I spent last evening reviewing a book set in Ireland, Sarah Stewart Taylor’s A Stolen Child. I’m guest host for her for a virtual event tonight at The Poisoned Pen, so I wanted to refresh my memory since I actually read the book several months ago. Here are some links to watch the event, if you’re interested. You don’t have to be a member of Facebook to watch, or you can watch it later on YouTube. It’s on at 8 PM EDT tonight, 5 PM PDT.
www.facebook.com/thepoisonedpenbookstore/live
or if post event. https://www.facebook.com/thepoisonedpenbookstore/videos/
In the meantime, I know several of you liked Lucy Connelly’s An American in Scotland as much as I did. The next book in the series, Death at a Scottish Wedding, is scheduled for release Jan. 9. If you missed my review, maybe you want to check out Kevin Tipple’s. Thank you, Kevin.
An American In Scotland
Dr. Emilia McRoy has left it all behind to move to Sea Isle, Scotland. The small town and the countryside are beautiful and the local citizenry (for the most part), is thrilled to have her as they have been without a local doctor for quite some time. Moving here from Seattle, and an active ER full of violent trauma cases and other issues, to this quiet and peaceful place where the worst that might happen is some sort of fall or a newborn in distress is going to be a wonderful and very much needed change. At least, that was her plan.
She did not count on finding a body. She also did not realize she is the coroner as well.
That is her situation as, within hours of arriving, she has found the body of a local known to all as “Smithy.” The deceased apparently hated her family and very publicly threatened her just two hours ago. Now she has to deal with the annoying local constable, Laird Ewan Campbell, who is not quite treating her as a suspect, but that may chnage as rumors blaming her for his death have already begun to circulate among some of the locals. The good doctor and the local constable have not gotten off to a good start and she does not see any signs of that improving.
She also does not see what is coming as the threats increase and other folks become endangered. Much is going in An American in Scotland: A Scottish Isle Mystery by Lucy Connelly and the good doctor is in the middle of it.
This reader very much enjoyed this complicated and highly entertaining mystery. I’m not much of a cozy mystery reader, but this one worked really well in all aspects. The characters are complicated, the scenery and the weather is a character in to itself, and the story is one that moves forward at a steady pace with lots of twists and turns. There is also some humor and I found myself laughing out loud at points.
I would not have known about it at all except for Lesa Holstine’s recent review which convinced me to take a chance on it through my local library. Glad I did as the read happens to be one of my favorite books of the year so far.
My reading copy came by way of the Prairie Creek Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2023
Big time thank you, again, for letting me be a part of things here. I never would have read the book without getting interested via your review, Lesa.
You’re welcome, Kevin! I’m grateful for your reviews. And, I’m really glad you liked this book!
A small bit of addition– Emilia is also the coroner, which means investigating the crime is part of her job. By definition, a cozy must feature an amateur– and since she is a skilled medical professional, being paid for her investigation, this is more a traditional mystery than a cozy, despite the charming setting.
Thank you, Neil!
Neil’s definition in these days of publishing is a bit antiquated. These days the definition has been expanded quite a lot. Also how the publisher describes it.