Five Cozy Murder Mystery Stars

I really love this series and I'm so happy that I've had the opportunity to read and review them through NetGalley.

Maud and Daisy are always so entertaining. I love following them down all the rabbit holes while they try to solve the mysteries.

In this installment Daisy receives a letter from her cousin who is worried about the deaths of two of her choir members. Maud and Daisy have been on the lookout for their next job and Clara is willing to pay their rates so off they go! The murderer starts sending little clue notes for Maud and Daisy to follow. Can they crack the code before even more people end up dead? Oh and per usual the local authorities are convinced all these deaths are just accidental and natural.

Mystery in the Highlands is the is the third Scottish Ladies Detective Agency historical cozy by Lydia Travers. Released 26th July 2023, it's 310 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. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free, as well as the other books in the series.

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 the social constraints of the day, and she and Daisy are drawn into adventure and danger again when they go undercover to investigate sudden deaths in a relative's choir group.

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 mysteries will likely find it, and the other books in the series, appealing (despite the anachronisms). The denouement and resolution were satisfying and the clues and presentation are fair play.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours 3 minutes and is read by series narrator 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 believably. 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 enjoy all the books, and it would make a nice binge/buddy read. 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 is the third book in the series, I had only read the first but could still keep up. There were definitely spoilers so if you wanted to revisit the other books I'd recommend you do first.

This was a cosy murder mystery but it was fairly obvious who had done it.

Thanks for the arc.

When a choir member dies in the Highlands around 1910, Maud and Daisy are asked to investigate the somewhat suspicious event. When more choir members begin dying mysteriously, Maud and Daisy need to find the killer so there is a choir left to sing at all. The two go undercover in the choir itself and stay with Daisy's cousin who asked them to come. And oddly, they begin receiving little poems from the killer, that if they can only solve may stop the killing entirely.
There's rather a lot of murder for a cozy. I think It's a good solid traditional mystery and very nice historical as well. The ladies do a splendid job with the limitations of the time - and you realize just how terribly limited they were at the time. The killer goes rather overboard with the killings, but, ah well.... It's a lovely taste of the Highland countryside and society, with a wide range of characters popping in and out. With so many deaths, it certainly doesn't get boring. My only quibble was the insult to the work done by choirs. In here, if you murder half the choir, but fill it back up with anybody who can carry a tune, then you'll be just fine and have a chance to win the big competition. Say what?
Very enjoyable and recommended.

Another great book in the series. I have enjoyed the mysteries with the Scottish ladies detective agency. A really fun series would always reccomend

Loved the first two books in this series and enjoy Maud and Daisy as the lead characters. However, this one just didn't feel cozy - too many bodies and quite brutal. Also, it just felt too implausible, the murderer was easy to identify early on and yet they didn't see it coming. More commentary would give away the plot, so I'll stop there on this one.

Its just under three out of five for me.

I am looking forward to reading the next one ... hoping it is more in line with books one and two. With thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I find the writing in this series a little heavy, but I like the stories and the characters. And it is nice to have books set in a recognisable Scotland!

I so enjoyed book one and two so I picked this one up with excitement. Whilst the interplay between our leading ladies remains delightful, the mystery felt too brutal and the body count too high for a cosy. I do work out the culprit quite early on by sheer elimination which added to my lack of enjoyment. I do Hope book four is lighter and more plausible, I will be giving it a try!

‘Mystery in the Highlands’ is a charming cosy crime, packed full of intrigue and red herrings. This is the third book in the series but can definitely be read as a standalone as the author gives you all the pertinent details.

This was an easy read and I read it in one day! The mystery of the dying choir members was interesting from the get-go and kept my attention to the final reveal! I did manage to guess the culprit but I was still invested in seeing how it played out! I loved the location as Loch Linnhe is my special place in Scotland. The inclusion of all the history is part of why I really enjoy the books as I am a history buff. We are beginning to see the shadow of WW1 looming and it will be interesting to see how this plays out in the books. I really love Daisy. For me she is the standout character - funny, smart, and not afraid to make fun of herself and plus I like that someone of her station in life is an integral part of the investigations!

There was one issue with the book which really scunnered me. It is when Daisy uses Scots and then Maud translates it for us. Scots is a wide enough recognised language that I believe that most readers will be able to determine what Daisy is meaning and if they don't there is always Google. It just makes me feel as if Scots is seen as being an inferior language that it needs to be either translated or it's Daisy being trained to use the English version. But that’s just my subjective view as I am a passionate campaigner for using Scots in literature!

Let’s see where book four takes us!

A third edition to this witty historical cosy mystery series.

The characters are a delight and the relationship between Maud and Daisy is entaining.

A great series looking forward to joining the Ladies in their next adventure.

I loved this historical fiction/mystery book, which is set in Edinburgh and the highlands of Scotland in 1911. We are back again with Maud and Daisy, who are going undercover, investigating deaths in a choir. They receive a letter which contains a rhyme that they need to decipher in order to solve the case.

I really love Maud and Daisy, and I have enjoyed the previous two books in the series too. I just love the setting, the characters and the wonderful stories.

If you love the Agatha Raisin books, or books by Verity Bright and TE Kinsey, then you will love this book too, and indeed the whole series! They are really fun. Highly recommended!

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

Third novel in the Scottish Ladies Detective Agency.
Maud McIntyre and her lady’s maid Daisy are travelling to Fort William to solve the sudden deaths of choir members at the request of Daisy’s cousin, Clara
The amateur sleuths are a dynamic duo, going against convention and enjoying comradery even though they’re from different social classes.
There’s a believable cast of suspects and the killer is even giving poetic clues.
Loved the Scottish setting and the Gaelic thrown in to add to the atmosphere and the historical elements.
Another enjoyable cozy mystery.
Thanks @lindatylerauthorscotland @bookouture & @netgalley for the eARC

This book was a fun escape into the lives of two female detectives who are investigating the murder of the members of a choir. I enjoyed the prose that was very British and the witty banter from the strong, female leads. Fun escape into a mystery. "whodunnit" book!

Female detectives Maud and Daisy have a new case as members of a choir start to turn up dead. All the deaths seem to be natural causes but, when the ladies receive an anonymous letter, they are convinced that there is a murderer on the loose...
Mystery in the Highlands is the third book to feature Maud and Daisy as they solve crimes in Scotland in the 1910s. I have previously read and reviewed the first two books in the series (The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency and Murder in the Scottish Hills). There are spoilers so I would advise reading the books in order.
Two deaths of reasonably young and healthy people but neither has been identified as suspicious by the authorities. Clara asks her cousin Daisy to investigate as she is sure that there is a link to the choir and its upcoming competition. Maud and Daisy arrive in the village but are unable to prevent the next death despite getting a letter from the killer. Another letter arrives and the duo urgently need to solve the clues and save a life.
There is plenty of mystery and urgency as the detective pair try to prevent any more deaths and identify the suspects and motives. Although there are multiple deaths, there is no graphic or forensic detail about the bodies. I also enjoyed the touches of humour that keep the tone light, such as ladies riding bikes and disguising themselves. Maud's tense relationship with Lord Urquhart is once again tested when he appears at the scene of the third death.
Mystery in the Highlands is an enjoyable historical cosy murder mystery.

Maud and Daisy are gradually becoming to feel like old friends as we meet them again for the third instalment of The Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency..
This time the pair are investigating a series of suspicious deaths in the Highlands. Sadly the local police do not see anything untoward and so they are left up look into the matter alone. It isn’t long before the two ladies have joined the choir and are discreetly making enquires. Someone knows exactly who they are though as they begin to receive clues from the murder themselves in the form of rhymes. Can they solve the mystery before the killer strikes again and this time the victim could be a little closer to home!

This is a perfect piece of escapism for lovers of cosy crime novels. Gentle yet intriguing it will transport you back in time to the early 20th century, just before the First World War. One of the things I enjoy the most is the historical details threaded throughout the story. If really is a step back in time.

Thank you so much to Bookouture for inviting me to take part in this blog tour and sending me a digital copy of the book. I look forward to seeing what lies in store for Daisy and Maud.

