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

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.

Cozy-ish Mystery about an American doctor and coroner working in Scotland as she investigates a famous band's lead singer's murder and the theft of his new music.

5/5 stars: This is the third entry in Connelly's Scottish Isle Mystery series, which is Cozy-ish Mystery that takes place at Christmas in Scotland and follows an American former ER doctor turned village doctor and coroner as she looks into the murder of a famous band's lead singer and who stole his new music. When the village's beloved Constable becomes the prime suspect, she'll race to figure out who is framing him. Between a secret Santa that wants her dead, stalkers and killer holiday celebrations, she'll have to discover the truth before it’s too late. With plenty of twists and turns, Connelly has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Additionally, Connelly's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's a joy to catch back up with Em, the found family she's built in Sea Isle and it's various village folk. I especially like how thoughtfully Connelly's written Em's assistant Abigail's brother Tommy, who's neurodivergent. And I have to say I really enjoy the slow build-up of Em and Ewan's “can't get along with each other but really like each other” relationship. Some might find the medical and crime scene a bit intense, so be sure to check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to check out book one, An American in Scotland.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

I enjoyed this book. It was the perfect setting, Scotland at Christmas! It had mystery and kept you reading to find out who did it.

The characters were well thought out and I really liked the dynamics of the band.

But nothing really wowed me. It was a nice read though.

A good cozy mystery read for Christmas.

We are back on Sea Isle in Scotland with Dr. Emilia McRoy. It's December and Em is on holiday. The isle celebrates every holiday and Mara signs Em up to help so she doesn't feel left out. A Scottish band has come into town to play at the pub. When the lead singers body is found. Em must find out why he died.

I love this series and love following the mystery with the doctor/coroner. I enjoy the writing and love the quirky townsfolk. I can't wait to read more of this series.

‘The people here took their holidays seriously.’

Okay, so this is the third book in this series, and I have not yet read the first two. I will, though, because I am keen to learn more about the people of Sea Isle, Scotland.

In this book, which can be read as a standalone mystery, Dr Emilia (Em) McRoy is getting ready for Christmas. She is even taking a holiday! Em’s friend, Mara, manages the Pig& Whistle pub and calls Em for help. A band has been hired to play at the Pig & Whistle, but their bus has broken down: can Em help her to pick them up? Certainly, she can.

The festive mood is destroyed, though, when Bram (the lead singer of the band) is murdered, and Em’s holiday ends abruptly. Who killed Bram, and why? The group was about to embark on a world tour, and Em discovers that the music Bram was working on has disappeared.
Investigations reveal that several people were not happy with Bram, and motives for murder are easy to find. But when Constable Ewan Campbell becomes a suspect and Em acquires a stalker, things become complicated. And then another member of the band is murdered.

A marvellous cast of characters as well as a few twists while the story unfolds: I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. There’s a suitable ending, and (I hope) more novels to come. In the meantime, I’ll track down a copy of the first two.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

When a world famous rock band performs a special Christmas concert, the town of Sea Isle floods with tourists. The concert helps usher in a season of Christmas events, traditional to the small community. Dr. Emilia McCoy is looking forward to a peaceful vacation before her job begins as Doctor and Coroner for the residents. Her visions of decorating and baking, disappear when the lead singer is found murdered! Adding detective to her job title, she begins to sift through the evidence to unmask the killer.

The town's Christmas Festivals, celebrating holiday customs from around the world, make you want to visit, as do, the village's warm and welcoming people. Christmas snow is plentiful making Sea Isle the perfect place to spend the holiday. A romantic element is deftly woven into the plot. A fun cozy mystery if you ignore some tiny holes in the plot. My own personal peeve: writers and editors who do not know the correct usage of "I" and "me."

Dr. Emilia McRoy Is spending her first Christmas in Sea Isle, Scotland. The town had given her the full month off to celebrate, and she didn't know what she'd be doing with all her free time. She soon found out. Sea Isle celebrated many variations of the holidays on different evenings so as to be inclusive of all of their citizens.

