a good idea - given the feeling the locals have towards incomers and that the guests were so closely linked to victim. It felt a strange addition to the plot, and not something that made the plot stronger.
Still, this ticks a lot of cosy mystery boxes for me. And I'm wondering what will be in store for Ally next.
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Dee MacDonald has certainly gone all out on the cosy elements in this book. There's a great cast of characters and they do have that Scottish Highlands feel. By the end of this book, you will feel like you've known many of the characters for years. A good sign, especially if we expect to see more books in this series. The book is also filled with good-natured humour and believable characters, giving this story a truly comfortable vibe that is immediately relaxing.
The mystery was fine. I was happy following protagonist, Ally, as she donned her amateur sleuth hat to solve the crime. One part of this did not make sense to me, that Ally would welcome the help of two guests in her B&B in the investigation. I'm trying to understand how it would be a good idea - given the feeling the locals have towards incomers and that the guests were so closely linked to victim. It felt a strange addition to the plot, and not something that made the plot stronger.
Still, this ticks a lot of cosy mystery boxes for me. And I'm wondering what will be in store for Ally next.
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2024
The writing of the book was smooth and easy to follow and the mystery itself was good, though I did not like the characters. They were all one dimensional with no growth throughout the book.
I can understand the fascination with Mrs. Maple but I don't understand the concept of making your main character so old, if you want them to run about, and be in accidents. Ally also doesn't seem to have a lot for financial sense, and spends a lot of money on things like paintings and dog when she is trying to stay afloat. Also what is the infatuation with Blue eyes.
The character of Hamish seems a little too much everything, playboy at the age of being a grandfather (no, I am not an ageist, but it was just over the top), too brazen and too pushy.
The women of the highlands also seem to have nothing to do except gossip (again I understand it's a small town) and have no character whatsoever, and mostly just want a guy for themselves or interested in who is sleeping with whom.
All the men in the book are so full of themselves that they think women can't do anything beyond cook, clean and manage home and look down on them if they try to solve a crime. I would have understood this thinking if the book was set in the 1800s maybe, but not in this time and age. I was really put off when Ross asked Ally, "Are you one of these independent, feminist-type women?" when she wanted to pay for herself.
Another thing I disliked was the continuous promotion of pedigree dogs. Ally wanted a dog so that she could feel safe and also have walks, but instead of trying to adopt one, she went to buy one.
Unfortunately this was not a book for me.
I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I can understand the fascination with Mrs. Maple but I don't understand the concept of making your main character so old, if you want them to run about, and be in accidents. Ally also doesn't seem to have a lot for financial sense, and spends a lot of money on things like paintings and dog when she is trying to stay afloat. Also what is the infatuation with Blue eyes.
The character of Hamish seems a little too much everything, playboy at the age of being a grandfather (no, I am not an ageist, but it was just over the top), too brazen and too pushy.
The women of the highlands also seem to have nothing to do except gossip (again I understand it's a small town) and have no character whatsoever, and mostly just want a guy for themselves or interested in who is sleeping with whom.
All the men in the book are so full of themselves that they think women can't do anything beyond cook, clean and manage home and look down on them if they try to solve a crime. I would have understood this thinking if the book was set in the 1800s maybe, but not in this time and age. I was really put off when Ross asked Ally, "Are you one of these independent, feminist-type women?" when she wanted to pay for herself.
Another thing I disliked was the continuous promotion of pedigree dogs. Ally wanted a dog so that she could feel safe and also have walks, but instead of trying to adopt one, she went to buy one.
Unfortunately this was not a book for me.
I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 7, 2024
It was a cosy read, but nothing extraordinary.
The book dives in the story (murder) right away, on the first chapter. The setting of the story is cute - a bed & breakfast in an old malthouse, near a remote village in the Scottish Highlands (with a bonus : a ghost story - that unfortunatly isn’t used in the story at all).
The writing was sometimes a bit too oldschool for me (page 51 : « was there a Mrs Rigby to ensure he had breakfast before he ventured out to do his sleuthing each day » … is Detective Rigby a little baby that needs a woman to feed him ???) and a bit cliché (The American = entitled and rude man that wants to turn the village into a theme park).
The middle of the book is quite slow as nothing new is happening regarding the murder investigation.
