Death in a Scottish Castle by Lydia Travers Book Review

Publication Date: July 11, 2024
Publisher: Bookouture
Series: The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency #4
Format: Paperback, ebook and audio
Genre: Historical Mystery, Cosy

Book Description

When Maud McIntyre and her assistant Daisy travel to a remote Scottish castle, the last thing they expect to find is a locked room murder mystery. Can they prise open this case and catch a killer?

Scotland, 1912: When Maud and Daisy travel to Clachan Castle on the Isle of Mull to investigate the theft of a valuable statuette, at first the case seems straightforward. But when their prime suspect, bad-tempered fellow guest Mr Tremain, is found dead in his bed, the detective duo realise the castle is under attack…

At first, it appears the murder is impossible. All the doors and windows to the room were locked from the inside, and there was no way for the killer to escape. But then Maud and Daisy find a secret panel with the stolen statuette hidden behind it, and learn that the mysteries are linked!

When the local sergeant investigating the case is found dead, the crime suddenly seems to have more twists and turns than the castle’s sweeping staircases. And with the estate full of potential suspects, Maud and Daisy must work fast to uncover the murderer. Could it be the castle’s owner, Magnus Carmichael, avenging his stolen statuette? Or pretty Jane Tremain, disgruntled daughter of the deceased?

Facing their most difficult case yet, Maud and Daisy must find the key to solving the mystery. But with so many suspects, which one will finally unlock the truth?

An unputdownable historical whodunnit, perfect for fans of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey and Catherine Coles.

My Thoughts

The ladies from the M. McIntyre Detective Agency, once again venture into the Highlands. This time, at the invitation of Lord Hamish Urquhart, a guest at Clachan Castle, who has been accused of stealing a valuable statuette by his host and wants Maud and Daisy to find it and clear his name.

As in the previous novel, Maud and Daisy decide they should not advertise they are private investigators and so arrive at Clachan Castle as a crime novelist and her secretary. Of course, this subterfuge only lasts for a short time until they are forced to confess who they really are and find themselves at odds with the owner of the castle, Magnus Carmichael.

Thwarted in an tempt to search the rooms of Neil Tremain, the man Lord Hamish suspects has stolen the statuette, their investigation is further scuppered when Tremain is found dead in his room. Overnight, their search for a missing statuette turns into a murder enquiry, a puzzling one with all the classic hallmarks of a locked room mystery.

The young sergeant left in charge is not adverse to taking advice or sharing information with Maud and Daisy. When he is murdered, Daisy becomes the prime suspect and is side-lined from the investigation, leaving Maud no alternative but to accept Lord Hamish's help which, at times, Maud finds distracting. However, persistence is the key and when another crime, although a historic one, is uncovered, the pieces quickly fall into place.

It was disappointing to read that this is the last book of the series, especially now that Maud and Daisy's partnership is so successful and their agency is gaining a solid reputation. This was another excellent mystery and a great one to conclude the series with. Although I had a suspect in mind, I had to wait for Maud and Daisy's reveal, which once again was very cleverly deduced.

And finally, Lord Hamish Urquhart's profession is revealed, which would have made for some very interesting storylines. Perhaps there will be a spin-off series. I hope so.

Meet the Author

Lydia Travers was born in London. She moved progressively north until settling with her husband in a village on the edge of the Scottish Highlands. She has raised children, bred dogs and kept chickens; and for as long as she can remember has written for pleasure. A former legal academic and practitioner with a PhD in criminology, she now runs self-catering holiday accommodation, sings in a local choir and is walked daily by the family dog.

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.

Connect with Lydia:
Facebook : Twitter https://twitter.com/LindaTyler100

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Where to Purchase

Amazon

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