What do you think?
Rate this book
Ian Skair Private Investigator #5
The Man in the Red Overcoat
Murder or suicide?
Ian’s detective agency has hit a dull spot. Until a mysterious woman visits him, a body is found under the Tay Bridge and a French PI arrives on his doorstep.
Ian and Molly become embroiled in the world of art theft when a second rate nineteenth century Scottish portrait painter suddenly becomes inexplicably popular.
Can they unravel the mystery before any more bodies are found?
Ian’s detective agency has hit a dull spot. Until a mysterious woman visits him, a body is found under the Tay Bridge and a French PI arrives on his doorstep.
Ian and Molly become embroiled in the world of art theft when a second rate nineteenth century Scottish portrait painter suddenly becomes inexplicably popular.
Can they unravel the mystery before any more bodies are found?
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2023
22 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 17, 2025
Truthfully I was more often irritated and/or bored as I read this 5th installment of Ian on the job. It was on sale the day I made my purchase, always an incentive for me. I think I stick with the series because of the dog Lottie.
March 20, 2023
The Man in the Red Overcoat: A twisty Scottish mystery is the 5th book in the Ian Skair Private Investigator series by Hilary Pugh.
Ian’s PI business is doing well but he’s looking forward to a more interesting case. He sure gets one. Not knowing who to trust makes this already strange case more challenging.
I really like Ian, Molly, and Lottie. Ian and Molly work well together and balance each other out. I appreciate that Ian recognizes that there are areas Molly is more skilled at and is fine to let her take the lead. This was a very interesting case since there was so much going on. I enjoy how characters from other books pop-up. If you haven’t read the other books, it doesn’t take anything away, but it is a treat for fans of the series.
I can’t wait to see what is up next for Ian since he has a choice to make..
Thank you to the author for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Ian’s PI business is doing well but he’s looking forward to a more interesting case. He sure gets one. Not knowing who to trust makes this already strange case more challenging.
I really like Ian, Molly, and Lottie. Ian and Molly work well together and balance each other out. I appreciate that Ian recognizes that there are areas Molly is more skilled at and is fine to let her take the lead. This was a very interesting case since there was so much going on. I enjoy how characters from other books pop-up. If you haven’t read the other books, it doesn’t take anything away, but it is a treat for fans of the series.
I can’t wait to see what is up next for Ian since he has a choice to make..
Thank you to the author for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
March 20, 2023
🔎🖼Ian & Molly take on a Frenchman: help or headache?!
Thefts, missing person, suspicious death, assault: this P.I. Ian Skair mystery had a lot of threads that kept me mystified and that's always a good thing when I'm reading a mystery.
The addition of a French P.I. to the action increased the confusion and seemed more an aggravation and light relief than a help on the case most of the time.
What really came through clearly was smart and able Molly, Ian's assistant, who's given a key role. She shows such initiative and perspicacity. It's often Molly, not the P.I.s, who has the best contacts, the ability to winkle information out of people and success in putting their investigation on the right track. She should be Ian's full partner!
Ian's personal dilemma with the women in his life and his enjoyment of the close connection with his Scottie Lottie enter into the story but I did not find them distracting from the complications of the case. Not as fast-moving as I would have preferred but a good detective story and I liked that , though they don't always see eye to eye, Ian and the local police maintain a cordial and mutually supportive relationship.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
Thefts, missing person, suspicious death, assault: this P.I. Ian Skair mystery had a lot of threads that kept me mystified and that's always a good thing when I'm reading a mystery.
The addition of a French P.I. to the action increased the confusion and seemed more an aggravation and light relief than a help on the case most of the time.
What really came through clearly was smart and able Molly, Ian's assistant, who's given a key role. She shows such initiative and perspicacity. It's often Molly, not the P.I.s, who has the best contacts, the ability to winkle information out of people and success in putting their investigation on the right track. She should be Ian's full partner!
Ian's personal dilemma with the women in his life and his enjoyment of the close connection with his Scottie Lottie enter into the story but I did not find them distracting from the complications of the case. Not as fast-moving as I would have preferred but a good detective story and I liked that , though they don't always see eye to eye, Ian and the local police maintain a cordial and mutually supportive relationship.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
March 20, 2023
More than enough threads to knit an alpaca jumper . Twist turns deceptions . A woman turns up at Ian’s office wanting him to trace a man she met in Paris, there’s not much to go on ,she has a photo of the man’s profile taken from behind…Things start unravelling faster than he can keep up with it all, especially when a French man turns up on his doorstep. With the help of Molly his assistant and his pal from the force Duncan and a few of his old acquaintances he endeavours to crack the case.Very well written , descriptions excellent and the piecing up of clues keeps the reader enthralled.
I received an advance copy of the book and my review is in my own words voluntary
I received an advance copy of the book and my review is in my own words voluntary
October 7, 2025
Audiobook: I enjoyed this story a lot. I was amazed by this clever and complex mystery which reminded me of a twisted pretzel with all the red herrings and incidental clues. Ian Skair and his assistant continued to fascinate me at their determination and capability to solve the case regardless of the lack of information or misinformation provided by their clients. I thought Charles Robert Fox's narration was great, and his performance enhanced the story's entertainment. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.
October 13, 2025
So who is the man in the unique red overcoat? Ian and his assistant, Molly are hired to find him. Such a complicated case. Who to trust? Twists. Turns. So good. So clever. Well written. Well told.
The narrator has a heavy Scottish accent. Great for this story, but this Yankee had to really concentrate to understand. I did get use to it after a while, but I'd rather be able to relax more while listening. He does a great job with varying voices so 4 stars for him.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this Audiobook from the author through Story Origin.
The narrator has a heavy Scottish accent. Great for this story, but this Yankee had to really concentrate to understand. I did get use to it after a while, but I'd rather be able to relax more while listening. He does a great job with varying voices so 4 stars for him.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this Audiobook from the author through Story Origin.
February 23, 2023
Ian manages to find himself wrapped up in yet another puzzling case - this time with a reluctant partner - in addition to the faithful Molly. Pugh continues to add unexpected twists and turns, keeping my attention on the story. So much so, that I found myself trying to figure it out when I was away from the book, doing other things. I would recommend The Man in the Red Overcoat to someone who wants a cozy mystery that is just the right length.
I received an ARC; this is my honest review.
I received an ARC; this is my honest review.
April 16, 2023
The Last One?
Enjoyed reading as this series is meaty, not flighty as some mysteries. The details like Skair himself plod along but are not boring. A good who done it with a disappointing romantic ending and Stair still not having a clue. We do know he's in love with Lottie... his dog. Also no mention of a sequel but of a new series to come out this year 2023. If there were a sequel it would be so far in the future one would forget what even happened in this one!
Enjoyed reading as this series is meaty, not flighty as some mysteries. The details like Skair himself plod along but are not boring. A good who done it with a disappointing romantic ending and Stair still not having a clue. We do know he's in love with Lottie... his dog. Also no mention of a sequel but of a new series to come out this year 2023. If there were a sequel it would be so far in the future one would forget what even happened in this one!
March 2, 2023
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this series and this latest instalment is no different. My only quibble is that it felt they took their time investigating a few characters, particularly Claude, but other than that, it was an entertaining mystery full of twists and turns. I look forward to more in the series and am curious about the new series to come! Hilary Pugh has been a happy find!
March 1, 2023
I love the Ian Skair mysteries and this one did not disappoint. Has some interesting twists and turns. Enjoy.
February 6, 2024
Unputdownable!
Loved it, like all the others...more about Ian Skair please. The characters are well described and the plots very enjoyable. Thank you Hilary!
Loved it, like all the others...more about Ian Skair please. The characters are well described and the plots very enjoyable. Thank you Hilary!
August 8, 2025
I loved this series! Thoroughly enjoyable!
December 27, 2023
Ian is deciding whether to take a new case which he thinks the client is lying about something. During his preliminary research he is so intrigued, he decides yes, to accept. I enjoyed his character along with his assistant's, Misty. Both were well described. The case as presented was original and involved to keep me reading to figure out all the pieces. I definitely wanted to see that red overcoat! Enjoy with pleasure.
I was given a free copy of the ebook and asked to leave an honest review.
I was given a free copy of the ebook and asked to leave an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews