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Scottish Isle Mystery #5
Death at a Scottish Halloween
When Dr. Emilia McRoy stumbles upon a dead body in a haunted house, she resolves to find the killer before another body can fall.
Halloween isn’t the only cause for fright in the fifth Scottish Isle mystery, perfect for fans of Paige Shelton and Connie Berry.
It’s the week of Halloween—or as they say in Scotland, All Hallows' Eve—and the town of Sea Isle is full of spooky celebrations. Dr. Emilia McRoy loves being part of her new community and is eager to help out in any way she can. But the festivities are interrupted when she and her assistant, Abigail, find a dead body in a haunted house. A real one. They’re too late to save the victim, but they’ll do whatever it takes to find his killer.
There’s just one There are too many suspects.
Constable Ewan would prefer the good doctor and her friends stay out of the investigations, but that isn’t how Dr. Em rolls. As she and her gang investigate, they realize the killer is searching for something—and has no problem murdering anyone who gets in the way of finding it.
Dr. Em must stay one step ahead if she’s to survive this Halloween season alive—either that or she might just end up the next victim.
Halloween isn’t the only cause for fright in the fifth Scottish Isle mystery, perfect for fans of Paige Shelton and Connie Berry.
It’s the week of Halloween—or as they say in Scotland, All Hallows' Eve—and the town of Sea Isle is full of spooky celebrations. Dr. Emilia McRoy loves being part of her new community and is eager to help out in any way she can. But the festivities are interrupted when she and her assistant, Abigail, find a dead body in a haunted house. A real one. They’re too late to save the victim, but they’ll do whatever it takes to find his killer.
There’s just one There are too many suspects.
Constable Ewan would prefer the good doctor and her friends stay out of the investigations, but that isn’t how Dr. Em rolls. As she and her gang investigate, they realize the killer is searching for something—and has no problem murdering anyone who gets in the way of finding it.
Dr. Em must stay one step ahead if she’s to survive this Halloween season alive—either that or she might just end up the next victim.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published August 11, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have really been enjoying this wonderful series of an American doctor from Seattle, Dr Emily, who relocated to Scotland for a fresh start after her estranged husband’s death. Dr Em has ensconced herself into the Sea Isle community and has a gang of friends that have become her besties. There is also the town Laird, and Police Chief, Ewan, who hired Dr Em and makes sure she has everything she needs to run her practice because the town needs her and it took him a long time to find someone to be the town’s doctor. Over the course of five installments, Dr Em and Chief Ewan have become absolutely smitten with each other even though Dr Em and her gang often interfere with his police investigations, because that is just how Dr Em and besties, Mara (local pub owner), Jasper (local bakery owner) and Abigail (Dr Em’s medical assistant) roll.
The book summary introduces the primary storyline of Dr Em and Abigail finding the dead body of local artist, Duncan (that I’m going to call Duncan1), at the haunted house that Dr Em and Abigail had volunteered to work; Duncan was also stabbed by the knife that Dr Em and Abigail had been using as a prop in their skit at the haunted house. There is also a secondary storyline of another Duncan (I’ll call him Duncan2), who was found dead on Dr Em’s doorstep when she came home one night from the pub. Duncan2 was a antiques dealer who was touring the local countryside attending estate sales, and after examining him, determined that not only did he have a serious, undetected case of diabetes, but that he was also scared to death.
Most of the story has the Sea Isle cast of characters attending various Hallows Eve events that the town is hosting all week. Dr Em and the gang use the events as cover for investigating the Duncan deaths and running into all kinds of mayhem and mischief at every event that has Chief Ewan running to their assistance. It’s deep into the second half that Dr Em discovers the connection between the Duncan deaths and all #%!! breaks loose. LOVED the ending!!! FINALLY!!!
The continuing character development of the Sea Isle cast of characters is well done, especially Chief Ewan and Dr Em. The pacing is steady throughout and the storyline very entertaining. I really love seeing all the camaraderie between Dr Em and her friends. The writing is classic Connelly, who mixes the right amount of drama, entertainment, and mystery with a sprinkling of romance (very G rated). I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks # DeathataScottishHalloween
The book summary introduces the primary storyline of Dr Em and Abigail finding the dead body of local artist, Duncan (that I’m going to call Duncan1), at the haunted house that Dr Em and Abigail had volunteered to work; Duncan was also stabbed by the knife that Dr Em and Abigail had been using as a prop in their skit at the haunted house. There is also a secondary storyline of another Duncan (I’ll call him Duncan2), who was found dead on Dr Em’s doorstep when she came home one night from the pub. Duncan2 was a antiques dealer who was touring the local countryside attending estate sales, and after examining him, determined that not only did he have a serious, undetected case of diabetes, but that he was also scared to death.
Most of the story has the Sea Isle cast of characters attending various Hallows Eve events that the town is hosting all week. Dr Em and the gang use the events as cover for investigating the Duncan deaths and running into all kinds of mayhem and mischief at every event that has Chief Ewan running to their assistance. It’s deep into the second half that Dr Em discovers the connection between the Duncan deaths and all #%!! breaks loose. LOVED the ending!!! FINALLY!!!
The continuing character development of the Sea Isle cast of characters is well done, especially Chief Ewan and Dr Em. The pacing is steady throughout and the storyline very entertaining. I really love seeing all the camaraderie between Dr Em and her friends. The writing is classic Connelly, who mixes the right amount of drama, entertainment, and mystery with a sprinkling of romance (very G rated). I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks # DeathataScottishHalloween
August 23, 2026
I really love spending time with the folk on Sea Isle and one look at the atmospheric cover of Death at a Scottish Halloween I knew I was in for a good story. And I got it!
The story opens in a haunted house - each room has a spooky theme - but one room has a real live body by the end of the evening. How on earth did someone get murdered with a house full of people? Why was he murdered? And who did the deed? Dr. Emilia (Em) is not only the island GP but is also the coroner which means she gets to help Constable Ewan investigate suspicious deaths.
Em and her friends swing into action to find the murderer, but very quickly a mystery wife and a second body show up adding to the confusion.
The plot was very clever and I did not pick who the murderer was until Em did. There are lots of twists and turns before the truth comes out. Over the previous books the local characters have become friends and they work together, care for each other, and have great laughs as they solve the crimes. There is also the gentle romance between Em and Ewan, but this in the background as the two take it gently.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for providing an advanced copy of this book, at my request, for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The story opens in a haunted house - each room has a spooky theme - but one room has a real live body by the end of the evening. How on earth did someone get murdered with a house full of people? Why was he murdered? And who did the deed? Dr. Emilia (Em) is not only the island GP but is also the coroner which means she gets to help Constable Ewan investigate suspicious deaths.
Em and her friends swing into action to find the murderer, but very quickly a mystery wife and a second body show up adding to the confusion.
The plot was very clever and I did not pick who the murderer was until Em did. There are lots of twists and turns before the truth comes out. Over the previous books the local characters have become friends and they work together, care for each other, and have great laughs as they solve the crimes. There is also the gentle romance between Em and Ewan, but this in the background as the two take it gently.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for providing an advanced copy of this book, at my request, for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
August 14, 2026
I continue to really like this series. This time it's Halloween, and Dr. Em and her assistant Abigail are responsible for setting up one room in a haunted house. Of course, they do a really scary medical office. But things go downhill quickly when one of the people involved in a room across from theirs is murdered. Things get rather confusing with the second murder in town, as they both seem connected and disconnected.
All of the favorite secondary characters from previous entries are in this book, and we continue to learn about them as well as about Em. I liked the mysteries in this one, but even more liked the characters in the story. I would love to see more of the family of one of the murder victims, but suppsoe that's doubtful. As it is, I really hope there are more entries planned for this series.
All of the favorite secondary characters from previous entries are in this book, and we continue to learn about them as well as about Em. I liked the mysteries in this one, but even more liked the characters in the story. I would love to see more of the family of one of the murder victims, but suppsoe that's doubtful. As it is, I really hope there are more entries planned for this series.
September 21, 2026
Great installment in this delightful series
August 12, 2026
Death at a Scottish Halloween
A Scottish Isle Mystery
by Lucy Connelly
Rating: 5 star rating
This book: Death at a Scottish Halloween by Lucy Connelly is a great, cozy mystery. It is the fifth book in the Scottish Isle Mystery series, and you dont have to read the earlier books to be able to read this one.
The story starts off during Halloween week on the fictional Sea Isle. The autumn, small-town Scottish vibes are just perfect. The whole town is celebrating when the main character, Dr. Emilia McRoy, an American doctor who moved to Scotland, finds a real dead body inside a local haunted house attraction. The body was found in the room, just across the hallway from her and Abigails attraction! Because she is also the island's temporary coroner, she gets dragged right into the middle of the mess.
Emilia teams up with her awesome clinic assistant, Abigail, and the very handsome local cop, Ewan Campbell.
It turns out the victim was someone they knew named Duncan. He was killed because someone was hunting for a hidden treasure on the island, and the killer would do anything to find it.
Emilia uses her smart medical skills and clues from the investigation to trap the killer right as the Halloween festival ends. The mystery is totally solved, the island is safe again, and there are no annoying cliffhangers.
If you like easy to read mysteries with great characters, beautiful settings, and a happy ending, definitely pick this one up!
Thank you, NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Lucy Connelly for this book review consideration. All review opinions are my own.
#NetGalley
#CrookedLaneBooks
#DeathataScottishHalloween
#LucyConnelly
http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogs...
http://goodreads.com/patriciasreading...
A Scottish Isle Mystery
by Lucy Connelly
Rating: 5 star rating
This book: Death at a Scottish Halloween by Lucy Connelly is a great, cozy mystery. It is the fifth book in the Scottish Isle Mystery series, and you dont have to read the earlier books to be able to read this one.
The story starts off during Halloween week on the fictional Sea Isle. The autumn, small-town Scottish vibes are just perfect. The whole town is celebrating when the main character, Dr. Emilia McRoy, an American doctor who moved to Scotland, finds a real dead body inside a local haunted house attraction. The body was found in the room, just across the hallway from her and Abigails attraction! Because she is also the island's temporary coroner, she gets dragged right into the middle of the mess.
Emilia teams up with her awesome clinic assistant, Abigail, and the very handsome local cop, Ewan Campbell.
It turns out the victim was someone they knew named Duncan. He was killed because someone was hunting for a hidden treasure on the island, and the killer would do anything to find it.
Emilia uses her smart medical skills and clues from the investigation to trap the killer right as the Halloween festival ends. The mystery is totally solved, the island is safe again, and there are no annoying cliffhangers.
If you like easy to read mysteries with great characters, beautiful settings, and a happy ending, definitely pick this one up!
Thank you, NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Lucy Connelly for this book review consideration. All review opinions are my own.
#NetGalley
#CrookedLaneBooks
#DeathataScottishHalloween
#LucyConnelly
http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogs...
http://goodreads.com/patriciasreading...
September 24, 2026
I love this series! I find myself completely invested in these characters and eagerly look forward to their next adventure (aka murder!) and I really think that narrator Kimberly M. Wetherell has a lot to do with that. She is brilliant at creating unique voices for a multitude of characters and infuses them with individual personalities as well. And not just within this book, but over a multitude of books and various series that I’ve listened to. Her voice is somehow both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly new with each book she narrates. Her name on an audiobook cover is a definite selling point for me.
In this fifth Scottish Isle Mystery, Dr. Em and her endearing friend group, as well as a certain beguiling constable/Laird, are in for a perplexing case during all the hijinks and drama of the spooky Halloween season. Love the way the author blends Scottish culture and traditions into the mix and the vivid descriptions that make me feel like I’m right there in the midst of things.
The mystery is a doozy and I was yo-yoing between multiple suspects for most of the story. The complexity in details and all the autumnal festivities add to the fun, as does a certain developing relationship that has been oh-so-slowly in the works. Happy sigh — “Death at a Scottish Halloween” is pretty much cozy perfection.
My thanks to Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.
In this fifth Scottish Isle Mystery, Dr. Em and her endearing friend group, as well as a certain beguiling constable/Laird, are in for a perplexing case during all the hijinks and drama of the spooky Halloween season. Love the way the author blends Scottish culture and traditions into the mix and the vivid descriptions that make me feel like I’m right there in the midst of things.
The mystery is a doozy and I was yo-yoing between multiple suspects for most of the story. The complexity in details and all the autumnal festivities add to the fun, as does a certain developing relationship that has been oh-so-slowly in the works. Happy sigh — “Death at a Scottish Halloween” is pretty much cozy perfection.
My thanks to Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lucy Connelly’s Death at a Scottish Halloween is an absolute gem for cozy mystery lovers and seasonal readers alike—and a fantastic introduction to her work. Set against the misty, atmospheric backdrop of the Scottish Highlands as autumn sets in, this book masterfully balances Halloween eerie charm with warm, village heart.
The plot kicks off with a delightfully chaotic twist: two separate deaths involving two different characters both named Duncan! That clever setup kicks off an investigation packed with eccentric suspects and intriguing red herrings. Even if you start piecing together who killed Duncan toward the end, the journey there is wildly entertaining, and watching all the threads unspool is deeply satisfying.
The character dynamics, snappy banter, and vibrant local traditions make this installment stand out. If you're looking for a compelling cozy fall read packed with Scottish flair, Death at a Scottish Halloween is a five-star must-read that will definitely make you want to dive into the rest of the series!
The plot kicks off with a delightfully chaotic twist: two separate deaths involving two different characters both named Duncan! That clever setup kicks off an investigation packed with eccentric suspects and intriguing red herrings. Even if you start piecing together who killed Duncan toward the end, the journey there is wildly entertaining, and watching all the threads unspool is deeply satisfying.
The character dynamics, snappy banter, and vibrant local traditions make this installment stand out. If you're looking for a compelling cozy fall read packed with Scottish flair, Death at a Scottish Halloween is a five-star must-read that will definitely make you want to dive into the rest of the series!
September 27, 2026
I read this out of order before realizing it was a series. A good book. Author Lucy Connelly does some referring to previous titles in the series. I think I liked the 2nd and 3rd better than this one, but i did enjoy it. It is fun also looking at the Scottish holiday traditions that Miss Connelly includes in the novels.
August 15, 2026
I love Dr Emilia and this series!!!!!!!! I'm so glad I discovered this series and I love all of her quirky new friends in Scotland!!!!!!!! I can't wait to see what they all get up to in the next book!!!!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Death at a Scottish Halloween” is a fun cozy style mystery just in time for, well, Halloween. This is my first jaunt with Dr. Emilia McRoy and crew and it definitely won’t be my last.
What could be scarier than a haunted house? Well, for one, a haunted house with a real-life, um, real-dead dead person in it. Oh, and that is not the only dead body they are going to come across. As I said, this is a fun read. I enjoyed the characters and the mystery. The interaction between the characters was well written.
One thing that I do want to address. As a person of faith, I appreciated that overall, the reference to those that attend church was positive. Many of the novels I have read lately have taken jabs or lazily written all people of faith as the “bad guys”. So thank you for that, Lucy Connelly.
My only slight complaint was the ending just fell flat to me. The rest of the book was spot on so the slightly disappointing ending could be forgiven. It’s still worth the reading experience.
As far as listening experiences go, I also checked out the audiobook version. Kimberly M. Wetherell continues to narrate this series and does a great job. She’s enjoyable to listen to.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
What could be scarier than a haunted house? Well, for one, a haunted house with a real-life, um, real-dead dead person in it. Oh, and that is not the only dead body they are going to come across. As I said, this is a fun read. I enjoyed the characters and the mystery. The interaction between the characters was well written.
One thing that I do want to address. As a person of faith, I appreciated that overall, the reference to those that attend church was positive. Many of the novels I have read lately have taken jabs or lazily written all people of faith as the “bad guys”. So thank you for that, Lucy Connelly.
My only slight complaint was the ending just fell flat to me. The rest of the book was spot on so the slightly disappointing ending could be forgiven. It’s still worth the reading experience.
As far as listening experiences go, I also checked out the audiobook version. Kimberly M. Wetherell continues to narrate this series and does a great job. She’s enjoyable to listen to.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sea Isle has reached that special cozy mystery point where if someone asks for volunteers, my first response is, "How many bodies are we expecting this time?"
Poor Dr. Emilia McRoy just wants to enjoy Halloween. That's it. A little haunted house. Some festive Scottish traditions. Maybe a cute moment with Ewan if the universe is feeling generous. Instead, she discovers a dead body during a haunted house attraction, which feels incredibly rude. There is fake blood everywhere, actual screaming, people dressed as monsters, and somehow someone still manages to commit a murder and make everybody else's night weird.
And then this book does something that made me immediately sit up straighter because suddenly we aren't just dealing with one dead guy. We're dealing with two dead guys who have the exact same name. At that point I stopped trying to solve the murder and started feeling bad for whoever had to update the paperwork.
What I continue to love about this series is that Em isn't one of those amateur sleuths who inserts herself into police investigations because she once watched three episodes of a crime documentary. She's the town doctor and medical examiner. When a body turns up, it is literally her job to get involved. The woman can't even enjoy a holiday without ending up elbow-deep in a homicide, but at least she's qualified.
