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Scottish Shire Mystery #8
Murder at a Scottish Halloween
As
Halloween descends upon the Scottish seaside town of Nairn, reluctant sleuth and knitting enthusiast Paislee Shaw finds herself investigating how an ancient ghost inspired a modern murder....
While Paislee will be celebrating All Hallow's Eve by handing out candy to the trick or treaters at her Cashmere Crush sweater shop, her teenage son Brody seems to have given up the ghost. Uninterested in donning a superhero or monster costume, he's just going to attend a party with his friends at the ice rink.
But Brody got swept up in the spirit of the season after all. Dared by the older kids, he went to the supposedly haunted Rait Ruins to capture video of a vengeful ghost. The local legend of the Rait Wraith has been passed down for generations—and still gives Paislee the creeps. While no specter actually roams the grounds, the lifeless body of university student Ailis Barclay is discovered there.
Ailis was at the ruins dressed as the ghost to prank Brody, only something went wrong. With her son traumatized and deemed a suspect, it's up to Paislee to string together whether Ailis was a victim of the real Wraith of Rait Ruins—or of someone dangerous among the living.
While Paislee will be celebrating All Hallow's Eve by handing out candy to the trick or treaters at her Cashmere Crush sweater shop, her teenage son Brody seems to have given up the ghost. Uninterested in donning a superhero or monster costume, he's just going to attend a party with his friends at the ice rink.
But Brody got swept up in the spirit of the season after all. Dared by the older kids, he went to the supposedly haunted Rait Ruins to capture video of a vengeful ghost. The local legend of the Rait Wraith has been passed down for generations—and still gives Paislee the creeps. While no specter actually roams the grounds, the lifeless body of university student Ailis Barclay is discovered there.
Ailis was at the ruins dressed as the ghost to prank Brody, only something went wrong. With her son traumatized and deemed a suspect, it's up to Paislee to string together whether Ailis was a victim of the real Wraith of Rait Ruins—or of someone dangerous among the living.
289 pages, ebook
Published June 30, 2026
About the author
Traci Hall
115 books452 followersalso writing as Traci Wilton, Ellie Brannigan and Tara Brannigan
From cozy mysteries to seaside romance, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall writes stories that captivate her readers. As a hybrid author with over seventy-five published works, Ms. Hall has a favorite tale for everyone.
Mystery lovers, check out her Scottish Shire series, set in the seaside town of Nairn, or the Salem B&B Mystery series, co-written as Traci Wilton, or the Irish Castle mysteries as Ellie Brannigan, or the new Aran Island mysteries as Tara Brannigan. Traci finds her inspiration in sunny South Florida, living right near the ocean.
Traci wants to hear from you!
Traci@TraciHall.com
https://www.facebook.com/tracie.hall.35/
https://www.instagram.com/tracihallau...
From cozy mysteries to seaside romance, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall writes stories that captivate her readers. As a hybrid author with over seventy-five published works, Ms. Hall has a favorite tale for everyone.
Mystery lovers, check out her Scottish Shire series, set in the seaside town of Nairn, or the Salem B&B Mystery series, co-written as Traci Wilton, or the Irish Castle mysteries as Ellie Brannigan, or the new Aran Island mysteries as Tara Brannigan. Traci finds her inspiration in sunny South Florida, living right near the ocean.
Traci wants to hear from you!
Traci@TraciHall.com
https://www.facebook.com/tracie.hall.35/
https://www.instagram.com/tracihallau...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 24, 2026
Really wanted to like this one especially approaching the fall season!! The author had too many characters! Like to the point of overload I counted like 55 different characters every chapter the book dragged on. Then she made them sound like idiots using made up words instead of talking was just too much for me. I liked the storyline just ultimately let me down
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
#MurderataScottishHalloween #NetGalley
Dared by other boys, Brody sneaks away from the skating rink, which is where hes supposed to be on Halloween.
When he admits the truth to his mother, Paislee, her first thought is to protect her son, at all costs.
Brody was dared to film a video of the rumored ghost at the cemetery, but when the ghost says his name, he runs, dropping his phone. When Brody and Paislee retrieve his phone, they find something much worse, sending them both into a murder investigation.
This book is by far my favorite and the author did a wonderful job bringing all the pieces together.
I can't wait to see what's next for this wonderful family.
Dared by other boys, Brody sneaks away from the skating rink, which is where hes supposed to be on Halloween.
When he admits the truth to his mother, Paislee, her first thought is to protect her son, at all costs.
Brody was dared to film a video of the rumored ghost at the cemetery, but when the ghost says his name, he runs, dropping his phone. When Brody and Paislee retrieve his phone, they find something much worse, sending them both into a murder investigation.
This book is by far my favorite and the author did a wonderful job bringing all the pieces together.
I can't wait to see what's next for this wonderful family.
July 28, 2026
Fans of Halloween and the spirit world are going to love this new entry to the wonderful Scottish Shire Mystery series. In this adventure, Paislee's 13 year old son decides he is too old to trick or treat with Mom and attends a party at the local roller skating rink. Unfortunately, he is pranked by friends and is terrified when a friend's university age sister dresses up as a vengeful ghost at the "haunted" Rait Ruins. Embarrassed, he finally tells Paislee what happened, and they head out to the Ruins to find the phone he dropped in his fright, they are horrified to find not only his phone but the body of his friend's sister. This leads them on a chase to find out what actually happened to Ailies. As Brody appears to be the last to have seen her alive, and there appears to be some strange noises and pictures on his phone, can they help DI Mack figure out what really happened while people prepare for the Guy Fawkes celebrations and Paislee's birthday? This is an action-packed episode with all the friends, neighbors, and colleagues we have come to expect. #MurderataScottishHalloween #AScottishShireMystery #TraciHall #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
August 8, 2026
Thank you to Kensington Books for the gifted physical ARC.
This is the 8th book in a mystery series, I was sent this by the publisher for review, and while I did find it really cute I did have some problems with it. But overall I would say this is a solid cozy mystery read for the fall season.
What I did enjoy about the read, the setting. As someone who hasn't left the US before I absolutely love reading books that are set in other countries/places. So it was a big selling point for me. I enjoyed the mystery too, it was suspenseful but not thriller level, which I think is exactly what you want when you're reading a cozy book.
