This has just been an OK cozy mystery series for me. Janet discovers a body while out bicycling one morning. No one is sure if it was an accident or something more. When his brother is also found dead everyone is sure there is a connection. A mysterious box of books is found in front of the bookshop as well. While researching the books they look for clues that connect the books to the deaths. I found the book to be very slow moving. I had a hard time finishing. I found the characters to be more annoying. The mystery was only OK and I did not like the solution. I enjoy the bookstore, tea room and Scottish background. I enjoy this author's other series.

Molly MacRae intrigues with a Scottish bookstore and murder in Thistles and Thieves, third in the Highland Bookshop mystery series.. Janet discovers the body of a local doctor down a steep slope where he had fallen with his bicycle. Then a mysterious box of books turns up on the bookstore steps. Bodies start dropping. Janet and the other amateur sleuths join together to find whodunit. Good cozy in Scottish setting.

This was a very charming third book in The Highland Bookshop Mystery series. I haven’t read the others, but it didn’t stop my enjoyment of this novel and I’m sure I will search out the first two books soon, in order to catch up. The novel is set around Yon Bonnie Books and the women who run it, one of which is Janet who sets out for a bike ride and stumbles across a body. This isn’t an unusual occurrence, because Janet and her friends have quite the knack for sniffing out a mystery.

Yon Bonnie Books is a bookshop and tearoom run by Janet and her long time friend Christine, and their daughters Tallie and Summer. While the ladies are experts when it comes to books and cake, their sleuthing is definitely amateur. They call themselves S.C.O.N.E.S - Shadow Constabulary of Nosey Eavesdropping Snoops - and do seem to have a knack for crime solving. They are on first name terms with local policemen, both called Norman. This time Janet has discovered the body of a 70 year old local doctor. While he could have had health problems, causing him to fall to his death, Janet is puzzled by tyre tracks she sees at the scene. If he was unwell, why didn’t he use his brakes and come to a stop before reaching the edge? Her interest is piqued further on meeting Dr Murray’s sister, an old school friend of Christine’s. Then a box of rare books turn up at the bookshop and the ladies suspect they may belong to the doctor. When they get round to interviewing his brother Gerald they find another dead body, this time killed with a dagger. It looks like there might have been a burglary and for the first time the ladies are having to answer questions instead of ask them.

This was an easily read in a couple of sittings and fits into the category I call a ‘comfort read’ that includes books like the James Herriot series and books like Little Women. I can curl up with one under a duvet with a hot drink and while away several happy hours. The setting and characters were charming and something of a rose tinted fantasy. They depict a Scotland that probably doesn’t exist, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing in a series like this - I wasn’t expecting an episode of Taggart after all. The locals are a bunch of lovable misfits and eccentrics and the local constabulary are very tolerant. That said, I did find the novel engaging and could see myself popping the first two on my TBR list.

My thanks to Netgalley and Pegasus books for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Thistles and Thieves by Molly MacRae is a Scottish cozy mystery and is third in the Highland Bookshop Mystery series. Although cozies are not usually my favorite genre of fiction, this one hooked me from the onset. This is a murder mystery but, more importantly, this is a story about Janet Marsh and the friendship between women who together, run and own a bookstore and tea room. Yon Bonnie Books in Inversgail is where the women work and also where they discuss and investigate local murders, much to the frustration of the local police. It all starts when Janet discovers the corpse of the the local retired physician. Shortly after, the victim’s brother is killed and the ladies are off and running. They are determined to get to the bottom of these mysterious deaths, while pointing the local constabulary in the right direction. This is a very pleasant read. If you like your mysteries cozy, Thistles and Thieves is for you. Thank you to Pegasus Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Molly MacRae, and publisher Pegasus Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this cozy mystery of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to refer this author to friends and family. Her work is delightful.

Taking place in Inversgail, a small town on the northwestern coast of Scotland, Thistles and Thieves is the third book of the Highland Bookshop Mysteries, which is the second mystery series written by Molly MacRae, the first being the Haunted Yarn Shop mystery series. All seem to be stand-alone reads. Thank you Netgalley for exposing me to the delightful cozy novels of Molly MacRae. She writes a tight compelling story with warm, interesting characters and touches of Scotland round every corner.

