The Castle in the Glen

by Rhys Bowen

A ghostwriter plunges into danger as she unravels the dark secrets of a powerful Scottish family in a thrilling novel of romance and mystery by the bestselling author of Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure.

Australian writer Emma Callander has been recruited to complete the final historical mystery in a series by celebrated author Iris Blackburn. It’s 1964, and Iris’s memory is fading. She’s certain that only Emma can do justice to her novel about a murder on the Isle of Skye. When Emma ventures to Scotland for research, she discovers it isn’t fiction at all, but rather a true crime unsolved for more than fifty years.

It was 1904 when a couple’s suspicious drowning led to the disappearance of a mysterious young woman the locals called the Wild Girl. To this day the mystery is unforgettable, especially among the descendants of an aristocratic family who’ll do anything to keep their secrets buried. From the misty Highlands to a medieval castle, Emma and Tony Gordon, Iris’s handsome lawyer, work ever more closely to uncover them.

But while Iris may be known for her fiendishly clever twists, there’s one not even Emma could have seen coming.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Scotland, Historical, Historical Mystery, Romance

424 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 4, 2026

About the author

I'm a New York Times bestselling mystery author, winner of both Agatha and Anthony awards for my Molly Murphy mysteries, set in 1902 New York City.

I have recently published four internationally bestselling WWII novels, one of them a #1 Kindle bestseller, and the Tuscan Child selling almost a million copies to date. In Farleigh Field won three major awards and was nominated for an Edgar. My other stand-alone novels are The Victory Garden, about land girls in WWI and Above the Bay of Angels, featuring a young woman who becomes chef for Queen Victoria.
April 2021 will mark the publication of THE VENICE SKETCHBOOK--another sweeping historical novel of love, loss and intrigue.

My books are currently translated into 29 languages and I have fans worldwide.

I also write the Agatha-winning Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series one year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my award-winning short stories.

I was born and raised in England but currently divide my time between California and Arizona where I go to escape from the harsh California winters
When I am not writing I love to travel, sing, hike, play my Celtic harp.
Series:
* Constable Evan Mystery
* Molly Murphy Mysteries
* Her Royal Spyness Mysteries

Awards:
Agatha Award
◊ Best Novel (2001): Murphy's Law
Reviewer's Choice Award
◊ Historical Mystery (2001): Murphy's Law

Reviews

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Castle in the Glen is an entertaining read with twists, turns, surprises, and a little romance. The story begins in London when a young Australian woman working with a publisher and one book written is offered a job finishing a book by a famous author in early stages of dementia. Part of what she needs to do is go to the Isle of Skye to get a feel for the setting of the story. What she uncovered is very interesting. This is a book that needs to be read without too much information as the surprises just keep coming as the story unfolds. It is almost a story within a story with a great, unsolved mystery. This is a recommended fun read.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my thoughts.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!! I think it’s my favorite of Rhys Bowen’s standalone novels I’ve read, which is saying something because I loved the other two. This would be a perfect autumnal read with the wild Skye weather and the nature of the mystery. The story within a story is a mystery novel and takes up about half of the first half of the book. I’m not normally a fan of such things but it works brilliantly in this case and sets up the second half of the book perfectly. I love Emma and Iris as heroines. There were some great twists that I did not see coming. I would love to know if anyone else guesses them.

This’ll definitely be a reread. Great fun!!

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Castle In The Glen is the eighth stand-alone novel by award-winning British-born author, Rhys Bowen. At twenty-three, Australian writer Emma Callander has one published novel and is working as an editorial assistant in London at Barlow and Barlow publishers. But whether it’s a dearth of ideas, being unsettled in a new environment, or a lack of time and energy, a second novel just isn’t happening.

That’s when senior editor, David Spencer takes her out to see the very famous, ageing, bestselling crime novelist, Iris Blackburn at her country house. Another Australian import, Iris has summoned Emma with the purpose of getting her to finish her final novel. The Wild Girl is to be a prequel to her dark and gritty DI James Melrose series, taking the reader back to a young Melrose on his first case.