Also, and that’s the animal rights activist in me speaking but … when Ally wanted to get a dog, why not go to a shelter instead of a kennel ? Why did she specifically want a pure bread Labrador puppy ? I mean, if she wanted protection, why a puppy then ?That’s not a great image, when books have the power to change the narrative on things like that.
Finally, the murderer’s identity was pretty easy to guess.
Despite everything, I overall enjoyed reading it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book dives in the story (murder) right away, on the first chapter. The setting of the story is cute - a bed & breakfast in an old malthouse, near a remote village in the Scottish Highlands (with a bonus : a ghost story - that unfortunatly isn’t used in the story at all).
The writing was sometimes a bit too oldschool for me (page 51 : « was there a Mrs Rigby to ensure he had breakfast before he ventured out to do his sleuthing each day » … is Detective Rigby a little baby that needs a woman to feed him ???) and a bit cliché (The American = entitled and rude man that wants to turn the village into a theme park).
The middle of the book is quite slow as nothing new is happening regarding the murder investigation.
Also, and that’s the animal rights activist in me speaking but … when Ally wanted to get a dog, why not go to a shelter instead of a kennel ? Why did she specifically want a pure bread Labrador puppy ? I mean, if she wanted protection, why a puppy then ?That’s not a great image, when books have the power to change the narrative on things like that.
Finally, the murderer’s identity was pretty easy to guess.
Despite everything, I overall enjoyed reading it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2024
Ally is a sixty-something woman who used to be a researcher for television programs, is now looking for a new adventure by turning an old malthouse into a bed and breakfast. Her first customer, an American man claiming to be the true heir to the earldom of Locharron, turns up dead and Ally finds herself in the middle of it. Can she trust the police to find who murdered her guest? Or will she have to put on a detective hat and find out for herself?
Today was a rainy day, and I finished this cozy book in one sitting! I loved all the side characters in the book and Ally. It made me think how quaint it would be to own a B&B set in the Scottish countryside (minus the murder and possible ghost, ha!). I’m interested to read more books about Ally and Locharron and would love to find out more about the mysterious B&B.
It was pretty easy to figure out who was behind the murder(s) but it was still a fun read! 3.5 stars, rounding it up to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Today was a rainy day, and I finished this cozy book in one sitting! I loved all the side characters in the book and Ally. It made me think how quaint it would be to own a B&B set in the Scottish countryside (minus the murder and possible ghost, ha!). I’m interested to read more books about Ally and Locharron and would love to find out more about the mysterious B&B.
It was pretty easy to figure out who was behind the murder(s) but it was still a fun read! 3.5 stars, rounding it up to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2024
Received this book from NetGalley.
Cute, cozy mystery. Ally is in her 60s, opens up a B&B, discovers an American guest has been killed and sets out to help find the murderer. A lot of characters who could be suspects, felt like the reveal was good and made sense, cute interactions throughout.
There really wasn’t much growth in any character, and a little conflict point near the end (someone finding out that Ally was listing out suspects) didn’t feel needed or even resolved well, didn’t find myself dying to know what happened, but overall enjoyed this read.
Cute, cozy mystery. Ally is in her 60s, opens up a B&B, discovers an American guest has been killed and sets out to help find the murderer. A lot of characters who could be suspects, felt like the reveal was good and made sense, cute interactions throughout.
There really wasn’t much growth in any character, and a little conflict point near the end (someone finding out that Ally was listing out suspects) didn’t feel needed or even resolved well, didn’t find myself dying to know what happened, but overall enjoyed this read.
April 20, 2025
Ally is a 60-something-year-old woman who upends her life in Edinburgh to move to tiny Locharran in the Scottish Highlands and open a B&B in the old malthouse located on the estate (like the rest of the town) of the Earl of Locharran, Hamish Sinclair. She has her first paying guests in an older, English couple, and an American, Wilbur Carrington, who is investigating his Scottish roots -- and possibly his being the rightful Earl of Locharran? Ally's cleaning lady finds Wilbur with a knife in his back outside the B&B.
This is sure gonna' affect Ally's brand-new business! Of course, her kids back in Edinburgh are concerned for her safety as well. Along with the lecherous earl's attention to Ally, the murder at the local B&B makes Ally the intense focus of local gossip, so this spurs her into attempting to solve the murder herself, as the local gendarmes don't seem to be having much luck.
So...whodunnit? As soon as more folks showed up on the scene, renting rooms for Ally, the identity of the murderer(s?) became more clear. I still enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery; the new lab puppy; and the townfolk, even though this "Scottish" mystery was obviously written for an American audience w/ many stereotypes thrown in. 4 stars.
