3.75 stars

The first thing I have to say about this audiobook is that it was a little difficult for me as a non-native speaker of English to get into the Scottish accent at first. That is more of a me problem but nonetheless worth mentioning.
Once I got into it though, I enjoyed it. The dynamic between Maud and Daisy was nice and who doesn’t enjoy a female sleuth in a man’s world.
The cases were interesting and also difficult for me to get behind before the reveal. I must say though that there were too many different cases leading up to the final big reveal. I would have enjoyed it more if there had been one big case and maybe one smaller case that somehow are related to one another in the end.

3.5 stars

I love the idea of this book. but i don't know if it was the time period, my mental state, or the content. but i couldn't personally connect with the book. I wanted to love it so much. A female detective, yes. Its right up my alley. but i honestly just couldn't get into it as much as i wanted to will myself too.

A charming, Scottish, historical mystery with strong and clever female protagonists in a wealthy society during the suffrage movement. It's interesting to get a glimpse into who and why didn't support the suffrage movement and how that negatively impacted so many people. Throw a couple of mysteries in there for our new friends Maud and Daisy to solve, complete with costumes and character acting, and you have a fun read for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

This is a cozy mystery novel set in the early 20th-century Scotland, with two women running a brand new (and in need of clients) detective agency. The plot is entertaining, with more than one mystery/crime to be solved by the Maud, private detective, and her assistant Daisy. I have to confess that I was not instantly hooked by the story, it took me some chapters to feel compelled to keep on reading (or, actually, listening to the audiobook). But after the first crime is committed, the plot thickens and becomes more interesting. The starts of the feminist movement was a good addition to the story.

The online downside, in my opinion, is that the book’s blurb give too much away. Some of the events written in the book’s description happen at the end of the novel, which end up being a spoiler…

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really loved this historical fiction/mystery story set in Scotland. It was so interesting and enjoyable, and since I am Scottish, I resonated really well with the Scottish accents in the audiobook. I loved the audiobook narrator, and she did a great job,

This is book 1 in a new series, of which I am also nearly finished reading book 2, and really enjoying it too!

I loved the main characters of this book, who are Maud and Daisy. They are young women who have a detective agency. I really liked them both, as they are very kind, helpful and funny.

The story is set in Edinburgh in 1911 and in the Scottish Highlands. The Duchess of Duddingston employs them to find a jewellery thief, and they go undercover, to find out who the culprit is. The story reminded me of the Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie stories, which I also love!

This is a fantastic book, which I highly recommend! If you love cozy mysteries and historical fiction, then you will love this book! It is a fun, easy to read book that you will really enjoy!

Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

The Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency
By Lydia Travers

Downton Abbey meets a twenty something Enola Holmes! Maud McIntyre and her assistant, preciously her ladies maid, Daisy make a duo you want to cheer on as they start McIntyre Detective Agency! Though the business starts slowly, it escalates quickly with an undercover operation at the home of a Duchess in the Scottish highlands. Jewelry theft, murder, kidnapping become a few of the crimes Maud and Daisy find themselves investigating. There are more than meets the eye and I was surprised on several twists along the way!

This is a series I will definitely follow! Maud and Daisy are characters I became invested in with back stories interspersed I’m excited to see how they change and grow through their adventures.

I want to thank Ms. Travers, NetGalley, and the publisher for providing me with the audiobook in return for my honest feedback! It was a delight! The narration added to the reading experience. I’m looking forward to the next book!

This is a delightful detective novel set in Scotland about two women who decide to start a detective agency in 1911. While no one takes them seriously at first, they soon have their first client and case – to stop a jewel thief who repeatedly hits up house parties.

I loved this cozy mystery. It was the perfect story to escape into during a rough week. I look forward to the next book in this detective series.

Story7.5/10
Audio9/10

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency meets Dear Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson in Edinburgh in 1911!

I may add Enola Holmes too, whatever, this is exactly what the new cozy series start.

Maud McIntyre and her business partner, Daisy Cameron (her ex-lady's maid) organize the first Scottish Ladies Detective Agency and wait for their prime customers.
As you may guess, the customers will come, but all asking for Mr. McIntyre, after all, we are talking about more than a century ago, even the presence of two ladies and work in an agency is some sort of miracle from where I'm looking...
If my mother and I want to try...
Ok, I am distracted...

Yes, the story...

