I liked this book. I went back and read the 1st book in the series. The mystery kept me guessing. I liked the characters and the setting

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A good mystery with the right mix of cozyness and suspence. A closed circle story well developed and solid, it kept me guessing and on the edge.
Well developed characters, good storytelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I really enjoyed this follow-up to An American in Scotland, featuring Dr. Emilia McRoy, a former American ER physician who relocated to a small town in Scotland. This cozy mystery successfully treads the fine line between cozy and traditional. “Dr. Em” is also the town’s coroner, which allows her to investigate mysterious deaths without being overly nosy and annoying. It is somehow both lighthearted and mysterious, which is refreshing and highly enjoyable. The tone is similar to that of another series I enjoy, Connie Berry’s Kate Hamilton mysteries.

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

I am absolutely intrigued and delighted by the characters in this book! They are so well written and the friendship bond between the characters is the friendship goals that we all have! Once again Dr Emilia McRoy is back, but rather than being in action as the town doctor, she is at a friend's wedding in a castle no less and a murder has taken place while they are all snowed in together. Now everyone is looking at everyone else with suspicion while Emilia, Ewan and friends are on the hunt for the killer or killers! Once again an outstanding plot is woven throughout a story of friendship and fun! If you are looking for a great cozy mystery set in Scotland then you have absolutely found the next series that you should read. This is only the second book in the series so you won't have much reading to catch up on, but I do highly recommend that you start at the beginning of the story as each book builds the foundation of the characters backstories and fleshes out the townspeople, businesses and locations plus more fun reading!!! I will be absolutely on pins and needles waiting for the next story in this series to become available!!!

Dr Emilia Mcroy is back on the case in the second installment of the Scottish Isle Mysteries. Em is a recent transplant from American and has taken up residence in an 800-year-old church in Sea Isle that serves also as her doctor's office and the Coroner's Office.

Dr. Emilia and her friends are at the wedding of their friend Angie at a castle owned by Ewan Campbel the local mayor, laird and constable of Sea Isle. Emilia is looking forward to weekend of wedding festivities with her friends. She is soon deep into solving the murder of an uninvited, but not unknown, guest before the wedding is called off or Emilia becomes the next victim. There is a snowstorm that traps everyone including the murderer at the castle.

I loved the first book of this series and was eager to read this installment. I enjoyed it but did feel like the story lagged a little in the middle. I liked spending time again with our friends in Sea Isle and look forward to the next installment of this series.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the chance to read and give my honest review.

Take your new fav characters, put them out of town in a fancy castle and have a murder occur...hmmm sounds familiar, right? But Connelly adds in a bit of family dysfunction, stilted romance, some choice red herrings and serious Scottish wedding traditions, for a great way to get to know the characters better AND produce a charming cozy of a mystery. While you might guess the suspect early, the charm is seeing the characters figure it out together! A light read perfect for winter reading by the fire!

I really liked this book, it was different than anything else I've read which was a breath of fresh air. I will be recommending this to my friends, and auto buy this author!

Death at a Scottish Wedding is a fun cozy mystery by Lucy Connelly. It’s the first book I’ve read by her, and I found it charming. It has very likable main characters, so I would read another book in the series. I’ve seen that some reviewers liked the first book a bit more than the second, so I’ll go back and read it for more background. I had a hard time getting through about the first third of the book. It was a bit too slow paced for my liking and seemed a bit repetitive.

However, once the pace picked up and more things started happening, I enjoyed much it more. I liked that the blizzardy weather trapped everyone in the castle because no one could get in or out. That meant the guests were trapped with a killer. I really didn’t know who the killer was until late in the book though I had my guesses. There are a lot of potential suspects, so it keeps you guessing.

I love the Scottish setting since I have always wanted to visit. I found myself relating to the main character’s taste in television! I love BritBox and Acorn and of course, Vera! The Vera references made me laugh. As I said, I’ll go back to read book one for more background, and since this is only the second book, you may want to do the same before reading Death at a Scottish Wedding. I look forward to what comes next!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Death at a Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly is a most enjoyable read. A cozy mystery with a pet lamb, it takes place at Morrigan Castle, owned and operated by the town’s constable and Em’s nemesis, Ewan. He is very wealthy and owns several huge properties which he rents out for special events to help pay the bills. The bride, Angie, was part of Em’s small circle of friends in Sea Isle, where she had relocated three months ago. Not only was she the town’s doctor, but as it turned out, she was also the coroner on the rare occasion one was called for. Her assistant was Abigail, who apparently could see the future as she was always prepared for any eventuality. She kept Em’s office stocked with all the medical necessities as well as groceries. She lived with her younger brother, Tommy, who was neurodiverse. They all rubbed together well. Angie’s wedding was to have a Gothic theme, and so the castle, when she finally saw it, worked well. There were ninety-two rooms, which would prove to be a problem later on. Em was not much of a drinker so she excused herself early from the hen party, gathered her coat, and went to sit in the garden where it was cooler but protected from the snow outside. From there she saw a body drop. She went to find Ewan and also found her friend, Mara, fully dressed, sitting in the bathtub, holding a bucket. She said she hadn’t drunk that much but she was definitely ill. Em took steps to assist and then returned to Ewan and the body they had discovered.

