Paislee Shaw, owner of Cashmere Crush and amateur Sleuth is asked by the Countless Sorcha Grant to discover who killed Rory Baxter, last year's winner of the
bagpiping event and clear her son, Lord Robert Grant's name as a murder suspect. There was a fierce rivalry between Jory and Robert and whose clan would win this year's event. What's wasn't known was that Rory, and Robert had a side bet of $50,000 pounds on who would win.

As Paisley and D.I. Zeffer investigate they find out the Lord Robert Grant has a gambling habit where Grant land was sold to pay off his debts. Would Robert commit murder to guarantee his winning of the competition with his main competitor out of the way? Is there something else going on where someone would murder to keep a secret? The hunt is on for a killer before someone else dies.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6196818991

Paislee, her son Brody, Grandpa, and Wallace the Scottish terrier are excited about the annual bagpiping competition at Ramsey Castle. It’s the Scottish version of the Battle of the Bands. Pipers practice year round in hopes of winning the coveted title.

The dowager countess opened a gift shop in the castle where tourists who’ve toured the castle and grounds can shop. It’s not cheap to maintain a castle. Part of the inventory will be Paislee’s knitted items, cashmere the favorite yarn used.

The favorites for this year are Robert Grant, the Earl of Lyon and the prior year’s winner, Jory Baxter, a relative newcomer. Bragging rights are important but there are also side bets taken by the townspeople—and the band members.

When it’s Jory’s turn to play his solo, mid-song, he can’t breathe and falls. Sadly, he dies at the hospital. There’s a lot of talk about possible cheating although no one knows how you can cheat with bagpipes. The death is declared a murder but the method and perpetrator remain a mystery.

Since she has been involved with murders before and currently has access to the castle, Paislee is drawn into the mystery, with the begrudging approval of the local detective. She’s got problems of her own when a leak in the plumbing causes the kitchen ceiling to collapse which makes her house unlivable for several months.

This is book five in the series. Paislee is a good friend, ready to help anyone in need, although she’s reluctant to accept help when she needs it. Brody is 12 and teetering between being a boy or a little old man—full of humor. Wallace, of course, makes sure he’s part of everything. Grandpa has lost much of his grouchy nature and is a big part of the story. There’s a lot of information about bagpiping but it’s interesting and doesn’t intrude on the story. Always a favorite, I look forward to seeing how Paislee’s love life proceeds, whether she’s ready or not.

Previous books are Murder in a Scottish Shire, Murder in a Scottish Garden, Murder at a Scottish Social, Murder at a Scottish Wedding, several reviewed in KRL. Writing as Traci Wilton (see our review of her latest Mrs. Morris book above), there are eight books with titles that all start with Mrs. Morris (and the Ghost, and the Witch, and the Ghost of Christmas Past, and the Sorceress, and the Vampire, and the Pot of Gold, and the Wolfman, and the Mermaid.)

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

This was by far my favourite of the series. I liked the twist in the plot, the personal twists as well as the character growth in everyone.

I would definitely not recommend starting with this book because the personal connections and the emotional investment in Paislee's life builds slowly over time. Unlike some other books in this genre, time is moving faster in this with a couple of years down since the first book. Other things have resolved themselves since we first met Paislee's grandfather and DI Zeffer. 

In this story, personally there are some hits and chances for change our leading lady might not be ready to make. The mystery had an interesting turn of events that I almost laughed at the ending ( although it was actually quite serious).

I am most pleased that a fifth book in a series would work this well for me. The knitting references don't hurt its staying power with me as well.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and the previous books.

Paisley, Brody, and Grandpa are back with another excellent cozy mystery. Our favorite characters attend a bagpipe festival at the home of the local gentry, only to find one of the pipers murdered. Paisley follows the clues and solves the mystery, while her friends and family help! Another stellar entry in this lovable, cozy series!

This is a fun cozy taking place in a lovely locale (Scottish castle etc) with lots of fun and interesting characters. It's part of a series and I wish I had the previous books in the series because I did feel a bit lost by some things. But now I will go back and catch up and enjoy the whole series!