Their first case is about a jewelry thief who robbing parties in the Scottish Highlands, and the Duchess of Duddingston employs Maud to go undercover as a guest at her weekend party to prevent notoriety...
Jewellery thief
Dog kidnapper
Missing girl
and MURDER
Oh, we can say Maud has a very busy time, right?!

This was a good story with likable characters, I definitely want to try the next audiobook, with that excellent accent and great different characters' performance.

Thanks to Bookouture Audio via NetGalley for giving me the chance of listening to The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency by Lydia Travers and Narrated by Helen McAlpine. I have given my honest review.

Was so grateful to be chosen to review an advanced audio copy of this book.

I decided to start listening to it while on a long drive to Dublin and towards the end of my journey I was actually hoping to hit traffic just so I could keep listening!
Maud McEntire struggles to set up her directive agency in Edinburgh amid a background of suffragette arrests her potential new clients change their mind about hiring her once they find out the agency is not run by a Mr but a Miss.
The characters are so well written and the descriptions so beautiful this book had me hooked from the first chapter.
I look forward to joining Maude and her assistant daisy on their next adventure!

"No case is too big or too small" is the Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency's motto. The agency consists of two women – Maud McIntyre and her former maid, now assistant, Daisy Cameron. Together they are the first female detectives in the Edwardian Edinburgh of 1911. Their first assignment is to prevent a jewelry theft at a Duchess' mansion, but the case turns more severe than they expected when, in addition to the robbery, a murder occurs. Then there is a missing person case and a search for a lost dog. All cases are connected, and the detective duo has their hands full.

Maud and Daisy operate differently than traditional Scottish police officers from 1900. Intelligent and pretty, they often use clever disguises to investigate cases. Maud is skillful in gaining other ladies' trust, while Daisy carefully listens to servants' gossip. They complain of their social limitations, such as dresses which can slow any attempts to chase a suspect. Still, they prove themselves to be excellent detectives- so good that they are in danger when the murderer discovers how close Maud and Daisy are to solving the case.

There was genuine trust and a start of friendship between the two main characters, navigating the new path. It was also interesting to observe different reactions of male characters – from a conservative judge to a traditional Scottish gentleman suspicious of a woman's skills as a professional detective to a liberal, supporting woman rights journalist.

Historical cozy mysteries have become a trendy genre, and the new ladies' detectives series by Lydia Travers looks very promising.

The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency by Lydia Travers

When Maud McIntyre sets up her own private detective agency, she never imagines her first case will involve murder… A mystery in the Highlands? The Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency is on the case!

Edinburgh, 1911: When Maud McIntyre and her lady’s maid, Daisy, form a detective agency, they never dream their first case will take place at a glamorous house in the Scottish Highlands. But when the Duchess of Duddingston, concerned that a notorious jewellery thief will target her lavish weekend party, employs Maud to go undercover as a guest to find the culprit, the agency has its first case to solve…

This was an ok start to a new cozy mystery series. While I enjoyed the characters of Maud and Daisy, the story was fairly predictable. That's to be expected with a cozy mystery, but I found it to be dragging a bit. The second novel may pick up now that some of the foundation has been established.

The narrator added some sound effects, like laughing when a character laughed while talking or clearing her throat where indicated. I found it a bit distracting and would prefer a straight reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for a free copy of The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own. #NetGalley

The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency by Lydia Travers is the first in a new series that looks to be a lot of fun. Maude and Daisy have opened a detective agency and folks just can't believe that two women can be detectives. They are determined though, and find themselves investigating a robbery turned murder. The two ladies are fun and quirky and I loved the costumes they used as detectives. I will be looking forward to the next book! Thanks to the publisher. All opinions are my own.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Maud and her lady's maid, Daisy, embark on a world of mystery in Edinburgh with their newly formed detective agency. On their first case, Maud and Daisy are undercover to find a notorious thief. And along the way find that their own lives are perilously endangered only to scrape through to find their culprit. Overall, I enjoyed the first of the Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency. The character development of Maud and Daisy was well done as was their relationship. I didn't always enjoy the narrator, some of the accents were absurdly silly, but overall they did a good job.
I received this advanced reader's copy from NetGalley for a fair review.

A wonderful depiction of life in late Victorian Scotland, with intrigue and suspense created with a backdrop to the suffragette movement. A clever lady fighting all the odds to start her own career.

When Maud decided to become a PI, she takes her lady’s maid with her for the ride. They get hired by a Duchess to help solve a mystery surrounding stolen jewels among so many other crimes :)

I really enjoyed listening to this one - the narration was great (multiple accents - I am a sucker for an accent!) and the plot development was so good.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lydia Travers for providing me with a complimentary digital audiobook ARC for The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency coming out April 27, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Set in Edinburgh in 1911, Maud McIntyre and her lady’s maid, Daisy form a detective agency. They never imagined their first case would be at a glamorous house in the Scottish Highlands. The Duchess of Duddingston hires Maud to go undercover as a guest during an elegant weekend party. Her mission is to follow a notorious jewellery thief who is targeting the Duchess’ jewels.

Undercover with Daisy as her maid, Maud follows a trail of clues across the lavish estate. And as she gets to know the weekend guests, she hopes one of them will reveal themselves as the jewellery thief. But when one of the guests is discovered dead, Maud and Daisy realize they’re not only tracking down precious stones, but a killer…

As Maud and Daisy investigate, they find out that a connection in Edinburgh might hold a vital clue that will help them wrap up the case. Travelling back to the city, Maud hopes that what she and Daisy reveal will help them piece together the mystery.

But when Maud receives a telephone call from the Duchess requesting urgent help, she realizes that the murderer isn’t finished. Racing down the drive to Duddingston House, Maud and Daisy hear gunshots across the estate. Will they reach the Duchess in time to save her? And will they be able to catch the killer?

I loved this book! It was fun to listen to. The narrator was great. Maud is a fun character. I think she’s bold and intelligent. I’m all for her opening a detective agency I loved the plot. I’m obsessed with extravagant houses and weekend murder parties. I’m definitely interested in continuing the series!

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical detective mysteries!

The SCOTTISH LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY by Lydia Travers is a murder mystery set in the Scottish countryside and Edinburgh in 1911. The story features Maud McIntyre and her lady’s maid, Daisy, as they have just opened their detective agency and are hired to solve their first few mysteries as lady detectives. Amongst their cases are a jewel theft and murder, a missing dog, a missing daughter, and some missing letters.

The audiobook is narrated by Helen McAlpine who, following this cozy murder mystery, has secured a place in my narrator hall of fame (5⭐️ for her)!! She was perfect for this story and had distinguishing voices and accents for all the characters.

The story itself had a good pace and a satisfying conclusion. There may have been one too many cases for Maud and Daisy to solve, but Lydia Travers did a good job pulling everything together. I look forward to the second book in this series and hope Helen McAlpine also narrates.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this cozy mystery. I have to admit that I may not necessarily have chosen it from the blurb, but more fool me. It was a refreshing change of reading for me.

In 1911 Edinburgh Maud McIntyre and her ladies maid Miss Daisy Cameron have set up a detective agency. In a time of the suffragettes there are certainly no others quite like them. Whilst it’s a clear mystery, it’s funny, warm and quite a delight. The adult Scottish version of Enola Holmes if you will. I always wish to adopt the vernacular of the times when I’ve finished a novel such as this. The accents and local dialects were delivered brilliantly. A fantastic start to a new series, I’m looking forward to seeing what the next book has to offer. The audio narration was brilliant.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookature audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

DNF at 47%

I love cozy mysteries with lady detectives that also take place in a historical setting/context. Scottish narrators are also a treat for my ears and yet this book bored me to pieces.

The story takes a very (very!) long time to get going. The setup is just too long!

Sadly, once “action” starts to happen, it too is boring. Stolen jewelry? Yawn

I also felt the main characters did not act the way people from that time would act. They were all far too “modern”.

I read a lot in this genre and historical fiction. Maud was not believable:

I was particularly annoyed with how our lady detective was constantly swooning over a male character and then thinking about how she can’t be distracted by a cute fellow with a new business. This is again more modern but any romance or love interest for her was not needed in this story or series. It also seemed odd that she referenced so many detective novels. The more references she made the more it harmed the story.

Overall, I was very disappointed. I was hoping for a new series to get into (having enjoyed a few others in this genre already)

Thanks netgalley for my ARC.

3.75 stars
A cute and fun "who done it"(ish) book.
It didn't have much of a twist that you would expect from this book but it was a fun read. It did have heavy references to Sherlock Holmes that seemed excessive. As well as it had some scenes that seemed just like filler. But the characters were fun a day likeable.
Overall an enjoyable easy read.