Mystery at Murriemuir

Ian Skair Private Investigator #3

by Hilary Pugh

A sinister discovery in the garden of Murriemuir House leads to a chain of weird events.

Scotland is gradually getting back to normal after lockdown. As people get out and about once more, Ian finds his case load increasing and to his surprise, one of his new clients is his own brother, Stewart.
Stewart and his wife have bought an old farmhouse and are planning to open a wellness centre when they make a sinister discovery in an area set aside for forest bathing. This is followed by a series of unexplained and possibly supernatural happenings.
Is the house haunted? Or is someone trying to ruin their business by playing tricks on them?

Will Ian’s attempts to uncover the truth put lives at risk?

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2022

Reviews

[Kathy]

I enjoyed the first two books of the Ian Skair series but this one fell short for me. I may drop out or who knows? I could pick up on #4 sometime in future to give it another chance. I really disliked this one quite a lot, so it will be a pause for me.

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[Linda Ann Foster]

I really enjoy listening to this series on audio. Great narration, very authentic. An interesting storyline with an historical mystery. PI Ian’s new assistant Molly is a great addition to his team. Highly recommend.

[Rose Patterson]

Mystery at Murriemuir is another enjoyable entry in the Ian Skair series, blending classic Scottish mystery with an eerie, almost supernatural edge. This time, the case feels especially personal since Ian’s own brother, Stewart, is at the center of the trouble. What starts as an exciting plan to open a wellness retreat quickly turns unsettling after a disturbing discovery on the property, followed by a string of strange events that make you wonder if the house is truly haunted or if something far more human (and dangerous) is going on.

I really liked how the story plays out in a post-lockdown Scotland, giving the book a grounded, realistic backdrop while still leaning into the spooky atmosphere. The “is it supernatural or not?” tension is well done and kept me guessing, and the family connection added extra emotional weight to Ian’s investigation.

I listened to the audiobook, and Charles Robert Fox continues to be fantastic. He truly is the voice of Ian Skair for me now, and his narration adds depth and personality to the characters and setting. His pacing and accents bring the story to life and make it easy to stay immersed.

While a few moments felt slightly slower than earlier books, the mystery itself was engaging and satisfying overall. If you’ve been enjoying the series so far, this one is definitely worth your time, especially in audio format.

[Linda]

🔎Mystery solving lite on violence🔍

A good detective story. The suspense here is not of the nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat variety. It's a gentler story, centering on a mysterious grave found on detective Ian Skair's brother Stewart's newly-purchased property in the Dundee area of eastern Scotland.

I am a big fan of stories set in Scotland, so this story was right up my alley. The characters are engaging, especially energetic and organized Molly, and the author weaves current events like the pandemic and the 2021 international COP conference held in Glasgow into the action. I liked that. The ending incorporates a twist I did not see coming.

This was my first time reading a book in this series and I want to read more about Ian, his new assistant Molly and Lottie, his trusty pooch.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Jeanne]

Mystery at Murriemuir is the 3rd book in the Ian Skair Private Investigator series by Hilary Pugh.

Ian Skair is a former police office who is now a private investigator that shares a house with his little dog, Lottie. His business is doing well enough to hire an assistant. He is surprised when his brother wants to hire him.

This is one of my favorite series and this installment did not disappoint. The storyline with his new assistant was enjoyable. It was also nice to learn more about Ian’s family. The mysteries were intriguing and I was surprised, especially at the very end!

I can’t wait to see what is up next for Ian!

Thank you to the author for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Laura]

I was immediately drawn into the mystery and relationships of the characters; very nicely plotted and paced. For jumping into the middle of this series, there were enough characters to keep it interesting but not so many that I lost sight of who was who.

I enjoyed this very much and look forward to reading more by Pugh.

I received an ARC of this book; this is my honest review.

[Kate Wells]

Easy to read, Ian is a likeable character and Molly is brave and resourceful. A satisfyingly complex mystery with many layers. Received as a complimentary copy from the author in return for an honest review.

[Roger Kingston]

I loved the book!

I’ve read 3 of the Ian Skair mysteries now and would like to read another. He’s a quiet, unassuming guy who has lived in the shadow of his older, more successful brother. Now his brother’s wife needs his help to solve a mystery in his new home.

[Sandy T]

Audiobook review: The narrator was very good, good voice inflections and easy to understand.

Story review:
The story was not the most exciting but it was a good mystery with lots of interesting characters. It kept me entertained throughout the book.

[Lynne]

I am enjoying this series about a Scottish PI (former policeman) who is present when a grave is located on his brother's new property. There is no violence, just a mystery to be solved and characters to meet.

[Alison]

I thoroughly enjoyed this third book in the series. I love the addition of Molly and found the overall mix of plot lines engaging. Hard to put down. Can’t wait to read the next!

[Julie Burnett]

As always an interesting read. Great story line, characters we know and meet some new ones as well. Worth taking the time to read.

[Ann]

Very good 😊 As always Delightful❣️ Brilliantly bingeworthy ❣️

[J Morris]

Another great story

Very interesting, with lots of twists and turns. Totally unexpected ending! No real ghosts, thankfully. Great addition to a super series.

[Susan Ellman]

Mystery at Murriemuir

I particularly enjoyed the unexpected not quite ending of the story. The likeable characters will make me want to continue reading g the series.

[Laura Poppenwimer]

A good addition to this series. The plot just intricate enough to made reading more interesting. The pages fly by and this is a good relaxing kind of book you can read in once sitting.

[Kevin Royston]

Never disapoints

I really enjoyed this series of books. Quick moving and very good plots. Ian Skair is a believable character and his friendships make for good adventures.