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The House Sitters #1
Exposed in Edinburgh
They’ve turned in their badges. But when their Scottish adventure is dampened by a blackmailer, will they step up and save the day?Joan and Alen Arny can’t wait to trade everyday life for the exotic. And after retiring from their work in the sheriff’s office, they happily fly from their Texas home to the land of kilts and bagpipes. But before they can explore the city, their newest neighbor begs them to quash the scandalous secret that has his tartan in a twist.
Without access to any of their usual resources, the Arnys have to wrack their minds for ways to squeeze villain-hunting onto their bucket list. But when they alternate local cooking classes and sightseeing with on-the-side sleuthing, they’re followed by a mysterious stranger…who suddenly turns up dead.
Can the ex-pat American couple crack the case in a country where even the English language is inscrutable?
Exposed in Edinburgh is the humorous first book in The House Sitters Cozy Mysteries series. If you like armchair travel, gore-free puzzles, and crime-busting canines, then you’ll love Scarlett Moss’s delightful tale.
Buy Exposed in Edinburgh to enjoy a criminally good trip abroad today!
Without access to any of their usual resources, the Arnys have to wrack their minds for ways to squeeze villain-hunting onto their bucket list. But when they alternate local cooking classes and sightseeing with on-the-side sleuthing, they’re followed by a mysterious stranger…who suddenly turns up dead.
Can the ex-pat American couple crack the case in a country where even the English language is inscrutable?
Exposed in Edinburgh is the humorous first book in The House Sitters Cozy Mysteries series. If you like armchair travel, gore-free puzzles, and crime-busting canines, then you’ll love Scarlett Moss’s delightful tale.
Buy Exposed in Edinburgh to enjoy a criminally good trip abroad today!
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First published January 23, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
April 13, 2023
Joan and Alen retire early, sell their belongings and become house sitters, hoping to travel internationally. Alen retired as a sheriff so he has some crime fighting experience. Shortly after traveling to Edinburgh to house sit for 3 weeks, the husband of the family next door receives a blackmail letter and Joan and Alen agree to investigate while seeing the sights of Edinburgh. This cozy is a puzzle-solving mystery. It features Sherlock, the homeowner's dog, a number of eateries and special tours. Joan takes a lot of pictures. Apparently they are mostly of men in kilts. That doesn't help solve the mystery but Sherlock does. Enjoyable.
July 31, 2023
Joan and Alen Arne are retired from Texas and decide that a good way to travel would be to house sit in different countries.
The first opportunity they get is in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Alen is a retired Sheriff.
The start to get settled in and come up with some tours they would like to do.
Alen decides to take a few Scottish cooking classes and his wife decides to learn how to make videos of their trip. And of course there is the dog walking to all the local parks.
But before they can get too comfortable, their neighbor asks for help to sort out a blackmail scheme he has been faced with.
How can the pair figure out a case with none of their usual resources?
This is the House sitters cozy mystery. NO gore, no dead bodies and fun travel.
The first opportunity they get is in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Alen is a retired Sheriff.
The start to get settled in and come up with some tours they would like to do.
Alen decides to take a few Scottish cooking classes and his wife decides to learn how to make videos of their trip. And of course there is the dog walking to all the local parks.
But before they can get too comfortable, their neighbor asks for help to sort out a blackmail scheme he has been faced with.
How can the pair figure out a case with none of their usual resources?
This is the House sitters cozy mystery. NO gore, no dead bodies and fun travel.
March 14, 2023
Cute cozy mystery story. Alen and Joan, a couple from Texas, recently retired and travel to Edinburgh to start a new career as house-sitters. Their first house includes an adorable dog called Sherlock. Between getting to know the neighbors, exploring Edinburgh, and getting involved in an investigation, the book moves along quickly. I enjoyed reading it and look forward to continuing the series.
September 10, 2022
This is a wonderful read. I liked the characters. Their adventures in Scotland gave me a view of the culture and some of the customs. I enjoyed my visit with Joan and Alen and want to read more of their adventures.
March 24, 2023
I *really* wanted to like this book more - the concept is great (and I loved the dog Sherlock). There were some wonderful descriptions of Eninburgh! But the characters were flat and the dialogue was stilted.
September 23, 2025
This was actually fun and for once not a divorced woman starting over. A retired couple off to experience the world TOGETHER, with a solid relationship and solving mysteries together.
May 1, 2021
A best read!
It is nice to read a book in n which the main characters are older, because nor everyone is young and pretty/handsome. That being said, this couple, Joan and Alen are adorable! They have decided to become house sitters in other countries after retiring. What a great idea! Their first job is in Scotland and they have Sherlock, the dog, as an added part to the house sitting.
There is no murder, at first, but rather blackmail. As Alen is former police, he and his wife become sleuths to help out their neighbor, Ian.
But the crime is not what makes this book interesting and fun. Along the way, the two discover recipes, traditions, folklore and history about their new country and towns. The book is filled with lots of explorations and interesting people they meet.
The book is a good read and one that isn't predicated on death and gore. Well done, Mrs. Moss!
It is nice to read a book in n which the main characters are older, because nor everyone is young and pretty/handsome. That being said, this couple, Joan and Alen are adorable! They have decided to become house sitters in other countries after retiring. What a great idea! Their first job is in Scotland and they have Sherlock, the dog, as an added part to the house sitting.
There is no murder, at first, but rather blackmail. As Alen is former police, he and his wife become sleuths to help out their neighbor, Ian.
But the crime is not what makes this book interesting and fun. Along the way, the two discover recipes, traditions, folklore and history about their new country and towns. The book is filled with lots of explorations and interesting people they meet.
The book is a good read and one that isn't predicated on death and gore. Well done, Mrs. Moss!
March 3, 2023
This was okay. I liked the setting and the cozy retirees who decide to make their next chapter be housesitting around world. When they arrive in Edinburgh for their first assignment, they quickly find themselves embroiled in a murder mystery. The Arnys worked in law enforcement in their previous lives, so when their new neighbor seems to be in trouble, the couple begin to investigate, along with the help of the dog they are pet sitting, whose name is Sherlock Holmes!
January 5, 2021
Nice
This isn’t really my kind of book but it would be interesting to anyone who wants to know a lot about Scotland and their food. It made me hungry! A married couple travels the world house sitting. They try to solve a mystery. The part I liked best was trying to guess who was blackmailing Ian. I guessed wrong by the way.
This isn’t really my kind of book but it would be interesting to anyone who wants to know a lot about Scotland and their food. It made me hungry! A married couple travels the world house sitting. They try to solve a mystery. The part I liked best was trying to guess who was blackmailing Ian. I guessed wrong by the way.
April 9, 2024
Retired Texas law enforcement officer Alen and his wife Joan are on their way to Scotland for their first new job...house sitting. I had to laugh when Alen says "I am glad that our first job is somewhere where they speak English" ... I immediately thought "famous last words my friend... you Just you wait!" My grandfather was from Scotland, and I spent the first 12 or so years of my life literally translating his "English" to our neighbors.
Joan and Alen arrive... settle in... and are thrilled with it all... the house...the dog, (especially the dog) ...even the weather. Quickly they are being asked for help by one of their neighbors. Seems he has become the victim of blackmail. Now this "mystery" which really wasn't much of one to start with...kind of takes a back burner...as is often the case with cozies.
While sightseeing and taking several tours Alen & Joan are learning a lot about Scotland...the history and the various traditions. They actually start to understand the speech of the people. While doing these things and settling down, they take the opportunity to enjoy the things closer to home like taking long walks with the dog. I love the dog's name...meet Sherlock, a border collie that is sometimes smarter than the people around him.
This book is truly a part of the "cozy" genera. You won't find any dead bodies lying around...or more bodies meeting their ends in various gory manners...no bloody knives or smoking guns. If you are waiting for these things, you may find this story.... boring...but the characters are very likeable, and the dog is so, so cute. The book also has a lot of information at the end about the history of Scotland and some recipes and a lot of pictures. It was good to quietly visit Scotland again as I used to do with my gramps. You can almost hear the drone of the pipes if you close your eyes and listen closely.
Joan and Alen arrive... settle in... and are thrilled with it all... the house...the dog, (especially the dog) ...even the weather. Quickly they are being asked for help by one of their neighbors. Seems he has become the victim of blackmail. Now this "mystery" which really wasn't much of one to start with...kind of takes a back burner...as is often the case with cozies.
While sightseeing and taking several tours Alen & Joan are learning a lot about Scotland...the history and the various traditions. They actually start to understand the speech of the people. While doing these things and settling down, they take the opportunity to enjoy the things closer to home like taking long walks with the dog. I love the dog's name...meet Sherlock, a border collie that is sometimes smarter than the people around him.
This book is truly a part of the "cozy" genera. You won't find any dead bodies lying around...or more bodies meeting their ends in various gory manners...no bloody knives or smoking guns. If you are waiting for these things, you may find this story.... boring...but the characters are very likeable, and the dog is so, so cute. The book also has a lot of information at the end about the history of Scotland and some recipes and a lot of pictures. It was good to quietly visit Scotland again as I used to do with my gramps. You can almost hear the drone of the pipes if you close your eyes and listen closely.
Read
February 27, 2023Expectations of castles, kilts, and bagpipes turn into undercover crime-solving where even the English language is a mystery.
Alen and Joan Arny happily left law enforcement behind in exchange for traveling and new adventures. They never expected their new job as house and pet sitters to lead them back to crime and intrigue.
Ian Bennett has a secret. He’s in big trouble if it’s exposed and someone is threatening to do just that. The American couple house sitting next door might be the answer to his prayers.
Alen and Joan question if it’s possible to solve a mystery and capture a criminal with no police department, authority, jurisdiction, crime scene analysis, forensics, or modern crime-solving technology.
Will Alen be able to trust his intuition through his self-doubt, will Joan consider crime-solving a bucket list-worthy adventure, and can a canine named Sherlock Holmes help at all?
A clean cozy mystery. No graphic violence, sex, or strong language. Available in Large Print.
The House Sitters Cozy Mysteries will take you on adventures and land you in the middle of crimes in different international cities in each book. Enjoy travel photos and recipes from each destination along with charming dogs in each country. Look for corresponding journals. Each book can be read as a standalone and you can read them in any order.
Didn't finish it.
Alen and Joan Arny happily left law enforcement behind in exchange for traveling and new adventures. They never expected their new job as house and pet sitters to lead them back to crime and intrigue.
Ian Bennett has a secret. He’s in big trouble if it’s exposed and someone is threatening to do just that. The American couple house sitting next door might be the answer to his prayers.
Alen and Joan question if it’s possible to solve a mystery and capture a criminal with no police department, authority, jurisdiction, crime scene analysis, forensics, or modern crime-solving technology.
Will Alen be able to trust his intuition through his self-doubt, will Joan consider crime-solving a bucket list-worthy adventure, and can a canine named Sherlock Holmes help at all?
A clean cozy mystery. No graphic violence, sex, or strong language. Available in Large Print.
The House Sitters Cozy Mysteries will take you on adventures and land you in the middle of crimes in different international cities in each book. Enjoy travel photos and recipes from each destination along with charming dogs in each country. Look for corresponding journals. Each book can be read as a standalone and you can read them in any order.