What I struggled with. The number of characters. There are so many, and I'm not sure if this is a trend with the series or maybe I would have wrapped around it better if I had read the previous books, but it was a lot. for a 280ish page book I thought it was a bit much. The dialogue was also a bit tough, it was hard for me to read smoothly, I kept having to reread some sentences at times. But this is a me issue I think, not the book issue.
I would recommend this as a low stakes mystery read. Enjoyable, but at the same time not my favorite read of late.
*This ARC was given by Kensington Books, all opinions are my own.*
This is the 8th book in a mystery series, I was sent this by the publisher for review, and while I did find it really cute I did have some problems with it. But overall I would say this is a solid cozy mystery read for the fall season.
What I did enjoy about the read, the setting. As someone who hasn't left the US before I absolutely love reading books that are set in other countries/places. So it was a big selling point for me. I enjoyed the mystery too, it was suspenseful but not thriller level, which I think is exactly what you want when you're reading a cozy book.
What I struggled with. The number of characters. There are so many, and I'm not sure if this is a trend with the series or maybe I would have wrapped around it better if I had read the previous books, but it was a lot. for a 280ish page book I thought it was a bit much. The dialogue was also a bit tough, it was hard for me to read smoothly, I kept having to reread some sentences at times. But this is a me issue I think, not the book issue.
I would recommend this as a low stakes mystery read. Enjoyable, but at the same time not my favorite read of late.
*This ARC was given by Kensington Books, all opinions are my own.*
July 25, 2026
Traci Hall’s Murder at a Scottish Halloween had me side-eyeing every ghost story, every teenager, and pretty much anyone wandering around Nairn after dark. Kensington Books, thank you so much for the gifted book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
“Absolutely nothing good has ever started with the words, ‘My friends dared me.’”
Paislee Shaw is already having a hard time with Brody getting older and wanting to spend Halloween with his friends instead of helping at Cashmere Crush. Then he sneaks off to the supposedly haunted Rait Ruins on a dare, loses his phone, and comes home completely shaken. When Paislee takes him back to find it, they discover university student Ailis Barclay dead near the ruins.
Well, that escalated quickly.
This one felt more personal than some of the earlier books because Brody is right in the middle of everything. Paislee immediately goes into protective-mom mode, and I completely understood why. She is not investigating just because she is curious. Her son is scared, a young woman is dead, and she needs answers.
I loved being back with Paislee, Brody, Angus, Lydia, Mack, and Wallace. At this point, they feel like people I visit every time I open one of these books. The family relationships are still my favorite part of the series, and watching Paislee realize that Brody is growing up hit me harder than I expected. One minute they are little, and the next they are sneaking into haunted ruins because another teenager dared them. Parenting really has no chill.
There was a lot going on with the ghost legend, threatening letters, vandalism, political unrest, Guy Fawkes Night, and of course, murder. A few parts felt a little crowded, but I still kept turning the pages because I wanted to know how everything connected.
This spooky Scottish cozy mystery is perfect for readers who love small towns, family drama, local legends, a little romance, and characters who feel familiar. I paired it with a warm maple bourbon cider because haunted ruins call for something cozy with a little kick.
Would you ever step inside haunted ruins after dark, or would you be at home eating the Halloween candy before the trick-or-treaters arrived?
#MurderAtAScottishHalloween #TraciHall #ScottishShireMystery #CozyMystery #HalloweenMystery #ScottishMystery #KensingtonBooks #BookReview #BooksCoffeeBrews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
“Absolutely nothing good has ever started with the words, ‘My friends dared me.’”
Paislee Shaw is already having a hard time with Brody getting older and wanting to spend Halloween with his friends instead of helping at Cashmere Crush. Then he sneaks off to the supposedly haunted Rait Ruins on a dare, loses his phone, and comes home completely shaken. When Paislee takes him back to find it, they discover university student Ailis Barclay dead near the ruins.
Well, that escalated quickly.
This one felt more personal than some of the earlier books because Brody is right in the middle of everything. Paislee immediately goes into protective-mom mode, and I completely understood why. She is not investigating just because she is curious. Her son is scared, a young woman is dead, and she needs answers.
I loved being back with Paislee, Brody, Angus, Lydia, Mack, and Wallace. At this point, they feel like people I visit every time I open one of these books. The family relationships are still my favorite part of the series, and watching Paislee realize that Brody is growing up hit me harder than I expected. One minute they are little, and the next they are sneaking into haunted ruins because another teenager dared them. Parenting really has no chill.
There was a lot going on with the ghost legend, threatening letters, vandalism, political unrest, Guy Fawkes Night, and of course, murder. A few parts felt a little crowded, but I still kept turning the pages because I wanted to know how everything connected.
This spooky Scottish cozy mystery is perfect for readers who love small towns, family drama, local legends, a little romance, and characters who feel familiar. I paired it with a warm maple bourbon cider because haunted ruins call for something cozy with a little kick.
Would you ever step inside haunted ruins after dark, or would you be at home eating the Halloween candy before the trick-or-treaters arrived?
#MurderAtAScottishHalloween #TraciHall #ScottishShireMystery #CozyMystery #HalloweenMystery #ScottishMystery #KensingtonBooks #BookReview #BooksCoffeeBrews
July 3, 2026
One of my favorite cozy mystery series, mostly because of the great characters and the excellent audiobook narration.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Paislee Shaw lives in the small Scottish town of Nairn along with her thirteen-year-old son Brody and her grandfather Angus. They've built a good life, and are happy. She's also navigating her first time in love with DI Mack Zeffer, which only somewhat confuses things.
Halloween is approaching, and while Paislee and Angus would rather stay home and hand out candy, Brody wants to join his friends at the ice rink for the evening. But when Paislee arrives to pick him up, he's obviously traumatized, and she has a hard time getting him to talk.
When he tells her that the Wraith of Rait Ruins came for him -- calling him by name -- she thinks it was a prank. But when they return to the ruins to find Brody's dropped phone, Paislee finds the body of a young university student, Ailis Barclay. Paislee knows things aren't going to be the same, and with Brody as a possible suspect, she knows she's going to investigate, even though Mack tells her not to.
With Guy Fawkes Day fast approaching, there is another problem. The Ladies of Nairn are asking for Paislee's help in finding out who is menacing them -- and one of them wants her to provide bespoke knitted items for her son's upcoming wedding.
