This has been one of my favorite cozy series the past few years. I still really like it, but this one doesn't feel as strong to me as the previous books. I still love the main characters, but somehow the mystery itself and the fabulous Scottish setting seem to have lost ground to the forthcoming romance between Dr. Em and Ewan. Definitely worth a read, still! But I'm crossing my fingers that I love the next book more than this one.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 4th installment in the Scottish Isle mystery series. Dr. Emilia (Em) McRoy came to Sea Isle Scotland about one year ago from Seattle to become the towns doctor and coroner. Em has developed a close knit group of friends and in support of Mara who has been working on establishing a story telling train ride from Sea Isle to Edinburgh. On the first trip, one of the story tellers is not on the train and when they return to Sea Isle he is found dead in the train station under suspicious circumstances. Em begins her investigation with Ewan the constable and Mayor. There is definitely chemistry between those two and Ewan has allowed Em to be more involved in the investigation. The victim was an accountant and financial advisor and it is learned he had many enemies based on his handling of their money. Em once again continues to delve into the mystery of his death and ultimately finds the culprit. This story and series is so entertaining as Em has really found a home in Sea Isle and hopefully her relationship with Ewan will continue to develop. I really love the supporting cast of Abigal, Mara, Jasper, Angie and the entire town. The next installment cannot come soon enough. Love this series and highly recommend.

I will not be posting this review to other sites. This book needs a rewrite and heavy editing— so much more than most galley copies that I found it hard to continue reading. The title is misleading: from the beginning it’s clear that the murder is not on a Scottish Train. The first three chapters are choppy, with repeated and out of sequence sentences and paragraphs..The characters and setting are generally enjoyable and the premise is interesting, though the murderer was obvious. Another concern is that no respectable doctor would use OCD as a shorthand adjective for someone who is neat, detail oriented, tidy, fastidious, etc. OCD is a specific medical diagnosis. If OCD is kept in the text the way it is now, it reduces the respect for and credibility of the main character.. Despite its good points I can’t recommend this book unless it gets a major rewrite before publishing.

In this 4th book in the series, Emilia is celebrating a year in Sea Isle, Scotland. A new Storyteller's Train begins its inaugural run only to reveal the murder of one of its storytellers. Of course, Em is on the case, with her best buds and the handsome constable Ewan McGregor. I love these stories and the people who fill them, as well as the unique and charming Scottish town in which they are set. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC.

Murder on a Scottish Train by Lucy Connelly

Murder on a Scottish Train is the newest book in the Scottish Isle mystery series by Lucy Connelly. I love this series and I love Ms. Connelly’s writing! This series has everything I enjoy in a cozy mystery - a small town UK setting, quirky characters, a good mystery and a little bit of romance (although I would enjoy just a little bit more of that for our main character!). The mystery was well written and I enjoyed the story as the characters worked to figure out what happened. I was surprised by the killer and can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book. All opinions are my own.

I enjoy this cozy mystery series centered on an American doctor living in small-town Scotland, and this newest entry is no exception. This book, like the rest of the series, has strong characters, a lovely setting, and good plots. In this one, Emilia and local police chief and mayor Ewan end up investigating the murder of a local accountant who appeared to have been involved in some shady financial dealings. An unusual cause of death and multiple potential motives make for an enjoyable mystery, while the relationships among the characters add some warmth and humor. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own and offered voluntarily.

Murder on a Scottish Train, the fourth in Lucy Connelly's Scottish Isle Mysteries, is a pleasant cozy mystery with a straightforward plot and not too many twists or surprises. Dr. Emilia, who moved to this small Scottish town after leaving her hospital ER lead physician role in Seattle and a previous abusive relationship, is loving her newfound community and friends, and it is easy to understand why she finds her current situation both refreshing and stimulating. The author makes Sea Isle sound like a wonderful place to live, and the fact that Emilia's working and living spaces are in an charming old church is an added benefit.

As Emilia is also the town's first coroner, she finds herself involved in murder investigations, along with Ewan, the local constable and town mayor. There is clearly a spark between the two, although at first they were frequently at odds, but after four books their relationship has barely advanced. Emilia also gets herself into perilous situations by largely ignoring Ewan's warnings, but any resulting mayhem is underplayed and not graphic. This book focuses on the death of a local businessman who has angered many of his clients and who disappears just before he is scheduled to be a storyteller on the town's new Storyteller's Train. My favorites in this series are the first and third entries.

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Can you believe it's been a year since Dr. Emilia Ray moved to Sea Isle, Scotland? Dr. Emilia (Em), Constable Ewan and the rest of her newly found family of friends in Sea Isle, Scotland once again encounter a dead body. This time it is at the newly remodeled station for the newly refurbished story train. Em's dear friend, Mara is one of the organizers so most of the gang is there to celebrate the return of the train to town. When one of the storytellers, does not show up for his assigned times, Mara and Em go looking for him. They eventually find him stuffed in a closet in the station. Along with investigating this death, it is also the Summer Festival in Sea Isle, so there are numerous events and activities for everyone to participate in. As in small towns everywhere, entire communities not only help with these events, they also find time to share the local gossip surrounding the latest murder in town. Everyone has questions and theories and many of them seem to be suspects at one point or another. As one after another is alibied out and new clues appear, people start to get hurt. The who done it, how and why take their time becoming clear, but it all makes sense in the end and it was a rollicking good time getting to that end!
I always find myself wanting to return to Sea Isle almost as soon as I finish one of the books. I would like to have had more of Angie in this one. She always adds to the hijinks Emilia gets herself into, but Mara and Jasper did an admirable job of egging her on. They are also more blatant in their encouragement of the budding relationship between Ewan and Em. Since both have been hurt in the past, the slow burn seems right, but the romance is finally making a bit of progress. I find myself rooting for Tommy more in each book. I was so happy he stretched his singing chops this time. I admire Abigail for her dedication and selflessness when it comes to her brother. Dr. Emilia Roy, Mara's grandparents, Jasper, Ewan and his team, especially Henry, Lulu, now add Ewan's parents and you have exactly the kind of people I want to be surrounded by. For me, a visit to Sea Isle is a time to be cherished
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this advance reader copy and provide my honest review.

This was a fast paced entertaining read. The mystery was engaging enough that it kept me turning the pages. I didn’t connect much with the characters and I wish they were fleshed out a bit more for me to care about what was happening but I enjoyed the book nonetheless! Perfect for anyone who needs a quick enaging read or as a palate cleanser