Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Connelly, and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC!

This book is actually the third installment of the series, and I wish I had read the first two before diving in (guess I’ll have to go back!). Though you don’t need to read them to understand the plot, there are many references that will make more sense with the first two.

It’s holiday season in Sea Isle, the little Scottish town our American doctor Em McRoy has moved to. Technically, she has the month off to enjoy all the celebrations the town has to offer, but when the lead singer of a popular Scottish band is murdered after a local show, she’s thrown headfirst into the investigation.

The weather, the paparazzi, and the death of an additional person who is likely linked to the first murder all add complications to the already complex investigation. This book is full of twists and turns that will have you guessing until the last few chapters.

This is a fast-paced read full of holiday celebrations, budding romances, friendships, and of course, an epic mystery that will have you on your toes as you turn each page.

Festive Fatality..
The third outing in the Scottish Isle Mystery series and Sea Isle is preparing for the festive season when it is thrown into shock and disbelief by a murder taking place within its sleepy confines. Dr Emilia will need her wits about her to untangle this latest catastrophe, especially as their very own police constable is suddenly suspect number one. With a deftly drawn cast of engaging characters, a well imagined setting and a solid mystery at its very heart, this is another enjoyable outing in the series.

This is such a lovely series. I really like all of the main characters. None of them are perfect, but they're all likeable and relatable. Dr. Emilia's assistant and her band of friends--I wish I was part of them. The Scottish setting makes me happy, and the mysteries are always well plotted.

In this case, the victims and suspects are all part of band. There are elements of creativity, tell-all memoir, illness, love, addiction, jealousy, and more. It's one of those books where I'm so sad at the end. Sad at the lives lost and/or ruined. Sad because nobody's all good or all evil. And sad because the book is over.

Bring on the next one, please!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for letting me read and review an advanced copy of this book, ‘Death at a Scottish Christmas’.

The third book in this series has the main characters, Dr Emilia McRoy (a former ER doctor from Seattle) and Ewan Campbell (Laird, mayor, and town constable) well established. The town is looking forward to a magical Christmas celebration, but a sudden death, which looks like a murder, interrupts the festivities. To make matters worse, the victim is a high-profile person. While trying to celebrate her Christmas vacation. Dr Em and her assistant finds themselves busy doing an autopsy and trying to discover a murderer. Meanwhile, Ewan seems to be a prime suspect, so another detective is brought in, making it a very tense situation.

The cast of characters in this book, including all of the town locals, make this a great story and the author makes it difficult to guess the murderer. Add in a snowstorm that closes off the town from the outside world, and everyone becomes a little on edge as Em and Ewan try to solve the case.

In the third book of the series, we find the main character, Dr. Emilia McRoy growing more and more comfortable in her new life in Sea Isle, Scotland. It's Christmas and she is learning the traditions of her new home. A popular musical group, featuring a local, is coming back to give a concert and try out some of their new music prior to going on tour. But then the lead singer is found murdered.

Emilia, with the help of her new friends must find the murderer. But the murderer is also trying to find her and her friends. It's a race of time to find the murderer.

I was really looking forward to reading the newest book in the series after being introduced to the characters. The writing is crisp and enjoyable. The character development is great, as we continue to learn more about Emilia and her friends. My only complaint was that the ending seemed to be a little pat, as the murderer just walked in her office and confessed. It was a little convenient. But that's a minor point. Overall, I loved the book!

Death at a Scottish Christmas
(Scottish Isle Mystery 3)
Lucy Connelly





It’s Dr. Emilia McRoy’s first Christmas in Sea Isle...

Doc is worried that she won’t have enough to do during her month long Christmas break, so she has her friend Mara sign her up to help out with the holiday committees. This proves to be right as by the seventh she has completed her Christmas shopping and wrapping, caught up on her reading, and finally cleaned everything!

Just as she’s contemplating what to do next, Mara calls and asks her to help ferry the night’s performers into town. You see Mara has invited Bram and the Stokers band to play in her grandparents' pub. This is to help the town of Sea Isle businesses financially through the winter season. They are the most famous band in Scotland and arguably the entire UK! But with a broken tour bus, unless Emilia helps there won’t be a concert tonight...

Emilia pulls through, helping Mara get the band with their equipment back to Sea Isle. The lead singer Bram flirts with her on the way back, even asking her for a dance that night. After she finds out some disturbing news from him she goes home early.

On her way to breakfast at the pub, Doc spots Bram on the beach. At first, thinking that he’s just enjoying the sunrise only to discover the terrible truth… Bram is dead!

Now instead of a jubilent day, it turns into an investigation and memorial that this sleepy little Scottish town wasn’t expecting. After the manager calls in the metro police, a new detective is sent to replace Ewan as lead.

What secrets are the band and its manager hiding?!


I truly thought that this book was going one way only to find something entirely different happening. This meant I didn’t understand who the killer was until close to the end and the reasoning… Nope, I never suspected that! Damn, this series just keeps getting better!
On a bit of a side note. I felt the author did a good job of delivering the facts of Alzheimers. About how it can affect not just the patient but those closest as well without being too bogged down by the emotional tolls suffered from this horrible disease.

I loved everything about this mystery! I was turning pages deep into the night when I should have been sleeping I just couldn’t put it down!
5*****


Thank you to Netgalley, Ms. Connelly, and the publisher for the ARC.
#DeathataScottishChristmas #ScottishIsleMystery #Lucy Connelly #Scotland #Mystery #CSI #Medical

Wrong book reviewed in this space. New review coming when I finish this book which I can already see will be good! Sorry for the error.

I have discovered my new favorite author! I loved this book! The title intrigued me and I was hooked on the first page. The lead singer of a local, but world famous band, invited to the village of Sea Isle in Scottland was found dead on the beach. Was it natural causes? Was it suicide? There was no indication of murder except for a small injection site in the back of his neck. How could it have been made? Lots of twists and turns and each time I thought I had maybe figured it out, a new theory arose. I was blown away by the ending – never saw that coming! This is the third in a series but easily read as a stand alone, although now I am anxious to read Ms. Connolly’s other books! I would highly recommend this book and this author to everyone I know.

I am really enjoying this series. Great book, I like Dr. Emilia and the secondary characters. It is great that they have a neurodivergent character. Lots of suspects. Recommend this series

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. The main character was engaging. Even though it's the third book in the series, I didn't feel lost not having read the other two. The twists and turns of the plot were interesting and kept me engaged instead of annoyed. I'm glad I got this book as an ARC from Netgalley!

This newest entry in the series does not disappoint. Multifaceted characters, engaging plot and charming setting combine to make this a totally engrossing read. The Christmas festivities in the village are jolly until a murder puts a damper on things. Can Christmas….and lives be saved?

The third book in the A Scottish Isle Mystery series, Death at a Scottish Christmas written by Lucy Connelly is one of those rare books that brings together an excellent writing style, an interesting plot, strong, well-designed characters and a superb setting. . The strangest thing is that I have found these aspects in the three books that make up the series, so far. And you don't see that often these days.
Reading this book, sometimes I have felt like I was in one of those Hallmark cozy mystery movies and other times, I have wanted to move to Scotland!
Highly recommended, easy to read and with a few red herrings that keep the reader trying to figure out who the culprit is.
I can't wait to read more books in this series!
I thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think and feel about this book.

The characters were enjoyable but not reading the first two did confuse me alot. Even though I read you really didn’t need to read them. I will go back and read the first two.

This cozy mystery is the third and final in a series but I’ve read it as a standalone( and apart from a few references to characters in previous books, )it is perfectly ok to read in and of itself.

Set in present day Sea Isle, Scotland- it has my favourite place on earth as a setting and and this already is a huge plus in its favour for me… add to that the magic of Christmas and the angel on the tree? A cozy murder mystery… what’s not to love?

The story is told in a first person’s POV, our protagonist and the series detective Dr Emilia McRoy. And follows the death of a famous lead singer of a band that has come to the village… merriment and murder ensue… and whilst I didn’t read it during Christmas . I can see how this would have been amazing to read curled up by the fire with a mug of warm hot chocolate.

I loved it- and even if I’m going to be reading this series backwards- I’m definitely here for it. It’s a nice easy read, not to heavy on details and procedures and that’s a great thing. I can see this being a great gift to give fans of cozy mysteries.

Thanks to Crooked Lane books and NetGalley for the Advance review copy of Death at a Scottish Christmas.

I had so much fun reading this book. I love a cozy murder mystery and I love that it’s in Scotland!!!

This is the third installment in the Scottish Isle Mystery series. This is my first one but I can’t wait to go back and read the first two.

A famous band comes to town to play at Sea Isle. The next day the lead singer/song writer is found murdered. Em the town doctor and coroner is on the case along with all her friends. Plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Plenty of heart felt moments with found family in a small Scottish town to keep it cozy. Enjoy this cozy murder mystery!

I have read all three books in the series and in my opinion, this one is the best! If you have not read the second one, I would recommend reading it before this since near the end, it eludes heavily to killers in book 2. Death at a Scottish Christmas had a good plot but it did seem as if Christmas was thrown in as an afterthought. I didn't get the holiday feeling I've gotten from other books set over the holidays but I did get the feeling of being in Scotland - which is great. I love it when a book takes me away and this book did. The characters are fun and Connelly is developing them well. I definitely recommend this book.

Death at a Scottish Christmas is the third book of the Scottish Isle Series. It is the story of Doctor Emilia and the mysteries she solves with Ewan, the constable, and the rest of the town. This book is set at Christmas time and includes all the traditions.
I love a book set in Scotland and at Christmas time. It was a cozy mystery. I had a small idea who the killer was, but there were still many surprises. I enjoyed getting to know the town's characters, and it was also okay that I had not read the first two. There were small parts referenced from the first two that I did not know details about, but it worked.
It was worth the read, and I am sure I will go back and read the first two and any others in the future.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC copy.

Death at a Scottish Christmas is the first ever book I have read from Lucy Connelly, the hints at the previous books through out the story has me so excited and curious about the start of Emilia's Murder-Mystery solving adventures!

The banter and friendship through out the book was amazing, the Scooby-do antics of Jasper, Mara and Angie were hilarious and heartwarming. The achingly slow-burn between Emilia and Ewan now sits next to Dale Mayer's Doreen and Mack, I was cheering them on, on every page!

The suspense and questions about the murders and killer wrapped up the story in the best way, and the ending leave much to be excited for in the next book.

Deat at a Scottish Christmas is the 3rd in the Scottish Isle Mystery series. I have read all of these books. It takes place in Sea Isle, Scotland. Emilia McRoy (Em) is the main character. She is the doctor and coroner hired by Ewan Campbell. He is the laird of Sea Isle as well as mayor and constable. Em had been an ER doctor in Seattle but she had found her husband had been unfaithful and was murdered. She need a change of scenery. Mara, her best friend and manager of the Pig & Whistle pub owned by her grandparents. Her other friends are Aggie who owns several clothing shops and Jasper who owns the bakery in the town.

Mara calls Em and asks her if she can help her pick up the band she has hired as their bus broke down. They found them and brought them back to town. Destinee and Mara had been childhood friends and the band, Bram and the Stokers, who had a huge following in Scotland, were playing at the pub because of their friendship. Bram is the lead singer and Destinee also a singer. Davy Albright was their manager.

At the pub Bram asks Em to dance. He tells her that he and Ewan had a history and he had been friends with Ewan's brother but no longer. He was found in bed with Ewan's fiance. He was use to having woman fall at his feet and asked her to see him after the gig. She declined. The next day she went to the pub and saw Bram sitting on the beach. She went to check to see if he was okay and found him dead. Ewan came to the beach to check also. Em called her assistant to bring her kit and some coffee. When Abigal got there they worked to secure the scene. Being the coroner , Em takes the body back to the office. They find a puncture wound. Someone had pumped air into his brain but not with a needle but a corkscrew. He also had drugs in his system. They went to speak to the band and were told that Bram did not do drugs and didn't tolerate the band members doing it. They were not allowed to drink while performing. They told them that he always had a notebook with him to write down his songs.

Because of Ewan's past with Bram theuppers were sending a detective inspector, Bethanly Thomson to oversee everything. The murder of their manager, Davy adds another dimension to the story. This is where the story takes off and is too much to put on paper so I will leave it to the reader to enjoy with all the twists and turns to the exciting end.

The book ends with a Christmas celebration with all Em's friends, Ewan gives her a beautiful necklace and hints that he is happy that she is there. It was a fun bookk to read and look forward to the next book and see where their relationship develops.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.

This book is the third part of a series, but can be read as a standalone as there are hints about all the important information. I liked the setting, a beautiful place in Scotland. It was also interesting to see the inclusive festivities. The characters are really likeable and they create a closely knit, supportive community. No wonder the American doctor Em loves it here. The murders were not too gory, but unusual and the medical details sounded interesting.
All in all I spent some enjoyable time with the novel and can recommend to anyone who likes the genre..