This is the 11th book in the series, but while reading it I didn't feel at a loss for information from the preceding stories. It held up well on its own. Well written and fast-paced, this book has the classic amateur sleuth who is curious about a map found behind a painting. The theory that it could be a treasure map holds quite a bit of appeal for the inner child of the reader and several of the characters. Liss MacCrimmon is the sleuth who runs a Scottish import store in Moosetookalook, Maine. How could a reader resist a town name like that? There were plenty of suspects to keep the cozy fan guessing, the characters seem likable, and the action didn't lag. Overall a fun book with a nice seasoned sleuth with a loving and supportive husband and great friends. Refreshingly, Liss also doesn't have much trauma drama in her life other than her parents moving back to town from years in Arizona. Lots to like here, including irresistible cats and dogs that get to prewash the dishes! Posted on Goodreads.

X Marks the Scot
Kaitlyn Dunnett

I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery. What a refreshing change from the zombies,spies, and terrorist stuff that I have been reading. I loved the setting in Maine and the town's name. What a hoot. This is my first Liss MacCrimmon book but not my last.
I like auctions and old houses so the starting pages got my interest at once. The cats and dogs just made it better.
I finished the book in one day. I just couldn't pause it for more than a few minutes. Just had to know what would happen next. The characters were so real and easy to like. I think I know some of them. The plot was well done and kept the suspence till the end. Well Done.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So glad I did.

3.5 Stars

Liss MacCrimmon Ruskin is always on the lookout for finds for her Scottish Emporium in Moosetookalook, Maine. She finds an interesting portrait of a bagpiper at an auction held on the grounds of the old Chadwick mansion, which is scheduled to be torn down to make way for a new assisted living home. She is almost outbid, but is successful in obtaining the painting. While struggling to get leave with her new purchase, she discovers what appears to be an old treasure map hidden behind the painting. She can’t put aside her curiosity and the need for answers leads her and her aunt to Canada, where Liss discovers the dead body of a genealogical archivist who had been helping them with their research. Liss returns home, but won’t quit searching for answers, even when it appears the killer may have followed her from Canada to permanently put an end to her investigation.

This series has several prior books, but I’ve only read the last couple. I had no problem joining the series late and I think new readers can easily catch up on what they need to enjoy this book. Liss is an interesting main character. She’s a former professional dancer and uses that same discipline to focus in on her work as a shop-owner and in investigations. She is curious and persistent, but sometimes she can be a bit overbearing. She is at her best when working with her Aunt Margaret or with her husband, Dan, who worries about her but supports her in all she does. Dan is there for her through the break-ins and the danger Liss encounters.

Liss’s trip to Nova Scotia with Margaret to buy items for the shop and to do some investigating is fast-paced and fun to read. What happens when they return to Maine unfolds at a much slower pace and tends to get a bit repetitive as Liss uncovers a potential suspect, enlists help from her friend Sherri Campbell, the Chief of Police of Moosetookalook, interferes in the questioning, the suspect being released, and then Liss finding another possible thief and murderer.

Liss has plenty of potential suspects from which to choose as there are a lot of unlikable characters who seem to be up to no good and this makes it hard to guess the identity of the killer. The solution to the murder and the treasure hunt is logical, but not as interesting as the puzzle itself. I enjoyed the book, but not as much as the prior installments. Those who follow the series will enjoy the book, especially for some possible developments in Liss’s life, as will fans of Vicki Delany or Sheila Connolly.

~ Christine

A fun addition to a charming and delightful series. Finding a treasure map would be fun for anyone. Engaging and entertaining. Several surprises, especially the ending. Makes one eager for book #12.

X Marks the Scot is the eleventh book in Kaitlyn Dunnett’s Liss MacCrimmon Mystery series. The author provides great character background and this book can easily be read as a standalone without feeling lost jumping in this far into the series. Ms. Dunnett has written an entertaining mystery with a great cast of characters. The story has enough twists, turns, and suspects to keep the reader engaged. I recommend this book for readers who enjoy a good cozy murder mystery.

Liss MacCrimmon Ruskin owns a gift shop, the Scottish Emporium, and lives with her husband, Dan, in the small village of Moosetookalook, Maine. While attending an estate auction at the Chadwick mansion, Liss gets into a bidding war for a painting of an unattractive bagpiper she wants to display in her shop. As Liss and her friend, Chief of Police Sherrie Campbell, try to get the painting into the back of Sherrie’s cruiser, Liss loses her grip and when the painting hits the ground, the wooden backing splits open and she finds a treasure map. She’s doesn’t know where the map will lead her or what, if anything, is hidden, but she decides to start at the Chadwick estate. Her search takes and her Aunt Margaret to Canada to meet with Orson Bailey at the Chadwick Historical and Genealogical Society, where she discovers the body of Mr. Bailey, the archivist and town historian, who had agreed to put a packet of pertinent documents together for them. Trouble and dead bodies seem to follow Liss no matter where she goes and she can’t stop herself from getting involved every time.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Oh I always enjoy a new mystery with Liss and Aunt Margaret, you never quite know what they'll end up getting into. I also enjoy learning a bit about the Scottish heritage which I'm not as familiar with. I do look forward to seeing her navigate her parent's return to town, that should be quite interesting in the future.

Moosetookalook Maine? I had not read any of the preceding books in this series and had some catching up to do but I found Less an engaging and entertaining character who is a classic of the cozy genre. Aunt Margaret makes an excellent side kick as Liss goes off on her investigation. I loved that this moved to Nova Scotia (always good when dead bodies are found somewhere other than a small town) and the treasure map aspect of the mystery. It's not too complicated and it's well written. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'll look for Dunnett again.

I have enjoyed every book in this series and the latest installment did not disappoint. This storyline is very unique while holding true to cozy mysteries and the previous installments.
Liss is an interesting main character. What always gets me is that she seems to exist outside of reality with her expectations, but everyone she surrounds herself with is so grounded. It always seems that trouble and dead bodies follow Liss around, and she just cannot help but get involved every single time.
This was definitely an enjoyable read. The setting of the little village was charming as always, almost like coming home as soon as I read the first page. The mystery is always fullfilling and the characters feel like family. Definitely a great addition to the series.

A great addition to this series. I have followed this series from the very beginning and this really adds a new edge to this with a treasure map. I also like that this is an easy and engaging read. I stayed up way too late to finish as I had to to know the ending. Highly recommend

I enjoyed this book very much. It's fun a and light-hearted cozy that was a good afternoon read. It's the 11th book in the series, but it isn't necessary to have read the other books to enjoy this one.

Liss MacCrimmon Ruskin owns a Scottish shop in Maine. She goes to an estate auction and buys a not very attractive, but interesting, painting. As she's getting it into her car, she notices a bulge in the back and finds a treasure map under the lining. She's not sure where the X is, or what it leads to, but she definitely wants to find out.

Her search takes her Nova Scotia, where she stumbles upon a dead body. Does it have anything to do with her map? She won't stop until she knows all the answers.

The plot was interesting and the writing was well-done as usual. I recommend this book, especially for cozy lovers.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

At first I was a little confused with the barrage of characters, reminiscences and the whole town in general. After a while I started picking things up, although I never fully got there. I'd have to go back and read the first ten books to fully grasp this book. Oddly enough, despite my four star rating, I felt like the mystery was a little weak and contrived. BUT I did see the potential, and realized most of the failings I had with this book were my own and not the fault of the author or the book itself.

I'm going to go back sometime and read the others. This seems like a standard cozy series, four stars.

X Marks the Scot by the talented Kaitlyn Dunnett is the eleventh book in the Liss MacCrimmon series,

While attending an auction, Liss becomes the proud owner of a painting of a bagpiper, a painting she plans to add to her expanding collection.
Excited to have one the painting, Liss accidentally drops the awkward painting, loosening a piece of paper that was tucked behind the frame.
Curious about her recent discovery, Liss wonders what the piece of paper could be, to her it look slike an old treasure map.
Liss confides her discovery to her Aunt Margaret and the dynamic duo set off for Canada, hoping to find some answers there. Unfortunately, their appointment turns gruesome, when Liss discovers the body of the historian that was going to assist them.

As strange things begin to happen, Liss fears that someone is following her and she becomes determined to find the anwers to the mysterious treasure map.

I have become a dedicated fan to this fun series. Ms. Dunnett weaves such exciting stories and I have loved each book in this unique series.
Liss is a strong character and her love and loyalty to her friends and family make her a lovable character.
The setting og Moosetookalook, Maine is appealing and interesting and of course, who doesn't love that name?!

If you haven't read a Liss MacCrimmon mystery, you are missing out on one of the best cozy series in print.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for letting me read this book. I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader's Copy and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

At an estate auction, Liss (MacCrimmon) Ruskin outbids two others for a portrait that she wants to hang in her store, Moosetookalook Scottish Emporium. She drops it on the way to her car and finds a treasure map, featuring the proverbial X, lodged behind the canvas. And so begins her adventure to find the location rendered on the map so she can find what is under x. Liss begins by tracking the heritage of the estate's family. Her journey involves a trip to Nova Scotia, finding a dead body and a few twists provided by folks she noticed at the auction.

The mystery is reasonably complex and skillfully executed. The characters and relationships are well developed and portrayed realistically. The pace keeps the pages turning. This is an easy and entertaining read especially with the interaction between friends and family.

While the reader can tell there is history among many of these characters from earlier books in this cozy series this story does stand on its own.

'X Marks the Scot' is my first Liss MacCrimmon mystery and even though I can tell the characters all have back stories I could understand this sparkling mystery in the moment. There is humor, suspense, intelligence and great friend and family interactions. Everything about it is crisp and good and I'm completely a fan!

I have really enjoyed this series, and I enjoyed this book, but this one didn't have the same spark that the others did. It seemed a little flat. I'm not sure why, but I think part of the problem for me is that the leeway that Liss is allowed to investigate didn't seem realistic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC.

It has been a while since I read a Liss MacCrimmon Mystery and it might be a while before I read another since I did not find this, Number 11 in the series, too engaging.

The murder mystery element was very thin and it was pretty easy to work out the who and why. The background story, including a treasure map and a visit to Nova Scotia, was fair, but a lot of the padding out was pretty dull and fairly routine stuff.

The only glimmer of something new happening to the main characters is in the return of Liss’ parents to Moosetookalook after twenty years, and that only takes place at the end, presumably to allow them a feature role in Number 12.

It may be that this series, like others I have reviewed recently, has reached a point where the author has run out of major ideas. Or, perhaps, there’s a surprise left in the Scottish Emporium…

Three stars…for auld lang syne!

I really enjoy the characters in this book, but I felt the whodunit in this latest offering was not one of the strongest in the series.
However, I did enjoy the Nova Scotia storyline.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance review copy of this book.

I feel like this series has run its course. The stories are no longer compelling and the characters are very set and not developing at all.

Entertaining ,atmospheric and enjoyable.