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Highland Bookshop Mystery #3
Thistles and Thieves
Out for a bicycle ride in the hills beyond Inversgail, Janet Marsh discovers the body of Dr. Malcolm Murray. The elderly Murray and his own bicycle went off the road and down a steep slope—he’s sprawled in the burn at the bottom, his damaged bike in a patch of thistles on the bank. Janet calls the Police Scotland emergency number. Tire tracks at the side of the narrow road suggest a vehicle might have been involved. But if it was an accident, the driver hasn’t come forward. And if it wasn’t an accident. . . . But who would want the well-loved, retired doctor dead?
A few days after the death, a box of vintage first editions is left on the doorstep of Yon Bonnie Books with a note: “Please look after these books. Thank you.” Janet and her crew at the shop are at first delighted, and then mystified—what exactly does “look after” mean? Are they free to sell them? And what are the odd notes penciled in the margins? With a little digging, the women decide the books might belong to Malcolm Murray or his reclusive brother, Gerald. When Janet and Christine call at Malcolm’s house, they find his confused, angry sister and evidence of a burglary. When they go to Gerald’s modest croft house, they find the door ajar and Gerald dead inside, stabbed with a regimental dagger.
While the police try to determine if the Murray brothers’ deaths are connected and who’s responsible, Janet and the bookshop owners try to find out how and why the box of books ended up on their doorstep. The police are interested in those questions, too, and they’re more than a little suspicious. Are the Yon Bonnie women as good with burglar tools as they are with books—and at finding bodies?
A few days after the death, a box of vintage first editions is left on the doorstep of Yon Bonnie Books with a note: “Please look after these books. Thank you.” Janet and her crew at the shop are at first delighted, and then mystified—what exactly does “look after” mean? Are they free to sell them? And what are the odd notes penciled in the margins? With a little digging, the women decide the books might belong to Malcolm Murray or his reclusive brother, Gerald. When Janet and Christine call at Malcolm’s house, they find his confused, angry sister and evidence of a burglary. When they go to Gerald’s modest croft house, they find the door ajar and Gerald dead inside, stabbed with a regimental dagger.
While the police try to determine if the Murray brothers’ deaths are connected and who’s responsible, Janet and the bookshop owners try to find out how and why the box of books ended up on their doorstep. The police are interested in those questions, too, and they’re more than a little suspicious. Are the Yon Bonnie women as good with burglar tools as they are with books—and at finding bodies?
279 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2020
72 people are currently reading
2435 people want to read
About the author
Molly MacRae
23 books839 followersMolly MacRae spent twenty years in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Upper East Tennessee, where she managed The Book Place, an independent bookstore; may it rest in peace.
Before the lure of books hooked her, she was curator of the history museum in Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town.
MacRae lives with her family in Champaign, Illinois, where she connects children with books at the public library.
Before the lure of books hooked her, she was curator of the history museum in Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town.
MacRae lives with her family in Champaign, Illinois, where she connects children with books at the public library.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
February 3, 2020
Thistles and Thieves by Molly MacRae is a Scottish cozy mystery and is third in the Highland Bookshop Mystery series. Although cozies are not usually my favorite genre of fiction, this one hooked me from the onset. This is a murder mystery but, more importantly, this is a story about Janet Marsh and the friendship between women who together, run and own a bookstore and tea room. Yon Bonnie Books in Inversgail is where the women work and also where they discuss and investigate local murders, much to the frustration of the local police. It all starts when Janet discovers the corpse of the the local retired physician. Shortly after, the victim’s brother is killed and the ladies are off and running. They are determined to get to the bottom of these mysterious deaths, while pointing the local constabulary in the right direction. This is a very pleasant read. If you like your mysteries cozy, Thistles and Thieves is for you. Thank you to Pegasus Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2020
After having enjoyed the early installments in this cozy mystery series, I so wanted to enjoy this third book as well. Sadly, it left me wanting. There is a tremendous amount of dialogue among the sleuthing bookstore and café staff yet perhaps not enough action throughout. These women somehow always seem to get involved in the murder du jour, yet are always warned off by the local constabulary. They can't keep well enough alone and insinuate themselves into the investigation which frankly, was a bit annoying.
However, on the plus side, the Scottish brogue and regional nomenclature found throughout the story did provide a sense of charm unto its own, which I did enjoy. That, along with the mystery regarding a box of old books left at the bookstore door, kept me curious and engaged in the book. The murders were not as compelling, in my opinion. Will I read the next installment? Maybe...maybe not.
Synopsis (from publisher's website):
The latest entry in the charming Highland Bookshop mystery series finds the women of Yon Bonnie Books embroiled in the death of a local doctor, which sets off a chain of other curious—and deadly—events.
Out for a bicycle ride in the hills beyond Inversgail, Janet Marsh discovers the body of Dr. Malcolm Murray. The elderly Murray and his own bicycle went off the road and down a steep slope—he’s sprawled in the burn at the bottom, his damaged bike in a patch of thistles on the bank. Janet calls the Police Scotland emergency number. Tire tracks at the side of the narrow road suggest a vehicle might have been involved. But if it was an accident, the driver hasn’t come forward. And if it wasn’t an accident. . . . But who would want the well-loved, retired doctor dead?
A few days after the death, a box of vintage first editions is left on the doorstep of Yon Bonnie Books with a note: “Please look after these books. Thank you.” Janet and her crew at the shop are at first delighted, and then mystified—what exactly does “look after” mean? Are they free to sell them? And what are the odd notes penciled in the margins? With a little digging, the women decide the books might belong to Malcolm Murray or his reclusive brother, Gerald. When Janet and Christine call at Malcolm’s house, they find his confused, angry sister and evidence of a burglary. When they go to Gerald’s modest croft house, they find the door ajar and Gerald dead inside, stabbed with a regimental dagger.
While the police try to determine if the Murray brothers’ deaths are connected and who’s responsible, Janet and the bookshop owners try to find out how and why the box of books ended up on their doorstep. The police are interested in those questions, too, and they’re more than a little suspicious. Are the Yon Bonnie women as good with burglar tools as they are with books—and at finding bodies?
However, on the plus side, the Scottish brogue and regional nomenclature found throughout the story did provide a sense of charm unto its own, which I did enjoy. That, along with the mystery regarding a box of old books left at the bookstore door, kept me curious and engaged in the book. The murders were not as compelling, in my opinion. Will I read the next installment? Maybe...maybe not.
Synopsis (from publisher's website):
The latest entry in the charming Highland Bookshop mystery series finds the women of Yon Bonnie Books embroiled in the death of a local doctor, which sets off a chain of other curious—and deadly—events.
Out for a bicycle ride in the hills beyond Inversgail, Janet Marsh discovers the body of Dr. Malcolm Murray. The elderly Murray and his own bicycle went off the road and down a steep slope—he’s sprawled in the burn at the bottom, his damaged bike in a patch of thistles on the bank. Janet calls the Police Scotland emergency number. Tire tracks at the side of the narrow road suggest a vehicle might have been involved. But if it was an accident, the driver hasn’t come forward. And if it wasn’t an accident. . . . But who would want the well-loved, retired doctor dead?
A few days after the death, a box of vintage first editions is left on the doorstep of Yon Bonnie Books with a note: “Please look after these books. Thank you.” Janet and her crew at the shop are at first delighted, and then mystified—what exactly does “look after” mean? Are they free to sell them? And what are the odd notes penciled in the margins? With a little digging, the women decide the books might belong to Malcolm Murray or his reclusive brother, Gerald. When Janet and Christine call at Malcolm’s house, they find his confused, angry sister and evidence of a burglary. When they go to Gerald’s modest croft house, they find the door ajar and Gerald dead inside, stabbed with a regimental dagger.
While the police try to determine if the Murray brothers’ deaths are connected and who’s responsible, Janet and the bookshop owners try to find out how and why the box of books ended up on their doorstep. The police are interested in those questions, too, and they’re more than a little suspicious. Are the Yon Bonnie women as good with burglar tools as they are with books—and at finding bodies?
February 2, 2020
I really hope I’m not losing my taste for cozy mysteries and that it’s just this series that’s not ringing my bell.
The plot kind of plods along, find a body...talk, talk, talk...find another body...talk, talk, talk...find another body...talk, talk, talk... the ladies bumble into solving it again.
Seriously, this series checks off all my boxes - cozy, bookstore, Scottish highlands. It should be pure comfort reading for me, but it really misses the mark. I’ll probably only give it one more shot. No pun intended.
The plot kind of plods along, find a body...talk, talk, talk...find another body...talk, talk, talk...find another body...talk, talk, talk... the ladies bumble into solving it again.
Seriously, this series checks off all my boxes - cozy, bookstore, Scottish highlands. It should be pure comfort reading for me, but it really misses the mark. I’ll probably only give it one more shot. No pun intended.
November 27, 2020
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Molly MacRae, and publisher Pegasus Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this cozy mystery of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to refer this author to friends and family. Her work is delightful.
Taking place in Inversgail, a small town on the northwestern coast of Scotland, Thistles and Thieves is the third book of the Highland Bookshop Mysteries, which is the second mystery series written by Molly MacRae, the first being the Haunted Yarn Shop mystery series. All seem to be stand-alone reads. Thank you Netgalley for exposing me to the delightful cozy novels of Molly MacRae. She writes a tight compelling story with warm, interesting characters and touches of Scotland round every corner.
Janet Marsh and her daughter Tallie are Americans living in a small town in central Illinois, next door to the Richardson family, comprised of Christine and her daughter Summer, both transplants from Scotland many years ago. The daughters were childhood friends and college roommates back in the day, beginning a friendship between mothers and daughters that only deepened with time. When Christine needs to return to Scotland to care for her aging parents, daughter Summer and best friends Janet and Tallie sell up shop and go with her. Together this foursome and their delightful critters make quite an interesting team.
These crime stoppers laughingly call themselves the S.C.O.N.E.S ( the Shadow Constabulary of Nosey Eavesdropping Snoops). They have a very good relationship with a couple of the local police, and a good record of solving cases. In their professional life, the ladies run several businesses under one roof in downtown Inversgail - a bookstore titled 'Yon Bonnie Books', a tearoom and cafe titled 'Cakes and Tales', and a bed and breakfast on the upper story known as 'Bedtime Tales'.
