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Dead Cold Mystery #11
Murder Most Scottish
When detectives John Stone and Carmen Dehan who run the Cold Cases Department at the 43rd Precinct in the Bronx choose their honeymoon together, there are three things they are very clear on: there must be good steak and whisky, it must be remote, and for two blissful weeks they must forget about work, about cold cases and about murder. So a small island off the north coast of Scotland in a 16th century castle seems to be just the job.
After all, two out of three isn’t bad.
At first the place seems idyllic: The wild landscapes are breathtaking, the northern lights otherworldly and the fire-side talk, fuelled by good whisky and good Angus steak, is fascinating. Maybe a bit too fascinating when it leads to a forty year old mystery about a man murdered, shot with a .38 in a locked room in circumstances which are, quite simply, impossible.
And when the island is cut off by a storm, and an identical murder is committed, well, what are two cold case cops on honeymoon to do…?
After all, two out of three isn’t bad.
At first the place seems idyllic: The wild landscapes are breathtaking, the northern lights otherworldly and the fire-side talk, fuelled by good whisky and good Angus steak, is fascinating. Maybe a bit too fascinating when it leads to a forty year old mystery about a man murdered, shot with a .38 in a locked room in circumstances which are, quite simply, impossible.
And when the island is cut off by a storm, and an identical murder is committed, well, what are two cold case cops on honeymoon to do…?
154 pages, ebook
Published July 23, 2018
2378 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Blake Banner
151 books392 followersUSA TODAY and Amazon #1 bestselling author of the OMEGA and DEAD COLD MYSTERY series. Learn more about Blake Banner at his website: www.blakebanner.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
June 1, 2020
The author takes advantage of the dynamic duo's honeymoon to move the action from its normal NY setting to a small island off the north coast of Scotland. Dehan has selected a secluded castle/private hotel and it quickly appears that it was not the best choice.
Banner is definitely playing around here in an Agatha Christie kind of way with a country house type setting, a locked room murder and a mystery whodunnit with a group of unlikeable and class conscious people. He gets away with it too because his solution to the locked room murder is clever and the snobbish guests provide lots of opportunities for Dehan to be her snarky best!
As usual I enjoyed it all. I seem to have acquired a taste for shorter mysteries - they avoid that stodgy bit you sometimes get in the middle of books where the author seems to be trying to accrue a bigger word count without adding to the story at all. Short but sweet. I like it:)
Banner is definitely playing around here in an Agatha Christie kind of way with a country house type setting, a locked room murder and a mystery whodunnit with a group of unlikeable and class conscious people. He gets away with it too because his solution to the locked room murder is clever and the snobbish guests provide lots of opportunities for Dehan to be her snarky best!
As usual I enjoyed it all. I seem to have acquired a taste for shorter mysteries - they avoid that stodgy bit you sometimes get in the middle of books where the author seems to be trying to accrue a bigger word count without adding to the story at all. Short but sweet. I like it:)
August 25, 2024
Stone and Dehan are on their honeymoon at a Scottish castle with a murder mystery. They can’t help but jump in to solve the crime that occurred 40 years prior.
March 6, 2025
John Dehan and his partner (in the police sense) Carmen marry, and they travel from the US to Scotland for a honeymoon in a Scottish castle, soon to be the scene of deadly deeds. Distinctly a change from the more police procedural tone of the previous ten books in the series: but there are killings in baronial Scotland just as there are in New York, It, and the sequel, The Butcher of Whitechapel, are clearly homages to classic British crime fiction, in this case, Agatha Christie, and apparently with the Jack the Ripper Murders reserved for the following book. Hopefully, The Butcher of Whitechapel will be as well worth reading.
January 5, 2019
Dud Alert! Blake Banner undoubtedly is a pen name of which the only information I can obtain about is this: Wake-Up, drink coffee, write’. Mr. Banner, whoever you are you are entitled to a dud once in awhile and I suppose this may not be your last. I have imaginings that ‘Blake Banner’ is really a book sweat shop like those paint sweat shops that pretend to be works of art and artificial intelligence is really ‘writing under the pen name of ‘Blake Banner’ and there really is no such person!! This book’s plot was so incredibly predictable, tiresome and ‘been there done that’ I thought it must either be the person that writes as ‘Blake Banner’s’ vacation story or a murder mystery dinner type theater. Well I shall continue reading Banner books because there are no shortage. HA!