And honestly? The mystery is fun, but I'm here for the people.
Em has built this wonderful little found family in Sea Isle, and every book feels like getting invited back to hang out with friends who happen to solve murders between pub visits. Abigail remains a delight. Jasper continues to be exactly the kind of friend everyone deserves. The whole group has big "we'll help you hide a body, then remind you to wear a coat" energy.
Then there's Ewan. Listen. I have now spent multiple books watching these two circle each other with the caution of people approaching a wild animal they desperately want to pet.
Every interaction between them had me grinning like an idiot. The romance isn't taking over the mystery, but it's there, quietly wrecking my emotional stability in the background. The slow burn is so slow at this point it might qualify as a renewable energy source, but I remain invested.
The Halloween setting was also doing a lot of heavy lifting for me. Haunted houses. Costume events. Mazes. Samhain celebrations. Small-town chaos. It felt festive without turning into one of those books where every third page is a reminder that pumpkins exist. The atmosphere worked because it felt like the town genuinely loved these traditions, and honestly I kind of wanted to move there. Right up until the second murder happened.
The mystery itself kept me guessing longer than I expected. There are red herrings, mistaken assumptions, suspicious people everywhere, and enough twists that I stopped trusting anyone who had a first and last name. By the time everything came together, I was completely locked in.
Death at a Scottish Halloween is exactly why I keep coming back to this series. Charming characters. A gorgeous setting. Murderous nonsense. Emotional support villagers. One extremely patient Scottish constable. Everything I want in a cozy mystery. Easy 4 stars from me.
Whodunity Award: For Making Two Men With The Same Name Become Everyone's Problem At Once
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC. You gave me Halloween, homicide, Scottish village gossip, and another book where I spent an unreasonable amount of time rooting for Em and Ewan. Frankly, that's all I need.
Poor Dr. Emilia McRoy just wants to enjoy Halloween. That's it. A little haunted house. Some festive Scottish traditions. Maybe a cute moment with Ewan if the universe is feeling generous. Instead, she discovers a dead body during a haunted house attraction, which feels incredibly rude. There is fake blood everywhere, actual screaming, people dressed as monsters, and somehow someone still manages to commit a murder and make everybody else's night weird.
And then this book does something that made me immediately sit up straighter because suddenly we aren't just dealing with one dead guy. We're dealing with two dead guys who have the exact same name. At that point I stopped trying to solve the murder and started feeling bad for whoever had to update the paperwork.
What I continue to love about this series is that Em isn't one of those amateur sleuths who inserts herself into police investigations because she once watched three episodes of a crime documentary. She's the town doctor and medical examiner. When a body turns up, it is literally her job to get involved. The woman can't even enjoy a holiday without ending up elbow-deep in a homicide, but at least she's qualified.
And honestly? The mystery is fun, but I'm here for the people.
Em has built this wonderful little found family in Sea Isle, and every book feels like getting invited back to hang out with friends who happen to solve murders between pub visits. Abigail remains a delight. Jasper continues to be exactly the kind of friend everyone deserves. The whole group has big "we'll help you hide a body, then remind you to wear a coat" energy.
Then there's Ewan. Listen. I have now spent multiple books watching these two circle each other with the caution of people approaching a wild animal they desperately want to pet.
Every interaction between them had me grinning like an idiot. The romance isn't taking over the mystery, but it's there, quietly wrecking my emotional stability in the background. The slow burn is so slow at this point it might qualify as a renewable energy source, but I remain invested.
The Halloween setting was also doing a lot of heavy lifting for me. Haunted houses. Costume events. Mazes. Samhain celebrations. Small-town chaos. It felt festive without turning into one of those books where every third page is a reminder that pumpkins exist. The atmosphere worked because it felt like the town genuinely loved these traditions, and honestly I kind of wanted to move there. Right up until the second murder happened.
The mystery itself kept me guessing longer than I expected. There are red herrings, mistaken assumptions, suspicious people everywhere, and enough twists that I stopped trusting anyone who had a first and last name. By the time everything came together, I was completely locked in.
Death at a Scottish Halloween is exactly why I keep coming back to this series. Charming characters. A gorgeous setting. Murderous nonsense. Emotional support villagers. One extremely patient Scottish constable. Everything I want in a cozy mystery. Easy 4 stars from me.
Whodunity Award: For Making Two Men With The Same Name Become Everyone's Problem At Once
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC. You gave me Halloween, homicide, Scottish village gossip, and another book where I spent an unreasonable amount of time rooting for Em and Ewan. Frankly, that's all I need.
August 14, 2026
As the fifth book in the Scottish Isle Mystery series, many of the characters and their relationships are already established, and that is evident throughout the story. There is some exposition to help provide context for the residents of Sea Isle and their connections to one another, but readers starting the series here may still feel as though they are stepping into an already developed community. Depending on the reader, that could either leave them feeling somewhat lost within certain relationship dynamics or make them curious enough to go back and discover how those connections developed in the earlier books.
Even without knowing everyone's full history, however, their personalities come through clearly. The mystery allows us to see how the characters function together professionally and socially, while their shared experiences continue to deepen their established bonds. I enjoyed seeing those dynamics, although there were a few relationships I wish had been explored further. At times, interactions seemed to end just as they were becoming particularly interesting, and I found myself wanting more from those moments.
The story is told solely from Emilia's perspective, with a straightforward, matter-of-fact writing style that seems fitting for her character. As a doctor working with local law enforcement, Emilia approaches situations practically and analytically, and the narration reflects that. There is plenty of information surrounding the investigation, and her observations allow readers to follow her reasoning while also revealing how she views the people and circumstances around her. In that sense, the mystery itself becomes another way of understanding Emilia as a character.
However, that same directness occasionally worked against the atmosphere for me. With a Scottish island setting, Halloween festivities, a haunted house, and a murder, I expected the seasonal atmosphere to play a larger role. The limited visual and sensory descriptions made some of the settings and activities feel less immersive than I had hoped. I would have loved more of that spooky, autumnal Scottish atmosphere to complement the mystery. Readers familiar with traditional whodunits may also recognize certain mystery tropes and potentially piece together parts of the solution as the investigation progresses.
I enjoyed the premise overall, but by the end, I was left wanting a little more, particularly from the character interactions and emotional development. Some of Emilia's growth seems to happen quietly in the background, which may partly be because she doesn't always appear fully aware of herself. That is an interesting aspect of her character, but I would have liked to see some of those emotional developments brought more to the forefront.
This was an enjoyable cozy mystery and an entertaining introduction to Sea Isle for me. While I wanted a stronger sense of atmosphere and more exploration of certain relationships, the characters already feel comfortable and established within their community, making it easy to see the appeal of spending multiple books with them. I enjoyed my time with Emilia and the residents of Sea Isle, and I'm definitely interested in reading more of the series.
Even without knowing everyone's full history, however, their personalities come through clearly. The mystery allows us to see how the characters function together professionally and socially, while their shared experiences continue to deepen their established bonds. I enjoyed seeing those dynamics, although there were a few relationships I wish had been explored further. At times, interactions seemed to end just as they were becoming particularly interesting, and I found myself wanting more from those moments.
The story is told solely from Emilia's perspective, with a straightforward, matter-of-fact writing style that seems fitting for her character. As a doctor working with local law enforcement, Emilia approaches situations practically and analytically, and the narration reflects that. There is plenty of information surrounding the investigation, and her observations allow readers to follow her reasoning while also revealing how she views the people and circumstances around her. In that sense, the mystery itself becomes another way of understanding Emilia as a character.
However, that same directness occasionally worked against the atmosphere for me. With a Scottish island setting, Halloween festivities, a haunted house, and a murder, I expected the seasonal atmosphere to play a larger role. The limited visual and sensory descriptions made some of the settings and activities feel less immersive than I had hoped. I would have loved more of that spooky, autumnal Scottish atmosphere to complement the mystery. Readers familiar with traditional whodunits may also recognize certain mystery tropes and potentially piece together parts of the solution as the investigation progresses.
I enjoyed the premise overall, but by the end, I was left wanting a little more, particularly from the character interactions and emotional development. Some of Emilia's growth seems to happen quietly in the background, which may partly be because she doesn't always appear fully aware of herself. That is an interesting aspect of her character, but I would have liked to see some of those emotional developments brought more to the forefront.
This was an enjoyable cozy mystery and an entertaining introduction to Sea Isle for me. While I wanted a stronger sense of atmosphere and more exploration of certain relationships, the characters already feel comfortable and established within their community, making it easy to see the appeal of spending multiple books with them. I enjoyed my time with Emilia and the residents of Sea Isle, and I'm definitely interested in reading more of the series.
