I really enjoyed the third book in The A Scottish Isle Mysteries series featuring an American ex-pat, Dr. Emilia McRoy, living in Sea Isle, Scotland and working as a local doctor and coroner. The characters are fun and interesting and very colorful, and the mysteries are intriguing with some great red herrings. Also, Sea Isle is a character within itself, and a place I would love to visit.
This book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading them all for maximum enjoyment.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

This was a well-written cozy mystery with an intriguing plot about a band member who mysteriously dies on the beach. It has a CSI or Diagnosis Murder vibe. It was so good I couldn’t put it down. The characters were very complex; making it hard to pin down the killer. The main character, Doc Em, along with her assistant and the local constable, figure out how the man and his manager were killed and who was behind their demise. This book also touches on the subject of early-onset Alzheimer’s and the devastating effects of the disease in younger patients. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3 1/2 stars. A holiday cozy mystery set on a Scottish Isle filled with seasonal cheer and celebrations (and even though it is called a Scottish Christmas there were observations for a number of different seasonal holidays so you probably won't feel left out). There were quirky characters, good friends, the requisite snow storm that stranded people in town and of course a murder. And the female lead, a doctor for the town plus its coroner may be an amateur detective but she actually has a good reason to be investigating murder as its coroner.

On top of that Emilia and Ewan continue their snipping which obviously hid an attraction that neither was willing to acknowledge (hopefully that will change in future books).

I was disappointed in the culprit. I was really hoping that it would be someone different and a surprise twist at the end. But, oh well, you can't get everything to go the way you want. It was still a good read and I will be back for more.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Sea Isle is a Scottish community that celebrates all the winter holidays in full force. It's also the hometown of several members of Bram and the Stokers, a popular indie folk band, that plays at a local pub to try out some new music in preparation to a US stadium tour. Unfortunately the lead singer is found dead the next morning. Was it suicide or murder?

Having a cozy mystery lead by a doctor/coroner instead of a cupcake baker or a dog walker opens up all kinds of possibilities and complexities. The cause of death was unusual and interesting. I really liked that aspect.

I didn't realize when I requested this book that it was part of a series. main character's full name isn't used until 85% of the book which I guess isn't an issue if you've read the first two. The author does give some backstory information but I am pretty sure the ending of book #2 is spoiled in several places.

There were quite a few repetitive words/phrases and some timeline jumping that I hope were corrected before release date. There were also a few things left unresolved that seemed germane to the plot but were then never addressed. <spoiler>For example, the painting Bram bought in town that no one knew was painted by his father? Was Desiree being poisoned at the B&B? How do people keep breaking into that church/house/hospital and why aren't there security cameras and motion detection lights on the property?</spoiler>

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.

Death at a Scottish Christmas is the third in the Scottish Isle Mystery Series. It can be read as a stand-alone, though.

Dr. Emilia McRoy moved from America to Scotland for a fresh start. She became the small town doctor in Sea Isle. Emilia is thrilled to be experiencing a Scottish Christmas, having not celebrated much while she was in America.

Emilia has a month off work for the holidays, and she's wondering what she's going to do with herself. But, when she finds the lead band member of a local Scottish band dead on the beach, she finds she suddenly doesn't have so much time on her hands anymore, as the local coroner, she finds herself assisting with the investigation.

I enjoy this cozy mystery series, I love the Scottish small town setting and enjoyed learning more about Scottish celebrations.

The mystery was interesting. There were several possible suspects and motives. I had a small inkling as to who might be the culprit but never fully figured it out.

The doctor is a great main character, but the secondary characters are all amazing as well. They all add so much to the warmth and coziness of this story.

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.

“Death at a Scottish Christmas” is the nicely done third book in Lucy Connelly’s Scottish Isle cozy mystery series. In this book it is Dr. Emilia McRoy’s first Christmas in Scotland, and she is determined to enjoy it as much as she can – taking part in as many events as possible. She is supposed to have a month of from her duties as doctor and coroner but when a body turns up, she finds herself investigating yet another murder. Connelly does a great job of describing Sea Isle and I felt like I was right there alongside Em, Abigail, Ewan, and others as they investigated the murder. The mystery is well done with just the right amount of suspects, twists, and turns, and the right amount of suspense. Truthfully, I was a bit sad when I found out who the killer was. All of this was well done by Connelly and I was sorry when my visit to Sea Isle ended – I look forward to my next visit there.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Such a fun cozy mystery series. I love that Emily is intelligent and strong headed. I love Sea Isle and its residents. The mystery of this one was pretty good. I will definitely read/listen to the next book. While you could read this before the other 2 I do feel you’d enjoy it more after reading the first 2 books.

**Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**

As strong as the others in the series. The setting is still possibly the most captivating part, but the unique balance of cozy /police procedural/medical examiner is very good. The characters are well-done and believable. A good mystery as well.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love this series so much and it just keeps getting better! The tension just keeps building between Emilia and Ewan and I can't wait to see what happens next!

What I loved:
* Christmas in Scotland
* Em doing her job WHICH enables her to also be extra nosy ;-)
* The mystery was very good and kept me guessing [and in the end I. WAS. WRONG. How glorious].
* Em watches ALL of my favorite British crime shows [I LOVE it when they mention them, especially Vera!!].
* I love all of the side characters in these books; how they have accepted Em from day one and how they've become her family and love her [and each other] fiercely. They are the glue that holds these books together.

What didn't work for me:
* This isn't a reflection on the author, but the publisher/proofreader. I expect some mistakes, because we are all human, but this book really suffered from some editing issues [namely mis-naming people, having Em do one thing and then do it again several sentances later etc] which was very glaring when listening to the audiobook [as the excellent narrator READ THEM all as written], and after awhile, got kind of old.
* There was WAY more repetition in this one than there has been in the previous books; sometimes within the same paragraph and it really unnecessary. We are not 5. We do not need to be told the same thing over and over again [this was all super frustrating along with the editing issues].
* The very rushed reveal and the actual reveal itself. It was pretty anticlimactic and didn't have any of the excitement that typically comes with a reveal and so it was disappointing.
* While I will not mind if Em and Ewan get together, it is the getting there that is so juvenile. It all felt so high schol and I'd love to see that handled better.
* That ending!! WHAT???? Ergh.

Even with what didn't work for me, this was still a good read - the positives [mostly] outweighed the negatives and I enjoyed my "visit" to Scotland and being with Em and Co. at Christmastime [even though it was 70+ and October when I was reading LOL] and I am very much looking forward to book 4!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Connelly, and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this story and the wonderful description of the Scottish scenery - made me proud to live here. I do love a good mystery and this was, for me, a wonderful mystery with all its twists and turns.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lucy Connelly for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Death at a Scottish Christmas coming out October 15, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really love this series! Emilia has really grown on me as a character. She was a little standoffish in the first book. I’ve always loved the setting in Scotland. Christmastime mysteries are one of my favorite genres. I think this series is really cozy and fun. I love the Scottish characters. Everyone comes together to help each other out. I would definitely read more books by this author!

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

Dr. Emilia Roy is looking forward to a Scottish Christmas and the activities the town will have going on. Things started out well until the lead singer for a very famous band ends up dead. The band was getting ready to go on a world tour but things are a bit iffy at the moment. Emilia decides to start investigating and learns that some music they were working on has disappeared. Does this have something to do with the murder? She soon learns he had quite a few enemies. Then the local constable becomes the main suspect upsetting everyone along with the holiday festivities. Emilia begins.to.look deeper hoping to solve the murder before the whole holiday is ruined. Will she be able to find the culprit before something bad happens to someone else.

In Death at a Scottish Christmas, we are back in Sea Isle with Emilia and the gang. I love how Emilia as the town doctor/coroner, can't help herself in trying to figure out "whodunit". This is a fun cozy mystery and it takes place at Christmas so that makes it even better! I think this could be read as a stand-alone but it's a little richer if you've read books 1 and 2 first.

I read/listened to the audio version and love Kimberly M. Wetherell as narrator.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 15 October 2024

This is a fun, entertaining read. Emilia is an interesting, complex, complicated, intriguing, relatable, entertaining characters. I enjoyed the mystery and that the amateur sleuth played an active role in solving the crime. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. The story is easy to read and get into.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Death at a Scottish Christmas" by Lucy Connelly is a delight and my new favorite series! The vivid descriptions are so immersive that you can almost feel yourself waking up in the heart of Scotland. Connelly’s relatable characters are wonderfully crafted, making you wish you could be friends with them as they navigate this festive mystery. The blend of charm and suspense creates a captivating read that keeps you hooked until the very end. (I reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.) I can’t wait to dive into the next adventure in this enchanting series!

Great Series set in Scotland.
In this well written series set in Sea Isle, Scotland we continue to follow former Seattle Emergency Room Doctor Emilia McRoy as she continues to become comfortable with her new position of Town Doctor and Coroner. This 3rd book is set a few months after she’s arrived and is now settling into her position and the home and office provided by the Laird and Town Constable Ewan Campbell in a former church. A complete cast of characters is now present with well created backstories. A tension between Emilia and Ewan is secondary still to the mystery of the death of a Sea Isle born Rock star. This enjoyable series only has gotten better and better with each book written by Lucy Connelly. Wonderful details of the town and its inhabitants combine with the American born Doctor and Scottish Laird who are both trying to do just what the small-town needs. Each book builds upon the previous one, so for the best experience read from the beginning. Death at a Scottish Christmas could be read as a standalone but will give the reader a few What? and How? and Why? if read that way. I’m looking forward to additional books by Ms. Connelly.
I was given an ARC of the book by NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

EXCERPT: I was about to go into the Pig and Whistle when I caught the reflection of something shiny on the glass door. I turned toward the beach and lifted my hand to shade my eyes from the sun. Something stuck out of the sand, but I couldn't tell what it was.
I crossed the coastal road. On the other side, I stopped.
'Bram? Is everything okay?' He sat in the sand with his hand holding his guitar upright. He was so still it was eerie.
'Bram, it's cold. Why don't you come inside?'
He didn't seem to hear me, or he was ignoring me. I shivered in the cold.
Maybe he's meditating. I should leave him alone.
But something wasn't right about the way he sat hunched over, and he didn't have a heavy coat on. The temperature was in the twenties. I made my way down the sand and stood a few feet away.
'Bram, are you okay?'
I moved closer and then took his pulse. His tanned skin had turned a scary shade of white.
This isn't good.
'Doc, what's going on?' Ewan asked. I hadn't heard him walk up. And I might have jumped and, um, yelped a bit.
'He's dead, I said. 'Very, very dead.'

ABOUT 'DEATH AT A SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS': Merriment, mistletoe, and murder.

Sea Isle, Scotland, is magical during the holiday season, and Dr. Emilia McRoy can’t wait to enjoy everything her village has to offer. But when the lead singer of a famous band is murdered in the village, just as they were about to launch a world tour, her holiday instantly comes to a halt.

As the band’s future hangs in the balance, Emilia discovers that the victim was working on new music that has since disappeared. Were these new lyrics worth killing for? And if so, who is the culprit? It seems more than one person wanted this music star dead. Shockingly, beloved constable Ewan Campbell becomes the prime suspect in the investigation, putting a damper on the town’s festivities.

With an ever-growing list of suspects, Emilia will need all the help she can get to figure out who is framing poor Ewan. Between a secret Santa that wants her dead, stalkers, and killer holiday celebrations, Emilia must see the devil in the details and discover the truth before it’s too late.

MY THOUGHTS: An interesting murder-mystery let down by the ending.

Death at a Scottish Christmas is a classic cosy-mystery in an awesome setting populated by characters I enjoy. At the height of the action the village is cut off by a snowstorm. Christmas events, however, continue as scheduled and Em uses them to observe and sometimes subtly question people.

The attraction between Em and Ewan, the village constable and local laird, becomes more apparent, but still they bounce off one another rather than acknowledging their feelings. Their relationship reminds me of those teenage years when you didn't want someone to know you were attracted to them in case they didn't like you back.

There was a fair bit of repetition in parts of the book which I could have done without; the word count could have been better used in the ending which I felt was a little rushed. I didn't like the way the murderer announced themself, and I was disappointed in who it was. In fact, I yelled out 'No!' at the revelation.

The method of murder was certainly unusual and earned this book an extra half star.

⭐⭐⭐.5

#DeathataScottishChristmas #NetGalley

MEET 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 Chritmas by Lucy Connelly for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Not recommended.

I was interested in the mystery: singer of a popular band dies at the beach after performing in his home town. It turns out he was suffering a debilitating disease. Actually, I was mostly interested in how he managed to dance and flirt with the doctor the night before he died. Because when the doctor gets hold of his medical records, she assess the disease has progressed so far that he had only a month left to live. My grandfather suffered from this disease, years before his death he lost the ability for coherent sentences. Doubt he flirted with the nurses of his care home a month before he passed away.

This mystery is barely addressed and not solved. Very unsatisfactory.

This book hit a lot of my dislikes. Cops that demand answers from witnesses (without telling them why they want to know), claim they follow the facts (and then present an assumption as fact) and overshare with the amateur sleuth. An amateur sleuth, the local doctor, that tells the cops what to investigate.

And then there is my most hated trope: when the sleuth finds out who the killer is, the killer pulls a gun.

I felt antipathy towards doctor Em. She came to the village five months earlier and everyone seems to think she is the greatest. (She’s so mesmerising that everyone just glosses over the fact that there never used to be murders in the town until she came along.) She thinks she knows the towns people better than anyone and knows better than an experienced investigator how she should handle interviewing witnesses.

The author seems to have researched Scottish customs poorly. The police inspector declines a pint because she’s on duty, but orders a cider in stead, which is also an alcoholic drink. And when the inspector makes an arrest she informs the arrestee she has “the right …” British police officers - Scottish too - do not inform people of a right to remain silent. They tell them “You do not have to say anything.”

Visiting Sea Isle Scotland at Christmas times sounds like a fun place to be, except this holiday season a well know Scottish singer is going to die.
I enjoyed following Doc Em as she tries to help Constable Ewan solve the murder. I like all the main characters Em, Abigail, Tommy, Ewan, Mara and Jasper.
There are a number of cool Christmas events that take place over the course of the weeks leading up to Christmas.
I was saddened by who the killer turned out to be.
I really like the Scottish Isle mystery series. Give it a try if you like mysteries or arm chair travel.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for the opportunity to read Death at a Scottish Christmas.