3.5-4 stars
Enjoyable, easy to read historical mystery. I like the main characters and the setting, a 19th century Scottish hunting lodge. This is the fourth in a series (I had previously only read #3) but I think it should be fine as a standalone. I liked the plot a bit more in this one and appreciate the look at life, women's roles, and forensics during this era.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

Many thanks to Netgalley and MacMillian for this book. I received this arc in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.


In this book Mallory, Isla, McCreadie, and Gray are going to McCreadie’s sister’s wedding in Scotland. Fiona is McCreadie’s sister and is marrying Cranston who owns a wine company and it’s an arranged marriage after Hugh ended his engagement to Violet, Cranston’s sister. When they arrive they see traps that they believe Cranston wanted but it was actually the gameskeeper Muller, who is from another country and was recommended by Ezra Sinclair, Cranston best friend who knew McCreadie and Gray at school. One morning Mallory discovers Cranston’s coat is gone and it is suggested that he may have been murdered but instead of finding Cranston it is his best man Ezra Sinclair. Gray agrees to do the autopsy but when McCreadie tries to assist the local constable he is denied and decides to investigate himself. The constable arrests Cranston because he believed that Ezra was killed by him for wearing his expensive jacket but it turns out to be further from the truth. Ezra Sinclair and Muller are not good man and Ezra had the tendency to have affairs with young maids and even got Violet pregnant and she gave her cousin her baby. It is revealed that Cranston did kill Ezra for getting his sister pregnant and for what he did to the other maids but he said it was a accident and that he didn’t realize his own strength when mixed with anger. Cranston and Fiona do end up getting married and Hugh and Isla finally give in to their feelings. This book was so cute and I thought the time travel element was kind of cool. I will be reading the backlist and will read future books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this copy of Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong! If you have been reading Armstrong's A Rip Through Time series this is a must read! To be clear, this book in my opinion is for people who have already read the rest of the series. I wouldn't recommend just picking up this book and starting here. It's the fourth installment and it is just as enjoyable as the previous three. Actually, this was my favorite book so far in the series for several reasons.

The change of scenery was a great touch to this book. After three books, it was a treat to get outside of Edinburgh to go to the Scottish Highlands with my favorite characters. Detective McCreadie's younger sister is getting married and Mallory, Dr. Gray, & Isla are accompanying him to the country estate to attend the wedding. McCreadie is still a favorite character of mine, so I was so excited for a chance to learn more about him, and Armstrong did not disappoint! Fiona was such a wonderful character to meet. Everyone else is wonderful as always. I'm always thrilled to be in Mallory's head, she's amazing as our main character. I'm still so interested in her time travel situation and what can happen going forward.

The country estate setting in the Highlands was perfect for a captivating murder mystery for Mallory and her friends to solve. There was so many twists that I could not stop reading this book for a second. I was kept guessing until the very end, which is exactly what I like. Also, as a fan of the more potential romantic elements of this series, I have never been happier. A Rip Through Time has been one of the most slow-burn romances I've ever read in my life, and while yes, the slow-burn does continue here- I'm absolutely adoring how it's going. And that's true for more than one couple!

I suppose it's possible that you could just pick up this book without reading the previous ones and be able to catch on to the main premise while enjoying the mystery, but I definitely don't think that is a good idea at all! There is so much from the previous three books that you'd be missing, like a lot of important world building & some necessary character and relationship information. This fourth book obviously can't give you everything that you'd learn from three books If you're reading this review without having read anything from this series, please look at where I talked about the characters. If you see how much I care about them and want that for yourself, you have to understand that you can't get it from just jumping in at this book! I do 100% recommend giving this series a try though. And you absolutely have to get to Death at a Highland Wedding, which is the best book in the series so far!

I cannot wait until the next book. There's so much I'm dying to find out what happens, in particular with some romantic relationships. I just can't wait until we get to see Mallory and her friends solving their next mystery.

Book 4 in the A Rip Through Time series, this one took me a bit longer to get into the feel of the story. But when I did, I felt like I was right back in time with Mallory, Gray, McCreadie and Isla, doing what they all do best and that is solving a mystery. This time they were not in their home town, they were at a wedding in the Scottish Highlands at the Cranston Estate. Before the wedding can take place, things begin to happen that put Mallory and Gray on guard, wondering what's happening within the walls of this estate. When a guest is found murdered, things begin to heat up! I love the premise in the story that 'sometimes the friends we think we have, live secret lives, sometimes very evil secret lives.' Enjoyed the story, even though I did feel like this one dragged a bit in getting the story set up.
I loved the ending. Again, true to Kelley Armstrong, she left us on a cliff hanger. I see where book 5 will be ready for us in May of 2026.

