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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.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2026
About the author
Traci Hall
115 books425 followersalso writing as Traci Wilton and Ellie 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 sixty 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. Her latest project is an Irish Castle cozy as Ellie Brannigan. Whether it's her ever-popular By the Sea romances, an Appletree Cove sweet romance, or a fun who-done-it, Traci finds her inspiration in sunny South Florida, living right near the ocean.
Traci wants to hear from you!
Traci@TraciHall.com
Facebook.com/BytheSeaSeries
Twitter.com/Tracihallauthor
From cozy mysteries to seaside romance, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall writes stories that captivate her readers. As a hybrid author with over sixty 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. Her latest project is an Irish Castle cozy as Ellie Brannigan. Whether it's her ever-popular By the Sea romances, an Appletree Cove sweet romance, or a fun who-done-it, Traci finds her inspiration in sunny South Florida, living right near the ocean.
Traci wants to hear from you!
Traci@TraciHall.com
Facebook.com/BytheSeaSeries
Twitter.com/Tracihallauthor
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
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 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.
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.
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
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!
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
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
I loved the first few books of this series. The last two, and now this one, have been stuck in daily minutiae so badly that it really drags down the story for me. There is little forward movement for the mystery part of it. I did enjoy the historical aspects of this one, though. Then....that ending. I know I'll be in the minority on this one, but that had me rolling my eyes. Hard. I mean, come on, you. barely know each other or spend time with each other, and then that happens?? Too far-fetched for me.
I loved the first few books of this series. The last two, and now this one, have been stuck in daily minutiae so badly that it really drags down the story for me. There is little forward movement for the mystery part of it. I did enjoy the historical aspects of this one, though. Then....that ending. I know I'll be in the minority on this one, but that had me rolling my eyes. Hard. I mean, come on, you. barely know each other or spend time with each other, and then that happens?? Too far-fetched for me.
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Murder at a Scottish Halloween is the 8th book in the Scottish Shire Mystery series by Traci Hall.
I have really enjoyed this series. It is such a great Scottish cozy mystery series.
Halloween is coming up in Nairn, the Scottish town. I LOVE Paislee and the gang.
I really enjoyed the murder, and this one is personal for Paislee.
The characters are well written and well developed.
This is such a great cozy mystery series.
I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
I have really enjoyed this series. It is such a great Scottish cozy mystery series.
Halloween is coming up in Nairn, the Scottish town. I LOVE Paislee and the gang.
I really enjoyed the murder, and this one is personal for Paislee.
The characters are well written and well developed.
This is such a great cozy mystery series.
I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
June 25, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Traci Hall for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder at a Scottish Halloween coming out June 30, 2026. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I really love this series! I love the setting in Scotland. I really love cozy mysteries. I definitely loved the Halloween theme. It was spooky. I’d definitely check out more books in the series!
I really love this series! I love the setting in Scotland. I really love cozy mysteries. I definitely loved the Halloween theme. It was spooky. I’d definitely check out more books in the series!
July 2, 2026
Another awesome book by Traci Hall. Once you start reading it is so hard to put it down. I love all the characters, it's like revisiting family with each book. When your finished reading it feels like you are missing your family.
This book is part of a series and each book just keeps getting better and better.
There is never a dull moment in her books. I think you will enjoy the story. Check it out. You will be glad that you did.
This book is part of a series and each book just keeps getting better and better.
There is never a dull moment in her books. I think you will enjoy the story. Check it out. You will be glad that you did.
July 5, 2026
A slow start
Excellent as usual I can not wait for the next book in this delightful series a great cosy book in this series
Excellent as usual I can not wait for the next book in this delightful series a great cosy book in this series
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Murder at a Scottish Halloween” the 8th instalment in the Scottish Shire Mystery series by Traci Hall. This has become one of my favourite Scottish cozy mysteries! I absolutely loved this instalment and can’t wait for book 9.
As always I loved this latest instalment in Traci Hall’s Scottish Shire Mysteries which is a pleasant blend of cozy mystery and everyday life. 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…
The murder investigation is gripping, and what makes it even more interesting is how the protagonist's personal connections get tangled up in it. With her son traumatized and deemed a suspect, the stakes are high. The author masterfully keeps the tension going, sprinkling in plenty of suspects with motives, so even with a few hunches, I didn't guess the killer until Paisley did!
I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As always I loved this latest instalment in Traci Hall’s Scottish Shire Mysteries which is a pleasant blend of cozy mystery and everyday life. 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…
The murder investigation is gripping, and what makes it even more interesting is how the protagonist's personal connections get tangled up in it. With her son traumatized and deemed a suspect, the stakes are high. The author masterfully keeps the tension going, sprinkling in plenty of suspects with motives, so even with a few hunches, I didn't guess the killer until Paisley did!
I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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