With so much to attend to, and her best friend Lydia returning from Germany to be with her on Paislee's birthday, she wonders if she'll have enough time in the day to do what is tasked.
But when things begin to heat up, and the fireworks start, there's more than meets the eye, and Paislee may have just put a target on her own head...
This is the eighth book in the series, and I have read them all. Ms. Hall is an extremely talented writer, and each book, as it progresses, brings us right to the village of Nairn and its people. I love 'emotional traveling' (when you can't physically travel, and author takes you there mentally and emotionally), and Ms, Hall is excellent at this.
There is a lot going on here, from the night of Halloween, right up until Paislee's birthday. And so much in between, with the problems in town and hidden secrets; lies and half-truths/ Fortunately, Paislee has learned enough to see through it all; and with the help of Angus she's able to help Mack. Yes, DI Zeffer actually asks for her help, which is a twist that no one saw coming.
But when the ending finally comes, and we discover the identity of the killer, no one will feel sorry, and neither should they. Evil exists, even if you don't always see it. I am loath to add anything else because I do not want to ruin the story for anyone, but I urge you to read this one. But there is a lovely silver lining that makes me want to read the next in the series right now. Highly recommended.
I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
Halloween is approaching, and while Paislee and Angus would rather stay home and hand out candy, Brody wants to join his friends at the ice rink for the evening. But when Paislee arrives to pick him up, he's obviously traumatized, and she has a hard time getting him to talk.
When he tells her that the Wraith of Rait Ruins came for him -- calling him by name -- she thinks it was a prank. But when they return to the ruins to find Brody's dropped phone, Paislee finds the body of a young university student, Ailis Barclay. Paislee knows things aren't going to be the same, and with Brody as a possible suspect, she knows she's going to investigate, even though Mack tells her not to.
With Guy Fawkes Day fast approaching, there is another problem. The Ladies of Nairn are asking for Paislee's help in finding out who is menacing them -- and one of them wants her to provide bespoke knitted items for her son's upcoming wedding.
With so much to attend to, and her best friend Lydia returning from Germany to be with her on Paislee's birthday, she wonders if she'll have enough time in the day to do what is tasked.
But when things begin to heat up, and the fireworks start, there's more than meets the eye, and Paislee may have just put a target on her own head...
This is the eighth book in the series, and I have read them all. Ms. Hall is an extremely talented writer, and each book, as it progresses, brings us right to the village of Nairn and its people. I love 'emotional traveling' (when you can't physically travel, and author takes you there mentally and emotionally), and Ms, Hall is excellent at this.
There is a lot going on here, from the night of Halloween, right up until Paislee's birthday. And so much in between, with the problems in town and hidden secrets; lies and half-truths/ Fortunately, Paislee has learned enough to see through it all; and with the help of Angus she's able to help Mack. Yes, DI Zeffer actually asks for her help, which is a twist that no one saw coming.
But when the ending finally comes, and we discover the identity of the killer, no one will feel sorry, and neither should they. Evil exists, even if you don't always see it. I am loath to add anything else because I do not want to ruin the story for anyone, but I urge you to read this one. But there is a lovely silver lining that makes me want to read the next in the series right now. Highly recommended.
I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Paislee Shaw just wanted a relatively normal Halloween. Hand out candy. Run her sweater shop. Maybe enjoy one peaceful evening in a town that looks like it belongs on a postcard. Unfortunately, Nairn continues to operate under the belief that every local legend should be tested by a teenager with questionable judgment.
When Brody gets dared to visit the haunted Rait Ruins in search of the infamous Rait Wraith, I had the exact reaction you'd expect from any adult who has ever met a teenage boy. Absolutely nothing good has ever started with the sentence, "My friends dared me."
And somehow it gets worse. What starts as a Halloween prank turns into a murder investigation when a university student turns up dead after dressing as the local ghost. Suddenly Brody is tangled up in something genuinely awful, and Paislee shifts straight into protective-mom mode. Which, in this series, basically means she's going to investigate whether anyone asked her to or not.
One of the things I like most about Paislee is that she never feels like she's solving crimes because she's secretly Sherlock Holmes. She solves crimes because she cares. Her son is hurting. A young woman is dead. People she knows are scared. That's enough motivation to get her poking around where she absolutely should not be poking around.
The Halloween atmosphere is doing a lot of heavy lifting here in the best possible way. Haunted ruins. Ghost stories. Threatening letters. Guy Fawkes tensions simmering in the background. Every time someone new appeared, I immediately added them to my suspect list and then changed my mind three chapters later. The town feels like it's running entirely on folklore, gossip, and collective anxiety.
Meanwhile Brody is growing up, which ends up hitting harder than I expected. Underneath the mystery, there's this very real thread about watching your kid become their own person. One minute they're trick-or-treating with you, the next they're wandering into haunted ruins because another teenager called them a coward. Childhood really leaves the chat without warning.
The mystery kept me guessing, but the characters are what made me want to stay. Paislee, Brody, Angus, Mack, all of them feel lived in. Even when the plot gets busy, the relationships keep everything grounded. That's a tricky balance in a cozy mystery, and Hall pulls it off well.
Cozy, spooky, surprisingly heartfelt, and packed with enough suspicious behavior to make me side-eye every person in Nairn for at least a week. Four stars.
Whodunity Award: For Making "Maybe Don't Visit the Haunted Ruins at Night" Feel Like Excellent Life Advice
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. Also, thank you for reminding me that if a Scottish town has both a ghost legend and a dramatic ruin, someone is absolutely going to end up dead before chapter five.
When Brody gets dared to visit the haunted Rait Ruins in search of the infamous Rait Wraith, I had the exact reaction you'd expect from any adult who has ever met a teenage boy. Absolutely nothing good has ever started with the sentence, "My friends dared me."
And somehow it gets worse. What starts as a Halloween prank turns into a murder investigation when a university student turns up dead after dressing as the local ghost. Suddenly Brody is tangled up in something genuinely awful, and Paislee shifts straight into protective-mom mode. Which, in this series, basically means she's going to investigate whether anyone asked her to or not.
One of the things I like most about Paislee is that she never feels like she's solving crimes because she's secretly Sherlock Holmes. She solves crimes because she cares. Her son is hurting. A young woman is dead. People she knows are scared. That's enough motivation to get her poking around where she absolutely should not be poking around.
The Halloween atmosphere is doing a lot of heavy lifting here in the best possible way. Haunted ruins. Ghost stories. Threatening letters. Guy Fawkes tensions simmering in the background. Every time someone new appeared, I immediately added them to my suspect list and then changed my mind three chapters later. The town feels like it's running entirely on folklore, gossip, and collective anxiety.
Meanwhile Brody is growing up, which ends up hitting harder than I expected. Underneath the mystery, there's this very real thread about watching your kid become their own person. One minute they're trick-or-treating with you, the next they're wandering into haunted ruins because another teenager called them a coward. Childhood really leaves the chat without warning.
The mystery kept me guessing, but the characters are what made me want to stay. Paislee, Brody, Angus, Mack, all of them feel lived in. Even when the plot gets busy, the relationships keep everything grounded. That's a tricky balance in a cozy mystery, and Hall pulls it off well.
Cozy, spooky, surprisingly heartfelt, and packed with enough suspicious behavior to make me side-eye every person in Nairn for at least a week. Four stars.
Whodunity Award: For Making "Maybe Don't Visit the Haunted Ruins at Night" Feel Like Excellent Life Advice
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. Also, thank you for reminding me that if a Scottish town has both a ghost legend and a dramatic ruin, someone is absolutely going to end up dead before chapter five.
August 2, 2026
This is the 8th book I have read by this author, having read this entire series. This book was published in 2026 and we met and/or heard about 90 characters; I always try to give the number of characters because each one at some point plays a role in this journey we take with them in our cozy mystery. We have 21 chapters and 280 pages in the paperback format I read.
In Book 8 we join Paislee, Brody, Grandpa and Wallace Shaw in Nairn their hometown in Scotland. Paislee is our leading lady and at this point I don’t consider her an amateur sleuth. Our Paislee knows how to gather clues and put herself in the right place at the right time to talk with those involved. Paislee has become good friends with the elder noble lades of Narin and is a key person in Nairn’s community. And we will get to celebrate Paislee’s 31st birthday with her. Our Brody is growing into a fine young man. At the age of 13 he is experiencing all the highs and lows of becoming a teenager. But when one rite of passage prank is taken too far someone is killed and young lives are tragically changed forever.
The political atmosphere in Scotland as a whole is on edge with riots and radicals causing chaos and damage. Nairn’s nobles are under attack, and Paislee is trying to deal with helping her commanding noble friends while balancing being a supportive Mum to Broody as he deals with some of the hardest days of his life. The timing of all of this surrounds All Hallow’s Eve and the ghosts and spirits that guard their grounds – Show Up! Bonfire Night will not only light up the night it will bring a kidnapping that sends our Paislee into over-drive, her mental, physical and emotional limits are pushed to the max. Thank goodness for technology, fearless love (as only a Mum can summon) and heroic police!
Paislee and Mack are finally moving into a relationship and oh how I Love It! Sweet, Tender and just at the right speed for Paislee. Mack is growing and opening up with Paislee. This slow romance has been tugging at my heart strings since book one and we are finally here and getting to enjoy their love story!
This book is so action packed, we have murder, theft, fires, vandalism, a cheating boyfriend, an overzealous journalist with no ethical morals, pranks, kidnapping and heart-wrenching grief! All this and the softer side of love, romance, new life – that’s right someone is having a baby and a birthday that brings a big family surprise that I never saw coming! You will laugh, you will cry, your heart will ache, your heart will race, you will not be able to put this page turner down! And the ending will send you over the top!
In Book 8 we join Paislee, Brody, Grandpa and Wallace Shaw in Nairn their hometown in Scotland. Paislee is our leading lady and at this point I don’t consider her an amateur sleuth. Our Paislee knows how to gather clues and put herself in the right place at the right time to talk with those involved. Paislee has become good friends with the elder noble lades of Narin and is a key person in Nairn’s community. And we will get to celebrate Paislee’s 31st birthday with her. Our Brody is growing into a fine young man. At the age of 13 he is experiencing all the highs and lows of becoming a teenager. But when one rite of passage prank is taken too far someone is killed and young lives are tragically changed forever.
The political atmosphere in Scotland as a whole is on edge with riots and radicals causing chaos and damage. Nairn’s nobles are under attack, and Paislee is trying to deal with helping her commanding noble friends while balancing being a supportive Mum to Broody as he deals with some of the hardest days of his life. The timing of all of this surrounds All Hallow’s Eve and the ghosts and spirits that guard their grounds – Show Up! Bonfire Night will not only light up the night it will bring a kidnapping that sends our Paislee into over-drive, her mental, physical and emotional limits are pushed to the max. Thank goodness for technology, fearless love (as only a Mum can summon) and heroic police!
Paislee and Mack are finally moving into a relationship and oh how I Love It! Sweet, Tender and just at the right speed for Paislee. Mack is growing and opening up with Paislee. This slow romance has been tugging at my heart strings since book one and we are finally here and getting to enjoy their love story!
This book is so action packed, we have murder, theft, fires, vandalism, a cheating boyfriend, an overzealous journalist with no ethical morals, pranks, kidnapping and heart-wrenching grief! All this and the softer side of love, romance, new life – that’s right someone is having a baby and a birthday that brings a big family surprise that I never saw coming! You will laugh, you will cry, your heart will ache, your heart will race, you will not be able to put this page turner down! And the ending will send you over the top!
June 30, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley for early access in exchange for review!
"Paislee’s nod to Samhain was a white T-shirt she’d embellished with a knitted black cat wearing a witch’s hat. She had a matching hat for when she and Grandpa would hand out candy, and she’d knitted bat wings for Wallace. Grandpa had fake vampire teeth and a black cape for his role as Dracula."
Before my review, I'd like to preface that I dinnae read books 1-7, but given the nature of cozy mysteries as a genre I thought I could hop in and be alright. That was definitely not the case at the beginning (I was so lost) but by the end I mostly had it down. This book had IMMACULATE halloween/samhain vibes, practically oozing it from a decorated downtown to a haunted, foggy graveyard murder scene. The scenic details were definitely outstanding, felt like it was a movie at some points!
My primary problems with the book come down to dialogue and political conservatism. I can look past politics in most books, but from literally page one, this throws conservative ideology in your face. I don't want to elaborate too much on that, since I believe books from many backgrounds have the right to exist!