The local pub started the month with a performance by a well known Scottish band.
Two members of the band grew up in the area so they were happy to do it.

The following morning the doc was walking to the pub for breakfast when she found the lead singer's dead body on the beach. Was it murder or a suicide? It was now up to Constable Ewan Campbell and Dr. Emilia McRoy to make sense of the latest death in their community.

This author is wonderful. So many suspects and clues make it interesting to the end.

#DeathataScottishChristmas

This is my first time reading a Lucy Connelly mystery. It works well as a stand-alone. American Dr. Em McRoy is settling in and becoming part of the Scottish community on Sea Isle. Her best friend Mara invites another friend and her band to perform during the holiday season. Bram and the Stokers are featured early in the diverse celebrations that Ewan Campbell presides over. The local Laird, mayor and constable who hired Em is quite busy with everything. Surprisingly the doctor is told she has a month vacation and that she will be able to take part in the community celebrations.
The murder of the band's lead singer changes that.
I received an advanced reader's copy from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley and this is my unsolicited opinion about it. An interesting mystery, I liked the chance to learn a bit about some of the things that could take place for celebrations in Scotland at Christmas. Of course, the main content is the mystery surrounding the odd death of the singer who Em as coroner finds to be a popular entertainer. My favorite characters were Em and her assistant Abigail along with the younger woman's brother. To add to the suspense Ewan is a suspect in the investigation that swings back and forth with other possible suspects.
I liked the story. There's no serious violence or graphic descriptions of crime in my opinion. There is UK slang. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

Dr. Emilia McRoy, Doctor, and Coroner residing in Sea Isle, Scotland is settling into her daily routine and and making friends among the locals.

Emilia's invited to attend a friend's wedding at Morrigan Castle owned by Lord and Constable Ewan Campbell. It's a three-day party with a snow storm on the way trapping everyone inside. As friends and family mingle, Emilio explores the castle and finds a dead man in one of the turrets along with two of her friends being poisoned.

It's up to Emilio and Ewan to find the killer and protect those in the castle since no local police can travel because of the snow storm. There's a killer among them and everyone denies knowing the dead man. Those attending the wedding aren't what they seem and someone is determine to stop the wedding by any means including murder.




https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6158298769

I loved the synopsis but found it very difficult to get engaged in the story or relate to the characters. I do not recommend this book.

“ Death at a Scottish Christmas ” by Lucy Connelly the 3rd instalment in the " A Scottish Isle Mystery" series. I love this series.

I really enjoyed visiting Sea Isle, Scotland again especially at Christmas, and seeing how Em has found her footing in the community on the island. Another thing I enjoy is the relationship between Em, Mara, Abigail, Angie and of course Ewen. I’m still hoping something romantic develops between Ewen and Em maybe in book four…

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Em did.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 4 to come out!

I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Crooked Lane and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

It is December in Sea Isle, Scotland, and Dr. Emilia McRoy is getting her first taste of the holidays in her new home. However, the death of a musical icon who performed with his group at the pub leads Emilia into another murder investigation.

Bram was a charismatic character who just happened to have an affair with Constable Ewan Campbell's fiancée many years ago. Ewan isn't happy to have him back in his hometown, but he didn't murder him despite the opinion of an imported cop.

As Emilia tries to look into the cause of death and Bram's medical records, she also has to deal with one of the other members of the band who is hysterical and who drugs herself into a coma. Then there is the band's manager who is looking for a way to capitalize on Bram's death to make money until he dies suspiciously himself.

Then Ewan is attacked and requires emergency surgery to prevent a brain bleed which is up to Emilia since a blizzard has rolled in preventing moving him to another hospital.

I enjoyed this mystery. It is the third in a series and I have been enjoying how Emilia is fitting in at her new community and making some close friends.