The third book in this series. I have previously read book 2.

An interesting mystery featuring Dr.Emilia McCroy who works in a Scottish village with a very unusual local surgery equipped with an operating theatre and recovery rooms, apparently in case the village is cut off in a storm. She also acts as the Coroner which provides the author with a natural link between her main characters and the local police.

There are two murders, both using unusual weapons, and plenty of suspects. A snow storm ensures everyone has to remain in the village and the operating theatre is required. All very gripping. For me though the ending arrived too suddenly and was not very exciting. I did enjoy all the characters and would happily read another book in the series.

Death at a Scottish Christmas: A Scottish Isle Mystery by Lucy Connelly is the third read in this highly entertaining cozy mystery series that began with An American in Scotland. A lot has happened since Doctor Emilia McRoy arrived in Sea Isle, Scotland, back in August. As we roll into December here in this new book, it is best to have read the preceding books in the series.

The doctor is supposed to be off for the month of December until January 3rd. She is a tad bored on this December 10th as she is ready with her gifts, reorganized a closet, and caught up with her medical journals. Mara, manager of the Pig & Whistle Pub well as being a good friend, has recruited her to help out with various things as holiday parties and celebrating various events are a big deal in Sea Isle as are the tourists. But, she is still at loose ends.

That is until Mara calls with a request to help transport some members of the rock brand, Bram and the Strokers. Highly popular in the United Kingdom, they are to play in town to kick off the holidays. Their bus broke down shortly after leaving Edinburgh. Mara needs help getting the members and their equipment to town and the doctor has a SUV. She agrees helps ferry band members to town, and is there at the party/concert that evening. It was a great night. Though things got awkward several times between various people.

It was also the last time folks heard Bram sing. It was the doctor herself who found him sitting on a chair on the beach in very cold weather. The sun was up, but it was a cold morning, and he wasn’t dressed for it. As if he sat down to look at the sea and just went to permanent sleep.

Doctor Emilia McRoy also serves as the coroner and that means she has a joint investigation with Ewan Campbell, the town constable and much more. It also means that there is huge media publicity regarding Bram’s death. That publicity brings in Evan’s bosses, the media, and a lot more complications.

What follows is another twisty mystery that further solidifies many of the existing characters and brings in a couple of other new characters who might be around in subsequent books. Author Lucy Connelly continues to bring a very special place alive for readers while providing a lot of entertainment and mystery. This book, and the series as a whole, are well worth your time.

My reading copy came by way of the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through NetGalley.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2024

This is such a great series! I love the Scottish village setting of Sea Isle, wonderful characters, and always an interesting, multilayered mystery to unravel. Dr. Emilia McRoy is enjoying living in the village after working the ER in a Seattle hospital where she has a new family, consisting of her new friends, and hopes to find out about her ancestors, As the village doctor and coroner, she treats patients and feels that she needs to help solve the crimes committed. This time Bram Stoker, a local musician and Scottish rockstar, was murdered in an unusual way and handsome Constable Ewan Campbell is a suspect because of bad history with Bram so a detective inspector is brought in to work the case. But Ewan is not off the case and as he and the DI work it, Em does her own research, all in the name of medical investigation. This is a great addition to the series. It is Christmas and lots of festive activities add to the story and the closeness of the Em and friends celebrating. I also sense that there is something going on between Em and Ewan and I hope that is in a future book.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.

Death at a Scottish Christmas is #3 in Lucy Connelly's Scottish Isle series. I enjoyed this every bit as much as the previous two.

It has of course the Scottish setting with the small town coming up to Christmas. Emilia's friends have her involved in all the preparations. She is meant to be on holiday, but there always seems to be times when she is needed. Abigail and Tommy her brother are around a good bit and that's an added pleasure (for me the reader). There seems to be a bit of romance going on for Abigail but Em's not sure she is aware of it.

Of course a murder happens and it is an interesting one. Emilia is involved as well as being the doctor she is the local coroner. The gruesome things she has to do, but she seems quite at home with it. And she has Abigail to help. It was all very mystifying and when an outside detective turns up there seems to have been something going on between Ewan and herself way back. And at the moment she arrives she is pointing the finger at Ewan. Well Emilia is having none of that.

I felt riveted the whole time and in fact had to really get reading this right through to the end. Eventually as it became clearer who the murderer is (thanks to Em's putting it all together) I was sad it was the way it was.

An excellent addition to the series and I am really looking forward to another in this series. There is still lots more that can happen. Hmm I think Ewan seems to think so

Death at a Scottish Christmas is the third book in a series that just keeps getting better and better. By Lucy Connelly I have learned to love the Sea Isle of Scotland by seeing the setting and community through the eyes of Dr. Emilia McRoy. Who knew that you could celebrate with an event every night in December? The descriptions are vibrant with you swearing that you can feel the cold too.

Not long into the story there is a suspicious death. Plenty of suspects but no proof so the investigation takes a toll on all involve. I enjoyed how the focus of this book was on solving the murder and arresting the guilty party. Before it is over another death has taken place. There are several twists, conflicting stories and a group of messed up singers. The conclusion is wonderful especially Em’s last visitor. Hope that is a clue to the next book in the series.

