Death at a Highland Wedding, the fourth installment in author Kelley Armstrong's Rip Through Time historic novels, is a gripping and fast-paced murder mystery with plenty of twists that keep the reader guessing and engaged to the very end.
It has everything one has come to expect of Armstrong and this series - culture clashes resulting from the main character of Mallory being out of her own time; the discovery of how historic Scotland differs from our own time in a multitude of ways as Mallory comes to terms with the differences herself; the treatment of women and how it compares to the present; a complex mystery with a number of suspects, some who we want to be guilty and others who we don't; a wedding and all that it entails, including romance and drama; and the progress of relationships we have come to root for. Throw in some adorable wild kittens, the beauty of the Scottish countryside, and some truly despicable crimes, and the book hits all of the emotions. Armstrong is not shy about making poignant social commentary, couched as it is in the past but still valid in today's society.
Overall, though, she is an exquisite story teller, and this novel continues with that tradition.
I look forward to more of this series! Thank you to the author and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of #DeathataHighlandWedding !

Oh my gosh this one was so good. I love Isla and McCreadie relationship and watching how they are with each other. This was an interesting read and the fact that everyone's relationships are growing and progressing. The mystery revealed in this book was just crazy. The very ending was so good I love how everything turned out. I also loved meeting McCreadie's family and friends of him and Duncan's school age.

"Death at a Highland Wedding is the fourth installment in New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong's gripping Rip Through Time Novels.

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.

New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong's unique time travel mystery series continues to entertain as Mallory adjusts to life in the 1870s."

Kill the groom! Long live the cats!

Series Info/Source: This is the second book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. I got a copy of this on ebook from NetGalley for review.

Thoughts: This is the latest book in A Rip Through Time series. I greatly enjoy the characters in this series and loved that this book takes us away from the city and out to the Scottish countryside. This was very well done, engaging, and had both an excellent mystery and the start of a sweet little romance. I am a huge Armstrong fan and have really loved all of her books (although I wasn't a huge fan of the Women of the Otherworld series). I am currently also reading her Haven's Rock series and her A Stitch in Time series.

Mallory and crew are heading out to McCreadie's sister's wedding. They are a bit bored, despite some of the personal tensions between McCreadie and the groom's family. Things get a bit more interesting when they find out there is some trouble with the locals and when a wildcat turns up dead in a trap, but it is discoverd the wildcat was poisoned (rather than the trap killing it). Things really ramp up when one of the guests is found dead. Now Mallory, Duncan, and McCreadie will have to use all of their wits to figure out who the real murderer is before the murder is blamed on the wrong person.

There was a lot to love in this story. I have really grown to love all of the characters here. All of them have grown and changed throughout the series. This book has some slow burn romance progress between Mallory and Gray as well as between Isla and McCreadie. I love that the relationships here are moving slowly and born out of mutual respect. I also really loved the mystery; there are a ton of twists and turns that keep you guessing. The pace is decent, and the setting and plot intriguing.

I believe this is the first book in this series that I have given 5 stars to. I think it took me a bit of time to warm up to these characters, and I think taking them out of their city setting really let some of their investigative abilities shine. I also like that we have a better understanding of how the time travel element to Mallory's appearance in Victorian times works.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I really loved this book. The characters have really grown on me, and I have enjoyed watching them grow and learn as characters and also enjoyed watching these slow burn romances progress. I love that we have a better understanding of the time travel aspects here and really enjoy the way the mystery is woven and resolved. I think this was the strongest book of the series yet.

I’d give Death at a Highland Wedding a solid 4 stars—while it wasn’t my favourite installment in the series, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Kelley Armstrong’s writing remains engaging, and I’m fully invested in these characters and their world. The mystery kept me turning the pages, even if the pacing felt a touch slower at times. Regardless, it’s always a pleasure to return to this cast, and I’m already looking forward to seeing where the next installment takes them.

I think I’m ready to declare A Rip Through Time my favorite series of all time. Here’s why:
* I’d be more devastated if this series ended than I would for literally any other.
* The genre mashup (historical mystery + time travel + romance) is unique and so compelling.
* Each book is a strong standalone mystery.
* Every time I finish one, I want to immediately reread the whole series

I could happily read 12 of these a year and never get tired. I’m also wildly grateful that Kelley Armstrong has been releasing novellas in between the full-length novels — what a gift!!

The latest installment, Murder at a Highland Wedding, is just as strong as the first three. It left me desperate for the next installment… so much so that I honestly considered DMing the author to beg for the manuscript (and I still might!).

If you haven’t started this series yet, I’m begging you to start ASAP. If you’ve already started, keep going (and don’t skip the novellas!).

It's good installment for this series. It had ups and downs and all in between. I did not see the murderer coming. It was a complete surprise. It was quite good.

Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors and across so many genres everything she writes just works for me. This is one of my favorite series (and not just because I share a name with the protagonist), but it is fun and full of excellent murder mysteries, what more could a girl ask for? Mallory and friends go to McCreadie’s sister’s wedding in the highlands, but things are set off course when the groom’s best friend is found dead. Despite not officially being on the case when it is clear there will be no other real investigation Mallory, Duncan, and Hugh all work hard to try to track the real killer. I liked that Mallory and Duncan both got closer to something and further as some real barriers/drawbacks were considered in other ways and of course some miscommunication hindered them. I am beyond ready for them to realize how much they care for each other, but I can wait a little longer I suppose. I listened to the audiobook for the first third of this one before I became too impatient and had to just binge the rest with kindle. The narrator was awesome and I really enjoyed the audiobook, I just read faster than I listen.

This is the 4th book in the series and I think they just keep getting better. A great historical mystery with a bit of time travel leaving the main character, a modern police detective, stranded back in time in the body of a victorian woman. The adjustments she has to make to victorian sleuthing with her new group of friends and collegues are interesting. I've enjoyed all the books in the series and hope there will be more.

Death at a Highland Wedding is an absolute gem and, without a doubt, my favorite installment in the A Rip Through Timeseries so far! This book has everything I adore in a novel — time travel, a gripping detective mystery, swoon-worthy romance, and, of course, the allure of the Victorian era. Kelley Armstrong has truly outdone herself with this one, weaving together a thrilling narrative that leaves you both on the edge of your seat and yearning for more.

While this is book four in the series, you simply must read them in order to truly appreciate the full depth of the characters and their emotional journey. Thankfully, there’s a lovely recap at the start of this book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It reminded me of why I’m so invested in these characters. From the very first page, you’re drawn back into their world, and it’s impossible not to become emotionally entangled in their lives.
What really makes Death at a Highland Wedding stand out is the impeccable tension that Kelley Armstrong has so masterfully crafted throughout the series. Each book builds upon the last, and by this point, you can’t help but feel like you’re part of the family — you want these characters to find happiness, to solve the mystery, to get their happily-ever-afters. The stakes are high, and the emotional pull is real. Armstrong’s writing is so vivid that I could practically picture each scene as if I were right there beside the characters, living their adventure.

I wholeheartedly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, thrilling mysteries, and heartwarming romance. Kelley Armstrong’s storytelling will hook you from the very first page, and you’ll find yourself desperately waiting for the next book in the series. Trust me, you do not want to miss out on this incredible journey.

I have to admit that even though I was eager for a time-travel mystery, I wasn't sure how well it would turn out. Execution is critical and time travel novels are tricky. But this was handled very well and the story was great fun. The idea that modern day Mallory ends up in the body of housemaid Catriona Mitchel in the 1870s worked perfectly the way it was presented and solved many problems that could have risen with a sudden stranger transferring to her body.

Although this is the 4th book and I hadn't read any of the prior in this series, everything was explained well and I had no trouble at all jumping into the series at this point. The relationships are established and Mallory being from the future is already accepted, so in many ways I liked jumping in at this point.

I like Detective Mallory Atkinson who is smart enough to realize she has to meld into the norms of the time for women. She is a well thought out character in extraordinary circumstances. Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie have accepted she isn't housemaid Catriona Mitchel and that she knows about forensics, advanced policing techniques, and even more important, they appreciate her. She has found more of a family in the past than she ever imagined. I like both Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie. I liked the bride, McCredie's sister even more through the book.

I love the setting woven throughout the story as not only a lovely area but simultaneously an atmospheric one. Great job in having the place set the tone in several scenes.

The investigation is done in spite of the young and inept constable insisting they butt-out and stop attempting to direct where he should give attention or how to investigate. This tension becomes key. It is very hard for our trio to figure out who did it until they start to piece together the "why." Why would a popular and well regarded man be murdered?

The killer confrontation isn't suspenseful. It is realistic, though, and well done. I typically love the action and tension filled reveal, but I have to say this time it was emotionally intense. For once I preferred it this way because it was written so well. Kudos!

Overall it is an absorbing mystery and well written with excellent characters that transports you to another time and place. Highly recommended. I'm already getting the first in the series.

When I selected this book to read, it was because I liked the cover and the Author. I read Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers series when it came out and loved it. I did not realise this book would be the fourth book in the series. However, I still proceeded to read the book and was happy to see that you can read the book as a stand-alone and that there is a recap page of the previous books. The book had a nice pace and kept my attention, and I did not have it figured out who committed the crime until the end, and this does not happen very often for me. The relationship between the characters and their growth throughout the story is engaging and lifelike. I do hope to see Dr. Gray and Malroy get together; I think they are compatible. I'm happy that Isla and McCreadie were able to work through personal feelings and get together in the end. I'm excited to see where the next book will take the characters. I plan to pick up the other three books and get more of the story. I am very glad to have rediscovered this author. Thank you for allowing me to read an advance copy.

Gripping, interesting, chilling, shocking and hard to put down! I fell in love with the characters of Mallory Atkinson and Dr. Duncan Gray in the first book in the series, A Rip Through Time! I continue to adore them and the supporting characters in this book. If you have not read that book or this series, I highly recommend it. I find not only this book but the other books in the series to be captivating, wonderfully written, atmospheric, thrilling and mysterious.

A brief background on the characters - Mallory Atkinson was a detective in Vancouver in modern times but found herself being transported 150 years into the past to Victorian Scotland and into the body of Catriona Mitchel, a housemaid for Dr. Duncan Gray. Lucky for her she found herself being transported into Duncan's home as he is an undertaker and works closely with Detective Hugh McCreadie. She was able to confide in them and utilize her modern-day detective skills to assist them in solving crimes.

In Death at a Highland Wedding, sees Mallory/Catriona, Gray, and McCreadie traveling to the highlands for a wedding at the Cranston estate. The grounds are beautiful but immediately Mallory senses something isn't right when a cat found in a trap has injuries that do not match up with the trap. Something is afoot and the groom is acting in strange and odd fashion. When a dead body is found, the trio must work fast to kind the killer!

As with the other books, I loved the setting. I also loved the atmosphere that oozed from this book. The Scottish Highlands, the forest at night, the tension in the air, and the mystery surrounding the cat's injuries and the murdered guest, made for a gripping mystery. I also love the dynamic between the characters. Mallory continues to try to behave and fit in as a woman would in Victorian times. Plus, her interactions with Gray have me wanting to shove them together and say 'come on already' as their chemistry is off the charts!

I love Kelley Armstrong's writing and her use of place and time in this series. She nails the Victorian settings and feel of the book. I also love the dialogue and how Mallory can utilize her current detective skills with the skills of the investigators of that time. The mystery was intriguing and had me wondering whodunit the entire book. The final reveal was nicely done and well played out. While I enjoy the mysteries and crimes that are investigated in this series, it is the relationships and characters that keep me coming back. Kelley Armstrong has created characters that I care about and root for.

Riveting, chilling, atmospheric, gripping and hard to put down!

Oh, the flirty tones of this book. I loved it, characters on point, narration on point, and the murder mystery thrilling. Gray and Mallory just need to take it to the next level. I can understand why Gray does not see her fascination with him, but Mallory is supposedly good at reading people, so why is she oblivious to Gray's fascination.

Cannot wait for the next book.

#netgalley

Death at a Highland Wedding is the fourth book in the A Rip Through Time series by Kelley Armstrong. This book follows Duncan, Mallory, Isla, and Hugh as they travel to the Scottish Highlands for Hugh’s sister’s wedding, where they encounter a mystery that needs to be solved.

The story brings us once again together with Isla and Hugh and wondering if they will admit that they have feelings for one another and will they or won’t they finally give in to them and become the couple they were meant to be many years ago. Of course, Duncan and Mallory are in a similar situation, Mallory clearly has deep feelings for Duncan but does he see her in the same light? Mallory is smart and knows she should not want or ask for more, Duncan’s friendship is enough for her, but this reader is begging Duncan to draw Mallory into his arms and kiss her like he is madly in love with her.

We shall see

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the advance audiobook and reader copy of Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong and narrator Kate Hanford in exchange for an honest review. This book was so much fun to read. I started it as an ebook and when I got the audiobook, switched to it. I really enjoyed the narrator and found her accents and reading very pleasant to listen to. This book was like a modern Agatha Christie book, set in 1870 Highlands of Scotland. There was intrigue, romance, forensics and friendship in this book and I find myself anxiously waiting for the next one. There were new characters introduced, Hugh's sister, Fiona and his ex-fiancee, Violet. There were also childhood classmates of Hugh and Duncan, Archie and Ezra.
I really enjoyed how Armstrong gave us the first impressions of these new characters and then delved deeper and fleshed them out. It really felt like I was part of the group, getting to know the new people and how easy it is to jump to conclusions about people. I was suspicious of some at the beginning and then had to change my opinion as more was revealed.
This is what I love so much about Armstrong books. She drops you into the world and makes you part of it. She also has an uncanny ability to write any genre and it feels like that is her specialty, then you read a different genre by her and it's just as real and believable. Another great book by Kelley Armstrong, now I get to read a rom-com by her.

While this is a darker mystery than the previous ones, it does still retain the lighthearted and found family vibes from the previous books. The discussion of the differences between Victorian society and 'modern' society and how something have not changed continues to be a fascinating addition to the books as well as the slow burn between Mallory and Grey.

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.