This is sure gonna' affect Ally's brand-new business! Of course, her kids back in Edinburgh are concerned for her safety as well. Along with the lecherous earl's attention to Ally, the murder at the local B&B makes Ally the intense focus of local gossip, so this spurs her into attempting to solve the murder herself, as the local gendarmes don't seem to be having much luck.
So...whodunnit? As soon as more folks showed up on the scene, renting rooms for Ally, the identity of the murderer(s?) became more clear. I still enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery; the new lab puppy; and the townfolk, even though this "Scottish" mystery was obviously written for an American audience w/ many stereotypes thrown in. 4 stars.
Want to read
August 7, 2025Mood/Seasonal Reading: April
January 9, 2025
Simple story, terrible ending
This is good just for a rainy weekend read.
The story is interesting and quite simple with no real depth to it. The
characters are simply sketched in, and not likely to be remembered a week
after reading.
The ending is, in my opinion, a total mess, coming without any foreshadowing
and seemingly written in a hurry.
This is good just for a rainy weekend read.
The story is interesting and quite simple with no real depth to it. The
characters are simply sketched in, and not likely to be remembered a week
after reading.
The ending is, in my opinion, a total mess, coming without any foreshadowing
and seemingly written in a hurry.
July 10, 2024
3 stars! When I saw the title of this book, I immediately requested in on NetGalley! It sounded right up my alley - I love Scotland and cozy murder mysteries. Then I read the description because I love Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and was hoping for something similar.
Overall, I think this does deliver as a cozy murder mystery. Ally McKinley retires to the Scottish Highlands and opens up a bed & breakfast. One of her guests from America, Wilbur, has a supposed claim to the Earldom of Locharran. Wilbur suddenly is murdered outside of Ally's B&B! So Ally, starts to investigate! Did the current Earl kill him? Did any of the townsfolk who rely on the Earldom kill him?
I thought the premise was good, but I found other elements of the story (the main character and the dialogue) silly and a little ridiculous at times. If you're looking for a quick, light, cozy murder mystery - this works! If you're looking for something with more substance or a hard to solve murder, this may miss the mark.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for the eARC!
Overall, I think this does deliver as a cozy murder mystery. Ally McKinley retires to the Scottish Highlands and opens up a bed & breakfast. One of her guests from America, Wilbur, has a supposed claim to the Earldom of Locharran. Wilbur suddenly is murdered outside of Ally's B&B! So Ally, starts to investigate! Did the current Earl kill him? Did any of the townsfolk who rely on the Earldom kill him?
I thought the premise was good, but I found other elements of the story (the main character and the dialogue) silly and a little ridiculous at times. If you're looking for a quick, light, cozy murder mystery - this works! If you're looking for something with more substance or a hard to solve murder, this may miss the mark.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for the eARC!
June 3, 2024
This is a fun, light cozy mystery that kept me entertained.
Ally is living her dream in the tiny village of Locharran, where she lovingly restored an old Scottish malthouse into a unique bed and breakfast.
An untimely death sends her plans into a downward spiral, and now Ally must investigate to save her dream.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
Ally is living her dream in the tiny village of Locharran, where she lovingly restored an old Scottish malthouse into a unique bed and breakfast.
An untimely death sends her plans into a downward spiral, and now Ally must investigate to save her dream.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
August 12, 2025
3.5 stars.
Predictable murder mystery storyline but setting in the Scottish Highlands gives it extra points.
Predictable murder mystery storyline but setting in the Scottish Highlands gives it extra points.
September 2, 2024
love a cozy mystery and one that is set in a part of the world that my heart longs to see, it's an immediate yes for me
Ally is a recently retired widow and has decided to relocate to the Scottish Highlands to convert and old malt house into a B& B. However, she finds her dream of a peaceful life in the country quickly shattered when a guest at the inn is found murdered soon after opening.
Ally then finds herself an amateur sleuth trying to figure out "whodunnit" along with the help of the eccentric people of the town, some of which are, of course, suspects, and she also finds herself with a potential love interest along the way.