And things are going along swimmingly until Janet decides to get a new bicycle - everyone bikes in Scotland. Today is the annual Haggis Half Hundred Challange. Janet is using the impetus of this year's ride to work herself into shape - it's been thirty years since she last rode a bicycle - for next year's Haggis Half Hundred. No one is really surprised when she finds a dead body alongside Beaton Bridge. That is, after all, what she does. Then another dead body... and between this body and the next is the mysterious whiskey box of old, treasured books left on the doorstep of Yon Bonnie Books...
Pub date Jan 7, 2020
Reviewed on Goodreads and Netgalley on January 3, 2020. Reviewed on Jan 7, 2020, at AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
Taking place in Inversgail, a small town on the northwestern coast of Scotland, Thistles and Thieves is the third book of the Highland Bookshop Mysteries, which is the second mystery series written by Molly MacRae, the first being the Haunted Yarn Shop mystery series. All seem to be stand-alone reads. Thank you Netgalley for exposing me to the delightful cozy novels of Molly MacRae. She writes a tight compelling story with warm, interesting characters and touches of Scotland round every corner.
Janet Marsh and her daughter Tallie are Americans living in a small town in central Illinois, next door to the Richardson family, comprised of Christine and her daughter Summer, both transplants from Scotland many years ago. The daughters were childhood friends and college roommates back in the day, beginning a friendship between mothers and daughters that only deepened with time. When Christine needs to return to Scotland to care for her aging parents, daughter Summer and best friends Janet and Tallie sell up shop and go with her. Together this foursome and their delightful critters make quite an interesting team.
These crime stoppers laughingly call themselves the S.C.O.N.E.S ( the Shadow Constabulary of Nosey Eavesdropping Snoops). They have a very good relationship with a couple of the local police, and a good record of solving cases. In their professional life, the ladies run several businesses under one roof in downtown Inversgail - a bookstore titled 'Yon Bonnie Books', a tearoom and cafe titled 'Cakes and Tales', and a bed and breakfast on the upper story known as 'Bedtime Tales'.
And things are going along swimmingly until Janet decides to get a new bicycle - everyone bikes in Scotland. Today is the annual Haggis Half Hundred Challange. Janet is using the impetus of this year's ride to work herself into shape - it's been thirty years since she last rode a bicycle - for next year's Haggis Half Hundred. No one is really surprised when she finds a dead body alongside Beaton Bridge. That is, after all, what she does. Then another dead body... and between this body and the next is the mysterious whiskey box of old, treasured books left on the doorstep of Yon Bonnie Books...
Pub date Jan 7, 2020
Reviewed on Goodreads and Netgalley on January 3, 2020. Reviewed on Jan 7, 2020, at AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
January 29, 2021
A much better read than the prior. The SCONES wind up solving another cache of murders, nearly adding themselves to the list, as such. Fun reading, great reveal, nice diversion clues. Savvy and snarky. My only complaint is the referring to a past that is not mentioned presently. (Janet’s divorce, Christine’s widowment, grandkids, etc.) Don’t mention without a slight explanation. Aside from that, a stellar read.
As always in these tales, plenty of Gaelic to learn and great scenery.
As always in these tales, plenty of Gaelic to learn and great scenery.
February 1, 2020
I am really enjoying this series by Ms. MacRae. I read the first two books in the series but decided to try this book in audio. The narrator, Lucy Paterson, did a wonderful job of representing each character with their own "voice". The mystery was complex and the characters are well on the way of being fully developed. The Scotland setting described by Ms. MacRae adds to the story and I love hearing the Gaelic words spoken as I would have never guessed how they were pronounced if I had read them.
February 8, 2020
I enjoyed the first two books in this series, but I started to get annoyed while reading this one. The main characters keep proposing motives, clues, contradicting each other, and in general dragging out the whole process. The fun in reading a mystery is trying to figure out "who done it" before the author spells it out. The book does all this speculating over and over and we have to wade through it to get to the prize. In the first books, maybe because she was introducing the characters it made it more tolerable, but by now, it was just ... annoying.
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July 6, 2024No rating. DNF. Giving up on this. All talk and not enough action. Characters just waffle on. Persisted as long as I could, waiting for it to get better. It didn’t. Could be me at the moment so others may like it. But not for this reader. Think I got sucked in by the cover and the boookshop idea, but in the end it didn’t work.
December 6, 2019
I'm so glad I stuck with this series. It has gotten better with each book as the characters have grown. The pace continues to be the perfect slower pace found in a cozy. The perfect reading getaway.
Janet and her daughter, Tallie, along with Janet's long time friend, Christine and her daughter, Summer, run a combination book store and tea room. Janet and Tallie are American transplants and Christine and her daughter have returned to their roots in Scotland. Together they make quite a team. They don't just sell scones, tea and books. They have a knack for 'bumbling' over bodies and then figuring out who dunnit. They have a very good relationship with two policemen, both named Norman and share every bit of information and gossip with them. Respect goes both ways between them. The ladies have named themselves the S.C.O.N.E.S ( the Shadow Constabulary of Nosey Eavesdropping Snoops) and Janet has brought them a new case.
All Janet wanted was to try out her new bike with a plan to get into shape to ride in next years Half Hundred Haggis ride. While enjoying the local scenery she discovers the body of a local doctor, tossed like a rag doll on the rocks below a stone bridge. Was it a tragic accident, he was almost 70 and he may have had health issues that led to him going off the road to his death. That would have been the end of things but soon Janet and Christine encounter the dead mans' sister who happens to be an old classmate of Christine's. With that connection, they offer condolences and are surprised at her reaction. It's not long before two more deaths occur and they are most certainly not accidents. When they realize that they are getting conflicting descriptions of each of the victims, the puzzle gets more complicated.
Christine sums it up well. "We are amateurs and we know it. We bumble and muddle and we are certainly led astray by red herrings......."And passively trying to uncover answers, rather than actively trying, is both pleasingly subtle and well within our amateur skill set".
If you need a nicely paced well crafted puzzle in a lovely setting, complete with pots of tea, scones, good friends and a couple of sweet cats named Smirr and Butter to warm your lap, give this one a try. It works fine as a stand alone.
My thanks to the publisher Pegasus Books and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Janet and her daughter, Tallie, along with Janet's long time friend, Christine and her daughter, Summer, run a combination book store and tea room. Janet and Tallie are American transplants and Christine and her daughter have returned to their roots in Scotland. Together they make quite a team. They don't just sell scones, tea and books. They have a knack for 'bumbling' over bodies and then figuring out who dunnit. They have a very good relationship with two policemen, both named Norman and share every bit of information and gossip with them. Respect goes both ways between them. The ladies have named themselves the S.C.O.N.E.S ( the Shadow Constabulary of Nosey Eavesdropping Snoops) and Janet has brought them a new case.
All Janet wanted was to try out her new bike with a plan to get into shape to ride in next years Half Hundred Haggis ride. While enjoying the local scenery she discovers the body of a local doctor, tossed like a rag doll on the rocks below a stone bridge. Was it a tragic accident, he was almost 70 and he may have had health issues that led to him going off the road to his death. That would have been the end of things but soon Janet and Christine encounter the dead mans' sister who happens to be an old classmate of Christine's. With that connection, they offer condolences and are surprised at her reaction. It's not long before two more deaths occur and they are most certainly not accidents. When they realize that they are getting conflicting descriptions of each of the victims, the puzzle gets more complicated.
Christine sums it up well. "We are amateurs and we know it. We bumble and muddle and we are certainly led astray by red herrings......."And passively trying to uncover answers, rather than actively trying, is both pleasingly subtle and well within our amateur skill set".
If you need a nicely paced well crafted puzzle in a lovely setting, complete with pots of tea, scones, good friends and a couple of sweet cats named Smirr and Butter to warm your lap, give this one a try. It works fine as a stand alone.
My thanks to the publisher Pegasus Books and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 7, 2020
Another great book by Ms. MacRae
Want to read
October 1, 2019Marked want to read
December 12, 2019
The Highland Bookshop Mystery Series Book 3
Back to Scotland at Yon Bonnie Books with Janet and friends.
Janet is out for a bike ride by Inversgail when she sees tracks and finds Dr. Murray and his bike down a very steep slope. Calling the Police Scotland emergency number, she is struck by what look like tire tracks. If this was an accident why in the world didn't they stop? And if it wasn't an accident who in the world would want to kill a much loved and already retired doctor?
In the next few days, Janet finds a box of vintage first editions on her bookstore doorstep. The note tells her to look after them. But she and her team aren't sure what that even means. There are mysterious writings in the books and they all agree that they must have belonged to the doctor. And off they go to find Gerald, the brother.
First calling the doctor's home they get his sister. And boy is she angry and from the looks of things the house has been robbed. Moving on to the reclusive Gerald, they instead find a dead body killed with a dagger. Now both brothers are dead and things are starting to look sketchy.
The police are investigating the deaths for connections but are also looking askance at Janet and her team. They just want to find out how the books got to the shop and why.
And so the mystery begins. But will Janet and her team end up in jail?
The third book in the series is really good. The characters are so real and the descriptions of the area make you feel like you are right there in bonny Scotland!
Very Well Done!!'
NetGalley/ January 7th, 2020 by Pegasus Books
Back to Scotland at Yon Bonnie Books with Janet and friends.
Janet is out for a bike ride by Inversgail when she sees tracks and finds Dr. Murray and his bike down a very steep slope. Calling the Police Scotland emergency number, she is struck by what look like tire tracks. If this was an accident why in the world didn't they stop? And if it wasn't an accident who in the world would want to kill a much loved and already retired doctor?
In the next few days, Janet finds a box of vintage first editions on her bookstore doorstep. The note tells her to look after them. But she and her team aren't sure what that even means. There are mysterious writings in the books and they all agree that they must have belonged to the doctor. And off they go to find Gerald, the brother.
First calling the doctor's home they get his sister. And boy is she angry and from the looks of things the house has been robbed. Moving on to the reclusive Gerald, they instead find a dead body killed with a dagger. Now both brothers are dead and things are starting to look sketchy.
