I enjoyed this fictional trip to the Scottish highlands. Painter, Seamus and his photographer wife, Sylvie run their shop and engage in their artistic pursuits while living in their small, close-knit community. When a painting by a well-known Scottish artist leads to murder, the chase is on! Pluses in this book include the very likeable characters and the relationships between them. There were times when I groaned as Sylvie yet again became a "damsel in distress." I figured out "whodunnit" but nonetheless recommend this novel. I will look for the other books in this series and you might want to too.

A real twister of a tale set in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland. It kept me guessing until the very end and I thoroughly enjoyed the book!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The adventure in the Highlands starts with a prologue, which befits the historical element needed to tell this tale. Here the true story of the removal of the Honours of Scotland from Dunnottar Castle are told, albeit with a tasty twist that then spawns the rest of the book. While the prologue is quite factual and descriptive, the slow start proves effective when the story switches to a first person narrative set in modern times. The marked change in technique jolts the reader into the lives of Sylvie and Seamus, man and wife, and owners of a small Scottish gallery where they craft and sell Seamus's paintings & Sylvie's photographs - all inspired by the stunning landscapes surrounding Cauld Loch.

When a painting - that has been sitting quietly in Seamus's gallery for many years - garners interest from two buyers, all sorts of questions arise. Why now? Why this painting? But it is only when the purchaser is later found dead following a car crash that all sorts of conspiracies come to the fore. The "accident" brings the police to their door and from hereon the Carmichaels' lives are plunged into danger - both physical and marital. The author unites the two threads effortlessly, making the reader want to know a)who killed the buyer? b)where is the painting now? and c)will Sylvie & Seamus survive the ordeal - or rather, will their marriage?

Happily, the author immerses the reader fully into Scottish life, using British terms like 'trousers' and 'mobile phones' to keep the characters relevant and true. (Although I did spy a 'sidewalk' and the use of 'bills' as money too - but this says more about me being pernickety than anything else). The scenery is painted - pardon the pun - with great skill and diligence, worthy of any material the Scottish Tourist Board might issue.  I challenge any reader to not be enchanted by the imagery and want to immediately book a trip themselves.

The story moves at a good pace, it will keep you turning the pages - or scrolling - and there are many twists and turns ahead. The questions are neatly resolved by the end, but you will undoubtedly feel the need to read more by this author. It is a rare talent to combine history and mystery with contemporary settings, characters and situations. I could see these characters in a soap opera, they have great appeal but are thoroughly down-to-earth and believable. I loved the historical flavour and felt it made for an addictive plot.

Another great story from Amy M. Reade and one I'd recommend to any mystery reader with a love for history and Scotland.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my own, voluntary review.

Highland Peril
By Amy M. Reade
Lyrical
September 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

Artist Seamus Carmichael may have nagged his wife Sylvie into agreeing to move from Edinburgh to Cauld Lock in the Scottish Highlands, but it’s a decision she has come to love. Sylvie is able to pursue her love of photography when not running her antique art shop, or helping out in the gallery when Seamus is called away by his muse. It is not his, but a slightly damaged painting by William Leighton Leitch, that promises a hefty price tag when it suddenly attracts two very interested buyers. When the first learns of the competition, he rushes to Highland Treasures to complete the purchase, only to perish in a car accident before ever returning home. Seamus’s police record make them leery of becoming involved in an investigation, something that proves impossible when it’s discovered that the painting disappeared and the second buyer continues to pursue the loss painting.

While Seamus is a blustery Scotsman with a ginger beard and intimidating presence, he has the dramatic temperament of an artist. Occasionally self-involved to the point of being inconsiderate, he nevertheless adores Sylvie and dissuades her life-endangering investigations. Seamus’s impressive showing at London’s Lundenburg Gallery allows Sylvie to visit the wife of the victim, which has Sylvie sympathetic but later questioning her judgment. The trail leads to a mysterious treasure from 1652, a prize loss during Scotland’s war with England and worth more than enough money to be a motive for murder.

This enthralling mystery will have readers more than willing to book the next flight overseas, as descriptions of London and the lush Scottish Highlands are tantalizing. The dialect is played down for Americans, but a handy glossary bridges any gaps and highlights the unique phrases. Sylvie and Seamus are a relatable and compelling couple, as while at times one wonders at Seamus’s focus his love for his wife is unquestionable. However different they may be, they are united by their artistic leanings and love for the Scottish Highlands. History and locale come alive in this extremely entertaining novel, which is a standout as it features Scotland’s ancient castles, chilly weather, and extraordinary culture. This is escapism at its best, as it is a compelling mystery that whisks readers away to a land as beautiful as it is rich with intrigue.

I love any book that takes place in Scotland and this one was no exception. It was a great mystery.

I wavered between 1.5 and 2 stars, so I'll be generous and round it up. I struggled to finish this. I didn't particularly like anyone in the book and the "villain" was pretty lame and laughable to me. The writing at times seemed pretty amateurish, and this isn't Ms. Reades first book, so I can confidently say I won't be reading anything else by her.

I really wanted to like this because it has features that I like...Scottish setting, mystery, a little backstory, but, unfortunately, this just wasn't for me.

**Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.**

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time - it has a real wow factor and an ending I absolutely did not see coming. It's a contemporary mystery with an historical twist featuring interesting characters, a beautiful Scottish setting with a bonus trip to London as well as a compelling plot. Photographer Sylvie and her artist husband Seamus run an art gallery in their small Scottish town where they sell their own works along with some old paintings. There is one particular painting by an old Scottish master that Seamus found in a junk shop which he has been trying to sell for three years when all of a sudden there is a flurry of interest in the painting. Seamus sells it to the first interested buyer but he is then killed in a car crash the police think was not accidental and it turns out that the painting may hold the map to an historical but lost portion of the Scottish crown. I was hooked from the very first page to the very last.

Historical jewels are stolen from Scottish relics and hidden away. Years later a painting may hold the clue to where these magnificent jewels may be hidden. The lengths to what people go to, to discover where the jewels are, leave lives shattered.
I enjoyed this book. It has lots of twists to the storyline. It has drama, and intrigue. The characters are valid. I recommend it.
5 stars