Death at a Highland Wedding is the fourth in the Rip Through Time series by Kelley Armstrong, and it is just as fantastic as the rest of the series.
As I have pointed out many times, Armstrong is an amazing storyteller and can engage me in a genre—time travel—that I don’t generally enjoy. Mallory, a modern day Canadian detective is still in the body of a ten year younger woman in Victorian Scotland. In this adventure, we get to learn much more about important supporting character, Detective Hugh McCreadie, as the household goes to attend his younger sister’s wedding. One of the guests is found murdered and the local police do not seem inclined to find the correct killer.

Not only is the mystery twisty and laden with false assumptions, but what I really enjoy is watching Mallory try to navigate all of the social values and attitudes that exist in Victorian Scotland. Armstrong touched on DV previously but really looks at the interactions around women and dating, marriage, pregnancy, sex, consent, and how these inform the choices they can make. Even though that can lead to some dark places, it is balanced with being a fun, and funny, and intriguing mystery.

As always, the pacing was perfect, the characters very well written, and I could hardly put the book down.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.

✨Book Review✨
Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I had the pleasure of reading Death at a Highland Wedding as an advanced reader copy, and I absolutely loved it! Kelley Armstrong once again delivers a fantastic mystery with rich character development, an atmospheric setting, and a twisty plot that kept me guessing—I truly didn’t see the culprit coming!

Mallory and Gray’s relationship continues to be a highlight for me, and while I’m eager to see their dynamic progress even further, I guess I’ll just have to pick up the next book to find out! The Scottish setting was especially exciting, as I’ll be traveling there this year, and Armstrong’s vivid descriptions made me feel like I was already there.

Honestly, I have no complaints—I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you love a well-crafted mystery with compelling characters and a stunning backdrop, this one is a must-read! Highly recommend! ✨

#Bookstagram #BookReview #DeathAtAHighlandWedding #KelleyArmstrong #MysteryBooks #CozyMystery #ScottishMystery #BookLover #ARCReview

I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of Death At A Highland Wedding. The following review is a description of my own thoughts and feelings about the story.

This is the fourth book, in the A Rip Through Time series by Kelley Armstrong. It follows Detective Mallory Mitchell who is a bright and curious woman in 2019. On a late night run, she finds herself investigating a strange scream of what sounds like a woman in distress. Only to be attacked and strangled a few moments later. She wakes up in a different woman’s body, of a housemaid to an undertaker in 1869. She now has to navigate her life as a maid, with her 21st century modern knowledge and mentality. In this story, the main character travels with her employers and family friend detective to a wedding for the detective’s sister. However, what starts out as a joyous event turns into a murderous reunion.

Kelley Armstrong delivers a thrilling mystery, set in the late 1800’s in the Scottish Highlands that is a mix of mystery, with a swoon worthy slow burn romance. She incorporates a mix of historical and modern murder elements, mixed with a time travel fantasy. The writing and flow of the plot is beautifully executed. She provides an engaging descriptive plot, that keeps the reader interested, and constantly surprised and guessing what will happen next. I always thoroughly enjoy and am blown away by the stories she tells.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kelley Armstrong for an ARC of Death At A Highland Wedding. I look forward to continuing the series.

This was another great addition to this series. This time everyone is in the Scottish Highlands for a wedding. The groom has set up traps for wild cats along his estate and one was found dead with its kittens nearby. It turns out that it is not so much the groom who did it but his newly hired game keeper. There is something odd and suspicious about the gamekeeper. It also comes to light that it wasn't the trap that killed the wild cat but the cat was poisoned. Soon after that someone is murdered. It turns out to be a very tangled web and a great mystery!

Mallory is a great character and I love that she is a modern woman in a Victorian woman's body. She absolutely makes this series. I love historical fiction and a good mystery. The fact that you add a strong modern woman to the mix makes this series stand out. My only complaint would be that I wish something more would happen with Gray. This is the fourth book and I am really hoping something happens soon. I highly recommend especially if you love mysteries, historical fiction, and time travel!!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong
A Rip Through Time #4

In this fourth novel in the A Rip Through Time series, modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson continues to be sure that living 150 years in the past seems to be the place she wants to stay. She is now working as undertaker Dr. Duncan Gray's assistant and is working closely with Detective Hugh McCreadie, who can make use of Mallory's "in the future" knowledge when she deems that helping him with such knowledge won't set the world spinning off it's axis or some other horrible event that could come from messing with time shifts and future knowledge merging with the past.