The police are investigating the deaths for connections but are also looking askance at Janet and her team. They just want to find out how the books got to the shop and why.
And so the mystery begins. But will Janet and her team end up in jail?
The third book in the series is really good. The characters are so real and the descriptions of the area make you feel like you are right there in bonny Scotland!
Very Well Done!!'
NetGalley/ January 7th, 2020 by Pegasus Books
April 19, 2020
A cozy mystery with a Scottish bookstore setting. What’s not to like? Well, in this 3rd entry in the series, unfortunately quite a lot. The story just kept plodding along in a scattered kind of way. Most of the main characters really kept getting on my nerves and seemed just plain annoying. Calling one of their set Boadicea quickly lost its charm after the fifteenth time and seemed like forced humor. Christine’s “Queen” aspect of her personality just seemed plain weird. The repeated calling of the local Constable “stodgy porridge” just seemed plain mean, especially considering the fact that they actually liked him. I’ll probably try the fourth book since I really like the setting but, for the love of God, step it up a bit on the next one.
September 19, 2021
If you like mysteries where people just talk about theories, this is for you. I found it totally lacking in interest, plot or characterization, There were no clues that I could see; the box of books deposited at the doorstep of the bookshop are just a red herring. I kept waiting for them to stop talking, talking, talking, it's a miracle I finished. Sheer determination pulled me through.
February 29, 2020
I expected to like this more - it has pretty much everything I like in a cozy, Scottish setting, likeable police, body found in an idyllic setting, questions about the true character of the victim. However, I feel that the author missed the mark on this one. The interesting storyline was just not well put together.
Our 4 heroines seem rather grumpy and unlikeable in this book. They display superior attitudes and condescend towards the "plodding" police. They treat author Ian unkindly for attempting to detect, exactly as they are doing. A lot of space is wasted on speculation, rather than original thought or action.
I will give the series another chance, as I seem to recall enjoying the first two books more. This story deserved better treatment. It could easily have been turned into a 4 star. Deadline pressure?
Our 4 heroines seem rather grumpy and unlikeable in this book. They display superior attitudes and condescend towards the "plodding" police. They treat author Ian unkindly for attempting to detect, exactly as they are doing. A lot of space is wasted on speculation, rather than original thought or action.
I will give the series another chance, as I seem to recall enjoying the first two books more. This story deserved better treatment. It could easily have been turned into a 4 star. Deadline pressure?
June 3, 2023
They aren't life changing, but I am enjoying these books so very much. I love the four main characters, and those who orbit around them add just the right touches. I did not know who did it, again, and I must say I enjoy that. No sex or language. Just enjoyable murder and mystery. Four women making their way in Scotland with a book and tea shop. I may have a bit of a lilt after listening to all of these stories as well. :D
May 27, 2020
I really enjoyed this lighthearted book, not so much for the mystery or plot, which are fine, but not scintillating, but for the delightful dialogue. I want to be friends with this group of women, hang out at the bookshop, and eat fish 'n' chips and drink ale at the local pub. It's the friendship which is the strength of the story.
Read
September 18, 2023Another solid mystery and plenty of interesting people. It's strange to me that with so many interesting characters, I still have a hard time telling the main characters apart 3 books in. Still, nice stories, nice setting.
January 27, 2020
When Janet, one of the owners of Yon Bonnie Books and part time sleuth in the village of Inversgail, Scotland decides to take up bicycle riding, the last thing she expects to find on her first ride is the body of a fellow cyclist by the side of the road. But was the death another tragic road accident, or was it murder?
The mysteries (and bodies) soon begin to pile up in this engaging read, while at the same time, readers get to know a few more of the villagers.
The mysteries (and bodies) soon begin to pile up in this engaging read, while at the same time, readers get to know a few more of the villagers.
February 5, 2020
#3 in the Highland Bookshop mystery series. This 2020 series entry by author Molly MacRae has the series getting even better. Four women own and operate a bookstore, Yon Bonnie Books, and an adjoining tearoom, Cakes and Tales, in Inversgail, Scotland. Three are American ex-pats. including a mother and daughter who used to summer in Inversgail and the fourth is an Inversgail re-pat, returned from a lengthy residence in the States to aid her aging parents. MacRae has done a fine job of bringing these disparate characters to life and in true cozy fashion having them stumble over dead bodies, obscure clues and motives and solve a crime or two often over the objections of law enforcement. The setting of female-run bookstore and tearoom is reminiscent of author Vicki Delaney's Sherlock Holmes themed establishments on Cape Cod. Both establishments rely on buses of tourists for their trade but I find it more logical for a Sherlock themed tourist destination on Baker St., New London, MA than a Scottish named tourist destination in small town Scotland.