The reason Iris needs Emma is that she has been diagnosed with dementia, and can no longer remember how she intended to finish the story: Melrose has stopped talking to her. Has Iris bitten off more than she can chew with this literary swansong?

Helping her finish the novel would be the making of Emma’s writing career, but does she have the talent to do it? The payment is generous, and includes a trip to the Isle of Skye, to get a feel for the setting and its characters.

Once she has read the seventeen completed chapters, Emma is thoroughly hooked, although she has no idea where to progress from the last chapter’s cliff-hanger ending. She sort-of hopes Melrose will begin talking to her once she is on Skye, will provide inspiration.

Just like the fictional Melrose, she stays in the Kings Arms Hotel, and employs Jock Macleod (well, his grandson) and his taxi for transport. Her impression is that Iris has portrayed the characters and setting with uncanny accuracy, and then she discovers it’s all based on actual events of some six decades earlier.

Those involved are now, of course, quite elderly, or dead, and their descendants object so strongly to their private family tragedy being written about that Emma begins to fear for her personal safety.

Once again, Bowen gives the reader an enthralling historical mystery, a story within a story, the atmosphere perfectly rendered. The astute reader may identify one or two of the excellent twists, but the how and why will keep the pages turning to the very end. Superb.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a book within a book plot and this one was no exception. Well paced and, even though I figured out what was going on before it was revealed, I still enjoyed the ride. The Isle of Skye setting really added to the atmosphere.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping stand-alone novel by the brilliant Rhys Bowen, in my Top Ten favorite authors of all time.

If you haven’t traveled to Scotland, no worries! After reading this book, you will feel as though you’ve been there. (Or you may buy a plane ticket immediately.)

Sadly, I didn’t have the opportunity to see the Isle of Skye when I was in Scotland. But reading this story gave me a sense of its astonishing beauty.

Luckily I read the character introductions at the beginning carefully so I could follow the plot(s).

Highly recommended! Five enthusiastic stars!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Stacy Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book within a book! It was beautifully done, with a mystery and twist! Loved the settings of Australia, England and Ise of Skye:)

[Cari Zuckerman · Rating 2 out of 5]

After publishing her first book, Emma Callandar moves from Australia to London and starts to suffer from severe writer’s block. Feeling stuck in life and thinking about moving home, even though she doesn’t really have a home to return to, Emma’s life is turned upside down when famous mystery writer Iris Blackburn selects her to finish her final novel. Suffering from dementia, Iris is unable to finish the novel on her own, a murder mystery set on the Isle of Skye. Emma is drawn into the story that Iris has written so far and becomes ever more invested when she travels to Skye to research.

I’m a huge fan of Bowen’s Molly Murphy and Her Royal Spyness series but her standalones are hit and miss for me. Unfortunately, this one falls in the “miss” category. The first half includes twelve chapters from The Wild Girl; the book Iris has started and needs Emma to finish. I found the book within a book tedious, although I’m not sure how else the plot could have been managed. The second half was better, with Emma on the Isle of Skye, but things moved slowly with very little new information until the last few chapters.

I also think the title doesn’t make any sense- the castle in the story is not in a glen; it’s on the coast.

I wouldn’t recommend this book. It wasn’t terrible, I read through it quite quickly, but I won’t remember much about it in a few weeks.

[Laurien Berenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book by Rhys Bowen is a treat, and The Castle in the Glen is no exception. This mystery within a mystery is full of adventure and intrigue, and the windswept Scottish setting is superb.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is all over the place…awkward conversations to engaging descriptions of Skye. I enjoyed the story in the story and Emily’s trip to Skye, but the ending was abrupt and left questions.

[RoseMary Achey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a tremendous sense of place. It is a mystery that you will think you have solved...only to be surprised with an unexpected outcome. A refreshingly wholesome story. I don't think you will be disappointed with this novel.

[Anne Wolters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma Callander, an editor for a London publisher, has one book to her name but is struggling to begin her next. She’s stunned when renowned mystery writer Iris Blackburn approaches her with an unusual request: to finish the novel Iris has started. With the early signs of dementia creeping in, Iris is convinced Emma is the only one who can complete her story.

