Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. It was interesting to have most of the book taking place in Scotland instead of Florida. I found the book to be a little darker in tone, probably because of Vera, Hailey's sister-in-law. I found her rather unpleasant for most of the book, except for the very end. The vast majority of the characters gravitating around the main mystery are not exactly nice. I suppose it helps once we get to know the full extent of the mystery. The storyline was interesting, but I thought that the culprit's reason to commit murder would have been something else. Nevertheless, it was a very good and entertaining book. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.

I was given a free e-copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I have never read anything by Lucy Burdette and found myself starting with book eleven of her Key West Food Critic series.

Hayley Snow and her new bridegroom Nathan Bransford are heading to Scotland for their honeymoon and to meet Nathan's sister, Vera. Along with them is Nathan's mother, Helen, and their Houseboat Row neighbor/friend Miss Gloria. Vera is working with college friends to complete a book about Scotland, and has a scheduled itinerary to include everything. At the Falkirk Wheel, things start to fall apart as a man falls to this death. The three friends claim to not know the man, but Haley, Helen, and Miss Gloria all suspect differently, and it soon becomes clear that the Scotland friends might not be friends after all.

I really liked Haley and Miss Gloria. Haley was calm about all of the plans that Vera had created. I'm not sure I would have been as calm if I was on my honeymoon and was not spending time with my new husband. I also liked how she made sure to take precautions if there was even a whiff of danger. Miss Gloria was the type of older lady I aspire to be. She was fun, cautious, but very open and blunt about what she was experiencing and thinking.

The mystery was a little slow. I was expecting more interaction with the Scotland friends but it felt so distant and aloof. It also felt a little simple. I suspected what was going on before I was halfway through the book, but was curious to see if there would be a twist of some kind. I also believe there were too many names that began with the letter "G" and it caused a bit of confusion in some parts.

I do love the addition of the recipes at the end of the novel, though. I feel that gives the book more relatability.

Overall, I rate this novel 3 out of 5.

I was worried when one of my favorite series went on a trip away from the standard locale of Key West to Scotland, but my concern was unfounded! This was an absolute gem! The addition of new characters and especially the new scenery and food descriptions made Scotland come alive as much as Key West always does in this series. The story was fun and complex and truly tied in with the ongoing series set in Key West. One of my favorites of this series!

A Scone of Contention will take you on a trip to Scotland. The characters will intrigue you and keep you wondering who is telling all the truth and not lies. Your mouth will water at all the good food. Enjoy eating and solving the murder.

Nathan Branford and Hayley Snow are on their way to Scotland for a long awaited honeymoon but Miss Gloria and Nathan's mom Helen are also going so not much of an alone time for the couple. .While Nathan is off playing golf with his brother in law Hayley, Miss Gloria and Helen all are in the care of Nathan's sister Vera, who is co authoring a book about Scotland's thin places.. But things are happening and when a man falls from the Falkirk Wheel Hayley can't stay out of things. She knows the death was no accident . Will she figure out what's going on before its too late? Or will there be more victims including her or someone she loves ? Full of non stop action. Great story with realistic characters.

downloaded for my mother to read not my type of book. I will never read this type of book, not for me, no thank you

Hayley leaves one troubling situation behind in Key West and finds herself facing another one in Scotland. She and husband Nathan are supposed to be honeymooning but it has turned into a group vacation with Miss Gloria and Nathan's mother joining the trip. They are staying with Nathan's sister and brother-in-law. His sister Vera is very tense and distracted while working on a group book project, and shepherds the ladies on a tour that visits some of the sites her book covers. It is painfully obvious she and her book team are at odds and the book project is in jeopardy. A poisoning at a group dinner and her sister-in-law's distress prompt Hayley to start looking for answers. Lots of sightseeing, food, and investigating; not much honeymoon!

Hayley is a food critic for a Key West publication, and her husband, Nathan, is a police detective. They live on a house boat next to an octogenarian, Miss Gloria, who is like family to Hayley and Nathan. When they tell her they are going on their delayed honeymoon to Scotland, Miss Gloria is invited to come as well. Before long Nathan's mother, Helen, is also included since they are visiting Nathan's sister. Before long the honeymoon is in full "hostage" position by his sister Vera and her husband William.
What an odd situation. It is made worse by her brother-in-law commandeering Nathan for several days of golf when they arrive, keeping the honeymooners apart most of the trip. Meanwhile Hayley, Miss Gloria, and Helen tag along with Vera and posse who are finalizing a book about Scotland.

Here the author shines with an abundance of characters and their murky histories. The book, a fascinating subject about places in Scotland where the veil is thin between the past history and present time, is a week from publication and highly unsettled. The dissention amongst the team of author, manager, photographer, and financial backer, who happens to be the photographer's wife, is overwhelming. Problem after problem is thrown at the travelers, with Hayley practically forced into trying to unwind mysteries and figure out who did what.

Aside from murder, mayhem, and confusion, the author has provided the reader with a description of Scotland that would rival any travelogue. I honestly felt I was seeing the country. What disappointed me however, was the constant negativity amongst the book team that permeated every car ride and every location. I think another key ingredient that was missing had to be Hayley's usually abundant cooking in addition to the ongoing food critique. She only had one or two chances to display her incredible talent.

This is an entry in a marvelous series that is well worth reading, just not my favorite. And it wouldn't be a good starting book for a Hayley Snow novice. One needs to meet Hayley in her beloved Key West environment first!

I would like to thank Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book, giving my personal and unsolicited opinions.

A Scone of Contention, Lucy Burdette's eleventh Key West Food Critic Mystery.
Hayley and Nathan Bransford are going on their delayed honeymoon to visit his sister in Scotland, accompanied by his mother and their 80 something friend Miss Gloria. They leave Key West in turmoil as their friend Ray is under suspicion of theft on his job and illegal gun use.
Once their jet lag in Scotland ebbs they find an equal amount of turmoil there. A botched poisoning, murder, attempted drowning and a cathartic retelling of an old painful story all create mystery and excitement into their "idyllic" holiday.
Twisted clues and people need untwisted on both sides of the Atlantic before they can truly enjoy themselves.
Fans will enjoy the twist and action. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

A Scone of Contention: I read a lot of cozy mysteries and some of the plots and themes do resemble one another, but not in this book. if there is another book out there similar to this one, I haven't read it. I had never thought much about visiting Scotland until I read this book. The way the landscape, food, and locations are described makes me want to catch a flight immediately. The characters were realistic, and the plot a page turner. And, you get two mysteries plus two settings for the price of one. I definitely recommend this book.

The chara
Characters were authentic. The description of places was accurate. The food sounded great! I kind of wondered how the kw incident was going to be resolved. Overall, I love this series but like it better when set in the Keys, not Scotland.

I had mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the theme but was disappointed in it's delivery. I did now know the main character, Hayley, until several pages in. I liked the idea of two different scenarios in telling the story. The first was the beginning of the story and at the end with little buildup. Going to Scotland and the tour of the different locations was interesting but I felt the story line was carried on too long. There was too many things going on which left the reader frustrated. The characters were not enjoyable, especially the elderly neighbor.

Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.

This has quickly become one of my favorite series. Who couldn't love a food critic that also likes to cook? I enjoyed traveling with Hailey, Nathan and Miss Gloria to Scotland to meet his family. The mystery is nicely pace and well-written. I loved all of the descriptions of the Scottish countryside.

A SCONE OF CONTENTION is the eleventh book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series by Lucy Burdette. This newest installment finds newlywed Hayley Snow heading off to Scotland for her honeymoon. But instead of only her groom, Nathan, at her side, octogenarian Miss Gloria and Hayley’s new mother-in-law, also join them then they meet up with Nathan’s sister and husband. While it might not seem like much of a honeymoon, it does give the reader opportunity to get to know more about Nathan’s family since they’ve been absent from the pages up until the previous book. I also enjoyed that the setting is in Scotland and it was a treat to sit back and enjoy the various sites Hayley and crew visit. The author’s strong descriptive voice makes the reader feel like they’re experiencing the sights, sounds, and especially tastes that Hayley is experiencing on the page. At times it felt a bit like a travelogue and food book instead of a mystery. However, once the murder takes place, the pacing picks up.

Hayley is quick to forge into the thick of things to solve the crime, despite not being on her home turf. With her new husband conscripted into a golf tournament, she, along with Miss Gloria, are on their own in trying to find answers. Maybe because Hayley was out of her usual element, her investigation seemed a bit more forceful than usual and she lacked her usual finesse. The subplot of finding out what happened to Hayley’s new sister-in-law, Vera, years before, and the current maelstrom surrounding Vera’s Scotland book project, adds another layer of intrigue. The heart stopping reveal came as a surprise to me and in the end, the various subplots are wrapped up nicely. While it’s fun to travel, it’s always wonderful to return home and I look forward to visiting with Hayley and the gang back in Key West in the next book!

Hayley is determined to eat her way through Scotland and does an admirable job in consuming a variety of local dishes. Of course, scones are at the top of the list with several varieties offered. Ms. Burdette has included recipes at the back of the book to tempt the hungry reader.

I loved this book. Cozy mysteries are my favorite books and this one does not disappoint. I have read Lucy Burdette before and she is one of my favorite authors. Settle in with a nice cuppa and a sweet treat you will have a great relaxing afternoon with this book. 5 stars.

Another fun book in this series. Hayley and her police detective groom Nathan are planning an honeymoon to Scotland. It becomes a very crowded honeymoon with his mother and their elderly neighbor Miss Gloria coming with them. Not only are there these two additions, but Hayley and Nathan are visiting his estranged sister and her husband. Something is up with Nathan's sister Vera. She is working on a book and has a deadline approaching. She is nervous and anxious but very close-mouthed. The group has the opportunity to meet Vera's team and dinner. After dinner, one of the guests takes sick and it appears she has been poisoned. This adds to the tension between the team. Add to this, Nathan and his brother-in-law are golfing in a tournament and won't be around. Hayley and the other women follow Vera around Scotland to visit "thin" places. Places where the spirit world is close.

This is a fun series. If you love food and cozies, this is for you. It is easy to read and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Hayley is trying to figure out what is going on with her sister-in-law. Then at one of the sights, a man is murdered. No one claims to no him, but Hayley has her doubts. As they continue on with their week, Hayley is drawn in even deeper. I really enjoyed this book. They characters are quirky. Miss Gloria is sweet, the team members seem to be hiding something and not all is well in the world of books.

Taking your elderly neighbor on your honeymoon to Scotland to visit in-laws you don't know! If you have read another in this series then you know this is definitely not an unusual thing for the characters of Hayley and Nathan to do. Author Lucy Burdette makes it work very well. The mystery was complicated and fun with twists and turns. Learning about Scotland was a bonus.

This was an enjoyable whodunnit with a great set of suspects and a wonderful setting. Scotland was described beautifully and I could almost feel the wind or the rain. The characters were fun to get to know, and figure out the truth behind the mystery. I had an inkling about the culprit before the ending. The basis of this story was a little awkward. Who would take their elderly next door neighbor on their honeymoon? I think that was a bit of a stretch, but it didn't hamper the mystery.
The story opened with another minor mystery that was based on real-life. Even though I read to escape the depressing news of the day, I liked the way the author handled the situation.

Hayley and her new husband Nathan are finally getting away for their honeymoon... and have invited Miss Gloria along! It's a trip to Scotland to visit his sister and her husband. His sister is writing a book and will be visiting a few more locations while showing Haley, Nathan and miss Gloria the sites. Then someone falls from the wheel between locks. Murder? Or mistake? Fun book, great recipes at the end!

#11 in the Key West Food Critic Mystery Series

This is number 11 in the series and I have read them all.

Hayley has finally married Nathan and is more than ready for a honeymoon with her man. We have all been waiting for this wedding and honeymoon forever!

In a nutshell, they take their friend and elderly neighbor along to Scotland where they are supposed to be checking with Nathan’s sister about some problem she is having. It’s all hush-hush and they are all sketchy.

When her mother-in-law also shows up this becomes a vacation. And not a pleasant one. A man falls to his death and no one claims to know who he is. Everyone is acting odd so Miss Gloria, the mom-in-law, and Hayley set out to find a killer and solve a mystery. While her brother-in-law takes her brand new hubby off on another adventure.

This has been a favorite series of mine. This one was too much of a stretch. So much that it doesn’t seem as if Nathan and Hayley have much of a life unless they have a third wheel along. This was the worst honeymoon ever and I did not care for Hayley being so willing to let her husband trot off and leave her with his relatives in Scotland. What a bad hubby! And Hayley was pretty weak in this one.

Not what we were used to.

NetGalley/August 10th, 2021 by Crooked Lane Books