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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.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 11, 2026
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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...
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.
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
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.
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
Death at a Scottish Halloween by Lucy Connelly is a Scottish Isle Mystery featuring the local lord, sheriff, mayor, et al, Ewan, and Em, an American doctor who has relocated to this small Scottish village. When she had arrived she discovered that the job also included bing the medical examiner. She had taken to it and to the sheriff. She had a fabulous assistant known as Abigail who had raised and currently lives with her twenty-year-old brother named Tommy, who is autistic. In the time Em had been there, Abigail had blossomed, and Em now had a small circle of good friends, in addition to Abigail. She loved her job. She and Ewan had a friendship, which she had no idea where it headed. It was All Hallow’s week and the village went all out. There was a haunted house that Em and Abigail had agreed to be part of, manning a haunted doctor’s office and across from them was a wonderful haunted artists’ gallery. It was fun, until there was a dead body: one of the artists across the hall. A knife to heart. Her knife.
Em is by nature curious and given that she is the medical examiner, she was able to produce a badge and investigate. Then, the next evening when she returned home, there was a slumped body on the doorstep, dead, but still warm. The confusing thing was that his name was the same as the name of the previous victim. Related murders? Between Em, Abigail, and Ewan and his crew, they managed to work it out. The mystery, well several of them, is a good one and the peripheral characters are varied and entertaining. There is even a little girl that everyone fell in love with. This is a good story. The setting and situation is great as well as endearing characters at its core. This is a terrific series, always challenging and engaging.
I was invited to read Death at a Scottish Halloween by Crooked Lane Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #CrookedLaneBooks #LucyConnelly #DeathAtAScottishHalloween
Em is by nature curious and given that she is the medical examiner, she was able to produce a badge and investigate. Then, the next evening when she returned home, there was a slumped body on the doorstep, dead, but still warm. The confusing thing was that his name was the same as the name of the previous victim. Related murders? Between Em, Abigail, and Ewan and his crew, they managed to work it out. The mystery, well several of them, is a good one and the peripheral characters are varied and entertaining. There is even a little girl that everyone fell in love with. This is a good story. The setting and situation is great as well as endearing characters at its core. This is a terrific series, always challenging and engaging.
I was invited to read Death at a Scottish Halloween by Crooked Lane Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #CrookedLaneBooks #LucyConnelly #DeathAtAScottishHalloween
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another winner by Ms Connelly. If you loved Scottish based books and Halloween, this is going to be right up your alley! Em, Abigail, and are all into Halloween or the All Hallows Eve celebrations as they are celebrated in Scotland. Dr. Em and Abigail have agreed to set up a haunted medical room in a house in town as a fundraiser for the town. They get all caught up and enjoy the other eleven decorated rooms as well as the crowds and scary music in the haunted house! Unfortunately, after the evening is over, the ladies discover a body that is not part of the display in the room across the hall! Who murdered the young artisan across the hall and why???? When Dr. Em discovers a body on her doorstep the next evening, and he shares the same name as the first victim, can Em, Abigail, Ewan and his officers, and Em friends figure out what happened? Was it a case of mistaken identity? Who wanted who gone? Come along for a crazy mystery with twists and contributions from all our favorite people! Thanks to #Netgally, #CrookedLaneBooks, and the author for a chance to enjoy this book! #DeathAtAScottishHalloween #AScottishIsleMystery #LucyConnelly #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
August 11, 2026
Dr. Em returns in the 5th Scottish Isle Mystery. I love this series. This one is set during the weeks leading to All Hallows Eve. Scottish Isle sounds like the place to be. The town has numerous events leading up to the big day.
Em and Abigail are part of a haunted house with a scary doctors office. They meet Duncan, Isobel and Baird across the hall with a haunted artist's gallery. By the end of the night, Em finds Duncan dead.
Then a second man with the same name turns up dead.
The author crafts a detailed scene that draws the reader into the town festivities and along the path of the investigation.
The outcome of both deaths might surprise the reader, or not I had inklings who was involved.
There is a sort of define the relationship moment for Em and Ewan.
This book is a mix of sweetness in the relationships between the main characters in the series, delight at the holiday celebrations and a sad sense of horror at the lives cut short.
I recommend the Scottish Isle Mysteries and Death at a Scottish Halloween. I think this series is most enjoyable when read in order.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy of the book.
