If you want a cosy murder mystery, then this book is for you. A great introduction to all the characters in the village. I really enjoyed reading this.

I loved the sisters in the local store and the earl. In fact the earl is my favourite character. And I want to know more about him.

The twist wasn't a major shock. I guessed something was not right with that situation. Sorry I'm trying not to give spoilers!

Rating: 2.2/5

Whenever possible, I like to pick up a new book series at the outset rather than joining the party further down the track. So, when I saw that "Murder in the Scottish Highlands" was not only the start of a new cosy mystery series, but also set in a part of the world that I have a great affinity with, I couldn't resist picking it up.

Ally McKinley is a widow and recently retired. She decides to relocate to the Scottish Highlands and run a B&B from an old converted malthouse that she has purchased. However, Ally's expectations of a quiet, idyllic lifestyle are very soon up in the air, when an American resident of her guest house is found murdered.

This book seems to be pitched at the "Richard Osman market", with a retired amateur sleuth as the central character and a front cover style that is not unlike those on Mr Osman's cosy crime novels. Personally, I would suggest that the mystery element of the story has more in common with the "Agatha Raisin" series than it does "The Thursday Murder Club". Aside from that, there is also just as much emphasis - or perhaps even greater emphasis - on Ally's potential romantic interests as there is on solving the crime. Consequently, this book feels like more a case of cosy women's fiction than cosy murder mystery. Overall, it is a pleasant enough read, but quite run-of-the-mill for the genre.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is my first novel by Dee MacDonald, and it will not be my last. For fans of cozy crime books, and I have to mention Richard Oseman, this book is perfect. I found myself falling a little bit in love with Ally, and her way of solving the case. There is just something about an older woman who has truly LIVED. You do not mess with Ally, and she wants everyone to be happy. The side characters are living rent free in my brain, and I need more of them.

I adored the writing, it made me read so fast I had to go back and read it again in case I missed some clever clues. I had absolutely no idea who the murderer was until the reveal and I love that. I do not want to be smarter than Ally. She is funny, clever and cannot wait for the next one.

This novel needs to become a BBC series quickly, its written so vividly already.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

Fans of classic whodunits and atmospheric thrillers will delight in Dee MacDonald's latest novel. "Murder in the Scottish Highlands" is a page-turner that will transport readers to a world of danger, intrigue, and stunning natural beauty.
Thank you for the ARC

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC of this book!

The perfect cozy mystery for a rainy day! The atmosphere and setting of Scotland created the perfect reading environment. “Murder in the Scottish Highlands” follows Ally McKinley, a woman who has recently opened a guest house in the quaint Scottish village of Locharran. Ally quickly establishes herself in this small community and welcomes guests to her inn. Yet, when an American Tourist is found dead in his room, Ally launches her own investigation into this mysterious death.

This book gave the same vibes as “Murder, She Wrote”! This book is a great cozy and easy read when you are looking for a mystery to sweep you away! The immersive writing in this book will make you want to visit the Scottish Highlands! I would definitely recommend this book for any mystery lover!

Ally starts a Bed & Breakfast and then a guest is murdered, right outside! The local police force doesn’t seem up to the task so Ally starts investigating. This was a fun cozy mystery and I enjoyed it!

It was a cozy, easy-to-read mystery that I couldn't put down. I gave it 5 stars because I genuinely loved reading it. Although it was a bit predictable, it was such an enjoyable and straightforward read. I fell in love with the main character, Ally, and was eager to follow her story. The characters were well-developed, and the setting felt so vivid, like I was right there with them. It really kept my attention, and I would definitely recommend it.

A wonderful new cozy mystery series.by Dee MacDonald. Widower Ally McKinley has recently retired and almost on a whim buys and restores an old malt house to open as. B and B. It's nice to read a book that features middle age characters finding fulfillment in their retirement years. The
plot is fairly simple, I figured out the killer early on, but the main characters are like able and the setting in coastal Scotland is icing on the cake. As a fan of the author's Kate Palmer mystery series set in Cornwall I hope this is the start of a new series.

Cute, cozy mystery. Ally is in her 60s, opens up a B&B, discovers an America guest has been killed and sets out to help find the murderer. A lot of characters who could be suspects, felt like the reveal was good and made sense, cute interactions throughout.

There really wasn’t much growth in any character, and a little conflict point near the end (someone finding out that Ally was listing out suspects) didn’t feel needed or even resolved well, didn’t find myself dying to know what happened, but overall enjoyed this read.

It was a cosy read, but nothing extraordinary.
The book dives in the story (murder) right away, on the first chapter. The setting of the story is cute - a bed & breakfast in an old malthouse, near a remote village in the Scottish Highlands (with a bonus : a ghost story - that unfortunatly isn’t used in the story at all).
The writing was sometimes a bit too oldschool for me (page 51 : « was there a Mrs Rigby to ensure he had breakfast before he ventured out to do his sleuthing each day » … is Detective Rigby a little baby that needs a woman to feed him ???) and a bit cliché (The American = entitled and rude man that wants to turn the village into a theme park).
The middle of the book is quite slow as nothing new is happening regarding the murder investigation.
Also, and that’s the animal rights activist in me speaking but … when Ally wanted to get a dog, why not go to a shelter instead of a kennel ? Why did she specifically want a pure bread Labrador puppy ? I mean, if she wanted protection, why a puppy then ?
Finally, the murderer’s identity was pretty easy to guess.
Despite everything, I overall enjoyed reading it.

Majestic mountain views, whisky by the fire and… a murder to solve? Join Ally McKinley at her cosy little guesthouse in the Scottish Highlands as she tackles her first puzzling case! Lots of action, suspense, drama with plenty of twists and turns! Wow I did not expect this book to be like it was! I highly recommend reading this one! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

"Majestic mountain views, whisky by the fire and… a murder to solve? Join Ally McKinley at her cosy little guesthouse in the Scottish Highlands as she tackles her first puzzling case!"

This is the perfect book to read on rainy or snowy day while curled up under a blanket. It was a great cozy mystery that I read in one sitting. I loved the the setting was a bed and breakfast in Scotland. She did an amazing job of setting up the world presented in this book. I loved the characters that where introduced including all the side characters. The mystery aspect was interesting and fun. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an ARC for an honest review.

Ally is a sixty-something woman who used to be a researcher for television programs who is now looking for a new adventure my turning an old malthouse into a bed and breakfast. Her first customer, an American man claiming to be the true heir to the earldom of Locharron, turns up dead and Ally finds herself in the middle of it. Can she trust to the police to find who murdered her guest? Or will she have to put on her detective hat and find out for herself?

Today was a rainy day, and I finished this cozy book in one sitting! I loved all the side characters in the book and Ally. It made me think how quaint it would be to own a B&B set in the Scottish countryside (minus the murder and possible ghost, ha!). I’m interested to read more books about Ally and Locharron and would love to find out more about the mysterious B&B.

It was pretty easy to figure out who was behind the murder(s) but it was still a fun read! 3.5 stars, rounding it up to 4.

A cosy murder mystery set in the Scottish Highlands. This book made me feel as though I was in a gorgeous village with interesting older characters investigating a murder. An easy read, somewhat predictable but still enjoyable. Reminded me of Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.

3.5/5

This is a fun, light cozy mystery that kept me entertained.
Ally is living her dream in the tiny village of Locharran, where she lovingly restored an old Scottish malthouse into a unique bed and breakfast.
An untimely death sends her plans into a downward spiral, and now Ally must investigate to save her dream.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.