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Key West Food Critic Mystery #11
A Scone of Contention
A murderer's out to spoil Hayley's honeymoon in national bestselling author Lucy Burdette's eleventh Key West Food Critic Mystery.
Key Zest food critic Hayley Snow and her groom, police detective Nathan Bransford, chose Scotland for their long-delayed honeymoon, hoping to sightsee and enjoy some prize-winning scones. But their romantic duo swells to a crowd when they're joined by Nathan's family as well as octogenarian Miss Gloria.
Nathan's sister Vera takes the women on a whirlwind tour of some of Scotland's iconic mystic places as research for a looming book project. But the trip takes a deadly tartan turn when a dinner party guest falls ill and claims she was poisoned. And then the group watches in horror as a mysterious tourist tumbles to his death from the famous Falkirk Wheel, high above the Forth & Clyde canal.
Vera and her friends deny knowing the dead man, but after observing their reactions to the fall, Hayley is not convinced. With one person dead, a second possibly poisoned, and the tension among Vera's friends as thick as farmhouse cheese, Hayley fears her long-awaited honeymoon might end with another murder.
Far away from home, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, eccentric characters, and a forbiddingly gorgeous setting, Hayley must call on all her savvy to keep a killer from striking again and then escaping Scot free.
Key Zest food critic Hayley Snow and her groom, police detective Nathan Bransford, chose Scotland for their long-delayed honeymoon, hoping to sightsee and enjoy some prize-winning scones. But their romantic duo swells to a crowd when they're joined by Nathan's family as well as octogenarian Miss Gloria.
Nathan's sister Vera takes the women on a whirlwind tour of some of Scotland's iconic mystic places as research for a looming book project. But the trip takes a deadly tartan turn when a dinner party guest falls ill and claims she was poisoned. And then the group watches in horror as a mysterious tourist tumbles to his death from the famous Falkirk Wheel, high above the Forth & Clyde canal.
Vera and her friends deny knowing the dead man, but after observing their reactions to the fall, Hayley is not convinced. With one person dead, a second possibly poisoned, and the tension among Vera's friends as thick as farmhouse cheese, Hayley fears her long-awaited honeymoon might end with another murder.
Far away from home, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, eccentric characters, and a forbiddingly gorgeous setting, Hayley must call on all her savvy to keep a killer from striking again and then escaping Scot free.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 10, 2021
106 people are currently reading
586 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Burdette
24 books830 followersLucy Burdette is the author of the Key West food critic mysteries. Her first thriller, UNSAFE HAVEN, is out from Severn House this month. As Roberta Isleib, she has also written the golf lovers mystery series and the advice column mysteries. Her books and stories have been nominated for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She is the president of the Friends of the Key West Library.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
August 10, 2021
Hayley and Nathan are finally going on their honeymoon – if you can call the trip that. They are heading to Scotland so that Hayley can meet Nathan’s sister, Vera, and their neighbor, Miss Gloria, and Nathan’s mother are tagging along. When they arrive, they quickly discover that Vera is in the final stages of a book about Scotland, but the tension among Vera and her coauthors is strong. An attempted poisoning and a suspicious accident make Hayley think that something strange is going on. Can she figure it out?
As a fan of this series, I wondering how I would feel about a book away from Key West since the location is a strong character in the books. Fortunately, we get some scenes before and after on the island and the characters left behind get cameos. The book balances travelogue with mystery well, and anyone who has wanted to visit Scotland will only want to visit more about reading this book. I did feel that both the main plot and subplot’s climaxes were anti-climactic. They did answer all of our questions, but they were a bit abrupt. I did enjoy getting to meet the new characters, and anyone as hungry by the talk of food as I am will be pleased by the recipes at the end of the book. Fans of the series will be glad we got to crash Nathan and Hayley’s honeymoon.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
As a fan of this series, I wondering how I would feel about a book away from Key West since the location is a strong character in the books. Fortunately, we get some scenes before and after on the island and the characters left behind get cameos. The book balances travelogue with mystery well, and anyone who has wanted to visit Scotland will only want to visit more about reading this book. I did feel that both the main plot and subplot’s climaxes were anti-climactic. They did answer all of our questions, but they were a bit abrupt. I did enjoy getting to meet the new characters, and anyone as hungry by the talk of food as I am will be pleased by the recipes at the end of the book. Fans of the series will be glad we got to crash Nathan and Hayley’s honeymoon.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 8, 2021
A Scone of Contention felt like I was along with Hayley, A Key West food critic and Her husband, Nathan on their honeymoon in Scotland. This book would not have been complete without Ms. Gloria, Hayley's elderly friend. She brought her usual spunk to the book. Very descriptive with Scotland history and with the places they visited. But I enjoyed the mystery involving Nathan's sister and her friends more. A page-turner. Enjoyable and highly recommended.
Thank you Netgalley for this book. This is a honest review.
Thank you Netgalley for this book. This is a honest review.
June 26, 2025
I love this series. I love Scotland, but I prefer to see her in Key West.
July 6, 2021
"A Scone of Contention" is the 11th instalment in the "A Key West Food Critic" Mystery series by Lucy Burdette. This is becoming one of my favourite foodie cozy mystery series.
A murderer's out to spoil Hayley's honeymoon in national bestselling author Lucy Burdette's eleventh Key West Food Critic Mystery.
I really enjoyed this story which was set in St. Andrews, Scotland this time. Miss Gloria and Haley’s mother in law join her and Nathan on their honeymoon to Scotland! I must say I really love octogenarian Miss Gloria and can only hope to have as much spunk as her when I’m that old.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I liked trying to figure out what was behind her sister-in-law Vera’s jumpiness and what happened with her friends when they were at Uni. I found Nathan’s sister Vera to be interesting and I hope she appears again in the series. The descriptions of the Scottish food was mouth watering especially the scones!
I kept second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A murderer's out to spoil Hayley's honeymoon in national bestselling author Lucy Burdette's eleventh Key West Food Critic Mystery.
I really enjoyed this story which was set in St. Andrews, Scotland this time. Miss Gloria and Haley’s mother in law join her and Nathan on their honeymoon to Scotland! I must say I really love octogenarian Miss Gloria and can only hope to have as much spunk as her when I’m that old.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I liked trying to figure out what was behind her sister-in-law Vera’s jumpiness and what happened with her friends when they were at Uni. I found Nathan’s sister Vera to be interesting and I hope she appears again in the series. The descriptions of the Scottish food was mouth watering especially the scones!
I kept second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 21, 2021
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Police detective Nathan Bransford is taking his bride, food critic Hayley Snow to Scotland to meet his sister and for a much-awaited honeymoon. Unlike a normal honeymoon, they will be joined by their friend Miss Gloria and his mother. His sister has big plans for the ladies to check out some fantastic Scotland sights while her husband will be spending the days with Nathan on the golf course. Vera especially wants the show off some mystic places that will be featured in her upcoming book.
Sadly the honeymoon gets off to a horrible start when a guest at a dinner party gets ill and says she was poisoned. Then while visiting the famous Falkirk Wheel, high above the Forth & Clyde canal they witness a man fall to his death. A man Hayley thinks is connected to Vera and her friends although they deny it.
Hayley feels something is really off with Vera and her friends but she really doesn’t know the players in the mystery opening up before her. While she would just like to enjoy Scotland with her husband her sister-in-law and her inner amateur sleuth have other plans.
I am always a little leery when authors take their characters away from their usual locales but Lucy Burdette does a good job of it in A Scone for Contention. Scotland is a well-traveled place for cozy characters but she takes us to some unique places that Vera wants to include in her book. I would have liked a little more in-depth description of some of these places to visualize what Vera was trying to convey. Other times when we visited new towns and hotels, the story drifted into travelogue territory, but the author did her best to find a good balance of location and mystery.
We meet several new characters once we touch down in Scotland. A dinner party is a perfect venue for these introductions but Hayley’s seat is next to a man with a vested interest in the book Vera is writing with her college friends but he has a totally different vision for the book than Vera. Then his wife appears to be poisoned ending the evening in a bit of chaos. In addition to the college chums, we meet the chef who was responsible for the fateful meal.
There was some tension on this trip and surprisingly it was not because the octogenarian or Hayley’s mother-in-law came along on a honeymoon. No, Vera and her mother’s relationship is severely strained. The college friendships seem to be strained as well and an overbearing spouse of one of them really fans the flames.
Then you have two mysteries to solve and they have to be connected. Hayley does her best to work through the clues but her a-ha moment may be too late. I will say my heart rate picked up as the reveal played out. Ms. Burdette plotted everything out wonderfully and kept me drawn to a certain character. I just couldn’t figure out the motive until the very end.
I did appreciate that the story began and ended in Key West. It gave the book a firm foundation and allowed us to check in with some favorite characters that we would have missed if the book started right out in Scotland.