Out for a bicycle ride in the hills beyond Inversgail, Janet Marsh discovers the body of Dr. Malcolm Murray. The elderly Murray and his own bicycle went off the road and down a steep slope--he's sprawled in the burn at the bottom, his damaged bike in a patch of thistles on the bank. Janet calls the Police Scotland emergency number. Tire tracks at the side of the narrow road suggest a vehicle might have been involved. But if it was an accident, the driver hasn't come forward. And if it wasn't an accident. . . . But who would want the well-loved, retired doctor dead?A few days after the death, a box of vintage books is left on the doorstep of Yon Bonnie Books with a note: "Please look after these books. Thank you." Janet and her crew at the shop are at first delighted, and then mystified--what exactly does "look after" mean? Are they free to sell them? And what are the odd notes penciled in the margins? With a little digging, the women decide the books might belong to Malcolm Murray or his reclusive brother, Gerald. When Janet and Christine call at Malcolm's house, they find his confused, angry sister and evidence of a burglary. When they go to Gerald's modest croft house, they find the door ajar and Gerald dead inside, stabbed and shot. While the police try to determine if the Murray brothers' deaths are connected and who's responsible, Janet and the bookshop owners try to find out how and why the box of books ended up on their doorstep. The police are interested in those questions, too, and they're more than a little suspicious. Are the Yon Bonnie women as good with burglar tools as they are with books--and at finding bodies?
Out for a bicycle ride in the hills beyond Inversgail, Janet Marsh discovers the body of Dr. Malcolm Murray. The elderly Murray and his own bicycle went off the road and down a steep slope--he's sprawled in the burn at the bottom, his damaged bike in a patch of thistles on the bank. Janet calls the Police Scotland emergency number. Tire tracks at the side of the narrow road suggest a vehicle might have been involved. But if it was an accident, the driver hasn't come forward. And if it wasn't an accident. . . . But who would want the well-loved, retired doctor dead?A few days after the death, a box of vintage books is left on the doorstep of Yon Bonnie Books with a note: "Please look after these books. Thank you." Janet and her crew at the shop are at first delighted, and then mystified--what exactly does "look after" mean? Are they free to sell them? And what are the odd notes penciled in the margins? With a little digging, the women decide the books might belong to Malcolm Murray or his reclusive brother, Gerald. When Janet and Christine call at Malcolm's house, they find his confused, angry sister and evidence of a burglary. When they go to Gerald's modest croft house, they find the door ajar and Gerald dead inside, stabbed and shot. While the police try to determine if the Murray brothers' deaths are connected and who's responsible, Janet and the bookshop owners try to find out how and why the box of books ended up on their doorstep. The police are interested in those questions, too, and they're more than a little suspicious. Are the Yon Bonnie women as good with burglar tools as they are with books--and at finding bodies?
December 14, 2019
“We are amateurs and we know it. We bumble and muddle and we’re certainly led astray by red herrings.”
“Although, let’s not sell ourselves short.”
A third outing for Molly MacRae’s cast of characters running the Yon Bonnie Books in the quaint Scottish town of Inversgail. The SCONES (Shadowy Constabulary of Nosy Eavesdropping Snoops), as they were once called by a character in a previous book – Janet Marsh and her daughter Tallie, and friends Christine and Summer – have only just moved on a few weeks from their previous adventure, but out on her bike, training for the Haggis Half-Hundred Ride, Janet stumbles across a body and the sleuthing foursome find themselves involved in another plot, this time involving a box of books and a strange family of siblings. For fans of the previous books, the usual cast of characters is back, including Constable Hobbs, handyman Rab and his terrier Ranger, and Inspector Reddick, the ever-tolerant local detective.
I am a big fan of this series, and as long as you don’t mind the rose-tinted view of Scottish life through the lens of an American writer, you will too. The characters are what drives this series, whether it be the four main female leads or the oddballs and eccentrics that occupy this magical Scottish town. It’s a fast-paced cozy murder mystery that is perfect for a winter’s evening, so if you are looking for some escapism and an engaging whodunnit, then this is perfect reading. A bonnie 4 stars.
“Although, let’s not sell ourselves short.”
A third outing for Molly MacRae’s cast of characters running the Yon Bonnie Books in the quaint Scottish town of Inversgail. The SCONES (Shadowy Constabulary of Nosy Eavesdropping Snoops), as they were once called by a character in a previous book – Janet Marsh and her daughter Tallie, and friends Christine and Summer – have only just moved on a few weeks from their previous adventure, but out on her bike, training for the Haggis Half-Hundred Ride, Janet stumbles across a body and the sleuthing foursome find themselves involved in another plot, this time involving a box of books and a strange family of siblings. For fans of the previous books, the usual cast of characters is back, including Constable Hobbs, handyman Rab and his terrier Ranger, and Inspector Reddick, the ever-tolerant local detective.
I am a big fan of this series, and as long as you don’t mind the rose-tinted view of Scottish life through the lens of an American writer, you will too. The characters are what drives this series, whether it be the four main female leads or the oddballs and eccentrics that occupy this magical Scottish town. It’s a fast-paced cozy murder mystery that is perfect for a winter’s evening, so if you are looking for some escapism and an engaging whodunnit, then this is perfect reading. A bonnie 4 stars.