Thank you to Kelley Armstrong, NetGalley and Minotaur books for the eversion arc in exchange for my opinion.

Thank you Minotaur and NetGalley for the DRC of Death at a Highland Wedding. All opinions in this review are my own.

Stopped at 9%

I wouldn't call this a DNF, more like a stopping for now. For most mystery series, it's perfectly fine to pick up a book in the middle but with the Rip Through Time series, I feel like you have to read them in order. The note in the beginning of the book introducing the story so far should have clued me in but I continued. While I probably could have just read this book for the mystery, I had too many questions to continue. How did Mallory travel through time? Why has she already told people of two things that haven't happened yet? Shouldn't she be trying to hide that she is a time traveller? Because of these questions, I want to go back and read the story in order before starting the fourth one.

Death at a Highland Wedding is the fourth installment in Kelley Armstrong's “Rip Through Time” time-travel novels that feature modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson, who has slipped 150 years into the past to Victorian Scotland. By now, three books later, she's developed meaningful relationships with the people around her and is using her training as an assistant to undertaker Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie. That’s all the backstory a reader needs, since Armstrong skillfully weaves in the relevant material as the plot unfolds. The important thing is that Duncan and Hugh, along with Hugh’s independent-minded sister, Isla, know Mallory’s true identity and trust her investigatory skills.
Now the four are off to a beautiful highland hunting lodge for the wedding of Hugh’s younger sister. All is not well, however. The new gamekeeper has been laying traps that threaten not only local wildlife but the poor folk accustomed to traveling freely over the estate. Soon, Mallory and her friends are caught up in a series of increasingly bizarre mysteries that culminate in the murder of one of the guests, for which the inexperienced young constable arrests the groom.

The combination of time travel and murder mystery would furnish an entertaining read, but Armstrong goes further. Her sensitivity to relationships, the vulnerability of women in the 1870s, especially those without rank or money, and Mallory’s compassion and quick insight all make for a deeper story. It’s not necessary to have read the preceding volumes to enjoy Death at a Highland Wedding, although you’ll likely want to gobble up as many of the adventures of Mallory and her friends as you can find.

✨ Publication date: May 20, 2025✨

Death at a Highland Wedding is the fourth instalment of the Rip Through Time series by Kelley Armstrong. This is one of my favourite series and I’m already looking forward to the next one!

Mallory Mitchell has been living the last year in a young housemaids body. After being thrown back in time to Victorian Scotland she has managed to reveal her situation to her employers.

Mallory is a modern day detective and has found herself a place with Dr Duncan Grey, Hugh McCreadie and Duncan’s sister Isla. They all know who she truly is and help her maintain her identity in this new world.

The group is invited to the highlands for Hugh’s sister’s wedding but soon there is a body discovered and it’s the best man. After the incompetent local law arrests the groom with little evidence, the group begins to investigate.

The best man is not quite the person they all thought he was but there is definitely more to the story. As the wedding guests are interviewed and the investigation continues, the groups own relationships deepen.

I really enjoyed this book and we are so much closer to Grey and Mallory admitting their feelings for each other! This is a solid 4 star read and I highly recommend this series!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #kelleyarmstrong #deathatahighlandwedding

Since this is now the fourth book in the series, I would recommend reading my reviews about A Rip Through Time, The Poisoner’s Ring and Disturbing The Dead, since those will already give you a good sense of how I feel about the series. That’s also why this review will be a bit shorter.

I have also seen that Kelley Armstrong has already released the title of her next book in the series, so there will be more Mallory, Duncan and company in our lives next year!

What didn’t work for me

The (very, very) slow burn: I mentioned this last time, and I’m adding it here because, as much as there are some developments on the main love story, there really isn’t a reason these characters shouldn’t be together. There is also mention of a letter that we never got to see—and that was just a tease. So it’s not really something that didn’t work in the book as a whole, but I’m getting a bit impatient. And speaking of slow burns, this book took me a little bit longer to get into than the others, though I’m not sure why.

