Member Reviews
Oh what a delightful time! Maud and Daisy drew me in immediately and I devoured this book despite having a lot of other things I should have been doing. Reminiscent of Agatha Christie's Poirot, this series will bring you back to the golden age of mysteries while giving you all the fun interpersonal interactions you expect from a modern mystery. This is, I believe, Travers first book and there are some teething pains. Rather than one mystery, the plot is about four intertwined smaller mysteries, which leads to some odd denouements in the book halfway through. However, if you can get past that, you will be rewarded by a fun and well constructed set of mysteries solved by characters you'll want to visit again. Recommended.
I enjoyed the first book in the Scottish Ladies Detective Agency series, set in Scotland in 1911. Its setting and historical period are unique, coupled with an intelligent and likeable amateur sleuth team, humour, and numerous suspects and twists, making this an engaging historical cosy mystery.
The story has enough historical socio-political details to deliver authenticity, and the two women solve believably constructed crimes. It's an enjoyable escapist read with engaging mystery, a realistic historical setting, and varied characters.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This is a delightful read and the start of the new series.
Set in 1911 in Edinburgh, Maud McIntyre has opened up a new detective agency with her maid Daisy Cameron as they await for new customers. Their big break came they attended a house party organized by their first customer. As they are investigating a series of robberies of jewelry, soon they get embroiled into solving a murder mystery and Maud and her maid Daisy become busier than ever!
This was beautifully written and it was quiet enjoyable as well. I do like the setting much as it was set in the 1910's Scotland and it was a good job by the author to take us back to that era so we can experience what it was like. The story was engaging and I was hooked into the story from the beginning till the end. I certainly enjoyed reading this book and since this is the first book of the series, I will be looking forward to read the next book in the series! Worth five stars!
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the blog tour. Thanks Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
‘The Scottish Ladies Detective Agency’ is the first book in a historical mystery series set in 1911 Edinburgh. I was very excited to read this one as I feel there aren't enough of this subgenre set in Scotland and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.
When plucky Maud McIntrye sets up a detective agency in Edinburgh she never thought that her first case would involve murder! Maud has used an inheritance from her mother to set up her agency and has employed her former ladies' maid as her assistant. It hasn't been the best of starts as people are dismissing her based on her gender. But when the Duchess of Duddingston employ Maud and Daisy to go undercover to stop a jewellery thief the agency has its first case! As Maud meets the weekend guest she hopes that one of them will reveal themselves as the thief but when one of the guests is found murdered it's clear the case has got a lot more complicated.
I really took to Maud as a character as it takes a lot of gumption to defy societal norms and divert from your prescribed lot in life. It was not the done thing to do, yes women could play detective but not make it a business. Maud is a plucky young thing and I can't wait to see how she develops through the series. I also liked her relationship with Daisy. I think they are more friends now that mistress and servant but whether they remain that way will be interesting as Maud technically still holds all the power.
This was a brilliant start to a series that I think will have a lot of potential and I am already looking forward to reading the next book!
The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency is the first in a new historical cozy series by Lydia Travers. Released 27th April 2023, it's 306 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. . It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.
This is a fun and well written historical cozy with an appealing cast of female private investigators (a well born young woman and her assistant, who was also her former lady's maid) during the early 1900s, set in Scotland. Protagonist Maud has set up as a private enquiry agent, despite strongly sexist discouragement, and is overjoyed when a real case comes her way. She and her sidekick, Daisy, are off to a country house weekend to try to prevent, or solve, a spate of jewel thefts at other stately homes in the area.
The plot is well organized and the characters are rendered (mostly) believably. It's a historical cozy, so there are some period appropriate bits of dialogue and commentary which give the book a historical feel, but not so much as to be awkward or yank readers out of their suspension of disbelief. It's a light read; there's no graphic violence or rough language. Well written and civilized, readers who enjoy early golden age country house mysteries will likely find it an appealing read.
The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 9 hours 37 minutes and is narrated by Helen McAlpine. She has a light alto voice with a warm Scottish accent, but does an impressive job of a range of Scots regional accents -as well as- Irish and English without making it a wince-fest; quite an achievement. Ms. McAlpine's voice is relaxing and well rounded and easy to listen to. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.
Four stars. It works perfectly well as a standalone read, but readers who enjoy series cozies will be happy to hear that there won't be a long wait; book 2 is due out in May '23, and the third volume is slated to release in July '23. All are currently listed on Kindle Unlimited to borrow with a subscription to KU.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
This book is described as “A gripping cozy mystery set in the Highlands” and is published by Bookouture. This is the first book in the series.
