The Beasts of the Black Loch: Nothing stays buried in the Highlands... the first in a series of atmospheric Seventies-set murder mysteries

by Gay Marris

In 50,000 acres of remote Scottish mountains and moor sits Dorcha a former hunting lodge nestling amongst ancient forests, on the shores of the enigmatic 'Black Loch'. At night, lights glow from within, smoke curls from its chimneys, and in the forgiving murk of the gloaming, it looks magical. In daylight, its mouldering plasterwork and failing plumbing present a less romantic reality.

Dr Ava Dickens has come to Dorcha to visit her godson, Alastair – a young man whose parents' sudden death has taken him from a quiet life in academia to owning Loch Dorcha. He and his very new wife are convinced the only way to make the estate work is to run the Hall as a hotel. But Ava is a rigorous scientist, her specialty animal behaviour, and she is by no means certain that the evidence is indicative of a successful outcome.

When one of the hotel guests is found dead in his bed, having gulped down poisonous insect repellant rather than the whisky sitting next to it, Ava's knowledge of the female Culicoides impunctatus – aka the Highland midge – leads her to doubt that it was an accident. And worse is to come…

Genres: Mystery

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 7, 2026

Reviews

[Kai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava Dickens, zoologist and adventurer, feels more at home in the wild than with people. So much so that she would have happily continued exploring the world but for the sudden death of her closest friends. Now tasked with helping their only child Alistair -- a naïve young university graduate and newlywed -- to transform the family estate into a hotel, she finds herself back in the UK and thrust into the role of godmother. But things start to go wrong almost immediately when a guest dies and her scientific instincts tell her it was not an accident.

What develops is a delightfully plotted whodunit contrasting the richness and beauty of the Scottish Highlands in the seventies with the deadly killing spree of a would be serial killer. A charming cast of local personalities and Intricately woven storylines converge to a devious and fulfilling climax well worth the read. The Beasts of the Black Loch is a strong start for this first time amateur detective and one sure to gain Dr Ava Dickens a large following. If you like the style of Sherlock Holmes or Miss Marple, you will feel right at home with this master sleuth.

This book was provided as an advanced reader copy through #NetGalley.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first in the Natural History of Murder series set in the 1970’s and I enjoyed meeting unexpected amateur sleuth and zoologist Dr Ava Wheatsheaf Dickens. Called away from her travels Ava is returning to Scotland to help her godson Alistair Muirhead who, following the sudden death of his parents, has inherited the Loch Dorcha estate comprising 50,000 acres of land, including the aforementioned loch and the rather ramshackle Dorcha Hall.

Briefly, Alistair and his wife Fiona have been working at transforming the hall into a hotel and Ava is coming home to provide moral support. However, the death of one of the hotel guests is not the best advertisement for the hotel and to make matters worse Ava is convinced it isn’t an accident. With a lot of potential suspects this is not going to be an easy case and there is more horror to come.

I really liked Ava. She’s a great protagonist, determined and intelligent, a nature loving Miss Marple on steroids! A good plot with a number of threads that all merge seamlessly in an interesting climax. A enjoyable and entertaining crime drama and I’ll definitely be looking out for the next in the series. 4.5⭐️

[Zoe Manlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Gay Marris sets herself a difficult task - controlling a lot of characters and a lot of plot - but she pulls it off with enormous style.

The ensemble cast could, in less skilful hands, become a bit of a Christie parody with its showgirls, German ornithologists and dowdy housewives, but instead the residents of Dorcha Hall are vividly and cleverly sketched, becoming believable and very human. The natural history that is spread throughout the story is neatly done; this is a book that wears its learning lightly. The Hall itself is intensely atmospheric. You can almost smell the dust and the damp.

There are moments of wit and moments of sadness, especially when we are given a fleeting glimpse into Ava's heart. There are also moments of genuine horror. No spoilers, but I for one will never knowingly eat a candied cherry after reading this book.

Overall a thoroughly satisfying read. I am very glad that this is going to be a series because I am looking forward to meeting Ava again.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the 1970s in the Scottish highlands, the story starts with the death of Duncan and Shiela in a car crash, the car swerving to avoid a man, although everyone thinks it was a deer. Alastair has inherited the estate and now runs Dorcha house as a hotel. Unfortunately the business is struggling and he has sought help from his godmother Ava. When Ava arrives she meets again, although she cannot remember him, Alastair’s other godparent Wick. There is an eclectic mix of visitors to the hotel, with just Alastair and his wife running everything with the help of a local girl Maggie.
Then one of the guest dies, Ava is suspicious but it is ruled unsuspicious. Alasdair seems to be struggling, watched constantly by his wife.
A very well written book with lots of twists and an ending I didn’t expect. My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc

[Joshkun Mehmet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set against the atmospheric backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, Ava arrives at the stately home of her godson, Alistair, who has inherited his parents’ grand estate and transformed it into a hotel.

With the business struggling and an assortment of eccentric and demanding guests in residence, tensions simmer beneath the surface. When one of the guests is discovered dead in his bed, Ava’s scientific background makes her question whether the death was really due to natural causes.

This was an enjoyable and atmospheric whodunnit with an engaging cast of characters, good pacing, and plenty of well-placed twists and clues. The mystery unfolds cleverly, leading to a surprising and satisfying end. Recommended.

[Ruth Devonport · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, dark and quirky, all at the same time! I love how Gay has used her professional knowledge to create a character who lives her life through her understanding of animals, particularly insects. This enables Ava, (the main character) to see and understand things in ways others cannot. It gives her an edge in the crime solving world. The book has an exciting build up towards the end, where the murderer is revealed! I think the premise of this book is fresh, new and exciting, and I look forward to more adventures in the Natural History of Murder series ❤️

[Suzanne L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this murder mystery set on the banks of a Scottish Loch. A fun array of characters especially the female protagonist who I would love to see in more books, a zoologist Marple type. Solid plot and a decent ending it was a good time, though it did not feel like it was set in the 70s but apart from that recommended.The cover is what piqued my interest first. 4 stars.