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The Ballochbrae Book Club
"A sparkling start to a cozy crime series. As light and delicious as a tin of fine Scottish shortbread. I loved it!"
MARION TODD
"Everything cozy crime should be - fun, sweet, light and entertaining. But it also has amazing characters with real depth and a perfect Scottish setting. Ideal for fans of Richard Osman and Richard Coles!"
HELEN FIELDS
On the doorstep of Balmoral Castle, beloved Scottish home of the British Royal Family, four women of a certain age form a book club. There’s just one nobody wants to read the books.
Then a body is dragged from the River Dee. Was foul play involved? Led by ex-district nurse Flora MacPhee, the four set out to pursue their own enquiries, uncovering secrets and lies in Ballochbrae, their sleepy Highland village.
But when they start asking questions, it emerges their suspects aren't the only ones with guilty secrets. The other members of the group – schoolteacher Heather, farmer Morag and guesthouse owner Chatty – have guilty secrets of their own.
When their investigation gains pace, a series of setbacks causes tensions to escalate. After local cop Alex (Big Eck) MacDuff warns them off, the amateur detectives give themselves forty-eight hours to solve the mystery.
As the clock runs down, Flora – struggling from a messy divorce and her mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis – is forced to confront her worst fears and Chatty's past comes back to haunt her.
A fun-filled tribute to female resilience and friendship, The Ballochbrae Book Club is the perfect read for lovers of Richard Osman and M C Beaton.
What readers are saying about The Ballochbrae Book Club:
"A murder mystery steeped in Scottish history." Reader review.
"Full of warmth, humour and heart. Loved every second of it." Reader review
"A treat for cosy crime caper lovers." Reader review
"Murder She Wrote meets Emmerdale meets Birds of a Feather." Reader review
Suspenseful and laugh-out-loud in turn, The Ballochbrae Book Club will warm your heart.
MARION TODD
"Everything cozy crime should be - fun, sweet, light and entertaining. But it also has amazing characters with real depth and a perfect Scottish setting. Ideal for fans of Richard Osman and Richard Coles!"
HELEN FIELDS
On the doorstep of Balmoral Castle, beloved Scottish home of the British Royal Family, four women of a certain age form a book club. There’s just one nobody wants to read the books.
Then a body is dragged from the River Dee. Was foul play involved? Led by ex-district nurse Flora MacPhee, the four set out to pursue their own enquiries, uncovering secrets and lies in Ballochbrae, their sleepy Highland village.
But when they start asking questions, it emerges their suspects aren't the only ones with guilty secrets. The other members of the group – schoolteacher Heather, farmer Morag and guesthouse owner Chatty – have guilty secrets of their own.
When their investigation gains pace, a series of setbacks causes tensions to escalate. After local cop Alex (Big Eck) MacDuff warns them off, the amateur detectives give themselves forty-eight hours to solve the mystery.
As the clock runs down, Flora – struggling from a messy divorce and her mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis – is forced to confront her worst fears and Chatty's past comes back to haunt her.
A fun-filled tribute to female resilience and friendship, The Ballochbrae Book Club is the perfect read for lovers of Richard Osman and M C Beaton.
What readers are saying about The Ballochbrae Book Club:
"A murder mystery steeped in Scottish history." Reader review.
"Full of warmth, humour and heart. Loved every second of it." Reader review
"A treat for cosy crime caper lovers." Reader review
"Murder She Wrote meets Emmerdale meets Birds of a Feather." Reader review
Suspenseful and laugh-out-loud in turn, The Ballochbrae Book Club will warm your heart.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 23, 2025
75 people are currently reading
1555 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
August 11, 2025
This just never really got going for me. I don’t mind a cozy mystery now and then, but this just didn’t get there.
It was all a bit disjointed. I didn’t find the characters particularly interesting. The “mystery” almost seemed like a backdrop more than a central plot point. And then it was over.
I did like the Scottish dialect. That lent some authenticity. It was also interesting, and timely, to get a UK take on the Jeffrey Epstein/Prince Andrew scandal.
But that’s about it.
It was all a bit disjointed. I didn’t find the characters particularly interesting. The “mystery” almost seemed like a backdrop more than a central plot point. And then it was over.
I did like the Scottish dialect. That lent some authenticity. It was also interesting, and timely, to get a UK take on the Jeffrey Epstein/Prince Andrew scandal.
But that’s about it.
July 3, 2025
What can I say except this book was a wee cracker!!! I absolutely adored it. I loved the story and it was a pleasure and a joy to read.
The cover is beautiful with the Scottish scenery. I loved the colours. They made the cover very eye-catching. I certainly wouldn't walk past this in a shop!
The book was written beautifully and flowed exquisitely. The language was brilliant and I loved the colloquialisms used. There's a handy little glossary that gives the translation from the Scottish word to it's English word.
The setting of the fictional village of Ballochbrae is beautiful. It reminds me a little of the fictional village the Hamish Macbeth books are set in. Ballochbrae sounds so quaint and tranquil. Unless there is a royal event at Balmoral or Birkhall Estate (like when the Queen passed away) then I imagine it's chaos in Royal Deeside.
The characters were wonderful and their roles were perfect. The four ladies Chatty, Flora, Heather and Morag were fun and provided me with plenty of laughs. Especially when Morag hit out with the word 'jobbie'. I nearly choked on my Irn Bru. Too funny. The ladies were fantastic.
I really recommend this! Especially if you love Richard Osman and MC Beaton (like I do). I can't wait for the next adventure the ladies go on! Thank you MC for writing such a fantastic book!
The cover is beautiful with the Scottish scenery. I loved the colours. They made the cover very eye-catching. I certainly wouldn't walk past this in a shop!
The book was written beautifully and flowed exquisitely. The language was brilliant and I loved the colloquialisms used. There's a handy little glossary that gives the translation from the Scottish word to it's English word.
The setting of the fictional village of Ballochbrae is beautiful. It reminds me a little of the fictional village the Hamish Macbeth books are set in. Ballochbrae sounds so quaint and tranquil. Unless there is a royal event at Balmoral or Birkhall Estate (like when the Queen passed away) then I imagine it's chaos in Royal Deeside.
The characters were wonderful and their roles were perfect. The four ladies Chatty, Flora, Heather and Morag were fun and provided me with plenty of laughs. Especially when Morag hit out with the word 'jobbie'. I nearly choked on my Irn Bru. Too funny. The ladies were fantastic.
I really recommend this! Especially if you love Richard Osman and MC Beaton (like I do). I can't wait for the next adventure the ladies go on! Thank you MC for writing such a fantastic book!
June 27, 2025
This was such a fun read. The author really sets the scene. I loved the detail and historical references about Scotland, particularly the highlands and the royal connection throughout the book. I thought the village and it's characters were well observed.
Flora, Chatty, Heather and Morag are such an unlikely group of friends. Heather is desperate to get them all reading within the book group but the other three ladies have very different ideas! The author really brought all four of them to life. Again, a lot of detail and backstory is provided which helps develop them and account for their quirks! They are not all immediately likeable but they are understandable and by the end of the story I felt they had all grown on me.
For this to be a debut novel was surprising as the detail and style of writing feels confident from the outset. I loved that we got lots of secrets and a glimpse at village life where it is impossible to hide anything!
I like a cosy mystery and this did not disappoint, I'm keen to see what the ladies get up to next!
Huge thanks to the author and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review.
Flora, Chatty, Heather and Morag are such an unlikely group of friends. Heather is desperate to get them all reading within the book group but the other three ladies have very different ideas! The author really brought all four of them to life. Again, a lot of detail and backstory is provided which helps develop them and account for their quirks! They are not all immediately likeable but they are understandable and by the end of the story I felt they had all grown on me.
For this to be a debut novel was surprising as the detail and style of writing feels confident from the outset. I loved that we got lots of secrets and a glimpse at village life where it is impossible to hide anything!
I like a cosy mystery and this did not disappoint, I'm keen to see what the ladies get up to next!
Huge thanks to the author and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review.
June 29, 2025
The writing was very descriptive and I loved all the royal references and Scottish history. Clearly a very passionate topic for the author. As it is for me.
Short snappy chapters which I love.
From the book title I was expecting a very different book, although there is a book club, it’s not a particularly active club and no one seems to read the books!
After a body was found in the local river the The four women from the Ballochbrae book club decide why bother with a crime book when there is a real crime to uncover, so that is what they try and do.
The story is slow to get to main story of the body and the book club investigating however I did enjoy all the Scottish village characters, banter and history the first half brought with setting the idilic scenes of where the story was set.
All four ladies are very quirky and have their particular ways.
They fancy themselves as the next Miss Marples or Jessica Fletcher!
June 29, 2025
I absolutely love Scotland, particularly Highlands, where we've spent many summer holidays so this caught my interest instantly. And the cover is just such a perfect, picturesque Highlands setting, so sets the scene wonderfully for the story to come.
Just a little about the story itself. Four women from the sleepy town of Ballochbrae form a book club, but get sidetracked when a body is pulled from a local river, and the four decide to investigate for themselves.
But will they get to the bottom of the mystery? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
So all in all, just a great example of what a cozy mystery should be. It's fun, but with some good suspense. It's light-hearted, and warm-hearted, with lots of brilliant humour and wit, with a twist and turn or two thrown in for good measure.
The characters are believable and feel real, and the storyline flows well and holds your attention.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
Just a little about the story itself. Four women from the sleepy town of Ballochbrae form a book club, but get sidetracked when a body is pulled from a local river, and the four decide to investigate for themselves.
But will they get to the bottom of the mystery? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
So all in all, just a great example of what a cozy mystery should be. It's fun, but with some good suspense. It's light-hearted, and warm-hearted, with lots of brilliant humour and wit, with a twist and turn or two thrown in for good measure.
The characters are believable and feel real, and the storyline flows well and holds your attention.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
July 10, 2025
The Ballochbrae Book Club by MC Mackay.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was an easy and a joy to read. I can't believe it's a debut. I got into this book straight away. I loved the writing style and the story. I loved the setting as well. I loved Flora, Heather, Morag, and Chatty. They were an absolute joy. They were funny. I was in giggles. There was nothing I didn't enjoy with this book. I hope there is more to come. I definitely do recommend this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was an easy and a joy to read. I can't believe it's a debut. I got into this book straight away. I loved the writing style and the story. I loved the setting as well. I loved Flora, Heather, Morag, and Chatty. They were an absolute joy. They were funny. I was in giggles. There was nothing I didn't enjoy with this book. I hope there is more to come. I definitely do recommend this book.
August 13, 2025
Was this the best book I've read this summer? No but it did have its moments. It took me a while to get into the rhythm of the book. It was after all very Scottish. But I did find humor in the characters and enjoyed the running commentary about the royals!
June 25, 2025
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Ballochbrae Book Club' by M C Mackay
This is Mackay's DEBUT novel, not that you would ever think that!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into the next book in this series!! I was absolutely mind blown when I had finished this epic page turner and realised that it is actually her first and only book!! What an absolutely brilliant debut novel !! If THIS is what you can create for your very first book then I just cannot wait to see what on Earth you will come out with next!!
I will start my review by admitting that I was a bit disappointed at the start of this book, don't worry it does get better. The title of this book being 'The Ballochbrae Book Club' had me believing, and you I should imagine, that this book is about a book club. I will prewarn you that the book club ends very quickly at the end of chapter 5 in fact. To make it worse, none of the members of the book club actually read the book and not many even liked reading!!! The fact that it mentioned a book club in the title is what drew me to the book!! However, all is not lost and I am glad I persevered. There were several ups and downs for me, the biggest down being the lack of the book club and the other one being the fact that all the members of the "book club" seemed to do was moan about each other and call each other, and other characters names and moan. Nevertheless I managed to overlook these in the end and ended up becoming really invested in both the storyline and the characters. My advice is to look at this as a cosy crime book, ignoring the book club bit, and as long as you enjoy cosy crimes, you cant go too far wrong. The storyline itself is packed with crime, investigations, arguments, humour, friendship, community, stunning settings and much more. I absolutely LOVED the stunning settings which really came to life in front of my eyes thanks to Mackay's fantastic evocative descriptions ensuring the readers can see the surroundings, characters and drama come to life in front of their eyes. The storyline revolves mainly around Flora, Chatty, Morag, Heather and PC MacDuff. The "book club" ladies are older ladies and with a variety of lifestyles and jobs. Flora MacPhee is 55 years old, divorced, works as a Team Leader for the District Nursing Services and has had to put her Mum in a home due to her Alzheimer's. She feels guilty enough as it is and her daughter makes her feel worse about it. Chatty MacIntyre owns guest house Castle View (that does not have a Castle view), is widowed, not really a people person and is hiding something from the rest of the "book" club. Heather Garden is 46 lives with her beautiful Norwegian Forest Cat Darcy and works as a teacher. Morag McCracken lives with her horrid, sexist Father Fergus who treats her like a slave and works the farm that he owns. As you can see, four very different women who are determined to solve a crime in the village and a PC who is determined that they keep their noses out!! Even though this did start slow and I was disappointed with the lack of book club I am very pleased that I continued as I really did end up enjoying it so I would highly recommend reading it!! Mackay's evocative writing skills and descriptions really brought the storyline to life and I am looking forward to the next "episode" and seeing what these ladies get up to next!!
The characters were all realistic and strong and I was completely invested in them throughout. Although the female doginess did annoy me at the start I ended up getting used to the ladies, realising that at their ages it was probably natural and ended up becoming invested in and really liking them all!! Mackays evocative descriptions really makes each of the characters jump out of the book and come to life in front of the readers eyes. The fact that this is her debut novel yet he has managed to create these unique and strong characters is just absolutely amazing!!! All of the characters were multi layered with complex personalities which definitely made them all the more interesting to read about!!! Unfortunately, I really can not say anymore as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. Regardless of what I thought about who, each character worked well with the storyline!!! I just cannot wait to see what these characters get up with next!!! Hint hint Mackay 😉 !!! I genuinely loved getting to know all the characters and was completely invested throughout!! It just goes to show how fantastic Mackay's writing skills are as she completely brought them all to life for me. An absolutely fantastic selection of unique characters that all worked together perfectly to create a great cosy crime.