Em and Abigail are part of a haunted house with a scary doctors office. They meet Duncan, Isobel and Baird across the hall with a haunted artist's gallery. By the end of the night, Em finds Duncan dead.
Then a second man with the same name turns up dead.
The author crafts a detailed scene that draws the reader into the town festivities and along the path of the investigation.
The outcome of both deaths might surprise the reader, or not I had inklings who was involved.
There is a sort of define the relationship moment for Em and Ewan.
This book is a mix of sweetness in the relationships between the main characters in the series, delight at the holiday celebrations and a sad sense of horror at the lives cut short.
I recommend the Scottish Isle Mysteries and Death at a Scottish Halloween. I think this series is most enjoyable when read in order.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy of the book.
August 12, 2026
Dr. Emilia McRoy and Abigail, who helps her with her medical practice at Sea Isle, are getting ready to decorate and host a scary room at a haunted house. They created the scariest doctor's office. As the town gathers at the haunted house to celebrate All Hallow's Eve or Samhain, a man is found dead in one of the scary rooms. Constable Ewan is called to the crime scene. As the search begins for the victim's killer, another man is found dead at Emilia's door step wearing a Dracula mask. There are now two murder victim's at Sea Isle and they both share the same name!
Poor Dr. Em, as the town doctor and medical examiner she is always surrounded by sick people and dead bodies. Too bad she couldn't enjoy this holiday without two dead bodies. I enjoyed her will-they-won't-they with the constable and how they both want to take is slow. The town sounds cozy and gossipy. The rumor mill is fast in this town. Reading about both murders was so intriguing and entertaining. Another great book by this author. I enjoyed it so much!
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Poor Dr. Em, as the town doctor and medical examiner she is always surrounded by sick people and dead bodies. Too bad she couldn't enjoy this holiday without two dead bodies. I enjoyed her will-they-won't-they with the constable and how they both want to take is slow. The town sounds cozy and gossipy. The rumor mill is fast in this town. Reading about both murders was so intriguing and entertaining. Another great book by this author. I enjoyed it so much!
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoy this cozy mystery series. The author does a wonderful job capturing the charm of this little Scottish town, and it's always a pleasure to spend more time getting to know the setting and its quirky community better.
I really appreciated that the solution of the mystery wasn't overly obvious right from the start, keeping me guessing and engaged throughout the investigation.
My main critique lies in the pacing of the overarching character development and the ongoing romance subplot. By book five, it feels like growth for the recurring characters should be moving a bit faster. Regarding the main couple—while I don’t expect this to turn into a full-blown romance novel—the dynamic is starting to drag out unrealistically. Dating for months without even a kiss feels a bit hard to buy into at this stage.
That being said, the core mystery and atmosphere are delightful. If you enjoy atmospheric cozy mysteries with an appealing small-town backdrop, this is still a fun read. Looking forward to seeing where the series goes next!
I really appreciated that the solution of the mystery wasn't overly obvious right from the start, keeping me guessing and engaged throughout the investigation.
My main critique lies in the pacing of the overarching character development and the ongoing romance subplot. By book five, it feels like growth for the recurring characters should be moving a bit faster. Regarding the main couple—while I don’t expect this to turn into a full-blown romance novel—the dynamic is starting to drag out unrealistically. Dating for months without even a kiss feels a bit hard to buy into at this stage.
That being said, the core mystery and atmosphere are delightful. If you enjoy atmospheric cozy mysteries with an appealing small-town backdrop, this is still a fun read. Looking forward to seeing where the series goes next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Death at a Scottish Halloween
Lucy Connelly
August 11, 2026
Dr. Emilia McRoy is preparing for the Halloween series of events on the Scottish Isle. She and her medical assistant, Abigail, have dressed as doctors awaiting patient visitors who are coming to enjoy the Halloween fete. Em and Abigail are there as blood covered frightening physicians who will be standing very still when people cruise through the medical facility. Most think it is a silly prank until the duo wave a knife and ask about their impending appointment.
Death at a Scottish Halloween will be published on August 11, 2026 by Crooked Lane Books. I was able to read and review the fifth book in Connelly’s series via NetGalley. It was a strange yet fun mystery as all of the books in the Scottish Isle Mysteries have been. With the many suspects she, Constable Ewan and his department struggle to discover who was the culprit responsible for the demise of two men with the same name. This is an excellent story, a wonderful book. I totally enjoyed it.