I loved the breathtaking backdrop of a Scottish castle in this gripping mystery, which is the 5th is the Scottish Shire series. The puzzle unfolded at a brisk pace with red herrings, unexpected twists, and a satisfying resolution. I enjoyed following along with Paislee on her sleuthing endeavor.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Princess Fuzzypants here: The Scots are rabid about their clans and their bagpipes so when you set up a competition between clans on the bagpipes, you know emotions will run high. Paislee and her family are watching as a young man collapses as he is about to pipe his awaited solo. There are some odd things about the situation that make the police question whether it was just a sad accident or murder.

The Dowager Countess of the Castle is carrying Paislee’s cashmere items in the gift shop and she wants her help in solving the mysteries surrounding the event and making sure none of her children are implicated. It is not easy when the current Earl seems to be avoiding her and the police and the deceased’s bagpipes have vanished. Might there be something that will prove the rumour that the victim cheated the win the competition the previous year. And might one of the other competitors, including the Earl, have been motivated to make sure it did not happen twice.

This is a series that sweeps the reader to the Nairn area of Scotland. It also has some interesting characters, not least of all Paislee. She struggles to juggle her responsibilities already and fate seems to relish throwing more and more challenges at her. That she is able to handle them with grace and solve murders is quite the feat.

Five purrs and two paws up.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Traci Hall

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

This is my first book of hers and I will have to go back to the beginning of this series because I love books based in the UK. Although this isn't the first book in the series, I had no problem jumping in and feeling at home with the story, characters, and setting.

Paislee Shaw is a single mother also caring for her grandfather while running her own small business. She is resilient and has little time nor extra money which is why getting to sell her hand knit sweaters at the castle is a big opportunity.

Her best friend, Lydia, is married and trying to help Paislee date more. Hamish McCall, Fordythe High Primary's headmaster has gone on two dates with Paisley and is a good guy, steady and dependable. Detective Inspector Mack Zeffer seems to like Paislee but it is a really slow burn there. Her son Grady is a good kid and Grandfather is a little eccentric but loves her dearly. I was afraid Robert Grant, the Earl of Lyon, and head of the Castle would be offered up as a romantic interest, but thankfully that wasn't the direction since he is a suspect. Sorcha, the dowager countess and Robert's mother, is working hard to bring extra income into the castles accounts since it is expensive to keep and she seems genuine.

The castle and the town of Nairn are charming and you get a bit of insight into the Great Highland Bagpipe (GHB) and other styles of bagpipes. I thought it was interesting. This comes in with rumors that the murdered man had cheated at the prior year's competition to win--only how do you cheat at bagpipes? Plus how do you kill a person in front of everyone during a competition?

The pacing was full with Paislee trying to investigate per Sorcha's request, run her shop, knit special orders, deal with a sudden major home repair, go on a date with Hamish, and deal with a car failing her.

The killer reveal was a bit scary and unexpected, well done there. All in all this was full of interesting characters and a good mystery. A good escape in this story and immersive setting.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

I am so invested in Paislee's life and all of the promise of the future. The cast of characters are delightful, the mystery is always engaging and surprising, and the locale is just wonderful for me who can trace my ancestry to the 1600's in that exact locale. I only have one issue, and that is my impatience at waiting for the next offering from Traci Hall. Please do yourself a favor and go read the entire series. I would give it more stars if I could!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Book Review: Murder at a Scottish Castle by Traci Hall

Rating: 3 Stars

Traci Hall's "Murder at a Scottish Castle" takes readers on a cozy mystery journey with sweater shop owner, Paislee Shaw, as she finds herself entangled in a murder investigation during the annual bagpiping competition at Ramsey Castle in the seaside village of Nairn, Scotland.

In this installment, Paislee Shaw, along with her son Brody, Grandpa, and their black Scottish terrier Wallace, find themselves in the midst of a rivalry between the Earl of Lyon and the previous year's bagpiping champion. When the reigning champion suddenly collapses and dies, suspicion falls on foul play, prompting Paislee to use her sleuthing skills to uncover the truth.