September 8, 2026
Dr. Emilia McRoy moved to the small Scottish town of Sea Isle for a change from her life in a large American hospital, where she was head of ER. But things weren't as she expected. Not only is she the only doctor around, she's also become the coroner, which means her work is more involved than she expected. She's also become involved in the local traditions, and has made some close friends in the process.
While working in a room in the "haunted house" along with her assistant Abigail, the last thing she expects is to go to the next room and find a dead body. And the very last thing she expects is that her own knife is plunged into the victim's chest. Now she's involved in another murder, and this one is a puzzle.
Which becomes a greater puzzle when the man's wife shows up -- a woman whom the victim's sister exclaims isn't -- and the wife, seeing the body, declares that she thought it was her husband, who has the same name and has been missing. Then things take a turn for the worse, and Dr. Em realizes that there are just too many suspects -- who could be wearing costumes and masks, considering it's near All Hallows' Eve and the town is celebrating with different events.
After a series of incidents, Constable Ewan wants to give Em round the clock security, but she refuses. Which might be a big mistake. Then other incidents occur, and Em wonders who was the real victim: the first man murdered or someone else? And are these cases connected? More importantly, could this get her killed?
This is the fifth book in the series and I love it as much as the others. Ms. Connelly is a talented writer, and she brings you to Sea Isle, Scotland with a touch of her pen. The descriptions of the area around it makes me see it in my mind, and that's the important thing. Because once you have the setting, it's easy to imagine the people. The characters are in turn charming and secretive, open and closed. It's anyone's guess who the killer might be, although Em's friends have their own opinions on who that person is. The question is, are they correct?
While Em uses her skills as a doctor, she also uses her mental skills to figure out the truth. But not without help from her friends, which frustrates Ewan, even though he knows he can't stop her. He just hopes she also uses her common sense enough to stay away from a killer.
While we also have our characters living their own lives -- Tommy and his gardens, Abigail learning her relationship status with Henry, and even Em herself figuring out what she really wants.
When the end comes and everything is finally revealed, it's not what anyone expected to know. (While I knew the murderer long before Em, but only because I read a lot of these) I still thoroughly enjoyed the ending, the catching of the murderer, and everything that we are looking forward to in the next book. Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
While working in a room in the "haunted house" along with her assistant Abigail, the last thing she expects is to go to the next room and find a dead body. And the very last thing she expects is that her own knife is plunged into the victim's chest. Now she's involved in another murder, and this one is a puzzle.
Which becomes a greater puzzle when the man's wife shows up -- a woman whom the victim's sister exclaims isn't -- and the wife, seeing the body, declares that she thought it was her husband, who has the same name and has been missing. Then things take a turn for the worse, and Dr. Em realizes that there are just too many suspects -- who could be wearing costumes and masks, considering it's near All Hallows' Eve and the town is celebrating with different events.
After a series of incidents, Constable Ewan wants to give Em round the clock security, but she refuses. Which might be a big mistake. Then other incidents occur, and Em wonders who was the real victim: the first man murdered or someone else? And are these cases connected? More importantly, could this get her killed?
This is the fifth book in the series and I love it as much as the others. Ms. Connelly is a talented writer, and she brings you to Sea Isle, Scotland with a touch of her pen. The descriptions of the area around it makes me see it in my mind, and that's the important thing. Because once you have the setting, it's easy to imagine the people. The characters are in turn charming and secretive, open and closed. It's anyone's guess who the killer might be, although Em's friends have their own opinions on who that person is. The question is, are they correct?
While Em uses her skills as a doctor, she also uses her mental skills to figure out the truth. But not without help from her friends, which frustrates Ewan, even though he knows he can't stop her. He just hopes she also uses her common sense enough to stay away from a killer.
While we also have our characters living their own lives -- Tommy and his gardens, Abigail learning her relationship status with Henry, and even Em herself figuring out what she really wants.
When the end comes and everything is finally revealed, it's not what anyone expected to know. (While I knew the murderer long before Em, but only because I read a lot of these) I still thoroughly enjoyed the ending, the catching of the murderer, and everything that we are looking forward to in the next book. Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
August 23, 2026
As I noted long ago when I reviewed the first book of this series, An American in Scotland: A Scottish Isle Mystery by Lucy Connelly, I am not a cozy mystery kind of guy. I lean more towards police procedurals as well as grittier mystery and crime fiction. But, I enjoyed that first book quite a lot and have enjoyed every read since. That includes the latest book, fifth in the series, Death at a Scottish Halloween: A Scottish Isle Mystery.
Dr. Emilia McRoy left it all behind to move to Sea Isle, Scotland, and she could not be happier. As the book begins, she is working on her room in an extensive haunted house. Halloween, or as the locals refer to it, All Hallows Eve, is a big deal. Doctor McRoy missed it last year due to attending a wedding so her and her assistant, Abigail, are going all out to create the spookiest doctor’s office ever. Their room is one of several that people will walk through and experience scares a plenty.
It is a fun evening until, after nearly everyone has left, they discover a body in the room across the hall from their own. Not only is Duncan, a man they just met a few hours earlier, dead, a butcher knife is planted in his chest. The same butcher knife that Dr. Emilia McRoy had brought from home and was using as a prop in their horror scene. With all the people that came through and the loud commotion these past hours, neither the good doctor nor Abigail noticed who took it or when it went missing. But, it is definitely is now planted in the dead man’s chest. Probably right through his heart.
Despite the fact it was her knife that is the murder weapon, and their multi hour close proximity to the victim, they are never considered as suspects by Constable Ewan or the other locals. Instead, as part of their jobs, they handle this situation as they have before with other murders and get to work with the removal of the body, the autopsy, and the investigation of the crime.
So, if they did not do it, then who did?
That is the question that Constable Ewan and his team, along with the good doctor and Abigail must answer. A second murder soon happens and that ratchets up the pressure. At the same time, other things are going on and the good doctor is getting threats and more.
The latest in the series is another good read. I recommend reading the series in order from the beginning as significant character development has happened over the course of the series and relationships have changed and evolved. Those who are fans of Halloween, or All Hallows Eve, will get far more out of this read than those of us who don’t care for any of it at all.
A very good read in a very good cozy mystery series, Death at a Scottish Halloween: A Scottish Isle Mystery by Lucy Connelly is well worth your time.
My digital ARC came from the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Dr. Emilia McRoy left it all behind to move to Sea Isle, Scotland, and she could not be happier. As the book begins, she is working on her room in an extensive haunted house. Halloween, or as the locals refer to it, All Hallows Eve, is a big deal. Doctor McRoy missed it last year due to attending a wedding so her and her assistant, Abigail, are going all out to create the spookiest doctor’s office ever. Their room is one of several that people will walk through and experience scares a plenty.
It is a fun evening until, after nearly everyone has left, they discover a body in the room across the hall from their own. Not only is Duncan, a man they just met a few hours earlier, dead, a butcher knife is planted in his chest. The same butcher knife that Dr. Emilia McRoy had brought from home and was using as a prop in their horror scene. With all the people that came through and the loud commotion these past hours, neither the good doctor nor Abigail noticed who took it or when it went missing. But, it is definitely is now planted in the dead man’s chest. Probably right through his heart.
Despite the fact it was her knife that is the murder weapon, and their multi hour close proximity to the victim, they are never considered as suspects by Constable Ewan or the other locals. Instead, as part of their jobs, they handle this situation as they have before with other murders and get to work with the removal of the body, the autopsy, and the investigation of the crime.
So, if they did not do it, then who did?
That is the question that Constable Ewan and his team, along with the good doctor and Abigail must answer. A second murder soon happens and that ratchets up the pressure. At the same time, other things are going on and the good doctor is getting threats and more.
The latest in the series is another good read. I recommend reading the series in order from the beginning as significant character development has happened over the course of the series and relationships have changed and evolved. Those who are fans of Halloween, or All Hallows Eve, will get far more out of this read than those of us who don’t care for any of it at all.
A very good read in a very good cozy mystery series, Death at a Scottish Halloween: A Scottish Isle Mystery by Lucy Connelly is well worth your time.
My digital ARC came from the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📆 Release Date: August 11
¿Nos fuimos a un pequeño pueblo de Escocia en Halloween en pleno Julio? ¡Nos fuimos y qué manera de hacerlo!