A Scone of Contention takes readers on a nice little vacay with some unique characters. I do hope Hayley and Nathan do get to take a trip all by themselves someday soon and have a real honeymoon.
Police detective Nathan Bransford is taking his bride, food critic Hayley Snow to Scotland to meet his sister and for a much-awaited honeymoon. Unlike a normal honeymoon, they will be joined by their friend Miss Gloria and his mother. His sister has big plans for the ladies to check out some fantastic Scotland sights while her husband will be spending the days with Nathan on the golf course. Vera especially wants the show off some mystic places that will be featured in her upcoming book.
Sadly the honeymoon gets off to a horrible start when a guest at a dinner party gets ill and says she was poisoned. Then while visiting the famous Falkirk Wheel, high above the Forth & Clyde canal they witness a man fall to his death. A man Hayley thinks is connected to Vera and her friends although they deny it.
Hayley feels something is really off with Vera and her friends but she really doesn’t know the players in the mystery opening up before her. While she would just like to enjoy Scotland with her husband her sister-in-law and her inner amateur sleuth have other plans.
I am always a little leery when authors take their characters away from their usual locales but Lucy Burdette does a good job of it in A Scone for Contention. Scotland is a well-traveled place for cozy characters but she takes us to some unique places that Vera wants to include in her book. I would have liked a little more in-depth description of some of these places to visualize what Vera was trying to convey. Other times when we visited new towns and hotels, the story drifted into travelogue territory, but the author did her best to find a good balance of location and mystery.
We meet several new characters once we touch down in Scotland. A dinner party is a perfect venue for these introductions but Hayley’s seat is next to a man with a vested interest in the book Vera is writing with her college friends but he has a totally different vision for the book than Vera. Then his wife appears to be poisoned ending the evening in a bit of chaos. In addition to the college chums, we meet the chef who was responsible for the fateful meal.
There was some tension on this trip and surprisingly it was not because the octogenarian or Hayley’s mother-in-law came along on a honeymoon. No, Vera and her mother’s relationship is severely strained. The college friendships seem to be strained as well and an overbearing spouse of one of them really fans the flames.
Then you have two mysteries to solve and they have to be connected. Hayley does her best to work through the clues but her a-ha moment may be too late. I will say my heart rate picked up as the reveal played out. Ms. Burdette plotted everything out wonderfully and kept me drawn to a certain character. I just couldn’t figure out the motive until the very end.
I did appreciate that the story began and ended in Key West. It gave the book a firm foundation and allowed us to check in with some favorite characters that we would have missed if the book started right out in Scotland.
A Scone of Contention takes readers on a nice little vacay with some unique characters. I do hope Hayley and Nathan do get to take a trip all by themselves someday soon and have a real honeymoon.
March 30, 2022
Haley and Nathan are finally going on their honeymoon along with 80 something Miss Gloria and Nathan's mother to Scotland to meet Nathan's sister, Vera. Before they go there is a shooting incident while Haley is on her way to visit her card reading friend and it involves her best friend's husband.
All she can think about on the trip in her friend so she phones her and her card reading friend frequently. She eats lots of different scones and Scottish foods as she promised to write a few articles for the Key West Zest Magazine while away. Not much of a vacation/honeymoon. Also Nathan gets talked into playing a 3 day golf tournament with his brother in law while Haley and Gloria go on a tour of haunted or light spots with his sister and others that are co-writing a book about these areas.
I just love this series and I won this book in a contest online. I've read them all and in order and each book leaves me anxious to read the next book.
All she can think about on the trip in her friend so she phones her and her card reading friend frequently. She eats lots of different scones and Scottish foods as she promised to write a few articles for the Key West Zest Magazine while away. Not much of a vacation/honeymoon. Also Nathan gets talked into playing a 3 day golf tournament with his brother in law while Haley and Gloria go on a tour of haunted or light spots with his sister and others that are co-writing a book about these areas.
I just love this series and I won this book in a contest online. I've read them all and in order and each book leaves me anxious to read the next book.
May 13, 2021
A SCONE OF CONTENTION is the eleventh book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series by Lucy Burdette. This newest installment finds newlywed Hayley Snow heading off to Scotland for her honeymoon. But instead of only her groom, Nathan, at her side, octogenarian Miss Gloria and Hayley’s new mother-in-law, also join them then they meet up with Nathan’s sister and husband. While it might not seem like much of a honeymoon, it does give the reader opportunity to get to know more about Nathan’s family since they’ve been absent from the pages up until the previous book. I also enjoyed that the setting is in Scotland and it was a treat to sit back and enjoy the various sites Hayley and crew visit. The author’s strong descriptive voice makes the reader feel like they’re experiencing the sights, sounds, and especially tastes that Hayley is experiencing on the page. At times it felt a bit like a travelogue and food book instead of a mystery. However, once the murder takes place, the pacing picks up.
Hayley is quick to forge into the thick of things to solve the crime, despite not being on her home turf. With her new husband conscripted into a golf tournament, she, along with Miss Gloria, are on their own in trying to find answers. Maybe because Hayley was out of her usual element, her investigation seemed a bit more forceful than usual and she lacked her usual finesse. The subplot of finding out what happened to Hayley’s new sister-in-law, Vera, years before, and the current maelstrom surrounding Vera’s Scotland book project, adds another layer of intrigue. The heart stopping reveal came as a surprise to me and in the end, the various subplots are wrapped up nicely. While it’s fun to travel, it’s always wonderful to return home and I look forward to visiting with Hayley and the gang back in Key West in the next book!
Hayley is determined to eat her way through Scotland and does an admirable job in consuming a variety of local dishes. Of course, scones are at the top of the list with several varieties offered. Ms. Burdette has included recipes at the back of the book to tempt the hungry reader.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Hayley is quick to forge into the thick of things to solve the crime, despite not being on her home turf. With her new husband conscripted into a golf tournament, she, along with Miss Gloria, are on their own in trying to find answers. Maybe because Hayley was out of her usual element, her investigation seemed a bit more forceful than usual and she lacked her usual finesse. The subplot of finding out what happened to Hayley’s new sister-in-law, Vera, years before, and the current maelstrom surrounding Vera’s Scotland book project, adds another layer of intrigue. The heart stopping reveal came as a surprise to me and in the end, the various subplots are wrapped up nicely. While it’s fun to travel, it’s always wonderful to return home and I look forward to visiting with Hayley and the gang back in Key West in the next book!
Hayley is determined to eat her way through Scotland and does an admirable job in consuming a variety of local dishes. Of course, scones are at the top of the list with several varieties offered. Ms. Burdette has included recipes at the back of the book to tempt the hungry reader.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 6, 2021
#11 in the Key West Food Critic Mystery Series
This is number 11 in the series and I have read them all.
Hayley has finally married Nathan and is more than ready for a honeymoon with her man. We have all been waiting for this wedding and honeymoon forever!
In a nutshell, they take their friend and elderly neighbor along to Scotland where they are supposed to be checking with Nathan’s sister about some problem she is having. It’s all hush-hush and they are all sketchy.
When her mother-in-law also shows up this becomes a vacation. And not a pleasant one. A man falls to his death and no one claims to know who he is. Everyone is acting odd so Miss Gloria, the mom-in-law, and Hayley set out to find a killer and solve a mystery. While her brother-in-law takes her brand new hubby off on another adventure.
This has been a favorite series of mine. This one was too much of a stretch. So much that it doesn’t seem as if Nathan and Hayley have much of a life unless they have a third wheel along. This was the worst honeymoon ever and I did not care for Hayley being so willing to let her husband trot off and leave her with his relatives in Scotland. What a bad hubby! And Hayley was pretty weak in this one.
Not what we were used to.
NetGalley/August 10th, 2021 by Crooked Lane Books
This is number 11 in the series and I have read them all.
Hayley has finally married Nathan and is more than ready for a honeymoon with her man. We have all been waiting for this wedding and honeymoon forever!
In a nutshell, they take their friend and elderly neighbor along to Scotland where they are supposed to be checking with Nathan’s sister about some problem she is having. It’s all hush-hush and they are all sketchy.
When her mother-in-law also shows up this becomes a vacation. And not a pleasant one. A man falls to his death and no one claims to know who he is. Everyone is acting odd so Miss Gloria, the mom-in-law, and Hayley set out to find a killer and solve a mystery. While her brother-in-law takes her brand new hubby off on another adventure.
This has been a favorite series of mine. This one was too much of a stretch. So much that it doesn’t seem as if Nathan and Hayley have much of a life unless they have a third wheel along. This was the worst honeymoon ever and I did not care for Hayley being so willing to let her husband trot off and leave her with his relatives in Scotland. What a bad hubby! And Hayley was pretty weak in this one.
Not what we were used to.
