Review of Death at a Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Lucy Connelly’s Death at a Scottish Wedding is a delightful addition to the Scottish Isle Mystery series, blending the intrigue of a locked-room mystery with the charm of Scottish traditions and landscapes. Set against the backdrop of Morrigan's Castle, this second installment follows Dr. Emilia McRoy, an American doctor and local coroner in the small Scottish village of Sea Isle. When a murder disrupts a wedding celebration during a snowstorm, Emilia finds herself once again embroiled in a mystery where secrets abound, and no one is above suspicion.

Plot: ★★★★☆
The premise of a murder at a wedding, compounded by a snowstorm that traps everyone in the castle, makes for a classic cozy mystery setup. Connelly excels at creating tension within the confined setting, with a select group of guests who all have their own secrets. The plot unfolds at a steady pace, and the mystery is intriguing, with plenty of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. While some of the clues were a bit easy to figure out, the slow burn of the investigation and the tense atmosphere more than make up for it. The climax is satisfying, if not overly shocking, which fits well within the cozy mystery genre.

Characters: ★★★★☆
Dr. Emilia McRoy is an intelligent and likable protagonist, and it’s easy to root for her as she uncovers hidden motives and navigates the dynamics among the wedding guests. Her relationship with Constable Ewan Campbell adds an interesting layer to the story, though I would have liked to see more development in their personal connection. The supporting characters are well-drawn, with each one adding a unique element to the mystery, from the bride and groom to the quirky family members and friends. The small-town Scottish setting allows for a rich cast of characters, each contributing to the overall atmosphere of the book.

Writing Style: ★★★★☆
Connelly’s writing is engaging and atmospheric, painting vivid pictures of the Scottish Isle and the snowbound castle. The descriptions of the setting help immerse the reader in the isolated, hauntingly beautiful location. The dialogue flows naturally, and the pacing is well-maintained, even though the book takes its time building suspense. The slow unraveling of the mystery is just right for the genre, though at times I wished the pacing would pick up a little quicker in certain scenes.

Romance: ★★★☆☆
The romance aspect is subtle in Death at a Scottish Wedding, though there are hints of a developing relationship between Emilia and Ewan. However, the romance takes a backseat to the mystery, which I found to be a good choice for this installment. While the budding connection is there, it doesn’t overpower the main plot, and I think readers who enjoy a cozy mystery without a heavy romance subplot will appreciate this balance.

Suspense/Thrill: ★★★★☆
The suspense in Death at a Scottish Wedding is well-crafted, with plenty of tense moments as Emilia delves deeper into the murder investigation. While it’s not an edge-of-your-seat thriller, there’s a steady undercurrent of tension that keeps the reader engaged. The isolated setting and the snowstorm add a layer of suspense that heightens the stakes, and the eventual reveal of the murderer is satisfying, even if it’s not entirely unexpected.

Overall: ★★★★☆
Death at a Scottish Wedding is a thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery that will appeal to fans of locked-room mysteries and those who enjoy a dash of Scottish charm. The setting is atmospheric, the mystery is intriguing, and the characters are well-developed. While the romance and the plot may not be groundbreaking, the book offers a solid and engaging mystery that will keep readers entertained from start to finish. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a touch of elegance and a hint of romance, this is a book you won’t want to miss.

Overall Rating: 4/5
An enjoyable and atmospheric mystery that combines the beauty of Scotland with the intrigue of a locked-room whodunit. If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries, Death at a Scottish Wedding is a book you’ll want to add to your reading list.

I simply love the setting of Sea Isle ❤️.

The writing is entertaining, the mysteries are well crafted, and there is a healthy cast of interesting characters led by Dr. Emilia McRoy and Ewan Campbell who is not only the laird, constable and a lawyer of Sea Isle but also insanely wealthy. He could easily be wealthier than even Bruce Wayne! He equips Dr. Emilia's practice with all the latest, state of the art medical equipment and supplies that one might find only in a big city hospital. Abigail, Emilia's assistant is clever and capable while her 19 year old brother Tommy, who is neuro-divergant, has an immense talent for growing plants and flowers that can baffle any seasoned gardner. I liked how everyone is so protective of Tommy that they are ready to draw blood if anyone tries to harm him.

Overall, it's a fun series to read!

I received an e-Arc of the book from the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author via NetGalley.

Dr. Emilia McRoy, Doctor, and Coroner residing in Sea Isle, Scotland is settling into her daily routine and and making friends among the locals.

Emilia's invited to attend a friend's wedding at Morrigan Castle owned by Lord and Constable Ewan Campbell. It's a three-day party with a snow storm on the way trapping everyone inside. As friends and family mingle, Emilio explores the castle and finds a dead man in one of the turrets along with two of her friends being poisoned.

It's up to Emilio and Ewan to find the killer and protect those in the castle since no local police can travel because of the snow storm. There's a killer among them and everyone denies knowing the dead man. Those attending the wedding aren't what they seem and someone is determine to stop the wedding by any means including murder.




https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6158298769

This was a great book. I've read books by this author before, but not in this series. I really enjoyed it, so I look forward to reading more in this series.

Dr. Emilia McRoy left her job as an E.R. doctor in Seattle, Washington three months ago and is loving her new life in Sea Isle, Scotland. She's developed strong friendships and feels that this is the place she was meant to be. One of her new friends is getting married. This is Em's first experience with a traditional scottish wedding. It goes on for three days with different events happening each day and is being held in a local castle. Unfortunately, soon after the festivities began, there was an avalanche up the mountain and a severe snowstorm. There was no danger and the power was covered by generators, but they were all trapped inside.

The festivities continued, even after a dead body was found one of the turrets. Eventually the body was identified as the brides ex-boyfriend, who was also the grooms ex best friend. No one had seen him arrive so the questions are how did he get here, who has been hiding him, and why was he here. Of course, there's the question of how he died as well. Dr Em's medical expertise comes into play when answering these questions.

I so enjoyed seeing Scotland through the eyes of an American. She pointed out the differences in the cultures in so many ways. All the events in a traditional Scottish wedding was something I could never have imagined.

Death at a Scottish Wedding
by Lucy Connelly
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a series that sticks with you long after you are done reading. I love Dr Emilia and I love her new life in Scotland. I completely escaped reality to live in this book. Everything feels so real. While at a wedding, there is a murder (of course) & a snowstorm that is preventing anyone from coming or going. That adds an edge to the story and kept me reading long after bedtime. Lucy Connelly has a way with words and I am so excited for more.

I love a good cozy mystery! One that incorporates all of my favorite topics (i.e. genealogy, bookstores, libraries, cooking, painting, inn keeping, animals, etc.), throwing in some action-suspense, a who-done-it, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps me guessing, then you’ve got me hooked. I will say, I am one of those people who like to read a series from the beginning, but I often find you don’t have to… either way I highly recommend reading Death at a Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly.

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.*

A great addition to an incredible series! Wonderful characters in an incredible setting. This book will keep you guessing until the end.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery!

Death at a Scottish Wedding has one of my favourite mystery/thriller tropes, the isolated-locale in the middle of a snowstorm, which also meant a closed circle of suspects.

Dr. Emilia McRoy moved from America to Scotland for a fresh start. She became the small town doctor in Sea Isle. Emilia had made friends and is thrilled to be attending one of their weddings, a four day event in a Scottish castle. But, Emilia is less than thrilled to find a dead body, and her two friends suffering from poisoning. It looks like someone is trying to disrupt this wedding and possibly trying to kill the bride. Emilia, also serving as the coroner, helps the local constable and Laird Ewan Campbell to figure out what who is behind this, but she finds herself in the cross hairs of the killer as well.

This is book 2 in the Scottish Isle Mystery Series, but it definitely can be read as a stand-alone.

The mystery in this one was interesting, I did have a hunch on who one of the killers was, but didn't guess the other. I loved the setting, a Scottish Castle. It gave the story a very gothic feel, which was perfect because it was a gothic wedding. I loved learning more about Scottish Wedding traditions, and the found family aspect to this story was so heartwarming.

The cast of characters was excellent, and I sense perhaps an attraction growing between Ewan and Emilia, which I would really enjoy reading about in future books.

I'd definitely recommend this one for fans of cozies.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the advanced digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own. I paired this one with the audiobook Kimberly M. Wetherell  did a phenomenal job narrating this story.

This is just what I imagine a Scottish wedding weekend could be like! Well, without the murder. Some time has passed since arriving in Sea Isle and Dr Emilia McRoy feels much more at home and is excited to attend the wedding of her new friend Angie at Morrigan's Castle. There's bad weather, a gaggle of ex-wives that all look alike, plus a dead body of a most definitely uninvited guest. Snowbound for the weekend, I liked how the mystery used the castle quirks as plot movement--is it really a wine cellar or a dungeon?! There was a lot of action and I look forward to reading more about Em and her found family in Scotland.

A delightful blend of mystery and romance in the beautiful Scottish highlands. The writing is atmospheric with vivid descriptions of the country and of the castle where a wedding id taking place. Some scenes were overly detailed but overall the pacing was great.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Dr. Emilia McRoy is back in the second book in the Scottish Isle mystery series, Death at a Scottish Wedding.
Em and her friends Mara and Jasper have been invited to their friend Angie's wedding, which will take place at Morrigan's Castle, one of the properties of Ewan, Laird, Mayor and Constable of Sea Isle, and also Emilia's soulmate, although they still don't know it.
The three-day wedding party goes swimmingly until a dead body enters the scene and someone tries to poison the bride.
Fortunately, a snowstorm has isolated the castle, allowing Emilia and company to investigate the crime.
Unfortunately, the same snowfall that has cut them off has left them locked up with the murderer(s).
A well-written and set book, with moments full of humor, suspense and mystery. Very suitable for shaking off boredom and transporting us (mentally, at least) to a beautiful Scottish castle.
I thank the authors and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think and feel about this book.

American Dr. Emilia McRoy is settling in and Sea Isle, Scotland is beginning to feel like home. And she’s delighted to be invited to the wedding of her friend Angie at Corrigan Castle, owned by local Constable Ewan Campbell.

As everyone gets ready for the three-day wedding party, a snowstorm closes in on the area, trapping all the guests at the castle with someone with murder in mind. And the police can’t get to them until the storm stops and the roads are cleared. So it’s up to Emilia and Ewan, along with their friends, to find the killer before she or he strikes again.

This book has a lot of characters to get to know, but each contributes to the storyline. There’s plenty of atmosphere with the whole cast trapped in a castle by a storm as a murderer stalks their ranks. The author builds the tension well and provides lots of clues and red herrings to keep you guessing as you read.

Emilia and the gang are going to a 3 day wedding event! It promises to be loads of fun and a lot of drama with the different family members all coming together. But nobody expected a murder to upstage the wedding! And to top it off, they’re stuck due to a massive storm! Will they be able to solve the murder before the storm passes and the killer gets away?

This is the second book in this series and I enjoyed it just as much as the first! I loved the ingenuity Emilia had to try and do an autopsy and figure out the cause of death without much of her equipment. And the flirtatious banter between her and Ewan is to die for! I felt like there were so many characters to keep track in this one that I was getting confused as to who was who. Probably because since it was a wedding plot, there were added people they weren’t in the first one. I look forward to the next one in this series! Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this in exchange for an ARC!

Princess Fuzzypants here: Transplanted from Seattle, Dr. Emilia is finding Scottish weather a bit of a challenge but she is not ready for a murderer on the loose at the wedding of her friend when the castle where it is being held is snowed in. Em wears two hats. She is both a doctor and the coroner so she is going to be involved in the investigation but when the killer makes an attempt on the bride’s life, it becomes more personal. It is going to get a lot more personal for her- and more dangerous. Good thing the castle is owned by Ewen, the hunky constable with whom she shares a prickly relationship. Between him, Em, her friends and his men, the villain is up against a formidable team.

But this is a wily predator and it takes a while for the good guys to figure out who did the deed and why. The reader will become concerned for the well being of the regular cast of characters. They are all interesting with just enough quirks to make them very human. While I had a good idea of whom the killer was, I was still carried along by the suspense and anticipation of what would happen next.

Five purrs and two paws up.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for allowing me to read this book. This is the second book in the Scottish Isle Mystery series. Dr. McCoy has been invited to attend a friend’s wedding at Constable Campbell’s castle. She arrives just before the blizzard hits and finds herself involved in a new murder.

This book just isn't working for me. It failed to capture my interest or attention. I began to dread picking it up. And that's not a recipe for success, so I DNF'd it. On to the next one!

This is book 2 in the Scottish Isle series. I had no difficulty reading it but you can rest assured I will be looking for book 1. Finally feeling like Sea Isle, Scotland is becoming her new home, American doctor Emilia McRoy is delighted when she is invited to a wedding at Morrigan's Castle. She and her staff get a ride with Constable Ewan Campbell, owner of the castle. There is always a lot of tension between the two but it's plain to see they like each other. As the coroner of this small community, she and Ewan must solve the murder while snowed in. Someone definitely doesn't want that to happen. A very good who done it.

I am obsessed with Ewan in this series.

Who’s Ewan? Oh he’s only the Scottish man of my dreams. Constable, mayor, laird, filthy rich, pretty much all around handy man & good guy. He’s everything.

But now I just need Emilia to realize these things.

I’m sure you were expecting a review about a mystery right? Since “death” is in the title after all. Well that’s the thing about cozy mysteries - they’re cozy and often include a side of romance with their murders. So if I haven’t gotten you to read them now, maybe the romance angle will. Cause talk about romantic tension.

I’ll keep reading this series because the tension alone is killing me, and I will protect Ewan at all costs.

Oh btw this series installment takes place at wedding festivities in a castle (that Ewan owns, thank you) during a blizzard. So talk about locked room mystery. 😉

Special thanks to @crookedlanebooks for the ARC.

An excellent return to Sea Isle, Scotland and Emilia and her friends. This mystery kept me guessing throughout and the storyline surrounding the mystery made this one that was near impossible to put down once I got in to it. This is a super fun series and I hope this series continues for quite awhile!

This was such a fun mystery novel. Between the awesome setting and the engaging mystery, I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. It's the second book in the Scottish Isle Mystery series, but I think it can be read as a stand-alone.

Emilia McRoy is a doctor from Seattle and is now living in Sea Isle, Scotland. She is both the only doctor in town and the coroner. In this edition, she is a guest at a friend's wedding taking place at a Scottish castle when a murder takes place, disturbing the wedding festivities. They are snowed in with a whole host of possible suspects. I'm very partial to a locked room mystery, and this on was exceedingly well done.

Death at a Scottish Wedding is a cleverly written mystery, and I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.