Lucy Connelly
August 11, 2026
Dr. Emilia McRoy is preparing for the Halloween series of events on the Scottish Isle. She and her medical assistant, Abigail, have dressed as doctors awaiting patient visitors who are coming to enjoy the Halloween fete. Em and Abigail are there as blood covered frightening physicians who will be standing very still when people cruise through the medical facility. Most think it is a silly prank until the duo wave a knife and ask about their impending appointment.
Death at a Scottish Halloween will be published on August 11, 2026 by Crooked Lane Books. I was able to read and review the fifth book in Connelly’s series via NetGalley. It was a strange yet fun mystery as all of the books in the Scottish Isle Mysteries have been. With the many suspects she, Constable Ewan and his department struggle to discover who was the culprit responsible for the demise of two men with the same name. This is an excellent story, a wonderful book. I totally enjoyed it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love visiting the Scottish Highlands, so I had no trouble picturing the fictional village of Sea Isle, the setting for Death at a Scottish Halloween. In fact, I'd happily visit a town that celebrates Halloween with such enthusiasm as this one. The festive atmosphere, combined with charming characters, makes this a perfect cozy mystery to read during spooky season.
American Dr. Emilia McIlroy, the town physician, investigates the death of a young man, who is murdered during a charity haunted house. Constable Ewan Campbell—who also happens to be her love interest—would much rather she leave the detective work to the police, but Emilia, her assistant Abigail, and other friends have other ideas.
This was my first book in the series, and while I enjoyed the mystery and the setting, I occasionally felt at a disadvantage because of the character backstories. I think readers will get even more out of the series by starting with the first book.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. The book will release on Aug. 11.
American Dr. Emilia McIlroy, the town physician, investigates the death of a young man, who is murdered during a charity haunted house. Constable Ewan Campbell—who also happens to be her love interest—would much rather she leave the detective work to the police, but Emilia, her assistant Abigail, and other friends have other ideas.
This was my first book in the series, and while I enjoyed the mystery and the setting, I occasionally felt at a disadvantage because of the character backstories. I think readers will get even more out of the series by starting with the first book.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. The book will release on Aug. 11.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The town of Sea Isle in Scotland, where Dr. Emilia McRoy has set up her medical practice in the Scottish Isle Mystery series, loves to celebrate holidays, or even special days, with parties, costumes, balls, and fun. As All Hallow's Eve approaches, the town goes all out, especially with the haunted house. Em and her assistant Abigail have joined in the fun by decorating one of the rooms as an evil doctor's office. But it's not as fun anymore when one of the artists in the room across from them turns up dead.
Soon Dr. Em and her friends are deep into an investigation into the nurder. When a second man turns up dead, the group try to figure out how they are connected.
I really enjoyed this installment of the series. The solutions to the deaths are complex and unexpected, and the amount of danger and suspense is just right for the story. And of course Dr.Em and Constable Ewan continue to develop their relationship!
A great book to read anytime, but I bet it would be really fun to read around Halloween!
I received an ARC from NetGalley.
Soon Dr. Em and her friends are deep into an investigation into the nurder. When a second man turns up dead, the group try to figure out how they are connected.
I really enjoyed this installment of the series. The solutions to the deaths are complex and unexpected, and the amount of danger and suspense is just right for the story. And of course Dr.Em and Constable Ewan continue to develop their relationship!
A great book to read anytime, but I bet it would be really fun to read around Halloween!
I received an ARC from NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have really enjoyed this series, and this latest entry is no exception. This one sees Emilia and friends investigating the intriguing mystery around the deaths of two men with the same name while their little Scottish town celebrates Halloween. I like that Emilia’s role as the town’s doctor and medical examiner provides a clear and compelling reason for her to continue to be drawn into cases; I find with some amateur sleuth series the character’s motivation in getting involved can be murky and detract from the story. The setting is fantastic, with the Halloween events adding a nice touch, and the recurring characters are really compelling. This one in particular has some developments in key relationships. The resolution of the case fell a little flat for me in a couple of places, but still a really enjoyable story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own and offered voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lucy Connelly has created a lovely series set in a fictional town, Sea Isle, Scotland. I love this series and all the characters in it. This is book five in the series, and I love how the characters have grown to know each other and come together to solve the different cases. The time setting of this book is around Halloween, which is much celebrated in Scotland. The different events that take place in the town in the days leading up to Halloween are a nice touch to this mystery and give the story added interest. I also love how the different characters have some romantic interests, but it is not the main interest in the story, and it is moving slowly through the series, yet progressing, so we, as the reader, don't lose interest. Even though Halloween is my personal least favorite holiday, I would have enjoyed being in Sea Isle for these events.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. This is my honest and personal review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. This is my honest and personal review.