Mallory, Gray, McCreadie, and Gray's sister are heading to the wedding of McCreadie's sister to McCreadie's and Gray's school friend. The estate where they will be staying is gorgeous but revolves around game hunting and the new owners have alienated the village people and the people who have lost their homes and jobs with the new owners taking over the estate. There is a lot of fighting and dissention under the surface and also out in the open. The estate is now covered with traps to hinder and greatly injure trespassers and the entire place is seething with bad vibes.

Then there is a murder. This is where Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie shine, trying to solve a crime when they have to keep so much hidden and not insult the people of that time, when they know so much more than they should know thanks to Mallory being from the future. This fourth book is my favorite of the series so far. It's nice that the trio is on the same page more often than not, now. Mallory and Gray are also inching closer to something between them. I want to give them a big shove but I'm on the other side of the pages so I'm totally hindered from interfering.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for both the ebook and the print book of this ARC.

4.5/5 stars

This is the fourth book in the A Rip Through Time series (there are also 2 novellas). This is a mystery time travel series set in 1870.

I love seeing modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson in Victorian Scotland. I am not a big historical fiction reader. But I am enjoying this series so much.

This book has Mallory and the gang going to the Scottish Highlands for a wedding. This was an amazing setting. And the mystery was fantastic.

I absolutely loved getting to see more of my favorite characters. And I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens next in this series.

This is the 4th book in the Rip Through Time Series, and I love the progression. Mallory, Gray, Hugh, and Isla are working better as a team, and have become close friends. Mallory has been entirely accepted as a time traveler from the future, and it gives her the freedom to be who she is, a feisty, strong, accomplished woman. Mallory and Gray, as well as Isla and Hugh, are moving closer romantically as well. We have an intriguing mystery too, which is well played out. I look forward to seeing where Ms. Armstrong will take us next. 4-1/2 stars

I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

THis is my first tale with this band of detectives but I was able to jump in pretty easily. The story flowed along nicely and I enjoyed most of the characters

I love this series. This installment is more of a McCreadie and Mallory investigation than Duncan and Mallory, but the supporting cast is great and it was fun to see them in a closed door mystery and outside of Edinburgh. Some parts were convenient and rushed, but I’m so entertained I don’t care.

I don’t usually mind Duncan’s abrasive manner because we see his charm through his single-mindedness. But here he was so obtuse it was disappointing. The slow burn is now frustratingly glacial. I’m glad for Hugh and Isla’s progress, though.

810640 Kelley Armstrong is one of those authors that consistently delivers books that are exactly to my taste, across genres. In her Rip Through Time series, Mallory Atkinson is a modern day detective visiting family in Edinburgh when she’s violently attacked in an alley. When she wakes up, she’s in Victorian Scotland in the body of a young housemaid, working for the local undertaker/medical examiner Dr. Gray. Hijinks ensue.

This is the 4th book in the series, so we’ve had time to settle in with these characters. Oh, they’re all going to a country house for a wedding? They’ll be staying at the estate? Look, I’ve read plenty of regency romance, I know what happens at these house parties! Ok, maybe it’s not usually MURDER, but what more could you ask for? Mallory and Gray at a beautiful country estate, a wedding, a body to examine together and a murder to solve, come on.

There’s definitely progression on the romance front for several couples, but this is a slow burn –and thank GOD, why aren’t there more slow burn romances lately, I need a serious break from insta-love. Look y’all, the slower the burn, the hotter the fire, ok? The payoff is going to be so worth it.

As far as the murder mystery goes, I was engaged and surprised by several of the reveals. (I do want to be upfront about this, a trigger warning for SA.) I feel like Armstrong’s mysteries are always well done, never over the top and always believable, but still well constructed and a complete surprise.

You should really start at the beginning of this series to get the full effect, but if time-travel-romance, fish-out-of-water, Sherlock-esque characters appeals to you, then I think you’ll like this one. It’s not out till May so you’ve got some time, but make sure to put it on the TBR!

As always, thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! My opinions are, for better or for worse, my own.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book! I had been anxiously awaiting this book coming out and was so excited to receive a free, advanced copy of it. My opinions are my own and are freely given.

I love this series so much. I have always loved the time-travel genre. This has quickly become my favorite time travel series. The plot and characters are amazing, and I love a slow burn.

This can be read as a stand-alone book (and even includes a 'what you missed' blurb at the beginning of the book), but the series is so amazing that I would recommend reading all of the books! If you start with this one, I can't imagine anyone not going back and reading the previous three. Although there are not spoilers for who the murderer is in the previous books, you will definitely miss tons plot-wise.

This book hasn't been published yet, and I have already marked on my calendar to look for the next book, to make sure I don't forget about the series. It's so hard to wait sometimes!!!

Definitely recommend this entire series!

Triggers: rape

My Thoughts

Life in 1870’s Victorian Scotland after being transported back in time has become easier in many ways for modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson as her employers have become friends as well as her confidants.

This story starts with a road trip to the Scottish Highlands where Hugh McCreadie’s younger sister Fiona is marrying his friend Archie.

The trip itself is fairly uneventful but upon arrival at the Cranston estate that changes quickly and readers are embroiled in not only a murder investigation but uncovering damaging personal secrets right along with our characters.

To make things even more interesting Hugh and Isla seem to finally be acknowledging their feelings for each other, now if only Duncan and Mallory find a way to do so my heart would be happier.

As have the three full length books before it book four only made me want more adventures with this group of fictional people that I have grown quite fond of.
[EArc from Netgalley]
On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

“There’s nothing quite like a Highland Wedding”

Oh how I adore this series.

This is the fourth installment in the Rip through time series, however it can be read as a stand alone. Kelley Armstrong has a quick synopsis at the beginning of the book that makes it easy to jump right into this world.

In this story, what is quickly becoming my favorite foursome of Mallory, Dr. Gray, Isla, and Hugh McCreadie embark on a road trip (or more accurately for this time period a carriage ride) to the Scottish Highlands for a wedding!

This is not just any wedding, Hugh’s little sister is getting married! But what’s a wedding without a murder and secrets to uncover. That’s where our team thrives, working their magic to solve this strange case of “whodunit”.

The mystery in this book, the banter between characters, ideas of time travel, historical references, and the slow burn possible romance I’m still holding out for are top notch. Kelley Armstrong has masterfully tied so many different genres together into one amazing tension-filled adventure. I was invested after the first chapter and this story did not disappoint.

Pick it up, try something a little different. This one is a keeper.

*Also sending out an honorable mention for the lost letter*

I received eARC of this title through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was a great 3rd installment to the series! The characters are gaining more depth which is really cool. I think the author is finally hitting her stride with this series now that Mallory, the main character, is not trying to go back to her time. I'm really excited to see how this series continues.

I really love this series. I feel it is well written and I really enjoy the characters. I do believe they need to be read as a series however. This series is different for Kelley Armstrong, but she tells the story magnificently. Definitely looking forward to the continuation!

Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Kelley Armstrong is back with another of her great thriller that spans over a century and a half. Mallory Atkinson continues to settle in 19th century Scotland with her secret of time travel. She and her close friends are on their way to a wedding in the Scottish Highlands, a great break from the busyness of the every day. However, during their time there, a man is murdered on the estate and other oddities begin to surface. The family secrets come to the surface and what was supposed to be a celebratory affair is soon covered with an alarming pall. Mallory and her group will have to solve things to bring some closure to a baffling murder. Armstrong delivers a great story that kept me hooked until the final pages. 

While it has been a while since Mallory Atkinson slipped back in time, the former Vancouver Police detective has made the most of her life in Victorian Scotland. Malory overcame some significant bumps along the way and has created meaningful friendships with those she shares a home, including Dr. Duncan Gray. She’s also found a niche to hone her forensic skills as she works alongside Dr. Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie of the local police constabulary.

While the work is enjoyable, the idea of getting away for a bit is equally alluring. When Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie travel with a handful of others to the Scottish Highlands, the adventure commences. The wedding of McCreadie’s younger sister is the occasion, though family histories could create some concerns. The groom, Archie Cranston, proves to be a prickly fellow, whose estate is beautiful, though scattered with many animal traps. When Mallory and Gray discover a wildcat that has been found in a trap, the injuries baffle them, as nothing seems to make sense.

After the body of a wedding guest turns up, Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie begin investigating. What they discover leaves the trio concerned that someone is hiding something important. The body appears to have been struck by something, while one of the estate managers is acting quite oddly. The more they probe, the fewer answers come to the surface. Soon, a missing child is added to the mix and more confusion ensues. With the wedding now on the back burner, Mallory and Gray will have to slyly get answers, reporting to McCreadie so that an arrest can be made. Kelley Armstrong delivers a chilling story that mixes ideas of both Victorian Scotland with police work in the 21st century. 

I discovered the work of Kelley Armstrong and cannot get enough. While it was another series that pulled me in, when I sought to expand my reading base, this time travel series seemed intriguing. The series has kept a solid narrative foundation and provides the reader with a clear pathway to see how events will transpire. As things gain speed, the handful of core characters develop effectively, keeping the reader curious. This is complemented by a strong plot that weaves its way throughout and provides multiple surprises on which the reader can feast. I am eager to see where things are headed with this series and how Kelley Armstrong will keep appealing to her reading base!

Kudos, Madam Armstrong, for another strong piece in this time-travel collection.

It's no secret that I adore this series. It just truly, gets better with each new installment. I want to devour each new book and yet also take my time, soak it all in, and savor it. Sadly, I almost always devour it and then am left sad that it is over because I want more.

I love how much more we get in this installment. So much more history, so much more mystery, so much more Mallory and Gray, Isla and Hugh. *happy sigh* Armstrong writes so beautifully that I want to step into the pages and experience it all myself, well, minus the murder, of course.

It's another great book in the series, and I'm on edge for the next because so much happens in it. So many feels. So many potential feels on the horizon.

The more this series continues the more that I never want it to end. I was so excited to hear that this series was continuing so when I had the opportunity to read the latest one, I jumped at it. Just like all the other books by Kelley Armstrong, this one was absolutely fantastic, and I devoured this story from the very first word. This book follows the same characters as the previous ones and while our main character, Mallory, is still lost in the last she is starting to embrace her new normal. This book sees our characters on their way to attend a Highland wedding, as the title suggests, however nothing is as it seems with this group. When what should be a simple outing turns tragic, Mallory is left to figure out what is going on. When a cat’s injuries don’t seem to match the hunt and traps that the groom’s family have planted Mallory’s radar is peaked. However, it isn’t until one of the guests at the wedding is killed that she jumps into action. This is an incredible read just like the previous ones and I found myself yet again being lost in the world of these characters. I loved the mix between modern times and the 1800s because the contrast is so jarring yet Kelley Armstrong manages to somehow piece them together seamlessly. I’ve always loved the interaction between the main characters but what makes this story so much better is they are getting to know each other much more and really starting to accept their differences. This is a great series that I can’t seem to get enough of. It has everything for everyone mystery, time travel, amazing banter and character development as well as fantastically written and empowered female characters that I have come to almost expect from a Kelley Armstrong novel. While the whole series is very different than anything Kelley Armstrong has done before, she still manages to draw in even the most skeptical of readers and turn them into diehard fans. I loved how each book in this series always seems to have a very different plot while sticking to the same time travel esq theme. What could have been a super jumpy and confusing read, was very well laid out and written. Fantastic job, while I’m not always a big fan of time travel books this series is really starting to become one of my favourites. This book was powerful enough to satisfy your appetite however once you are finished it will leave you desperate for the next book. This was a great read that will really get your heart pumping. I just wish that I was able to give it a higher rating. Great job and I can’t wait to see this book on shelves. This is a book that everyone will enjoy and a series that continues to have people taking. This is also one that I can't wait to add to my collection.

This review is my opinion and my opinion only. Thank you to Minotaur Books, St Martin Press, & Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC.
This series is just an example of why Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors. This series, “A Rip Through Time”, is wonderfully unique. Kelley Armstrong had mastered story telling, and she knows how to get you invested into the story.
This book, which takes place in 1870, is about Duncan, Mallory, Isla, & Hugh are going to Hugh’s sister’s wedding. Hugh’s sister, Fiona, is marrying Archie Cranston. Cranston went to school with Duncan and Hugh. Hugh used to be engaged to Cranston’s sister. With Hugh braking the engagement, there is animosity between the families and Hugh. The wedding is being held at Cranston’s hunting lodge. The next day there was a discovery of a dead body, who happens to be Cranston’s good friend. Who and why? You must read the story!
I highly recommend this series!!!

I love this author, and this series so was excited to get my hands on this book!

I enjoyed this instalment in the series, however found it a bit slower paced than some of the previous books. It was still enjoyable, just missing a bit of Armstrongs usual spark.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review.