NetGalley/August 10th, 2021 by Crooked Lane Books
December 5, 2024
Hayley and Nathan decide to take a trip to Scotland with his mother and their wonderful neighbor Miss Gloria to visit his sister Vera. Crazily enough, this is also Hayley and Nathan's honeymoon. Of course things go haywire and the newlyweds spend most of the trip apart and Hayley gets involved in another murder mystery. I love this series, including the Key West setting, but it was enjoyable to travel to Scotland with them also. Of course Hayley solves the crime and Miss Gloria gets a little more than she bargains for. I hope Hayley and Nathan get a real honeymoon soon. This series is a lot of fun and there are always great recipes included.
August 1, 2023
I really liked this cozy mystery episode of the Key West Food Critic Mysteries. This time, we don't stay in Key West - we're off to Scotland. Hayley Stone, her husband Nathan, and her friend Ms. Gloria take off to visit Nathan's sister and her husband, and for a not so romantic second honeymoon. I loved the story-telling and the descriptions of the Scottish scenery was really interesting, and I loved the book quotes at the beginning of each chapter. The recipes at the end were awesome too - now I have scone recipes to give a try! I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.
March 27, 2021
When I first saw the title to this book I thought 'how cute!' and it's what made me want to read it. I love cozies. It's one of the things I read most of these days. This author and book series has been on my tbr list for quite awhile so when I saw it, I jumped at the opportunity. However, this book has proved to me that not everything is as it seems. The whole point of a cozy is that you have a mystery without all the gore and negativity. Well, there was no gore in this book but there was a ton of negativity.
Cozy, this book isn't. The first couple of pages start off about how dangerous and awful our world is. And several times throughout the book you have to read about how awful our country is. And then you have to wade through the anti gun jargon as well. Ugh, I am sick to death of authors shoving their thoughts and politics on their readers. I've got news for you: we don't care what you think about world topics. We simply want to be entertained and get out of our day to day lives for awhile. That is the whole point of reading. Not to have your ideals pushed on us.
Then I get to the whole crux of the story: no one is going to believe that you're going to take your honeymoon and bring someone along with you. Not to mention, that even if you did, for argument's sake, no one would put up with someone else taking over said honeymoon and making sure that you actually do not see your wife/husband for almost the entirety of the trip.
Then to have the author put the whole mess of the mystery in Scotland, well at first, I was intrigued. However, after reading about it, all it did was put me off. My relatives from Scotland came over to America before the Revolutionary War and I very much doubt that they would want anyone reliving all the bloody battles that had happened there. Them having to leave their native country was hard enough as it is. And all of this negative posing about how Scotland doesn't like tourists is just a bunch of nonsense. All countries rely on tourism for the sake of revenue just like we do.
The mystery was convoluted and sloppy. It was so jumbled that by the time the book I ended, I truly did not care who did what. The MC Haley was overly blunt with the questioning and truly came off as just a nosy intrusive person. Not overly bright. Not to mention that there was very little police interaction in the whole book. It was just a mess, period.
I started off not liking this book however I kept reading because sometimes with books by the end things have cleared up and the book ends up being great. This book, not so much. I couldn't wait for it to end.
The only thing good about this book was that it included animals and food. Otherwise, there is truly little to care about.
I recieved this ARC from NetGalley to read and review. My opinions are honest and my own.
Cozy, this book isn't. The first couple of pages start off about how dangerous and awful our world is. And several times throughout the book you have to read about how awful our country is. And then you have to wade through the anti gun jargon as well. Ugh, I am sick to death of authors shoving their thoughts and politics on their readers. I've got news for you: we don't care what you think about world topics. We simply want to be entertained and get out of our day to day lives for awhile. That is the whole point of reading. Not to have your ideals pushed on us.
Then I get to the whole crux of the story: no one is going to believe that you're going to take your honeymoon and bring someone along with you. Not to mention, that even if you did, for argument's sake, no one would put up with someone else taking over said honeymoon and making sure that you actually do not see your wife/husband for almost the entirety of the trip.
Then to have the author put the whole mess of the mystery in Scotland, well at first, I was intrigued. However, after reading about it, all it did was put me off. My relatives from Scotland came over to America before the Revolutionary War and I very much doubt that they would want anyone reliving all the bloody battles that had happened there. Them having to leave their native country was hard enough as it is. And all of this negative posing about how Scotland doesn't like tourists is just a bunch of nonsense. All countries rely on tourism for the sake of revenue just like we do.
The mystery was convoluted and sloppy. It was so jumbled that by the time the book I ended, I truly did not care who did what. The MC Haley was overly blunt with the questioning and truly came off as just a nosy intrusive person. Not overly bright. Not to mention that there was very little police interaction in the whole book. It was just a mess, period.
I started off not liking this book however I kept reading because sometimes with books by the end things have cleared up and the book ends up being great. This book, not so much. I couldn't wait for it to end.
The only thing good about this book was that it included animals and food. Otherwise, there is truly little to care about.
I recieved this ARC from NetGalley to read and review. My opinions are honest and my own.
July 19, 2021
I love this series and I was really excited to travel to Scotland for Hayley and Nathan’s honeymoon. I thought a little sightseeing, a murder of a fellow tourist, some time to get to know them more as a couple. But then Miss Gloria goes on their honeymoon, too. Weird but understandable. Then Nathan’s mom comes. And they’re spending all their time apart. None of it makes sense. . And if you're going to write about history, make sure you spell the names of the clans correctly. It's MacDonald, not McDonald. (I'm no expert in Scottish history but even I caught this.) This was not my favorite in the series. It could have been so good. I struggled to finish it. I’ll still read the series but I’m not reaching for it first.
#ASconeofContention #NetGalley
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#ASconeofContention #NetGalley
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2021
Every time I read the latest book in this series I question why I haven’t read the beginning of the series. Although this was not my favorite in the series it was still an enjoyable read. I am not a fan of Outlander (gasp!) so in turn books set in Scotland aren’t my most enjoyed reads.
My favorite aspect in this book is that Miss Gloria tagged along on the honeymoon and was a prime focused character. She is a hoot and if she ever dies in the series I will go into mourning.
I could have done without the small secondary mystery back in Key West. It didn’t add much to the story.
There are many yummy recipes at the end and I have plans of fixing several. I like the idea that the scones can be kept in the freezer and taken out as needed.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
My favorite aspect in this book is that Miss Gloria tagged along on the honeymoon and was a prime focused character. She is a hoot and if she ever dies in the series I will go into mourning.
I could have done without the small secondary mystery back in Key West. It didn’t add much to the story.
There are many yummy recipes at the end and I have plans of fixing several. I like the idea that the scones can be kept in the freezer and taken out as needed.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
April 12, 2021
Everyone wants to take an octogenarian and in-laws on their honeymoon with them right!?! Especially when you have not met your sister-in-law and barely know your mother-in-law. Hilarity, awkwardness and strange behaviors abound in this installment of the Key West Food Critic series. Great characters draw you in and a fun, intriguing plot keeps you entertained. I absolutely can't wait to see what happens next for these characters and I completely aspire to be half as spunky as Miss Gloria, the octogenarian neighbor!
September 2, 2021
Hailey and Nathan finally get to take their honeymoon.... although with Nathan's mom and Miss Gloria tagging along. Since they are staying at Nathan's sister's house, and her husband has a golf tournament he signed Nathan up for, it's not exactly a private trip. Then, at a dinner party, one of the guests is poisoned, and a tourist spot, a stranger falls to his death. Are these incidents related? Was the stranger known to the sister-in-law and her friends?
November 2, 2021
A Scone of Contention Earns 5/5 Cinnamon Scones…Entertaining Adventure!
Finally…let the honeymoon commence! Food critic Hayley Snow and Nathan Bransford are spending their long awaited honeymoon in the land of the kilt, Scotland, but interruptions are aplenty with food, family, and felonies! Lucy Burdette sends the Key West crew abroad in this eleventh book in her Key West Food Critic Mystery, and with humor, wit, a few perilous predicaments, and some tasty treats, readers, like me, had a marvelous cozy time. Hayley and Nathan are surprised to be joined by Nathan’s mother, her friend, his sister, and her husband who offer more than their share of problems, conflicts, and endearing moments, but it’s the man they witness falling off the Falkirk Wheel (fascinating structure) that puts the honeymoon on the back burner and a murder investigation up front and personal. Having honed, over several investigations, her suspicious nature and due to her interactions and relationship with her detective husband, Hayley can’t believe the idea of “accident.” She even finds it hard to ignore a possible suspect is her mother-in-law’s friend. But, will this be a bonding moment between her and her mother-in-law? Burdette’s writing style was again very entertaining with vivid descriptions of Scotland (bucket list worthy), well-plotted mystery with misdirection to challenge my inner detective (pleasantly surprised by the solution), characters (I hope to see them again) soliciting lots of emotions (admirable and frustrating), and some peril to add excitement. Outside the engaging murder, the sister-in-law’s story was intriguing, the family endearing by the end, and everything wrapped up well. Bonus! The recipes offer a nice variety to bring Scotland home: Susan Hamrick’s Cock-a-Leekie Soup, Shepherd’s Pie, Cheese Scones from Grace’s Kitchen, Sam’s Sort of Scottish Creamed Vegetable Soup, Cranachan, Banana Date Scones, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Coronation Chicken, Scottish Cheese Shortbread, and Cinnamon Scones from the Kitchen of Violet and Bettina Booth. Love it! Don’t Miss this cozy!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Crooked Lane thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
Finally…let the honeymoon commence! Food critic Hayley Snow and Nathan Bransford are spending their long awaited honeymoon in the land of the kilt, Scotland, but interruptions are aplenty with food, family, and felonies! Lucy Burdette sends the Key West crew abroad in this eleventh book in her Key West Food Critic Mystery, and with humor, wit, a few perilous predicaments, and some tasty treats, readers, like me, had a marvelous cozy time. Hayley and Nathan are surprised to be joined by Nathan’s mother, her friend, his sister, and her husband who offer more than their share of problems, conflicts, and endearing moments, but it’s the man they witness falling off the Falkirk Wheel (fascinating structure) that puts the honeymoon on the back burner and a murder investigation up front and personal. Having honed, over several investigations, her suspicious nature and due to her interactions and relationship with her detective husband, Hayley can’t believe the idea of “accident.” She even finds it hard to ignore a possible suspect is her mother-in-law’s friend. But, will this be a bonding moment between her and her mother-in-law? Burdette’s writing style was again very entertaining with vivid descriptions of Scotland (bucket list worthy), well-plotted mystery with misdirection to challenge my inner detective (pleasantly surprised by the solution), characters (I hope to see them again) soliciting lots of emotions (admirable and frustrating), and some peril to add excitement. Outside the engaging murder, the sister-in-law’s story was intriguing, the family endearing by the end, and everything wrapped up well. Bonus! The recipes offer a nice variety to bring Scotland home: Susan Hamrick’s Cock-a-Leekie Soup, Shepherd’s Pie, Cheese Scones from Grace’s Kitchen, Sam’s Sort of Scottish Creamed Vegetable Soup, Cranachan, Banana Date Scones, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Coronation Chicken, Scottish Cheese Shortbread, and Cinnamon Scones from the Kitchen of Violet and Bettina Booth. Love it! Don’t Miss this cozy!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Crooked Lane thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
January 26, 2021
I was so excited to spend time with some of my favorite friends in this fantastic book.
Hayley and her husband Nathan are heading to Scotland for their honeymoon, and joining them is her new mother in law, and their favorite person, Miss Gloria.
They Key West gang are going to be visiting with Nathan’s sister and husband, but the last any of them expect is to become involved in a murder investigation.
I really enjoyed A Scone of Contention, especially how Miss Gloria played a prominent role in the story.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.
#ASconeofContention #NetGalley
Hayley and her husband Nathan are heading to Scotland for their honeymoon, and joining them is her new mother in law, and their favorite person, Miss Gloria.
They Key West gang are going to be visiting with Nathan’s sister and husband, but the last any of them expect is to become involved in a murder investigation.
I really enjoyed A Scone of Contention, especially how Miss Gloria played a prominent role in the story.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.
#ASconeofContention #NetGalley
August 9, 2021
When one of my favorite mystery series takes place in one of my favorite places, it’s a vacation in my mind with each book. The Key West Food Critic series featuring the entertaining food critic Hayley Snow and a loveable supporting cast of her family and friends take me back to the quirkiness of Key West time that I have reveled in personally. There’s always a great mystery to go with the familiar streets and restaurants and landmarks Hayley zips around to on her scooter, often with her octogenarian friend Miss Gloria on the back. However, in this book, A Scone of Contention, author Lucy Burdette moves the setting to Scotland, a honeymoon for Hayley Snow and her newly wedded husband Nathan Brandsford. Scotland happens to be one of the places I most want to visit. This series just keeps on hitting all the right notes with me.
Hayley and Nathan have decided to take a honeymoon to Scotland, staying with his sister Vera, who lives there. But, it won’t be a traditional honeymoon. They’ve invited Miss Gloria, Hayley’s former roommate and now neighbor on houseboat row to go with them, and Nathan’s not-so-warm mother, Helen, has invited herself to also go, using the opportunity to see her daughter whom she hasn’t seen in quite a while. With Hayley’s friend Connie and her husband Ray just down the line on houseboat row and Hayley’s mother and stepfather living in Key West, Hayley and Miss Gloria aren’t worried about their treasured cats and Nathan’s dog being well cared for. Although, before they leave, Ray is involved in an incident at the art gallery where he exhibits, and Hayley hates leaving Connie alone with that worry. But, Scotland awaits, so the foursome takes off for a honeymoon trip.
Hayley and Nathan are already anticipating some tension between Helen and Vera. Theirs is a complicated, uneasy relationship that stems from Vera being abducted as a teenager. But the newlyweds encounter even more awkward tension among Vera and her friends who are working on a book about Scotland together. The very first night of their visit there’s a dinner part at Ainsley’s, one of Vera’s closest friends and manager of the book project. Ainsley’s chef has prepared an enormous amount of food with which Hayley can start her article about Scottish food for the Key Zest ezine, her place of employment. The next to last dish is a light salad, what is purposed as a palate cleanser before dessert, but before dessert is over, Glenda, the wife of the book project’s photographer, Gavin, becomes ill. It’s eventually traced to the salad, with only her salad containing foxglove, a plant grown in Ainsley’s yard. Glenda accuses the chef of trying to kill her, but an ongoing investigation into it proves inconclusive.
The salad incident doesn’t keep Vera, Ainsley, Glenda, and Gavin from visiting sites for the completion of their book. Accompanying them are Hayley, Miss Gloria, and Helen. William, Vera’s husband, has commandeered Nathan to play in a golf tournament at the local and famous St. Andrews course for several days, after which they will join the group. The first trip out, a day trip, to the Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boat lift in central Scotland that connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal, proves to be quite a shocking event. A man falls overboard and dies, and the authorities don’t know if it’s an accident or if the man was pushed. Vera and her book crew deny knowing who the man is when shown a picture of the deceased by the police. Hayley begins to suspect some deviation from the truth, and when that happens, readers know she and her own collaborators of Miss Gloria and Helen will do some digging.
With the deadline for Vera’s book looming, they continue with their visits to the “thin places,” those in which the current world seems to be closest to the past world. It is these places that are the focus of the book and which Vera, who is the writer for the book, captures so beautifully with her words. Miss Gloria is especially interested because her ancestors were a part of the McDonald and Campbell clan history. The rest of the trip involves overnight stays in the places they explore, and the action heats up considerably, as does the tension among the book project team. Hayley is doing behind the scenes investigating, and one of her group is moving closer and closer to a untimely end. With lots to tie up in Scotland, readers still get to see the Key West crew return to their beloved island and Hayley clear up one more mystery.
Lucy Burdette is so adept at bringing a setting to the reader, helping the reader to see and feel the place, that I knew I would enjoy this trip to Scotland in the series. That she includes historical links to the places are a favorite feature for me. A Scone of Contention is the 11th entry into the Key West Food Critic mysteries, and by now the regular cast of characters feel like friends. They have been deftly developed by Burdette, and fans of the series look forward to finding out what is happening in their lives. Of course, the new characters that appear in each book are brilliant, too. I did miss Hayley cooking a bit in this latest book but reading about the Scottish food, especially the scones, helped scratch that itch. And even though Hayley and Nathan were apart on much of this honeymoon trip, I did enjoy the obvious love for one another interwoven into their interactions. So, until I can once more delight in a book in this series, I will just have to imagine my Key West friends living a full life in the sunshine of paradise.
And, as usual, there are mouth watering recipes from the story gathered at the end of the book. The cheeses scones and cinnamon scones are on my list to try.
I was fortunate to be granted an advanced copy from the author and publisher and from NetGalley. My honest review is here with thanks.
Hayley and Nathan have decided to take a honeymoon to Scotland, staying with his sister Vera, who lives there. But, it won’t be a traditional honeymoon. They’ve invited Miss Gloria, Hayley’s former roommate and now neighbor on houseboat row to go with them, and Nathan’s not-so-warm mother, Helen, has invited herself to also go, using the opportunity to see her daughter whom she hasn’t seen in quite a while. With Hayley’s friend Connie and her husband Ray just down the line on houseboat row and Hayley’s mother and stepfather living in Key West, Hayley and Miss Gloria aren’t worried about their treasured cats and Nathan’s dog being well cared for. Although, before they leave, Ray is involved in an incident at the art gallery where he exhibits, and Hayley hates leaving Connie alone with that worry. But, Scotland awaits, so the foursome takes off for a honeymoon trip.
Hayley and Nathan are already anticipating some tension between Helen and Vera. Theirs is a complicated, uneasy relationship that stems from Vera being abducted as a teenager. But the newlyweds encounter even more awkward tension among Vera and her friends who are working on a book about Scotland together. The very first night of their visit there’s a dinner part at Ainsley’s, one of Vera’s closest friends and manager of the book project. Ainsley’s chef has prepared an enormous amount of food with which Hayley can start her article about Scottish food for the Key Zest ezine, her place of employment. The next to last dish is a light salad, what is purposed as a palate cleanser before dessert, but before dessert is over, Glenda, the wife of the book project’s photographer, Gavin, becomes ill. It’s eventually traced to the salad, with only her salad containing foxglove, a plant grown in Ainsley’s yard. Glenda accuses the chef of trying to kill her, but an ongoing investigation into it proves inconclusive.
The salad incident doesn’t keep Vera, Ainsley, Glenda, and Gavin from visiting sites for the completion of their book. Accompanying them are Hayley, Miss Gloria, and Helen. William, Vera’s husband, has commandeered Nathan to play in a golf tournament at the local and famous St. Andrews course for several days, after which they will join the group. The first trip out, a day trip, to the Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boat lift in central Scotland that connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal, proves to be quite a shocking event. A man falls overboard and dies, and the authorities don’t know if it’s an accident or if the man was pushed. Vera and her book crew deny knowing who the man is when shown a picture of the deceased by the police. Hayley begins to suspect some deviation from the truth, and when that happens, readers know she and her own collaborators of Miss Gloria and Helen will do some digging.
With the deadline for Vera’s book looming, they continue with their visits to the “thin places,” those in which the current world seems to be closest to the past world. It is these places that are the focus of the book and which Vera, who is the writer for the book, captures so beautifully with her words. Miss Gloria is especially interested because her ancestors were a part of the McDonald and Campbell clan history. The rest of the trip involves overnight stays in the places they explore, and the action heats up considerably, as does the tension among the book project team. Hayley is doing behind the scenes investigating, and one of her group is moving closer and closer to a untimely end. With lots to tie up in Scotland, readers still get to see the Key West crew return to their beloved island and Hayley clear up one more mystery.
Lucy Burdette is so adept at bringing a setting to the reader, helping the reader to see and feel the place, that I knew I would enjoy this trip to Scotland in the series. That she includes historical links to the places are a favorite feature for me. A Scone of Contention is the 11th entry into the Key West Food Critic mysteries, and by now the regular cast of characters feel like friends. They have been deftly developed by Burdette, and fans of the series look forward to finding out what is happening in their lives. Of course, the new characters that appear in each book are brilliant, too. I did miss Hayley cooking a bit in this latest book but reading about the Scottish food, especially the scones, helped scratch that itch. And even though Hayley and Nathan were apart on much of this honeymoon trip, I did enjoy the obvious love for one another interwoven into their interactions. So, until I can once more delight in a book in this series, I will just have to imagine my Key West friends living a full life in the sunshine of paradise.
And, as usual, there are mouth watering recipes from the story gathered at the end of the book. The cheeses scones and cinnamon scones are on my list to try.
I was fortunate to be granted an advanced copy from the author and publisher and from NetGalley. My honest review is here with thanks.
August 11, 2021
Even though this is book 11 in the 'Key West Food Critic Mystery' series, and I have only read two other instalments I still jumped at the chance to read A Scone of Contention, finding it a fun, delightful and amusing cozy.
Hayley and police detective Nathan Bransford are enjoying their life together as a married couple, and are going on their honeymoon. They are staying in Scotland so that Hayley can meet Nathan's sister, Vera, and Nathan's mum and a neighbour are going along also. Vera is writing a book about Scotland and they visit some places of interest as part of some project work. When someone is poisoned and then there is a death, Hayley becomes suspicious as to what may be going on.
Lucy Burdette has created such wonderful characters for this series and this story, and Helen Bransford, Nathan’s mother, is certainly a force to be reckoned with! Miss Gloria, Hayley's octogenarian friend and neighbour provided many comedic moments, and I adore her great relationship with Hayley. All of the characters have excellent parts to play and the dialogue is sharp and punchy. The mystery itself was well-plotted, with the subplot surrounding Vera adding further intrigue. The author did a sterling job of describing the Scottish setting and the local foodie delights. This delightfully entertaining story has given me the inspiration to read more in the series, especially the first book, An Appetite for Murder. Very highly recommended.
Disclosure: Thank you to Crooked Lane for providing a digital ARC of A Scone of Contention by Lucy Burdette, via Netgalley for review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Hayley and police detective Nathan Bransford are enjoying their life together as a married couple, and are going on their honeymoon. They are staying in Scotland so that Hayley can meet Nathan's sister, Vera, and Nathan's mum and a neighbour are going along also. Vera is writing a book about Scotland and they visit some places of interest as part of some project work. When someone is poisoned and then there is a death, Hayley becomes suspicious as to what may be going on.
Lucy Burdette has created such wonderful characters for this series and this story, and Helen Bransford, Nathan’s mother, is certainly a force to be reckoned with! Miss Gloria, Hayley's octogenarian friend and neighbour provided many comedic moments, and I adore her great relationship with Hayley. All of the characters have excellent parts to play and the dialogue is sharp and punchy. The mystery itself was well-plotted, with the subplot surrounding Vera adding further intrigue. The author did a sterling job of describing the Scottish setting and the local foodie delights. This delightfully entertaining story has given me the inspiration to read more in the series, especially the first book, An Appetite for Murder. Very highly recommended.
Disclosure: Thank you to Crooked Lane for providing a digital ARC of A Scone of Contention by Lucy Burdette, via Netgalley for review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
July 5, 2024
Why, oh whyyyyy, is sweet little old Gloria always in harms way?!? Make it stop! 😩
I had some guesses about this story line prior to reading, all along the lines of thinking this one would be particularly funny. I mean, a couple goes on their honeymoon and bring along their geriatric roommate, mother in law, and are staying at their sister in laws house…right? Not so much. This was one of the more serious cozies in this series, which is fine, but it missed the mark for me. The amount of new characters was so hard to keep up with!!! I had to keep re-reading parts often just to make sure I knew who went with who. 😅
I liked the concept of a mystery at the beginning with someone close to the MC -hoping that gets flushed out more in the next book but we will see!
I had some guesses about this story line prior to reading, all along the lines of thinking this one would be particularly funny. I mean, a couple goes on their honeymoon and bring along their geriatric roommate, mother in law, and are staying at their sister in laws house…right? Not so much. This was one of the more serious cozies in this series, which is fine, but it missed the mark for me. The amount of new characters was so hard to keep up with!!! I had to keep re-reading parts often just to make sure I knew who went with who. 😅
I liked the concept of a mystery at the beginning with someone close to the MC -hoping that gets flushed out more in the next book but we will see!
June 26, 2025
Lucy Burdette's A Scone of Contention is part of a series that usually takes readers to Key West. This time Hayley is on her honeymoon in Scotland. This turns out to be more of separate adventures for the newlyweds. He golfs and she solves a crime with her former senior citizen roommate. It's still a family affair- her sister-in-law and mother-in-law are writing a mystery with friends and have possibly been involved in an attempted murder and a suspicious death. Sounds like a lot is happening, but the pacing is off. Hayley is more fun when she is in Key West. Read it to complete this addictive series, but it is not one of the best. Recipes included. (This is transcribed from my book journal- My Good Reads review has vanished.)
August 1, 2021
This trip to Scotland was not the usual honeymoon. First, Nathan and Hayley take along Haley's eightyish friend and then they are staying with Nathan's sister, Vera, and brother-in- law, William. Now throw in the fact that William has scheduled the men in a golf tournament while the women travel with Vera who needs to work on her new book. Plus, Nathan's mother has also joined the group. Throw in a poisoning and possible murder and that is Hayley and Nathan's belated honeymoon.
The author did a great job of painting the beautiful Scottish setting and describing the local food. I also found the subject of Thin Places intriguing. Thanks to Crooked Lane books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
The author did a great job of painting the beautiful Scottish setting and describing the local food. I also found the subject of Thin Places intriguing. Thanks to Crooked Lane books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
July 29, 2021
Another awesome book, but I kind of missed the Key West setting. It was a nice change of pace to be in Scotland and the scenery sounded amazing, but there is something awesome about being in Key West. Fun book regardless of the setting. Looking forward to the next book to see what Hayley and the gang get up to next time!
March 15, 2021
When I started this book yesterday, I was looking for the usual light, fun read. I was also very happy to go on a trip to Scotland with Hayley and some of her crew. I enjoy the stories set in Key West, but a change of venue could add a bit of spice.
Ultimately, I was disappointed with the slow pace. At one point I was shocked to see I was at 34%, it seemed like the book had been going on forever. Understandably, there were a lot of new characters introduced and a lot of time sent on the setting and the Bransford family's personal issues which detracted from the mystery. Despite all the famous Scottish sites mentioned, the book didn't transport me to the location like the books set in Key West do.
The book has a lot of minor, non-lethal mysteries for Hayley to try and figure out, as well as the lethal mystery. I thought the lethal one was fairly easy to figure out though. Nathan and Ms. Gloria provide additional mysteries of their own. Nathan might as well have not come on his honeymoon and I don't want to give spoilers about Ms. Gloria.
I was able to finish the book, but even as a long time reader of the series, I can't really even give this an OK rating. Even if this is to serve as a possible transition book (Hayley going in a new direction as a married woman and/or Nathan's family playing a bigger role in future books), it just left me unsatisfied in most areas.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Ultimately, I was disappointed with the slow pace. At one point I was shocked to see I was at 34%, it seemed like the book had been going on forever. Understandably, there were a lot of new characters introduced and a lot of time sent on the setting and the Bransford family's personal issues which detracted from the mystery. Despite all the famous Scottish sites mentioned, the book didn't transport me to the location like the books set in Key West do.
The book has a lot of minor, non-lethal mysteries for Hayley to try and figure out, as well as the lethal mystery. I thought the lethal one was fairly easy to figure out though. Nathan and Ms. Gloria provide additional mysteries of their own. Nathan might as well have not come on his honeymoon and I don't want to give spoilers about Ms. Gloria.
I was able to finish the book, but even as a long time reader of the series, I can't really even give this an OK rating. Even if this is to serve as a possible transition book (Hayley going in a new direction as a married woman and/or Nathan's family playing a bigger role in future books), it just left me unsatisfied in most areas.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 12, 2021
Lucy Burdette’s A Scone of Contention is a lacklustre cosy with a boring and forgettable mystery, odd situations, and too many uninteresting characters. I used to love this series but I absolutely struggled with this book. I think I’ll give the next entries a miss. This is the eleventh book in the series but it can be read as a standalone.
Food critic Hayley is off on her Scottish honeymoon with her husband Key West detective Nathan. However, her trip becomes quite crowded with the addition of fun octogenarian friend Miss Gloria and Nathan’s stoic mother Helen. The honeymoon becomes even more of a family affair as the group is staying with Nathan’s mysterious sister Vera. While Nathan is whisked off to play golf with his brother-in-law, the women spend their time touring Scotland’s popular mystic places with Vera as she struggles to meet the looming deadline for contentious group book project with her friends. However, things soon take a deadly twist: a dinner guest is poisoned and later, a man falls to his death from the Falkirk Wheel. Although Vera and her friends claim not to know the dead man, Hayley has her doubts. She is also suspicious of the roiling tension and history among them. Hayley must navigate this new place and solve the mysteries before the killer strikes again!
The entire premise of this book is so odd! I couldn’t buy the idea of Hayley and Nathan’s honeymoon with so many random family members tagging along. And, in an even stranger twist of events, Hayley and Miss Gloria just happily tag along through Scotland while Vera and her friends clash over their odd group book project. Although I really dislike condescending and stuffy Nathan (he’s actually not bad in this book!), a honeymoon without a husband makes zero sense!
The weak mystery plot absolutely drags! It is boring, disjointed, and lacked suspense. There were so many missed opportunities for a good plot twist but there wasn’t a single one! The book just plods along from one event to the next. I figured out the murderer and their intentions very early on because it’s glaringly obvious. I never believed that anyone was in danger. I wasn’t invested in the murder victim nor the suspects. There was the opportunity to have a really great cast of viable suspicious suspects but the characters are woefully underdeveloped. Furthermore, there is a minor mystery occurring in Key West with Hayley’s friends and it was such a pointless addition that it could have been cut in favour of developing the main mystery.
Hayley is a kind and relatable protagonist. She’s usually very interesting but she is very weak in this book. Spunky Miss Gloria and Hayley’s reticent mother-in-law Helen are both good additions. However, the storyline with Miss Gloria’s spiritual connection to Scotland’s bloody past is ridiculous, way too drawn out, and could have been toned down. There was also a missed opportunity to have Miss Gloria and Helen help more meaningfully in solving the case. Hayley’s sleuthing attempts took truly unbelievable turns and I hated her bumbling and blunt interactions with suspects and witnesses.
There are also way too many characters who are little more than flat cardboard cut-outs. The relationship between Vera and her mysterious Scottish friends is so uninteresting. Although we are supposed to feel emotionally connected with Vera because of her painful past, she is utterly distant and chilly. The book’s dialogue is unnatural, stilted, and filled with info dumping and conversations which go nowhere.
I appreciated the change of scenery. I liked reading about Scotland and all the delicious food but the writing felt like a tour brochure with very little emotion. However, I really enjoyed the vibrant and lovingly written Key West scenes.
A Scone of Contention is a dull and dragging cosy with so much missed potential. The only things I liked about this book are the location, the food, the adorable animals, and the added recipes. I am so disappointed because I love Hayley and her adventures but I really cannot see myself continuing with these books. I would only recommend this if you’re an absolutely devoted fan of the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for this book in exchange for an honest review.
🧀 cheese out of 5!
Food critic Hayley is off on her Scottish honeymoon with her husband Key West detective Nathan. However, her trip becomes quite crowded with the addition of fun octogenarian friend Miss Gloria and Nathan’s stoic mother Helen. The honeymoon becomes even more of a family affair as the group is staying with Nathan’s mysterious sister Vera. While Nathan is whisked off to play golf with his brother-in-law, the women spend their time touring Scotland’s popular mystic places with Vera as she struggles to meet the looming deadline for contentious group book project with her friends. However, things soon take a deadly twist: a dinner guest is poisoned and later, a man falls to his death from the Falkirk Wheel. Although Vera and her friends claim not to know the dead man, Hayley has her doubts. She is also suspicious of the roiling tension and history among them. Hayley must navigate this new place and solve the mysteries before the killer strikes again!
The entire premise of this book is so odd! I couldn’t buy the idea of Hayley and Nathan’s honeymoon with so many random family members tagging along. And, in an even stranger twist of events, Hayley and Miss Gloria just happily tag along through Scotland while Vera and her friends clash over their odd group book project. Although I really dislike condescending and stuffy Nathan (he’s actually not bad in this book!), a honeymoon without a husband makes zero sense!
The weak mystery plot absolutely drags! It is boring, disjointed, and lacked suspense. There were so many missed opportunities for a good plot twist but there wasn’t a single one! The book just plods along from one event to the next. I figured out the murderer and their intentions very early on because it’s glaringly obvious. I never believed that anyone was in danger. I wasn’t invested in the murder victim nor the suspects. There was the opportunity to have a really great cast of viable suspicious suspects but the characters are woefully underdeveloped. Furthermore, there is a minor mystery occurring in Key West with Hayley’s friends and it was such a pointless addition that it could have been cut in favour of developing the main mystery.
Hayley is a kind and relatable protagonist. She’s usually very interesting but she is very weak in this book. Spunky Miss Gloria and Hayley’s reticent mother-in-law Helen are both good additions. However, the storyline with Miss Gloria’s spiritual connection to Scotland’s bloody past is ridiculous, way too drawn out, and could have been toned down. There was also a missed opportunity to have Miss Gloria and Helen help more meaningfully in solving the case. Hayley’s sleuthing attempts took truly unbelievable turns and I hated her bumbling and blunt interactions with suspects and witnesses.
There are also way too many characters who are little more than flat cardboard cut-outs. The relationship between Vera and her mysterious Scottish friends is so uninteresting. Although we are supposed to feel emotionally connected with Vera because of her painful past, she is utterly distant and chilly. The book’s dialogue is unnatural, stilted, and filled with info dumping and conversations which go nowhere.
I appreciated the change of scenery. I liked reading about Scotland and all the delicious food but the writing felt like a tour brochure with very little emotion. However, I really enjoyed the vibrant and lovingly written Key West scenes.
A Scone of Contention is a dull and dragging cosy with so much missed potential. The only things I liked about this book are the location, the food, the adorable animals, and the added recipes. I am so disappointed because I love Hayley and her adventures but I really cannot see myself continuing with these books. I would only recommend this if you’re an absolutely devoted fan of the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for this book in exchange for an honest review.
🧀 cheese out of 5!
July 11, 2021
3.5 stars, actually.
Newly married to Nathan Bransford, a detective with the Key West, Florida, Police Department, Hayley Snow writes food-related articles for the island's Key Zest publication. When the couple gets a chance for a real honeymoon in Scotland to visit Nathan's sister Vera and her husband, William, she sees an opportunity to bring stories of Scottish fare back to tempt Key Westians. Then, because of their elderly but spunky houseboat neighbor Miss Gloria's family ties to the country - and that it might be her only chance to see it - they offer to take her along. Just before they leave, one of their local friends ends up in hot water with the police, making Hayley a little reluctant to leave.
Although Scotland is welcoming, Nathan's sister is far less so; to make matters worse, Hayley's brother-in-law insists on entering a golf tournament with Nathan as his partner - taking him away from her most of the days of their visit, sadly for her (and for readers, who see way too little of him as well). Vera, who's immersed in pulling together a soon-to-be-published book about the "thin places" of Scotland ("where the veil between heaven and earth is lifted"), spends a good bit of her time disagreeing with the production team about the direction the book is taking - a turn for the worse, in her opinion. When Nathan's rather standoffish mother, who has gained tentative acceptance by Hayley but isn't on the best of terms with Vera, shows up as well, she brings the potential for uncomfortable encounters. If I'm honest, I'll say that potential quickly turned into an unpleasant reality; the disagreements and sniping at each other - especially among the book production team - started to get annoying fairly early on.
At an early-on dinner party for all of the above, one of the guests experiences severe stomach distress - a suspected poisoning. Later, as the group hops on the Falkirk Wheel on their way to their destination of the day, tragedy strikes: A man falls overboard and is killed. When he's identified by police, no one in Hayley's group acknowledges knowing him, but their furtive denials make her think there's more to that story - and the possibility that it was no accident rears its ugly head. Much of the book from this point on centers on descriptions of the group's destinations, detailed bickering among group members and, more pleasantly, Hayley's encounters with the traditional foods of Scotland (recipes for such treats as Shepherd's Pie and several varieties of scones are included at the end of the book).
The only near-edge-of-seat drama happens near the end, when one of member of the group faces a life-threatening situation; that's followed by the tying up of loose ends surrounding the death at Falkirk and publication of the book. Once Hayley and Nathan are back home, her friend's pre-trip tussle with police is sorted as well - but that situation had so little relevance to the rest of the plot that I had to wonder why it was included at all. Oh wait: Maybe it will be fodder for the next book in the series (for the record, this is the eleventh). While I wait for that one, I'll thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.
Newly married to Nathan Bransford, a detective with the Key West, Florida, Police Department, Hayley Snow writes food-related articles for the island's Key Zest publication. When the couple gets a chance for a real honeymoon in Scotland to visit Nathan's sister Vera and her husband, William, she sees an opportunity to bring stories of Scottish fare back to tempt Key Westians. Then, because of their elderly but spunky houseboat neighbor Miss Gloria's family ties to the country - and that it might be her only chance to see it - they offer to take her along. Just before they leave, one of their local friends ends up in hot water with the police, making Hayley a little reluctant to leave.
Although Scotland is welcoming, Nathan's sister is far less so; to make matters worse, Hayley's brother-in-law insists on entering a golf tournament with Nathan as his partner - taking him away from her most of the days of their visit, sadly for her (and for readers, who see way too little of him as well). Vera, who's immersed in pulling together a soon-to-be-published book about the "thin places" of Scotland ("where the veil between heaven and earth is lifted"), spends a good bit of her time disagreeing with the production team about the direction the book is taking - a turn for the worse, in her opinion. When Nathan's rather standoffish mother, who has gained tentative acceptance by Hayley but isn't on the best of terms with Vera, shows up as well, she brings the potential for uncomfortable encounters. If I'm honest, I'll say that potential quickly turned into an unpleasant reality; the disagreements and sniping at each other - especially among the book production team - started to get annoying fairly early on.
At an early-on dinner party for all of the above, one of the guests experiences severe stomach distress - a suspected poisoning. Later, as the group hops on the Falkirk Wheel on their way to their destination of the day, tragedy strikes: A man falls overboard and is killed. When he's identified by police, no one in Hayley's group acknowledges knowing him, but their furtive denials make her think there's more to that story - and the possibility that it was no accident rears its ugly head. Much of the book from this point on centers on descriptions of the group's destinations, detailed bickering among group members and, more pleasantly, Hayley's encounters with the traditional foods of Scotland (recipes for such treats as Shepherd's Pie and several varieties of scones are included at the end of the book).
The only near-edge-of-seat drama happens near the end, when one of member of the group faces a life-threatening situation; that's followed by the tying up of loose ends surrounding the death at Falkirk and publication of the book. Once Hayley and Nathan are back home, her friend's pre-trip tussle with police is sorted as well - but that situation had so little relevance to the rest of the plot that I had to wonder why it was included at all. Oh wait: Maybe it will be fodder for the next book in the series (for the record, this is the eleventh). While I wait for that one, I'll thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.
January 29, 2021
Review of eBook
Newlyweds Hayley Snow and Nathan Bransford are off to Scotland for their long-delayed honeymoon . . . with Nathan’s mother Helen, his sister, Vera, and his brother-in-law William. And accompanied by their octogenarian neighbor, the venerable Miss Gloria.
Vera’s welcoming dinner party includes her friends-since-college, Ainsley, her husband, Dougal, and Glenda, with her husband, Gavin. All are involved in Vera’s book project, a situation that has created some tension and discomfort for them. A claim of poisoning at the dinner party causes some anxious moments, but with the guest’s recovery, the group of friends continues with their plans. Nathan and William are off to play in a multi-day golf tournament; the rest of the group takes a whirlwind tour of some of Scotland’s emblematic “thin” places, research for the forthcoming book.
A tourist’s tragic fall from the Falkirk Wheel leaves everyone shaken; although Vera, Glenda, and Ainsley claim not to know the victim, Hayley believes their reactions say otherwise. What secrets are they keeping?
Faced with a possible poisoning and a suspicious death, Hayley can’t help but wonder if there will be another murder. Will she find the answers or will tragedy forever mar the memories of her Scottish honeymoon?
Eleventh in the Key West food critic mystery series, “A Scone of Contention” finds Hayley Snow caught up in mysteries at home and in Scotland. There’s enough backstory here for readers new to the series; taking the story [for the most part] out of Key West gives readers an opportunity to see Hayley in a different setting. Despite the change of scene, the story retains its ineffable charm.
Well-drawn, believable characters populate the narrative; many are like old friends and all of the expected characters in the series are in place. The characters are realistic, the mystery is compelling; readers will find themselves pulled into the telling of the tale from the first page.
Scotland comes to life with the unfolding of this captivating story; a strong sense of place anchors the intriguing mystery. Unexpected events keep the suspense building and readers will find it difficult to set this book aside before turning the final page. Don’t miss this scrumptious story.
Several recipes for dishes mentioned in the story are included in the book. [The scones are delicious!]
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley
#ASconeofContention #NetGalley
Newlyweds Hayley Snow and Nathan Bransford are off to Scotland for their long-delayed honeymoon . . . with Nathan’s mother Helen, his sister, Vera, and his brother-in-law William. And accompanied by their octogenarian neighbor, the venerable Miss Gloria.
Vera’s welcoming dinner party includes her friends-since-college, Ainsley, her husband, Dougal, and Glenda, with her husband, Gavin. All are involved in Vera’s book project, a situation that has created some tension and discomfort for them. A claim of poisoning at the dinner party causes some anxious moments, but with the guest’s recovery, the group of friends continues with their plans. Nathan and William are off to play in a multi-day golf tournament; the rest of the group takes a whirlwind tour of some of Scotland’s emblematic “thin” places, research for the forthcoming book.
A tourist’s tragic fall from the Falkirk Wheel leaves everyone shaken; although Vera, Glenda, and Ainsley claim not to know the victim, Hayley believes their reactions say otherwise. What secrets are they keeping?
Faced with a possible poisoning and a suspicious death, Hayley can’t help but wonder if there will be another murder. Will she find the answers or will tragedy forever mar the memories of her Scottish honeymoon?
Eleventh in the Key West food critic mystery series, “A Scone of Contention” finds Hayley Snow caught up in mysteries at home and in Scotland. There’s enough backstory here for readers new to the series; taking the story [for the most part] out of Key West gives readers an opportunity to see Hayley in a different setting. Despite the change of scene, the story retains its ineffable charm.
Well-drawn, believable characters populate the narrative; many are like old friends and all of the expected characters in the series are in place. The characters are realistic, the mystery is compelling; readers will find themselves pulled into the telling of the tale from the first page.
Scotland comes to life with the unfolding of this captivating story; a strong sense of place anchors the intriguing mystery. Unexpected events keep the suspense building and readers will find it difficult to set this book aside before turning the final page. Don’t miss this scrumptious story.
Several recipes for dishes mentioned in the story are included in the book. [The scones are delicious!]
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley
#ASconeofContention #NetGalley
August 15, 2021
A SCONE OF CONTENTION by Lucy Burdette
The Eleventh Key West Food Critic Mystery
Hayley and Nathan's honeymoon is not quite the intimate getaway they planned. Staying with Nathan's sister, Vera, and brother in law is only part of it. Not only is Miss Gloria accompanying them, but Nathan's mother has decided to join their visit to Scotland as well. While William has commandeered Nathan into a golfing tournament, Hayley and Miss Gloria are accompanying Vera to some of the more haunting places of Scotland as Vera attempts to finish the book she and her partners are writing. But something's rotten in the state of Scotland. First, one of the partners gets ill during a dinner party, with her spouse yelling "poison!", then the group witness a man fall to his death. It soon becomes obvious something more than artistic differences is driving these people apart. Will Hayley be able to sort out the truth? Will Hayley and Nathan have any romantic time together on their honeymoon? Or will a killer ruin it all?
