Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Death at a Scottish Wedding - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Death at a Scottish Wedding (A Scottish Isle Mystery #2) by Lucy Connelly

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Something old, something new, something borrowed and someone’s blue…

Finally feeling like Sea Isle, Scotland is becoming her new home, American doctor Emilia McRoy is delighted when she is invited to a wedding at Morrigan's Castle. Her friends have warned her that it's a three-day party and it's bound to get wild, not to mention the impending snowstorm. Constable Ewan Campbell, owner of the castle, ensures their safety with the blizzard. What he didn’t ensure, is that all of his guests would survive the night alive. When Emilia explores the impressive castle, she finds a dead man in one of the turrets.

The snowstorm hits and the local police can’t reach the castle until it lets up. With no one able to leave, the family insists they carry on with the wedding, which makes Emilia's job as the coroner a bit easier—the suspects are in one place­––and complicated because the killer has Emilia in his sights. The fact no one claims to know the victim isn't helping. Why would someone no one knows be murdered at a castle in the middle of nowhere?

It’s up to Emilia to uncover the mystery who the victim is, so the killer doesn’t get away Scot free.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:   I really loved the first book in the series and couldn't wait to pick this one up.

My Impression: This may be the most locked room cozy mystery I've read in a long time between the castle brimming with security, the blizzard, and the avalanche.  The setting is a Scottish castle in a blizzard so big points for that as well.

Emilia's job was just to get through her friend Angie's wedding, survive the drunken antics, and maybe help ease a few hangovers along the way.  Unfortunately, this goes off the rails when movement in a castle tower catches her eye and leads to the discovery of a dead body followed by miscellaneous bad behavior afterwards.

Most of the wedding party and the groom's family is the worst but I loved the groom and the "steps".  Em is an interesting lead with her official status as doctor/coroner and her love of British mysteries - especially Vera Stanhope.  The fond references have put both the show and the series firmly on my to watch/to read lists.  

The investigation is well done and I like how Ewan and Em combine forces.  I really had no idea who the bad guy was until shortly before everything came together.  My only minor issue is that Em can be a bit repetitive with her talk of how wonderful her friends are and how she and Ewan seem to be constantly annoying each other.  After about halfway through I was wishing she would shush about it but again this was very minor.  

If you're looking for an interesting cozy series with a great setting this is a fantastic series!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Definitely!  I have really enjoyed both books in this series so far.

Would I Recommend this Book?   If you like cozies I think you would really enjoy this one though do be aware that it has a slightly grittier note than I usually expect in cozies.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

5 comments:

  1. I love a snowstorm mystery. Sounds good!

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  2. I have never been in a snowstorm. Not surprising considering where I live, but I do love books set in the middle of one. I don't mind slightly grittier cozies. I will definitely be checking this one out. I am glad you liked it!

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  3. I'll have to check out this series. Snowstorms in mysteries can be so much fun.

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  4. I have been eyeing this series since the first one came out. It sounds good, and I love the Scottish setting. Thank you for the recommendation!

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