Maud and Daisy are back on the case in the third gripping installment of Lydia Travers’ charming Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency series: Mystery in the Highlands.

Edinburgh 1911 and when Daisy receives a letter from her alarmed cousin Clara about two sudden deaths in her local choir which she fears weren’t accidental, Daisy’s first reaction is that her relative is letting her imagination run away with her and that she is overreacting. Maud, however, isn’t convinced and with her instincts telling her that something sinister is afoot, the two detectives head off to the Highlands to do some sleuthing. Masquerading as new members of the choir in order to infiltrate the group, they immediately realise that proving that the two deaths were not accidental is not going to be easy. With the police convinced that a heart attack and a drowning had claimed the lives of both victims, all looks hopeless for the detectives – until they receives an anonymous letter that confirms all of their suspicions!

Enclosed is a rhyme which they are convinced holds the key that will lead them to the killer, but with the clock ticking and time not on their side, Maud and Daisy need to work fast and leave no stone unturned. But somebody is on to them and they are prepared to do whatever it takes to keep the two detectives from solving this puzzle – even kill again and again…

It’s impossible not to devour a Lydia Travers cozy in a matter of hours! Mystery in the Highlands is a hugely enjoyable page-turner that is great fun and is sprinkled with enough tension, red herrings and twists and turns to keep readers completely riveted and reading late into the night.

An engrossing, witty and captivating read cozy fans will love, Lydia Travers hits the jackpot yet again with Mystery in the Highlands.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'Mystery In The Highlands' by Lydia Travers.


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Lydia Travers, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous


Publication date 26th July 2023.


This is the third book I have read by this author. It is also the third book in her 'Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency'' series. I have also read 'The Scottish Ladies Detective Agency (book 1 in the series) and 'Murder In The Scottish Hills' (book 2 in the series) which I would also highly recommend. All books can be read as standalones.


This novel consists of 26 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!


ANOTHER HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO LYDIA ON A PAGE TURNING SUCCESSFUL ADDITION TO WHAT AN ADDICTIVE SERIES!!


This book is yet another successful unputdownable cosy mystery in this fantastic series 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.


Lydia takes us on another adventure with Maud and Daisy which is just as action packed, funny and addictive as the first two books in this series 'The Scottish Ladies Detective Agency' and 'Murder In The Scottish Hills', if not even better!!! This is a fantastic addition to what has quickly become an addictive series and I cannot wait to get stuck in to the next book in this series which can't come quickly enough!! In this page turning story we meet Maud McIntyre and Daisy Cameron again, who set up their detective agency in Edinburgh in 1912. Their Scottish Ladies Detective Agency' has become quiet after the initial caseloads came piling on after they solved their previous cases in 'The Scottish Ladies Detective Agency' which you can read more about in book one and two. In this fantastic addition Daisy's cousin Clara asks for help after two recent deaths in her choir that were not accidental. With the choir taking part in a competition tensions are already high but with death added to the mix things have gotten much worse. With the local police dismissing concerns it's down to Daisy and Maud to discover the truth along with the dashing Lord Hamish Urquhart who makes another appearance in this book. One of the things I love the most about this fantastic series is how Lydia incorporates the Scottish dialect into her storyline which ensured every thing I read mentally came out in a Scottish accent making it all the more realistic for me. I even had lots of fun learning new words and sayings in Scottish Gaelic which will come on handy when I do head back to Scotland on holiday!!! This series is set 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!! I thoroughly enjoyed disappearing into the past and it felt like I was on a beautiful holiday to Scotland and the stunning Highlands 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 reading and in the end I completely devoured it in several hours! Lydia's evocative writing skills ensures the reader is completely captivated throughout. 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!! 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!!

Although this is the third book in the series I had would have had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.


I absolutely loved meeting these larger than life and fun characters again 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 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!! I especially enjoyed seeing the hints of potential romance between Maud and Lord Hamish Urquhart who I first met in The Scottish Ladies Detective Agency but who definitely didn't make a good impression on Maud with his lack of faith in the two female detectives. However after lots of mystery and death surrounding them they are definitely drifting closer! 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 would absolutely love for these to be real women as they would make absolutely amazing women!! I loved meeting them along with several other characters that we come across in this fascinating funny page turner and cannot wait to meet them all again and see what they get up to in their next adventure!!!!

Love, love, love this fantastic and explosive addition to this fantastic series that I cannot wait to get stuck back into!!

An absolutely explosive addition to an amazing series! This is exactly why you are one of my favourite cozy mystery authors! A page turning and unputdownable success! Here's to looking forward to your next book 🥂


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.




317 pages


This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £8.99 in paperback at time of review via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.


Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews


#MysteryInTheHighlands #LydiaTravers #ScottishLadiesDetectiveAgency #Bookouture #BookoutureAnonymous #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads #NetGalley #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger #KindleUnlimited

@MysteryInTheHighlands @LydiaTravers @ScottishLadiesDetectiveAgency @Bookouture @BookoutureAnonymous @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @Goodreads @Netgalley @Amazon @AmazonKindle @KindleUnlimited @Bookstagram @BookBlogger @KindleUnlimited


https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86


https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?ref=bookmarks


https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__tn__=%2As-R


https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhitlock86/


https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/34299953-kirsty-bookworm86


https://mobile.twitter.com/kcmw86

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AFZ2XZBSFHIHXBXGZLBQ666XVK4A?ie=UTF8&ref_=ya_mb_l_prf

Maud McIntyre and Daisy Cameron's new case takes them to the Highlands when Daisy's cousin, Clara, asks them to investigate two suspicious deaths, both of which are members of the local choir.

So, our sleuthing duo pack their Gladstone bags once more and head off to Fort William, a town on the shores of Loch Linnhe with views to Ben Nevis, and which also happens to be in Clan Cameron country.

Deciding it would be better to keep their identities as private investigators a secret so that they can infiltrate the choir, Maud and Daisy are dismayed that their cover is blown early when a message arrives for them in the form of a challenge: a cryptic rhyme they must solve to prevent another death.

With a long list of suspects, which includes an eccentric laird and Daisy's relatives, and the body count rising, the ladies of the McIntyre Detective Agency race against time to apprehend a murderer. As new members of the choir, they may also be in danger.

And much to Maud's annoyance or pleasure (she still can't decide which), Lord Hamish Urquhart is a guest of the laird and to her surprise is able to carry a tune.

Mystery in the Highlands is another great episode in this addictive series. Maud and Daisy are two very lovable characters, with Maud being the perfect foil to the mischievous Daisy.

In the course of their investigation, Maud and Daisy dip into their bag of disguises and even learn a new skill – bicycle riding – with hilarious results until mastered.

Besides the mystery aspect that always holds my interest, what I like about this series are the historical details that are slipped in unobtrusively. Many, form part of every day conversation. I never knew that one of the songs on the choir's programme, The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond, had links to the Jacobite era and I also learnt the difference between the explosives TNT and dynamite.

This series is both entertaining and informative, and plenty of excitement is guaranteed. I'm looking forward to Maud and Daisy's next case.

A cozy mystery! I found the pacing to be quite slow but it may be to others taste preferable. The setting was just darling.

Rounded up from 3.5

So this is the third in the Scottish ladies detective series, it can be read as a standalone. I will warn you there are some references to previous novels in this one, so if you are planning on reading the entire series, I would probably start from the beginning.

Mystery in the highlands is a historical mystery with a gentle pace and a fun mystery to solve.

Maud and Daisy were a great pair, and the banter between them was entertaining to read. They were strong and independent, refusing to back down even though several men's attitudes towards their crime solving skills were dismissive and downright rude!

I also liked the little bit of Scots and Gaelic that was included throughout the novel, giving the dialogue that air of authenticity and also taught me a few unfamiliar words along the way.

There was plenty of murder and mayhem along the way. My only quibble with the story was the lack of suspects, which made it easy for me to spot the murderer pretty early on.

Still an enjoyable read. A definite must if you like your historical mysteries on the cozy side.