Este es el quinto libro dentro de la serie Scottish Isle Mystery y para no haber leído los anteriores libros, lo sentí completamente independiente y entendible (claro que, me iré a leer/escuchar todos los demás libros porque me quedo gustando y mucho). Acá tenemos a la Dr. Emilia McRoy, que es nuestra médico protagonista de toda la serie, y déjenme decirles que me encanto su personalidad y su profesionalidad.
Toda la historia empieza en una casa embrujada cuando encuentran un cadáver (cliche, i know but worth it) y de allí desencadena no solo esa muerte si no otra muerte que puede o no estar conectado, nuestra doctora con sus amigos ayudan al Constable (Agente Oficial) Ewan un poco a resolver todo este misterio y que manera de resolverlo.
Sin decir mucho más de la historia tiene misterio, tiene acción y tiene unos personajes tan entrañables que me encariñe con ellos de inmediato, como saben, amo este genero y esta autora es de mis favoritas y este libro sin duda fue uno que volveré a releer cuando me ponga al dia con los demás libros.
********
Did we go to a small town in Scotland for Halloween in the middle of July? We did and what a way to do it!
This is the fifth book in the Scottish Isle Mystery series, and even though I hadn’t read the previous books, I found it completely standalone and easy to follow (of course, I’m going to read or listen to all the other books because I really, really liked this one). Here we have Dr. Emilia McRoy, who is the lead doctor throughout the entire series, and let me tell you, I loved her personality and her professionalism.
The whole story begins in a haunted house when they find a body (cliché, I know, but worth it), and from there it triggers not only that death but another death that may or may not be connected. Our doctor and her friends help Constable Ewan a bit to solve this whole mystery and what a way to solve it!
Without giving too much away, the story has mystery, action, and characters so endearing that I grew attached to them immediately. As you know, I love this genre and this author is one of my favorites and this book is definitely one I’ll reread once I catch up on the other books.
📌 I received an e-arc through netgalley, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.
¿Nos fuimos a un pequeño pueblo de Escocia en Halloween en pleno Julio? ¡Nos fuimos y qué manera de hacerlo!
Este es el quinto libro dentro de la serie Scottish Isle Mystery y para no haber leído los anteriores libros, lo sentí completamente independiente y entendible (claro que, me iré a leer/escuchar todos los demás libros porque me quedo gustando y mucho). Acá tenemos a la Dr. Emilia McRoy, que es nuestra médico protagonista de toda la serie, y déjenme decirles que me encanto su personalidad y su profesionalidad.
Toda la historia empieza en una casa embrujada cuando encuentran un cadáver (cliche, i know but worth it) y de allí desencadena no solo esa muerte si no otra muerte que puede o no estar conectado, nuestra doctora con sus amigos ayudan al Constable (Agente Oficial) Ewan un poco a resolver todo este misterio y que manera de resolverlo.
Sin decir mucho más de la historia tiene misterio, tiene acción y tiene unos personajes tan entrañables que me encariñe con ellos de inmediato, como saben, amo este genero y esta autora es de mis favoritas y este libro sin duda fue uno que volveré a releer cuando me ponga al dia con los demás libros.
********
Did we go to a small town in Scotland for Halloween in the middle of July? We did and what a way to do it!
This is the fifth book in the Scottish Isle Mystery series, and even though I hadn’t read the previous books, I found it completely standalone and easy to follow (of course, I’m going to read or listen to all the other books because I really, really liked this one). Here we have Dr. Emilia McRoy, who is the lead doctor throughout the entire series, and let me tell you, I loved her personality and her professionalism.
The whole story begins in a haunted house when they find a body (cliché, I know, but worth it), and from there it triggers not only that death but another death that may or may not be connected. Our doctor and her friends help Constable Ewan a bit to solve this whole mystery and what a way to solve it!
Without giving too much away, the story has mystery, action, and characters so endearing that I grew attached to them immediately. As you know, I love this genre and this author is one of my favorites and this book is definitely one I’ll reread once I catch up on the other books.
📌 I received an e-arc through netgalley, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.
September 12, 2026
Last October, Doc Emilia McRoy was away at a wedding and not able to see or enjoy the fun that is All Hallow’s Eve. That is fun with a capital F because if it is a holiday, the people of Sea Isle, and Scotts in general are going to throw one heck of a fête. This is the fifth book of the series, and it is every bit as entertaining as the other four. Doctor Em was an emergency room doctor who left Seattle and heartbreak behind to start a new chapter. Now she is a small-town doctor who also doubles as the coroner. This new home is filled with friends who have become family and perhaps one man, a certain Laird who doubles as the detective inspector.
Doc Em and her amazing assistant Abigail have gone all out on the Halloween effects for their haunted hospital room complete with a big kitchen knife. The mystery is a good one, and it is a challenge to keep track of the various moving parts without writing it all down. There are two victims with the same name so is it a case of mistaken identity? Maybe there is a commonality between the two men. Saints preserve us that there aren’t murderers running around Sea Isle. The murders are as different as the victims and the possible motives are as different as the suspects. One Duncan was a visiting antiques dealer who had visited some estate sales before ending up literally being scared to death in Sea Isle. The other Duncan met an unfortunate and sharp end at the haunted house. This is a well-constructed mystery, and it will take all of Doc Em’s deductive skills and the help of her friends.
The story flows well, and bits of backstory are seamlessly blended into the story either by character conversation or moments of retrospect thereby reminding current readers and informing new ones. Each book of the series can be read as a stand-alone but it is such a good series that you should read the others as well, in fact that storyteller’s train to Edinburgh, a plot point of book four, is referenced in this book making it a part of the overall story arc. All of the cozy requirements are met from the Scooby gang aspects to the sprinkles of romance. This one has definitely been a slow burn, and I think that my favorite romance-related line from the book is “I’ve just been easing you into it.” There are so many aspects of this story and series to enjoy that it is hard to put the book down until getting to the solution.
Doc Em and her amazing assistant Abigail have gone all out on the Halloween effects for their haunted hospital room complete with a big kitchen knife. The mystery is a good one, and it is a challenge to keep track of the various moving parts without writing it all down. There are two victims with the same name so is it a case of mistaken identity? Maybe there is a commonality between the two men. Saints preserve us that there aren’t murderers running around Sea Isle. The murders are as different as the victims and the possible motives are as different as the suspects. One Duncan was a visiting antiques dealer who had visited some estate sales before ending up literally being scared to death in Sea Isle. The other Duncan met an unfortunate and sharp end at the haunted house. This is a well-constructed mystery, and it will take all of Doc Em’s deductive skills and the help of her friends.
The story flows well, and bits of backstory are seamlessly blended into the story either by character conversation or moments of retrospect thereby reminding current readers and informing new ones. Each book of the series can be read as a stand-alone but it is such a good series that you should read the others as well, in fact that storyteller’s train to Edinburgh, a plot point of book four, is referenced in this book making it a part of the overall story arc. All of the cozy requirements are met from the Scooby gang aspects to the sprinkles of romance. This one has definitely been a slow burn, and I think that my favorite romance-related line from the book is “I’ve just been easing you into it.” There are so many aspects of this story and series to enjoy that it is hard to put the book down until getting to the solution.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
~ Werbung, weil NetGalley Rezensionsexemplar. Alle Meinungen meine eigenen. Danke an den Verlag für die Bereitstellung. ~
Dr. Em arbeitet als örtliche Ärztin und Gerichtsmedizinerin im beschaulichen schottischen Sea Isle. Das tut sie auch schon seit 4 Bänden, die ich aber (noch) nicht gelesen habe. Diesmal geht es um Duncan Craig, der bei einer Halloween-Haunted-House-Ausstellung mit Ems Messer getötet wurde. Seine Schwester und sein bester Freund sind am Boden zerstört - doch dann taucht eine Frau auf und behauptet, er sei verheiratet mit Kind. Der Twist: Es gab zwei Duncan Craigs und kurz darauf ist der zweite auch tot...
Ah, so viele gute Codewörter für mich: Cozy Crime, Schottland, Halloween - da musste ich doch auf "Jetzt lesen" klicken, oder?! Wie gesagt, habe ich die ersten vier nicht gelesen. Natürlich gibt es da schon leichte Andeutungen auf vorherige Ereignisse, aber das Gute an Cozy Crime ist ja, dass man alle Bände unabhängig lesen kann.
Etwas anders als in anderen Cozy Mysteries war, dass Em als Gerichtsmedizinerin selbst Untersuchungen anstellen kann und nicht an ihren Polizisten gefesselt ist (auch wenn sie das durchaus gern wäre) - dadurch entsteht mit ihren Freunden aus dem Dorf eine Scooby Gang, sehr witzig. Außerdem gibt es einen autistischen Nebencharakter, der sehr putzig ist.
