Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Mallory Atkinson remains 150 years in the past in Scotland. This book takes Mallory, Duncan, Hugh and Isla to the country to attend Hugh's sister's wedding. One of the guests is found murdered and its up to the group to figure out the culprit.

Another solid addition to the Rip Through Time series. I love the juxtaposition of Mallory's old and new worlds.

As expected from Kelley Armstrong, Death at a Highland Wedding delivers compelling storytelling that doesn’t disappoint. The fourth installment in the “A Rip Through Time” series takes Mallory, Gray, Hugh, and Isla to the Scottish Highlands for a wedding—Hugh’s younger sister Fiona is marrying Alex Cranston, a wealthy gentleman a decade her senior in an arranged marriage.
This novel shines a spotlight on family dynamics, particularly Hugh’s strained relationship with his parents. Their disapproval of his decision to become a police detective, coupled with his broken engagement to Violet (his ex-fiancée from an arranged match), adds tension to the story. Matters grow more complicated with Violet’s presence at the wedding and the budding feelings between Hugh and Isla, as well as Mallory and Gray.
As the title suggests, a death disrupts the festivities. The first mystery arises with the poisoning of a mother wildcat, whose body was concealed in a bear trap to mask the manner of her death. This incident leads to a deeper investigation involving a hostile estate game warden, two local children caught trespassing, and a slew of wedding guests, including Ezra, a close friend of Gray and Hugh. When Ezra is found murdered, Fiona’s fiancé is arrested by Ross, the young and inept local constable, the stakes are raised, and the team must work quickly to uncover the truth.
Armstrong expertly weaves twists and turns into the narrative, building to a satisfying conclusion. Fans of the series will find this latest entry as captivating as ever. It is highly recommended that you start this series with book one to get the full effect.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

what a great book and that takes place in the highland. loved that there was a mystery to solve and that relationships changed for both isla and Mallory. love Duncan and Mallory and their relationship. loved that this takes place at a wedding. Friends aren't what they seem. This is such a good series and love reading about what happens with medicine in the past.

I devour just about everything that Kelley Armstrong writes. This is the fourth book in the A Rip Through Time series and it was great. I would say this is as good as the first!

I would recommend reading them from the start to completely understand the series and characters.

❤️ the change of scenery
❤️ the sarcasm from most of the characters
❤️ this book in the series was based on Hugh and his family and background
❤️ always love the history references in all of these books
❤️ the will they or won’t they (start from the beginning and you will understand)
❤️ the mystery and suspense that keeps you from putting the book down. I absolutely needed to know the entire story.
❤️ I loved the non traditional ending

I would call this a cozy mystery but it's not really. It's quite dark in some points. These books that mesh the modern world with the Victorian one keep me interested and I very much enjoy the main characters and how they've embraced their eccentric ways. This book provides more background on the Victorian characters, their histories and is hopefully setting up for more interesting tales back in Edinburgh.

When asked about the type of books that I enjoy, my standard answer is, "I read everything except time travel." So what made me start this series to begin with is truly a mystery, but I'm so happy I did. I love Kelley Armstrong's writing for one thing, but it goes further than that. This series is the perfect blend of likable characters, a fascinating historical setting, and fantastic mysteries. In the current installment, Mallory and Duncan investigate the death of a guest at a Scottish hunting lodge where they are all gathered to celebrate the wedding of Detective McCreadie's younger sister.

As I said before, the characters in this series are so charming and relatable. I love the developing relationships between Mallory and Duncan and Isla and Hugh. They are moving so slowly, and that works because it doesn't detract from the mysteries in these novels, but it does keep me hoping for more. Without spoiling anything, I can only say that I love the advancement of those relationships in this book. The side characters are also great. Alice is endearing, and I can't wait to see how her character arc further develops. I did miss the housekeeper and Jack in this one, but I'm sure they'll be back in future books.

I loved the addition of Fiona to the cast. I hope we get the chance to catch up with her in the future. The addition of the tension in McCreadie's family is also intriguing, and although by the end of this one, we know a bit about what caused it, I would still love to see more happen in this story line.

Finally, the mystery. I did not guess the ending of this one, and I was very surprised, but I thought it was perfect. Although this was a difficult one to read about, it was done with tact and not a lot of graphic content which I very much appreciated. We get enough details to understand what happened, but we are spared some of the horificness, (not a word, I know) of the crime that led to the guests death.

If you, like me, are not a fan of time travel, read this anyway. The time travel element is minimal yet crucial to the plot, but it's done really well, and in this case, I don't mind it at all. If you are a mystery fan, read this. You'll love the way that Mallory, a 21st century homicide detective, adapts to solving crimes in Victorian Scotland. If you like historical fiction, read this. You'll enjoy the vivid descriptions of Scottish life in the 1800's and appreciate the comparisons drawn between then and now. Okay, basically, if you like books at all, read this. You'll be glad you did.

This book was an absolute delight to read—well crafted plot, interesting and endearing characters, twisty mystery and Highland based action! I look forward to more featuring Mallory, Duncan and McCreadie.

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for this arc ebook. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the arc.

A Rip Through Time is fast becoming one of my favourite series so I was very excited to be able to read this one early and it did not disappoint!

In Death at a Highland Wedding Mallory and co head off to the Scottish Highlands for the wedding of McCreadie’s sister. We get to spend time with some much loved faces as well as meeting some new ones, and, of course, there is a new murder to investigate.

It has the witty banter, strong characters and intriguing mystery that I’ve come to expect from this series. As well as the slowest of slow burns that made me devour this book and immediately eager for the next.

If you loved the rest of the series then I would highly recommend checking out this one too!

Another absolutely wonderful book in a fantastic series. I have such fun with these books and, like the mothers and governesses in the story, I would be very happy to read a new Mallory and Dr. Grey adventure every year.
This particular adventure takes them out of the city, which is a wonderful change of pace for the series. The countryside setting changes up their methods of mystery solving, keeping things fresh and interesting for both the characters and the reader.
Like all great countryside mysteries things move a little slower and the suspect pool is smaller. So we were really able to focus on the limited characters and the interpersonal relationships between them. Which ended up being at the very heart of solving this mystery.
We also got to see the main characters we have grown to love make some real strides forward. Now that Mallory has officially decided to stay in the past she is able to really put down roots and grow even closer to her companions. Her “will they won’t they” dynamic with Dr. Grey really works for me. As a big fan of slow burn relationships, I loved every tiny step forward, stolen glance, and witty exchange they have in this book. I cannot wait to see what they get up to in the next one.
I truly recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of mysteries and cannot thank the publisher and Netgalley enough for letting me read it early. A true 10 out of 10.

So excited for this next installment of The Rip Through Time books! By far one of my favorite series.
Mallory and Duncan are back to solving mysteries even as they travel to a highland wedding with Isla and Hugh. Hugh’s sister is getting married, to the brother of Hugh’s ex-betrothed. Things are tense due to the family situation but as everyone settles in a body is found and they are sucked into their next murder investigation
I loved this 4th novel and am just patiently waiting for Duncan and Mallory to get together..

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.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, Kelley Armstrong, and NetGalley for this ARC!

Although this is the first book I read in the series, I was able to hit the ground running because of the very helpful recap in the beginning of the book. The pacing of the book was quick and the vibe reminded me of the TV show "Mr. Scarlet and the Duke". It was a fun read though the narrative style wasn't what I typically read. It read more like a conversational YA novel than lyrical prose. But I enjoyed the premise of the story, the fast pacing, and the time traveling element that gave a new twist to the mystery genre. Each chapter revealed just enough to keep me intrigued throughout the entire book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me access this book!

First, of all the books in this series, I think this was my favorite. The setting definitely played a part, but I also liked the new characters, the way Mallory took more of an active role in investigating and the respect people have afforded her as a result. I know the romance is not the main plot, but the way it’s been teased the entire series makes it feel more important than I think the author actually treats it. The extremely slow slow-burn that is at most a tertiary plot at this point was very aggravating in the previous book where it seemed like there would finally be a little bit of progress and then it went nowhere, which did continue in this installment, but was significantly less frustrating. I’m not sure if this was just because there were actual conversations about their relationship or if my having lower expectations was more helpful. Hopefully the next book will finally lead to them DTR-ing and maybe address the mystery of who Catriona really was?

We’re up to book #4 in Kelley Armstrong’s Rip Through Time series and Mallory Mitchell, inadvertent time traveler and 21st-century detective, is having a boatload of adventures. This includes a relationship with an attractive doctor/researcher/undertaker, Duncan Gray, who lives in Scotland in 1870. Together they research the murder providing the focus for each book

I’ve found several different mechanisms authors use for time travel. Sometimes, there’s a machine the main character boards. Other times a specific portal is necessary and usually the character doesn’t know where he or she will end up. And then there’s the Rip Through Time way: Mallory doesn’t know exactly how she traveled to the 19th century and has no idea what, if anything, will send her back to her own time. This adds to the interest for me.

I would definitely recommend reading the books in order. Several characters participate in most of the action and they all get to know one another better as the saga continues.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read “Death at a Highland Wedding.” This is my honest review.

I found the number of characters took a bit to get my head around and I sometimes get cranky about snotty wealthy types and how they treat others, but overall an enjoyable read. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was my first time diving into this series, and I couldn’t put it down! It took a moment to sort out all the key players, but once I did, I was hooked. Now I know I have to go back and read the previous books. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I received a complimentary copy of the book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I can never get enough of this series. This is the fourth book and once again, I couldn't put it down until I had finished it. Then I re-read it. For anyone new to the series, the author has an introduction giving information about the main characters and explains where they are going - to a wedding in the Scottish Highlands. I particularly enjoyed being introduced to the Scottish wildcat. I had never heard of the species.

Detective Hugh McCreadie's younger sister is being married, and Dr. Duncan Gray, his assistant Mallory, and Gray's sister are all going to the wedding. There is a serious conflict between Hugh and some of the other people present, including the family that his sister is marrying into. Hugh had once broken an engagement to a young woman who will be present at the wedding with her family - a family who holds a grudge against Hugh for the broken engagement. Archie Cranston is the groom and is much older than the young bride-to-be.

Duncan and Mallory manage to take several walks on their own which took some doing since they were supposed to be chaperoned. They discovered that someone has been setting traps for the wildcats. One of the wildcats that was caught was still alive, and was taken back to the house for treatment. But some of the traps were made for people, and were approved by the bridegroom. One man had his foot caught in one of the traps, but the next victim of the traps was killed. Was it accidental or intentional? There were a lot of surprises in this book, and most I didn't see coming. This includes a very nice surprise at the very end of the book.

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher St. Martin's Press, and voluntarily read and reviewed it. These are my own opinions.

Suspense? check. Time travel? check. Just enough historical details to keep me interested? check.

This is the first one of the Rip in Time series I read and I loved it enough to go back and read the others. Not because I felt I missed anything - the author did a very good job of dropping enough tidbits to keep the reader on track if they have not read the previous books.

Mallory Atkinson is a traveler out of time. Due to a strange rip in time, she finds herself transported back in time to Victorian Scotland and into the household of Duncan Gray, the local undertaker and unofficial forensic doctor. Being a detective in her own time, brings about a challenge as she wants to help with the investigations Gray is drawn into by his friend, Hugh McCreadie.

This story, unlike the others, takes place outside of their usual city pursuits. The group, including Gray's sister, Isla, find themselves traveling for the wedding of Hugh's younger sister. When the body of the best man is discovered wearing the groom's cloack, it brings to light the question, was someone trying to kill him or the groom?

While each book can easily stand on its own, I did decide to go back and read from the beginning which gave me a better understanding of Mallory. There are some touching moments between Mallory and Duncan; I love the slow burn. It's not instalove, but a closeness built on respect of each others knowledge.

I also like that there is still always the possibility that she will go back to her own time. It adds to the tension in the story.. Will they be able to stay together, will she have to go back at some point.

If you like historical suspense with a twist, I highly recommend.

This fourth book in the Rip Through Time novel series, takes our usual cast of characters into the Scottish Highlands in celebration of McCreadie's younger sister's wedding. The difficult relationship between the bride's and groom's families causes strain on the proceedings but somehow they'll work to get through it all as civilly as possible. That is until one of the guests turns up dead. Then it's all hands on deck to solve the murder so that the nuptials can proceed.

Author Kelley Armstrong does a spectacular job of sustaining tension within her mysteries, not the least of which is the sexual tension between Hugh and Mallory. But they work so perfectly well together feeding off each other's strengths. The writing is strong and the story - most engaging. The characters are well developed and the occasional humorous banter is absolutely delightful. The mise en scène is beautifully crafted and evokes the power and mystery of the Highlands. The mystery's resolution was a complete surprise. This was a fun tale and I eagerly await the next in series.

I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: ‎ Minotaur Books
Publication Date: May 20, 2025
Number of Pages: ‎336 pages
ISBN:‎ 978-1250321312

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
The 1st day of 2025 and I just read and finished my first book of this year!
This was my 1st Kelley Armstrong book and I liked it a lot.
It would probably have been better had I read the others in the series, but it was still enjoyable.
Great historical feel, good mystery and even a bit of romance ... what's not to like?
Highly recommended!