July 3, 2026
While working at a haunted house in her adopted hometown of Sea Isle, Dr. Emilia McRoy and her assistant, Abigail, find a real-life dead body among the props. One of their fellow actors, Duncan Craig, was stabbed to death just across the hall from their scene and they didn’t hear anything. Dr Em is working with the local constable to solve Duncan’s murder when a second man named Duncan Craig winds up dead on her doorstep. Dr. Em is determined to figure out if the two murders are connected.
Despite being the fifth in the series, DEATH AT A SCOTTISH HALLOWEEN is the first book that I’ve read. Having not read the previous books, I was a bit at a disadvantage because I didn’t know all the backstory. That being said, I did enjoy the story. The dual murders of Duncan #1 and Duncan #2 were intriguing—especially because it was not certain if the two deaths were related or not. I would have enjoyed more scenes at the haunted house, but there was other fun All Hallow’s Eve activities scattered throughout the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Despite being the fifth in the series, DEATH AT A SCOTTISH HALLOWEEN is the first book that I’ve read. Having not read the previous books, I was a bit at a disadvantage because I didn’t know all the backstory. That being said, I did enjoy the story. The dual murders of Duncan #1 and Duncan #2 were intriguing—especially because it was not certain if the two deaths were related or not. I would have enjoyed more scenes at the haunted house, but there was other fun All Hallow’s Eve activities scattered throughout the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Em, Ewan, and the Scooby gang are back for Halloween in Sea Isle. When two men with the same name are killed, they'll have to peek behind the masks to figure out what's going during their beloved holiday festivities.
This is the fifth book in the Scottish Isle mysteries, and if you've liked the preceding ones you'll likely enjoy this installment. The whole gang is back in some form, though this one features Abigail and Jasper more often than the others. The setting is always a delight and the halloween vibes are high. The mystery is fairly well written, but it felt a bit stale to me; although the story is technically different, the twists felt very predictable based on the previous books. I did enjoy seeing Em and Ewan move forward in their relationship, but they've lost a bit of their banter in this installment.
3.5/5 stars rounded down. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the fifth book in the Scottish Isle mysteries, and if you've liked the preceding ones you'll likely enjoy this installment. The whole gang is back in some form, though this one features Abigail and Jasper more often than the others. The setting is always a delight and the halloween vibes are high. The mystery is fairly well written, but it felt a bit stale to me; although the story is technically different, the twists felt very predictable based on the previous books. I did enjoy seeing Em and Ewan move forward in their relationship, but they've lost a bit of their banter in this installment.
3.5/5 stars rounded down. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Death at a Scottish Halloween by Lucy Connelly is the latest fun romp in the Scottish Isle Mystery, and it doesn't disappoint!
I have really come to love Connelly's cast of characters, and main character Dr. Emilia McRoy, an American in a new land is still struggling with fish out of water syndrome even though she has found a core group of wonderful friends and a possible love interest. The concept this time around is not one but two murders, with the added complication that both victims have the same name. Double the trouble adds up to double the suspects as Emilia, her assistant Amelia, and her friends help handsome Constable Ewan during an excessively busy time of the year - Halloween in Sea Isle.
Filled with plenty of twists and turns, danger, suspense, frights, and a growing romance, this book is the epitome of a cozy mystery.
Thank you for the ARC of #DeathataScottishHalloween to #CrookedLaneBooks and #NetGalley. I wholeheartedly recommend this entire series!
I have really come to love Connelly's cast of characters, and main character Dr. Emilia McRoy, an American in a new land is still struggling with fish out of water syndrome even though she has found a core group of wonderful friends and a possible love interest. The concept this time around is not one but two murders, with the added complication that both victims have the same name. Double the trouble adds up to double the suspects as Emilia, her assistant Amelia, and her friends help handsome Constable Ewan during an excessively busy time of the year - Halloween in Sea Isle.
Filled with plenty of twists and turns, danger, suspense, frights, and a growing romance, this book is the epitome of a cozy mystery.
Thank you for the ARC of #DeathataScottishHalloween to #CrookedLaneBooks and #NetGalley. I wholeheartedly recommend this entire series!
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