Das schottische Halloween kommt dabei nicht zu kurz - immer wieder gehen die Freunde zu Veranstaltungen, wie einem Kostümball oder einem Grusellabyrinth. Ebenso wird ein Ritual des örtlichen Covens beschrieben, das ich sehr schön gelungen fand. Allerdings waren noch ein, zwei Fehler im Buch, die gezeigt haben, dass Autorin bzw Lektorat (noch) nicht genug gegooglet haben ("Scotts" / "Bothie").
Achtung: Nicht verwechseln mit "Murder at a Scottish Halloween" - das ich vermutlich als nächstes lesen werde^^
"I have this theory that when many gather with truly good intentions all involved can feel the results."
~ 03.05.2026
Dr. Em arbeitet als örtliche Ärztin und Gerichtsmedizinerin im beschaulichen schottischen Sea Isle. Das tut sie auch schon seit 4 Bänden, die ich aber (noch) nicht gelesen habe. Diesmal geht es um Duncan Craig, der bei einer Halloween-Haunted-House-Ausstellung mit Ems Messer getötet wurde. Seine Schwester und sein bester Freund sind am Boden zerstört - doch dann taucht eine Frau auf und behauptet, er sei verheiratet mit Kind. Der Twist: Es gab zwei Duncan Craigs und kurz darauf ist der zweite auch tot...
Ah, so viele gute Codewörter für mich: Cozy Crime, Schottland, Halloween - da musste ich doch auf "Jetzt lesen" klicken, oder?! Wie gesagt, habe ich die ersten vier nicht gelesen. Natürlich gibt es da schon leichte Andeutungen auf vorherige Ereignisse, aber das Gute an Cozy Crime ist ja, dass man alle Bände unabhängig lesen kann.
Etwas anders als in anderen Cozy Mysteries war, dass Em als Gerichtsmedizinerin selbst Untersuchungen anstellen kann und nicht an ihren Polizisten gefesselt ist (auch wenn sie das durchaus gern wäre) - dadurch entsteht mit ihren Freunden aus dem Dorf eine Scooby Gang, sehr witzig. Außerdem gibt es einen autistischen Nebencharakter, der sehr putzig ist.
Das schottische Halloween kommt dabei nicht zu kurz - immer wieder gehen die Freunde zu Veranstaltungen, wie einem Kostümball oder einem Grusellabyrinth. Ebenso wird ein Ritual des örtlichen Covens beschrieben, das ich sehr schön gelungen fand. Allerdings waren noch ein, zwei Fehler im Buch, die gezeigt haben, dass Autorin bzw Lektorat (noch) nicht genug gegooglet haben ("Scotts" / "Bothie").
Achtung: Nicht verwechseln mit "Murder at a Scottish Halloween" - das ich vermutlich als nächstes lesen werde^^
"I have this theory that when many gather with truly good intentions all involved can feel the results."
~ 03.05.2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5/5 stars: This is Connelly's fifth entry in the Scottish Isle Mystery series which is a British Cozy-ish Mystery set in Scotland. Following an American former ER doctor turned village doctor and coroner finds herself turning sleuth, with help from her assistant and friends and to assist the local constable, after she and her assistant discover a dead body in a haunted house interrupting the town's All Hallows' Eve festivities. They’re too late to save the victim but they’ll do whatever it takes to find his killer. Things get complicated when another man with the same name is killed. Now they've got double the suspects and an very unclear motive. As she and her friends and colleagues investigate, they realize the killer is searching for something – and has no problem murdering anyone who gets in their way. If she’s going to survive this Halloween season, she'll have to work fast or she might just end up the killer's next victim.
With plenty of twists and turns, Connelly has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Connelly's writing and character work are stellar; the main characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable with a secondary cast that are well crafted and uniquely voiced.
Connelly touches on some sensitive subjects; so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to check out book one, An American in Scotland.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
With plenty of twists and turns, Connelly has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Connelly's writing and character work are stellar; the main characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable with a secondary cast that are well crafted and uniquely voiced.
Connelly touches on some sensitive subjects; so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to check out book one, An American in Scotland.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It is Halloween week in Sea Isle and the town goes all out to celebrate. Dr. Em and her friends are all involved in the local haunted house. However, they aren't expecting to find a murdered man in one of the exhibits. And certainly not one killed by the butcher knife that was part of Em's tableau.
Duncan Craig was an artist who also worked on offshore oil rigs. He was a newcomer to the town. His sister and best friend were working on his tableau with him but went ahead of him to the pub while he rearranged the scene a bit. Em and Abigail discover the body when they are checking that no one was left behind after closing.
The big surprise comes the next day when a woman with a small child comes to identify Duncan's body. However, neither his sister nor his best friend knows her. She is apparently looking for a different Duncan Craig. This one owns an antiques shop and was off on a buying trip attending estate sales in the area.
Ewan and his deputies are now on the hunt for the missing Duncan Craig while trying to figure out who stabbed the other Duncan Craig.
Unfortunately, Em discovers a man slumped outside her doctor's office door when returning from another festivity. This one turns out to be the missing Duncan Craig. He appears to have died of being frightened to death. He had undiagnosed diabetes and an enlarged heart which contributed to his death.
These murders are baffling. Is someone out to rid the world of Duncan Craigs? Do the two men have anything in common? Ewan and Em and her Scooby gang have their work cut out for them in this fifth in the Scottish Isle Mysteries series. And they have to fit their investigations in around a variety of Halloween celebrations.
Duncan Craig was an artist who also worked on offshore oil rigs. He was a newcomer to the town. His sister and best friend were working on his tableau with him but went ahead of him to the pub while he rearranged the scene a bit. Em and Abigail discover the body when they are checking that no one was left behind after closing.
The big surprise comes the next day when a woman with a small child comes to identify Duncan's body. However, neither his sister nor his best friend knows her. She is apparently looking for a different Duncan Craig. This one owns an antiques shop and was off on a buying trip attending estate sales in the area.
Ewan and his deputies are now on the hunt for the missing Duncan Craig while trying to figure out who stabbed the other Duncan Craig.
Unfortunately, Em discovers a man slumped outside her doctor's office door when returning from another festivity. This one turns out to be the missing Duncan Craig. He appears to have died of being frightened to death. He had undiagnosed diabetes and an enlarged heart which contributed to his death.
These murders are baffling. Is someone out to rid the world of Duncan Craigs? Do the two men have anything in common? Ewan and Em and her Scooby gang have their work cut out for them in this fifth in the Scottish Isle Mysteries series. And they have to fit their investigations in around a variety of Halloween celebrations.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The 5th book in the Scottish Isle Mystery series, finds Dr. Emilia McRoy and her trusty assistant Abigail volunteering as actors in a haunted house raising money for charity. Dr. Em eventually finds one of her new friends, Duncan, from across the hall dead at the end of the night. As she and Constable Ewan start to investigate, a woman with a daughter shows up demanding to identify the body of her missing husband Duncan.. It turns out that the body is not her husband, but a man who shares his name. One day later, a man is sitting on Dr. Em's doorstep dead, who turns out to be the missing husband. Constable Ewan and Dr. Emilia now have to solve both cases of the two dead Duncans and have to determine if there is a link between the two, or if it is just a massive coincidence.
I am a huge Lucy Connelly fan and was so excited to get this eARC. I absolutely enjoy every one of the Scottish Isle Mysteries! As a medical professional myself, I love reading Dr. Em's perspective on the cases as opposed to just law enforcement. I like the small town cozy feel of Sea Isle and the close knit group of friends that Em has in her "Scooby gang". The slow burn between Ewan and Emilia is so sweet and lovely to watch blossom between to good people who have been hurt before. These are some of my absolute favorite reads, and I cannot wait for the next installment,
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.
I am a huge Lucy Connelly fan and was so excited to get this eARC. I absolutely enjoy every one of the Scottish Isle Mysteries! As a medical professional myself, I love reading Dr. Em's perspective on the cases as opposed to just law enforcement. I like the small town cozy feel of Sea Isle and the close knit group of friends that Em has in her "Scooby gang". The slow burn between Ewan and Emilia is so sweet and lovely to watch blossom between to good people who have been hurt before. These are some of my absolute favorite reads, and I cannot wait for the next installment,
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Once again Dr. Em, Constable Ewan, Abigail, Henry and the rest of the gang in Sea Isle, Scotland have captured my heart. Sea Isle is celebrating All Hallows or as the old timers call it, Samhain. As usual in this captivating Scottish village, they go all out to celebrate from a haunted house to a costume contest, to a maze and a ball. Sadly, the first night of the haunted house, a man is found stabbed at the end of the evening. As the team investigates, Dr. Em heads home the next night, escorted by baker pal Jasper only to find another man curled up dead on her doorstep. Ironically, both men have the same name! Finding his cause of death and determining if the deaths are related leads to some interesting events.
