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
Easy To Fall In Love With Scotland. Harder To Survive The Fall.
Part of the Highland Mysteries series, which can be read in any order. Each case Joana and Brian take on stands on its own.
Joana has just about managed to unpack her kettle in her new Aberdeenshire cottage when DCI Fraser appears in need of a favour. Nothing straightforward, naturally. Someone is quietly murdering guests at Lord Montgomery's blue-blooded Highland matchmaking events, and Fraser wants Joana and Brian to ask awkward questions without upsetting the Scottish aristocracy. Or at least, not more than usual.
Brian insists on calling it the 'Toff Killer' case, a name Joana refuses to endorse, though he is insufferably pleased with it. The chase takes them through crumbling castles, affronted Highland cows, tartan-heavy soirées, and the most passive-aggressive tea rooms in the British Isles.
Joana and Brian bicker. They blunder. They occasionally border on brilliant. As the bodies pile up and the suspects become ever more blasé, their 'small favour' starts to look suspiciously like actual danger. Typical.
Respectable Murders is Book 4 in the Highland Mystery series, which can be read in any order. 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:
Welcome to book 4 of the Scottish Seaside mystery series! In the previous books, Joanna and Brian kept visiting Scotland for different reasons while working on her travel books. What she found there was the nature and people she had been wanting. So she's moved herself up to the top of Scotland, to a small village. Well she's missing Brian and the chaos that he brings, he soon becomes a frequent guest, which comes to no surprise. What she isn't expecting is for DCI Fraser to come knocking at her door and asking for her help. Can it be that he's finally realized she gets more information from people than he does? It appear so ! Even Brian who hates to be involved in cases admits that he's bored and agrees to help out. As they keep talking to people they soon realize that this is more than a case of simple vandalism and there's a lot more at stake. This series is the perfect Light reading you need! Seriously it's full of humor, honest friendship, and the lure of Scotland, that keeps you reading to see what the dynamic duo is up to now. Can't wait to see what happens next in book 5!
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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