The dialogue though. Oh my god it killed me. The author (American) wanted the reader to feel like they're in Scotland, and therefore decided to write out the Scottish accent in every. single. line. of dialogue. Example: "Mum didnae tell me because she didnae want me tae be worrit.” Huh?! I felt like I had to manually translate each line as I read it into normal English text. What really bothered me, though, is that if the author was from Scotland, she would've just wrote normally not acknowledging the accent. She would've trusted that non-Scots would give them an accent in their head instead of this phonetic abomination.
The overall mystery itself was incredibly engaging, and despite the dialogue I still was anxious to see what happened next! The reveal at the end was so rewarding.
"Paislee’s nod to Samhain was a white T-shirt she’d embellished with a knitted black cat wearing a witch’s hat. She had a matching hat for when she and Grandpa would hand out candy, and she’d knitted bat wings for Wallace. Grandpa had fake vampire teeth and a black cape for his role as Dracula."
Before my review, I'd like to preface that I dinnae read books 1-7, but given the nature of cozy mysteries as a genre I thought I could hop in and be alright. That was definitely not the case at the beginning (I was so lost) but by the end I mostly had it down. This book had IMMACULATE halloween/samhain vibes, practically oozing it from a decorated downtown to a haunted, foggy graveyard murder scene. The scenic details were definitely outstanding, felt like it was a movie at some points!
My primary problems with the book come down to dialogue and political conservatism. I can look past politics in most books, but from literally page one, this throws conservative ideology in your face. I don't want to elaborate too much on that, since I believe books from many backgrounds have the right to exist!
The dialogue though. Oh my god it killed me. The author (American) wanted the reader to feel like they're in Scotland, and therefore decided to write out the Scottish accent in every. single. line. of dialogue. Example: "Mum didnae tell me because she didnae want me tae be worrit.” Huh?! I felt like I had to manually translate each line as I read it into normal English text. What really bothered me, though, is that if the author was from Scotland, she would've just wrote normally not acknowledging the accent. She would've trusted that non-Scots would give them an accent in their head instead of this phonetic abomination.
The overall mystery itself was incredibly engaging, and despite the dialogue I still was anxious to see what happened next! The reveal at the end was so rewarding.
July 8, 2026
This series is one of the best character driven cozies that I have read. Paislee, a single mother and owner of a knitting shop in Scotland, often gets involved in solving murders. Not so much because of a inquisitive mind but the desire to see the right thing done and to protect her son. She lives with her grandfather and has some great support from friends in the town. Family and found family play a significant role in the series. There is also a lot about the troubles of raising a boy as a single mother facing all the problems in modern society. But in the end things come to a happy for now ending.
In Murder at a Scottish Halloween, Brody sneaks away from the skating rink where he is spending Halloween on a dare to video the supposed ghost at a local ruin. When he drops his phone, Paislee and Brody go back to the ruin only to find his phone and a girl dressed up as the ghost, dead nearby. With Brody as a suspect, Paislee is determined to find out what actually happened.
There is a subplot that involves a radical political group that is vandalizing local aristocrats' property. There are events that are described as happening in the recent past in Scotland with political groups. I don't know how accurate these are or if they happened at all. If so, it is an interesting look at politics in Scotland that I did not know. However, I have to admit there was a little too much about politics for my taste, while at the same time not enough to really know what these groups' stated ideologies are.
I very much enjoy this series. There is action, great characters that continue to evolve and decent mysteries. I wouldn't say it was my favorite in the series but it still is a winner.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
In Murder at a Scottish Halloween, Brody sneaks away from the skating rink where he is spending Halloween on a dare to video the supposed ghost at a local ruin. When he drops his phone, Paislee and Brody go back to the ruin only to find his phone and a girl dressed up as the ghost, dead nearby. With Brody as a suspect, Paislee is determined to find out what actually happened.
There is a subplot that involves a radical political group that is vandalizing local aristocrats' property. There are events that are described as happening in the recent past in Scotland with political groups. I don't know how accurate these are or if they happened at all. If so, it is an interesting look at politics in Scotland that I did not know. However, I have to admit there was a little too much about politics for my taste, while at the same time not enough to really know what these groups' stated ideologies are.
I very much enjoy this series. There is action, great characters that continue to evolve and decent mysteries. I wouldn't say it was my favorite in the series but it still is a winner.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I read all but one of the previous books and it looks like the one I missed had a ton of revelations with regards to Paisley's personal life. I got some of the cliff notes but have no clue as to the background information about her son's father because that was the one thing not elaborated here.
Like with all the books in this series, there's a thread of practicality running through the tale. We see the hard work a single mother has to put in, the kind of effort it would take to run a knitwear business in a small town.
There's politics involved in this installment, we get a brief glimpse about the way the Scottish public aligns itself and how things are hashed out. For a local to the system, these things may not stand out, but to outsiders the author has put enough of an effort to give a very complete picture.
Brody ( Paisley's son) is excited about a possible new relationship as well as moving on in his football team but on Halloween night things go a little wrong and the entire family once again become part of an investigation. It was a good investigation but the final resolution made me feel a little left out because I couldn't have guessed the answer with whatever we had to work with.
The ongoing romance is sweet and simple and I would not recommend starting the series with this book, but I would recommend the series as a whole to people who like this genre.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
Like with all the books in this series, there's a thread of practicality running through the tale. We see the hard work a single mother has to put in, the kind of effort it would take to run a knitwear business in a small town.
There's politics involved in this installment, we get a brief glimpse about the way the Scottish public aligns itself and how things are hashed out. For a local to the system, these things may not stand out, but to outsiders the author has put enough of an effort to give a very complete picture.
Brody ( Paisley's son) is excited about a possible new relationship as well as moving on in his football team but on Halloween night things go a little wrong and the entire family once again become part of an investigation. It was a good investigation but the final resolution made me feel a little left out because I couldn't have guessed the answer with whatever we had to work with.
The ongoing romance is sweet and simple and I would not recommend starting the series with this book, but I would recommend the series as a whole to people who like this genre.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
July 1, 2026
Wow! This visit to Nairn Shire is packed with action and chaos.
A dare on Halloween goes wrong leaving Brody feeling scared and betrayed.
The local aristocracy are targeted with break ins, theft and vandalism.