What I liked

The setting: Who doesn’t love a wedding? And though this one isn’t a typical 21st-century wedding (things have really changed in the past 150 years), it was still fun to see what kinds of traditions there were and how they celebrated (at least for upper-class folk) marriages.

The murderer: I won’t say any more because I don’t want to give anything away, but I was surprised by the twists and turns this one takes. Though I will flag that there is some mention of sexual assault.

4.5 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for the advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Although I enjoy time travel books in general, time travel romances rarely appeal to me. In these books, a modern-day heroine goes centuries into the past (often occupying another woman’s body) and gets involved with a hunky hero from that era. The “Outlander” novels are a prime example. However, author Kelley Armstrong, in her Rip in Time series, has put an interesting spin on the genre. Her heroine, Mallory Atkinson, travels back in time to 1870 Scotland, inhabiting the body of a maid in the household of hunky Dr. Duncan Gray. What makes this series unique is the fact that Mallory is a police detective and Duncan is a pioneer in criminal forensics. Twenty-first-century readers get an introduction to nineteenth-century forensics when Duncan and Mallory have to solve intriguing mysteries. The latest Rip in Time novel, “Death at a Highland Wedding,” has too much romance for my taste, but the central mystery is still enjoyable.

The author includes a brief, helpful introduction explaining the series’s central time-travel premise. Duncan and a few others know who Mallory really is, and she has been “promoted” from housemaid to Duncan’s assistant. As “Death at a Highland Wedding” begins, Mallory and Duncan are en route to a remote locale with their friend, Edinburgh police detective Hugh Macreadie, to attend the wedding of Hugh’s younger sister to a wealthy landowner, Archie Cranston. Hugh has some conflicted emotions because Archie’s sister is also Hugh’s former fiancée (their engagement didn’t end well).

The wedding doesn’t go as planned because the best man is murdered shortly before the planned nuptials. The local constable in charge of the investigation is an inexperienced officer who got the job when his grandfather, the former constable, retired. In the finest tradition of mystery novels from 1870 to the present, the constable arrests Archie on flimsy, illogical grounds. It’s up to Duncan and Mallory to find the actual killer so the wedding can proceed.

“Death at a Highland Wedding” is a pretty good mystery. Mallory soon learns that almost everyone in the household was out on the estate grounds the night the best man was murdered. The murder weapon was a shillelagh from Archie’s collection that was readily available for anyone to use. Readers get to see Duncan perform a 19th-century autopsy and lift some fingerprints while Mallory interviews the various witnesses. The author doesn’t play entirely fair with readers, as the evidence against the killer isn’t clear-cut. Instead, in a bit of a copout, the murderer breaks down and confesses when confronted. However, readers won’t be entirely surprised when they learn the killer’s identity.

Although the author has hinted at a romance between Mallory and Duncan in previous volumes in this series, the characters themselves had done little to advance their relationship. The romance heats up somewhat here, as Duncan begins a somewhat tentative courtship. It’s no torrid romp, but rather a somewhat tepid picnic outing. That courtship is bound by the social customs of the era, and the author contrasts their relationship with several others in the book. Besides Archie’s now-delayed marriage, Hugh is enamored of Duncan’s sister, Isla, who also went with the others to the wedding. (Although there aren’t very many characters in the book, the relationships among them may confuse readers who don’t pay attention.)

The last half of “Death at a Highland Wedding” has too much talk about propriety and marital customs of the era and too little detective work. I understand that the rules of courtship, marriage, and romance were different back then. However, I didn’t need Mallory’s frequent ruminations on the subject or her elaboration on semi-arranged marriages between wealthy men like Archie (who was still in his 30s) and women in their teens like his fiancée. I appreciated instead the book’s occasional action sequences, as when Mallory is menaced by the novel’s slimiest character. I also enjoyed the occasional bits of humor. Although Duncan, Hugh, and Isla know who she is, Mallory must maintain her cover with everyone else. (Actually, if Mallory were to tell people she was a woman from the future inhabiting the maid’s body, she’d be shipped off to an asylum quickly.) Once, Mallory lets slip that a yet-to-be-built bridge is going to collapse and has to do some quick covering up.

“Death at a Highland Wedding” is the second Kelley Armstrong Rip in Time novel I’ve read, and it’s a distinct step down from the earlier one. My relative indifference may result from my relative coolness towards romance novels in general or to this story’s overly talky nature and slower pace. Still, the book contains several mysterious occurrences that readers will enjoy figuring out. (The author eventually reveals all the details.) I’ve deliberately left my description of the storyline somewhat vague to avoid any spoilers.