Overall a great cosy read, that although didn't have much to do about book clubs, I thoroughly enjoyed!
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Review for 'The Ballochbrae Book Club' by M C Mackay
This is Mackay's DEBUT novel, not that you would ever think that!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into the next book in this series!! I was absolutely mind blown when I had finished this epic page turner and realised that it is actually her first and only book!! What an absolutely brilliant debut novel !! If THIS is what you can create for your very first book then I just cannot wait to see what on Earth you will come out with next!!
I will start my review by admitting that I was a bit disappointed at the start of this book, don't worry it does get better. The title of this book being 'The Ballochbrae Book Club' had me believing, and you I should imagine, that this book is about a book club. I will prewarn you that the book club ends very quickly at the end of chapter 5 in fact. To make it worse, none of the members of the book club actually read the book and not many even liked reading!!! The fact that it mentioned a book club in the title is what drew me to the book!! However, all is not lost and I am glad I persevered. There were several ups and downs for me, the biggest down being the lack of the book club and the other one being the fact that all the members of the "book club" seemed to do was moan about each other and call each other, and other characters names and moan. Nevertheless I managed to overlook these in the end and ended up becoming really invested in both the storyline and the characters. My advice is to look at this as a cosy crime book, ignoring the book club bit, and as long as you enjoy cosy crimes, you cant go too far wrong. The storyline itself is packed with crime, investigations, arguments, humour, friendship, community, stunning settings and much more. I absolutely LOVED the stunning settings which really came to life in front of my eyes thanks to Mackay's fantastic evocative descriptions ensuring the readers can see the surroundings, characters and drama come to life in front of their eyes. The storyline revolves mainly around Flora, Chatty, Morag, Heather and PC MacDuff. The "book club" ladies are older ladies and with a variety of lifestyles and jobs. Flora MacPhee is 55 years old, divorced, works as a Team Leader for the District Nursing Services and has had to put her Mum in a home due to her Alzheimer's. She feels guilty enough as it is and her daughter makes her feel worse about it. Chatty MacIntyre owns guest house Castle View (that does not have a Castle view), is widowed, not really a people person and is hiding something from the rest of the "book" club. Heather Garden is 46 lives with her beautiful Norwegian Forest Cat Darcy and works as a teacher. Morag McCracken lives with her horrid, sexist Father Fergus who treats her like a slave and works the farm that he owns. As you can see, four very different women who are determined to solve a crime in the village and a PC who is determined that they keep their noses out!! Even though this did start slow and I was disappointed with the lack of book club I am very pleased that I continued as I really did end up enjoying it so I would highly recommend reading it!! Mackay's evocative writing skills and descriptions really brought the storyline to life and I am looking forward to the next "episode" and seeing what these ladies get up to next!!
The characters were all realistic and strong and I was completely invested in them throughout. Although the female doginess did annoy me at the start I ended up getting used to the ladies, realising that at their ages it was probably natural and ended up becoming invested in and really liking them all!! Mackays evocative descriptions really makes each of the characters jump out of the book and come to life in front of the readers eyes. The fact that this is her debut novel yet he has managed to create these unique and strong characters is just absolutely amazing!!! All of the characters were multi layered with complex personalities which definitely made them all the more interesting to read about!!! Unfortunately, I really can not say anymore as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. Regardless of what I thought about who, each character worked well with the storyline!!! I just cannot wait to see what these characters get up with next!!! Hint hint Mackay 😉 !!! I genuinely loved getting to know all the characters and was completely invested throughout!! It just goes to show how fantastic Mackay's writing skills are as she completely brought them all to life for me. An absolutely fantastic selection of unique characters that all worked together perfectly to create a great cosy crime.
Overall a great cosy read, that although didn't have much to do about book clubs, I thoroughly enjoyed!
#TheBallochbraeBookClub #TheBallochbraeBookClub #MCMackay #Ballochbrae #BallochbraePress #KellyALacey #lovebookstours #Ad #LBTCrew #BookTwitter #FreeReview #FreeBookReview #Bookstagram
@MCMackay #Ballochbrae #BallochbraePress @LoveBookTours @LBTCrew #KellyALacey
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June 25, 2025
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Ballochbrae Book Club' by M C Mackay
This is Mackay's DEBUT novel, not that you would ever think that!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into the next book in this series!! I was absolutely mind blown when I had finished this epic page turner and realised that it is actually her first and only book!! What an absolutely brilliant debut novel !! If THIS is what you can create for your very first book then I just cannot wait to see what on Earth you will come out with next!!
I will start my review by admitting that I was a bit disappointed at the start of this book, don't worry it does get better. The title of this book being 'The Ballochbrae Book Club' had me believing, and you I should imagine, that this book is about a book club. I will prewarn you that the book club ends very quickly at the end of chapter 5 in fact. To make it worse, none of the members of the book club actually read the book and not many even liked reading!!! The fact that it mentioned a book club in the title is what drew me to the book!! However, all is not lost and I am glad I persevered. There were several ups and downs for me, the biggest down being the lack of the book club and the other one being the fact that all the members of the "book club" seemed to do was moan about each other and call each other, and other characters names and moan. Nevertheless I managed to overlook these in the end and ended up becoming really invested in both the storyline and the characters. My advice is to look at this as a cosy crime book, ignoring the book club bit, and as long as you enjoy cosy crimes, you cant go too far wrong. The storyline itself is packed with crime, investigations, arguments, humour, friendship, community, stunning settings and much more. I absolutely LOVED the stunning settings which really came to life in front of my eyes thanks to Mackay's fantastic evocative descriptions ensuring the readers can see the surroundings, characters and drama come to life in front of their eyes. The storyline revolves mainly around Flora, Chatty, Morag, Heather and PC MacDuff. The "book club" ladies are older ladies and with a variety of lifestyles and jobs. Flora MacPhee is 55 years old, divorced, works as a Team Leader for the District Nursing Services and has had to put her Mum in a home due to her Alzheimer's. She feels guilty enough as it is and her daughter makes her feel worse about it. Chatty MacIntyre owns guest house Castle View (that does not have a Castle view), is widowed, not really a people person and is hiding something from the rest of the "book" club. Heather Garden is 46 lives with her beautiful Norwegian Forest Cat Darcy and works as a teacher. Morag McCracken lives with her horrid, sexist Father Fergus who treats her like a slave and works the farm that he owns. As you can see, four very different women who are determined to solve a crime in the village and a PC who is determined that they keep their noses out!! Even though this did start slow and I was disappointed with the lack of book club I am very pleased that I continued as I really did end up enjoying it so I would highly recommend reading it!! Mackay's evocative writing skills and descriptions really brought the storyline to life and I am looking forward to the next "episode" and seeing what these ladies get up to next!!
The characters were all realistic and strong and I was completely invested in them throughout. Although the female doginess did annoy me at the start I ended up getting used to the ladies, realising that at their ages it was probably natural and ended up becoming invested in and really liking them all!! Mackays evocative descriptions really makes each of the characters jump out of the book and come to life in front of the readers eyes. The fact that this is her debut novel yet he has managed to create these unique and strong characters is just absolutely amazing!!! All of the characters were multi layered with complex personalities which definitely made them all the more interesting to read about!!! Unfortunately, I really can not say anymore as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. Regardless of what I thought about who, each character worked well with the storyline!!! I just cannot wait to see what these characters get up with next!!! Hint hint Mackay 😉 !!! I genuinely loved getting to know all the characters and was completely invested throughout!! It just goes to show how fantastic Mackay's writing skills are as she completely brought them all to life for me. An absolutely fantastic selection of unique characters that all worked together perfectly to create a great cosy crime.
Overall a great cosy read, that although didn't have much to do about book clubs, I thoroughly enjoyed!
#TheBallochbraeBookClub #TheBallochbraeBookClub #MCMackay #Ballochbrae #BallochbraePress #KellyALacey #lovebookstours #Ad #LBTCrew #BookTwitter #FreeReview #FreeBookReview #Bookstagram
@MCMackay #Ballochbrae #BallochbraePress @LoveBookTours @LBTCrew #KellyALacey
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Review for 'The Ballochbrae Book Club' by M C Mackay
This is Mackay's DEBUT novel, not that you would ever think that!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into the next book in this series!! I was absolutely mind blown when I had finished this epic page turner and realised that it is actually her first and only book!! What an absolutely brilliant debut novel !! If THIS is what you can create for your very first book then I just cannot wait to see what on Earth you will come out with next!!
I will start my review by admitting that I was a bit disappointed at the start of this book, don't worry it does get better. The title of this book being 'The Ballochbrae Book Club' had me believing, and you I should imagine, that this book is about a book club. I will prewarn you that the book club ends very quickly at the end of chapter 5 in fact. To make it worse, none of the members of the book club actually read the book and not many even liked reading!!! The fact that it mentioned a book club in the title is what drew me to the book!! However, all is not lost and I am glad I persevered. There were several ups and downs for me, the biggest down being the lack of the book club and the other one being the fact that all the members of the "book club" seemed to do was moan about each other and call each other, and other characters names and moan. Nevertheless I managed to overlook these in the end and ended up becoming really invested in both the storyline and the characters. My advice is to look at this as a cosy crime book, ignoring the book club bit, and as long as you enjoy cosy crimes, you cant go too far wrong. The storyline itself is packed with crime, investigations, arguments, humour, friendship, community, stunning settings and much more. I absolutely LOVED the stunning settings which really came to life in front of my eyes thanks to Mackay's fantastic evocative descriptions ensuring the readers can see the surroundings, characters and drama come to life in front of their eyes. The storyline revolves mainly around Flora, Chatty, Morag, Heather and PC MacDuff. The "book club" ladies are older ladies and with a variety of lifestyles and jobs. Flora MacPhee is 55 years old, divorced, works as a Team Leader for the District Nursing Services and has had to put her Mum in a home due to her Alzheimer's. She feels guilty enough as it is and her daughter makes her feel worse about it. Chatty MacIntyre owns guest house Castle View (that does not have a Castle view), is widowed, not really a people person and is hiding something from the rest of the "book" club. Heather Garden is 46 lives with her beautiful Norwegian Forest Cat Darcy and works as a teacher. Morag McCracken lives with her horrid, sexist Father Fergus who treats her like a slave and works the farm that he owns. As you can see, four very different women who are determined to solve a crime in the village and a PC who is determined that they keep their noses out!! Even though this did start slow and I was disappointed with the lack of book club I am very pleased that I continued as I really did end up enjoying it so I would highly recommend reading it!! Mackay's evocative writing skills and descriptions really brought the storyline to life and I am looking forward to the next "episode" and seeing what these ladies get up to next!!
The characters were all realistic and strong and I was completely invested in them throughout. Although the female doginess did annoy me at the start I ended up getting used to the ladies, realising that at their ages it was probably natural and ended up becoming invested in and really liking them all!! Mackays evocative descriptions really makes each of the characters jump out of the book and come to life in front of the readers eyes. The fact that this is her debut novel yet he has managed to create these unique and strong characters is just absolutely amazing!!! All of the characters were multi layered with complex personalities which definitely made them all the more interesting to read about!!! Unfortunately, I really can not say anymore as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. Regardless of what I thought about who, each character worked well with the storyline!!! I just cannot wait to see what these characters get up with next!!! Hint hint Mackay 😉 !!! I genuinely loved getting to know all the characters and was completely invested throughout!! It just goes to show how fantastic Mackay's writing skills are as she completely brought them all to life for me. An absolutely fantastic selection of unique characters that all worked together perfectly to create a great cosy crime.
Overall a great cosy read, that although didn't have much to do about book clubs, I thoroughly enjoyed!
#TheBallochbraeBookClub #TheBallochbraeBookClub #MCMackay #Ballochbrae #BallochbraePress #KellyALacey #lovebookstours #Ad #LBTCrew #BookTwitter #FreeReview #FreeBookReview #Bookstagram
@MCMackay #Ballochbrae #BallochbraePress @LoveBookTours @LBTCrew #KellyALacey
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June 26, 2025
Cosy mystery isn’t always my favourite genre as I prefer the grittier serial killer thrillers and Scandi Noir type crime fiction. But The Ballochbrae Book Club is a great romp in the Scottish Highlands, with an array of often hilarious characters.
Our four intrepid amateur lady detectives set up a book club, except no-one is interested in the books. They would rather discuss the discovery of a body in the river, very much dead, and initially unidentified (without going into details as to why).
The ladies are very different and often don’t get on and throw snide comments at each other. I really didn’t like Chatty (really Catriona), even the name grated. She almost single-handedly runs a guest house, and doesn’t half go on about it. She dresses to kill and uses her fading womanly wiles to get what she wants. I’m told that the fact that I really dislike her is a sign of how well written she is.
Heather is a school teacher and a bit too upright, or uptight more likely. Her dwindling pupil numbers are dwindling even further and could result in the closing of the one and only school in the immediate area. She would then be out of a job.
Morag is a farmer, looking after her grumpy old dad. Her fashion style comprises dungarees, wellies, mud and straw. She’s terrifying.
Finally, Flora’s husband had an affair with a younger woman – she even caught them ‘in flagrante delicto’. Flora has been taking care of her mother Kate, who has dementia, and is now in a nursing home. She is my favourite character by miles.
The body is discovered by two of the pupils at Heather’s school, who were playing truant at the time. The ladies try to get as much ‘intel’ as they can so they can solve the crime, but the police are not happy about their interference.
It’s great fun and the first in a new series. If the author is reading this, please can we have a dog in the next book. Not Morag’s working dogs, but maybe Flora could get a Jack Russell or a Border Terrier. She’s not the Chihuahua or Cockapoo type. Thank you.
Many thanks to @lovebookstours for inviting me to be part of the #TheBallochbraeBookClub #blogtour
Our four intrepid amateur lady detectives set up a book club, except no-one is interested in the books. They would rather discuss the discovery of a body in the river, very much dead, and initially unidentified (without going into details as to why).
The ladies are very different and often don’t get on and throw snide comments at each other. I really didn’t like Chatty (really Catriona), even the name grated. She almost single-handedly runs a guest house, and doesn’t half go on about it. She dresses to kill and uses her fading womanly wiles to get what she wants. I’m told that the fact that I really dislike her is a sign of how well written she is.
Heather is a school teacher and a bit too upright, or uptight more likely. Her dwindling pupil numbers are dwindling even further and could result in the closing of the one and only school in the immediate area. She would then be out of a job.
Morag is a farmer, looking after her grumpy old dad. Her fashion style comprises dungarees, wellies, mud and straw. She’s terrifying.
Finally, Flora’s husband had an affair with a younger woman – she even caught them ‘in flagrante delicto’. Flora has been taking care of her mother Kate, who has dementia, and is now in a nursing home. She is my favourite character by miles.
The body is discovered by two of the pupils at Heather’s school, who were playing truant at the time. The ladies try to get as much ‘intel’ as they can so they can solve the crime, but the police are not happy about their interference.
It’s great fun and the first in a new series. If the author is reading this, please can we have a dog in the next book. Not Morag’s working dogs, but maybe Flora could get a Jack Russell or a Border Terrier. She’s not the Chihuahua or Cockapoo type. Thank you.
Many thanks to @lovebookstours for inviting me to be part of the #TheBallochbraeBookClub #blogtour
July 8, 2025
I received a copy of this book as part of a recent book tour
From the very first chapter with its vivid descriptions of Ballochbrae,the reader is firmly planted in Royal Deeside. I wasn't sure what year this book was set in 1970? 80s? when we meet the BookClub in Heather's house with its floral Laura Ashley furnishings, Yardleys products, hostess trolley, teapot, cups, and saucers but is actually set after Queen Elizabeth's death. The Bookclub are four very different women of a certain age who want different things from the group on one side Heather who wants to read and discuss actual books as opposed to Flora, Morag and Chatty who don't!
When the local Ghillie is murdered, the BookClub decide "to do some digging" into his death while they decide which direction their group should take....books or current affairs (aka gossip club).
We see them uncovering the "who, when, where before ultimately uncovering the why" in a series of often hilarious one step forward, two steps back, tripping over twists, turns, lies and misunderstandings that will keep your mind focused keeping up. Heather valiantly trying to keep the 'Book in BookClub', with a copy of a police handbook.
Chatty scraping by trying to maintain her former lifestyle, after being left a widow and a castle owner, a millstone rather than a financial asset is my favourite character because she is just so awful, brazenly throwing herself at men, and resorting to cringe making cost cutting methods....you really don't want to dwell on her solution to no clean bedlinen arriving that week!
The American/Canadian cosy crime market will love this book, with its Scottish setting vividly brought to life with the physical descriptions and historical snapshots of the villages, towns and landscape features and references to "The Royals". The short chapters encourage you to dip in and read a couple of chapters....perhaps while holidaying on Royal Deeside!
From the very first chapter with its vivid descriptions of Ballochbrae,the reader is firmly planted in Royal Deeside. I wasn't sure what year this book was set in 1970? 80s? when we meet the BookClub in Heather's house with its floral Laura Ashley furnishings, Yardleys products, hostess trolley, teapot, cups, and saucers but is actually set after Queen Elizabeth's death. The Bookclub are four very different women of a certain age who want different things from the group on one side Heather who wants to read and discuss actual books as opposed to Flora, Morag and Chatty who don't!
When the local Ghillie is murdered, the BookClub decide "to do some digging" into his death while they decide which direction their group should take....books or current affairs (aka gossip club).
We see them uncovering the "who, when, where before ultimately uncovering the why" in a series of often hilarious one step forward, two steps back, tripping over twists, turns, lies and misunderstandings that will keep your mind focused keeping up. Heather valiantly trying to keep the 'Book in BookClub', with a copy of a police handbook.
Chatty scraping by trying to maintain her former lifestyle, after being left a widow and a castle owner, a millstone rather than a financial asset is my favourite character because she is just so awful, brazenly throwing herself at men, and resorting to cringe making cost cutting methods....you really don't want to dwell on her solution to no clean bedlinen arriving that week!
The American/Canadian cosy crime market will love this book, with its Scottish setting vividly brought to life with the physical descriptions and historical snapshots of the villages, towns and landscape features and references to "The Royals". The short chapters encourage you to dip in and read a couple of chapters....perhaps while holidaying on Royal Deeside!
July 4, 2025
A cosy mystery set in a wee Aberdeenshire village just mere miles from my own Aberdeenshire village, well obviously I had to read this! I loved the scenery, and knowing the locations (even when there were a few hits changed I forgave that artistic license!) I also enjoyed reading some dialogue in my native Doric, not heaps of it so it shouldn't have been too complicated for a non-native speaker, but enough to give me a wee buzz of pleasure.
It did take a wee while to get into the story due to the volume of characters and each chapter flicking back and forth between their viewpoints. Once I got to know who they all were I enjoyed the multiple views.
The chapters are super short, I always like that as it means I read tons without realising it! As it stands I started and finished this on the same day!
The book club didn't really get off the ground, and thats a pity as I reckon their opinions of some books might make for some hilarious dialogue!
Being set in Deeside, there is a lot of talk of the royal family. I've seen this be a negative for folk in reviews but I was totally fine with it. I know that folk from that area do regularly talk about them, because the late Queen was seen as one of them.
I am not sure where the series will go from here, but I think there's plenty of room for it to grow. I especially want to see the four ladies friendship grow.
Fans of quaint Scottish cosy mysteries will definitely enjoy this!
It did take a wee while to get into the story due to the volume of characters and each chapter flicking back and forth between their viewpoints. Once I got to know who they all were I enjoyed the multiple views.
The chapters are super short, I always like that as it means I read tons without realising it! As it stands I started and finished this on the same day!
The book club didn't really get off the ground, and thats a pity as I reckon their opinions of some books might make for some hilarious dialogue!
Being set in Deeside, there is a lot of talk of the royal family. I've seen this be a negative for folk in reviews but I was totally fine with it. I know that folk from that area do regularly talk about them, because the late Queen was seen as one of them.
I am not sure where the series will go from here, but I think there's plenty of room for it to grow. I especially want to see the four ladies friendship grow.
Fans of quaint Scottish cosy mysteries will definitely enjoy this!
February 9, 2026
This was such a warm, immersive read for me. Set near Balmoral in Scotland, The Ballochbrae Book Club instantly won my heart thanks to its Royal Deeside setting — an area I’ve travelled through many times. The atmosphere, scenery and sense of place are beautifully woven throughout, and it genuinely felt like being back there for the day.
I especially loved how snippets of local history were peppered through the story, adding an extra layer of richness. It made the mystery feel rooted and real.
This is cosy crime at its best, following Flora, Chatty, Heather and Morag — the Ballochbrae Book Club — as they turn amateur sleuths while investigating the death of Stuart Thom, much to the irritation of local policeman Alex MacDuff. The four women make for a wonderfully unlikely troupe, but their personalities are well drawn and watching their friendships deepen over the course of the book was a real joy.
A special nod to the use of traditional Scottish speech too — it was refreshing to see the local flavour kept intact rather than smoothed away, which only added to the authenticity.
Overall, this felt like a trip up to Royal Deeside, a catch-up with four friends over copious amounts of wine, and a cosy mystery solved along the way — with a bit of history thrown in for good measure. What’s not to love? I’m very much looking forward to the next instalment in the series.
I especially loved how snippets of local history were peppered through the story, adding an extra layer of richness. It made the mystery feel rooted and real.
This is cosy crime at its best, following Flora, Chatty, Heather and Morag — the Ballochbrae Book Club — as they turn amateur sleuths while investigating the death of Stuart Thom, much to the irritation of local policeman Alex MacDuff. The four women make for a wonderfully unlikely troupe, but their personalities are well drawn and watching their friendships deepen over the course of the book was a real joy.
A special nod to the use of traditional Scottish speech too — it was refreshing to see the local flavour kept intact rather than smoothed away, which only added to the authenticity.
Overall, this felt like a trip up to Royal Deeside, a catch-up with four friends over copious amounts of wine, and a cosy mystery solved along the way — with a bit of history thrown in for good measure. What’s not to love? I’m very much looking forward to the next instalment in the series.
May 31, 2025
I really enjoyed the setting of this one, and could imagine Ballochbrae to be a beautiful town to live - a quiet place where not much happens... until one of the locals is found in the river.
4 women of the town, Flora, Chatty, Morag and Heather are each looking for something different for their lives and come together to form a bookclub. Only, 3 of them don't want to read. They find themselves taking on amateur sleuth roles in a race against the police to solve the death of a local man.
There were amusing moments in this in which I did find myself chuckling, and a few heartwarming moments between Flora and her mother with dementia, however on the whole I found the story fell short at the end for me. I felt it was gearing for a big twist that just didn't appear. I also really wasn't very keen on Chatty at all, and found many of the comments in the early chapters from various characters uncomfortable. There seemed to be a lot of body negativity and misogyny which maybe fits with the age of the characters, but only served to take me out of the story itself.
The setting carried this for me, with some nice descriptive moments.
Thank you to Love Book Tours and M C Mckay for the advanced e-copy of this book.
4 women of the town, Flora, Chatty, Morag and Heather are each looking for something different for their lives and come together to form a bookclub. Only, 3 of them don't want to read. They find themselves taking on amateur sleuth roles in a race against the police to solve the death of a local man.
There were amusing moments in this in which I did find myself chuckling, and a few heartwarming moments between Flora and her mother with dementia, however on the whole I found the story fell short at the end for me. I felt it was gearing for a big twist that just didn't appear. I also really wasn't very keen on Chatty at all, and found many of the comments in the early chapters from various characters uncomfortable. There seemed to be a lot of body negativity and misogyny which maybe fits with the age of the characters, but only served to take me out of the story itself.
The setting carried this for me, with some nice descriptive moments.
Thank you to Love Book Tours and M C Mckay for the advanced e-copy of this book.
August 18, 2025
📆 single linear timeline.
👀 multiple POV. 3rd person
🐢 -🐇 slow-paced
Whenever I read a book set in Scotland, I fall a little more in love with the place, despite the fact I've only been there once. And in that respect 'The Ballochbrae Book Club' was not a disappointment. I really feel that a visit to bonnie Scotland might be on the cards.
Mackay's writing was so descriptive that you can't help but feel like you are there, the scene was set perfectly and I could picture every last detail. I did find the story a little slow to get going, but it means that I could really get to know the characters.
The plot was good fun, I love the fact that the book club seemingly involves absolutely no reading whatsoever, and that the members don't even seem to like each other that much! I loved all the bits of gossip about the royal family, and how some of the residents of Ballochbrae seem convinced that they know more than the average person purely due to living close to Balmoral. I'll be honest, I know people who are a bit like that in real life, so it certainly felt genuine.
I look forward to reading about the book clubs next adventure. Who knows, maybe it will even involve some books next time!
👀 multiple POV. 3rd person
🐢 -🐇 slow-paced
Whenever I read a book set in Scotland, I fall a little more in love with the place, despite the fact I've only been there once. And in that respect 'The Ballochbrae Book Club' was not a disappointment. I really feel that a visit to bonnie Scotland might be on the cards.
Mackay's writing was so descriptive that you can't help but feel like you are there, the scene was set perfectly and I could picture every last detail. I did find the story a little slow to get going, but it means that I could really get to know the characters.
The plot was good fun, I love the fact that the book club seemingly involves absolutely no reading whatsoever, and that the members don't even seem to like each other that much! I loved all the bits of gossip about the royal family, and how some of the residents of Ballochbrae seem convinced that they know more than the average person purely due to living close to Balmoral. I'll be honest, I know people who are a bit like that in real life, so it certainly felt genuine.
I look forward to reading about the book clubs next adventure. Who knows, maybe it will even involve some books next time!
July 6, 2025
A cosy murder mystery with a group of ladies who are all massively different but brought together in a book club. I did find it amusing that they'd formed a book club but had no idea what to read or really had an intention on picking up a book, except Heather.
They're an unlikely bunch but clearly in need of company with some having similar circumstances that brings them a mutual understanding. Flora seems to be a natural leader and helps organise things despite her own personal circumstances biting at her time. Her own relationships are interesting and I did wonder if we'd get more about her family dynamics.
Chatty was a bizarre character but I think she created a persona as a way of protecting herself. I think her business venture with Flora was a good idea and adds a little extra to the story.
Overall I found this to be quite a slow burn although you do get to learn a lot about the characters. I did find myself getting more tied up in the characters goings on rather than the murder mystery although that does unfold in such a way that you don't expect. Intrigued to see what the book club gets up to next...
They're an unlikely bunch but clearly in need of company with some having similar circumstances that brings them a mutual understanding. Flora seems to be a natural leader and helps organise things despite her own personal circumstances biting at her time. Her own relationships are interesting and I did wonder if we'd get more about her family dynamics.
Chatty was a bizarre character but I think she created a persona as a way of protecting herself. I think her business venture with Flora was a good idea and adds a little extra to the story.
Overall I found this to be quite a slow burn although you do get to learn a lot about the characters. I did find myself getting more tied up in the characters goings on rather than the murder mystery although that does unfold in such a way that you don't expect. Intrigued to see what the book club gets up to next...
July 11, 2025
Cozy mystery is not a genre I’m generally drawn to but this was such an easy, enjoyable read.
The four main characters are all members of a book club, three of somewhat reluctantly and when a body turns up they turn their attention to trying to solve a possible murder.
Although Ballochbrae is a fictional town it brought to life by the writer with details of what life is like in a Deeside town. I loved reading about how the royalty affect the life of the townspeople and the level of detail was just right.
The four main characters are all so different so it’s easy to see that they probably wouldn’t be friends outside the book club. They all have their little idiosyncrasies and plenty of other things to deal with in their lives. Some of the interactions between them and with lesser characters had me laughing out loud.
The story was so beautifully written with easy to read short chapters that I raced through it in a day.
I’m not sure if this could be made into a series but I’ll definitely look for other books by this author.
Thank you to Love Books Tours and the author for the free review copy.
The four main characters are all members of a book club, three of somewhat reluctantly and when a body turns up they turn their attention to trying to solve a possible murder.
Although Ballochbrae is a fictional town it brought to life by the writer with details of what life is like in a Deeside town. I loved reading about how the royalty affect the life of the townspeople and the level of detail was just right.
The four main characters are all so different so it’s easy to see that they probably wouldn’t be friends outside the book club. They all have their little idiosyncrasies and plenty of other things to deal with in their lives. Some of the interactions between them and with lesser characters had me laughing out loud.
The story was so beautifully written with easy to read short chapters that I raced through it in a day.
I’m not sure if this could be made into a series but I’ll definitely look for other books by this author.
Thank you to Love Books Tours and the author for the free review copy.
August 5, 2025
‘The Ballochbrae Bookclub’ is a cosy mystery series set deep in the Scottish Highlands. Packed full of interesting characters, lush descriptions of the countryside and wee towns make for an entertaining read.
When Chatty, Morag, Heather and Flora set up a book club, in reality, they don't even end up talking about the books and stray into local gossip instead. Then when a body is found in the River Dee they decide to become like Miss Marple and try to figure out who killed him.
The author plays on the book's location and its links to the royal family. I'm sure royalists will eat this one up, and there are lots of references to real-life businesses like The Fife Arms, etc.
I enjoyed this book right up until the resolution of the case and then I am afraid I was disappointed. It is not how I would conclude a book being pitched as cosy crime. It is a shame as the rest of it was bang on the money. Chatty, Heather, Flora and Morag were great representations of middle-aged women who have complex backstories and priorities. The actual investigation was well thought out but I just can't get over the ending.
Let me know if you pick this one up.
June 26, 2025
The Ballochbrae Book Club by MC Mackay
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Flora, Heather, Chatty and Morag form a book club, but they don't really read, and at times don't seem to like each other but they still turn up and work together to try and solve the mystery of the body in the river.
Set in a small Scottish town, everybody knows everybody else and what's going on. This helps to keep the circle of characters not too big. I liked how we also saw a bit about the lives of each of the women and how they had different things going on besides the mystery solving.
The book is very detailed in describing places, people and things and it took a little while to get my head round who everybody was and how they fitted in. Each chapter is a different person and some are quite short making you feel like you're getting through the book quite quickly. It also makes for good stopping points if you only have a short time to read.
A gentle cosy mystery read (if you ignore the dead body!)
I received a gifted copy of this book. This is my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Flora, Heather, Chatty and Morag form a book club, but they don't really read, and at times don't seem to like each other but they still turn up and work together to try and solve the mystery of the body in the river.
Set in a small Scottish town, everybody knows everybody else and what's going on. This helps to keep the circle of characters not too big. I liked how we also saw a bit about the lives of each of the women and how they had different things going on besides the mystery solving.
The book is very detailed in describing places, people and things and it took a little while to get my head round who everybody was and how they fitted in. Each chapter is a different person and some are quite short making you feel like you're getting through the book quite quickly. It also makes for good stopping points if you only have a short time to read.
A gentle cosy mystery read (if you ignore the dead body!)
I received a gifted copy of this book. This is my honest review.
June 29, 2025
Read like a true cozy mystery. There’s a lot of slow build up with character establishments, from how they know each other to how they are as individuals. This made it seem pretty slow and could seem boring to some. I’ve binge watched Midsomer Murder several times over so once I got started in reading this, I felt that very pace. Besides that, there were colloquial terms I wasn’t familiar with, but the book takes place in a country I’ve never been to so I just took the time to reread those sentences to understand it better within the context of that discussion. I totally appreciate the time taken to consider accents as opposed to writing something out and saying “in a Scottish accent”. The writing is so well done, I felt it added to everything and made me want to keep going despite the pace. I really enjoyed it as it’s a change of pace from my usual reading.
If you like shows like Midsomer Murder, cozy mysteries or want to escape to a countryside where His Royal Highness might be seen, give this book a chance.
Thanks to @ballochbrae and @lovebookstours for the #gifted copy.
If you like shows like Midsomer Murder, cozy mysteries or want to escape to a countryside where His Royal Highness might be seen, give this book a chance.
Thanks to @ballochbrae and @lovebookstours for the #gifted copy.
July 5, 2025
This is the first book in a wonderful new series set in the heart of Scotland. The title of this book and the setting is what initially drew me to it and even though not much happens within the book club, it did not disappoint.
The story follows four fabulous ladies, Flora, Hetty, Chatty and Morag. These ladies quickly desert their newly forged book group to become amateur sleuths, investing the mystery of a body found in the River Dee.
Written in short chapters which I loved, this novel is for anyone who likes a relaxing, cosy crime, mystery. Beautifully written with well drawn out characters, that were witty and lovely in equal measure. I loved the descriptive language within the novel. It created a deep sense of time, place and community,
I’m not particularly a royalist but this did not spoil my enjoyed of the book at all.
It was very much a warm, cosy, lovely novel that I really enjoyed!
I’m looking forwards to the next instalment in the ladies adventures already!
The story follows four fabulous ladies, Flora, Hetty, Chatty and Morag. These ladies quickly desert their newly forged book group to become amateur sleuths, investing the mystery of a body found in the River Dee.
Written in short chapters which I loved, this novel is for anyone who likes a relaxing, cosy crime, mystery. Beautifully written with well drawn out characters, that were witty and lovely in equal measure. I loved the descriptive language within the novel. It created a deep sense of time, place and community,
I’m not particularly a royalist but this did not spoil my enjoyed of the book at all.
It was very much a warm, cosy, lovely novel that I really enjoyed!
I’m looking forwards to the next instalment in the ladies adventures already!
July 5, 2025
What a delightful and witty cosy mystery. Perfectly balances humour and suspense. I had so much fun reading this book. The Scottish village setting was full of charm, and the characters felt like people you’d meet in real life—flawed, funny, and full of surprises.
The story centers around four women—Flora, Chatty, Heather, and Morag—who form a book club that quickly turns into something else entirely when a body is discovered nearby. Instead of reading novels, they find themselves trying to solve a real-life murder. Each woman brings her own quirks and secrets to the group, and watching them clash, bond, and grow was one of the best parts of the book.
I enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman and this book gave me a similar vibe.
I loved how the mystery slowly unfolded. I can’t wait to see what these ladies get up to next.
The story centers around four women—Flora, Chatty, Heather, and Morag—who form a book club that quickly turns into something else entirely when a body is discovered nearby. Instead of reading novels, they find themselves trying to solve a real-life murder. Each woman brings her own quirks and secrets to the group, and watching them clash, bond, and grow was one of the best parts of the book.
I enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman and this book gave me a similar vibe.
I loved how the mystery slowly unfolded. I can’t wait to see what these ladies get up to next.
July 7, 2025
3.5 rounded up.
This was a really easy and fun read for me. Not my usual genre but a fun pallet cleanser. It has huge Sunday afternoon murder mystery meets 90s comedy/soap vibes.
Murder she wrote meets Emerdale meets birds of a feather?
Mackay does a great job introducing an array of characters. The sheer volume is an example of how well the story is written, and also contributes to that small village vibe where everyone knows everyone - you almost can't separate each resident from the other. Their lives are so interwoven.
I enjoyed all the characters and their different personas and roles within the village, group dynamic, and investigation.
Chatty was probably my favourite character; Snobby, sassy, and a little slu**y.
This would've been a 4* read for me if the conclusion had more punch.
This was a really easy and fun read for me. Not my usual genre but a fun pallet cleanser. It has huge Sunday afternoon murder mystery meets 90s comedy/soap vibes.
Murder she wrote meets Emerdale meets birds of a feather?
Mackay does a great job introducing an array of characters. The sheer volume is an example of how well the story is written, and also contributes to that small village vibe where everyone knows everyone - you almost can't separate each resident from the other. Their lives are so interwoven.
I enjoyed all the characters and their different personas and roles within the village, group dynamic, and investigation.
Chatty was probably my favourite character; Snobby, sassy, and a little slu**y.
This would've been a 4* read for me if the conclusion had more punch.
September 22, 2025
This book is a celebration of the fact that women of a certain age still have both a lot of life and a lot of mischief left in them!
Only Heather (who is the local schoolteacher) wants a book club…Morag, Chatty and Flora just want an excuse to escape from their lives for a little while every week. Don’t we all!
When a body turns up in the river, they make it their business to investigate. Which they find is far more fun then reading books!
Woven into the story is a wealth of information about Royal Deeside, the local history and the Royal Family. If like me, you know the area well, you will find it even more interesting.
This is a really enjoyable, light hearted book with nice short chapters which make the story flow well.
Only Heather (who is the local schoolteacher) wants a book club…Morag, Chatty and Flora just want an excuse to escape from their lives for a little while every week. Don’t we all!
When a body turns up in the river, they make it their business to investigate. Which they find is far more fun then reading books!
Woven into the story is a wealth of information about Royal Deeside, the local history and the Royal Family. If like me, you know the area well, you will find it even more interesting.
This is a really enjoyable, light hearted book with nice short chapters which make the story flow well.
October 1, 2025
Looking for a cosy mystery? Here you go.
Set in Scotland, the author really sets the scene and I absolutely loved her ability to bring the character's language to life. With the setting and the dialogue, I genuinely felt like I was beside the characters.
Lots of POVs give you the chance to get to know them individually and together. Alongside other town folk, and all the nitty gritty small town drama!
Despite a murder being the main plot here, the book is cosy and entertaining with characters that make you smile, keep you reading.
The best way I can sum this up is by saying it's very Richard Osman's "The Thursday Murder Club" vibe! So if you've read or watched that and enjoyed it, you'll be sure to enjoy this too! It's kinda the perfect snuggly October book!
Set in Scotland, the author really sets the scene and I absolutely loved her ability to bring the character's language to life. With the setting and the dialogue, I genuinely felt like I was beside the characters.
Lots of POVs give you the chance to get to know them individually and together. Alongside other town folk, and all the nitty gritty small town drama!
Despite a murder being the main plot here, the book is cosy and entertaining with characters that make you smile, keep you reading.
The best way I can sum this up is by saying it's very Richard Osman's "The Thursday Murder Club" vibe! So if you've read or watched that and enjoyed it, you'll be sure to enjoy this too! It's kinda the perfect snuggly October book!
June 27, 2025
This book is such a cosy, feel good read that I devoured in one sitting, I just couldn't stop once I had started it. The beautiful setting of a lovely Highland village near Balmoral, it follows four women of a certain age who start a book club, but instead of just chatting about books, they end up solving a mystery after a body is found. I really like Flora, I found her extremely relatable and the dynamic between her and the rest of the book group was so much fun; the idea of a book club who don't want to read the books is so funny to me. I don't want to give away any spoilers but this book is full of warmth, humour and heart that I just loved every second of it.
July 2, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! I felt that it was well written, and the short chapters for me meant that I found it was easy to pick up and catch up on what was going on!
The characters are written descriptively and I felt I could imagine who they actually were, I loved the detail that went into the whole book. I love Scotland so could picture the highlands as I was reading!
This is a true cosy mystery - at times I felt I should have waiting for a rainy day and a blanket to truly get engrossed and enjoy!
I didn’t find that it was fast paced but I enjoyed that; I think it made it a more ‘comforting’ and enjoyable read. I would love to read more by this author!
The characters are written descriptively and I felt I could imagine who they actually were, I loved the detail that went into the whole book. I love Scotland so could picture the highlands as I was reading!
This is a true cosy mystery - at times I felt I should have waiting for a rainy day and a blanket to truly get engrossed and enjoy!
I didn’t find that it was fast paced but I enjoyed that; I think it made it a more ‘comforting’ and enjoyable read. I would love to read more by this author!
July 5, 2025
When four local women for a club, mainly because they’re bored and dissatisfied with their lives and three of them don’t even want to read!! Instead, they turn their hand to amateur sleuthing to solve the death of a local man before the police do. Together, they provided some funny moments as they set about unearthing the secrets of the village. I thought the four main characters compliments each other but nobody stood out for me. I felt that the e came across as bitter old ladies at times but I think we all be that way at times. That being said. I really enjoyed the story and its gorgeous setting in the highlands of Scotland. It was a fun book and quite liked it.
October 11, 2025
Thanks to Goodreads for letting me read this book in exchange for a review!!
At the beginning of this book I felt there were so many characters thrown at me, I was almost worried I wasn’t going to keep them straight! But as I kept reading, I realized each character was so different that it was easy to keep them separated. The mystery itself was interesting and I like how each person took on a different assignment to solve. But since they actually were supposed to be a book club, wish that would have been a little more included for us book lovers. In the end, felt like the (murder ?) was too easily solved or ended too quickly.
At the beginning of this book I felt there were so many characters thrown at me, I was almost worried I wasn’t going to keep them straight! But as I kept reading, I realized each character was so different that it was easy to keep them separated. The mystery itself was interesting and I like how each person took on a different assignment to solve. But since they actually were supposed to be a book club, wish that would have been a little more included for us book lovers. In the end, felt like the (murder ?) was too easily solved or ended too quickly.
June 18, 2025
A book club that doesn’t like books.. our book club just likes wine so I get it!
A group of women form a book club and end up solving a crime, it’s great and up to date based near Balmoral so lots of Royal gossip and nosy neighbours. The start of a great cosy series I hope!
The characters don’t like each other which makes for great reading, I think they will grow on each other as they need and realise each other needs support from the difficult lives they have had
Can’t wait for you to read this too! The setting is to die for!
A group of women form a book club and end up solving a crime, it’s great and up to date based near Balmoral so lots of Royal gossip and nosy neighbours. The start of a great cosy series I hope!
The characters don’t like each other which makes for great reading, I think they will grow on each other as they need and realise each other needs support from the difficult lives they have had
Can’t wait for you to read this too! The setting is to die for!
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