I simply love the characters and relationships developing in this series among all the characters and two couples in particular. It has been such fun to see them grow in understanding and supportive acceptance. Sea Isle is a character unto itself and the culture of the area adds so much to the stories.
There were a number of interesting twists and turns along the way as Em and Ewan work to identify the perpetrators and motives.
I cannot recommend this series highly enough. If you have never read it, start with An American in Scotland and go from there. This can be read as a stand-alone, but will be so much richer if you have read the previous books.
My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the chance to read an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I simply love the characters and relationships developing in this series among all the characters and two couples in particular. It has been such fun to see them grow in understanding and supportive acceptance. Sea Isle is a character unto itself and the culture of the area adds so much to the stories.
There were a number of interesting twists and turns along the way as Em and Ewan work to identify the perpetrators and motives.
I cannot recommend this series highly enough. If you have never read it, start with An American in Scotland and go from there. This can be read as a stand-alone, but will be so much richer if you have read the previous books.
My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the chance to read an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the 5th installment in the Scottish Isle mystery series. Dr. Emilla (Em) McRoy is once again involved in discovering the cause of death of not one but two suspicious deaths. Em and her assistant and friend Abigal have volunteered (her friend Mara has organized the event) for the local haunted house for charity. Em and Abigal make friends with the artists across the hall and after the first night, they are shocked when they find their new friend Duncan murdered with the knife from one of their dead dummies. Constable Ewan and Abigal begin to investigate and things get complicated when the next day a woman shows up with her daughter demanding to see her husband, Duncan. The body is not that of her husband and a day later, a dead body is found outside Dr. Em’s house and practice and it is the other Duncan. Now Ewan and Em need to find out do they have 2 murderer’s or is it a coincidence that two men with the same name have been murdered days apart. How are the murders related. I really enjoyed this story and I like how Em works with Ewan and all their friends to find justice for the victims and their families. I really enjoy the relationship Em shares with all her friends and how they all support her and protect her. I also liked that the relationship with Ewan is getting firmed up. This installment did not disappoint and I look forward to the next in this series. This series is an automatic for me. Highly recommend.
August 16, 2026
Death at a Scottish Halloween, the fifth book in the Scottish Isle Mystery series, by Lucy Connelly will get readers in the mood for Halloween for sure !!
In Death at a Scottish Halloween the town of Sea Isle in Scotland is ready. They have a lot of different activities spanning days that will interest and scare all that attend. Unfortunately,
while Dr. Em and her assistant Abigail are participating in the haunted house, they find another participant dead at the end of the night.
Luckily Dr. Em has a great team of friends that are willing to help out with anything, even trying to solve a murder. And she is very close to the Constable which makes things easy and difficult at the same time.
While Dr. Em, Abigail and the Constable are trying to solve the murder, they are faced with another case that may or may not tie into this murder case.
And this is not the time of year with all the Halloween festivities to be serious. There are so many people in costumes that you don't know who is who and what their intentions may be.
Readers will love this story especially if you like Halloween. It may even give you some ideas for a Halloween costume. I don't know if you will have better luck than me because I was clueless as to who the guilty party was. Every time that I thought I may know, Connelly throws something in there to make you second guess ..... which is fine with me. That's why I read the books and leave the creativity to the authors.
In Death at a Scottish Halloween the town of Sea Isle in Scotland is ready. They have a lot of different activities spanning days that will interest and scare all that attend. Unfortunately,
while Dr. Em and her assistant Abigail are participating in the haunted house, they find another participant dead at the end of the night.
Luckily Dr. Em has a great team of friends that are willing to help out with anything, even trying to solve a murder. And she is very close to the Constable which makes things easy and difficult at the same time.
While Dr. Em, Abigail and the Constable are trying to solve the murder, they are faced with another case that may or may not tie into this murder case.
And this is not the time of year with all the Halloween festivities to be serious. There are so many people in costumes that you don't know who is who and what their intentions may be.
Readers will love this story especially if you like Halloween. It may even give you some ideas for a Halloween costume. I don't know if you will have better luck than me because I was clueless as to who the guilty party was. Every time that I thought I may know, Connelly throws something in there to make you second guess ..... which is fine with me. That's why I read the books and leave the creativity to the authors.
October 8, 2026
An easy-to-listen-to mystery! This is my first read from the Scottish Isle Mystery series. It was easy to jump into the story though, with all the fun characters and cozy village vibes. The audiobook narrator offers an excellent variety of voice tones and accents too. I thoroughly enjoyed the audio version!
Dr. Emilia McRoy is the only doctor for miles around. So, of course, she has a flourishing practice. But when dead bodies start popping up, she's going to insert herself into the investigation to get to the bottom of the mystery. How can two men, both with the same name, suddenly die, so close to each other? Dr. Emilia McRoy is going to figure it out! -- right after she takes care of all her strep throat patients, of course.
I like having a mystery where the main character is also a doctor (in addition to her detective duties), and I quite enjoyed seeing some medical jargon thrown about. None of the medical cases were gory or anything like that.
Would happily listen to more of this series! I've already added the other books from this series to my TBR. If you love the Scottish Bookshop Mysteries by Paige Shelton, then you'll love diving into the Scottish Isle Mysteries too, as it all feels like it's from the same story-world.
A CLEAN READ -- without any language or mature content. Perfect!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley, but was not required to leave a positive review.
Dr. Emilia McRoy is the only doctor for miles around. So, of course, she has a flourishing practice. But when dead bodies start popping up, she's going to insert herself into the investigation to get to the bottom of the mystery. How can two men, both with the same name, suddenly die, so close to each other? Dr. Emilia McRoy is going to figure it out! -- right after she takes care of all her strep throat patients, of course.
I like having a mystery where the main character is also a doctor (in addition to her detective duties), and I quite enjoyed seeing some medical jargon thrown about. None of the medical cases were gory or anything like that.
Would happily listen to more of this series! I've already added the other books from this series to my TBR. If you love the Scottish Bookshop Mysteries by Paige Shelton, then you'll love diving into the Scottish Isle Mysteries too, as it all feels like it's from the same story-world.
A CLEAN READ -- without any language or mature content. Perfect!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley, but was not required to leave a positive review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In Lucy Connelly's fifth Scottish Isle cozy mystery, Death at a Scottish Halloween, American Dr. Emilia McRoy is thriving as the town doctor and medical examiner in Sea Isle, a quaint Scottish village, which is a relief after her frenetic ER doctor career in Seattle. She continues to live and work in a lovely house owned by local constable Ewan Campbell and is forging a relationship with Ewan that may be moving to a new level beyond colleagues and friends. It's the week culminating with All Hallows Eve, beginning with a haunted house with each room created by a different team to be as scary as possible. Em's team features killer doctors and a bloody butcher knife she brought from home. It's all in good fun until the knife is found skewering a dead man in one of the other rooms.
Dr. Em and her group of close friends--the Scooby Gang--start to sift through a group of suspects to help the police find the murderer, but soon there is another suspicious death. Is it murder, or a series of unfortunate events and conditions? More importantly, is it a coincidence that the deceased have one strange thing in common?
Dr. Emilia is a character who is easy to root for, as are the supporting cast and the charming venue. I'd like to see more development from Ewan in future series entries.
My review is based on a complimentary -pre-release copy of this book.
Dr. Em and her group of close friends--the Scooby Gang--start to sift through a group of suspects to help the police find the murderer, but soon there is another suspicious death. Is it murder, or a series of unfortunate events and conditions? More importantly, is it a coincidence that the deceased have one strange thing in common?
Dr. Emilia is a character who is easy to root for, as are the supporting cast and the charming venue. I'd like to see more development from Ewan in future series entries.
My review is based on a complimentary -pre-release copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It's coming up to Halloween in Sea Isle in Lucy Connelly's latest addition to her Scottish Isle series. Let me tell you Sea Isle knows how to celebrate and they really have it turned on for this special time.
There is a lot of blood and guts most of it though totally fake. However it turns out among all this real murder and dead people happen. Dr. Emilia of course is in the thick of it. No she's not murdered but she is determined to find out who is doing the murdering. As the local coroner she is apt at collecting details. She has the wonderful assistant Abigail to help.
I had no idea who the murderer was. There are quite a few suspects and lots of things that happen that had me wondering. Of course that's the best because the story moves along at a really good pace and I was invested all the way through.
I enjoyed seeing Emilia in action as the local doctor and her dealing with the patients. As well we have Mara from the pub and Jasper a local baker all making small appearances. They are such good friends.