Didn't finish it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2021
Alen Arny recently retired as a Texas Sheriff. His wife Joan decides that they should try house/pet sitting so they can see the world. Their first house is in Edinburgh, Scotland. They spend a day with the couple whose house they are sitting so they can get familiar with the house, neighborhood and dog, Sherlock. They are having a lovely time walking Sherlock in the parks and taking tours to see the sights and learn the history of the city. Alen and Joan meet the next-door neighbors and strike up a friendship. They spend time getting to know the family. Later the husband, Ian, asks for their help as he is being blackmailed. While they are following leads, they meet many wonderful people and try restaurants, bakeries and pubs that they would not have run across. The mystery is finally solved. I loved getting to “see and hear” the city. It really makes me want to go there. I am ready for Alen and Joan’s next adventure.
May 31, 2020
Who got Kilt?
I got this book through Kindle Unlimited. I've been to Edinburgh & dearly love Scotland.
This story is a bit different in that the original problem is not murder but blackmail. As retired sheriff, Alen & his wife Joan set out on their new life of international housesitters, the first stop is Edinburgh during Christmas time. The Clarkes are headed for Hawaii leaving border collie Sherlock in Alen & Joan's good hands..The Bennetts next door are friendly but the couple is surprised when Ian Bennett asks them to find out who's blackmailing him with a photo of him kissing a pub singer. Between historic tours & learning about Scottish culture, they track down suspects. But can they find the guilty party before Christmas?
This looks to be a fun series with lots of local colour.
I got this book through Kindle Unlimited. I've been to Edinburgh & dearly love Scotland.
This story is a bit different in that the original problem is not murder but blackmail. As retired sheriff, Alen & his wife Joan set out on their new life of international housesitters, the first stop is Edinburgh during Christmas time. The Clarkes are headed for Hawaii leaving border collie Sherlock in Alen & Joan's good hands..The Bennetts next door are friendly but the couple is surprised when Ian Bennett asks them to find out who's blackmailing him with a photo of him kissing a pub singer. Between historic tours & learning about Scottish culture, they track down suspects. But can they find the guilty party before Christmas?
This looks to be a fun series with lots of local colour.
August 29, 2020
"Exposed in Edinburgh" by Scarlett Moss is the first in The House Sitters Mysteries and is a mystery of a different kind. It was very enjoyable and had a couple of twists and turns along the way.
Joan and Alen are both retired and sell off all of their belongs to travel the world as House Sitters. They travel first to Edinburgh. Who knew that when you took a tour of the local attractions that you would be followed? That your neighbor is being blackmailed and would need your help?
The neighbors daughter, Scarlett, is nice and helpful. She teachers Joan how to make a video of all the pictures that she has taken around town.
The House Sitters Mysteries:
1) Exposed in Edinburgh
2) Leveled in London
3) Victimized in Venice
Joan and Alen are both retired and sell off all of their belongs to travel the world as House Sitters. They travel first to Edinburgh. Who knew that when you took a tour of the local attractions that you would be followed? That your neighbor is being blackmailed and would need your help?
The neighbors daughter, Scarlett, is nice and helpful. She teachers Joan how to make a video of all the pictures that she has taken around town.
The House Sitters Mysteries:
1) Exposed in Edinburgh
2) Leveled in London
3) Victimized in Venice
March 1, 2023
Alen is a retired sheriff and his wife, Joan, is a newly retired 911 operator from Texas. After retiring they decide to sell their home and see the world by house sitting. First job is a gorgeous Scottish Victorian home in Edinburgh and an adorable shepherd dog named Sherlock. When their temporary neighbour is blackmailed with a photo of him kissing a young singer, we get to see a lot of Edinburgh through their eyes as they interview suspects, eat a lot of Scottish food, and visit a new park every day with the extremely well behaved dog.
A delightful soft mystery with charming people. sweet pup, and interesting descriptions of this fascinating city.
A delightful soft mystery with charming people. sweet pup, and interesting descriptions of this fascinating city.
February 5, 2024
Writing about a real-world trend, Scarlett Moss has created a couple of protagonists who retired early, sold everything they owned, and became full-time house and pet sitters. In this firstl-in-series, Alen and Joan fly to Edinburgh to housesit and take care of Sherlock, a well trained and amiable border collie.
The new, temporary next-door neighbor is being blackmailed, and Joan persuades Alen they should look into it. While pursuing leads they meet lots of interesting people, learn about Scotland, and try foods they might not have tasted otherwise. And they figured out the perpetrator in the end.
The new, temporary next-door neighbor is being blackmailed, and Joan persuades Alen they should look into it. While pursuing leads they meet lots of interesting people, learn about Scotland, and try foods they might not have tasted otherwise. And they figured out the perpetrator in the end.
November 4, 2020
Light travel adventure mystery
There was enough mystery in this book to keep my interest along with a couple fun American sleuths in Scotland. I appreciated the fact that they was no foul language, sex scenes or gore. There was plenty of real Scots spoken and a bit of education about the food and culture to keep my interest too. Just a pleasant book that invites me to read more of this author.
There was enough mystery in this book to keep my interest along with a couple fun American sleuths in Scotland. I appreciated the fact that they was no foul language, sex scenes or gore. There was plenty of real Scots spoken and a bit of education about the food and culture to keep my interest too. Just a pleasant book that invites me to read more of this author.
December 24, 2020
An Interesting Setting for Sleuths
Alen is a retired sheriff from Corpus Christi, Texas. He and his wife decided to retire and house sit anywhere in the world that suits their fancy. They sold their home and all their worldly goods that would not fit in two suitcases each. Their first job is in Edinburgh. The home comes with a dog and some interesting neighbors with a puzzle to solve. Really interesting story. Next stop, London.
Alen is a retired sheriff from Corpus Christi, Texas. He and his wife decided to retire and house sit anywhere in the world that suits their fancy. They sold their home and all their worldly goods that would not fit in two suitcases each. Their first job is in Edinburgh. The home comes with a dog and some interesting neighbors with a puzzle to solve. Really interesting story. Next stop, London.
February 24, 2023
An interesting and short novel with a fun couple in a stable marriage (a nice twist) who become house sitters in Edinburgh as part of their retirement. The lovely house comes with a super-intelligent Border collie, Sherlock. The plot of blackmail is well-developed and all the characters are authentic.
My only problem was the multiple typos. Come on, who was the editor? Those really distracted from the storyline.
My only problem was the multiple typos. Come on, who was the editor? Those really distracted from the storyline.
November 29, 2023
Exposed in Edinburgh
This is a cozy mystery based in Scotland about an American couple from Texas who decide to change their lives by selling all their possessions and becoming house sitters in Europe. They condense their possessions to a couple suitcases and head off to Edinburgh where they make new friends, solve a blackmail mystery and have lots of adventures. A really fun and entertaining story.
This is a cozy mystery based in Scotland about an American couple from Texas who decide to change their lives by selling all their possessions and becoming house sitters in Europe. They condense their possessions to a couple suitcases and head off to Edinburgh where they make new friends, solve a blackmail mystery and have lots of adventures. A really fun and entertaining story.
July 1, 2024
Mystery solving, world traveling duo!
This was a super cute cozy mystery featuring a married couple as the super sleuths! We were introduced to Scottish history, foods, and customs, as well as, the featured mystery. The sleuths, Alen and Joan, are a retired married couple who have started on a new adventure of world travel and house/pet sitting. As a mystery it was fairly straight forward but still most characters fun to read!
This was a super cute cozy mystery featuring a married couple as the super sleuths! We were introduced to Scottish history, foods, and customs, as well as, the featured mystery. The sleuths, Alen and Joan, are a retired married couple who have started on a new adventure of world travel and house/pet sitting. As a mystery it was fairly straight forward but still most characters fun to read!
September 19, 2025
I love dogs and I went to Edinburgh back in the 70s and loved it and this caught my eye to check the story out. I love how Joan and Alen Arny traded everyday life for going to Scotland after retiring from their work in the sheriff’s office, they happily fly from their Texas home to the land of kilts and bagpipes. They start setting up things in a new country local cooking classes and sightseeing and now some sleuthing on the side.