Doc Em is a good character: in some ways out of her element, but professional, dedicated, and a talented doctor. She played well against the other characters, taking both her doctor and coroner personas very seriously. She worked well in very poor circumstances and assisted in finding the culprit, saving lives, and rescuing the wedding. This very character-driven book is an excellent example of the cozy genre. The crimes were well-orchestrated, the characters were all good, the perpetrators a surprise, and interesting. Very well written. The book was a joy to read. The character of Tommy was written kindly and accurately, as was that of his sister and caretaker. What a great series this will be.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Death at a Scottish Wedding by Crooked Lane Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #CrookedLaneBooks #LucyConnelly #DeathAtAScottishWedding

Death at a Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly is a charming blend of Hallmark-esque Christmas vibes and gripping mystery, making it a must-read for enthusiasts of Christmas-themed murder mysteries.

The diverse character line-up, from a neuro-divergent teenager to an American-immigrant coroner to a Lord of the castle who also plays the role of the town's police chief (constable) adds a depth to the engaging narrative.

Emilia's anticipation of her friend's wedding takes a dark turn when she stumbles across a dead body. With an incoming snow storm and an avalanche, the wedding guests are snowed-in and one of them is the killer. As Ewan and Emilia begin to investigate, it becomes clear that someone is harboring ill intentions to halt the wedding. Later on, the killer begins to target Emilia.

The Scottish wedding traditions, vividly depicted, offer a delightful glimpse into their unique customs. The storyline, filled with red herrings and motives, keeps readers guessing until the end. The atmospheric setting of a 500-year-old castle shrouded in frosty-snowy weather adds an extra layer of intrigue to Connelly's well-crafted mystery.

With excellent storytelling and character portrayal, Death at a Scottish Wedding leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in this captivating series.

A locked (well, snowed in) castle murder mystery - in Scotland! Who is putting antifreeze in drinks at the wedding party of Angie and Damien, a wedding held in the castle owned by Constable Ewan Campbell? And who brought Angie's ex to the island- and who murdered him? That's the question Em, an American physician now living in Scotland must solve before things really go bad because everyone is snowed in. It will help to have read the earlier book to appreciate all the relationships but don't worry- it's a pretty basic cross cultural cozy with good characters and, well, a castle. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Death At A Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly is book two in the Scottish Isles mystery series. I enjoyed this addition to the series but I didn't love it.

The plot was smoothly paced until the middle where it dragged as it was filled with mostly theorizing about who had motive, means and opportunity. I did enjoy spending time with Em, Mara, Abigail and Angie and learning about Scottish wedding traditions. The skillful mix of clues and red herrings throughout the story kept me guessing as to who was behind the murder and chaos.

The second Scottish Isle Mystery has Doctor Emilia McRoy back on the case. This time a found body at a Scottish Castle is the start. Emilia and her friends are at the castle to prepare for the wedding on one of the friends. Angie and her fiancé Damien are determined to marry there. However, murder, attempted murders, and a blizzard might get in the way.

Emilia doesn't have access to her usual medical facilities when the body of a man is discovered in one of the towers. However, her assistant Abigail has packed enough that they can do a preliminary autopsy which reveals a strange finding: poisoning by antifreeze. Perhaps even stranger than the cause of death is that no one recognizes the man or knows how he came to be in the highly guarded castle.

When the bride and another of Emilia's close friends are also diagnosed with poisoning by antifreeze but manage to survive due to Emilia and Abigail's prompt action, Emilia has even more incentive to want to find out who wants to stop the upcoming wedding and who doesn't think killing the bride is too far to go.

There are a host of suspects trapped in the castle because of the blizzards. Both the bride and groom's families are there as are the bridesmaids and groomsmen along with Emilia and her friends. While the groom's father who has made no secret of his dislike for the bride and the upcoming wedding is the best suspect, he doesn't seem to have any connection to the dead man. Casually listening to conversations as the group gathers for meal and drinks gives Emilia lots of people who might want to derail the wedding plans. And attempts on Emilia's life indicate that she might be getting close to some answers even though she still has many questions.

This was an entertaining story. I loved the setting. I do think that the book could have done with some editing since I got tired of being reminded that Emilia had only been in Scotland for three months and that she had developed a very close gang of friends in that time. I also thought that the repetition of the clues with each of the friends was unnecessary especially since nothing new was added in each repetition.

Fans of the first book in the series - An American in Scotland - will want to read this one for further adventures of the characters.

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.”

This was my first Lucy Connelly book but it won’t be my last. Wonderful writing and loved how all the characters were written. The mystery was written wonderfully and had me guessing until the very end which is my favorite kind of mystery. I would for sure recommend this can’t put it down cozy mystery.

Death at a Scottish Wedding is the second book in the Scottish Isle cozy mystery series by Lucy Connelly and I enjoyed it even more than the first book! I love a good snowed in mystery and there isn't a better place to set one than in a Scottish Castle amid a wedding. I felt like I was there for most of the book. Dr. Emilia, Constable Ewan, and their friends are great characters and I truly adore them all! The list of characters is quite long and yet each feel as real as if I were on the Isle with them. A page turner with twists and more action than I expected, I couldn't put it down! As soon as I finished I immediately wished for a third installment!

Here is the second in a series, following on An American in Scotland. Those with a fondness for traditional mysteries set within the UK will want to take a look at both of these titles.

The American in Scotland is Dr. Emilia McRoy who is starting to feel more at home in her new country. She is invited to attend a multi day wedding celebration and accepts.

Most fortunately, Dr. McRoy is a coroner and a constable owns the wedding venue, a castle. So, when everyone gets snowed in and a murder occurs, investigators are right there.

This novel uses a familiar mystery trope, that of a group of suspects who are isolated from the rest of the world. There are a number of twists and turns. Find out both who the victim was and “whodunnit” in this enjoyable mystery. I look forward to the next entry in the series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

The author does a good job keeping the mystery moving with plenty of suspense. There are lots of suspects and red herrings to keep you guessing and lots of quirky side character's. I hadn't read the first book but didn't feel this affected my reading of this one. Overall an enjoyable read and I will keep my eye out for more. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Death at a Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly is a perfectly played whodunit with quick-witted characters in a fantastic setting.

Will Doc Em and her Scooby crew find out who killed the ex-boyfriend of the bride before anyone else is taken out?

Four days at a Scottish castle, so romantic and fun, unless there is a killer who keeps trying to get the wedding canceled. With one dead man, a snowstorm, an avalanche, and no access to the outside world, what are they going to do? Well, this group of sleuths will help the constable and his men find the real culprit and keep the wedding going as planned.

Dr. Emilia McRoy
Our sleuth, the local doctor and coroner of Sea Isle, Scotland, is at her friend's wedding. Locked in a castle with people she doesn't know, Doc Em is going to help as many people as she can. That is her job, and she is a professional.

I like Em. She seems to have found her place in the world. Now, she has friends, who are her family, a home, and she loves her practice. The murders just add variety to her already busy schedule. I really enjoyed her mindset and ability to find a motive in the midst of chaos. Ewan could be a romantic interest if she would be open to the possibility.

Five Stars
I loved the way the author mixed Scottish words and American slang throughout the book. Ms. Connelly does a fantastic job of keeping the mystery moving, with a bit of suspense and the wonderful dynamics of the characters throughout the story. My rating for Death at a Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly is five stars. I highly recommend this to all mystery fans out there.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Death at a Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Release Date: January 9, 2024

📖📖📖📖📖

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.

This is the second in the #scottishislemystery series by @lucyconnellybooks and I LOVED it. I love the idea of the heroine being an ME (in a round about way) instead of a nosy librarian or a book shop owner. Any scene with Ewan is sure to keep you warm on a cold Scottish night. I was glad to see plenty of Abigail, Tommy, Mara and of course Ewan. I can’t wait for the audio version to re-listen!! 🤞 they used @voxkimberly again!!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#murderatascottishwedding #lucyconnelly #ascottishislemystery
#kimberlymwetherall #dreamscapemedia #crookedlanebooks #netgalleyreads #cozymystery #bookreview #bookstagram #booklover #bookstagram #bookworm #booknerd #booktok #bookrecommendations #bibliophile #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookblogger #igreads #goodreads #bookclub #bookreviews #bookblog

Thanks to Netgalley, I was able to read the first book in this series loved it so much I looked to see if maaaybe the second was there too and it was! You do not have to read the first book, to love this one! It is a unique series that follows an American doctor who moves to a small town in Scotland where she is the doctor as well as the coroner. The characters are likeable and Connelly is really good at setting the atmosphere. In this book we are at a wedding where all the step moms are invited - this leads to some fun situations. Everyone is snowed in at the manor when an unexpected guest is found dead. Dr. Emilia McRoy will stop at nothing until the killer is found and the wedding can go on. I found the book intriguing and will definitely adopt it.