While the cover of the book is visually appealing and the setting in the charming coastal town of Nairn adds a cozy atmosphere to the story, I found it challenging to fully engage with the plot. The narrative seems to focus more on Paislee's personal life rather than the mystery itself, which could be a drawback for those seeking a more fast-paced and suspenseful read.

On a positive note, fans of cozy mysteries will appreciate the intricate details about bagpipes woven into the storyline and the endearing presence of Wallace, the Scottish terrier. Despite some pacing issues and a heavier emphasis on personal relationships, "Murder at a Scottish Castle" offers a picturesque setting and an intriguing cast of characters that will appeal to readers looking for a light-hearted whodunit set against the backdrop of a Scottish castle.

Overall, while the book was not perfect fit for me, it provides a pleasant escape to the Scottish countryside and delivers a blend of quaint charm and amateur sleuthing that can be enjoyed by fans of cozy mysteries.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book 3 of 6, have not read the first two. That being said, I did enjoy the story and felt like it would definitely be better having read the other two, but can be read as a standalone. Mystery, dogs and Scots. What's not to like though?

Thank you Netgalley for this book!

Thanks to Kensington Books, NetGalley, and Traci Hall for the opportunity to review the fun cozy mystery Murder at a Scottish Castle. I always enjoy reading about unique characters put into unusual situations and Traci Hall did such a wonderful job with setting her story at a Bagpipe Competition. What a fun and engaging way to begin your introduction to some interesting characters. While this is book five in the series you don’t have to have read the previous books to really enjoy Paislee Shaw and her son and grandfather. They are delightfully well rounded characters that spring from the pages and make the rest of the story exciting. When one of the contestants falls dead after performing it falls to Paislee and friends to help figure out how he could have been killed. And even more importantly, where did his bagpipes disappear to after he died? I definitely enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more from Traci Hall.

Murder at a Scottish Castle

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“ With the summer days getting shorter in the seaside village of Nairn, the annual bagpiping competition at Ramsey Castle promises to be quite the end-of-season blowout. Paisley has snagged a special invitation from the dowager countess, who wants to showcase her cashmere goods in the castle gift shop, and she’s brought her son Brody, Grandpa, and their black Scottish terrier Wallace.”

This is another great addition to this series. I am of Scottish ancestry so this series really speaks to me, hearing about things I loved growing up. I love how the characters have developed over the series. The mystery is a great one in this book. I cannot wait for another one to see how things keep going. Recommend this series!

Murder at a Scottish Castle by Traci Hall has Paislee Shaw solving the mystery of why Jory Baxter collapsed while playing the bagpipes.

Will Paislee get to the bottom of the mystery?

Paislee Shaw
Paislee Shaw is a young mum to a twelve-year-old boy and lives on a budget. She is also the owner of a specialty sweater shop from which one can also buy yarn. Pasilee has made it to the big time if the dowager countess wants to have some of Paislee’s cashmere knitting projects in her gift shop at the castle. Paislee is a good person who has a lot on her plate and two budding romances. I like Paislee, and I think she is doing a great job raising her son and her store and life. However, Paislee would probably beg to differ on that last one.

Jory Baxter, the Victim
Jory Baxter is a new bagpiper that Clan Cunningham found for last year’s competition to beat Clan Grant, who are the owners of the castle where the competition is held. He thought of himself as this gift to the ladies. This was also showcased while playing the bagpipes as he thought he had all the ladies swooning after him. Sadly, that wasn’t the case with most of everyone at the competitions. Jory kept many things about himself a secret, including from his teammates. Jory Baxter, while alive and dead, was not a good person. I feel sad that he died so young, but it was the way he acted alive that got him killed in the end.

Five Stars
I am giving Murder at a Scottish Castle by Traci Hall five stars and a recommendation. Ms. Hall did a fantastic job of writing, making me feel like I was actually in Scotland helping out Paislee. This story had me captivated from the beginning to the end. I adored Wallace, and I loved the idea of Paislee’s shop. Paislee has a great friend who supports her while pushing her out of her comfort zone on a few things. I know that almost everyone deserves a friend like that.

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 Murder at a Scottish Castle by Traci Hall.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

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

Murder at a Scottish Castle is book #5 in the A Scottish Shire Mystery series by Traci Hall.

I love my visits to Scotland to catch up with Paislee and her family, friends, and Wallace. This trip was no exception. Paislee’s business is doing well and her creations will be in a castle gift shop. Paislee, her son, father, and dog get to see a bagpipe festival and enjoy good food and fellowship. There is drama at home for Paislee along with investigating a death. I really enjoy the characters and the descriptions of the locales. I was guessing who was guilty up until the reveal. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next adventure.

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

It is always a pleasure to spend time in Scotland with Paisley and the crew! Murder at a Scottish Castle is the fifth installment in this engaging series. I enjoyed it so much, and I am looking forward to book six.

Paisley has been asked to display some of the wares from her knit shop in the castle gift shop. A new way to grow her business, even though she must contend with the rascally aristocrats. As a single mother Paisley has a great deal to wrestle, even though Granddad helps out. I like the realism shown in her relationships with her family and friends---single parenthood is challenging and rewarding---Traci Hall did a great job with her descriptions.

There is to be a bagpipe competition in Nairn, and Paisley has scored tickets for her small family to attend. Unfortunately, one of the pipers faces an untimely demise that sets the mystery on its path, (and Paisley right along with it). There are red herrings and twists to keep the reader guessing.

I recommend this to all cozy readers, especially those who enjoy armchair travels.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy of #Murderata ScottishCastle #NetGalley, #Kensington Publishing and #TraciHall. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Murder At A Scottish Castle is the fifth book in the A Scottish Shire Mystery series by Traci Hall.

Paislee Shaw, a knitting shop owner, is excited to visit the castle of Laird Grant, where the Dowager Countess has asked her to sell her knitting at the castle. Also attending are Grandpa, her son Brodie, and Wallace, their Scottish terrier. They will be staying to listen to the annual bagpipe competition that Lord Grant sponsors. Lord Grant had won the competition for several years until last year when he lost to Jory Baxter. Even though there were rumors that Jory cheated the previous year, he has returned to this year's competition, claiming he will win again. Shortly into this year's performance, Jory collapses on stage. Members of the audience rush to attend to Jory and Paislee phones for an ambulance. Paislee’s yarn delivery man, Jerry McFadden, puts the bagpipes under a bench to keep them out of the way of people crowding around the scene. Jory is rushed to the hospital, where he dies shortly after arriving. The police will have a murder case on their hands. But when they go to retrieve the bagpipes, they are gone. The question now is, who moved them and why?

Paislee will naturally want to start her own investigation. She is surprised when DI Zeffer shows up to lead the police’s investigation. She has worked with Zeffer before, and though they have gotten along in the past, she would rather work with someone else. Paislee will find no shortage of suspects as she investigates.

Paislee also has problems at home. Paislee has been out on a date with Hamish McCall, headmaster at Brody’s prior school. As they are standing in the kitchen, the ceiling falls on them. No one is hurt, just embarrassed. I have a feeling that maybe some romantic interest is developing for DI Zeffed from Paislee, finally, in my opinion.

I love this series, and it has terrific and well-developed characters. The story is well-written and plotted. It reads at a good pace and is hard to put down. There were plenty of twists and turns, and I kept guessing who the killer was until the end. Most of the regular characters are back in this book. I especially like the Scottie Wallace.

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

4.5 Stars
Murder at a Scottish Castle is the first book in this series I have had the pleasure to read, but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone too. Loved the accents, slang, and cultural history embedded into the novel, but the characters and setting are what set this one apart from other similar series. Plus, the writing flows well. I love that the MC is a single mom and how her experiences flavor the story as well. I'll be completing this series and plan to check out other works from this author. Perfect for cozy mystery fans who like a little armchair travel in their stories. Recommended.

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