A SCONE OF CONTENTION had me hankering for a scone from page one. And I still want one. A cinnamon scone or just a simple cheese scone, for which the author does provide a recipe, although I'd prefer a real one, warm from the oven and handed to me. While food definitely plays a part I was also intrigued by the thin places, where the veil between heaven and earth have lifted. I loved learning about them and would like to learn more.
While I wouldn't count SCONE OF CONTENTION as a great honeymoon, I certainly would rate it as a great mystery! A literary versus media conflict, most of the characters hiding things, and a determination to bring the truth out make this eleventh Key West Mystery a knock out. A feisty Miss Gloria who becomes vulnerable pulls at the heart strings and an ongoing mystery back home kept me engrossed.
Although the majority of the novel takes place in Scotland and not Key West, we still get to enjoy plenty of good food and the antics of the feisty Miss Gloria, and while we may not have the Key West pets, we do get the company of a few Scottish felines. We also get to visit some of the highlights of Scotland vicariously.
SCONE OF CONTENTION is a delightful mystery that shows how conflicts of the past can impact the present. I enjoyed this trip to Scotland with a nip of whiskey, a slather of butter on a hot scone, and a devilishly good mystery. My only hope is that Hayley and Nathan get a few days to themselves to celebrate a real honeymoon!
The Eleventh Key West Food Critic Mystery
Hayley and Nathan's honeymoon is not quite the intimate getaway they planned. Staying with Nathan's sister, Vera, and brother in law is only part of it. Not only is Miss Gloria accompanying them, but Nathan's mother has decided to join their visit to Scotland as well. While William has commandeered Nathan into a golfing tournament, Hayley and Miss Gloria are accompanying Vera to some of the more haunting places of Scotland as Vera attempts to finish the book she and her partners are writing. But something's rotten in the state of Scotland. First, one of the partners gets ill during a dinner party, with her spouse yelling "poison!", then the group witness a man fall to his death. It soon becomes obvious something more than artistic differences is driving these people apart. Will Hayley be able to sort out the truth? Will Hayley and Nathan have any romantic time together on their honeymoon? Or will a killer ruin it all?
A SCONE OF CONTENTION had me hankering for a scone from page one. And I still want one. A cinnamon scone or just a simple cheese scone, for which the author does provide a recipe, although I'd prefer a real one, warm from the oven and handed to me. While food definitely plays a part I was also intrigued by the thin places, where the veil between heaven and earth have lifted. I loved learning about them and would like to learn more.
While I wouldn't count SCONE OF CONTENTION as a great honeymoon, I certainly would rate it as a great mystery! A literary versus media conflict, most of the characters hiding things, and a determination to bring the truth out make this eleventh Key West Mystery a knock out. A feisty Miss Gloria who becomes vulnerable pulls at the heart strings and an ongoing mystery back home kept me engrossed.
Although the majority of the novel takes place in Scotland and not Key West, we still get to enjoy plenty of good food and the antics of the feisty Miss Gloria, and while we may not have the Key West pets, we do get the company of a few Scottish felines. We also get to visit some of the highlights of Scotland vicariously.
SCONE OF CONTENTION is a delightful mystery that shows how conflicts of the past can impact the present. I enjoyed this trip to Scotland with a nip of whiskey, a slather of butter on a hot scone, and a devilishly good mystery. My only hope is that Hayley and Nathan get a few days to themselves to celebrate a real honeymoon!
August 22, 2021
No matter which book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series by Lucy Burdette you pick up there are two things that you can be guaranteed.....you are going to fall in love with the series and you are going to be hungry the whole time you are reading.
In the Key West Food Critic Mystery series main character Hayley Snow lives on a houseboat on Houseboat Row in Key West in Florida. Until recently she lived with Miss Gloria but after she married Detective Nathan Bransford they renovated and moved into the houseboat next door. Hayley works for Key Zest Magazine as a food critic tasting foods and checking out restaurants and writing about them. She has a pretty good life with all that as well as her mother and her husband Sam live nearby and they are all close. The only downside of Lucy's life is that she always seems to get involved in a murder case....or maybe that is more on the downside of Nathan's life.
In the eleventh book in the series, A Scone of Contention Hayley and Nathan are going on a sort of honeymoon to visit Nathan's sister Vera in Scotland. I say sort of honeymoon because Miss Gloria and Nathan's mother, Helen, are also going on the trip.
Unfortunately a lot is going to happen.....right before they leave on their trip Hayley's close friend and another houseboat neighbor Ray has a mishap and gets arrested. His wife Connie who Hayley has know forever is beside herself and Ray isn't talking. Then when Hayley and crew get to Scotland they find out that Vera is working on a book with a few people and there is a lot of tension surrounding their work. On their first night there while attending a dinner party with the group that is working on the book, one of the attendees falls ill and it is believed to be from the food. There are more mishaps while the group goes touring Scotland and the group try to finalize parts of their book.....
Readers will enjoy reading about Hayley and friends traveling to Scotland and getting to know Nathan's family more. You will also love reading about the food that they are served and will be thankful when you get to the back of the book to the recipe section. Burdette has such a knack of drawing you into the story so that you will feel like you are right there along side Hayley as she enjoys her honeymoon....and you don't even have to pack, get your passport ready or leave the comfort of your living room. You will be a fan of this series and will enjoy watching Hayley grow and experience and embrace life.
In the Key West Food Critic Mystery series main character Hayley Snow lives on a houseboat on Houseboat Row in Key West in Florida. Until recently she lived with Miss Gloria but after she married Detective Nathan Bransford they renovated and moved into the houseboat next door. Hayley works for Key Zest Magazine as a food critic tasting foods and checking out restaurants and writing about them. She has a pretty good life with all that as well as her mother and her husband Sam live nearby and they are all close. The only downside of Lucy's life is that she always seems to get involved in a murder case....or maybe that is more on the downside of Nathan's life.
In the eleventh book in the series, A Scone of Contention Hayley and Nathan are going on a sort of honeymoon to visit Nathan's sister Vera in Scotland. I say sort of honeymoon because Miss Gloria and Nathan's mother, Helen, are also going on the trip.
Unfortunately a lot is going to happen.....right before they leave on their trip Hayley's close friend and another houseboat neighbor Ray has a mishap and gets arrested. His wife Connie who Hayley has know forever is beside herself and Ray isn't talking. Then when Hayley and crew get to Scotland they find out that Vera is working on a book with a few people and there is a lot of tension surrounding their work. On their first night there while attending a dinner party with the group that is working on the book, one of the attendees falls ill and it is believed to be from the food. There are more mishaps while the group goes touring Scotland and the group try to finalize parts of their book.....
Readers will enjoy reading about Hayley and friends traveling to Scotland and getting to know Nathan's family more. You will also love reading about the food that they are served and will be thankful when you get to the back of the book to the recipe section. Burdette has such a knack of drawing you into the story so that you will feel like you are right there along side Hayley as she enjoys her honeymoon....and you don't even have to pack, get your passport ready or leave the comfort of your living room. You will be a fan of this series and will enjoy watching Hayley grow and experience and embrace life.
August 22, 2021
Food critic, Haley Snow is finally getting to go on her long-delayed honeymoon, if you can call it that. She and her new husband, Nathan, are off to Scotland to visit his sister, Vera, whon he hasn't seen in years. Oh, and coming along for the ride are Haley's octogenarian neighbour and Nathan's mother. It gets even less like a honeymoon, when no sooner do they arrive than Nathan is whisked off to a multi-day golf tournament leaving Haley to sight-see with the women of the family, and the co-authors of a book Vera is writing.
It's far from a relaxing vacation as Vera and her co-authors do not see eye to eye on the direction the book should go. To add to the tension, there's one attempted murder on their first night and an actual murder on their first excursion.
I enjoyed the descriptions and history of Scotland and the delicious food that was included, except for the poisoned dinner. The characters were engaging and the mystery mysterious enough to keep me reading. I didn't think the idea of pairing a history book with virtual reality was quite as obnoxious as the main characters did, but I do think they have quite different audiences.
All and all another enjoyable addition to the Key West Food Critic series.
It's far from a relaxing vacation as Vera and her co-authors do not see eye to eye on the direction the book should go. To add to the tension, there's one attempted murder on their first night and an actual murder on their first excursion.
I enjoyed the descriptions and history of Scotland and the delicious food that was included, except for the poisoned dinner. The characters were engaging and the mystery mysterious enough to keep me reading. I didn't think the idea of pairing a history book with virtual reality was quite as obnoxious as the main characters did, but I do think they have quite different audiences.
All and all another enjoyable addition to the Key West Food Critic series.
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