Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook, free of charge, from the author, as part of her review team, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it. All opinions are my own
Scotland's Coastal Villages Look Picture-Perfect. Looks Can Kill.
Synopsis:
Footdee is all painted fences, eccentric locals, and gardens crammed with cheerful ceramic Highland coos. When DCI Fraser sends Joana and Brian to investigate a spate of smashed figurines, neither is thrilled. Kitsch vandalism. But then the broken coos start connecting to bodies across the North East of Scotland. And a crime against neighbourhood knick-knacks turns out to be something far deadlier.
Joana, naturally, thinks she has it solved already, and marches off to interrogate a beautician, a care home manager, and a group of models trying to survive on a freezing Scottish beach in bikinis. She’d never admit it, but she’s lost without Brian, her best mate from London. His signature chaos, from purple face masks to waterlogged lobbies, has a strange way of uncovering the truth.
A Highland Mystery, Book 5, but easily read as a standalone. As much comedy as cosy crime, with a sleuthing pair who don't take themselves too seriously. Their friendship has outlasted most marriages, possibly because they can never agree on anything, though they're firmly on the same side when it matters. A proper whodunit with a fast, page-turning plot and the kind of dry British humour that can bite. And, as, ever, Scotland steals the show.
Review:
This is book 5 (of 7) and Joana has settled into her new life in Scotland, only... she's bored! With no travel assignments, all all her previous assignments finished, everything unpacked, she's got nothing to do! So off to the local police to see what her favorite detectives are doing, only to be handed a 'nuisance' case to look into while they deal with 2 suspicious deaths. So she calls Brian, who is equally askance, with his app design in a standstill, so he's thrilled to come north for a little diversion. Only when this duo gets together, death happens, LOL. As they try to figure out why the figurines are being smashed they come upon a possible reason, wholly by accident. DCI Fraser is happy the case is keeping her occupied, but when the Footdee case links into his suspicious deaths, he's not happy anymore, because now Joana may beat him to the solving of the case! As Joana and Brian figure out who may be behind the deaths, now at 3, they don't realize the danger they are putting themselves in. With a solid mystery at hand, this cozy will be a rapid read to see what is really going on in the small village. A fun read, even those new to the series will be rapidly turning pages on this one!
About the Author:
I live on the coast of the North Sea in North East Scotland. My stories are of course fiction, but they draw heavily on my real experiences in the Scottish hills. Thankfully, there aren’t nearly as many dead bodies in real life, though many of my quirkier characters are inspired by the wonderful people I’ve met.
In my previous life, I worked as a journalist and travelled the world. These days, you’re more likely to find me in my garden with a pen and paper than on a plane. When I head out into the Highlands, I usually bring a thermos of green tea and something vegan that is easy to pack for a picnic (I love eating!).
I’ve chosen the Highland Coo as the symbol for The Highland Mysteries because, to me, there isn’t a more magnificent animal in the world. They are wild, beautiful, and never really tamed. Just like Scotland itself.
While my books are full of secrets and the occasional corpse, I promise to skip the grisly details. My goal is to give you an escape: a clever twist, a bit of amusement, and a chance to laugh before you return to reality.
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