Though the year is 1965, Iris’s unfinished manuscript is set in the early 1900s on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. To capture the setting authentically, Iris sends Emma to Scotland for on‑the‑ground research. But as Emma digs deeper into the history of the area, she becomes increasingly convinced that the “fictional” murder at the heart of Iris’s book is actually tied to a real, unsolved crime from fifty years earlier.

The more Emma uncovers, the more dangerous her situation becomes. Iris’s young and handsome lawyer, Tony Gordon, senses she may be in trouble and travels to Scotland—arriving just in time to find Emma shaken after a near‑fatal encounter. Together, they begin unraveling long‑buried secrets that someone is still desperate to keep hidden.

Back in England, Emma faces a new dilemma: how to tell Iris that her imagined story may not be imagined at all—and that the truth behind it is still perilous.

This is a beautifully written, atmospheric, and utterly gripping mystery. The pacing is brisk, the tension constant, and I found myself turning pages far into the night. I couldn’t put it down until the very last page.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm going to say I love the concept. The set-up of a young writer getting offered a chance to ghostwrite for a famous author's final book that they are unable to finish and then discovering the real story underneath it is an intriguing set-up and a great hook. The first few chapters hooked me properly.

The issue is that the book felt all exposition and the way the novel within the novel was included, at least a third of the book being the parts of the manuscript that the author had finished meant we spent barely any time with our protagonist or the author or supporting cast. We don't even get to the Isle of Sky until over halfway through the book.

It leaves the characters feeling shallow and underdeveloped alongside the mystery. Among other things it violates one of the key rules of a good mystery: you need to provide the evidence of the mysteries conclusion to the audience. Instead we get some surface level clues and then a twist to the story in the last ten percent of the novel.

This should have been sent back to the draft pile before another turn was taken to make this the book that the plot deserved.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I have always loved Rhys Bowen, her mysteries have been some of my favourite books, even though Molly Murphy has gone off the rails a bit lately. However her stand alone books are hit and miss, more miss the past few years, but I still keep going and reading them hoping for the best.
The Castle in the Glen is definitely more of a hit. Emma is an Australian in London who published a book but has writers block and is homesick.
Then one day her boss at the publishing house she works at takes her to meet Iris Blackburn, who's basically Agatha Christie without the mysterious disappearance. She even has an old spinster lady detective and a male detective, Melrose, although unlike Poirot he's not retired, he works at Scotland Yard and is Scottish not Belgian. She's also never married or had kids but lives with Cynthia, a possessive overprotective friend and a bossy cook. Iris is struggling with early onset dementia and needs help finishing her last book, which takes readers back to Melrose and his very first case on the Isle of Skye.
A young couple drowned while fleeing the island together, the boat shows signs of sabotage. The girl is the daughter of the powerful man who's an MP living in a castle, the boy a young man who turns out to be a Communist agitator. Suspects include the brother of the girl, her fiancé a wealthy man being paired off with her against her wishes, and a wild girl who was taken in by the family becoming good friends with the dead girl. The book ends abruptly and Emma is instructed by Iris to go to Scotland and learn about the place in hopes she can finish the story.
While touring Skye she learns that the crime in the fictional book might actually be true, only unlike the book set in the 1930s, the crime takes place in 1904 and most of those involved are long dead or have forgotten most of it.
Along the way she grows closer to Iris lawyer Tony who already has a girlfriend. For once she wrote a decent love interest which was a nice change.
I guessed the ending, or at least the twist as soon as I read it early on and just based on how Iris was acting. But it didn't take away from the story. The ending while nice didn't fully solve the crime, another guess on how it ended but the way it was set up it does seem plausible. Overall a very enjoyable engaging read. It did keep me coming back to find out what happened and how things would be wrapped up and overall it was a satisfying ending and story.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating, mysterious, and atmospheric!⁣
⁣
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐋𝐄𝐍 is an immersive, engaging tale predominantly set in London and the rugged Isle of Skye during the mid-1960s that follows aspiring Australian author Emma Callander as an unexpected opportunity to ghostwrite the final novel of a celebrated mystery writer soon evolves into a journey of discovery involving a decades-old mystery, long-buried family secrets, and the unsettling realization that fiction and reality may be far more intertwined than anyone imagined.⁣
⁣
The prose is seamless and evocative. The characters are intelligent, determined, and authentic. And the plot is a compelling blend of mystery, history, family secrets, betrayal, danger, romance, friendship, ambition, resilience, unexpected twists, and hope, all enhanced by a captivating story-within-a-story.⁣
⁣
Overall, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐋𝐄𝐍 is an alluring, layered, entertaining tale by Bowen that transports you to the breathtaking landscapes of Scotland and immerses you in a cleverly crafted mystery filled with unforgettable characters, hidden truths, and heartfelt emotion. ⁣

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story but was not wowed by it. I actually liked the story within a story better than the main one, it was much more atmospheric and I found those characters rather more believable on the whole.

[Tamara York · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, this book follows a young writer sent to research a mystery for an older, famous author in the vein of Agatha Christie. This book has a delightfully vivid sense of place that I thoroughly enjoyed. It’s a little long and a little too wholesome but I enjoyed it. I want to climb inside the book and explore Skye for myself! The beautiful cover only makes that more tempting.

[michelle goik · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

Rhys Bowen is one of my favorite authors!

I loved the whole story within a story concept and how Emma is writing one story while living her own. I really enjoyed watching the two slowly come together and seeing how all the pieces fit. Such a fun mystery with a little history and romance mixed in. And that ending… I loved how it all came together!

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Castle in the Glen by Rhys Bowen was a stand alone book. The novel (as you might guess from the title) was set primarily in Scotland. A majority of it took place on the Isle of Skye. Certainly, the land and the people were a major contributor to the story.
Emma Callander, the main character, was asked by a famous author to finish a book for her. The book took place on the Isle of Skye, so Emma was sent up to investigate the Island and perhaps even get into the head of the main character.
The Isle of Skye turned out to be a wonderful place with a culture and rhythm of its own. Emma hired Jock, a driver, to bring her around the island to various places that tied in with the novel. As she investigated each piece, new information and questions happened.
The Castle in the Glen by Rhys Bowen was a story inside a story which made the book fascinating. I really wanted to figure out who, what and where! I have to admit, I did figure out part of the mystery, which just increased my desire to complete the novel. The Castle in the Glen by Rhys Bowen was a good read.

[LAMONT D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written, this is the first book I have read by this author and will not be the last. In this novel you get two for one as the main character reads through the pages of the half-written novel that takes center stage in our drama. There are plenty of secrets, surprising twists, narrow escapes and warming moments fostering love, romance and hope. The scenery on the Isle of Skye, the old castles and the Scottish Gaelic words encourages the instinct of adventure and discovery to visit someday.

[Thomas George Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took quite awhile reading this book to get to the actual plot; and when I did, it became a page turner. Having read many of Ms. Bowen's previous Novels, this one was the most complicated.

[Sally Hardin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhys Bowen never disappoints!! Great story, twist I didn't see coming in the end!!

[Lindsay Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really fun! A novel within a novel. Really loved the way this was written. A great easy read.

[Pattie Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book, from start to finish! Now I must travel to Scotland.

[Bobbie Baggett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This looks like just another fluff book by a female. However, the complexity of the story over three different stories and interwoven-ness really makes it even more appreciable. and… a lot of it takes place on the Isle of Skye so it was like taking another trip there. It would be perfect for an upcoming Scotland traveler!

This is clean, w limited cussing and no sex. Good for teenage readers needing “harder” books.

[Janie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite historical authors, WWII, this book was a totally different time period and was smartly done. DNB

[Gail Esch · Rating 5 out of 5]

So surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. The multiple levels of stories were all entertaining, intricate, and well-written. Greatly enjoyed the characters and twists in each story as well! Was very sad to be done reading this.

[Melodie Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content Guide:
🤬Infrequent mild to moderate swearing.
🌶️Vague references to sex.
🗡️Rape, murder, drowning, not graphic.
🍺Adult alcohol use.
TW: Rape, pregnancy, murder, sexism.

It’s a bit unusual reading a story within a story. This one is not like other cozy mysteries I have read. It doesn’t follow the usual formula of -> meet suspects -> crime ->investigate -> plot twist -> mortal danger -> uncover the truth. Instead, two stories that seem separate slowly begin to intertwine to reveal the truth. In some ways it’s lower stakes, because the crime was in the distant past, but towards the end it does get more intense.
I didn’t love the main character. She seemed too naive and passive. She brushed off some pretty obvious red flags. However, some of the side characters, in particular the Wild Girl, were interesting enough to make up for it.
I loved the atmospheric vibes and descriptive setting. It was like being transported to Scotland in the fall. The reading experience was comforting, cozy, and enjoyable. If you want a unique historical mystery with strong Scottish atmosphere, this book is for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union publishing for the free ebook in exchange for my honest review.

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great read about a girl researching a book on the Isle of Skye as a ghost writer for an elderly best-selling author! Good twist and easy reading, fairly gripping!

[Stephanie Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Castle in the Glen is a captivating and atmospheric mystery set in 1960s London and Scotland. The story follows Emma Callander, an Australian writer living in London who has found herself at a bit of a standstill with her own writing. She is given an unexpected opportunity to help celebrated Australian author Iris Blackburn complete her final novel. What begins as a writing assignment soon takes Emma to Glasgow and the Isle of Skye and into a decades-old mystery filled with family secrets.

I enjoyed the book-within-a-book aspect of the story. As Emma works on Iris’s unfinished novel, she begins to discover that the fictional story may be more connected to real events than she first realized. I thought the way the two stories slowly came together was interesting and added another layer to the mystery.

For me, one of the strongest parts of the book was the portrayal of Scotland. The descriptions of the countryside and the Isle of Skye were beautiful and gave the story such a strong sense of place. I also enjoyed the secondary story featuring Iris’s fictional detective, Melrose.

Emma was a likeable main character, and I enjoyed her determination to finish the novel while also trying to uncover the truth. I also liked her comfortable chemistry with Tony, Iris’s solicitor, who helps her along the way.

The story did take some time to come together for me, and some of the dialogue, between Emma and Iris, felt a little formal. That could have been intentional considering the time period and the dynamic between the two women. I also had a couple of guesses about where the mystery was going, and my later guess ended up being right.

Overall, The Castle in the Glen was an immersive and enjoyable read with family secrets, mystery, a beautiful Scottish setting, and an intriguing story-within-a-story. It was a slower build, but I enjoyed watching all the pieces eventually fall into place.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's 1965, and Emma Callander is working at Barlow and Barlow Publishers while living with Jilly and Robyn—three young Australian expats making a life in London. Emma has already published her first novel but hasn't yet found the right moment to begin her next. With her family homestead gone after her father's death, she's feeling a subtle pull to return to Australia. Before she can make any big decisions, a senior editor invites her to visit a well-known client. Emma is surprised by the name, and after a drive outside London, she finds herself having lunch at the client's private home. What unfolds at that lunch sets the stage for the story's central mystery.

I love novels that weave a story within a story, and this one delivers mystery, intrigue, and romance, all while blurring the lines between fact and fiction. There are unresolved questions about an accident and missing persons, with layers of grief, secrets, and family legacy adding depth to the plot. As the tangled web began to unravel, I was eager to keep turning the pages. I thought I had guessed the twist, and while I sensed a connection, I hadn't figured out the true nature of the relationship. As always with this author, the reveal was even more satisfying than I expected.

Cast of Characters are provided at the beginning of the novel for:

• In Iris Blackburn's book, The Wild Girl, 1932
• In London, 1965
• On the Island of Skye, 1965
• And in the Past on the Island, the real-life characters who inspired The Wild Girl.

Thank you Rhys Bowen, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel.