Ally is a great main character and it was so easy to root for her and want her to do well – in both her guesthouse venture, but also to solve the murder that happens right on her property. You want her to succeed, and her interactions with most of the village residents is great to see.

The mystery moved along quite quickly and the pacing was even and the story never got boring. There were a few clues that were a bit blatent so I had a really good idea of who the killer was pretty early on but honestly, it didn’t ruin the story at all. The conclusion and reveal was really enjoyable and one of the best I’ve read in recent memory. Also, as I am CONSTANTLY yelling at the amateur sleuths on my television screen – COVER UP YOUR MURDER BOARDS! 😂

The policeman on the case is a bit… let’s just say “absent”? He’s not the usual surly, antagonistic cop (which I really don’t like), and while he’s not exactly helpful, he isn’t outright hostile, so I’ll give him a pass for now.

This is a fairly light-hearted mystery and is a great cozy read for a weekend. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next book in the series.

A very enjoyable story about a woman intending to make a new start by escaping life in the city and intending a quiet semi-retirement surrounded by the beauty of the Highlands of Scotland, funded by the opening of a Bed and Breakfast Guest House in her newly converted Malt House in a small village. As she opens for business, she becomes embroiled in a murder investigation, and discovers an ability to discover and order information while the local police seem to be floundering. Despite the drama of the murder, Ally finds her rooms are in demand and some rather odd guests arrive and all is not as it seems. Romance also raises its head, but Ally manages to avoid unwanted distractions and all is well that ends well. The characters are interesting, there is plenty of wry humour and it is a good, agreeable read. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to Sarah Hardy and the publisher for issuing me with my review copy of the book and for inviting me to take part on the blog tour.

Murder in the Scottish Highlands is the first in a new series following Ally McKinley, a widow who moves from the comfort of her Edinburgh life to the more remote (but very beautiful) Scottish Highlands to open a Bed and Breakfast. Following renovations of the Auld Malthouse, she finally opens her doors and welcomes her first guests – unfortunately things don’t quite go to plan when one of her guests is found murdered on her doorstep!

The guest, an American had ruffled a few feathers in the small village of Locharran mainly due to his claim that he was the actual official heir of Lochlarron and not the actual Earl.

Ally can see that the local police force aren’t quite up to the task and decides to take on the investigation of trying to solve the murder – the added incentive is also the reputation of her newly opened B&B.

I really enjoyed this new cosy crime series and adored the descriptions of the beautiful and peaceful Highlands. I don’t blame Ally for moving here! The village is small and quite closeknit so Ally has her work cut out trying to integrate but they are an interesting cast of characters in what you would expect in a small community! Hamish, the current Earl has his eye on Ally (along with every female in the area!) so he is of course one of the first suspects in the case with his family history under scrutiny. The local shop owners are sisters Queenie and Bessie – they know everything that happens in the village before you are even aware of it!

The story moved at the perfect pace with plenty of other storylines to keep you invested and sprinkled with some red herrings to keep you guessing.

A really enjoyable start to a new series – I’m looking forward to delving into book 2!

MURDER IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS (An Ally McKinley Mystery Book #1) by Dee MacDonald is an entertaining guesthouse cozy mystery set in the Scottish Highlands. This is the first in this new series featuring a retired TV researcher, Ally McKinley, who is widowed and starting over in an old malthouse converted to a guesthouse.

Ally McKinley believes she is in the perfect place for her next phase of life. The old Highland malthouse has been beautifully converted to a guesthouse with three rooms to let besides her own living quarters and a room for family or friends. When she hears her cleaning lady scream, Ally finds she has discovered her first paying guest, an American, stabbed with a dagger in his back outside the back door.

Ally feels the local police are getting nowhere, so her inquisitive nature takes over and as she meets all her new neighbors, she begins to take their measure and piece together the mystery. The small village Highlanders do not like outsiders, especially when they threaten to destroy their livelihoods and take away their homes. No one is sad the American is dead, but when one of their own is murdered, Ally becomes determined to uncover the killer.

This story was a mixed bag for me. I loved the author’s descriptions of the highlands which were vivid. Ally and the cast of village characters were entertaining with dialogue that made me laugh at times, especially the gossip mill that was faster than the wind. I also enjoyed Ally trying to pretend there is no ghost in her one guest bathroom. I loved meeting everyone, and would enjoy reading about them again, but it also took too much of the story away from the murder mystery plot. I do not mind that it was easy to solve, but there were times I felt you had to believe the police were incompetent and Ally was only simi-involved in solving the crime until the last few chapters.

I enjoyed Ally and the villagers, but I hope now that they are introduced the next book in the series has more cozy mystery plot intertwined throughout and Ally as a researcher is more involved than just the last few chapters.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5 (Rounded Up)

‘Oh, just a death on our doorstep.’

There’s a lot of tea drinking happening in the new Ally McKinley mystery series along with a ideal backdrop of the Scottish Highlands and an intriguing mystery with historical ties to the local landed gentry, The Sinclairs. I love that that the story features a more mature sleuth starting a second chapter in her life and the locals that are a hoot!

Murder in the Scottish Highlands is the first in a new cosy mystery series by Dee MacDonald.

Ally McKinley has opened the guesthouse of her dreams in the tiny village of Locharran in the Scottish Highlands. Just when she feels she is settling into the village and making friends, one of her guests, an American tourist, is found murdered in the courtyard.
Not having much faith in the local police, Ally can't resist launching her own investigation to find the murderer. The list of suspects mounts and has Ally even questioning her new friends.

Murder in the Scottish Highlands is a fun read. Ally is a likeable main character and the imagery of the delightful Scottish village is superb.
As this is the first in a series there is lots about getting to know the supporting characters as Dee MacDonald introduces each of the residents of the village and how they interact with each other.
There are a mixed lot of characters who all had a good reason for wanting the tourist dead.

I did feel like the murder investigation slowed through the middle of the book until the end when it was all wrapped up very quickly.

Lots of humour, cups of tea, local gossip and the introduction of a love interest for Ally make this a fun and entertaining read. I finished this eager for the next book.

A cozy murder mystery that had me giggling all the way through. An easy, fast paced read that will be perfect for a lovely autumn afternoon 🍂

I read many genres, but I've always got a cosy mystery on the go. They're my "escape from it all" reads.

Ally McKinley has just retired to a wee village and opened a B and B in a restored building. It's all as she hoped. Right up to the moment she sees the murdered man in her courtyard...

And you know what's coming don't you? Yes, Ally decides to work on the 'case' herself.

All the elements are here for a wonderful cosy. A small village where 'things like this don't happen', A number of quirky (and nosy) villagers, some quite handsome ones too, an amateur sleuth, a dog and a good plot.

I enjoyed Ally as a lead character in this new series. I definitely want to see what happens next in little Locharran.

I think Dee MacDonald's own life adds much to this series - She grew up in the Highlands and has run a B and B for ten years.

Aged 18, Dee arrived in London from Scotland and typed her way round the West End for a couple of years before joining BOAC (forerunner of British Airways) in Passenger Services for 2 years and then as a stewardess for 8 years. She has worked in Market Research, Sales and at the Thames TV Studios when they had the franchise.

Dee has since relocated to Cornwall, where she spent 10 years running B&Bs, and only began writing when she was over 70! Married twice, she has one son and two grandsons.

You can find Dee on Facebook as well as on X. See what some others thought as well.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve always wanted to visit the Scottish Highlands and I love a good mystery, so I knew I was going to love this book.

Ally is living the dream in her recently converted B&B The Auld Malthouse ( even if her children don’t approve and think she’s too old).

Ally is enjoying having paying guests finally until something goes terribly wrong, her first guest has been murdered!.

What an absolute riot this book was, it had me smiling and laughing all the way through.

I just loved everything about it, the setting was breathtaking and the mystery kept me on my toes and the cast of characters kept the story entertaining until the end.

It’s a cozy read that will leave you wanting more.

Ultimately I'm leaning more towards cozy books and this cozy mystery has fallen into this marathon, and what I loved the most is that it is inspired by one of the countries that I like the most and that is on my list of dream destinations.

Our protagonist has moved to the Scottish Highlands after her retirement in order to have a peaceful life and open a small B&B, but this is short lived when someone is found murdered after opening, now Ally (our protagonist) must solve the mystery in order to continue with her business.

I loved it because it had a great humor throughout the story and how she gets to know the different people who can help her but can also be suspects.

Although it is a predictable mystery I loved following this new amateur sleuth in the Higlanders.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love a cozy mystery and one that is set in a part of the world that my heart longs to see, it’s an immediate yes for me.
Ally is a recently retired widow and has decided to relocate to the Scottish Highlands to convert and old malt house into a B& B. However, she finds her dream of a peaceful life in the country quickly shattered when a guest at the inn is found murdered soon after opening.
Ally then finds herself an amateur sleuth trying to figure out “whodunnit” along with the help of the eccentric people of the town, some of which are, of course, suspects, and she also finds herself with a potential love interest along the way.
This was filled with loads of good natured humor and characters that you feel like you’ve met before, which is a good feeling for ones that are to be part of a series. It’s comforting and relaxing. There were moments that it dragged and thr murderer was fairly easy to predict, but overall this ticked the cozy mystery boxes for me and I’m looking forward to continuing the series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Murder in the Scottish Highlands is the first book in the new Ally McKinley mystery series from Dee MacDonald. This contemporary cozy mystery is set in Locharran, a small village in the Scottish Highlands.

The sleuth, Ally McKinley, is a 68-year-old widow who has retired from her job in television research. To the surprise of her adult children, she moved to the Scottish Highlands and converted an old malthouse into a bed and breakfast. Ally is kind, intelligent, thoughtful, and curious.

The first body drops very quickly at the start of the book. The American victim is one of Ally's guests. She finds him on her B&B property with a knife in the back. Ally is curious by nature and is worried about the murder damaging the reputation of her new business. She starts sleuthing on her own and even creates a "murder board" on the back of a painting in her kitchen. This board helps her (and the reader) keep track of the suspects.

Ally chats up many locals, including an earl at a nearby castle. The earl likes the ladies and quickly tries to woo Ally. But he isn't the only gentleman giving her some attention. The romance is light and sweet in this book and stays in the background so that the murder mystery can take center stage. The romance subplot, while not the main focus, adds depth to Ally's character and provides a welcome break from the intensity of the murder investigation.

Dee MacDonald's expertise as a mystery writer shines in this book as she carefully lays out clues and red herrings, keeping the reader engaged and guessing. I managed to solve the murder shortly before the sleuth, which is a testament to the author's skill in crafting a compelling mystery.

Two additional things that I really liked:

1.) The cover is excellent. This is a prime example of how to do a simple, eye-catching design that hints at the theme. I liked the tartan teapot (which screams Scotland) and the tiny bit of tea being spilled (an excellent metaphor for the local gossip that helps fuel the investigation).

2.) The setting is wonderfully described. The author's use of literary dialect to convey the flavor of the characters' speech adds a charming authenticity to the Scottish theme and locale.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder in the Scottish Highlands and look forward to the next installment. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy a good whodunit set in a picturesque location.

Thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A book that makes you feel as if you're walking through a Hallmark Murder Mystery!

Meet Ally - a widow of several years who decided it was finally time to live for herself, so naturally she bought an old malthouse that she found while traveling and turned it into a sort of bed and breakfast. Fast forward to the completion of renovations and Ally has welcomed her first guests, unfortunately Ally finds her self in the midst of a whodunnit murder mystery when one of her guests is murdered just outside the backdoor. Between getting accustomed to her new home, meeting the locals and knowing that the murder victim was trying to upend the current Earl, her list of suspects is plenty long. The question is, who killed the American making claims to the earldom? And how can Ally help detectives narrow down the suspect list without making all of her new neighbors dislike her for thinking they may be capable of murder.

Murder in the Scottish Highlands is a perfect start to the fall weather, a cozy murder mystery that has the reader working right alongside Ally urging her to ask the questions we're all wondering. A detective who doesn't seem to be doing much detecting, an Earl who has everything to lose but who's charisma makes no one believe him capable of murder. This book does have quite a bit of what is referred to in fantasy as world-building, meaning that it is heavily driven by the setting and includes much of the daily lives of the characters which is what gives it the cozy feel rather than feelings of suspense, I really enjoyed this first book in the new Ally McKinley series by Dee MacDonald, and am curious what other shenanigans Ally and her new friends will be getting into in the next books!

I'd recommend this book to lovers of Hallmark murder mysteries, and people looking for mystery without looking for the suspense and gore, the Scottish Highland setting also gives a nice feeling of getting-away, especially with Ally's new inn.

Review submitted at Target, Amazon and Barnes and Noble (will upload link as soon as it's available)

Ally McKinley’s hopes for a quiet life running a guest house in the Highlands are soon shattered when a body is found in her yard. An amateur genealogist researching his family tree ends up with a dagger in his back. As he was one of Ally’s guests, she feels compelled to investigate. Especially since the police don’t seem to have a clue. Why would anyone kill an American tourist? Did he find out something that would threaten any of the locals? It’s baffling, but Ally isn’t going to give up. Can she solve the case before anyone else is hurt?

I love cosy mysteries and especially those with interesting settings. ‘Murder in the Scottish Highlands’ ticks all the boxes for me. Ally is easy to like, and I found myself keen to spend time with her as she settled into her new home. She was an outsider and as she found out about the area, we did too. Were any of her neighbours likely suspects? She has no preconceived ideas about them, so was the ideal person to find out.

I loved the genealogy aspect too. I found it fascinating and could see how long buried secrets could cause problems in the present day. Ally’s investigating put her in danger, but it also brought her into contact with some very interesting new people in the community. I enjoyed finding out about them too.

Dee MacDonald sets the scene well, with a compelling writing style. I loved it.

This is the first book in a new series which introduces us to Ally McKinley, recently retired and now starting up her own business in the Scottish Highlands. She has decided to put all her funds into converting an old Scottish malthouse into a B&B and has just started taking guests when one of them is found dead in the courtyard.

When it is discovered that the victim has been murdered Ally decides to help solve the crime as quickly as possible before local gossip ruins her chances of success with the B&B. There are lots of red herrings and many well written and interesting characters. Ally is smart and sensible and she already has a potential romantic interest in the form of a local vet. A brand new labrador puppy called Flora completes the picture.

An excellent start to the series and I will be happy to read more.

A cute cozy mystery with an older leading lady detective. I loved the setting of the small town in Scotland and the B&B Ally had opened for business ; maybe a ghost … oh and a cute 🐶 There are a lot of interesting side characters in the town that will I’m sure lead to some great stories in the future

A wonderful start to a series, full of lovely and classic cozy murder mystery characters. The mystery itself wasn't actually all that compelling, as MacDonald spends so much time introducing the cast (and the case was easy to solve if you paid attention to who was getting "page time"), but I think this was in service to setting up a fun and engaging series, and I anticipate the blend will change as we settle in. Ally is instantly a fun protagonist, and I look forward to reading more about this sweet little town.

Ally has realised her dream of opening a small bed and breakfast inn in a small town. She looks forward to her guests but her introduction to the hospitality world was brutal. Her first guest was found brutally murdered in her backyard.

The arrival of first the brother of the deceased followed by the fiancée of the diseased causes confusion to the local police who seem confused enough as it is. The late Wilbur antagonised the entire village by laying claim to the title of Earl plus the extensive acreage he owned. The American wanted to convert the grounds into a pleasure park and practically the entire village would be homeless. It kept the field open for any number of suspects. When the driver of the Earl also dies in a car crash, where his brakes had been cut one feels the tension build up in the village. Ally herself has started her investigation and leans towards different suspects.

The actual plan and suspects were surprising. Ally sorted it out eventually. Detection was slow and any progress was minuscule on the part of the police. The atmosphere, attitude and gossipy nature of the villagers added interest to the story.

A very nice cozy.

A guest house in the Scottish Highlands is her dream
Now it is reality - or a nightmare - it would seem.
For Ally McKinley has opened and has guests staying now
And she's making friends with the locals anyhow.

However, when a guest is discovered decidedly dead
She decides she also needs to investigate instead.
She's determined to discover who the killer might be
And soon finds lots of suspects as readers soon see.

With gallant gentlemen and gossiping locals, too,
She's determined to uncover every vital clue.
New friends, strange discoveries and a new pup, too,
Ally will certainly had a lot to do!

A fun read with characters who are great
In this close knit community - but for whom is it too late?
I really enjoyed this cosy crime thriller
As Ally endeavoured to identify the killer.

I'm so glad this is the start of a series that's new
And don't hesitate to recommend you read this book, too!
For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Murder in the Scottish Highland is a fun and entertaining cozy mystery following an older main character named Ally who bought an old building in Scotland and turned it into an adorable bed and breakfast. Not long after opening one of her guests is found murdered..
The Detective assigned to the case seems like he might not know what he's doing, leading Ally to look into the murder herself.
With the help of some of the locals, and a couple of her guests Ally is on the case, and she won't stop until she solves it.

I really enjoyed Ally as our main character, the setting was beautiful, and a lot of the side characters were really interesting and I can't wait to learn more about them and Ally. With the mystery, you get the vibes of who the killer could be pretty quickly, although the reasons why and how it all played out were a surprise.
I think this is a great start to a new series and I look forward to reading more.