And let's not forget Constable Ewan - the local laird. He is there leading the investigation and just growing a little more towards being the leading man in Emilia's life. More of that please.
A cozy mystery I really enjoyed and I'll be back for the next one. Set in Scotland with this medical flavor is really totally my jam.
There is a lot of blood and guts most of it though totally fake. However it turns out among all this real murder and dead people happen. Dr. Emilia of course is in the thick of it. No she's not murdered but she is determined to find out who is doing the murdering. As the local coroner she is apt at collecting details. She has the wonderful assistant Abigail to help.
I had no idea who the murderer was. There are quite a few suspects and lots of things that happen that had me wondering. Of course that's the best because the story moves along at a really good pace and I was invested all the way through.
I enjoyed seeing Emilia in action as the local doctor and her dealing with the patients. As well we have Mara from the pub and Jasper a local baker all making small appearances. They are such good friends.
And let's not forget Constable Ewan - the local laird. He is there leading the investigation and just growing a little more towards being the leading man in Emilia's life. More of that please.
A cozy mystery I really enjoyed and I'll be back for the next one. Set in Scotland with this medical flavor is really totally my jam.
August 16, 2026
"Death at a Scottish Halloween" is book #5 in the "Scottish Isle Mystery" by Lucy Connelly.
The town of Sea Isle takes the Halloween season seriously with a wide variety of events. Dr. Em and Abigail enjoyed staging a room in the haunted house - until they discovered a real dead body in another room as they were leaving. Finding the killer proves to be a challenge with so many suspects and some additional disturbing events.
Em and the "Scooby" gang faced some unique challenges with this story. Many of the various events involved people wearing costumes so identifying suspects proved to be much harder. A few very scary moments for Em didn't help matters either.
As for the murder, the culprit was at the top of my list. The other part of the mystery proved to be a bit more complicated but once a certain piece of information was gathered, I suspected who had been responsible before Em put all the pieces together.
Sea Isle may be a remote location but the overall setting and atmosphere is welcoming - despite the occasional murder! I adore the core characters of this series. Em and her friends have formed a deep and supportive bond. Not only do they work well together to solve murders and mysteries but they also have fun together and often share witty banter. The relationship between Em and Ewan continues to evolve!
Overall, this was an entertaining cozy mystery!
The town of Sea Isle takes the Halloween season seriously with a wide variety of events. Dr. Em and Abigail enjoyed staging a room in the haunted house - until they discovered a real dead body in another room as they were leaving. Finding the killer proves to be a challenge with so many suspects and some additional disturbing events.
Em and the "Scooby" gang faced some unique challenges with this story. Many of the various events involved people wearing costumes so identifying suspects proved to be much harder. A few very scary moments for Em didn't help matters either.
As for the murder, the culprit was at the top of my list. The other part of the mystery proved to be a bit more complicated but once a certain piece of information was gathered, I suspected who had been responsible before Em put all the pieces together.
Sea Isle may be a remote location but the overall setting and atmosphere is welcoming - despite the occasional murder! I adore the core characters of this series. Em and her friends have formed a deep and supportive bond. Not only do they work well together to solve murders and mysteries but they also have fun together and often share witty banter. The relationship between Em and Ewan continues to evolve!
Overall, this was an entertaining cozy mystery!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this book courtesy of Netgalley for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
Overview: Emilia McRoy has been in Sea Isle for nearly a year now. As part of the little town's Halloween celebration, Emilia, known as Em to her friends, and Abigail find a dead body at the local haunted house. The only problem is the body isn't part of the decor. Who would want Duncan Craig dead? What is going on with the local rowing team? And who is snooping around the doctor's office, and why? Let's find out.
Dislikes: Robert McClendon was a bully. He would threaten to fire people just for disagreeing with him. That's someone who has serious control issues.
Likes: Em does have a good group of friends. There's always someone to back her up when she needs it. Even if it means an unexplained road trip to track the victim's last few days.
Ewan, and the town, takes good care of Tommy and Abigail. It can't be an easy thing to accommodate someone on the spectrum, and the town pulled it off with style.
The results of the corn maze was fun. Most of the town came together to find Dracula Mask.
Conclusion: This was a great book. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries with a foreign setting, or just a fan of the Scottish Isle Mysteries, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
Overview: Emilia McRoy has been in Sea Isle for nearly a year now. As part of the little town's Halloween celebration, Emilia, known as Em to her friends, and Abigail find a dead body at the local haunted house. The only problem is the body isn't part of the decor. Who would want Duncan Craig dead? What is going on with the local rowing team? And who is snooping around the doctor's office, and why? Let's find out.
Dislikes: Robert McClendon was a bully. He would threaten to fire people just for disagreeing with him. That's someone who has serious control issues.
Likes: Em does have a good group of friends. There's always someone to back her up when she needs it. Even if it means an unexplained road trip to track the victim's last few days.
Ewan, and the town, takes good care of Tommy and Abigail. It can't be an easy thing to accommodate someone on the spectrum, and the town pulled it off with style.
The results of the corn maze was fun. Most of the town came together to find Dracula Mask.
Conclusion: This was a great book. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries with a foreign setting, or just a fan of the Scottish Isle Mysteries, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced reading copy.
#DeathataScottishHalloween #NetGalley
This is the fifth installment in the Scottish Isle Mysteries and another enjoyable visit to this charming small Scottish town. Dr. Emilia McRoy is the coroner therefore has plausible reason to be involved in helping to solve the whodunnits, which I appreciate. The plot was intriguing with two murders to solve with a strange coincidence between the two victims, which kept the mystery moving at a steady pace, trying to determine connections and motives. I also appreciated that the Halloween setting wasn’t overdone. Sea Isle’s tradition of celebrating many holidays and over the course of several days was festive without feeling gimmicky.
This series is the original foundation of Lucy Connelly’s three UK-set mystery series (Scotland, Ireland, and Wales), and her writing skills feels smooth, comfortable, and effortlessly readable. Her books are easy to immerse oneself.
The slow-burn relationship continues, and I’m still very much here for it. And as always, the found-family/friend and community dynamic remains one of the best parts of the series—it’s always a pleasure to spend time with these characters.
#DeathataScottishHalloween #NetGalley
This is the fifth installment in the Scottish Isle Mysteries and another enjoyable visit to this charming small Scottish town. Dr. Emilia McRoy is the coroner therefore has plausible reason to be involved in helping to solve the whodunnits, which I appreciate. The plot was intriguing with two murders to solve with a strange coincidence between the two victims, which kept the mystery moving at a steady pace, trying to determine connections and motives. I also appreciated that the Halloween setting wasn’t overdone. Sea Isle’s tradition of celebrating many holidays and over the course of several days was festive without feeling gimmicky.
This series is the original foundation of Lucy Connelly’s three UK-set mystery series (Scotland, Ireland, and Wales), and her writing skills feels smooth, comfortable, and effortlessly readable. Her books are easy to immerse oneself.
The slow-burn relationship continues, and I’m still very much here for it. And as always, the found-family/friend and community dynamic remains one of the best parts of the series—it’s always a pleasure to spend time with these characters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Transplant Dr. Em has integrated herself into the small Scottish community, including participating in all the multitude of holidays that the Scots enjoy. Halloween is a special one and after she and her friends have spent a night of scaring the locals in a “haunted house” the last thing she expects to find is a real corpse. While she and Ewan are trying to figure out why and how, they are confronted with another conundrum and a second corpse that shared the same name as the first one.
If it is mistaken identity, who was the intended victim and if it is not, how could two bodies show up at the same time in such a small community. As Em and Ewan try to investigate, she is dogged by several medical emergencies whilst being harassed and threatened by someone who wants to scare her. She and her assistant Abigail are made of sterner stuff and she has a lot of friends who are there to support her.
I enjoy this series for the characters and the setting but I really like having a smart heroine whose skills and job include helping to solve murders. She is not some amateur but a woman with the training to be recognized and valued. It is a breath of fresh air. And the stories are always interesting and entertaining. Five purrs and two paws up.
If it is mistaken identity, who was the intended victim and if it is not, how could two bodies show up at the same time in such a small community. As Em and Ewan try to investigate, she is dogged by several medical emergencies whilst being harassed and threatened by someone who wants to scare her. She and her assistant Abigail are made of sterner stuff and she has a lot of friends who are there to support her.
I enjoy this series for the characters and the setting but I really like having a smart heroine whose skills and job include helping to solve murders. She is not some amateur but a woman with the training to be recognized and valued. It is a breath of fresh air. And the stories are always interesting and entertaining. Five purrs and two paws up.
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