A college girl is found dead near a haunted tower.
Guy Fawkes night proves to be more explosive than usual.
Paisley is living her life, trying to raise and protect her son Brody, be a good friend and build her business. The events surrounding Halloween and Guy Fawkes night pull her into an investigation that Mack would rather she stay out of. Even though Brody is the subject of the prank, Paisley is so sad for the family that lost a daughter.
This mystery is full of new characters who may or may not be who they seem. The villains behind the vandalism, theft and it turns out murder are obscured by costumes and the dark of the night. It felt a little like the story itself was Jekyll and Hyde because there were moments of such darkness and moments of light and love. This is a story you won’t want to miss. It will have more impact if you’ve read the other books in the series, but it will still pull a punch even if this is your first Scottish Shire mystery.
I recommend Murder at a Scottish Halloween.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read the book.
A dare on Halloween goes wrong leaving Brody feeling scared and betrayed.
The local aristocracy are targeted with break ins, theft and vandalism.
A college girl is found dead near a haunted tower.
Guy Fawkes night proves to be more explosive than usual.
Paisley is living her life, trying to raise and protect her son Brody, be a good friend and build her business. The events surrounding Halloween and Guy Fawkes night pull her into an investigation that Mack would rather she stay out of. Even though Brody is the subject of the prank, Paisley is so sad for the family that lost a daughter.
This mystery is full of new characters who may or may not be who they seem. The villains behind the vandalism, theft and it turns out murder are obscured by costumes and the dark of the night. It felt a little like the story itself was Jekyll and Hyde because there were moments of such darkness and moments of light and love. This is a story you won’t want to miss. It will have more impact if you’ve read the other books in the series, but it will still pull a punch even if this is your first Scottish Shire mystery.
I recommend Murder at a Scottish Halloween.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read the book.
July 5, 2026
I simply love Paislee Shaw and DI Mack Zeffer! I cannot envision a more dashing knight in shining armor! When 13 year old Brody decides to attend a skating party with his friends on Halloween, Paislee is torn between knowing he is growing up and wanting him to dress in costume and spend time with her and Grandpa and when the evening ends with them finding a body at the cemetery where Brody lost his phone responding to a dare, she knows she wants him to stay a child a bit longer.
Halloween, closely followed by Guy Fawkes Day, also called Bonfire Night is the time for all the ghosts to make their presence known. It is also the time for troublemakers to cause problems. With Paislee and Brody caught in the middle, Mack promises to solve the murder of the young woman, Ailes Barkley, whose body they found.
This series just continues to make my hear sing with every book. I love the characters, the setting and let me just say, what a great mystery. Full of plot twists and red herrings, I had no idea who was at the heart of the plot nor who killed Ailes. All I knew was Paislee would get in the middle of things and Mack would find a way to get her out. And as for the subplots, perfect in every way! I cannot recommend this book enough. Do yourself a favor and get your hands on a copy and read it for yourself!
Halloween, closely followed by Guy Fawkes Day, also called Bonfire Night is the time for all the ghosts to make their presence known. It is also the time for troublemakers to cause problems. With Paislee and Brody caught in the middle, Mack promises to solve the murder of the young woman, Ailes Barkley, whose body they found.
This series just continues to make my hear sing with every book. I love the characters, the setting and let me just say, what a great mystery. Full of plot twists and red herrings, I had no idea who was at the heart of the plot nor who killed Ailes. All I knew was Paislee would get in the middle of things and Mack would find a way to get her out. And as for the subplots, perfect in every way! I cannot recommend this book enough. Do yourself a favor and get your hands on a copy and read it for yourself!
June 29, 2026
While taking her teenage son to find the phone that he dropped while trying to film the ghost of the Wraith at Rait Ruins, Paislee Shaw finds a body in the nearby cemetery. Ailis, the older sister of one of Brody’s friends, was at the ruins to prank Brody. Ailis died not long after Brody fled the ruins, and his abandoned phone might have filmed her murderer. Worried about her son’s mental state, Paislee does what she can to assist the police in finding Ailis’s killer. Meanwhile, the homes of the Nairn gentry are being targeted by vandals who are fighting for the freedom of the Scottish people. The police question if Ailis’s murder is connected to vandalism? Was Ailis mixed up with the revolutionaries or was she just at the wrong place at the wrong time?
MURDER AT A SCOTTISH HALLOWEEN is the first book that I’ve read in the Scottish Shire Mystery series, and I had some trouble keeping up with the different characters and their relationships. I also had a little difficulty figuring out the characters’ strong Scottish accents. Aside from that, MURDER AT A SCOTTISH HALLOWEEN was an interesting story. The characters were intriguing, and the villains were truly evil.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
MURDER AT A SCOTTISH HALLOWEEN is the first book that I’ve read in the Scottish Shire Mystery series, and I had some trouble keeping up with the different characters and their relationships. I also had a little difficulty figuring out the characters’ strong Scottish accents. Aside from that, MURDER AT A SCOTTISH HALLOWEEN was an interesting story. The characters were intriguing, and the villains were truly evil.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
July 18, 2026
After a Halloween prank goes horribly wrong, Paislee and her son Brody become entangled in some very dangerous “tricks” that include vandalism, robbery and all sorts of other heinous deeds. The crimes seem to be directed at the local gentry, many of whom are Paislee’s friends. Her boyfriend Mack is deep into the investigation while ramping up his romance with Paislee. It seems to be the one good things that is happening amidst turmoil and unrest. A muckraking journalist is stirring the pot and putting an unappreciated spotlight on Paislee and her son.
So much is going on but until some of the pieces are put together, the question is what is connected and what is not. All Mack knows is there is something going down on Bonfire night. Guy Fawkes was political. Are the people behind the kerfuffles political too? While I did suspect one of the villains from the start, by the time we reached the climax, I had forgotten about this character. It was very artful misdirection.
There is lots for everyone in this book: mystery, suspense, romance. It was a highly satisfying summer read. Five purrs and two paws up.
So much is going on but until some of the pieces are put together, the question is what is connected and what is not. All Mack knows is there is something going down on Bonfire night. Guy Fawkes was political. Are the people behind the kerfuffles political too? While I did suspect one of the villains from the start, by the time we reached the climax, I had forgotten about this character. It was very artful misdirection.
There is lots for everyone in this book: mystery, suspense, romance. It was a highly satisfying summer read. Five purrs and two paws up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Paislee Shaw is feeling separation pangs in Murder at a Scottish Halloween, #8 in Traci Hall's Scottish Shire mystery series, I have loved this series from the beginning and look forward to each new installment.
Brody is coming into his own as a teenager---wanting to spend his Halloween with friends instead of dressing up and passing out candy with his mother. Poor Paislee will miss having him with her. Thanks to a dare from some of the other boys, Brody is roped in by a prank that ruins his night. There are bits about the Scots history, ghostly ghouls, a haunted castle tower, and an unexpected murder. The plot is interesting, the storyline is perfect for Halloween, and the character development gives them a real-life feel.
I love these visits to Scotland with Paislee and her family/friends. I would recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.
Thank you #NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #TraciHall for the advanced e-copy that I requested. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #MurderataScottishHalloween #AScottishShireMystery
Brody is coming into his own as a teenager---wanting to spend his Halloween with friends instead of dressing up and passing out candy with his mother. Poor Paislee will miss having him with her. Thanks to a dare from some of the other boys, Brody is roped in by a prank that ruins his night. There are bits about the Scots history, ghostly ghouls, a haunted castle tower, and an unexpected murder. The plot is interesting, the storyline is perfect for Halloween, and the character development gives them a real-life feel.
I love these visits to Scotland with Paislee and her family/friends. I would recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.
Thank you #NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #TraciHall for the advanced e-copy that I requested. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #MurderataScottishHalloween #AScottishShireMystery
July 20, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment in Traci Hall’s Scottish Shire Mystery series. This is the 8th book in the Scottish Shire series. Paislee and her family are getting ready to celebrate Halloween in her village. Soon after they will also celebrate Bonfire Nigh, which is celebrated on the November 5th.
On Halloween night, Brody is dared to go to the village cemetery to get a video of the local ghost. Unfortunately, he is so spooked by the experience, he loses his phone. Paislee and he go back to get the phone and find a dead body. Then there is the problem of nationalistic graffiti found around the area. This one has a lot of politics, which is not a drawback for me, but might be a problem for some.
I found this installment to be very satisfying. There is a lot that happens in Paislee’s personal life, so really best not to start with this one. I gave this one 4.5 stars. Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the free Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.
On Halloween night, Brody is dared to go to the village cemetery to get a video of the local ghost. Unfortunately, he is so spooked by the experience, he loses his phone. Paislee and he go back to get the phone and find a dead body. Then there is the problem of nationalistic graffiti found around the area. This one has a lot of politics, which is not a drawback for me, but might be a problem for some.
I found this installment to be very satisfying. There is a lot that happens in Paislee’s personal life, so really best not to start with this one. I gave this one 4.5 stars. Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the free Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Halloween holiday cozy mystery taking place in the Scottish seaside town of Nairn.
Teens will be teens, and while Mom, Paislee is handing out candy at her shop young teen Brody has no interest in that or wearing a costume. When he says he'll be one place but really is at another are when the accusations start to fly.
He's supposed to be at a Halloween party with his friends but trying to impress the older teens he accepts a dare to be part of a prank and get a video of the legendary local spirit to impress the older teens.
When no spirit is found but the costumed prankster is found dead, he's the one being blamed.
Mom instinct takes over as Paislee knows it wouldn't have been her son, and she has to work hard to clear his name.
Along the way we get introduced to Scottish politics, and a taste of the dialect and customs of the country.
Good story.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Teens will be teens, and while Mom, Paislee is handing out candy at her shop young teen Brody has no interest in that or wearing a costume. When he says he'll be one place but really is at another are when the accusations start to fly.
He's supposed to be at a Halloween party with his friends but trying to impress the older teens he accepts a dare to be part of a prank and get a video of the legendary local spirit to impress the older teens.
When no spirit is found but the costumed prankster is found dead, he's the one being blamed.
Mom instinct takes over as Paislee knows it wouldn't have been her son, and she has to work hard to clear his name.
Along the way we get introduced to Scottish politics, and a taste of the dialect and customs of the country.
Good story.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the 8th Scottish Shire mystery by Traci Hall. I just loved this book. I previously thought that this series was moving a little slow, but boy that has changed. So much happened in this book and I just loved it! The mystery was great. What could be more fun than a Halloween mystery in a haunted cemetery? It was fun to figure out the mystery and it was an unexpected, but enjoyable resolution. However, this book was all about character development and advancement and wow did it ever deliver! I admit I cried reading the last chapter. There were just so many wonderful things that happened and I really enjoyed those special moments. I really hope another book will be coming soon because I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.
June 30, 2026
Another great mystery with plenty of suspects, motives, and red herrings to keep me on my toes. Set at Halloween, there were lots of Scottish traditions in addition to the normal trick or treating. Rebels were actively disrupting the festivities and Paislee was caught in the middle of it all after finding a body in the cemetary where Brody was being pranked by his school mates.
Trying to investigate while protecting Brody and not getting in the way of the police was challenging and didn't always work out as Paislee would have wanted. The crimes were finally solved, and the rebels were stopped after a very active abduction scene and covert police response.
I loved the entire book. but Paislee's birthday party was so sweet and special and the perfect ending for the book.
I can't wait for the next one to find out how everything progresses!
Trying to investigate while protecting Brody and not getting in the way of the police was challenging and didn't always work out as Paislee would have wanted. The crimes were finally solved, and the rebels were stopped after a very active abduction scene and covert police response.
I loved the entire book. but Paislee's birthday party was so sweet and special and the perfect ending for the book.
I can't wait for the next one to find out how everything progresses!
July 23, 2026
This is a mystery series with a lot of heart. There are some great genuine relationships between Paislee and Brody and Angus, Mack, her friends, and the overall community. Paislee investigates without being reckless. Most of her actions are out of concern for her son. She also strongly believes in right and wrong.
Halloween is one of my favorite settings because the spooky atmosphere works perfectly for a mystery and we definitely get that here. The fall feeling continues as we see them celebrate All Saints Day traditions, Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night, and Paislee's birthday. We also learn a little about Scottish government and politics. And just when you think the danger has passed.....
There's big surprises in store for the characters, some that will carry into the next books in the series, which I can't wait to see.