August 23, 2018
The worst case so far
Yes that's right,the worst case because it's the lamest story! What the hell has happened? I really liked this series but the last book wasn't that great and this one!...the plot was ridiculous. The 'Scottish' dialogue unbelievable. Boring story of a whodunit in a Scottish castle. Stone acting cool and being Sherlock...eh NO! It just doesn't work and why in every chapter of the 2nd half of the story do we have to read about Stone's thoughts regarding Dehan' s cut to the thigh revealing red dress? Come on!!!! Two gets you twenty this is the crappiest book yet . Blake Banner - what's happened?
Yes that's right,the worst case because it's the lamest story! What the hell has happened? I really liked this series but the last book wasn't that great and this one!...the plot was ridiculous. The 'Scottish' dialogue unbelievable. Boring story of a whodunit in a Scottish castle. Stone acting cool and being Sherlock...eh NO! It just doesn't work and why in every chapter of the 2nd half of the story do we have to read about Stone's thoughts regarding Dehan' s cut to the thigh revealing red dress? Come on!!!! Two gets you twenty this is the crappiest book yet . Blake Banner - what's happened?
January 11, 2023
A stimulating locked room Murder!
So entertaining! I really love Stone and Dehan. In this book they are on their honeymoon at a remote Scottish castle. When they arrive they are told of a murder that happened in the castle 40 years ago. The owner, while in a totally locked room, is shot and killed and it is made to look like suicide but the evidence says it could not be suicide. It is however ruled a suicide even though the police inspector and the son don’t believe it was. Of course, being cold case detectives Dehan and then Stone’s interests are piqued. They begin asking questions…and then there is another murder.
This is a departure from the NYPD cop environment. Stone and Dehan are not in their jurisdiction and are without resources on a very remote private island in a storm. It is all very quintessentially British (but don’t say that to the Scots!) The mystery is riveting. There are a bunch of very viable red herrings. I had so many theories of things that were going to happen or had happened. Some were true, some were close and others weren’t in the realm of close! Very entertaining for a mystery lover.
Fortunately marriage has not dulled Dehan’s personality. The book is told from Stone’s POV which is a great way to do it but Dehan has captured me from the beginning. I love her. There are a couple of fantastic scenes with her and some of the others staying in the castle.
The denouement has all the trappings of a Poirot mystery and there is even an homage to him at one point. I was completely invested and couldn’t put the book down, reading it in one sitting (which is why I am writing this at 3:00 am!) As usual, the last part of the book gives a preview of the next book which I very much enjoyed and will be downloading right away.
So entertaining! I really love Stone and Dehan. In this book they are on their honeymoon at a remote Scottish castle. When they arrive they are told of a murder that happened in the castle 40 years ago. The owner, while in a totally locked room, is shot and killed and it is made to look like suicide but the evidence says it could not be suicide. It is however ruled a suicide even though the police inspector and the son don’t believe it was. Of course, being cold case detectives Dehan and then Stone’s interests are piqued. They begin asking questions…and then there is another murder.
This is a departure from the NYPD cop environment. Stone and Dehan are not in their jurisdiction and are without resources on a very remote private island in a storm. It is all very quintessentially British (but don’t say that to the Scots!) The mystery is riveting. There are a bunch of very viable red herrings. I had so many theories of things that were going to happen or had happened. Some were true, some were close and others weren’t in the realm of close! Very entertaining for a mystery lover.
Fortunately marriage has not dulled Dehan’s personality. The book is told from Stone’s POV which is a great way to do it but Dehan has captured me from the beginning. I love her. There are a couple of fantastic scenes with her and some of the others staying in the castle.