April 14, 2022
I first ran across the fourth book in Molly MacRae’s The Highland Bookshop Mystery Series in the library’s new books section. It looked intriguing and I decided to give the series a try. The first book didn’t grab me, but I persevered as some of my favorite series got off to a slow start. The second book improved slightly, but the third book, “Thistles and Thieves”, was a step backward and downright annoying at times. The four main characters have simultaneously gotten more unpleasant in attitude and more aggressive about their awkward and bumbling attempts to solve the murders. In addition nearly all of the secondary characters are either mocked constantly or met with suspicion by the main characters. Honestly if these women were real people in my town, I would make a point of avoiding them. I’ll go ahead and start reading the fourth book with the hopes that somehow it will be as good as it initially appeared.
December 5, 2019
This is the 3rd installment of the Highland Bookshop series. The ladies (Janet, Christine, Tallie and Summer) of Yon Bonnie Books (love the name of this bookshop) are back at in again when Janet is out for a bike ride when she finds the body of Dr. Murray at the bottom of a burn and she calls Scotland Yard. There are also tire tracks nearby so was this an accident or what is on purpose. A box of books gets left at the bookshop a few days later and the ladies suspect they are Dr. Murray’s. They begin to investigate and soon there are two more deaths and they must be related. Are the box of books the clue to solving the mystery. Good mystery and addition to this series.
October 21, 2019
Excellent mystery with several twists. Lots of characters and a highland background keeps it suspenseful. the ladies of Yon Bonnie Books, Janet, Christine, Tallie, and Summer, are confused when a sealed box of used books is left on the steps of the shop. Are they a clue left behind by the local retired doctor that Janet found dead after a bicycling accident?And then travelling nurse, Lachy is found murdered. When the doctor's hermit brother is also found murdered the ladies realize they must all be linked together. But who and why, and is the box of books a clue?
January 9, 2020
Thistles and Thieves is the third book in the Highland Bookshop, it does work as a standalone but I recommend reading them in series order. Molly MacRae has created wonderful characters and as always the story is well plotted. This is one of my favorite series set in Scotland, the setting is is so well written I feel like I'm there.
November 25, 2019
Beautiful setting, engaging characters, and a head scratcher of a mystery. Not only is there a murder, but also the appearance of mystery books which keeps the ladies and authorities guessing. A strong addition to a fantastic series.
February 22, 2020
Each time I read one of Molly MacRae's books in the Highland Bookshop Mystery series, I laugh a lot and picture the crazy and eccentric characters of the village of Inversgail, Scotland.
Janet March and her friend, Christine Richardson, have started a book shop, Yon Bonnie Books, along with their daughters, Tallie and Summer, in the small village of Inversgail. They are forever falling over or running across dead bodies, much to the consternation of the local constabulary.
When a beloved local doctor, Malcolm Murray, is the apparent victim of a bicycle accident, it is Janet who finds his body in the burn off the side of the road. Tire marks make her wonder if this is truly an accident.
As if that isn't enough, a box of first editions appear on their bookstore steps, and the women trace them to his Murray's brother, Gerald. In rapid succession, the bookstore owners meet the Murray brother's strange sister, and his brother Gerald is found murdered, the victim of a stabbing.
The SCONES (Shadowy Constabulary of Nosy Eavesdropping Sleuths) go into action. How are these deaths related? Or are they? And what might they have to do with the books mysteriously left at their bookstore? Or is there any connection?
I love Molly MacRae's series because the main characters are interesting and believable, and the secondary characters are typical village eccentrics. Constable Hobbs is back, as well as Inspector Reddick. They aren't real interested in the SCONES' help, but I'm not sure they have any choice. Red herrings, twists and turns abound. If you love cozy mysteries, and the Scottish setting is to your liking, you will definitely like this third entry in the Highland Bookshop Mystery series. Bravo, Molly MacRae!
Janet March and her friend, Christine Richardson, have started a book shop, Yon Bonnie Books, along with their daughters, Tallie and Summer, in the small village of Inversgail. They are forever falling over or running across dead bodies, much to the consternation of the local constabulary.
When a beloved local doctor, Malcolm Murray, is the apparent victim of a bicycle accident, it is Janet who finds his body in the burn off the side of the road. Tire marks make her wonder if this is truly an accident.
As if that isn't enough, a box of first editions appear on their bookstore steps, and the women trace them to his Murray's brother, Gerald. In rapid succession, the bookstore owners meet the Murray brother's strange sister, and his brother Gerald is found murdered, the victim of a stabbing.
The SCONES (Shadowy Constabulary of Nosy Eavesdropping Sleuths) go into action. How are these deaths related? Or are they? And what might they have to do with the books mysteriously left at their bookstore? Or is there any connection?
I love Molly MacRae's series because the main characters are interesting and believable, and the secondary characters are typical village eccentrics. Constable Hobbs is back, as well as Inspector Reddick. They aren't real interested in the SCONES' help, but I'm not sure they have any choice. Red herrings, twists and turns abound. If you love cozy mysteries, and the Scottish setting is to your liking, you will definitely like this third entry in the Highland Bookshop Mystery series. Bravo, Molly MacRae!