I’m giving “Death at a Highland Wedding” a mild recommendation. Those who enjoy romance novels will appreciate the book more than I do. However, the author’s unusual version of a time travel story, complete with discussions of 19th-century forensics, was enjoyable. Now that this wedding party is over, I’m looking forward to the next adventure with Mallory, Duncan, and friends.

NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.

Kelley Armstrong has long been one of my go-to authors thanks to her ability to shift between the mystery, fantasy, and horror genres. She doesn’t just dabble in these genres; she takes her readers on journeys through grit and grace.

Though I am a fan of this author, Death at a Highland Wedding tested my patience a bit more than usual. Let’s be honest: I’m a dead body in the first chapter kind of reader. I like my corpses early and my tension immediate. This one took nearly 75 pages to get to the “good part”, if a dead body can be called that, which made the pacing feel more like a slow waltz than a brisk reel. Once the mystery finally unfurled, the plot twisted in classic Armstrong fashion, though I’ll admit I occasionally lost track of who was connected to whom. That’s probably more of a “me” issue than a flaw in the writing, but if you’re juggling multiple characters and relationships, a cheat sheet wouldn’t hurt.

Armstrong doesn’t shy away from darker themes, and this installment includes moments of cruelty toward both animals and women that may be difficult for some readers. She handles these scenes with care and sensitivity, yet the emotional weight is still there.

Now, let’s talk characters. Fiona absolutely stole the show for me. She’s bold, brutally honest, and loyal to a fault. Her constant needling of Hugh adds a layer of tension and humor that keeps the story grounded even when the mystery veers into murky territory. And then there’s Mallory and Duncan, still caught in their slow-burn dance. But this time, there’s a shift, a quiet urgency that suggests choices are looming, not just about their relationship, but about what “home” really means.

The ending? It’s a soft landing. Not a dramatic cliffhanger, but a gentle exhale that leaves longtime readers of the series with a sense of satisfaction and maybe a little hope.

If you’re already invested in Armstrong’s world, this one’s worth the read; just know you’ll need a bit of patience before the plot hits its stride.

Time traveling into historical Scotland with Ms. Armstrong pulls me in like no other time travel story. I love that this is more about mysteries than romance. Whilst the story is enhanced with the sexual tension between Mallory and Gray. . . it is their detective work together that pulls me in. In the latest installment, kilts are a flapping and there's a murder afoot.

What I enjoyed most about this story is the blend of historical romance with all the dramas at a "country party" and the whodunit plot. Once again it is up to Mallory to figure out why someone was killed and if it was indeed the butler who did it. There were a couple of red herrings throw in by Ms. Armstrong which pleased me. Because it made this a more engaging read because the killer wasn't obvious. In addition, throwing in a junior country constable with a chip on his shoulder added to the drama.

There is also a hint of how Mallory could possibly return back to her time. I still feel mixed because I am unsure if I would prefer her to return home or stay with Gray. The longer she stays in the past, the more bonds and connections she makes with Gray and his family. The harder it will be when Mallory has to leave. I am wondering how Ms. Armstrong will resolve this increasingly tense conflict of interest.

This historical suspense is recommended to readers who enjoy a twist of time with romantic elements.

After slipping 150 years into the past, modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson has embraced her new life in Victorian Scotland as housemaid Catriona Mitchel. Although it isn’t what she expected, she's developed real, meaningful relationships with the people around her. She has come to love her role as assistant to undertaker Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie.

How I love the Rip Through Time series ... even if Mallory talks to people like she is a modern-day detective when they have no idea she's from the future. Also, I'm very ready for "those two" to acknowledge how they feel about each other!

I enjoyed the change of scenery - going to the Highlands of Scotland was quite interesting. I liked learning more about Hugh and his family. LOVED his sister, Fiona, and I hope we see more of her. Death at a Highland Wedding was filled to the brim with characters to love, some to hate, and many twists and turns. I already can't. wait. to. read. the. next. book.

I highly recommend that readers begin with the first book in the series, A Rip Through Time in order to fully appreciate what is going on in Death at a Highland Wedding.

This series continues to shine with its blend of rich historical detail, the dark and murky atmosphere of Victorian Scotland, and the twisty complications of time travel. Of course, there’s also a murder to unravel, which keeps the pace moving.

I really appreciated that the author included a quick wrap-up of the series so far because it made it easy to slip right back into the story.

The relationship between Mallory and Duncan is still the slowest of slow burns, but it just might be heating up. Now I’m counting down the days until book five!

This was, as always, an amazing book! This is one of my favorite series and I can’t wait to see where it goes!

This series is just hitting all the right notes for me.

It's like Sherlock Holmes meets Outlander meets, well, any of our favorite police procedurals.

In this, the fourth installment of the Rip in Time series, Mallory has made the decision to stay in her new life in Victorian Scotland (remember, she slipped back 150 years into the past, in the first book) and is embracing all the it entails. Mallory, Grey, and McCreadie head to the Highlands to celebrate McCreadie's sister's wedding. While the setting of Cranston estate is quite beautiful, complicated histories make the company uncomfortable and mysterious happenings on the estate have the crime solving trio's emotions running high. When one of their company is murdered and the local constable arrests the groom-to-be in what seems like a complete botching of the investigation, they take on the investigation in secret.

While it is the fourth book, Armstrong starts the book off in such a way that a reader gets caught up quickly. Her pacing, as I'm learning is a trademark, is spot on and her understanding of forensics, both modern day and historical, build a story that's believable and entertaining. Of course, there's a quick wit behind it all, with humor and banter sprinkled throughout that make this series a fun read and offsets the heavier aspects unveiled as the details of the case are uncovered.

Now, I love the idea of Scotland. It's my bucket list trip. Armstrong kindof takes me there with her beautifully atmospheric writing. The sites, the sounds, the landscape, the buildings, the morning fog....especially at the estate...she knows how to transport the reader.

Our characters continue to show depth and personality and getting to know them better brings life to the story. Armstrong continues to reveal more of their personalities and relationships, how their stories are woven together. I won't lie, the slow burn nature of the romance is almost too slow burn for me. I want to give certain characters a little shove and tell them to get on with it already but patience, apparently, is a virtue, and there's another book coming.

And I will read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

In "Death at a Highland Wedding," Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie leave the big city for a trip in the country. It won't be a relaxing trip, unfortunately, as they're traveling to attend the wedding of McCreadie's sister, who happens to be marrying the brother of McCreadie's ex-fiance. Yep, awkward.

Naturally, even at this beautiful country getaway, a murder investigation unfolds and, thanks to a bumbling constable in charge of the case, the trio is forced to step in to find the real killer. Armstrong does a spectacular job keeping the reader guessing until the very end, and I was hooked by this case.

I do wish we had seen more movement in Mallory and Gray's relationship--just ONE more heartfelt conversation (WHAT WAS IN THAT LETTER???) would have rounded this book out for me. I suppose I will have to be content to wait until book 5.

Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong

The fourth in the Rip Through Time series, this installment did not disappoint!
Back with some of my favorite characters, we are now out of Edinburgh and in the Scottish countryside at a wedding and subsequent murder.
Mallory, Gray and McCreadie must solve the murder of the Best Man at McCreadie's sister's wedding. They face an inexperienced constable, less than ideal working condiditons, sociatal constraints and hostile locals. I loved that the new setting caused the main characters to have to remember to stop themselves from speaking/acting as openly as they do in their home environment.

Looking forward to book no. 5!

Happiness for a bookworm is when a new installment in a favourite series is really, really good. I had that happiness when I was reading Death at a Highland Wedding, the fourth book in Kelley Armstrong’s A Rip Through Time series. It’s my favourite in the series now!

Here’s the book’s description:

After slipping 150 years into the past, modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson has embraced her new life in Victorian Scotland as housemaid Catriona Mitchel. Although it isn’t what she expected, she's developed real, meaningful relationships with the people around her and has come to love her role as assistant to undertaker Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie.

Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie are on their way to the Scottish Highlands for McCreadie's younger sister's wedding. The McCreadies and the groom’s family, the Cranstons, have a complicated history which has made the weekend quite uncomfortable. But the Cranston estate is beautiful so Gray and Mallory decide to escape the stifling company and set off to explore the castle and surrounding wilderness. They discover that the groom, Archie Cranston, a slightly pompous and prickly man, has set up deadly traps in the woods for the endangered Scottish wildcats, and they soon come across a cat who's been caught and severely injured. Oddly, Mallory notices the cat's injuries don't match up with the intricacies of the trap. These strange irregularities, combined with the secretive and erratic behavior of the groom, put Mallory and Duncan on edge. And then when one of the guests is murdered, they must work fast to uncover the murderer before another life is lost.

