Publisher: Bookouture
Series: The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency #1
Format: Paperback, ebook and audio
Genre: Historical Mystery, Cosy
Synopsis
When Maud McIntyre sets up her own private detective agency, she never imagines her first case will involve murder… A mystery in the Highlands? The Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency is on the case!
Edinburgh, 1911: When Maud McIntyre and her lady’s maid, Daisy, form a detective agency, they never dream their first case will take place at a glamorous house in the Scottish Highlands. But when the Duchess of Duddingston, concerned that a notorious jewellery thief will target her lavish weekend party, employs Maud to go undercover as a guest to find the culprit, the agency has its first case to solve…
Undercover with Daisy as her maid, Maud follows a trail of clues across the Duddingston House estate. And as she meets the weekend guests, she hopes one of them will reveal themselves as the jewellery thief. But when one of the house guests is discovered dead, Maud and Daisy realise they’re not only hunting precious gems, but a murderer…
As Maud and Daisy investigate, they realise that a connection in Edinburgh might hold a vital clue that will help them solve the case. Travelling back to the city, Maud hopes that what she and Daisy uncover will help them piece together the mystery.
But when Maud receives a telephone call from the Duchess requesting urgent assistance, she realises that the murderer didn’t have just one victim in mind. Speeding down the drive to Duddingston House, Maud and Daisy hear gunshots ring out across the estate. Will they reach the Duchess in time to save her? And might they catch the murderer in the act?
A warm page-turning historical whodunnit, perfect for fans of the mysteries of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey and Catherine Coles.
My Thoughts
Maud McIntyre and Daisy Cameron, Maud's former lady's maid, set up a detective agency based on one successful, unofficial case and Maud's love of mystery novels. We first meet this enterprising duo when they have just opened their office and are awaiting their first client. Unfortunately, the man who comes through the door is expecting to meet a Mr McIntyre and when Maud reveals she is the M. McIntyre on the door, he is not prepared to hire two young women and leaves. However, Maud and Daisy are not disappointed for long as the Countess of Duddingston invites them to her week-end party at her estate in the Scottish highlands to prevent a jewel theft. Our two detectives go undercover, reprising their former roles as mistress and lady's maid, but their fledgling sleuthing skills are tested when the hunt for a jewellery thief turns into one for a murderer.
Not entirely happy with the outcome of their first case, the pair return to Edinburgh and three new cases involving stolen letters, a missing bride and a lost dog. Elaborate schemes are devised involving disguises and even a little law breaking before they discover the connection between all their cases and return to the Countess of Duddingston's estate to confront a killer.
A new historical cosy mystery series always piques my interest and I found this novel an engaging introduction to this series. I did have one niggle regarding the investigation at the Countess of Duddingston's estate. It seemed drawn out, but we do get to meet some interesting characters, one of whom Maud has met before and could blow their cover before they even begin. However, the pace did pick up and dashed on to a very satisfactory ending.
The next in the series is Murder in the Scottish Hills and I'm looking forward to Maud and Daisy's next case.
Meet the Author
Lydia also writes as Linda Tyler and her first novel under that name, Revenge of the Spanish Princess, won a 2018 Romance Writers of America competition for the beginning of an historical romance. Her second novel The Laird's Secret was Commended in the 2021 Scottish Association of Writers' Pitlochry Quaich competition for the beginning of a romantic novel. Mischief in Midlothian won the 2022 Scottish Association of Writers' Constable Silver Stag trophy. She has had a number of short stories published in magazines, journals and anthologies in the UK, the USA and Australia.
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Where to Purchase
Amazon
Audio: UK : US
Listen to a sample here.
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