The denouement has all the trappings of a Poirot mystery and there is even an homage to him at one point. I was completely invested and couldn’t put the book down, reading it in one sitting (which is why I am writing this at 3:00 am!) As usual, the last part of the book gives a preview of the next book which I very much enjoyed and will be downloading right away.
January 12, 2025
★★★☆☆
I think this is my second least book in this series after I disliked Fire From Heaven (because of all the alien talk and theories). It was during Stone and Dehan’s honeymoon which I was expecting a little more romance but what do I expect when the author is a man?
I didn’t hate it but I did skim through most of the book because the story was just not giving. Yes, they go to a secluded island in Scotland and stay at a castle where there is bad history and a murder 40 years prior. It just felt weird. I don’t see John and Dehan spending their 2 week honeymoon in a location like that. Surely, you would want to be in a more quiet area and more to yourselves, not with other people especially snobby ones. It also felt a little predictable and the way the 2 murders happened was so confusing at first. I was expecting like a secret passage and not through the shed 😅
It felt a little boring and I do really enjoy the books in the series so I’m kind of looking forward to the next one since it sounds a little more interesting and we’ll get to know more about John’s past in the UK before going back to the US!
P.S. Dehan is lowkey a badass and I love her! Manifesting more romance between John and Dehan in the next book especially as newlyweds 😭
I think this is my second least book in this series after I disliked Fire From Heaven (because of all the alien talk and theories). It was during Stone and Dehan’s honeymoon which I was expecting a little more romance but what do I expect when the author is a man?
I didn’t hate it but I did skim through most of the book because the story was just not giving. Yes, they go to a secluded island in Scotland and stay at a castle where there is bad history and a murder 40 years prior. It just felt weird. I don’t see John and Dehan spending their 2 week honeymoon in a location like that. Surely, you would want to be in a more quiet area and more to yourselves, not with other people especially snobby ones. It also felt a little predictable and the way the 2 murders happened was so confusing at first. I was expecting like a secret passage and not through the shed 😅
It felt a little boring and I do really enjoy the books in the series so I’m kind of looking forward to the next one since it sounds a little more interesting and we’ll get to know more about John’s past in the UK before going back to the US!
P.S. Dehan is lowkey a badass and I love her! Manifesting more romance between John and Dehan in the next book especially as newlyweds 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2018
I like the series and the development of their relationship but this book felt a bit contrived and a rehash of a sherlock holmes type story and the wicker man - more of a short story that has been over padded into a novel.
It was also a "harder" read than previous books as I kept having to re-read passages to work out which Gordon he was referring to and who was married to whom. This was compounded by the fact that everyone seemed to have slept with everyone else despite obvious age differences. I also didn't like the stereotypes that the Laird could shag anyone he like as part of his feudal rights or that people on small islands are at it like bunnies all the time
The Scottish dialogue was poor and again made reading hard
I generally like the dynamic between Dehan and Stone, but it still feels like he "lords" it over Dehan in his role as sensai instead of it being a genuine partnership and sharing his theories.
It was also a "harder" read than previous books as I kept having to re-read passages to work out which Gordon he was referring to and who was married to whom. This was compounded by the fact that everyone seemed to have slept with everyone else despite obvious age differences. I also didn't like the stereotypes that the Laird could shag anyone he like as part of his feudal rights or that people on small islands are at it like bunnies all the time
The Scottish dialogue was poor and again made reading hard
I generally like the dynamic between Dehan and Stone, but it still feels like he "lords" it over Dehan in his role as sensai instead of it being a genuine partnership and sharing his theories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2018
Another hit
Another well written mystery by a talented author. Some aspects of the who-how-why dun it may have been figured out, but as usual it's just twisty enough to keep you guessing to the end. Now that Carmen and John are married and on their honeymoon I expected a little more romance. I mean, it's obvious they are crazy about each other, but Mr Banner needs to stretch his writing muscles and give us a little romance. John makes it quite obvious he is passionate about Carmen. He may be a classic gentleman, but threaten or hurt Carmen and John's passion for her bubbles to the surface. I'd like to see it in their private moments as well. This remains one of my favorite series.