This is a wonderful, engaging cozy mystery. I loved the Scotland setting and the cozy holiday events. The characters and mystery were interesting, though the murder in this one was a little creepy. I haven't read the first two books in the series, but I definitely will now, to get more background for the characters. This one is fine as a standalone, but I think everything will be more clear if reading it as part of the series. Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advance digital copy!

Christmas in Sea Isle sounds like the perfect place to spend the holidays, if only it weren't for the pesky dead body that has come up to spoil the festivities! Seriously if this were a real place, I would want to visit this town. The town is charming and the characters are people that I would love to be able to include as friends. The author weaves such a realistic setting with unique characters that she absolutely brings to life on the pages of her books that you can't help but be enthralled, but then she weaves a realistic mystery into the lives of her characters that has you turning pages way past your bedtime to see what happens next. I love that her main character, Em, is the town doctor and since it is a small, isolated town she is also the coroner. Em works closely with the local constable and his staff as well as getting her friends in on the sleuthing to make sure their small-town returns to a safe and lovable location as quickly as possible. The only complaint I have about this book and the series as a whole is that it draws me in and I finish the book to quickly which puts me back to waiting for the author to create another story for me to devour!!!

Lucy Connelly is quickly becoming one of my favorite mystery authors. This is #3 in the Scottish Isle Mystery series and it's a wonderful read. Can be read as a stand alone. 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.

Death at a Scottish Christmas

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“ 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. ”

This one was a great edition to the series. Scotland holds a special place in my heart so to read about times like Christmas there I just love! The mystery was a really good one in this book. I am loving seeing the characters develop more and more each book. I can’t wait for the next one. Highly recommend this book and this series.

Dr Em, an American living in Scotland finds herself once again investigating a murder in this latest in a very entertaining cross cultural cozy series that will be fine as a standalone. She's certain Ewan, the constable and laird, did not kill Bram but who did? Turns out the singer had a lot of people who did not like him and she's got to sort through them. And it's Christmas. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It's classic cozy with a great atmospheric setting and good characters. No spoilers.

Christmas has come to Sea Isle and so has a famous band. Dr Emilia (Em) McRoy is enjoying her holiday break as the town physician/coroner and looking forward to spending her first Christmas in Scotland with her friends who have become her family of choice. A famous Scottish band. Bram and the Stokers are in town and playing at Mara's pub as they have ties to the community of Sea Isle. Em's Christmas holiday comes to an end after finding Bram, the lead singer, dead on the beach. When Constable, Mayor and a sometime subject of Em's dreams, Ewan becomes a possible suspect when his past connection to Bram is revealed. A visiting inspector arrives and is looking to wrap this case up quick. Em and her friends need to find the true culprit before Ewan ends up inside his own jail.

This is the third book of the series, and it just keeps getting better! There are several suspects, erratic behavior, health issues, a stalker and missing notebooks. I stayed up way too late reading this one, but it was definitely worth the lost sleep!

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the chance to read this ARC.

I am enjoying this series and author. I like the setting in the small Scottish town. I find the characters interesting as well. The mystery kept me guessing.

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

I read the first book in this series, missed the second, and am now reading the third. One big improvement--there is less gushing over all the fabulous, state of the art equipment and luxury that Emilia found in her new job as the doctor in residence on Sea Isle, Scotland. The series can be described as Cabot Cove meets CSI: tiny village where everyone knows each other and is perfect seemingly is the venue for murder after murder. This time, a holiday concert by a popular band with two locals who made good is rocked to its core when the lead singer/songwriter is found dead. Meanwhile, holiday festivities of all cultures are celebrated, a mini-UN of cultural good cheer I would not have expected in a tiny Scottish village, even a fictional one. There's even.a holiday blizzard! This story has less emphasis on romance and the attraction between Emilia and the fabulously wealthy but benevolent underwriter of pretty much everything in the village, Constable Ewan. I didn't find the mystery difficult to solve at all until the one crucial piece on information about one suspects past was revealed, and then it was clear who had done it. But the secondary character of Angie and Abigail and friends is strong, and I like them more than I like Emilia. Overall, this is a pleasant enough holiday mystery with a lovely cover.

This was fine but i didn't love it. I found the writing a bit tell rather than show or something. I felt like there were a few inconsistencies and repetitions throughout the story. I thought the characters and plot were ok - maybe better for someone who has been with the series from the start.
I wouldl ike to give 2.5 stars

I first discovered Lucy Connelly’s books earlier this year with the second installment of this series. Now, I am not only hooked on the Scottish Isle Mysteries but also following her new series set in Ireland, which debuted a few months ago. There’s something about Connelly’s writing that feels both charming and comforting, making it the perfect companion to a cozy evening with a cup of hot chocolate.

In the third installment of Scottish Isle Mysteries, Dr. Emilia McRoy finds herself in the holiday spirit - perhaps for the first time in her life, having spent most of her past holidays in the ER in America. While the Scottish cold cannot dampen her excitement, a murder during the festive season certainly does. Emilia quickly becomes involved in the case, initially called in to perform the autopsy.

What starts as a routine task takes a personal turn when Constable Ewan, the Laird of Sea Isle, is named a suspect. The more Emilia learns about Bram’s mysterious death, the more she suspects there’s much more at play. The narrative is also enriched by side stories featuring recurring characters, and I was especially drawn to Emilia’s assistant, Abigail.

Though Christmas is still over two months away, Death at a Scottish Christmas is the perfect book to get you into the holiday spirit. If you are already compiling your Christmas TBR, I highly recommend adding Lucy Connelly’s Death at a Scottish Christmas to the list.

Emilia is on vacation and there are gatherings every night to celebrate the holidays. First she helps a band get to the pub after their bus breaks down. After an amazing performance, the next morning Em finds the band's lead singer dead. With Ewan a suspect, the powers above send another inspector to handle the investigation. This doesn't stop Em from trying to figure it out! With several suspects in the band, it's a twisty, turny story with a surprise at the reveal. Well written and plotted. Love these characters and their interactions. You won't want to put this book down! I sure kept reading past my bedtime!

Death at a Scottish Christmas is book 3 in Lucy Connelly’s A Scottish Isle Mystery series, another fun mystery and easily read as a standalone. And despite its Christmas setting, it would be a great read at any time of year.

Emilia (or Em as she's known) is back, still settling into her role as doctor to the population of the small Scottish town of Sea Isle. This time a relatively well known rock band is performing in the village pub and the next morning the body of the lead singer is found on the beach. Is it murder or suicide? Em must investigate in her role as coroner, to figure out what happened, and also clear the name of the local constable, Ewan Campbell.

I have not read book one in this series but I did read book two, and I was happy to see many of the locals return for book three. I enjoyed getting to know their characters better, and to see the relationship (if you can call it that at this point) between Ewan and Emilia soften a bit as they become a little more familiar with each other.

In addition to the familiar characters of Sea Isle, we also got to meet new characters from the band, and an investigator who came in to supervise and take part in the investigation since Ewan knew (and had problems with) the victim.

I'm always happy when I pick up a mystery and haven't figured out the culprit by the end. In the case of this book the reveal actually made me a bit sad, as I was hoping it was someone else, but even so I enjoyed the story.

If you love a good mystery then you'll want to give Death at a Scottish Christmas a try. I know I'll be looking for book four in the series.

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

I'm enjoying this series! In this book, Emilia is ready to launch into all the holiday festivities of her new home, something she has never really gotten into (being an ER doc in the states kept her too busy) and just when she's starting to enjoy the season, death strikes. As Emilia is also the coroner, she has a duty to help investigate, no matter what the police think. And as she says, people are more prone to talk to her than the police, as she's a doctor to them. But as she talks to the remaining band members and their agent, something is very clearly wrong both within the group and out. As her investigation spirals, she and her friends come into danger from the killer who wants no loose ends. A fast read, this is an enjoyable entry to the series!

Dr. Emilia (Em) McRoy is looking forward to her first Christmas at Sea Isle. Em, in need of a change of pace from her job as head of ER at a major US hospital, relocated to become the village doctor and coroner for Sea Isle, Scotland. Em absolutely loves Sea Isle's slower pace and friendly people and has made many friends since arriving in August. Now, Christmas is almost here and the village is awash in festivities gathered from cultures everywhere. The biggest event for this Christmas will be a concert in the local pub – by a renowned rock group, Bram and the Stokers. They’ve been touring in Europe and are set to tour the USA next. Normally, such a famous group wouldn’t look twice at tiny Sea Isle, but a couple of the members grew up on the Isle and they want a quiet break before heading to the US. Sadly, the break will not be the respite they had hoped for.

After a wildly successful concert, the lead singer, Bram Stoker, was found dead on the beach the following morning – and it wasn’t natural causes. Who would want to murder the charismatic, handsome singer and lyricist? Could it be a member of the band? A groupie? A stalker? A rejected lover? Or, is it someone with a long-ago past with the singer – such as Constable Ewan Campbell? With so many suspects, how can Em help to narrow them down?

All of the supporting characters we’ve come to know and love over the previous two books have roles in this tale as well. Their assistance in gathering evidence, and helping Em and Ewan work through the clues is invaluable. With so many suspects and clues, it is hard to weed out the red herrings from the actual culprit, but Em and the crew manage to do it – but not before there is a second death. You won’t know the murderer until the end, but you’ll be convinced you know with each red herring.

This was an entertaining murder mystery with a well-thought-out plot, an interesting victim, and even more interesting suspects. The author wove the investigation into all of the Christmas celebrations in a way that made you want to spend your Christmas with the residents of Sea Isle even if there was a murder being investigated. It was an enjoyable read, and I am glad to have had another visit with all of the Sea Isle residents.

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

Dr, Emilia Mc Roy is enjoying her time as doctor at Sea Isle, Scotland, as the Christmas season arrives in Death at a Scottish Christmas. Ewan, the constable, is investigating and also implicated in the death of a visiting rock star and Emilia is determined to analyze the death and help find the real culprit. The rock band members all have motives. Fun cozy is interesting setting.