March 4, 2023
Really 3.5 stars. These books are true “cozies” in that the characters and settings are appealing, the plots are not too complicated, and everything is wrapped up nicely at the end. This is my second Highland Bookshop mystery, and I do enjoy life in Inversgail in the Western Highlands. This time, Janet finds a body by a burn up in the hills above the town, and we learn it is the local, retired doctor. Obviously, he had a cycling accident since his bike is by his side, and there are no signs of violence other than his broken neck, which could have been sustained as he fell down the steep hillside toward the burn. This death is followed by two others, all seemingly related. Or are they? In addition, a mysterious box of books is left on the bookshop’s doorstep. There’s a note by no signature so who left them? Some are apparently valuable, others are cheap paperbacks. No one admits to leaving the box and until their provenance is determined, Janet cannot sell them or dispose of them. This was a neat sideline plot to the deaths, and I spent a lot of time trying to trace a line between the various characters and the box of books. My one criticism is small but important to me. At one point, the author refers to the University of St Andrews as being in Aberdeen. As a graduate of that illustrious and ancient establishment, I object. The University is located in St Andrews in Fife, hence its name. I can’t imagine why an editor missed this small point and didn’t have the author correct it.
I’ve missed the second in this series, and will go back to read it now, and then carry on, as the series progresses.
I’ve missed the second in this series, and will go back to read it now, and then carry on, as the series progresses.
April 26, 2021
A truly excellent reading experience. I really like the repartee of the S.C.O.N.E.S. (Shadow Constabulary of Nosy Eavesdropping Snooops) group and how they work together and care for each other. This group of friends also work well with the local official constabulary, to the benefit of both. Just don't let Hobbs use Gaelic when he plays Scrabble with you.
The mystery was a good one and multi-faceted in that dead bodies kept dropping by the wayside. The box of books left on their doorstep made for an intriguing side plot. The murderer was a surprise, but maybe not so much the reason? The climax was certainly amazing! And books, books, books, in every part of the plot. This is not to say they don't take full advantage of modern technology, like the Cloud. Oh to be able to join their Cloud deliberations and add a folder or two...
And thank you for letting us, the readers, join in.
Kudos also to Pegasus Books, the publisher of this series. I do enjoy the tactile sense of holding a book in my hand but these take that enjoyment up a notch or two (or three). First of all the paper material on the cover is almost like velvet with the most delightful and understated little graphic. They even carry the plaid theme (each book in the series has a complimentary but different color scheme) onto the inner covers. Between an intricate plot, interesting people, and a book that is pure delight to hold while reading, this was superb on all counts.
The mystery was a good one and multi-faceted in that dead bodies kept dropping by the wayside. The box of books left on their doorstep made for an intriguing side plot. The murderer was a surprise, but maybe not so much the reason? The climax was certainly amazing! And books, books, books, in every part of the plot. This is not to say they don't take full advantage of modern technology, like the Cloud. Oh to be able to join their Cloud deliberations and add a folder or two...
"We've made the right move coming here," Janet said to Christine as Tallie disappeared into the office. "We've surrounded ourselves with good people. Well, with the exception of the ones who've turned out to be murderers."
"It happens to the best of people, I'm sure."
And thank you for letting us, the readers, join in.
Kudos also to Pegasus Books, the publisher of this series. I do enjoy the tactile sense of holding a book in my hand but these take that enjoyment up a notch or two (or three). First of all the paper material on the cover is almost like velvet with the most delightful and understated little graphic. They even carry the plaid theme (each book in the series has a complimentary but different color scheme) onto the inner covers. Between an intricate plot, interesting people, and a book that is pure delight to hold while reading, this was superb on all counts.
February 7, 2022
A cozy mystery, set in Scotland. I was pretty happy with the mystery, the characters, and the stakes. I'm definitely going to check some of the other books in the series, I hope they're ask good.
I think the only turn-off was, sometimes the protagonists could be needlessly (even confusingly) mean and petty. There's a pompous mystery writer in the story, and the main characters are constantly belittling him and bad-mouthing him. I don't know if some readers enjoy that, I don't. The weird thing is, after making it clear to everyone that they don't like the guy and don't want to be friends with him, they go out of their way to talk to him! Consistency please. They also suspect a local nurse might be a thief, so someone makes up a little rhyme about him stealing from his patients. What? The suspicion later turns out to be wrong , and noone thinks 'hey, that was some inappropriate s**t-talk we were doing of an innocent man'. Why? Did the writer just think her random ditty was so clever she couldn't bear to drop it?
Otherwise enjoyable, hope the characters are less sophomoric in the other books.
I think the only turn-off was, sometimes the protagonists could be needlessly (even confusingly) mean and petty. There's a pompous mystery writer in the story, and the main characters are constantly belittling him and bad-mouthing him. I don't know if some readers enjoy that, I don't. The weird thing is, after making it clear to everyone that they don't like the guy and don't want to be friends with him, they go out of their way to talk to him! Consistency please. They also suspect a local nurse might be a thief, so someone makes up a little rhyme about him stealing from his patients. What? The suspicion later turns out to be wrong , and noone thinks 'hey, that was some inappropriate s**t-talk we were doing of an innocent man'. Why? Did the writer just think her random ditty was so clever she couldn't bear to drop it?
Otherwise enjoyable, hope the characters are less sophomoric in the other books.
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