.
.
February 13, 2021
Enjoyable
A different type of cozy. This is a story of an American husband and wife taking a job pet and house sitting. Good detail and love the characters of Alen and Joan. Some good details about Edinburgh Scotland. In this one, a man is being blackmailed nd so Joan and Alen are recruited to help solve the mystery. A good clean cozy. Hope to read more in the series.
A different type of cozy. This is a story of an American husband and wife taking a job pet and house sitting. Good detail and love the characters of Alen and Joan. Some good details about Edinburgh Scotland. In this one, a man is being blackmailed nd so Joan and Alen are recruited to help solve the mystery. A good clean cozy. Hope to read more in the series.
March 28, 2021
What a fun mystery it’s the story of a retired sheriff and his wife who retired from answering dispatch calls who take on a retirement job of house & dog sitting. The 1st job is in Edinburgh Scotland at Christmas time. They go on wonderful tours around the city meet wonderful people plus help their neighbor solve a mystery. Looking forward to the 2nd book.
March 6, 2023
Too overdone
Sorry I did not like this story. The constant detail of everyday life by these house-sitters who always got on perfectly and go to a place and meet all these wonderful people and do wonderful things every day was nauseating. Also I don't believe in real life people would allow strangers to talk to you like that. I won't be able to read any more of these books.
Sorry I did not like this story. The constant detail of everyday life by these house-sitters who always got on perfectly and go to a place and meet all these wonderful people and do wonderful things every day was nauseating. Also I don't believe in real life people would allow strangers to talk to you like that. I won't be able to read any more of these books.
April 2, 2023
Cute travel log and mystery!
A cute married couple are retired, and decided to housesit for people in other countries, and they are from Texas. He was a former sheriff, and when they got to Scotland to housesit, the next-door neighbor asked him to help find out who was blackmailing him. Very cute story, with lots of travel information.
A cute married couple are retired, and decided to housesit for people in other countries, and they are from Texas. He was a former sheriff, and when they got to Scotland to housesit, the next-door neighbor asked him to help find out who was blackmailing him. Very cute story, with lots of travel information.
October 26, 2023
fun, clean, mystery
I had a great time reading about these two Americans house sitting in Scotland! And they were Dog-sitting, too! Complex list of fun characters, an interesting mystery, and lots of fun Scottish history! They are off to London next, I can’t wait to start the New Adventure!
I had a great time reading about these two Americans house sitting in Scotland! And they were Dog-sitting, too! Complex list of fun characters, an interesting mystery, and lots of fun Scottish history! They are off to London next, I can’t wait to start the New Adventure!
October 27, 2024
Traveling house sitters and DOGS!
Cute series centering on a retired couple from Texas who develop a second career as traveling house/dog sitters. This first book of the series is set in Scotland and does have quite a bit of local flavor. It sounds as if each book will be set in a different locale, with a different dog as the sidekick. This looks to be an engaging cozy series.
Cute series centering on a retired couple from Texas who develop a second career as traveling house/dog sitters. This first book of the series is set in Scotland and does have quite a bit of local flavor. It sounds as if each book will be set in a different locale, with a different dog as the sidekick. This looks to be an engaging cozy series.
October 27, 2024
While I like cozy mysteries for their light entertainment value, this particular one was just fluff. Characters were flat, story was flat. Seems the author was more interested in coming up with bizarre names for pubs and having the characters eat a lot of food. Will not be reading anymore of this series.
February 12, 2020
Charming Scotland
Keeping busy while house sitting and enjoying Sherlock the dog. Lots of sightseeing and trekking to parks for Sherlocks enjoyment. And some investigation of blackmail. Delightful read.
Keeping busy while house sitting and enjoying Sherlock the dog. Lots of sightseeing and trekking to parks for Sherlocks enjoyment. And some investigation of blackmail. Delightful read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews