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Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries #17
A Cold Highland Wind
In this new installment of Tasha Alexander’s acclaimed Lady Emily series set in the wild Scottish highlands, an ancient story of witchcraft may hold the key to solving a murder centuries later.
Lady Emily, husband Colin Hargreaves, and their three sons eagerly embark on a family vacation at Cairnfarn Castle, the Scottish estate of their dear friend Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge. But a high-spirited celebration at the beginning of their stay comes to a grisly end when the duke’s gamekeeper is found murdered on the banks of the loch. Handsome Angus Sinclair had a host of enemies: the fiancée he abandoned in Edinburgh, the young woman who had fallen hopelessly in love with him, and the rough farmer who saw him as a rival for her affections. But what is meaning of the curious runic stone left on Sinclair’s forehead?
Scotland, 1676. Lady MacAllister, wife of the Laird of Cairnfarn Castle, suddenly finds herself widowed and thrown out of her home. Her sole companion is a Moorish slave girl who helps her secretly spirit out her most prized possessions from the castle: her strange books. Her neighbors are wary of a woman living on her own, and when a poppet—a doll used to cast spells—and a daisy wheel are found in her isolated cottage, Lady MacAllister is accused of witchcraft, a crime punishable by death.
Hundreds of years later, Lady Emily searches for the link between Lady MacAllister’s harrowing witchcraft trial and the brutal death of Sinclair. She must follow a trail of hidden motives, an illicit affair, and a mysterious stranger to reveal the dark side of a seemingly idyllic Highland village.
Lady Emily, husband Colin Hargreaves, and their three sons eagerly embark on a family vacation at Cairnfarn Castle, the Scottish estate of their dear friend Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge. But a high-spirited celebration at the beginning of their stay comes to a grisly end when the duke’s gamekeeper is found murdered on the banks of the loch. Handsome Angus Sinclair had a host of enemies: the fiancée he abandoned in Edinburgh, the young woman who had fallen hopelessly in love with him, and the rough farmer who saw him as a rival for her affections. But what is meaning of the curious runic stone left on Sinclair’s forehead?
Scotland, 1676. Lady MacAllister, wife of the Laird of Cairnfarn Castle, suddenly finds herself widowed and thrown out of her home. Her sole companion is a Moorish slave girl who helps her secretly spirit out her most prized possessions from the castle: her strange books. Her neighbors are wary of a woman living on her own, and when a poppet—a doll used to cast spells—and a daisy wheel are found in her isolated cottage, Lady MacAllister is accused of witchcraft, a crime punishable by death.
Hundreds of years later, Lady Emily searches for the link between Lady MacAllister’s harrowing witchcraft trial and the brutal death of Sinclair. She must follow a trail of hidden motives, an illicit affair, and a mysterious stranger to reveal the dark side of a seemingly idyllic Highland village.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2023
191 people are currently reading
6294 people want to read
About the author
Tasha Alexander
32 books2,590 followersThe daughter of two philosophy professors, I grew up surrounded by books. I was convinced from an early age that I was born in the wrong century and spent much of my childhood under the dining room table pretending it was a covered wagon. Even there, I was never without a book in hand and loved reading and history more than anything. I studied English Literature and Medieval History at the University of Notre Dame. Writing is a natural offshoot of reading, and my first novel, And Only to Deceive, was published in 2005. I'm the author of the long-running Lady Emily Series as well as the novel Elizabeth: The Golden Age. One of the best parts of being an author is seeing your books translated, and I'm currently in love with the Japanese editions of the Emily books.
I played nomad for a long time, living in Indiana, Amsterdam, London, Wyoming, Vermont, Connecticut, and Tennessee before settling down. My husband, the brilliant British novelist Andrew Grant (I may be biased but that doesn't mean I'm wrong) and I live in southeastern Wyoming. I still don't have a covered wagon, but a log house goes a long way toward fulfilling my pioneer fantasies. Andrew makes sure I get my English characters right, and I make sure his American ones sound American.
I played nomad for a long time, living in Indiana, Amsterdam, London, Wyoming, Vermont, Connecticut, and Tennessee before settling down. My husband, the brilliant British novelist Andrew Grant (I may be biased but that doesn't mean I'm wrong) and I live in southeastern Wyoming. I still don't have a covered wagon, but a log house goes a long way toward fulfilling my pioneer fantasies. Andrew makes sure I get my English characters right, and I make sure his American ones sound American.
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October 15, 2024
3.8 rounded up to 4 is my rating.
An old castle in Scotland, an ancient Celtic festival and a murder!
In parallel, a story dating back 200 years earlier, when people were afraid of witches and every woman was at risk of being accused of witchcraft!
Since the month of October is the month of Halloween and I'm too weak to read anything horror, this seemed like the right read to get into the right spirit, while remaining in my comfort zone.
___PLOT___ Lady Emily, her husband Colin Hargreaves and their three children are on holiday at Cairnfarn Castle in Scotland, guests of Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge, Emily's dear childhood friend.The atmosphere is cheerful and lively, also thanks to a folklore event of Celtic origin that is being celebrated. Music, dancing, rum punch...everything is going well until Jeremy's gamekeeper is found dead and horribly disfigured.
In the same village approximately 200 years earlier, ancient rituals, phrases that could seem like magic formulas and people foreign to the village were not welcome and the risk of being accused of witchcraft was around every corner or rather behind every slothful and manipulative person.
____********_______********____
EMILY and COLIN _ the 2 MAIN CHARACTERS __
Reading a book in this series every now and then is like meeting up with a couple of my old friends.
I like them both either considered separately or as a couple.
COLIN: handsome and charming, intelligent and always loving and with great consideration for his wife, but also always responsible, thoughtful and realistic.
EMILY: always loving and admired towards her husband, but also independent in her choices and stubborn in pursuing her goals, beautiful and sweet with her husband, but sometimes a little too reckless and not inclined to follow his judicious advice.
Parents of 2 biological children and one of their wards, always careful in raising them, leaving them free to follow their passions but not without a certain discipline. Despite having been married for a decade, this couple does not lack romance and sentimental outpourings.
I love the fact that although the series is titled Lady Emily, in reality, the investigation is the work of both of them and there is great chemistry between them.
In the first books of the series, they acted separately and Lady Emily was always in the foreground and her husband was more of a secondary character, as time passed and the series grew, I can say that both are protagonists and I like this a lot.
__ ALREADY KNOWN SIDE CHARACTERS __
Bainbridge's two quirky aunts add a humorous touch to the story.
They are two spinster sisters, very old but with a lively brain and an adventurous spirit, they know everything about everyone and don't mince their words.
Jeremy is a loving nephew, a loyal friend and a duke who, despite self-deprecatingly calling himself useless, actually cares for the people of the village and does his duty with great sensitivity.
I like all these characters because together with Emily and Colin's 3 children, they help create a "cozy" atmosphere and bring more than a smile to the reader's face.
__ SETTING AND OTHER CHARACTERS ___
I haven't read all the books in the Lady Emily series, but I've read 11 of them including this one and I have to say that unlike the others, the setting here is barely intuitive.
There are usually detailed descriptions of both the location where the story takes place and historically important buildings and monuments, as well as the atmosphere.
Here, apart from the wind from the moors, you can't really breathe the air of the Highlands and the small Scottish village... nothing evocative or suggestive in my opinion and this is one of the two things that lowered my rating for the book .
____MYSTERY___
----> In 1905 : Halfway through the book I thought I was so clever and had guessed the truth, but it wasn't like that and above all the culprit was really really unexpected!!I had a lot of fun making conjectures and hypotheses and until the end I was on tenterhooks, I couldn't wait to find out who the murderer was and several times I was tempted to go and peek at the back of the book, but I resisted!
Well done Tasha Alexander, the solution to the mystery was truly something I never expected.
A little more disappointing and hasty was the solution to a parallel mystery, also in 1905, connected to the murder.
----> In 1676: Up to 70% of the book, the protagonist of the story, set in the 18th century, kept me in suspense: her first-person narrative is full of suspense, the characters around her are ambiguous in their speeches, mysterious in their arguments and I really feared that the story would end in a dramatic way.
So the writer achieved her aim here too (to create an atmosphere of uncertainty, anxiety and deep emotion... but then without revealing the details everything was resolved in a way that was perhaps a little too easy, I don't know how to explain... .
I was expecting something more impressive and this is the second thing that lowered my rating for the book.
Anyway, I was happy with the happy ending for the characters in this story.
__ HISTORICAL PART ___
Unlike the other books I read in the series, here there are no historical notions or real-life historical characters except for the fact that the character of the mystery set in 1676 is inspired by two real-life black women, about whom the writer talks to us briefly in his notes at the end of the book.
Another historical reference is the witch hunt and the witch hunters who, in order to prove the fake, invented and falsified the evidence, you will also find a brief mention of this in the author's notes.
*****
This is one of the few series that I usually read in no particular order, each book in the series can be read as a standalone, but if you read them starting from the first one you will be able to enjoy better Emily's personal story (her engagement , marriage, children and all the recurring characters who contribute to creating a cheerful and pleasant atmosphere).
Thanks for reading my opinion and as always I ask you to be lenient with my English since it's not my native language.
An old castle in Scotland, an ancient Celtic festival and a murder!
In parallel, a story dating back 200 years earlier, when people were afraid of witches and every woman was at risk of being accused of witchcraft!
Since the month of October is the month of Halloween and I'm too weak to read anything horror, this seemed like the right read to get into the right spirit, while remaining in my comfort zone.
___PLOT___ Lady Emily, her husband Colin Hargreaves and their three children are on holiday at Cairnfarn Castle in Scotland, guests of Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge, Emily's dear childhood friend.The atmosphere is cheerful and lively, also thanks to a folklore event of Celtic origin that is being celebrated. Music, dancing, rum punch...everything is going well until Jeremy's gamekeeper is found dead and horribly disfigured.
In the same village approximately 200 years earlier, ancient rituals, phrases that could seem like magic formulas and people foreign to the village were not welcome and the risk of being accused of witchcraft was around every corner or rather behind every slothful and manipulative person.
____********_______********____
EMILY and COLIN _ the 2 MAIN CHARACTERS __
Reading a book in this series every now and then is like meeting up with a couple of my old friends.
I like them both either considered separately or as a couple.
COLIN: handsome and charming, intelligent and always loving and with great consideration for his wife, but also always responsible, thoughtful and realistic.
EMILY: always loving and admired towards her husband, but also independent in her choices and stubborn in pursuing her goals, beautiful and sweet with her husband, but sometimes a little too reckless and not inclined to follow his judicious advice.
Parents of 2 biological children and one of their wards, always careful in raising them, leaving them free to follow their passions but not without a certain discipline. Despite having been married for a decade, this couple does not lack romance and sentimental outpourings.
I love the fact that although the series is titled Lady Emily, in reality, the investigation is the work of both of them and there is great chemistry between them.
In the first books of the series, they acted separately and Lady Emily was always in the foreground and her husband was more of a secondary character, as time passed and the series grew, I can say that both are protagonists and I like this a lot.
__ ALREADY KNOWN SIDE CHARACTERS __
Bainbridge's two quirky aunts add a humorous touch to the story.
They are two spinster sisters, very old but with a lively brain and an adventurous spirit, they know everything about everyone and don't mince their words.
Jeremy is a loving nephew, a loyal friend and a duke who, despite self-deprecatingly calling himself useless, actually cares for the people of the village and does his duty with great sensitivity.
I like all these characters because together with Emily and Colin's 3 children, they help create a "cozy" atmosphere and bring more than a smile to the reader's face.
__ SETTING AND OTHER CHARACTERS ___
I haven't read all the books in the Lady Emily series, but I've read 11 of them including this one and I have to say that unlike the others, the setting here is barely intuitive.
There are usually detailed descriptions of both the location where the story takes place and historically important buildings and monuments, as well as the atmosphere.
Here, apart from the wind from the moors, you can't really breathe the air of the Highlands and the small Scottish village... nothing evocative or suggestive in my opinion and this is one of the two things that lowered my rating for the book .
____MYSTERY___
----> In 1905 : Halfway through the book I thought I was so clever and had guessed the truth, but it wasn't like that and above all the culprit was really really unexpected!!I had a lot of fun making conjectures and hypotheses and until the end I was on tenterhooks, I couldn't wait to find out who the murderer was and several times I was tempted to go and peek at the back of the book, but I resisted!
Well done Tasha Alexander, the solution to the mystery was truly something I never expected.
A little more disappointing and hasty was the solution to a parallel mystery, also in 1905, connected to the murder.
----> In 1676: Up to 70% of the book, the protagonist of the story, set in the 18th century, kept me in suspense: her first-person narrative is full of suspense, the characters around her are ambiguous in their speeches, mysterious in their arguments and I really feared that the story would end in a dramatic way.
So the writer achieved her aim here too (to create an atmosphere of uncertainty, anxiety and deep emotion... but then without revealing the details everything was resolved in a way that was perhaps a little too easy, I don't know how to explain... .
I was expecting something more impressive and this is the second thing that lowered my rating for the book.
Anyway, I was happy with the happy ending for the characters in this story.
__ HISTORICAL PART ___
Unlike the other books I read in the series, here there are no historical notions or real-life historical characters except for the fact that the character of the mystery set in 1676 is inspired by two real-life black women, about whom the writer talks to us briefly in his notes at the end of the book.
Another historical reference is the witch hunt and the witch hunters who, in order to prove the fake, invented and falsified the evidence, you will also find a brief mention of this in the author's notes.
*****
This is one of the few series that I usually read in no particular order, each book in the series can be read as a standalone, but if you read them starting from the first one you will be able to enjoy better Emily's personal story (her engagement , marriage, children and all the recurring characters who contribute to creating a cheerful and pleasant atmosphere).
Thanks for reading my opinion and as always I ask you to be lenient with my English since it's not my native language.