The story begins in Edinburgh in August 1911. Twenty-five-year-old Maud McIntyre and her lady’s maid Daisy Cameron (24) have just set up their detective agency. After a spate of jewellery robberies in country house parties, their first case involves attending one of these parties at Duddingston House to hopefully prevent another theft. But when a crime happens, there’s a murder to solve.
The book feels well-researched and the time period feels authentic. It’s interesting to see the sexism of the time and how some people feel a woman couldn’t be a detective. I found it slightly overly descriptive at times, especially regarding the clothes people were wearing, but that’s just my taste, not a big criticism.
I liked the main characters. Maud and Daisy are very believable and I enjoyed the dynamic between them. They are both strong, female characters and feisty before their time, which is fun to read about and I enjoyed seeing how they had to rein themselves in at times.
I enjoyed the way the novel combined several different things they were asked to solve and the big denouement at the end. I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the series soon.
8 out of 10
A very fun read and a good start to a new series. My only real quibbles are that I’m not a big fan of them starting off with casual mentions of her history like I should know what they’re talking about. I was so confirmed I actually did some research to make sure that I didn’t miss something. They mention it later, but for a good chunks of the book, I was super confused. The mysteries were twisty, the characters feisty, and story pace zippy. The ending came a bit abruptly for me, so hoping that it’s a bit less zippy next book.
Edinburgh 1911 Miss Maud McIntyre with the help of her ex-lady's maid, Daisy Cameron, have set up a Detective Agency. Their first major case involves a house party at Duddingston Hall. Because of the recent spate of jewellery thefts the hostess is concerned for the safety of these items in her home. The weekend results in a theft and a death. But soon after further cases soon arrive. But what will the result of their investigations bring.
A delightful cozy historical mystery with its likeable and varied characters. A good start to this new enjoyable series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency is a new cozy mystery series by Lydia Travers. Set in 1910, just months after King George V takes the throne, I found it an unexplored timeframe for a period book. The suffragists are clamoring for women’s right to vote, and Maud McIntyre is right there with them, along with her assistant, Daisy. They form a detective agency in Edinburgh and anxiously await their first case.
There’s been a rash of jewel thefts at country parties, and the Duchess of Duddington hires the agency to be on hand at her weekend soiree to make sure a theft doesn’t happen, and hopefully catch whomever is targeting Scotland’s elite society.
Daisy and Maud work on the case for about 30% of the book, dealing with the theft of some jewels despite their best efforts, and a murder to boot. They compile the clues and find the culprit amongst the guests. I was surprised to see that their case was finished, but as the reader finds out, and as Maud surmises, there’s more to the case than what one sees at first glance.
Several other cases are handled by the McIntyre Agency, and it turns out that some of the cases intersect with others. Maud and Daisy go undercover in several cases, and the descriptions of their costumes are so vivid, I could just see them as male members of the clergy or as a flower salesgirl. Indeed, the descriptions of the settings and what people are eating or wearing help add to the depth of the novel.
This is a promising start to a cozy mystery series and I’m glad I was asked on the Book Tour for The Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency. Stay tuned next month when I review volume 2 in the series. Highly recommend!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review; all opinions expressed are my own.
I was delighted when the team at Bookouture invited me to review the first in a new series, The Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency.
It is set in 1911, the early turbulent years of the 20th century. The rumblings of the war can be heard in the distance and women are fighting for the right to vote. This is the time of the suffragette and change is coming in more ways than one.
Enter Maud McIntyre, a single woman who decides to set up a detective agency with her former ladies maid Daisy. Of course this is the early 20th century and so Maud does this with the blessing of her much loved father. I did enjoy this aspect of the story as we do meet a fair few men with less savoury opinions of what women should (and should not) be doing in society.
It is a detective story and so I am not going to reveal much of the plot. I think the synopsis above gives you a good idea of that. I can honestly say that it was a very enjoyable read. These are great books to have on the kindle and read before bedtime…and into Sunday morning. The main characters (Maud & Daisy) are very likeable and I look forward to seeing their relationship develop. This was after all a time when the lines between classes were beginning to blur and also when women were carving out careers of their own. It’s interesting to see the dynamics between Daisy and Maud – although Maud is still very much the woman in charge.
There are plenty of historical references to the story which I found interesting and added a sense of time to the setting. It will be interesting seeing this move on as the series continues. The crimes themselves were intriguing and with a few red herrings thrown in weren’t completely cut and dry from the start.
All in all a highly promising and enjoyable start to a brand new series. It was a lovely read and I very much look forward to reading the next in the series – which is already waiting for me on my kindle.
Thank you so much to lovely Sarah at Bookouture for inviting me to take part in this tour. I shall look forward to visiting Maud and Daisy again on their next adventure!
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency' by Lydia Travers.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Lydia Travers, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 27th April 2023.
This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the first book in her 'Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency'' series.
I was originally drawn to this book by its fantastic eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'A warm historical whodunnit, perfect for fans of the mysteries of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey, and Catherine Coles.' I am a huge fan of both Helena Dixon and Verity Bright so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 30 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Edinburgh, Scotland 🏴, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually holidayed in Scotland many time so am intrigued to see if I recognise places based on anywhere I visited while there.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Maud McIntyre. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO LYDIA ON A PAGE TURNING SUCCESSFUL START TO WHAT PROMISES TO BE AN EPIC SERIES!!
This book is a successful unputdownable cosy mystery by the very talented Lydia Travers. I'm always a bit dubious with books based historically as I worry about not being able to 'deal' with the language used but I absolutely love how Lydia has written her books. The language used is perfectly suited to the era whilst being easy to read and making it quite humorous on several occasions. The atmosphere and descriptions were perfect. The synopsis and cover also suit the storyline.
This may be the first book I have read by this fantastic author but it most certainly wont be my last and I am looking forward to getting stuck in to the second book in this fantastic series which is called 'Murder In The Scottish Hills' so keep your eyes out for my review of that which is coming soon!! In this gripping story we meet Maud McIntyre and Daisy Cameron who set up their detective agency in Edinburgh in 1912. Maud is asked to come and investigate the theft of jewellery at the Duchess of Duddingston's manor at the weekend. Daisy accompanies Maud and acts as Maud's maid. This storyline is based in a time when it is uncommon and practically unknown for a female to participate in detective work and is also set during the suffragette movement. The fact that Lydia has done her research shines through the storyline. It is one of my pet hates when an author does not do enough research on the topic they are writing about as it can lead to unnecessary mistakes which can spoil the storyline for me so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS LYDIA on researching your history well!! Daisy, acting as Maud's maid has the ability to discover what is being said amongst the other maids and staff and passes them back on to Maud. Between Daisy seeing what goes on 'under stairs' and Maud finding out more from the guests they slowly start building a bigger picture of the guests and end up trying to solve more than just the mystery of the jewel thief. I thoroughly enjoyed disappearing into the past and it felt like I was on a beautiful holiday to Scotland losing myself in the fresh air and the Scottish dialect. I became completely hooked and every time I would tell myself one more chapter and then I will get on with something else each chapter ended in a way I just had to carry on listening and in the end I completely devoured it in several hours! Lydia's evocative writing skills and Helen's fantastic narrative ensures the reader is completely captivated throughout. I found the storyline to start slow but pick up pace extremely fast likening it to a rollercoaster ride where you are quickly pulled to the top and then taken on fast twists and turns until you get to the mind blowing ending!! It is ram packed with friendship, lies, murder, crime, mystery, history , tension, suspense and everything you could ask for in a cozy mystery. Lydia had me laughing, shocked, angry at the lack of respect fior women and absolutely hooked throughout!! This is definitely one of those books that can be read in front of a fire, on a beach or relaxing in the garden and it sweeps you away to the beautiful Scotland in times gone by. The storyline had me hooked immediately and I love the way that Maud and Daisy go about their detective work. There was so much going on that it kept me entertained thoroughly throughout with mystery after mystery and clue after clue. It was filled with suspense, mystery, laughter, murder, clues, deceit. tension, suspense and so much more!! I never did work out who the thief was and was completely shocked when they were discovered. A great achievement as I am a huge crime fan and tend to work out who did what quite early on, especially considering I have read so many of Verity's books yet she manages to get me every time. The atmosphere was perfectly suited to the mystery. One of the things that I loved the most was that although this is predominantly a crime book is that it has plenty of moments of humour throughout which lightens up the atmosphere and had me giggling away one moment and shocked the next! An absolutely perfect start to what promises to be a fantastic and addictive cozy mystery series and I cannot wait to get stuck into the next book especially after reading the teaser chapters at the end of this one!!
This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Helen McAlpine who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Helen did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices as well as accents!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Lydia but also to listening to more books narrated by Helen!
It is always worrying when starting a new series as you have no idea who the characters are. It is very important for me to bond with not only the lead protagonists but also any characters that may make repeat appearances during the series too.
I absolutely loved these new characters which are all realistic, well rounded, have a mix of personalities and each work their part perfectly in the book! Thanks to Lydia's evocative writing skills and Helens amazing narrative they all jump out of the pages and come to life before the readers eyes. They are all larger than life, realistic and a complete breathe of fresh air. Maud is an amazing and very likeable character, strong willed and made me laugh on several occasions, she is absolutely unique as well as a very strong female lead which is a great bonus for myself being female. She is keen to follow in the footsteps of fictional detectives that include Sherlock Holmes and uses his techniques in her own discovery work which included sleuthing and disguising herself! It would not have been easy trying to make a name for herself in a time where the main roles were predominately filled by men and there was the Suffragette movement ongoing but Maud and Daisy held strong and made themselves known. She is determined and when she does make mistakes she ensures that she learns from them. I absolutely love her calm determination and strong personality and I really cannot wait to see what she gets up to next!! Daisy is another loveable lead character who I adored. She made me laugh on several occasions also and is cheeky, loveable and funny. She is definitely a woman that I would love to be around when I'm doing my work!! They are both young women with Maud being 25 and Daisy being 24 and in a "mans world" where woman are taking a stand and these are two fantastic women to have around at the time! They both take their investigations seriously but also have some fun ways to get the information they need which included several lots of fancy dress items!! I loves the fantastic dynamic between them and enjoyed watching their characters and friendship develop. They both complimented each other and worked perfectly together sometimes not even having to talk to know what the other needs/wants making them a great, strong female duo! I loved meeting them along with several other characters that we come across in this fascinating funny page turner. I can't forget the absolutely adorable Gladstone who is an adventure in himself!!!. I cannot wait to meet them all again and see what they get up to in the next "episode".
Love, love, love this fantastic and explosive start to a promising new series that I cannot wait to get stuck back into!!
An absolutely explosive start to a promising new series Lydia!! Congratulations and welcome to my favourite cozy mystery author list! A page turning and unputdownable success! Here's to looking forward to your next book 🥂
Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first two chapters of Lydia's 'Murder In The Scottish Hills' which is the second book in this series and promises to be just as addictive as this book!! Keep your eyes peeled for my review of it coming soon!!
Overall a fun and easy to read page turning cozy murder mystery with the perfect amount of crime and humour that will keep you turning the pages.
Genres covered in this novel include Historical Mysteries, Romantic Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Thriller, Murder, Mysteries, Suspense, Historical Romance, Cozy Crafts & Hobbies Mystery, Cozy Culinary Mystery, Romantic Suspense, 20th Century Historical Romance, Women's Detective Fiction, Cozy Animal Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Thriller, Romance and Crime amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of T E Kinsey, Agatha Christie, Verity Bright, Helena Dixon, Catherine Coles, Lee Strauss and anyone looking for a very easy, addictive, page turning and fun read.
306 pages/ 9 hours 37 minutes
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free on kindle unlimited, £8.99 in paperback and £16 for the audiobook at time of review via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
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1911 and the world still rigidly governed by gender roles. Not easy for a woman
keen to forge an independent path. Also an unusual path. As a lady detective.
Maud Mcintyre thought her first queries would be baby steps in detection but she
gets landed head first in a serious case of theft - robberies in aristocrats homes
and of jewellery which is very expensive. Posing as a fellow guest with her side kick
Daisy being her maid, they successfully weave their way through the weekend, with a
murder and a heist and a successful conclusion.
Following their success several queries follow. A missing dog, also found, a missing
bride also found but Maud has a niggling fear that their initial arrest was of the wrong
man and the actual culprit is at large.
How to connect the dots, and convict the correct thief forms the intrigue of the
latter part of the story.
The setting of 1911 and social expectations and attitudes of the day added a great
interest to the story.
If you like cozy mysteries, this book is for you!
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of Books on Tour! “The Scottish Ladies Detective Agency” had me glued to my couch. This is the first book in the “The Scottish Ladies Detective Agency” series.
What follows is a gripping mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. It is 1911 Edinburgh and Maud McIntyre forms a female detective agency with her friend Daisy. The ladies' first case is a jewelry theft, but that case turns out to be so much more. There were so many twists and turns that I felt like I was a roller coaster. This is a delightful start to a new series.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
What an enjoyable read! Maud and Daisy are relatable characters and the storylines were most engaging.
The Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency have me hooked! With twists and turns and a couple of red herrings to boot, it's a goodie and I hope to read more in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
She may not rival Sherlock Holmes, but Maud McIntyre forms a female detective agency with her dear friend Daisy. It is 1911 Edinburgh and the suffragette movement is underway. Maud has no intention to live by convention and takes on as many cases as she can. With the support of her father and her stalwart friend and partner, Maud dons various disguises and roles for the times they have to go undercover.
Maud and Daisy’s first case is to try and locate a jewelry thief. They find much more. In fact, a murder takes place which naturally makes things far more serious. Their new business is certainly underway. What a delightful start to a new series. The setting, characters and intrigue were all done wonderfully, and this promises to be an engaging series. I really am looking forward to the second book in the series, Murder in the Scottish Hills.
I loved that I was able to get this book for review as an audiobook. The narrator Helen McAlpine was new to me and I really enjoyed her Scottish accent. Her exceptional narration made a wonderful book all that much better.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
A great beginning to a new series. Two women set up a detective agency in 1911 Scotland. Needless to say, there is a struggle to get clients because most don't think a woman can do the job. A few jobs do come through and the readers get to follow Maud and Daisy as they try to apprehend a jewel thief, retrieve stolen love letters, find a dog...and catch a murderer. I love the relationship between Maud and Daisy. There is some funny banter and humorous moments as the two don disguises and use their ingenuity to get the job done. They have a learning curve which makes it all the more fun to read.
I did figure out who the murderer was early on but it was still a delight to read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.
There has been a rash of jewel thefts in posh country house parties in the Highlands. Maud McIntyre's fledgling detective agency has been called upon by the Duchess of Duddingston, who asks her to attend the party to prevent or at least solve any thefts that might occur at her party hosting in the coming weekend.
They joined the festivities, Maud as a guest and her assistant, Daisy as her lady's maid. The plan was for Maud to keep an eye on the other attendees while Daisy ingratiated herself with the staff. Their weekend turns out to be more than they bargained for when there is a murder as well as a theft. Maud and Daisy solve both, or so it would appear, but Maud can't shake the feeling that she missed something.
One of the things I enjoyed most about the book was that the detective agency was handling multiple cases of varying stakes. The book toggled between these subplots, keeping the story moving along at a good pace.
Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency by Lydia Travers is a fun Scottish cozy set in 1911 Edinburgh and the nearby Highlands. Maud employs disguises when needed, which is a fun little element not often seen in this sort of mystery, and I look forward to seeing how it will come into play going forward in the coming series.
I received this advanced reader copy of Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency from Bookouture and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Travers did such a wonderful job with this book. The book starts off getting right into the storyline. I appreciate that there wasn’t too much back story into how Maud and Daisy decided to go into the private investigation business. Instead, it got right into them receiving cases and solving various inquiries. One of my first thoughts into the book was “this is a great whodunit!” It’s great because there is no clear suspect; Travers doesn’t try to make you look one way to go another (which so many authors do). What she does is make everyone a suspect equally. Travers also artfully layers mystery upon mystery in this novel. It never felt like too much and you didn’t necessarily know if there was any connection between the mysteries. I would best describe this as a cozy mystery and would recommend it to anyone that enjoys a good whodunit.
Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I enjoyed this cosy sort of mystery stories and really liked all the main characters. Would recommend this book to other readers.
A book that is a treasure and a pleasure to read. Maud McIntyre has set up her detective agency and her assistant is her former ladies maid Daisy. Their first case takes them to a country house as jewels have been going missing from house parties and the host is keen that this isn't going to happen this time- or if it does Maud and Daisy can hopefully find the perpetrator. When one of the guests is killed Maud wonders if this is above their capabilities but jewels are missing and she and Daisy are right on hand to find the culprits.
I loved this, I'm smiling as I’m writing this as it's an evocative piece set in 1911 when ladies were just beginning to step out into doing more than being chattels. Maud and Daisy have their wits about them and as lady and maid are perfectly poised to hear any gossip or wrong doings both above and below stairs. There are other small cases and twists and turns making this a page turning wonderful book. There's a slightly whimsical nature to this- in a very good way. It's a warm hearted easy read with descriptions and characters to make the reader smile along the way. Loved it.
(amazon posted- misfits farm)