The lead singer of a famous band is found dead after playing a gig in the small town of Sea Isle, Scotland. Expat Dr. Emilia McRoy, recruited from Seattle to be the town doctor and coroner, puts her Christmas vacation aside to find the cause of death and the killer. Unlike other cozies where civilians investigate, Em's job as coroner validates her right to meddle. If you want a pleasant cozy and no heavy duty forensics, this is right up your alley. Thank you Net galley for the ARC.

This was a fun mystery.
It kept me guessing, which is always the goal with a good mystery plot. I kept going back and forth with suspects. I was sad to realize who it was, which is good character writing!

I am looking forward to more of Doc Em and Ewan and their group of friends!

It’s Christmas time in Sea Isle, Scotland and the festivities are ho ho ho hoing away. The merriment ends for both Em and Ewan a famous singer is found murdered in town and Ewan becomes a suspect. Can Em figure out who killed the singer and why? Or is the Grinch going to win this one and send you one to prison for a murder she knows he didn’t commit.

I have loved this series since the first entry. Every book is a trip to Scotland and I love solving the mystery along with Em. The only thing I wish is that Em and Ewan we just get together already. These two have been dancing around a relationship for far too long at this point. Especially at their age. Hopefully that’ll be rectified in the next entry. Can’t wait!

Dr. Emilia McRoy has relocated to a small Scottish village from the USA. She loves being the village physician, but when a well-known band member is found dead after a local performance, she and others in the village want to find out why. There seems to be something odd about the way the other band members reacted to the death. Could one of them be responsible? And why are there drugs in his system when he had been clean for many years? Then there is another death—could they be related? The town is Scotland is charming, the residents are so friendly, even to a newcomer like Em, and they celebrate every December holiday imaginable in this book—I really enjoyed this Scottish holiday mystery. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I love a good cozy mystery, especially one set around holiday time. This was my first Lucy Connelly encounter and I quite enjoyed it. The cast of characters is great, and the story kept me guessing until almost the end. Right after I finished this one, I immediately downloaded a previous book in the series so I could spend more time in Sea Isle.

This was a great story that had a great plot twist and kept the reader wanting more. Love this author and look forward to what’s in store next

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I loved the first in this series but was very disappointed in the second. Unfortunately, that continues with the third. There is just so much repetition! And how often do these people eat nothing but bakery items? Ha. If not for the repetition, the books would be half the length. Starts with a good mystery, then gets lost in the minutiae along the way. Although I'll read anything Scotland related, I think I'm done with this series.

The A Scottish Isle Mystery series is just gripping to me, and it just gets better and better with 'Death at a Scottish Christmas.' The cast of characters is so intriguing, especially Dr. Emilia McRoy and Ewan Campbell. This story takes place during Dr. Em's first Christmas in Sea Isle and involves the death of a popular band member who was raised on Sea Isle. I was completely shocked with the outcome of this mystery, and I continue to think about it which to me is the sign of a great story. I would give this more than 5 stars and recommend the entire series.

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

I enjoyed this read. Having read the first two in the series, I found myself looking forward to this one, and it didn't disappoint. Being in the arts world, I found the depiction of the band life to be well-detailed, and character development of the band members was pretty strong. I didn't pin down the murderer either, so that was intriguing. Wish the slow burn between Ewan and Em would quicken a bit, but alas.

Another great book in the Scottish Isle mystery. I love the mystery and the characters. As well as the Scottish setting. It feels like I'm in Scotland whenever I read these books.

4.5 Stars
The third book in a Scottish cozy mystery series, this novel incorporates all of the same loveable characters from the previous book (including the Scottish isle setting itself), but the writing flowed so well I couldn't put it down. The community feel within the series and MCs that behave in an intelligent and thoughtful way just add to the story. No ridiculous or out of place meddling from the lead character, it's fitting. I am appreciative that the author also includes a character on the spectrum in an authentic and inclusive way. I was initially intrigued that the victim was part of a famous band that had local roots and the mystery aspect kept my interest the entire time. This series is getting better and better, can't wait for the next one.

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Review material was too small to read and I was unable to enlarge the typeface on my device. I was unable to review the copy.

This was a good book overall but I was disappointed with the repetitive nature of some of it and also the implausibility of some of the aspects of Emilia's medical practice in a small town.

I did love the characters and the idea behind the mystery was a very good one.

I guessed the killer before the end but that's not always a bad thing because then you can sit back and see how the author got there. The ending of the book seemed a little bit abrupt - like one minute we were moving toward a resolution and then - bam! - it was over.

While this book wasn't my favorite, I would try others by this author in the future.

This is such a thoughtful, well written cozy mystery and I enjoyed every second of it! I have a soft spot for books set in Scotland, but more than that I enjoy a mystery that makes sense. The fact that Emilia McRoy is a doctor and coroner lends her much more credibility to investigate than most cozies I've read, which really helps with the overall plot and believability. Emilia and Ewan have a great connection and although I wish their relationship would progress a little bit faster, I still enjoyed every minute of their partnership and banter.

The mystery throughout kept me guessing and I really enjoyed the quaint village atmosphere at Christmas time. The ending was a little rushed, but overall I would definitely recommend this well-done series.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this early copy, and I can't wait to add the physical copy to my shelf!

Christmas time; Sea Isle, Scotland.
American coroner Dr. Emilia McRoy is spending her Christmas far from the US, for the first time in her life. What she doesn't expect is that a murder happens right before her eyes, and that she has to work to solve it.

I particularly appreciated the scenographic descriptions of the setting, both of the island and the castle. The number of characters is high but, after a few chapters, you begin to become familiar with them. The investigation itself was intriguing, full of red herrings, secrets and revelations. There's also a little romance, which I always enjoy in such comfy books.

I didn't know the author nor did I know that the book was the third in a series, but the reading was not affected by these shortcomings. of mine, in fact, they convinced me to pick up the previous titles.
Cozy and warm, it's the perfect read for an evening wrapped in a blanket in front of the fireplace, with the Christmas lights twinkling and carols in the background.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC

This book was my second chance with this series. I had read the first book and although I finished it I found many editing issues, didn't enjoy the main characters, and the medical side was laughable. I skipped the second in the series but though I would give this one a chance.

I found my issues with the first book to be perhaps even worse, and did not finish after reading 20%. Even the mystery wasn't enough to keep me reading. I found the writing to be not great, and although I assume it was edited, I think a lot more could have been done. Stuff keeps being repeated sometimes in the span of page. I also found the medical stuff to be just as bad as the first book. In the first book the MC kept reminding us that she had acquired all her detecting skills from BBC mystery series, and my guess is that the author got all her medical knowledge from Grey's Anatomy. As a medical professional this was especially frustrating and something that a small amount of actual research would have helped. The main characters weren't any more likable to me in this book and I don't intend to give this series another chance.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Emillia McRoy, doctor and coroner, is is enjoying the holiday festivities in the village .A famous band with ties to the village return to perform. When the lead singer is found dead the next day, examination reveals that he was murdered. Who wanted the singer dead just before the band were to embark on a tour? As she learns about the singer's medical history, more questions arise. The manager and band members are all on her suspect list.
Third in the series - the supporting characters and sense of community are an important part of the story.
#DeathataScottishChristmas #CrookedLaneBooks #NetGalley

Dr. Emilia McRoy is enjoying her first Christmas season on Sea Isle in Scotland since her move from the States. She’s settled in and made friends already and thinks she’s going to have a long holiday vacation. Then a Scottish band comes to their small Isle and brings along an unexpected death. Em is also the coroner, so she quickly determines it was murder and involved in the investigation.
There are several suspects, lots of holiday celebrations (many different holidays), and a touch of romance as she and the local constable (also mayor, etc) are attracted to each other. The setting is cozy and the mystery well-plotted. I couldn’t put this book down once I started reading! It works well as a stand-alone, but I know I plan on reading the first two in the series as soon as possible.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the the 3rd installment in the A Scottish Isle Mystery series, and I just thoroughly enjoy them.
We get a blustery, gloomy, Scottish atmosphere. We get the murder right before a big snowstorm blows in, keeping everyone captive in the small village. All the best things I like to have in my mysteries. I did find the reasoning behind the murders lacked in believability with everything we had been told throughout the book. As well as the final act seeming a little rushed. But it was a great setting with fun and original characters.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the free copy for my honest review.

This was an ARC via Netgalley. Lucy Connelly's Death at a Scottish Christmas (3rd in series) blends the magic of a small-town Scottish holiday with the darkness of a rock star's murder. As a fan of rock and pop band stories, slow-burn romances, and the endearing quirks of found families and small towns, this novel strikes all the right chords.

Dr. Emilia McRoy, the town's dedicated medical examiner, is settling in. However, the idyllic charm of Sea Isle is shattered when the lead singer of a famous band is found dead just before the launch of their world tour. As Emilia delves into the case, she uncovers a labyrinth of secrets and rivalries within the band. With the future of the group teetering on the edge, and the enigmatic new lyrics missing, Emilia must untangle a web of deceit to find out if the music itself was worth killing for. Emilia's friends, a diverse group of locals, serve as her makeshift family, embodying the “found family” trope beautifully. Connelly excels in painting a vivid picture of Sea Isle during Christmas. The festive atmosphere, complete with traditional Scottish celebrations and quirky village customs, immerses readers in the holiday spirit. The story delves into the complexities of relationships within the band, exposing how fame can fracture friendships and fuel deadly rivalries. Emilia’s journey also underscores the importance of trust and loyalty, as she navigates her role in Sea Isle.

As the festive season unfolds, Connelly intertwines celebration and suspense, making Death at a Scottish Christmas a must-read for those who love their holiday tales with a twist. Releases in October 2024.