October 20, 2023
I've been a fan of the Lady Emily series since the beginning. I'll have to admit with this one I'm rather tired of the rotating chapters between a contemporary (1905) mystery with Lady Emily and a past story (late 1600s in the case). While there's a remote connection to the two stories, it wasn't compelling for me this time. I liked a lot about the 1905 mystery with Lady Emily. The antics of her three sons are very remiscent of Ramses in the Amelia Peabody mysteries. The mystery was interesting, although this time I actually guessed the killer pretty early on. I just would've liked a whole lot more of the Lady Emily portion and none of the 1600s story.
October 7, 2023
An enjoyable historical mystery set in the Scottish highlands with two timelines. One takes place in 1905: Lady Emily Ashton, her husband Colin Hargreaves and their three sons visit Cairnfarn Castle, the home of their friend Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge. Following a ceilidh, the duke's gamekeeper is found dead and Emily and Colin are asked to investigate the crime. The second timeline is set in 1676 and involves the suspicion of witchcraft amongst local women. In the author's notes, she says 'between 1563 and 1736, people in Scotland were accused of witchcraft at rates up to five times greater than in the rest of Europe.' Those were mad times.
I received an arc of this new mystery from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
I received an arc of this new mystery from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
August 7, 2023
Book Title: A Cold Highland Wind
Author: Tasha Alexander
Series: A Lady Emily Ashton Mystery #17
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press ~ Minotaur Book
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: October 3, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages 304
Story is told from the POV of Lady Emily in 1905 and Tansy in 1676.
1905: Investigators Lady Emily Hargreaves and her husband Colin along with their three sons – twins Richard/ Tom and Henry are planning a Holiday by visiting Cairnfarn Castle, the Scottish estate of their dear friend Jeremy Sheffeld, Duke of Bainbridge.
However, they find themselves in a murder investigation after the boys find the body of Duke’s gamekeeper, Angus Sinclair. It appears Angus Sinclair was engaged to marry Dr. Harris but had enemies as well as secrets. There is a curious runic stone left on Sinclair’s forehead?
1676: There is another story that took place also at Cairnfarn Castle.
Tansy a young girl from North Africa was taken from her family who were not servants but educated as well as cultured. She was forced into the life of slavery. Lady MacAllister, mistress of Castle Cairnfarn kidnapped Tansy and gave her as a wedding gift to Rossalyn who was actually horrified with such a gift. She feared what would happen to Tansy so had her stay with her and, of course, did not treat her as a servant.
In the late 1600s, when the fervor of the witch hunt was rampant A young Moorish woman kidnapped from her family and forced into a life of slavery Scotland,
This turned out to be a great read for me. In addition to Tansy’s story ~ witchcraft is always interesting.
This is Book #17 in the Lady Emily series so I am not sure if it is the first or if others included witchcraft.
I find witchcraft sooo bazar the fact that it not only but everywhere is unbelievable,
In Tasha Alexander’s ‘Author’s Notes’ she tells us that
Between 1563 and 1736 people in Scotland were accused of witchcraft at a rate of five times
greater than the rest of Europe.
his thought just popped into my head ~
What if the Earth was invaded by aliens who were testing Earth’s inhabitants and threw us the
idea of witchcraft? We certainly proved that most of Earth’s inhabitants were not all that
intelligent thus the aliens knew we were a waste of their time. However, it seems they do stop
by every once in a while to confirm what they already know.
I was going to delete my head popping idea but thought you might enjoy a laugh or you just might be thinking Hmmm!
About Author, Tasha Alexander. She is the daughter of two philosophy professors,
She goes on to say~ I grew up surrounded by books. I was convinced from an early age
that I was born in the wrong century and spent much of my childhood under the dining
room table pretending it was a covered wagon. Even there, I was never without a book in
hand and loved reading and history more than anything. I studied English Literature and
Medieval History at the University of Notre Dame.
Writing is a natural offshoot of reading,
This is Book #17 in the Lady Emily Ashton and I am embarrassed to say my first but it won’t be my last. It was more enjoyable than I expected.
Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 3, 2023.
Author: Tasha Alexander
Series: A Lady Emily Ashton Mystery #17
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press ~ Minotaur Book
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: October 3, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages 304
Story is told from the POV of Lady Emily in 1905 and Tansy in 1676.
1905: Investigators Lady Emily Hargreaves and her husband Colin along with their three sons – twins Richard/ Tom and Henry are planning a Holiday by visiting Cairnfarn Castle, the Scottish estate of their dear friend Jeremy Sheffeld, Duke of Bainbridge.
However, they find themselves in a murder investigation after the boys find the body of Duke’s gamekeeper, Angus Sinclair. It appears Angus Sinclair was engaged to marry Dr. Harris but had enemies as well as secrets. There is a curious runic stone left on Sinclair’s forehead?
1676: There is another story that took place also at Cairnfarn Castle.
Tansy a young girl from North Africa was taken from her family who were not servants but educated as well as cultured. She was forced into the life of slavery. Lady MacAllister, mistress of Castle Cairnfarn kidnapped Tansy and gave her as a wedding gift to Rossalyn who was actually horrified with such a gift. She feared what would happen to Tansy so had her stay with her and, of course, did not treat her as a servant.
In the late 1600s, when the fervor of the witch hunt was rampant A young Moorish woman kidnapped from her family and forced into a life of slavery Scotland,
This turned out to be a great read for me. In addition to Tansy’s story ~ witchcraft is always interesting.
This is Book #17 in the Lady Emily series so I am not sure if it is the first or if others included witchcraft.
I find witchcraft sooo bazar the fact that it not only but everywhere is unbelievable,
In Tasha Alexander’s ‘Author’s Notes’ she tells us that
Between 1563 and 1736 people in Scotland were accused of witchcraft at a rate of five times
greater than the rest of Europe.
his thought just popped into my head ~
What if the Earth was invaded by aliens who were testing Earth’s inhabitants and threw us the
idea of witchcraft? We certainly proved that most of Earth’s inhabitants were not all that
intelligent thus the aliens knew we were a waste of their time. However, it seems they do stop
by every once in a while to confirm what they already know.
I was going to delete my head popping idea but thought you might enjoy a laugh or you just might be thinking Hmmm!
About Author, Tasha Alexander. She is the daughter of two philosophy professors,
She goes on to say~ I grew up surrounded by books. I was convinced from an early age
that I was born in the wrong century and spent much of my childhood under the dining
room table pretending it was a covered wagon. Even there, I was never without a book in
hand and loved reading and history more than anything. I studied English Literature and
Medieval History at the University of Notre Dame.
Writing is a natural offshoot of reading,
This is Book #17 in the Lady Emily Ashton and I am embarrassed to say my first but it won’t be my last. It was more enjoyable than I expected.
Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 3, 2023.
October 27, 2023
I've been a fan of this series for a long time. Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves are wonderful characters and excellent sleuths. I was really looking forward to this book because the Scottish setting intrigued me as the Hargreaves family ventured to Cairnfarn Castle for vacation with longtime friend and estate owner, Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge. I would like to say this book met my expectations, but I was disappointed. For a while now, Tasha Alexander has been making her novels dual timeline stories, but taking this one back to 1676 Cairnfarn Castle didn't work for me. On reflection, I think there were too many characters in these short segments, and I really couldn't develop a like for any of them.
If Alexander had stayed with the present day 1905 story, I think it would have been more enjoyable. There was an interesting murder to solve with a number of suspects, and fleshing out those characters and motives would have been more interesting to me. Also, Emily's and Colin's three boys have been developing their own personalities as they grow. They are quite precocious for nine year olds and are expressing an interest in their parents' investigations. Another fine addition to this story was Jeremy's eccentric great aunts. Known as "the greats", they have their pulse on the village and castle life, even though they seldom leave their rooms. I'm hoping the next book will return to the usual enjoyable read for me.
If Alexander had stayed with the present day 1905 story, I think it would have been more enjoyable. There was an interesting murder to solve with a number of suspects, and fleshing out those characters and motives would have been more interesting to me. Also, Emily's and Colin's three boys have been developing their own personalities as they grow. They are quite precocious for nine year olds and are expressing an interest in their parents' investigations. Another fine addition to this story was Jeremy's eccentric great aunts. Known as "the greats", they have their pulse on the village and castle life, even though they seldom leave their rooms. I'm hoping the next book will return to the usual enjoyable read for me.
March 23, 2023
1905, Cairnfarn, Scotland.
Lady Emily Hargreaves and her husband Colin, with their three precocious sons (and one crocodile) in tow, descend upon the Highland estate of Emily’s childhood friend Jeremy, the Duke of Bainbridge. Expecting a relaxed family holiday to introduce the boys to Jeremy’s menagerie, the Hargreaves are instead thrown headlong into a murder investigation after their sons stumble upon the body of Cairnfarn Castle’s gamekeeper.
Emily and Colin soon learn the gamekeeper had secrets of his own to hide, and they set out to piece together the puzzle surrounding his death. Was it an affair of the heart motivating his killer, as more than one village girl was in love with him? Or was it driven by the past he fled in Edinburgh? The vicar and his young wife, the newly installed female doctor, Cairnfarn residents, and village herbalist — all paint different portraits of the victim, further muddying the waters.
Entwined in the modern narrative is a parallel story of Cairnfarn in the late 1600s, when the fervor of the witch hunt was rampant throughout Europe and the British Isles. Tasnim, dubbed Tansy, is a young Moorish woman kidnapped from her family and forced into a life of slavery and then servitude as a ‘free’ woman far from home in Scotland. Unable to leave her mistress Rossalyn after her complete reversal of fortune, Tasnim finds herself living in a tiny cottage in the village, learning to survive in yet another role in which she’s been cast. When the suspicion of witchcraft hits close to home, Tasnim worries she’ll be an easy target as a foreigner, yet things play out in an unexpected way.
I love this series. This entry was no exception. I did guess major aspects of the plot resolution, but that did not detract much from my enjoyment of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Lady Emily Hargreaves and her husband Colin, with their three precocious sons (and one crocodile) in tow, descend upon the Highland estate of Emily’s childhood friend Jeremy, the Duke of Bainbridge. Expecting a relaxed family holiday to introduce the boys to Jeremy’s menagerie, the Hargreaves are instead thrown headlong into a murder investigation after their sons stumble upon the body of Cairnfarn Castle’s gamekeeper.
Emily and Colin soon learn the gamekeeper had secrets of his own to hide, and they set out to piece together the puzzle surrounding his death. Was it an affair of the heart motivating his killer, as more than one village girl was in love with him? Or was it driven by the past he fled in Edinburgh? The vicar and his young wife, the newly installed female doctor, Cairnfarn residents, and village herbalist — all paint different portraits of the victim, further muddying the waters.
Entwined in the modern narrative is a parallel story of Cairnfarn in the late 1600s, when the fervor of the witch hunt was rampant throughout Europe and the British Isles. Tasnim, dubbed Tansy, is a young Moorish woman kidnapped from her family and forced into a life of slavery and then servitude as a ‘free’ woman far from home in Scotland. Unable to leave her mistress Rossalyn after her complete reversal of fortune, Tasnim finds herself living in a tiny cottage in the village, learning to survive in yet another role in which she’s been cast. When the suspicion of witchcraft hits close to home, Tasnim worries she’ll be an easy target as a foreigner, yet things play out in an unexpected way.
I love this series. This entry was no exception. I did guess major aspects of the plot resolution, but that did not detract much from my enjoyment of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 24, 2023
Scottish murder!
It’s 1905, Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves are holidaying at Castle Cairnfarn in the Scottish Highlands along with their gorgeous and wickedly precocious sons, twins Henry and Richard, and their beloved adopted son Tom. They’re guests of Emily’s childhood friend, Jeremy Sheffield, the Duke of Bainbridge. Jeremy is a bumbling delight with two madcap great aunties who keeps every one on their toes. The boys particularly enjoy the aunties, for reasons that become quite clear. Mind you the boys do insist on walking Cedric the crocodile. I would not be so blasé. Crocodiles as pets! Hmmm! Recipe for disaster!
As always there’s another story running in tandem, set in Cairnfarn in 1676. The tale of Tansy, a young moorish girl sold into slavery and eventually passed on to Rossalyn, Lady MacAllister, mistress of Castle Cairnfarn. Rosalyn frees her, but as Tansy often soliloquises, what good will that do her if she can’t return to her family and homeland in Tunisia. This part of the story turns into a tale of women dispossessed, of women accused of witchcraft, and of artefacts from that date.
Meanwhile back in 1905 the boys upsettingly discover the body of the gamekeeper, murdered rather nastily. Emily and Colin, find themselves pressed into investigating. What follows is a rather convoluted exploration of who kew what when.
I laughed at how the boys kept interrupting their parents at inappropriate moments!
The boys are just so earnest and funny in their moves to do their own thing. As we close Jeremy is trying to talk one of them (any one!) into being pronounced his heir. The Duke can’t be bothered with marriage.
Another winning and solid addition to the Lady Emily Mysteries.
(I do love the cover BTW)
A St Martins Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
It’s 1905, Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves are holidaying at Castle Cairnfarn in the Scottish Highlands along with their gorgeous and wickedly precocious sons, twins Henry and Richard, and their beloved adopted son Tom. They’re guests of Emily’s childhood friend, Jeremy Sheffield, the Duke of Bainbridge. Jeremy is a bumbling delight with two madcap great aunties who keeps every one on their toes. The boys particularly enjoy the aunties, for reasons that become quite clear. Mind you the boys do insist on walking Cedric the crocodile. I would not be so blasé. Crocodiles as pets! Hmmm! Recipe for disaster!
As always there’s another story running in tandem, set in Cairnfarn in 1676. The tale of Tansy, a young moorish girl sold into slavery and eventually passed on to Rossalyn, Lady MacAllister, mistress of Castle Cairnfarn. Rosalyn frees her, but as Tansy often soliloquises, what good will that do her if she can’t return to her family and homeland in Tunisia. This part of the story turns into a tale of women dispossessed, of women accused of witchcraft, and of artefacts from that date.
Meanwhile back in 1905 the boys upsettingly discover the body of the gamekeeper, murdered rather nastily. Emily and Colin, find themselves pressed into investigating. What follows is a rather convoluted exploration of who kew what when.
I laughed at how the boys kept interrupting their parents at inappropriate moments!
The boys are just so earnest and funny in their moves to do their own thing. As we close Jeremy is trying to talk one of them (any one!) into being pronounced his heir. The Duke can’t be bothered with marriage.
Another winning and solid addition to the Lady Emily Mysteries.
(I do love the cover BTW)
A St Martins Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
November 4, 2023
I normally love Lady Emily books. This one was just ok for me. Part of it took place in the 1600’s, and part of it in the early 1900’s. It centered around the same castle, and small village in Scotland. Colin, and Emily take their three boys to visit their friend Jeremy , who is the Duke. A brutal murder takes place , and he is the game keeper of the castle. Mr Sinclair is found by the boys, which is bad enough. Jeremy asks them to stay and solve the murder. Every other chapter is a different Duke, and a different time period. The witch trials come into it, in the 1600’s. The murder mystery Emily and Colin work on is filled with lies, a follow up murder, and lots of false trails, plus a herbalist comes to town to help the doctor, but lots of talk of witch craft comes back up. There was no clear trail to follow to the murderer, until a few people , under protest give up a few real clues. The ending was a surprise, and no one felt good about it. I didn’t like the murdered man , since he was a user of women, and situations. Plus the witchcraft in the 1600’s was brought about by an evil man, who was the Duke at that time. He would have seen multiple women killed over a slight. I gave it a three. I had to push myself to get through it. Which is rare for this author. It wasn’t the dual time periods , since I have read them before. It was the characters of the villages, and the castle. They were very eager to throw blame on their fellow neighbors, and even set them up to take the fall.
February 3, 2025
Another installment of Ms. Alexander's Lady Emily Mysteries.
The story unfolds between 1905 in Scotland and 1676 at the Cairnfarn Castle.
Lady Emily, her husband, Colin Hargreaves and their three sons are invited to the Cairnfarn Castle by the Duke of Bainbridge, who is a close friend.
When the gamekeeper, Angus Sinclair, is found murdered, Lady Emily and Colin begin to investigate. As the investigation unfolds, Lady Emily and Colin discovered that Angus Sinclair had a host of enemies. Witchcraft is suspected by some in the near by village. From there the story reverses back to 1676 when witches were burned at the stake.
Lady Emily believes that there is a connection between the murder of Angus Sinclair and the witch trials in 1676.
Once again Ms. Alexander has written a splendid Mystery Novel with a host of fascinating characters and unsuspected suspects.
The story unfolds between 1905 in Scotland and 1676 at the Cairnfarn Castle.
Lady Emily, her husband, Colin Hargreaves and their three sons are invited to the Cairnfarn Castle by the Duke of Bainbridge, who is a close friend.
When the gamekeeper, Angus Sinclair, is found murdered, Lady Emily and Colin begin to investigate. As the investigation unfolds, Lady Emily and Colin discovered that Angus Sinclair had a host of enemies. Witchcraft is suspected by some in the near by village. From there the story reverses back to 1676 when witches were burned at the stake.
Lady Emily believes that there is a connection between the murder of Angus Sinclair and the witch trials in 1676.
Once again Ms. Alexander has written a splendid Mystery Novel with a host of fascinating characters and unsuspected suspects.
September 8, 2023
While this cover looks like a cheesy romance novel of the past, don't be fooled! This is a historic murder mystery with a strong, confident woman at the helm solving the murders: Lady Emily.
When Lady Emily goes on vacation with her family to a friends estate in 1905 Edinburgh, a dead body turns up and we learn the complicated nature of our victim (and our suspects). In addition, there is a dual POV in the late 1600s surrounding the witch hunts that took place in Scotland. This POV provides important context and history to compliment the present day.
Clocking in at just over 300 pages this is a quick one, and one that I think others who enjoy historical mysteries will enjoy.
When Lady Emily goes on vacation with her family to a friends estate in 1905 Edinburgh, a dead body turns up and we learn the complicated nature of our victim (and our suspects). In addition, there is a dual POV in the late 1600s surrounding the witch hunts that took place in Scotland. This POV provides important context and history to compliment the present day.
Clocking in at just over 300 pages this is a quick one, and one that I think others who enjoy historical mysteries will enjoy.
September 12, 2023
Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge, does like an excuse to dress up, and his dear friends coming to visit him en famille at his estate in Scotland means it's time to break out the Bainbridge tartan, a flamboyant concoction of bright turquoise, scarlet, and yellow designed by his late lamented Uncle whom he inherited Cairnfarn Castle from. Emily, Colin, and their three children are headed north to visit Jeremy because of one of their children. Henry is very persuasive and upon learning that Jeremy is in possession of a menagerie he demanded to inspect the living conditions of the animals. And yes, this would be the same Henry who walks around with his crocodile Cedric on a lead. He seems to think that animals should be free, but what's safest for the animals might not be safest for the residents of Cairnfarn. Luckily there is a new danger on the horizon, that of a murderer. On their second day at Cairnfarn the village hosted a ceilidh for their new doctor. A new doctor who happens to be a woman! There was dancing, drinking, storytelling, a punch that packed a punch, and Jeremy in Bainbridge tartan from tip to tail, and, before the night was out, murder. Only the body of Jeremy's gamekeeper, Mr. Sinclair, wasn't found until the next morning. By Emily's precocious children. His body was a bloody sight and on his forehead lay a single stone with a rune carved in it. One would think that such brutality couldn't exist there beside the loch in quiet splendor. But that's one thing Emily has learned over the years, death can happen to anyone at anytime. Now they just have to figure out the who and the why. And there are plenty of candidates, especially when you're victim is a handsome stranger in a new place who kept to himself. When Mr. Sinclair arrived in Cairnfarn he left behind a fiance in Edinburgh to steal the hearts of the local lassies. One lassie in particular loved him desperately but her affections were not returned. Could either of these spurned ladies have been the culprit? Or perhaps the young farmer in love with the girl Mr. Sinclair spurned? When love and lust is at play anyone could be capable of murder. And Cairnfarn has a dark history of witchcraft. And everyone knows though shalt not suffer a witch to live...
Having reached seventeen volumes and an ever expanding cast of beloved characters I'm always wondering who will be drawn into Lady Emily's current case. Will her mother-in-law deign to make an appearance? Will the ghost of Kristiana von Lange loom large? Will Cécile du Lac be lured away from Paris and yet another paramour? Could Emily's dear friend Ivy Brandon stop by? Or what about the formidably smart American Margaret Seward? Or could it be just Jeremy, the Duke of Bainbridge? While I love all these characters more than I can say I was not the least bit disappointed to see that just Jeremy was on board for the latest adventure. As much as I love every single entry in this series the two books that top my list are The Adventuress and A Terrible Beauty . And The Adventuress gives us so much wonderful Jeremy I could die happy, he wouldn't have died happy, but thankfully he got away from his fiance. His minute cameo at the end of the last adventure wasn't enough, I needed more and thankfully Tasha somehow knew. What's more, here we have Jeremy attempting to adult and being almost nearly useful. In a kilt. Sadly, there is no Colin in a kilt. Once you meet Jeremy's Greats you will hope that perhaps they will be able to force Colin into a kilt for their own amusement, because they know a fine specimen of a man when they see one, but sadly it was not to be. And I'm sorry for that slight kilt spoiler, but I think that it's important to make sure you don't suffer the same crushed dreams I did. But at least there's Jeremy, you think he's growing up, taking on responsibility, and then he has the vapors and has to go lie down for a bit, have a drink, and possibly a game of billiards. As Tasha said, "The Ducal Struggle® is real." Yet thankfully we are introduced to some of Jeremy's relatives who are very much wanting to get their fingers into all the pies versus keeping their hands as clean as possible with their nails as nice as the valet can make them. I'm talking about the aforementioned Greats. These are Jeremy's great-aunts, Miss Adeline and Miss Josephine. They have sequestered themselves in their own salon in Cairnfarn from which they know all and see all and desperately want to know about the murder. They are my new favorite characters and if they don't minimally get their own novella I shall have a fit of the vapors myself.
Having reached seventeen volumes and an ever expanding cast of beloved characters I'm always wondering who will be drawn into Lady Emily's current case. Will her mother-in-law deign to make an appearance? Will the ghost of Kristiana von Lange loom large? Will Cécile du Lac be lured away from Paris and yet another paramour? Could Emily's dear friend Ivy Brandon stop by? Or what about the formidably smart American Margaret Seward? Or could it be just Jeremy, the Duke of Bainbridge? While I love all these characters more than I can say I was not the least bit disappointed to see that just Jeremy was on board for the latest adventure. As much as I love every single entry in this series the two books that top my list are The Adventuress and A Terrible Beauty . And The Adventuress gives us so much wonderful Jeremy I could die happy, he wouldn't have died happy, but thankfully he got away from his fiance. His minute cameo at the end of the last adventure wasn't enough, I needed more and thankfully Tasha somehow knew. What's more, here we have Jeremy attempting to adult and being almost nearly useful. In a kilt. Sadly, there is no Colin in a kilt. Once you meet Jeremy's Greats you will hope that perhaps they will be able to force Colin into a kilt for their own amusement, because they know a fine specimen of a man when they see one, but sadly it was not to be. And I'm sorry for that slight kilt spoiler, but I think that it's important to make sure you don't suffer the same crushed dreams I did. But at least there's Jeremy, you think he's growing up, taking on responsibility, and then he has the vapors and has to go lie down for a bit, have a drink, and possibly a game of billiards. As Tasha said, "The Ducal Struggle® is real." Yet thankfully we are introduced to some of Jeremy's relatives who are very much wanting to get their fingers into all the pies versus keeping their hands as clean as possible with their nails as nice as the valet can make them. I'm talking about the aforementioned Greats. These are Jeremy's great-aunts, Miss Adeline and Miss Josephine. They have sequestered themselves in their own salon in Cairnfarn from which they know all and see all and desperately want to know about the murder. They are my new favorite characters and if they don't minimally get their own novella I shall have a fit of the vapors myself.
September 7, 2023
I was thrilled to win an advanced reader copy of A Cold Highland Wind by Tasha Alexander through a Goodreads Giveaway and Minotaur Books. The Lady Emily mystery series has been a long time favorite of mine.
The setting of this book is a character in itself -the Scottish Highlands. Lady Emily and her husband, Colin, visit her life long friend Jeremy, the Duke of Bainbridge. Jeremy has a castle in Scotland and he has invited Emily and family for a vacation. Unfortunately, a murder changes the entire trajectory of their visit. Luckily Emily and Colin are very experienced at solving mysteries.
The secondary story is set in the same village but in 1676. This tale surrounds a young moorish woman who was a slave given to Lady MacAllister (Rossalyn). The lady sets her free but never sends her home. Tansy is stuck in Scotland. When Rossalyn is widowed, her and Tansy are cast out of the castle to fend for themselves. Times are dangerous for women alone with witch trials around the country. This story is nerve-wracking but absolutely fascinating!
I loved getting to see more of Emily and Colin's 3 sons. In this book they have a very active role in the mystery along with a beloved crocodile named Cedric!
The setting of this book is a character in itself -the Scottish Highlands. Lady Emily and her husband, Colin, visit her life long friend Jeremy, the Duke of Bainbridge. Jeremy has a castle in Scotland and he has invited Emily and family for a vacation. Unfortunately, a murder changes the entire trajectory of their visit. Luckily Emily and Colin are very experienced at solving mysteries.
The secondary story is set in the same village but in 1676. This tale surrounds a young moorish woman who was a slave given to Lady MacAllister (Rossalyn). The lady sets her free but never sends her home. Tansy is stuck in Scotland. When Rossalyn is widowed, her and Tansy are cast out of the castle to fend for themselves. Times are dangerous for women alone with witch trials around the country. This story is nerve-wracking but absolutely fascinating!
I loved getting to see more of Emily and Colin's 3 sons. In this book they have a very active role in the mystery along with a beloved crocodile named Cedric!
July 27, 2023
I enjoyed this latest addition to the Lady Emily historical mystery series. A large part of the appeal was the setting in the Scottish Highlands. I am a fan of this series and I believe that having read previous books and knowing Lady Emily’s backstory added to my enjoyment.
My slight criticisms of this book were that I wish there had been more of Lady Emily and her husband, Colin. There was also a second story in a different timeline in alternating chapters that I didn’t find necessary and only minimally related to the main story.
However, there is plenty of charm and I am already looking forward to future books in this series. I received an ARC from the publisher.
My slight criticisms of this book were that I wish there had been more of Lady Emily and her husband, Colin. There was also a second story in a different timeline in alternating chapters that I didn’t find necessary and only minimally related to the main story.
However, there is plenty of charm and I am already looking forward to future books in this series. I received an ARC from the publisher.
October 22, 2023
Rating: 4.5 stars
Told in duel timeline, A Cold Highland Wind is a wonderfully written historical mystery story. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect from this book, except that it was set in Scotland, but I really enjoyed it. I'm not much of a cozy mystery person, but this book makes me want to be. I haven't read the others in this series, but I am adding them all to my TBR. Tasha Alexander writes a story that you just want to keep reading to find out what happens. I love that parts of the story were set in the 1900s and the other parts were told in the 1600s and focused on witchcraft. Add this book to your TBR if you love historical murder mysteries!