Janet Marsh and her daughter Tallie are Americans living in a small town in central Illinois, next door to the Richardson family, comprised of Christine and her daughter Summer, both transplants from Scotland many years ago. The daughters were childhood friends and college roommates back in the day, beginning a friendship between mothers and daughters that only deepened with time. When Christine needs to return to Scotland to care for her aging parents, daughter Summer and best friends Janet and Tallie sell up shop and go with her. Together this foursome and their delightful critters make quite an interesting team.

These crime stoppers laughingly call themselves the S.C.O.N.E.S ( the Shadow Constabulary of Nosey Eavesdropping Snoops). They have a very good relationship with a couple of the local police, and a good record of solving cases. In their professional life, the ladies run several businesses under one roof in downtown Inversgail - a bookstore titled 'Yon Bonnie Books', a tearoom and cafe titled 'Cakes and Tales', and a bed and breakfast on the upper story known as 'Bedtime Tales'.

And things are going along swimmingly until Janet decides to get a new bicycle - everyone bikes in Scotland. Today is the annual Haggis Half Hundred Challange. Janet is using the impetus of this year's ride to work herself into shape - it's been thirty years since she last rode a bicycle - for next year's Haggis Half Hundred. No one is really surprised when she finds a dead body alongside Beaton Bridge. That is, after all, what she does. Then another body... and between this body and the next is the mysterious whiskey box of old, treasured books left on the doorstep of Yon Bonnie Books...

“We are amateurs and we know it. We bumble and muddle and we’re certainly led astray by red herrings.”
“Although, let’s not sell ourselves short.”

A third outing for Molly MacRae’s cast of characters running the Yon Bonnie Books in the quaint Scottish town of Inversgail. The SCONES (Shadowy Constabulary of Nosy Eavesdropping Snoops), as they were once called by a character in a previous book – Janet Marsh and her daughter Tallie, and friends Christine and Summer – have only just moved on a few weeks from their previous adventure, but out on her bike, training for the Haggis Half-Hundred Ride, Janet stumbles across a body and the sleuthing foursome find themselves involved in another plot, this time involving a box of books and a strange family of siblings. For fans of the previous books, the usual cast of characters is back, including Constable Hobbs, handyman Rab and his terrier Ranger, and Inspector Reddick, the ever-tolerant local detective.

I am a big fan of this series, and as long as you don’t mind the rose-tinted view of Scottish life through the lens of an American writer, you will too. The characters are what drives this series, whether it be the four main female leads or the oddballs and eccentrics that occupy this magical Scottish town. It’s a fast-paced cozy murder mystery that is perfect for a winter’s evening, so if you are looking for some escapism and an engaging whodunnit, then this is perfect reading. A bonnie 4 stars.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

The Highland Bookshop Mystery Series Book 3

Back to Scotland at Yon Bonnie Books with Janet and friends.

Janet is out for a bike ride by Inversgail when she sees tracks and finds Dr. Murray and his bike down a very steep slope. Calling the Police Scotland emergency number, she is struck by what look like tire tracks. If this was an accident why in the world didn't they stop? And if it wasn't an accident who in the world would want to kill a much loved and already retired doctor?

In the next few days, Janet finds a box of vintage first editions on her bookstore doorstep. The note tells her to look after them. But she and her team aren't sure what that even means. There are mysterious writings in the books and they all agree that they must have belonged to the doctor. And off they go to find Gerald, the brother.

First calling the doctor's home they get his sister. And boy is she angry and from the looks of things the house has been robbed. Moving on to the reclusive Gerald, they instead find a dead body killed with a dagger. Now both brothers are dead and things are starting to look sketchy.

The police are investigating the deaths for connections but are also looking askance at Janet and her team. They just want to find out how the books got to the shop and why.

And so the mystery begins. But will Janet and her team end up in jail?

The third book in the series is really good. The characters are so real and the descriptions of the area make you feel like you are right there in bonny Scotland!

Very Well Done!!'

NetGalley/ January 7th, 2020 by Pegasus Books

I'm so glad I stuck with this series. It has gotten better with each book as the characters have grown. The pace continues to be the perfect slower pace found in a cozy. The perfect reading getaway.
Janet and her daughter, Tallie, along with Janet's long time friend, Christine and her daughter, Summer, run a combination book store and tea room. Janet and Tallie are American transplants and Christine and her daughter have returned to their roots in Scotland. Together they make quite a team. They don't just sell scones, tea and books. They have a knack for 'bumbling' over bodies and then figuring out who dunnit. They have a very good relationship with two policemen, both named Norman and share every bit of information and gossip with them. Respect goes both ways between them. The ladies have named themselves the S.C.O.N.E.S ( the Shadow Constabulary of Nosey Eavesdropping Snoops) and Janet has brought them a new case.
All Janet wanted was to try out her new bike with a plan to get into shape to ride in next years Half Hundred Haggis ride. While enjoying the local scenery she discovers the body of a local doctor, tossed like a rag doll on the rocks below a stone bridge. Was it a tragic accident, he was almost 70 and he may have had health issues that led to him going off the road to his death. That would have been the end of things but soon Janet and Christine encounter the dead mans' sister who happens to be an old classmate of Christine's. With that connection, they offer condolences and are surprised at her reaction. It's not long before two more deaths occur and they are most certainly not accidents. When they realize that they are getting conflicting descriptions of each of the victims, the puzzle gets more complicated.
Christine sums it up well. "We are amateurs and we know it. We bumble and muddle and we are certainly led astray by red herrings......."And passively trying to uncover answers, rather than actively trying, is both pleasingly subtle and well within our amateur skill set".
If you need a nicely paced well crafted puzzle in a lovely setting, complete with pots of tea, scones, good friends and a couple of sweet cats named Smirr and Butter to warm your lap, give this one a try. It works fine as a stand alone.

This is the 3rd installment of the Highland Bookshop series. The ladies (Janet, Christine, Tallie and Summer) of Yon Bonnie Books (love the name of this bookshop) are back at in again when Janet is out for a bike ride when she finds the body of Dr. Murray at the bottom of a burn and she calls Scotland Yard. There are also tire tracks nearby so was this an accident or what is on purpose. A box of books gets left at the bookshop a few days later and the ladies suspect they are Dr. Murray’s. They begin to investigate and soon there are two more deaths and they must be related. Are the box of books the clue to solving the mystery. Good mystery and addition to this series.

Beautiful setting, engaging characters, and a head scratcher of a mystery. Not only is there a murder, but also the appearance of mystery books which keeps the ladies and authorities guessing. A strong addition to a fantastic series.

Such a lovely trip to a Scotland Bookshop in this well crafted mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep it interesting. and suck you into reading until the end.

Thistles and Thieves is the third book in the Highland Bookshop, it does work as a standalone but I recommend reading them in series order. Molly MacRae has created wonderful characters and as always the story is well plotted. This is one of my favorite series set in Scotland, the setting is is so well written I feel like I'm there.

Excellent mystery with several twists. Lots of characters and a highland background keeps it suspenseful. the ladies of Yon Bonnie Books, Janet, Christine, Tallie, and Summer, are confused when a sealed box of used books is left on the steps of the shop. Are they a clue left behind by the local retired doctor that Janet found dead after a bicycling accident?And then travelling nurse, Lachy is found murdered. When the doctor's hermit brother is also found murdered the ladies realize they must all be linked together. But who and why, and is the box of books a clue?

Third in the series of a cozy mystery series. Foreknowledge of the previous books is not necessary, this appears to be a series you can just dive into. I found the plot to be somewhat slow and uninteresting (always a risk with cozy mysteries, I suppose) and spent much of my time wondering if the focus on a main character who is an American transplant to Scotland might be a bit of wish fulfillment/self-insertion. It was, however, lovely to have an older character as the central MC

This is a wonderful addition to the series. I love all the characters and I would say it's a read alike for those who like M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin. I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up a TV series for ACORN TV or BRITBOX.