Another well written mystery by a talented author. Some aspects of the who-how-why dun it may have been figured out, but as usual it's just twisty enough to keep you guessing to the end. Now that Carmen and John are married and on their honeymoon I expected a little more romance. I mean, it's obvious they are crazy about each other, but Mr Banner needs to stretch his writing muscles and give us a little romance. John makes it quite obvious he is passionate about Carmen. He may be a classic gentleman, but threaten or hurt Carmen and John's passion for her bubbles to the surface. I'd like to see it in their private moments as well. This remains one of my favorite series.
May 29, 2021
Mr Banner this one wasn't for me. It was very much like a murder mystery book - you know the ones where the lights go out and someone dies and it can only be something in the room BUT who? I liked the principle of them going on their honeymoon and falling into a mystery they had to solve but there were parts of it that annoyed me. Literally every women on the island had loose morals and was sleeping with everyone. A few of the characters just weren't developed enough e.g. Sally. It was all visual with her until the very end. You could see who murdered them from the start. Well I thought it was obvious anyway and there is no way Stone would have let the Killer roam around until the morning. He just isn't that stupid. Anyway this was a miss for me and I am hoping the next one is better
May 20, 2022
Wow ok first we had a serial killer in the previous book and now a closed room mystery. So happy author is pulling out all the topics from investigative thriller sub-genres. So happy to read a closed room mystery and this is my first closed room mystery. And with that combined with Blake's characters and story telling, it is a recipe for success. The starting looked a bit dragging and I was itching to get to the case at some point in the starting chapters, but once it started BAM BAM BAM right upto the last chapter and once again I thought I caught the suspect and once again I was wrong. So happy to read the next one.
September 30, 2018
I have looked forward to every book in the Cold Case Series and enjoyed them all.. until now. I think it took me as long to finish the book as it took Blake to write it. In one word, Boring. From the time they arrived at the castle to the last page, same old, same old. Unfortunately Dehan has the looks but can never solve a mystery. Stone and Blake Banner know the result 100 pages from the finish. Normally I like to find the killer, but in Murder Most Scottish, who cares. Please Blake, as soon as The butcher Of Whitechapel is finished, take them home to their [and your] own turf
December 27, 2019
Murder most Scottish. Blake Banner
Cold case Detectives Stone and Dehan are on their honeymoon on a small privately owned island in Scotland . A peaceful two weeks. The original Lord of the manor, as he liked to think of himself committed suicide, even though the handling detective disagrees, but can't prove it.When Stone and Dehan are asked to take a look at the scene of the murder, they both agree, murder. A short time later another identical murder. So much for a peaceful honeymoon! Another excellent whodunit. Enjoyed immensely!
Cold case Detectives Stone and Dehan are on their honeymoon on a small privately owned island in Scotland . A peaceful two weeks. The original Lord of the manor, as he liked to think of himself committed suicide, even though the handling detective disagrees, but can't prove it.When Stone and Dehan are asked to take a look at the scene of the murder, they both agree, murder. A short time later another identical murder. So much for a peaceful honeymoon! Another excellent whodunit. Enjoyed immensely!
June 30, 2021
An Agatha Christie British mystery....but set in Scotland with NY detectives. Well done. A locked room mystery that is both a cold case and not surprising a new case.
Banner brings the Scottish setting to life in full detail. Would enjoy visiting this manor sometime.
Some twists.and turns that leave some gaps but that is expected.
For those who read the books in order we knew the detectives were going to marry at some point, just didn't realize it would happen so quick. And now on their honeymoon! Would have enjoyed the wedding, but thus honeymoon is fun.
Banner brings the Scottish setting to life in full detail. Would enjoy visiting this manor sometime.
Some twists.and turns that leave some gaps but that is expected.
For those who read the books in order we knew the detectives were going to marry at some point, just didn't realize it would happen so quick. And now on their honeymoon! Would have enjoyed the wedding, but thus honeymoon is fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2022
Murder Most Scottish
This story had lots of twists and turns. It even had humor, though a bit dark. I've read 10 previous Dead Cold Mystery books, and this one by far is the best, and I loved the first 10. I had narrowed the suspects down to 3, and was still wrong. The matching of the story and the setting was ingenious. Like a gothic romance read, meets the NYPD version of Sherlock Holmes. If you haven't read a Blake Banner mystery before, then you have missed out on perfect who done its. The author has a wicked, twisted mind. He's just fantastic!!
This story had lots of twists and turns. It even had humor, though a bit dark. I've read 10 previous Dead Cold Mystery books, and this one by far is the best, and I loved the first 10. I had narrowed the suspects down to 3, and was still wrong. The matching of the story and the setting was ingenious. Like a gothic romance read, meets the NYPD version of Sherlock Holmes. If you haven't read a Blake Banner mystery before, then you have missed out on perfect who done its. The author has a wicked, twisted mind. He's just fantastic!!
October 23, 2022
A very Agatha murder mystery on a honeymoon. What I liked: the continual nod to Agatha Christie; the overblown characters; the connection of Stone and the Scottish detective who shows up at the end. What I didn’t like: the lack of depth between Stone and Dehan - it IS their honeymoon; the characters were all so stereotypical; the ego of Stone and his not sharing his insights with Dehan - he’s getting very obnoxious and know it all. I still enjoyed this short book in the series. Quick reads all.
January 8, 2025
Honestly, the story was great. I would have given it five stares, had it not been for the superabundant use of the “f” word, which unfortunately didn’t start appearing till I was well into the book. I’m not sure if it’s pure laziness on the part of the author trying to fill up a required word count l, or he thinks it lends “authenticity.” I suppose if one talks like that all the time in real life, it wouldn’t bother the reader, but I found it tedious and boring in the extreme. Distracting as well.
November 11, 2018
Get out your kilts
If you’ve been reading this series, this book opens with the wonderful news that the two main characters have wed. Another great book by Blake Banner. The author brings us to Scotland for John & Carmen’s honeymoon. A new location means new characters & they are well written as is the rest of the story. Keep up with the series, read this book! Nick The Moose
If you’ve been reading this series, this book opens with the wonderful news that the two main characters have wed. Another great book by Blake Banner. The author brings us to Scotland for John & Carmen’s honeymoon. A new location means new characters & they are well written as is the rest of the story. Keep up with the series, read this book! Nick The Moose
April 7, 2019
Murder most Scottish
This book was another good read from author Blake Banner, Dehan and Stone , or Stone and Stone?, if you have not read all of the series so far, is a murder mystery from 40 years ago,solved when on their Honeymoon .Quite some Honeymoon!, well on to book 12 the last I have bought so far then on to buy the remaining ones been an excellent series and well worth buying and reading from the beginning.
This book was another good read from author Blake Banner, Dehan and Stone , or Stone and Stone?, if you have not read all of the series so far, is a murder mystery from 40 years ago,solved when on their Honeymoon .Quite some Honeymoon!, well on to book 12 the last I have bought so far then on to buy the remaining ones been an excellent series and well worth buying and reading from the beginning.
March 18, 2020
Very intricate plot
This was a long, intricate mystery which opened the perils and pleasures of family pride. A Scottish descendant byys an island with a castle, and proceeds to rule his domicile as if he were master of the entire island. He loves manipulating his family and friends, and eventually an old murder case becomes hi undoing. A good book but a little slow to develop. If you persist, you are rewarded with a good story.
This was a long, intricate mystery which opened the perils and pleasures of family pride. A Scottish descendant byys an island with a castle, and proceeds to rule his domicile as if he were master of the entire island. He loves manipulating his family and friends, and eventually an old murder case becomes hi undoing. A good book but a little slow to develop. If you persist, you are rewarded with a good story.
December 4, 2020
Book #11 in the series. This book takes place in Scotland, as Stone and Dehan are away on vacation.
They are staying in a castle where a suicide took place 40 years ago. Now there is a murder.
Of course, they have no jurisdiction but attempt to solve it.
A bit far fetched and some of the conversation is in Scots Gaelic, but you can figure it out.
Not as good as book 10 but so much better than book 9.
They are staying in a castle where a suicide took place 40 years ago. Now there is a murder.
Of course, they have no jurisdiction but attempt to solve it.
A bit far fetched and some of the conversation is in Scots Gaelic, but you can figure it out.
Not as good as book 10 but so much better than book 9.
August 3, 2018
Probably the best in the series... but that said they are all great
I really enjoyed this story, great mystery, interesting and odd characters, satisfying ending. Blake’s books are all fun to read, but the Cold Case stories are my favorites. I’d recommend you start with the first book and read them in order.
I really enjoyed this story, great mystery, interesting and odd characters, satisfying ending. Blake’s books are all fun to read, but the Cold Case stories are my favorites. I’d recommend you start with the first book and read them in order.
April 23, 2023
I'm in the process of catching up
On all his books. Daunting task and sometimes it seems as though I will never catch up. That's okay, because they are all good. When I saw the title to this one, I thought, "now how will they get to Scotland?". Well, you'll just have to read it and see, but it will be worth your time.
On all his books. Daunting task and sometimes it seems as though I will never catch up. That's okay, because they are all good. When I saw the title to this one, I thought, "now how will they get to Scotland?". Well, you'll just have to read it and see, but it will be worth your time.
August 4, 2024
4.5 stars
Murder Most Scottish is the eleventh book in the Dead Cold Mystery series by Blake Banner.
Great series. Cold Cases. Crime and investigation. Mystery. Suspense. Detectives. Police procedural. Intrigue. Tension. Dramatic developments. Action. Engrossing.
Would make a superb TV series.
Full Review to come.
Murder Most Scottish is the eleventh book in the Dead Cold Mystery series by Blake Banner.
Great series. Cold Cases. Crime and investigation. Mystery. Suspense. Detectives. Police procedural. Intrigue. Tension. Dramatic developments. Action. Engrossing.
Would make a superb TV series.
Full Review to come.
March 21, 2025
Was not sure at first .......
The begin of the story was a !little confusing and convoluted. It slowly got straightened out by the end it all came together. maybe it was me but the switching from last name s to first names, contributed to the confusion. I will say this was a little different from previous stories. Maybe because they were not in the Bronx for this one? 😊
The begin of the story was a !little confusing and convoluted. It slowly got straightened out by the end it all came together. maybe it was me but the switching from last name s to first names, contributed to the confusion. I will say this was a little different from previous stories. Maybe because they were not in the Bronx for this one? 😊
July 25, 2018
Very atmospheric. A 40 year old locked room murder unsolved...add simmering tensions, sexual infidelity, humiliation, rejection, suspicion, hatred....mix well with a remote castle hotel isolated by a violent storm....add two honeymoon New York city cold case homicide detectives....
July 25, 2018
Shades of Agatha Chrustie
Loved this book. I really liked the castle place setting and the locked room mystery. As with all the cold case books I didn't have it all figured out. As Always I can't wait for the next one.
Loved this book. I really liked the castle place setting and the locked room mystery. As with all the cold case books I didn't have it all figured out. As Always I can't wait for the next one.
August 1, 2018
Dead Cold Mystery series
Start with book one. Get to know the characters. Buy book two and enjoy. Then stop doing what needs to done and binge read until you are through the series. Love Stone and Carmen and can’t wait until number 12 is out.
Start with book one. Get to know the characters. Buy book two and enjoy. Then stop doing what needs to done and binge read until you are through the series. Love Stone and Carmen and can’t wait until number 12 is out.
October 3, 2018
A lot of "F" bombs which in my mind does nothing to make reading pleasant. Not the best story I've read. Would read another by this author it nothing else was available.
Don't like the f bombs. Story was just ok.😴 will read another from this author it nothing else is available..
Don't like the f bombs. Story was just ok.😴 will read another from this author it nothing else is available..
May 7, 2019
Not the best one of the series, but a good mystery nonetheless. It didn't work for me to start with and I had a three month break before finishing it.
Hopefully the next one won't be Cluedo: The Novel.
Hopefully the next one won't be Cluedo: The Novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews