Death At A Scottish Wedding is the second book in the A Scottish Isle Mystery series by Lucy Connelly.

Dr. Emilia McRoy (Em) is settling in nicely as the doctor/coroner of Sea Isle, Scotland. Em’s friend, Angie, manager of her family’s tartan business, is getting married, in addition to Em. She has invited Mara, the manager of the local pub, Abigail, Em’s medical assistant, Abigail’s brother Tom, and Jasper, a local pastry chef. Angie has chosen a Gothic-themed wedding at a castle owned by Ewan Campbell, laird, mayor, and Deputy Chief Constable family. Shortly after arriving at the castle, they learn That a heavy snowstorm has them snowed in.

Em leaves the hen party early and heads in search of the conservatory. As she enjoys looking at all the plants, she looks up to the turret and sees what she believes to be someone being killed. Em searches for Ewan and convinces him they should investigate the turret, where they find a body. The body is soon identified as that of Angie’s ex-boyfriend. No one knows why he was there or how he got there through the snowstorm.

When Em returns to her room that evening, she finds Angie not feeling well and Mara extremely ill and fully dressed in the bathtub, holding a bucket. Em had brought medical supplies and equipment and saved Mara from further damage.

Em and Ewan will work together to determine who the murderer is and also want to ensure that Angie and her fiance don’t get married. Most everyone, including Angie’s father and stepmothers, will be under suspicion.

The book is well-written and plotted. The book has enough twists and turns that kept me guessing until the final reveal. The characters are well-developed, engaging, and believable. I felt as if I was right there with all the characters.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this exciting series.

This may be the most locked room cozy mystery I've read in a long time between the castle brimming with security, the blizzard, and the avalanche. The setting is a Scottish castle in a blizzard so big points for that as well.

Emilia's job was just to get through her friend Angie's wedding, survive the drunken antics, and maybe help ease a few hangovers along the way. Unfortunately, this goes off the rails when movement in a castle tower catches her eye and leads to the discovery of a dead body followed by miscellaneous bad behavior afterwards.

Most of the wedding party and the groom's family is the worst but I loved the groom and the "steps". Em is an interesting lead with her official status as doctor/coroner and her love of British mysteries - especially Vera Stanhope. The fond references have put both the show and the series firmly on my to watch/to read lists.

The investigation is well done and I like how Ewan and Em combine forces. I really had no idea who the bad guy was until shortly before everything came together. My only minor issue is that Em can be a bit repetitive with her talk of how wonderful her friends are and how she and Ewan seem to be constantly annoying each other. After about halfway through I was wishing she would shush about it but again this was very minor.

If you're looking for an interesting cozy series with a great setting this is a fantastic series!

EXCERPT: 'Watch your step,' he said.
I took three steps in, stubbed my toe on something, and tripped. I landed hard on the heels of my hands and then crashed my elbow into the floor.
'Oomph.'
'Are you okay?' Ewan asked.
My flashlight rolled across the floor and stopped.
'I didn't scream.' I was proud of myself, given what I'd tripped over.
'I almost did,' he said. 'More because I was worried you were going to fly out one of the windows when you tripped.
I swallowed hard. 'I'm fine. I'm more worried about him.'
The eyes of a dead man stared back at me.

ABOUT ' DEATH AT A SCOTTISH WEDDING': 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. Her friends have warned her that it's a three-day party and it's bound to get wild, not to mention the impending snowstorm. Constable Ewan Campbell, owner of the castle, ensures their safety with the blizzard. What he didn’t ensure, is that all of his guests would survive the night alive. When Emilia explores the impressive castle, she finds a dead man in one of the turrets.

The snowstorm hits and the local police can’t reach the castle until it lets up. With no one able to leave, the family insists they carry on with the wedding, which makes Emilia's job as the coroner a bit easier—the suspects are in one place­––and complicated because the killer has Emilia in his sights. The fact no one claims to know the victim isn't helping. Why would someone no one knows be murdered at a castle in the middle of nowhere?

It’s up to Emilia to uncover the mystery who the victim is, so the killer doesn’t get away Scot free.

MY THOUGHTS: This is the second book in the Scottish Isle Mystery series, but the first one I have read. I had no problem at all with the characters, their backgrounds, or their relationships.

The setting is ideal for a murder mystery - a Gothic castle during a snowstorm. Emilia does a lot of creeping around in the dark and manages to get lost in the labyrinth of passages and staircases. There's even a dungeon!

There's a wide range of characters from Emilia, an American doctor practicing in Scotland (she's also the Coroner) to Tommy a bright young neuro-divergent lad who warmed my heart and his very protective sister Abigail.

There's no shortage of suspects from the drug addled brother of the groom to - well, almost anyone really!

Family dynamics play a large part in this story. On the groom's side, his family will seemingly stop at nothing to stop the wedding, with Damian's father going so far as to threaten to disinherit him if he went ahead and married Angie! As for Angie, she has a mother and, if I counted correctly, five stepmothers who strangely all look rather alike.

This is an entertaining cosy mystery with plenty of action and red herrings. I am looking forward to the next in the series.

⭐⭐⭐.7

#DeathataScottishWedding #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Lucy loves traveling the world, but her favorite place is at home with her dogs and family. That said, she's always up for adventure and is constantly on the lookout for killer inspiration--as in who will be the next killer in her books?
She has a master's degree in humanities and enjoys learning all the things. And she's been published by many other names.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Death at a Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Flirt with possible psychopaths. Check.

I was afraid to pick this one up because I had such high hopes for the followup to An American in Scotland and the author did not disappoint! A locked castle mystery in the middle of a Scottish blizzard with a cast full of prime suspects and a wedding. Just what you want to read on a snowy day or any time of the year.

This is the second in the Scottish Isle Mysteries series where an American doctor from Seattle, Dr. Emilia McRoy, moved to a small village in Scotland to take on the job of the village doctor. Em loves her new home and office, set in a five-hundred-year-old church. Such an interesting setting! I like Em and her new set of friends, who are fun and like family. I really like Ewan, the laird and constable, who I feel likes Em in a romantic way but they are constantly bickering. When her friend Angie is getting married in a large castle owned by Ewan, Em, her friend Mara, and Jasper head to the castle. What an amazing place and a dream place to have a wedding. What is not great is a body that is found, the body of an ex of Angie's, while a blizzard is going on. He was apparently poisoned. Why is he there? The groom', Damien's father is very much against the wedding. Is this his doing? Or Damien? Or someone else? Then Angie and Mara both show signs of poisoning. This one has a wild cast of characters, including several wives of the bride's father, including the current one. Will the wedding go on? Lots of questions and Em and her assistant Abrigail are kept busy with patients as well all the friends doing some investigating. I enjoyed the new story as I did the first one with the great setting and characters.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.

I read the first book in this series earlier this year and was so excited for the sequel. Dr. Emilia Roy quit her fast-paced life and moved to Scotland to be a local doctor for a town. In the first of the series, she found out much of the fine print she didn't both checking out before making the decision to start over. Her role also makes her the coroner (no big deal until people start dying) and the town is funded by the local laird who gives her a dream medical setup. In the first book she starts building her family and the second book takes place at her new friend Angie's wedding in the laird's castle. When Angie's ex shows up dead in a castle turret and they get snowed in with the murderer, all heck breaks loose (as do the goats). Emilia helps find the killer and Angie ends up happily married, but the journer is sheer fun for cozy fans who love a locked room mystery.

I really like this series! The Scottish setting is great and the storylines are interesting. On the whole I like the characters too, but Emilia doesn’t always come across as a seasoned ER doctor. The screaming when startled and her nervousness prior to dealing with things just doesn’t seem like how an ER doctor would react. There is also a bit too much repetition of how great her friendships are and how odd that she has problems getting along with Ewan when everyone else seems to love him. Actually it’s not really clear what the issues are between the two of them. I can look past those issues for the most part because I find the mysteries to be well thought out and engaging. This is a good second installment to the series and I am already looking forward to seeing where it goes next.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Death at a Scottish Wedding (A Scottish Isle Mystery #2) by Lucy Connelly from Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.

… Well-written, cleverly plotted and with quirky characters who I really enjoy. In general, I love protagonists who are intelligent, strong, down to earth, yet vulnerable…”

“Till death do us part” takes on a new meaning in this second installment in the Scottish Isle Mysteries by Lucy Connelly. Recent transplant Dr. Emilia McRoy escapes the trauma of her old life as an ER doctor in Seattle to settle in Sea Isle Scotland and become the town’s only physician. She is embraced by the town when she moves both her home and practice into an old historical church, and she instantly embraced by the town finding friends who have quickly become family. Although she loves the job, the one drawback is that she has also learned that as the only doctor she will also be on call as their coroner. Although most of the deaths are from old age or accidents, the murders she investigates, almost kill her.

In Death at a Scottish Wedding her friend, Angie, owner of a tartan shop, is a blushing bride-to-be set to wed Damien at Morrigan Castle the family home of Deputy Chief Constable/Laird/Mayor Ewan Campbell. Most of their friends are invited, meaning Emilia, her friend Mara, cakemaker extraordinaire Jasper, her assistant Abigail and Abigail’s brother, Tommy, head to the castle to celebrate. With rumours of an intense snowstorm on its way the group chose to head up early to ensure they did not miss the event.

Ewan’s castle is huge and a perfect setting for punk princess Angie’s Dream Gothic themed wedding. All is going well until after the hen party when Angie and Mara become deathly ill. Both retreat to their rooms to sleep it off before the festivities begin. When Emilia glances out the observatory window sees someone collapse in the window of the turret, she grabs Ewan to investigate. As the storm hits, they lose power while heading up the turret steps leaving them to flounder in the dark. After she stumbles over something, she pulls out her phone and by the light of her phone, she sees a stranger’s dead body. Upon closer inspection the victim appears to have been poisoned as indicated by the pool of vomit found near the body. Once they make a connection, they are quick to check on Angie and Mara. When Emilia and Abigail come to the aid of both their friends, they realize that they too have been poisoned and that someone is on a mission to put a stop to the wedding. While the patients recuperate and the wedding still on, Emilia and Ewan must get to the bottom of it before the killer puts a permanent end to the ceremony.

Family secrets, mysterious exes and skeletons come out of the closet and the warmer the trail Emilia follows the more she puts herself in the killer’s crosshairs.

I loved the first book and this one did not disappoint. Well-written, cleverly plotted and with quirky characters who I really enjoy. In general, I love protagonists who are intelligent, strong, down to earth, yet vulnerable. Again, in this entry I was also impressed by the supporting characters, their friendships felt genuine. I thoroughly enjoy Ms. Connelly’s writing and I really look forward to reading more about Emilia and her friends’ experiences in Sea Isle. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an amazing cozy mystery.

Emilia (Em) McRoy, a burned-out American emergency room doctor, has been in the beautiful Scottish village of Sea Isle for three months and she’s loving it. She’s made wonderful friends and cannot imagine ever living anywhere else. While she should have read her contract more closely – after her arrival, she discovered many things she had missed – such as the fact that she was also the coroner – she is still thrilled to be there.

Emilia and her new Sea Isle friends have been invited to attend the wedding of their friend Angie at beautiful Morrigan Castle. Angie is a fun, quirky, young woman who marches to her own drummer, but has a heart of gold – and everyone who knows her loves her. Everyone, that is, except her soon-to-be father-in-law. He is a snob and cannot stand the idea of his son lowering himself to marry someone like Angie.

Before all of the guests arrive, the castle is snowed in, and the snow will continue for several days. There is plenty of food, drink, and good spirits, so the snow isn’t a problem – until – Emilia discovers a body in a tower of the castle. Who is the victim? He isn’t a guest, so how did he get to this high-security, very private event? Is his death natural, accidental, or murder?

Ewan Campbell is the laird, mayor, constable, owner of Morrigan Castle, and probably the richest man in Scotland (we learned that in the first book). In the previous investigation, he constantly second-guessed and argued with Emilia about facts in that case. He’s learned his lesson and has come to trust her instincts and judgment – therefore, when she says it was not a natural death, he believes her.

This was a fun and exciting story that kept me on the edge of my chair wondering who would be the next victim – and who the villain(s) might be. We had avalanches, betrayals, attempted murders, poison, people who weren’t all they seemed, and a wedding couple who were truly devoted to each other. My only ‘complaint’ about the book is Emilia’s constantly telling us how wonderful her friends are and how much she loves them. Yes, it is wonderful to have great new friends – but goodness – you don’t need to tell me in every fifth line of the book. It will be interesting to see if a personal relationship develops between Emilia and Ewan because romance is something I need in any book I read. I enjoyed the book and am already looking forward to the next one.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love the setting for this series. Add in the “locked room”, in this case, a Scottish castle in a snowstorm, and I am hooked. The mystery was well-paced and kept me guessing. I love the characters and really enjoyed the first book. Where this one lost points for me is in the repetition – my friends are amazing, why does everyone like Ewan,,… - it was all filler and got on my nerves. Two other things: when did Abigail get all this training? And how big was the medical supply kit that they brought?!!! Other than that, another solid entry in the series and I look forward to more.

Death at a Scottish Wedding is a bit like a locked room mystery. Angie and Damien are getting married at a castle owned by Ewan and his family. There are several days of pre-wedding activities and after the guests arrive a winter storm makes departure impossible.
The night of the hen and stag parties an unknown man dies. He wasn’t in the guest list.
In the days leading up to the wedding, Em, Mara, Abigail, Ewan and Henry try to find the murderer(s).
There are plenty of people around to suspect of the crime and more injuries occur.
I enjoyed visiting a Scottish castle and reading this book. I like that once the mystery is solved we get to see Em back in her home and office.
If you like weddings, don’t mind drama and have wondered about Scottish castles and customs, I recommend you pick up Death at a Scottish Wedding.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to review this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lucy Connelly for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Death at a Scottish Wedding coming out January 9, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I listened to the first book in the series and wasn’t too keen on it. I wanted to check out the second book because I really love Scottish stories. I’m glad I did because I loved this book. I thought the plot for this one was more interesting and Emilia was settling into her new home in Scotland. The characters felt more fleshed out and interesting. I would definitely check out more books in the series now. I think it had more of the cozy vibes I wanted to see in the first book. There were some instances where Emilia seemed to be getting hurt a lot and needed some saving, but overall I loved it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy murder mysteries!

This is the second book in the Scottish Isle Mystery series, but the first one I have read.

I was able to pick up the background and the relationships of the main characters quickly. Dr Emilia McRoy is an American doctor who has come to work on the Isle of Sea. She is also the local Coroner. Ewan Campbell is the Laird, Mayor and Constable. These two are made for each other but don't know it yet.

All of the main characters are attending a weekend wedding at Ewan's castle when they get snowed in. Then the murders begin. Things are a little slow in the first part of the book but once Emilia herself is attacked the pace hots up and the book positively gallops to its conclusion. There were lots of red herrings and a whole wedding party full of suspects. It was fun to have an MC who as Coroner was legitimately able to help the police.

I will look out for the next book.

Death at a Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly has Dr. Emilia McRoy attending the wedding of her friend, Angie at Morrigan Castle. A man ends up dead in a turret in the middle of a blizzard. I liked the descriptions of the castle (perfect place for a murder especially with the turret and a storm raging outside). The mystery had an intriguing start. No one can leave the castle thanks to the blizzard. Emilia is also the local coroner and, between her and Ewan, they come up with enough supplies to conduct an autopsy. I can understand Emilia bringing her medical bag with her stocked with extra supplies (since everyone in the village seems to be attending the wedding), but I cannot imagine bringing the necessary instruments needed for an autopsy (it just seemed farfetched). Emilia and her friends discuss the case endlessly (I could have used a shot of whiskey to get through the endless theorizing). I was baffled at how no one seemed to remember anything of importance regarding the case (they seemed to be an unobservant group of people). The whodunit can easily be solved. The reveal was lackluster (it needed a little pizzaz aka action, drama, or suspense). Emilia seemed to feel that if she stated “I’m a doctor” or “I’m the coroner” that it justified her interference. Emilia, the steady and calm ER doctor, screamed at unexpected noises and movements (she needed a dram of whiskey to calm her nerves). Other ladies seem to scream frequently as well. The independent and strong women came across immature (I would rather brave the blizzard than deal with this bunch of nervous Nellie’s). The story had a slow pace and it especially dragged in the middle. I tired of Emilia going on and on about her wonderful group of friends (she has only known them for three months). She considers them her Sea Isle family. Death at a Scottish Wedding is the second A Scottish Isle Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. Unfortunately, this series is not for me.

Death at a Scottish Wedding
Lucy Connelly
January 09, 20024


We are back in Sea Isle, Scotland to reunite with Dr. Amelia McRoy. She’s been on duty almost non-stop so this particular day she and her friends leave for Morrigan Castle. Their dear pal, Angie will be wed at the nearby chapel. It’s a 4 day affair and with an impending snow storm enroute all the guests are looking forward to pre-marital gatherings. Although not excepting trouble, Em has packed her medical kit as one never knows what could happen.
This is part 2 of the Scottish Isle series. Connelly continues with the American doctor’s quest in learning the local habits and language. Her characters emit charm and delight us with the Scottish lifestyle. Of course suspense evolves with Em and head constable, Ewan Campbell leading us through the investigation.
Death at a Scottish Wedding will be published on January 09, 2024 by Crooked Lane Books of Penguin Random House Publishing. I was able to read the ARC via NetGalley. I appreciate their allowing me to read Lucy Connelly’s newest Scottish novel. I enjoyed the first in the series, An American in Scotland. It was a pleasure to read this second adventure. They are a joy to devour and look forward to a third in the series.

Death at a Scottish Wedding is book 2 in Lucy Connelly's Scottish Isle Wedding cozy mystery series.

Emilia McRoy is an American doctor who has recently moved to Scotland, and in addition to her new job as the local doctor is also acting as coroner to her new home town. While attending festivities for a wedding at a local castle, the entire party is snowed in, and a dead body is found in suspicious circumstances. Emilia's challenge is to find the culprit before they are able to leave the castle and make their getaway.

This was an interesting locked room/closed circle mystery, with a relatively large cast of characters consisting of wedding guests and members of the wedding party, many of whom were suspects.

I enjoyed seeing the relationships between the various characters and am interested to see if a romantic relationship develops in future books between Emilia and Ewan, as there seemed to be a few sparks between them.

I was not familiar with this series going in, and although it might help to get familiar with the characters in the story, I don't believe it's important to have read the first book. I had no problem jumping straight into book 2.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Death at a Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly is the second book in a series that has a character who has become a favorite of mine. American Dr. Emilia McRoy moved to Scotland at the beginning of the first book. Now she has friends, respect of the community and a love for her new home, Sea Isle, Scotland.

A snow blizzard, a death and some ugly remarks from the wedding party puts a damper on Emilia’s friend wedding. As the local coroner the good doctor is also part of the investigating team but more suspicious activity keeps everyone guessing until it is nearly too late for Emilia.

A wonderful additional to the cozy mystery community I love this series. Did so from the very beginning. All of the main characters are people that you would want to live near. As for the guilty party in this book, I had my suspect. While I guessed right, I was surprised by others involved and the twists that this story took.

A great new series that would be an intriguing addition to any cozy mystery fan’s shelf. Be sure to read Death at a Scottish Wedding soon.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Death at a Scottish Wedding
(A Scottish Isle 2)
Lucy Connelly


Author Lucy Connelly brought us one of my favorite mysteries of 2023 An American in Scotland. She returns to offer us the second book in this thrilling new series! Death at a Scottish Wedding continues with the wedding of Angie, and unfinished plot lines continuing to start our new year off with this thrilling addition!

Sea Isle, Coroner Dr. Emilia McRoy, a Seattle transplant along with the mayor, constable, & Laird Ewan Campbell are being thrown together to solve the impossible. They have a locked room murder in a snowbound castle! No one can get in or out.

For safety's sake, Ewan picks up Mara and Emilia, early due to the approaching blizzard. Despite the bad weather, we arrive at Ewan’s family castle Morrigan’s. Angie, Mara, and Ewan are genuinely old friends and it bleeds through the story. Angie is marrying Damien, against the wishes of her father.
Four days of activities with people she doesn’t know is not Emilia’s thing, but she endures to celebrate with her new girlfriends. While trying to take a break from the festivities she bumps into yet another unknown person she asks for directions to her room. Soon after she goes looking for the observatory, only to get lost again, and hears something, she asks for directions again. Before leaving the observatory, she believes she witnessed a murder! After Ewan finds her she tells him her suspicions and while he isn’t convinced they set off to investigate.

Shocked, Ewan & Emilia discover the body of a man unknown to him. Who is the dead man, and where did he come from? What is with all of the sabotage and accidents? Will Angie survive to marry Damien? So, many questions!

Abigail is a huge help again, she along with her brother Tommy are guests.

I highly recommend this amazing book and its predecessor. I look forward to what Ms. Connelly’s, third release will bring! She is proving to be a consistently entertaining writer.
5*****



Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.
#DeathataScottishWedding #ScottishIsle 2 #LucyConnelly #Mystery #Medical #Lockedroomstyle #American #Scotland

Angie's dream gothic wedding turned into a fiasco with deceit and betrayal at the helm. When Emily witnesses a scene at the tower window, her investigative juices start churning. Finding an unidentified person dead in the tower caused a bit of a stir, but when Mara showed signs relative to poisoning, Emily put on her coroner hat along with her sleuthing one. It was a race with time to find the killer before the intended victim of the killer's intention became a reality.
This book was an enjoyable and captivating read.

First time reader from this author.

A most enjoyable read with interesting characters in a wonderful setting, a castle in Scotland.

A wedding, a murder and a snowstorm adds to the storyline with many twists and turns.

A must read if you are a cosy mystery fan!