Halloween is one of my favorite settings because the spooky atmosphere works perfectly for a mystery and we definitely get that here. The fall feeling continues as we see them celebrate All Saints Day traditions, Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night, and Paislee's birthday. We also learn a little about Scottish government and politics. And just when you think the danger has passed.....
There's big surprises in store for the characters, some that will carry into the next books in the series, which I can't wait to see.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Paisley and Brody find a young woman’s body, it leaves them both with a burning need to find out who murdered the young woman. Hurt as they are over the loss of a young woman from a family they know, they both need the closure to move forward with this senseless murder on all Hallow’s Eve. Unless the murderer has one last trick up their sleeve to stop them.
This is the eight installment in this series and I have been reading it from the very first book. A solid and clever whodunit in each entry with characters you come to love over time. Personally, Wallace is my favorite as he looks just like my boy Seamus whom I lost last year. Each entry just brings him back to me now and makes the series that much more special to me.
This is the eight installment in this series and I have been reading it from the very first book. A solid and clever whodunit in each entry with characters you come to love over time. Personally, Wallace is my favorite as he looks just like my boy Seamus whom I lost last year. Each entry just brings him back to me now and makes the series that much more special to me.
June 20, 2026
Murder at a Scottish Halloween
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“ While Paislee will be celebrating All Hallow’s Eve by handing out candy to the trick or treaters at her Cashmere Crush sweater shop, her teenage son Brody seems to have given up the ghost. Uninterested in donning a superhero or monster costume, he’s just going to attend a party with his friends at the ice rink”
Wow this was an awesome addition to this wonderful series. I laughed, cried and wanted to come back and just keep reading. Love this bigger picture plot with characters and all that in the series. This specific book was a wonderfully written mystery, I truly didn’t know who did it until the end which is always a great thing. Highly recommend this book and this whole series!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“ While Paislee will be celebrating All Hallow’s Eve by handing out candy to the trick or treaters at her Cashmere Crush sweater shop, her teenage son Brody seems to have given up the ghost. Uninterested in donning a superhero or monster costume, he’s just going to attend a party with his friends at the ice rink”
Wow this was an awesome addition to this wonderful series. I laughed, cried and wanted to come back and just keep reading. Love this bigger picture plot with characters and all that in the series. This specific book was a wonderfully written mystery, I truly didn’t know who did it until the end which is always a great thing. Highly recommend this book and this whole series!
May 18, 2026
A fun series, and I’ve really grown to love Paislee, Brody, Mack and grandpa Angus. This installment had fun tie-ins to Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night, which really brought the culture of Scotland to the forefront.
When Brody loses his phone after a fight prank gone wrong, he stumbles across a murder with Paislee. Given her son’s involvement and proximity to the murder, Paislee is more invested than ever.
A slew of suspects, but I didn’t see the ending coming. I also really enjoyed how Traci Hall tied all the outside events in together..
Thank you to #NetGalley and #KensingtonPublishing for an ARC
When Brody loses his phone after a fight prank gone wrong, he stumbles across a murder with Paislee. Given her son’s involvement and proximity to the murder, Paislee is more invested than ever.
A slew of suspects, but I didn’t see the ending coming. I also really enjoyed how Traci Hall tied all the outside events in together..
Thank you to #NetGalley and #KensingtonPublishing for an ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Murder at a Scottish Halloween is book eight of this Scottish Series by Traci Hall. As the small Scottish village of Nairn has become quite familiar, the characters have become friends. So along with Paislee I was distressed at what happened to Brody in this story. What starts out as a Halloween from older kids becomes a Halloween murder investigation. This was by far the most intense story of the series and my favorite. The feelings of Paislee and the way Brody had to work through his traumatized evening was so authentic. The investigation is a compelling read. Excellent, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
July 12, 2026
Thank you Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies for allowing me to read and review Murder at a Scottish Halloween by Traci Hall on NetGalley.
Published: 06/30/26
Stars: 4
Hail, Hail the gangs all here! 🖤 Brody runs into a ghost 👻 while Paislee passes out 🎃 candy. The mystery is on beginning with a lost cell phone. The gang sets about solving Brody's ghostly visit with of course a murder and Paislee as their leader.
I read one cozy series and this is it. I love the characters, their respect for each other and Paislee's hard unapologetic single parenting. The series is smart and fun.
Recommend wholeheartedly.
Published: 06/30/26
Stars: 4
Hail, Hail the gangs all here! 🖤 Brody runs into a ghost 👻 while Paislee passes out 🎃 candy. The mystery is on beginning with a lost cell phone. The gang sets about solving Brody's ghostly visit with of course a murder and Paislee as their leader.
I read one cozy series and this is it. I love the characters, their respect for each other and Paislee's hard unapologetic single parenting. The series is smart and fun.
Recommend wholeheartedly.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Paislee's son Brody is pranked by friends on Halloween, it ends with the discovery of student Ailis Barclay. Paislee is determined to discover who is responsible in order to provide her son with some comfort. In addition, the Ladies of Nairn have all received threatening letters and have asked for Paislee's help in determining who is behind the letters. With the approach of Guy Fawkes day, the possibility of people rioting is a concern. Friendships and relationships change as life goes on.
#MurderataScottishHalloween #KensingtonPublishing #NetGalley
#MurderataScottishHalloween #KensingtonPublishing #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The latest Scottish Shire mystery finds Paislee investigating she and her son stumble upon the body of a young woman at a haunted location. It seems like maybe it was an accident, but soon it becomes clear she was murdered. Paislee wonders if her death has anything to do with the vandalism going around lately.
Another good entry in this series! It was a solid mystery, and there was some serious personal plot advancement for Paislee (and Lydia). Can't wait to read the next one in this series!
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Another good entry in this series! It was a solid mystery, and there was some serious personal plot advancement for Paislee (and Lydia). Can't wait to read the next one in this series!
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2026
This is book 8 in the series. I love, love, love this series. The family dynamics, the supporting cast of friends and community, and an intriguing mystery all pull me in. This book was no exception. When Paisley and her son Brody discover the body of university student Ailis Barclay, the mystery begins. There are a few twist and turns as the mystery unfolds amidst Halloween antics, Bonfire night (Guy Fawkes), and Paisley's upcoming 31st birthday. Her romance with Mack continues a pace. A lovely cozy mystery with an momma bear sleuth.
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