This was filled with loads of good natured humor and characters that you feel like you've met before. which is a good feeling for ones that are to be part of a series. It's comforting and relaxing. There were moments that it dragged and thr murderer was fairly easy to predict, but overall this ticked the cozy mystery boxes for me and I'm looking forward to continuing the series Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
Ally is a recently retired widow and has decided to relocate to the Scottish Highlands to convert and old malt house into a B& B. However, she finds her dream of a peaceful life in the country quickly shattered when a guest at the inn is found murdered soon after opening.
Ally then finds herself an amateur sleuth trying to figure out "whodunnit" along with the help of the eccentric people of the town, some of which are, of course, suspects, and she also finds herself with a potential love interest along the way.
This was filled with loads of good natured humor and characters that you feel like you've met before. which is a good feeling for ones that are to be part of a series. It's comforting and relaxing. There were moments that it dragged and thr murderer was fairly easy to predict, but overall this ticked the cozy mystery boxes for me and I'm looking forward to continuing the series Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
September 21, 2024
Really loved this cozy mystery! The characters are so fun and likable. The murder mystery was well-crafted. There’s a puppy!!! I’ve already pre-ordered the next book in the series. Can’t wait!!!
October 25, 2024
**My thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advanced review copy via NetGalley**
3.5 stars
An engaging cosy mystery that avoids much of the genre’s cutesiness but maintains all its charm.
Ally McKinley has opened a bed and breakfast in a historic malthouse in the Scottish Highlands, but her peaceful working retirement is interrupted when one of her guests is murdered. Ally, a retired television researcher and cheerfully independent widow, is a fun and capable, yet practical, protagonist to follow.
The murder mystery itself was nothing special, but in a cosy, it’s really the vibes I’m interested in. The Highland village is a picturesque setting populated with genuinely interesting and not-too-quirky side characters, who I think would be fun to catch up with in later series installments.
Overall, a solid first entry into a series.
3.5 stars
An engaging cosy mystery that avoids much of the genre’s cutesiness but maintains all its charm.
Ally McKinley has opened a bed and breakfast in a historic malthouse in the Scottish Highlands, but her peaceful working retirement is interrupted when one of her guests is murdered. Ally, a retired television researcher and cheerfully independent widow, is a fun and capable, yet practical, protagonist to follow.
The murder mystery itself was nothing special, but in a cosy, it’s really the vibes I’m interested in. The Highland village is a picturesque setting populated with genuinely interesting and not-too-quirky side characters, who I think would be fun to catch up with in later series installments.
Overall, a solid first entry into a series.
October 30, 2025
Most of the time I was like “well alright I guess ok”. And that says it’s all
August 19, 2024
Ally McKinley opens a bed and breakfast in a small village outside Inverness. Only a few months go by when all of a sudden someone is murdered outside. She tries to solve it with the help of others to figure out why this happened (here of all places) where nothing like this happens. The murder happens quickly, within the first chapter of the book and while cozy, it takes some time for Ally to start investigating. She works with other characters in the book (most who were not likeable) to figure out why someone would want to murder this person. The murderer starts to become more obvious as we reach the end of the story.
Despite its slow moments and unlikeable characters, the story was both cozy and entertaining. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Despite its slow moments and unlikeable characters, the story was both cozy and entertaining. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2024
Ally McKinley is living the dream. Waking every morning to an uninterrupted view of the Scottish Highlands, she now lives in a converted malthouse and, as she was the one who planned it all, everything is just as she wanted. Now proudly serving her first guest in her own little B&B, Ally has made new friends, discovered beautiful walks, and thoroughly confused her children, all of which, unfortunately, pale into insignificance when a body is discovered behind her home!
With plenty of suspects, including the local laird and her own cleaner, Morag, Ally is dismayed when the local police seem to have no idea how to solve a murder. As Ally was a researcher in her previous life she is absolutely sure she can solve everything herself, especially as she's also sure her new friends can't possibly be involved! The stakes are high however, and it soon becomes clear that there is a desperate killer on the loose, but can she discover their identity before alienating everyone in the small village of Locharran which she now calls home?
Book one in a new series, when you loved a writer's previous work, is always a trip into the unknown, but I needn't have worried. Ally McKinley is a brilliant new main protagonist who I liked from the get go, while the landscape is also a main player in this story and it's clear the author is very familiar with its beauties and dangers. The more minor characters, who are definitely going to keep Ally on her toes over what I hope will become a regular series of adventures, are both humorous and full of potential.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed this. It didn't read like the first in a series, the characterization is great, and I'm happily looking forward to more.
With plenty of suspects, including the local laird and her own cleaner, Morag, Ally is dismayed when the local police seem to have no idea how to solve a murder. As Ally was a researcher in her previous life she is absolutely sure she can solve everything herself, especially as she's also sure her new friends can't possibly be involved! The stakes are high however, and it soon becomes clear that there is a desperate killer on the loose, but can she discover their identity before alienating everyone in the small village of Locharran which she now calls home?
Book one in a new series, when you loved a writer's previous work, is always a trip into the unknown, but I needn't have worried. Ally McKinley is a brilliant new main protagonist who I liked from the get go, while the landscape is also a main player in this story and it's clear the author is very familiar with its beauties and dangers. The more minor characters, who are definitely going to keep Ally on her toes over what I hope will become a regular series of adventures, are both humorous and full of potential.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed this. It didn't read like the first in a series, the characterization is great, and I'm happily looking forward to more.
June 13, 2024
Rating: 2.2/5
Whenever possible, I like to pick up a new book series at the outset rather than joining the party further down the track. So, when I saw that "Murder in the Scottish Highlands" was not only the start of a new cosy mystery series, but also set in a part of the world that I have a great affinity with, I couldn't resist picking it up.
Ally McKinley is a widow and recently retired. She decides to relocate to the Scottish Highlands and run a B&B from an old converted malthouse that she has purchased. However, Ally's expectations of a quiet, idyllic lifestyle are very soon up in the air, when an American resident of her guest house is found murdered.
This book seems to be pitched at the "Richard Osman market", with a retired amateur sleuth as the central character and a front cover style that is not unlike those on Mr Osman's cosy crime novels. Personally, I would suggest that the mystery element of the story has more in common with the "Agatha Raisin" series than it does "The Thursday Murder Club". Aside from that, there is also just as much emphasis - or perhaps even greater emphasis - on Ally's potential romantic interests as there is on solving the crime. Consequently, this book feels like more a case of cosy women's fiction than cosy murder mystery. Overall, it is a pleasant enough read, but quite run-of-the-mill for the genre.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
Whenever possible, I like to pick up a new book series at the outset rather than joining the party further down the track. So, when I saw that "Murder in the Scottish Highlands" was not only the start of a new cosy mystery series, but also set in a part of the world that I have a great affinity with, I couldn't resist picking it up.
Ally McKinley is a widow and recently retired. She decides to relocate to the Scottish Highlands and run a B&B from an old converted malthouse that she has purchased. However, Ally's expectations of a quiet, idyllic lifestyle are very soon up in the air, when an American resident of her guest house is found murdered.
This book seems to be pitched at the "Richard Osman market", with a retired amateur sleuth as the central character and a front cover style that is not unlike those on Mr Osman's cosy crime novels. Personally, I would suggest that the mystery element of the story has more in common with the "Agatha Raisin" series than it does "The Thursday Murder Club". Aside from that, there is also just as much emphasis - or perhaps even greater emphasis - on Ally's potential romantic interests as there is on solving the crime. Consequently, this book feels like more a case of cosy women's fiction than cosy murder mystery. Overall, it is a pleasant enough read, but quite run-of-the-mill for the genre.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
August 12, 2024
This is the first book in a new series and a new author for me. I found this to be a pleasant, fast-moving, cozy mystery with some interesting characters and a beautiful setting. Set in the scenic Scottish highlands, we have an older widow that has bought an old malt house and had it remodeled to host a bed and breakfast. I like that Ally has a sense of adventure, and while still trying to find her feet in her new small village, she is accepting guests. When one of her guests is murdered in her back garden, after revealing to everyone at the local hotel, that he was actually the Earl of the local area and was determined to get his title and estate back, there by making most of the village jobless and homeless the line of suspects is long! Come along for the ride while Ally tries to figure out what's going on while trying to make her new home and business pleasant and successful. I will definitely be interested in the next in the series.
Thanks to #Netgally, #Bookouture, and the author for a chance to read. #MurderintheScottishHighlands #DeeMacDonald #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
Thanks to #Netgally, #Bookouture, and the author for a chance to read. #MurderintheScottishHighlands #DeeMacDonald #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
August 22, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dee MacDonald for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder in the Scottish Highlands coming out September 2, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
For recently retired Ally McKinley, the tiny village of Locharran is the perfect place to open the guesthouse of her dreams in a lovingly restored old Scottish malthouse. Before long she is making friends with the locals, including Hamish Sinclair, the earl who owns the nearby castle. But things take an unexpected turn when her first paying guest, American tourist Wilbur Carrington, is found sprawled across her cobblestoned courtyard with a dagger in his back…
With the police baffled, Ally’s instincts get the better of her, and she can’t resist launching her own investigation. In no time at all she and her Labrador puppy Flora are on the case, making enquiries over tea and excellent shortbread. She finds that Wilbur, a keen amateur genealogist, was convinced that he was the rightful Earl of Locharran… Even worse, he had plans that would put many people out of their jobs and even their homes.
But which of the locals resorted to murder? The hotel owner furiously trying to save his business? Locharran Castle’s fiercely loyal housekeeper who’d do anything for the earl? Or the earl himself, whose entire way of life was threatened by what Wilbur knew?
Looking for clues, Ally finds a faded photograph in a hidden drawer in Wilbur’s room. Could this be the key to solving the mystery? But when one of her suspects dies in a suspicious accident, Ally realises that things are getting a wee bit too close for comfort… Can she uncover the truth or will a killer get off scot-free?
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really love cozy mysteries, especially set in Scotland. It’s a beautiful country and I love the descriptions of Ally’s home. I love that she lives near a castle. Ally is older, so it feels more like a Miss Marple type story. But I loved it! It was fun she got a dog to keep her company. She still has men interested in her, but she’s comfortable in her life. I really enjoyed her character. I thought the mystery was really good. I loved the writing. I would definitely read more books in the series.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!
For recently retired Ally McKinley, the tiny village of Locharran is the perfect place to open the guesthouse of her dreams in a lovingly restored old Scottish malthouse. Before long she is making friends with the locals, including Hamish Sinclair, the earl who owns the nearby castle. But things take an unexpected turn when her first paying guest, American tourist Wilbur Carrington, is found sprawled across her cobblestoned courtyard with a dagger in his back…
With the police baffled, Ally’s instincts get the better of her, and she can’t resist launching her own investigation. In no time at all she and her Labrador puppy Flora are on the case, making enquiries over tea and excellent shortbread. She finds that Wilbur, a keen amateur genealogist, was convinced that he was the rightful Earl of Locharran… Even worse, he had plans that would put many people out of their jobs and even their homes.
But which of the locals resorted to murder? The hotel owner furiously trying to save his business? Locharran Castle’s fiercely loyal housekeeper who’d do anything for the earl? Or the earl himself, whose entire way of life was threatened by what Wilbur knew?
Looking for clues, Ally finds a faded photograph in a hidden drawer in Wilbur’s room. Could this be the key to solving the mystery? But when one of her suspects dies in a suspicious accident, Ally realises that things are getting a wee bit too close for comfort… Can she uncover the truth or will a killer get off scot-free?
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really love cozy mysteries, especially set in Scotland. It’s a beautiful country and I love the descriptions of Ally’s home. I love that she lives near a castle. Ally is older, so it feels more like a Miss Marple type story. But I loved it! It was fun she got a dog to keep her company. She still has men interested in her, but she’s comfortable in her life. I really enjoyed her character. I thought the mystery was really good. I loved the writing. I would definitely read more books in the series.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!
September 27, 2024
A Murder In The Scottish Highlands, An Ally McKinley mystery by D McDonnell, Allison McKinley a pensioner went to the West Highlands in Scotland for vacation and loved it so much she moved there and after renovating her cottage she started renting out rooms to make her money go even further but when one of her first guest Wilbur, the American on a mission is murdered, Ally is astonished and doesn’t know what to do. At first however she truly believes investigating inspector constable Rigby does but when no progress is made on the case and there is another murder Ally takes it upon herself to solve the crimes. Just to give a quick overview because there’s lots to the book Allie is gifted a dog by one of the lead suspects Wilbur‘s brother and fiancé both come to stay in Ally‘s guest rooms, despite her age she has Queenie at the one and only grocery store thinking she is man crazy, because she starts dating the most eligible bachelor in town. Aly is making new friends but her investigation also causes her to lose her loyal employee. Can Allie solve the crime save her reputation get her friends/employee back and continue to be happy in the Highlands? You have to read the book to find out I laughed out loud while reading this book more than once. I do want to say however to Miss McDonald if someone who is American would use their birthday the date would come after the month and not vice versa but that’s neither here nor there not a negative nor positive just an observation from a big fan. This is a great start to a funny cozy mystery that I definitely want to continue reading. #NetGalley,#Bookoucher #DMcDonald, #AMurderInTheScottishHighlands
August 31, 2024
Ally McKinley a retired TV researcher fell in love with the tiny village of Locharran, so took the plunge bought the old malthouse, had it restored & now is the proud owner of the Auld Malthouse guest house. Before long she is making friends with the locals, including Hamish Sinclair, the Earl of Locharran a womanise who owns the nearby castle. But things take an unexpected turn when her first paying guest, American tourist Wilbur Carrington, is found sprawled across her cobblestoned courtyard with a dagger in his back. With the police baffled, Ally’s instincts get the better of her, and she can’t resist launching her own investigation. In no time at all she and her new Labrador puppy Flora are on the case, making enquiries over tea and excellent shortbread.
The start of a new series & a very well written cosy mystery. The author did a very good job of setting the scene for hopefully a long series, the descriptions of the area had me easily visualising it, the characters were a good mix from the down to earth Ally, the womanising Earl, the very appealing semi retired vet, the feisty cleaner, the blue eyed hotel owner, to the gossiping shopkeeper. I also enjoyed the murder mystery & was left guessing as to who the villain was. I must admit the murder seemed to take second place to getting to know the inhabitants of Locharran, which I didn’t mind at all it just made me want more in the series
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
The start of a new series & a very well written cosy mystery. The author did a very good job of setting the scene for hopefully a long series, the descriptions of the area had me easily visualising it, the characters were a good mix from the down to earth Ally, the womanising Earl, the very appealing semi retired vet, the feisty cleaner, the blue eyed hotel owner, to the gossiping shopkeeper. I also enjoyed the murder mystery & was left guessing as to who the villain was. I must admit the murder seemed to take second place to getting to know the inhabitants of Locharran, which I didn’t mind at all it just made me want more in the series
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
March 5, 2025
Favorite Quotes:
Mrs Frost had acquired a very grand accent– compared to her husband anyway– and spoke with the proverbial mouthful of marbles.
Queenie was the elder– and the boss. She’d acquired a permanent stoop, due to years of stretching across the counter in order to catch every word that any customer might utter, in any part of the shop, no matter how quietly. She was therefore well informed on everyone and everything and, if she ran out of gossip, she was a dab hand at making some up.
Ally had only seen the Reverend Donald Scott from a distance: a tall, gangly, angular man who, she’d been told, had enormous feet. ‘Ye’ll see them comin’ round the corner long before ye see the rest of him,’ Murdo had informed her.
‘How did you deal with it?’ ‘I lifted up his kilt, had a look and said, “Not up to my standard, I’m afraid”! He didn’t hang around to argue!’
My Review:
An absolutely delightful kickoff to a new series and my introduction to the skillful craft of Dee MacDonald. As truly a Scottish name as I’ve ever heard, so well prepared to write cozy mysteries based in bonny Scotland, a land from which many of my ancient ancestors have sprung. I adored her artfully contrived village of amusingly authentic characters, each one more quirky than the next. I enjoyed them so much, I’ve got the next book locked and loaded on my beloved Kindle.
Mrs Frost had acquired a very grand accent– compared to her husband anyway– and spoke with the proverbial mouthful of marbles.
Queenie was the elder– and the boss. She’d acquired a permanent stoop, due to years of stretching across the counter in order to catch every word that any customer might utter, in any part of the shop, no matter how quietly. She was therefore well informed on everyone and everything and, if she ran out of gossip, she was a dab hand at making some up.
Ally had only seen the Reverend Donald Scott from a distance: a tall, gangly, angular man who, she’d been told, had enormous feet. ‘Ye’ll see them comin’ round the corner long before ye see the rest of him,’ Murdo had informed her.
‘How did you deal with it?’ ‘I lifted up his kilt, had a look and said, “Not up to my standard, I’m afraid”! He didn’t hang around to argue!’
My Review:
An absolutely delightful kickoff to a new series and my introduction to the skillful craft of Dee MacDonald. As truly a Scottish name as I’ve ever heard, so well prepared to write cozy mysteries based in bonny Scotland, a land from which many of my ancient ancestors have sprung. I adored her artfully contrived village of amusingly authentic characters, each one more quirky than the next. I enjoyed them so much, I’ve got the next book locked and loaded on my beloved Kindle.
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