I enjoyed this book so much I am going to start from the beginning of the series! Even though I am new to the world of Dandy and Alec, I didn't feel lost or behind I love historical cozies and this one fit the bill! A light hearted read, with witty banter and a face pace... perfect to read curled up on the couch on a rainy day!

A BIG thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance reader copy... I enjoyed it!

This was a fun, and light read. I like period mysteries, so this was right up my alley. I’ll likely go back, and start at the beginning of the series now! I definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a cozy mystery. Thank you for the arc and opportunity to review

3.75 stars

Dandy and Alec are back, on the eve of World War II. The current European situation is much on everyone's minds, especially Alec as a veteran of the Great War, and Dandy as the mother of two grown sons.

But they have a mystery to investigate which strikes close to home. Dandy's best friend Daisy is a suspect in the distinctly odd killing of her husband Silas. Silas was a serial philanderer so there might be a lot of suspects. His body was found in a small village and there is clearly an understanding amongst the villagers to keep Dandy and Alec in the dark. But Daisy, who had been at a dinner at Dandy's house, had gotten roaring drunk that evening and disappeared in a car in the middle of the night.

The Gilver books are a treat and this one was no exception. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

When a late-night call implicates her oldest friend in a murder investigation, Dandy and partner Alec must act fast to clear Daisy’s name. They travel to a picturesque Scottish village, but the more they investigate, the more doubts arise about Daisy’s innocence. Are they asking the right questions to uncover the truth?

This is the first book I’ve read in this long series, and I didn’t feel disoriented at all. It’s an intriguing mystery that’s full of twists.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I thank NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance reader copy of “The Witching Hour.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Someone’s dead at the beginning of the book. And this person, later revealed to be a friend of Dandy Gilver and Alec Osbourne, is found to have been leading a very interesting -- and distasteful -- life in “The Witching Hour,” the 16th book in Catriona McPherson’s series featuring the two amateur detectives in pre-WWII Scotland.

To keep the wife from being accused of the crime, Dandy and Alec need to find the real culprit. And boy, as Robert Burns wrote, “The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft a-gley.” From conflicting witnesses to more dead bodies -- or are they -- to the “witch woman” who lives in the woods, the book is an oft confusing word salad that may have you scratching your head; I know it did me. Then again, revenge and despair and past grievances are ancient motives for murder that require but little explanation. Dandy and Alec know that justice must be served, whatever the motivation.

What was heart-wrenching to me is the “secondary” story amongst the pages. The book ends just a few days before the declaration of war, and Dandy sees both her sons in their uniforms. This is what she has been fearing, and it draws her and husband Hugh together, something we haven’t seen much of. What lies ahead is a sea of uncertainty. Author Catriona McPherson, in “The Witching Hour,” has me anticipating and dreading what she has in mind for the next book, but I look forward to reading it.

Love that spectacular cover; however the confusing histmystery set in Scotland was not my cup of tea. Other loyal series fans, however, will likely adore it.

As a whodunnit, this didn’t do much for me. So much of the investigation was hampered by the people of Dirleton being unclear; sometimes intentionally misleading and other times just being obscure with no apparent intent to mislead. I appreciate a mystery that engages my problem-solving mind, and this one didn’t have any clear facts to marshal and analyze. I think this may be more appealing for regular readers of this long-running series. I’ve only read a couple here and there over the years, so I don’t have any emotional investment in Dandy and Alec.

2.5, rounded to 3.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
Unfortunately, this was not for me. I generally like Catriona McPherson's books, but this one was too convoluted, I couldn't get into it and was confused with what was going on, as well as the characters.
This was my first time reading a Dandy Silver book, which might be why I found it a difficult read.
Sorry!