I’m not really sure what made this fourth installment hit right for me. Maybe it was because I was in just the right mood for a historical mystery with a dash of time travel. Maybe it was the mystery itself - it was so layered. Or maybe it was hanging out with characters I’ve come to love and seeing their relationships grow and become stronger (but also more complicated). No matter the reason, I thoroughly enjoyed Death at a Highland Wedding.

It was also fun that Armstrong moved the setting of the series north, away from Edinburgh and into the Highlands. While I’m not really reading these for the history, it was cool to get Armstrong’s take on small towns and life in the Scottish Highlands. She explored the politics involved in owning an estate in a town and also mentioned a bit about the Highland Clearances, which Mallory somewhat remembered learning about from school and from her grandmother, who was Scottish. Conversations about the Clearances reminded Mallory that what she remembers as history is actually the recent past in the time she finds herself in.

I was delighted that the mystery kept me guessing until the end. There was so much more than meets the eye - not just with the murder case but also with the characters. There were a number of shocking revelations because some people were very good at keeping their past, and their true nature, hidden. I liked that I didn’t see any of it coming!

Anyone like me, who enjoys a bit of romance in almost every story they encounter, will appreciate this installment especially. Armstrong inched some relationships along but also started to hint more at feelings - and the problems arising from those feelings - with others. Why, yes, that is vague. I’m not about to give anything away, thank you very much!

Death at a Highland Wedding was a thoroughly enjoyable historical mystery read. I’ve been loving Kelley Armstrong’s series so much and I can’t wait to see what Mallory, Duncan, and the rest of the crew get up to next. Will there be wedding bells in the future? Will the “how” of the time travel be revealed? I don’t know but I’m so ready to find out!

Review of A Rip Through Time

Review of The Poisoner's Ring

Review of Disturbing the Dead

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Minotaur (St. Martin’s Press), via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

The Rip Through Time series has all of my favorite tropes - strong female during Victorian times, a bit of sci-fi/fantasy, women solving mysteries.

Duncan, Mallory, Hugh, and Isla are in the Highlands for the marriage of Hugh's sister to his old friend Archie Cranston. Also in attendance is Cranston's sister Violet, who is Hugh's ex-fiancee. They expect an uncomfortable weekend, especially since Hugh is also estranged from his parents. But no one expects that Cranston's best friend Ezra will be murdered, and Archie arrested for it.

I can't say how much I enjoy these mysteries and their show burn romances! However, this book also doesn't shy away from the horrible way men treated maids and other staff and how easy it was for the Lord of the manor to only consider his needs and not the villagers'. There are some scenes off the page that are very disturbing. But there is redemption and healing as well.

If you love historical mysteries, you'll really enjoy this series. While you could pick up this book and read it without reading the others first, you'll enjoy it much more with all of the knowledge from the previous books.

I adore this series, and this latest installment was everything I hoped for and more. This time, instead of the usual Edinburgh setting, we’re whisked away to the stunning Scottish Highlands for a wedding. And, of course, it wouldn't be a proper Mallory Atkinson mystery without a murder!

Mallory,still navigating life in 1860s Scotland after slipping back in time 150 years, shines once again. I love how she applies her modern-day homicide detective skills to these historic cases. It's such a smart and compelling twist, and watching her figure out how to adapt today’s techniques with limited tools is honestly one of my favorite parts of the series.

While there’s a bit less action than in the previous book, the character development was so satisfying, especially for fans who've been invested in Isla and Hugh's storyline. I was thrilled with the direction that took! There’s such a rich emotional core to these books that makes them more than just great mysteries.

The mystery itself had me hooked. I didn’t see the ending coming at all, and I loved the way the tension was built, especially with the weird behavior surrounding the injured wildcat and the groom’s creepy trap setup. The family dynamics between the McCreadies and Cranstons added even more delicious drama to the mix.

Kelley Armstrong continues to build such an immersive world with lovable, flawed characters and tight, clever plots. I highly recommend reading this series in order. Each book adds so much to the relationships and overarching story.

I already can't wait for the next one!

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.