Murder in the Scottish Highlands is the first book in the new Ally McKinley Mystery series by Dee MacDonald. This light-hearted mystery story features a recently retired Ally McKinley who has just opened a guesthouse in a charming old Scottish malthouse.
Title: Murder in the Scottish Highlands
Author: Dee MacDonald
Series: Ally McKinley #1
First Published: September 2, 2024
Publisher: Bookouture
Genres: Mystery
Acquired: from the publisher
*** Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, for inviting me on this book tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review purposes.
For recently retired Ally McKinley, the tiny village of Locharran is the perfect place to open the guesthouse of her dreams in a lovingly restored old Scottish malthouse. Before long she is making friends with the locals, including Hamish Sinclair, the earl who owns the nearby castle. But things take an unexpected turn when her first paying guest, American tourist Wilbur Carrington, is found sprawled across her cobblestoned courtyard with a dagger in his back.
With the police baffled, Ally’s instincts get the better of her, and she can’t resist launching her own investigation. In no time at all she and her Labrador puppy Flora are on the case, making enquiries over tea and excellent shortbread. She finds that Wilbur, a keen amateur genealogist, was convinced that he was the rightful Earl of Locharran… Even worse, he had plans that would put many people out of their jobs and even their homes.
But which of the locals resorted to murder? The hotel owner furiously trying to save his business? Locharran Castle’s fiercely loyal housekeeper who’d do anything for the earl? Or the earl himself, whose entire way of life was threatened by what Wilbur knew?
Looking for clues, Ally finds a faded photograph in a hidden drawer in Wilbur’s room. Could this be the key to solving the mystery? But when one of her suspects dies in a suspicious accident, Ally realises that things are getting a wee bit too close for comfort… Can she uncover the truth or will a killer get off scot-free?
A fun, light-hearted mystery
What a perfect introduction to retiree Ally McKinley and her new guesthouse! The Scottish Highlands setting is wonderful (although I’m biased since I want to go there myself someday) but it was also the characters that made this book so enjoyable.
Ally is a great main character and it was so easy to root for her and want her to do well – in both her guesthouse venture, but also to solve the murder that happens right on her property. You want her to succeed, and her interactions with most of the village residents is great to see.
The mystery moved along quite quickly and the pacing was even and the story never got boring. There were a few clues that were a bit blatent so I had a really good idea of who the killer was pretty early on but honestly, it didn’t ruin the story at all. The conclusion and reveal was really enjoyable and one of the best I’ve read in recent memory. Also, as I am CONSTANTLY yelling at the amateur sleuths on my television screen – COVER UP YOUR MURDER BOARDS! 😂
The policeman on the case is a bit… let’s just say “absent”? He’s not the usual surly, antagonistic cop (which I really don’t like), and while he’s not exactly helpful, he isn’t outright hostile, so I’ll give him a pass for now.
This is a fairly light-hearted mystery and is a great cozy read for a weekend. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Buy a copy of Murder in the Scottish Highlands here.
About the Author, Dee MacDonald
Aged 18, Dee arrived in London from Scotland and typed her way round the West End for a couple of years before joining BOAC (forerunner of British Airways) in Passenger Services for 2 years and then as a stewardess for 8 years.
She has worked in Market Research, Sales and at the Thames TV Studios when they had the franchise.
Dee has since relocated to Cornwall, where she spent 10 years running B&Bs, and only began writing when she was over 70!
Married twice, she has one son and two grandsons.
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Quote from Murder in the Scottish Highlands