Told in duel timeline, A Cold Highland Wind is a wonderfully written historical mystery story. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect from this book, except that it was set in Scotland, but I really enjoyed it. I'm not much of a cozy mystery person, but this book makes me want to be. I haven't read the others in this series, but I am adding them all to my TBR. Tasha Alexander writes a story that you just want to keep reading to find out what happens. I love that parts of the story were set in the 1900s and the other parts were told in the 1600s and focused on witchcraft. Add this book to your TBR if you love historical murder mysteries!
December 23, 2023
Historical murder mystery set in Scotland with 2 different timelines. One is in the early 1900s, when a woman and her husband and sons go to visit a family friend and end up investigating a murder. The second timeline takes place in the 17th century and involves slavery and accusations of witchcraft. I preferred the later timeline for the story and the characters. People were awful in the earlier timeline!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.
January 13, 2024
Generally, I don’t mind alternating timelines, but this time it was a bit offputting for some reason. The 16th century timeline seemed clunker, and was always a cue that I could step away and go do something else.
March 26, 2023
I loved this latest - and 17th - installment in Tasha Alexander’s series featuring feisty, whip smart Lady Emily. Set in the Scottish Highlands this time ‘round, the novel focuses primarily on the efforts of Lady Emily and her hunky, liberated hubby to solve a murder mystery while revealing women’s plights and championing women’s rights in word and in deed in 1905. Their twin sons, ward Tom and Duke Jeremy all make frequent appearances in this book, as (hilariously) does the boys’ pet crocodile, Cedric. Jeremy’s great aunts, who reside in the medieval wing of the family Highlands castle, are utterly delightful characters and deserve special mention. With crisp and intelligent prose and propulsive plotting, Alexander has created a strong sense of place and time and expertly woven in many a history lesson as well as witty and entertaining dialogue, a large cast of interesting secondary characters, and a good amount of tartan plaid.
A second storyline is set in the same village in 1676, the era of Scottish witch hunts, and additionally touches on themes of slavery and freedom in including a Moorish woman heinously kidnapped from Tunisia, enslaved and then gifted to a Scottish laird’s wife. While not as well developed as the main storyline, it compliments and provides important historical context for the Lady Emily thread.
Highly recommended to all Lady Emily “regulars” and other fans of intelligent, well researched historical mysteries featuring strong women protagonists. I’ve read every book in this series and look forward to Lady Emily’s latest adventures each year. Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.
A second storyline is set in the same village in 1676, the era of Scottish witch hunts, and additionally touches on themes of slavery and freedom in including a Moorish woman heinously kidnapped from Tunisia, enslaved and then gifted to a Scottish laird’s wife. While not as well developed as the main storyline, it compliments and provides important historical context for the Lady Emily thread.
Highly recommended to all Lady Emily “regulars” and other fans of intelligent, well researched historical mysteries featuring strong women protagonists. I’ve read every book in this series and look forward to Lady Emily’s latest adventures each year. Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.
October 1, 2023
A Cold Highland Wind by Tasha Alexander is the seventeenth in the A Lady Emily Ashton Mystery series. It is a dual timeline set in the atmospheric and haunting Scottish Highlands with swathes of suspense and mystery and snippets of folklore. There are also romance, betrayal, family dynamics and courage. The characters are truly fascinating. But for me it was the setting that took my breath away as a huge fan of the Scottish Highlands.
Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves investigate a murder which takes place at lovely Cairnfarn Castle. This time they and their darling and mischievous sons are on vacation and the sons use their cunning and curiosity to aid their parents unearth clues. They are understandably shaken by death. Their wit and charm are so endearing! A few hundred years earlier well-off Lady MacAllister loses her husband and home, Cairnfarn Castle. She and friend (former slave) Tunisian Tasnim are looked upon with suspicion and hostility by local villagers and are dealt with harshly. When accused of witchcraft Lady MacAllister is desperate to prove herself. The two friends are desperate to hide their secret in the form of bundles of special books. But there are far, far more secrets, too. Though separated by many decades, the stories are masterfully tied together with a gratifying conclusion.
I just love Tasha Alexander's writing. It is always obvious she does her research meticulously as the details are vivid and highly descriptive. If you seek a Historical Fiction Mystery series, do envelop yourself in this one. The potential for future mystery solving is exciting with the energetic boys joining the team!
My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this beguiling novel.
Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves investigate a murder which takes place at lovely Cairnfarn Castle. This time they and their darling and mischievous sons are on vacation and the sons use their cunning and curiosity to aid their parents unearth clues. They are understandably shaken by death. Their wit and charm are so endearing! A few hundred years earlier well-off Lady MacAllister loses her husband and home, Cairnfarn Castle. She and friend (former slave) Tunisian Tasnim are looked upon with suspicion and hostility by local villagers and are dealt with harshly. When accused of witchcraft Lady MacAllister is desperate to prove herself. The two friends are desperate to hide their secret in the form of bundles of special books. But there are far, far more secrets, too. Though separated by many decades, the stories are masterfully tied together with a gratifying conclusion.
I just love Tasha Alexander's writing. It is always obvious she does her research meticulously as the details are vivid and highly descriptive. If you seek a Historical Fiction Mystery series, do envelop yourself in this one. The potential for future mystery solving is exciting with the energetic boys joining the team!
My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this beguiling novel.
September 30, 2023
"A Cold Highland Wind" by Tasha Alexander is an intriguing addition to the Lady Emily series that effortlessly blends historical depth with a contemporary murder mystery, all set against the stunning backdrop of the Scottish highlands. This novel is a captivating exploration of the past and its echoes in the present.
In the summer of 1905, Lady Emily and her family embark on a vacation at Cairnfarn Castle, only for their joyous celebration to turn into a grisly murder. Angus Sinclair's death leaves behind a trail of potential suspects, and the enigmatic runic stone found on his forehead deepens the mystery. As Alexander unravels the threads of history, the story of Lady MacAllister, accused of witchcraft in 1676, takes center stage, providing an eerie connection to the modern-day murder.
Alexander's storytelling prowess shines as she weaves together these two timelines, transporting readers to a world filled with secrets, motives, and the ominous presence of witchcraft. "A Cold Highland Wind" is a mesmerizing tale of suspense, beautifully written, and meticulously researched, offering a gripping reading experience for both historical fiction and mystery enthusiasts.
In the summer of 1905, Lady Emily and her family embark on a vacation at Cairnfarn Castle, only for their joyous celebration to turn into a grisly murder. Angus Sinclair's death leaves behind a trail of potential suspects, and the enigmatic runic stone found on his forehead deepens the mystery. As Alexander unravels the threads of history, the story of Lady MacAllister, accused of witchcraft in 1676, takes center stage, providing an eerie connection to the modern-day murder.
Alexander's storytelling prowess shines as she weaves together these two timelines, transporting readers to a world filled with secrets, motives, and the ominous presence of witchcraft. "A Cold Highland Wind" is a mesmerizing tale of suspense, beautifully written, and meticulously researched, offering a gripping reading experience for both historical fiction and mystery enthusiasts.
July 8, 2023
I started reading the Lady Emily mysteries at volume number 14 and have kept up with the series since. From Pompeii to Florence to Egypt and now the Scottish Highlands I’ve enjoyed Lady Emily solving murders in both present and ancient times. The nice thing with this series is that they read a bit like stand alones. All you need to know is Emily is an intelligent woman solving all manner of crimes in the 1900s. Each modern murder mirrors or connects with one in the past. Chapters alternate between her time and some time in history, in this case the 1760s at the height of witch hysteria.
I enjoyed both stories and liked how they each had a major unexpected betrayal. I felt though that we got a lot less of Emily than in previous novels but perhaps that’s just since there are so many in the series? Rural Scotland was a lovely place to experience in both time points, I can’t wait to see where she ends up next.
Thanks to Minotaur Books for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.
I enjoyed both stories and liked how they each had a major unexpected betrayal. I felt though that we got a lot less of Emily than in previous novels but perhaps that’s just since there are so many in the series? Rural Scotland was a lovely place to experience in both time points, I can’t wait to see where she ends up next.
Thanks to Minotaur Books for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.
May 22, 2023
Lady Emily finds herself with her family in the Scottish Highlands in this latest installment of Tasha Alexander's popular mystery series. She, Colin and her boys are hoping to spend a quiet holiday visiting a family friend, but instead find themselves embroiled in a murder involving mistaken identity, village intrigue, and scandal. Almost everyone is telling lies, and it is up to Emily and Colin to determine which ones matter, and which secrets are motivitating the killer to act.
I give this book a solid four stars. The cast of characters is particularly entertaining (I love the Great Aunts,) and there is a secondary story set in 1676 which provides some historic background and additional local details. I have read and enjoyed other books in this series, but it is not necessary to have done so to appreciate this one.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.
I give this book a solid four stars. The cast of characters is particularly entertaining (I love the Great Aunts,) and there is a secondary story set in 1676 which provides some historic background and additional local details. I have read and enjoyed other books in this series, but it is not necessary to have done so to appreciate this one.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 6, 2023
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Minotaur Books for gifting me review copies of this book. This is the 17th book (you read that right, 17!) in the Lady Emily Ashton Mystery series, but it is the first I've picked up.
In this new installment, we're transported to the wild Scottish highlands, for an ancient story of witchcraft that may hold the key to solving a murder centuries later. I enjoyed the split timeline, and the rate at which pieces of the story were dolled out to the reader. Of course, I can't go past a book set in Scotland either. It was cozy and mysterious, and an all-round enjoyable read.
The audiobook is narrated by Bianca Amato, and I quite enjoyed her performance. The audio comes in 9 hours, so it was a pretty quick listen.
In this new installment, we're transported to the wild Scottish highlands, for an ancient story of witchcraft that may hold the key to solving a murder centuries later. I enjoyed the split timeline, and the rate at which pieces of the story were dolled out to the reader. Of course, I can't go past a book set in Scotland either. It was cozy and mysterious, and an all-round enjoyable read.
The audiobook is narrated by Bianca Amato, and I quite enjoyed her performance. The audio comes in 9 hours, so it was a pretty quick listen.
October 17, 2023
I am clearly reading out of order if this is book #17 of the series.
This book is an enjoyable mystery set in the Scottish Highlands covering two time periods. The first is 1905, and the other is 1676 a time when Scotland accused 5x more women of witchcraft than the rest of Europe. The story finds Lady Emily Ashton, and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, our resident super sleuths, solving the murder of the mysterious groundskeeper at a friends castle.
Alexander's storytelling makes this a wonderful edition to the cozy mystery genre. It is suspenseful, scenic and perfect for mystery enthusiasts.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the complimentary copy.
This book is an enjoyable mystery set in the Scottish Highlands covering two time periods. The first is 1905, and the other is 1676 a time when Scotland accused 5x more women of witchcraft than the rest of Europe. The story finds Lady Emily Ashton, and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, our resident super sleuths, solving the murder of the mysterious groundskeeper at a friends castle.
Alexander's storytelling makes this a wonderful edition to the cozy mystery genre. It is suspenseful, scenic and perfect for mystery enthusiasts.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the complimentary copy.
October 25, 2023
Unfortunately, this was my least favorite book in the series. It was actually only half a book with a backstory set in the past that added absolutely nothing to the overall story. This is now the second book in a row where this has been done and I hope it will be the last. I was also surprised to see Jeremy Bainbridge, whose home in Scotland was the setting for this story, relegated to a very minor character who seemed quite different and somewhat unlikeable. The best characters were the sons and the delightful great aunts or “Greats”. Hopefully the next installment in this series will center wholly on Lady Emily and Colin.
January 4, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. Disclaimer, I have not read any other books in this series. I feel like it was fine reading it without reading the other books. I'm sure there are things I would have enjoyed more having read the others, but I'm still happy I read it.
This story follows dual timelines and it was one of the rare times where I enjoyed each timeline equally. I was fully invested in the mystery and the lives of these characters.
This is the perfect story for someone looking for a fun book set in Scotland with a lot of mystery and a little witchcraft.
I can't wait to pick up the rest of the series, now.
This story follows dual timelines and it was one of the rare times where I enjoyed each timeline equally. I was fully invested in the mystery and the lives of these characters.
This is the perfect story for someone looking for a fun book set in Scotland with a lot of mystery and a little witchcraft.
I can't wait to pick up the rest of the series, now.
August 15, 2024
Set in Scotland, this book was two stores loosely tied together in the end. It's my first of the Lady Emily stories and I have already started another one.
I liked the two stories, both set in the same Scottish town, one in the late 1600's and the other in 1905.
Tasha is a great story teller but it would have been more interesting if the two stories were more intertwined. Regardless, you won't be disappointed.
I liked the two stories, both set in the same Scottish town, one in the late 1600's and the other in 1905.
Tasha is a great story teller but it would have been more interesting if the two stories were more intertwined. Regardless, you won't be disappointed.
November 7, 2023
I adore stories that centered around the highlands. One because I am Scottish and Irish and also another widely popular series based within the same lore and geographical region. However, this book really stood out and defined its own story within the enchanting highlands. Would definitely read more by this author.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this title!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this title!
October 31, 2023
Enjoyed this Lady Emily episode for two particular reasons: first, I traveled to Scotland this year, and can picture the setting very well; second, I recently read a fictional account featuring "the witchfinder". I always enjoy a visit with Lady Emily!
October 3, 2023
Another wonderful book in this series,Love the writing the location.the characters.Thisis a series I often recommend and I really enjoy.#netgalley #st.martins
October 14, 2023
Lady Emily, her husband , and their three sons are visiting her lifelong friend Jeremy at his highland estate when the gamekeeper is murdered. He has an interesting backstory, and it becomes a question of whether he was murdered for deeds in his current life, or an enemy from his past. Alternate chapters deal with the experiences of a Moorish captive/slave/servant/companion to the young widowed laird of the castle. There's no real connection between the stories, unlike authors like Kate Ellis, who interweave the past into their present plots. I found the more contemporary (1905!) plot fairly clear from the outset, but the setting was interesting.
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