Just brilliant! Marcie is settled living the high life in London. She has a busy social life, a lovely flat and a gorgeous boyfriend - Simon. Her Scottish family home, Swanfield House has become not much more than an annual trip to catch up with her Granny and Uncle, and her 3 best friends from her teens. When her Granny's passing causes her one last visit to Swanfield, she never anticipate how events will unravel and how she will be left doubting her future. There's things that don't add up, mysterious strangers and unexpected deaths, add into that troubled friendships, and rekindled feelings for her 1st love.
This book took a different slant on the usual chick lit and was a great read.

Marcie(MFC) is relatable & likable. All the characters were well-developed & well written. It flowed well and kept me hooked throughout. The writing style was fantastic. I always learned a few new Scottish words I didn't know, so that's a plus.
This was a slow-burn about:
• Second chances
• Friendship
• Family
• Mystery
• A little suspense
• Betrayal
• Small village
• Revealed secrets

Final thoughts:
I'll be honest, I was not expecting this book to be what it was when I read the synopsis. It was absolutely marvelous, darling! 👏
I loved the "Murder, She Wrote" reference. It was nostalgic. Everything was tied up nicely in the end. I'm excited to see what's next for this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, & the author for this eARC. *All thoughts & opinions are my own.*

Set in a remote Highland village in Scotland, the main character, Marcella Mosse, returns to her ancestral home to reconnect with her family and friends. A generous synopsis appears on the back cover of the book.
The novel has many qualities, including excellent descriptive language, where the magnificent scenery and characters come alive! As the characters develop, they feel totally real.
With bite-sized chapters, the story canters along at a brisk pace, initially teasing the reader, with lots more questions than answers!
The author’s writing style is engaging from the outset, with huge attention to detail.
Eagerly anticipating Marcella’s future life choices/decisions, from an author who clearly, actually loves writing.

When Marcie Mosse learns that her beloved grandmother Lisanne is sick, she rushes from her home in London to her childhood home in Scotland. Her grandmother dies before Marcie arrives. Despite the circumstances, her visit to her ancestral home give Marcie the opportunity to reconnect with her childhood friends. Dina, Heather, Bella and Marcie were as close as friends could be. During a horseback ride along the loch, Marcie meets another schoolfriend Ruaridh Balfour, he still knows how to read her mind and make her heart beat faster. But he is now married to her friend Dina, has four sons and Marcie still has a life back in London, and a fiance.

Her uncle Callum was like a father to her when both her parents died when she was young. He greets her with the usual warmth he has always shown her but, as time passes, Callum becomes a shadow of his usual self and is fading before her eyes. Marcie is determined to follow her instincts and discover what is wrong. As the house of Swanfield begins to reveal its secrets and strange happenings and accidents occur in the village, Marcie suspects it has something to do with the mysterious farmhand Brodie. While others in the village see Brodie as an asset, Marcie finds herself offside with her friends and the village folk as she determines to solve the mystery.

I loved this story by Elayne Grimes and I believe it is the beginning of a series of stories set in Scotland. I do hope so because one book with this gorgeous background and characters is not enough! I highly recommend this book to other readers.

I loved this story. The characters were wonderful. I loved the descriptions of the Highlands with the trials and tribulations of those living there and the hardships they endured together with the friendships of the locals both family and friends, It was a fascinating read.

I really enjoyed the romance aspect of this story and how it worked in this story going on. The characters were everything that I wanted and enjoyed going on this journey with them. Elayne Grimes has a great writing style and enjoyed how good everything was.

This novel focuses on secrets, grief, traumas, accidents, mysteries, unsuspecting villains, past loves, friendships, financial concerns and an unexpected inheritance. Emotions run high throughout the plot that has many twists and turns as lawyer Marcie returns home to tend to personal affairs after her grandmother Lisanne has passed. It is a Scottish story with plenty of vivid descriptions of the Strathkin Loch area. This romantic setting is both daunting and exhilarating. The haunting atmosphere provides an excellent sense of mystery that envelopes the characters and enhances the events in their lives. The mountain backdrop is beautiful but as the residents know, and some visitors learn, you must respect its power and beware of its potential dangers.

Marcie lost both her parents when she was young due to a tragic accident. Her grandmother took her in and cared for her, along with Callum, her uncle, who shared wonderful moments in the natural setting they lived in. The descriptions of their times in special locations, are beautifully written, and I got the sense of peace and wonder of their surrounds and how it was a comfort to her after such a loss. Now grown up, engaged and a lawyer in the big city, she must make a journey back home to tie up loose ends.

By nature, Marcie is inquisitive and determined and does not let go of things when she gets something in her mind. This proves useful in the mystery deaths and other issues that arise as she puts her strengths to work to solve disturbing crimes. There are a variety of conflicts though in her personal life she must sort and going home uncovers many feelings but it also allows her to process and resolve the emotional connections to her past and confirm and finalise the right direction for her future.

Lisanne’s son, Callum, uncle to Marcie, is carrying some deep wounds, ghosts from the past that could be seen as ripples from PTSD. More than once he stared death in the face when he was a climber and member of the MRT. He also carries some shocking intense secrets that cause him to feel conflict and tear him apart. Added to this, his last days with his mother were strained. He wanted to resolve their issues and differences. But he could never find the words. He also becomes at odds with his niece when she tries to help him. Especially after he becomes involved with a new resident named Brodie who puts on the charm and seems to have wiggled his way into the townspeople’s lives and favour. But Marcie is not fooled and senses there is something ominous about him yet she cannot quite put her finger on it. Together with her friends, they race to solve the mystery of the stranger and strange events.

Author Elayne Grimes provides a satisfying ending for Secrets of the Swanfield House. A positive resolution is delivered that is both uplifting and encouraging as relationships are healed and restored. Even the once failing town gets a boost from the generous windfall and hearts are rewarded for their dedication and resilience. I found this an interesting novel filled with many twists and turns with lots of emotional drama to keep the pages turning. It is an atmospheric Scottish mystery that many will enjoy. 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for a review copy.

When Marcie returns home for her grandmother’s funeral, she quickly senses that things are off. Her once-warm uncle seems different, her grandmother’s will has been unexpectedly altered, and both her cousin Callum and a mysterious newcomer in town raise her suspicions. As Marcie digs into these mysteries, she starts questioning the recent sudden deaths among local residents. This story is a mix of friendship, betrayal, and community strength, showcasing how people come together to uncover hidden truths. I’m excited it’s the start of a series, as I enjoyed these characters and look forward to more adventures in this beautiful setting.

I really liked this book! A young woman returns to the Scottish Highlands to attend her grandmother's funeral , While there, she reconnects with her uncle and friends that she left behind to pursue a career far away. After her arrival, strange events begin, starting with her uncle's odd behavior and her learning that she is to inherit her grandmother's estate. What I thought was going to be a lovely story evolves into a mystery that kept me intrigued up to the last page. I can't wait to read more novels from this author.

A lovely story which had all that I enjoy in it, romance, mystery wonderful scenery and long lasting friendships. If this is a start of a series then I'm excited to read more about all these lovely characters. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

When Marcie returns home for her grandmother’s funeral, she finds that things are not all as they should be. Her formerly loving uncle has changed, and then she finds that her grandmother has changed her will. There are secrets behind Callum , and then the new guy in town also seems suspicious. Unraveling the secrets keeps Marcie busy, as she also starts to question why so several local people seemed to have died all of a sudden. This is a story about friendship, treachery, community and working together. I’m glad that it’s the start of a series, as I enjoyed these characters and would like to see what happens next in this glorious location. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm publishing for an opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. It seems it's going to be a series and I will definitely continue reading them. It's a quick read with likeable characters, although giving Marcie a fiance was completely pointless. The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is that I didn't feel as involved in the story as I would have liked as most of the real action takes place at the very end. From the description, I was expecting it to be suspenseful. It really wasn't. I recommend this, especially to fans of books set in Scotland.

This was a lovely tale with an interesting twist! Marcie, a lawyer, returns to Swanfield House and estate in Strathkin, Scotland following the death of her grandmother. When she meets with the attorney dealing with the will she's in for a bit of a surprise. Her uncle, Callum, who's been like a father to her since her parents died when she was small, suddenly becomes cold towards her and she can't figure out why. At the same time, Marcie feels like there's something wrong in Strathkin. Never underestimate your instincts. Plenty of secrets get revealed and the ending was not quite what I expected! Great characters, beautiful descriptions of the Scottish countryside and an intriguing mystery. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Elayne Grimes for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A young woman is summoned back from the city to her small village when her grandmother becomes ill and finds herself face to face with the man she once loved. Family drama and a good dose of romance made this a compelling read

Excellent story about a woman who returns home for her grandmother’s funeral and gets tangled up in more than she bargained for. The descriptive setting, realistic characters and friendships, and absorbing plot reminded me of the late Maeve Binchy’s novels. Highly recommend this one!

Thanks for the opportunity to read early!

A cozy read set in the wild scottish highlands the descriptions of the scenery is vivid and the characters believable, the everyday comings and goings at a gentle pace until its not.

This is a story with something for everyone; lovely scenery, interesting people, close friendships and murder.
Unlike other books of this style, here our main character, Marcie, who returns to her childhood home to attend
a funeral, is not abrasive or bossy, or too caught up in her abilities as a private investigator. Nothing like one,
but she is able to see and feel when things are not quite right. She might make an error, but in the end, everyone
realizes that sometimes people do not notice things because they just can’t. The message I took from the
story is that even in our times of enlightenment there are still situations that are difficult to come to terms
with and when people eventually realize that they are loved , things will right themselves.! I believe readers
will feel good about the book, and I enjoyed reading it.
My thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley,for the download of this book for review purposes.