Murder at a Scottish Wedding (A Scottish Shire Mystery)
USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall returns with the fourth novel in her Scottish Shire cozy mystery series set in a charming seaside town in Scotland and featuring busy single mom Paislee Shaw, owner of a specialty sweater shop, knitting enthusiast, and reluctant sleuth who must untangle another murderous yarn!
As her friend’s matron of honor, Paislee Shaw vows to solve the mystery of a missing brooch and a dying wedding guest . . . Paislee’s specialty sweater shop and yarn business Cashmere Crush, in the charming Scottish village of Nairn, is closed today for a special occasion. Her bonnie bestie Lydia is moments away from walking down the aisle of the church at Old Nairn Kirk to wed Corbin Smythe. Gramps and Paislee’s eleven-year-old son Brody are seated in the pews with the other guests—the only family not in attendance is their black Scottish terrier Wallace. As matron of honor, Paislee is at her friend’s side when Lydia lets out a frantic cry. The Luckenbooth brooch her betrothed gave her is missing. A traditional Scottish love token, the gold heirloom has been in his family for generations and not wearing it could bring bad luck—according to the superstitious Smythes. But the real misfortune falls on a distraught cousin who suddenly disrupts the ceremony and dies with the brooch in her hand. The Smythes insist it’s the curse. But Paislee must broach the subject of…murder. And was the intended victim the guest—or the bride? Only Paislee can determine who to pin the murder on . . .
As her friend’s matron of honor, Paislee Shaw vows to solve the mystery of a missing brooch and a dying wedding guest . . . Paislee’s specialty sweater shop and yarn business Cashmere Crush, in the charming Scottish village of Nairn, is closed today for a special occasion. Her bonnie bestie Lydia is moments away from walking down the aisle of the church at Old Nairn Kirk to wed Corbin Smythe. Gramps and Paislee’s eleven-year-old son Brody are seated in the pews with the other guests—the only family not in attendance is their black Scottish terrier Wallace. As matron of honor, Paislee is at her friend’s side when Lydia lets out a frantic cry. The Luckenbooth brooch her betrothed gave her is missing. A traditional Scottish love token, the gold heirloom has been in his family for generations and not wearing it could bring bad luck—according to the superstitious Smythes. But the real misfortune falls on a distraught cousin who suddenly disrupts the ceremony and dies with the brooch in her hand. The Smythes insist it’s the curse. But Paislee must broach the subject of…murder. And was the intended victim the guest—or the bride? Only Paislee can determine who to pin the murder on . . .
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Community Reviews
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
Murder at a Scottish Wedding was everything I loved about cozy mysteries. It takes a woman, a single mother, and owner of a sweater shop, into the detective shop to solve a murder that threatens to derail her best friend’s wedding.
Great Voice
One of the best things about this novel was the characters’ voice. I hate when I read a book about Irish or Scottish characters, and they sound so very British. It reminds me that it is a work of fiction because it doesn’t sound genuine.
Hall was able to make each and every character sound Scottish.
Murder at a Scottish Wedding had a very authentic feel, which made me invested in the characterization and the story. I felt I was transported to the Scottish Highlands and immersed in the culture there.
Admittedly, I was confused by some of the phrases. Still, Hall provides context clues that help sell the realism and authenticity of the novel. It made me love the story all that much more.
Story Development
Murder at a Scottish Wedding was also incredibly well-written. Dialogue aside, the story flowed, and the development of the mystery worked.
Paislee Shaw is a wonderful character. I love that she is a single mother and knows nothing about detective work. However, she is headstrong, resourceful, clever, and observant. Paislee knows the right questions to ask and doesn’t try to delude herself into thinking she is a detective. No, she’s doing this to help her friend whose future in-laws are so superstitious they believe this death means their union is cursed.
So Paislee is determined to say the “accident” was actually a murder.
The way the investigation unfolds and all the pieces slowly come together works. Most importantly, it is not predictable. The murder was not even on my radar of suspects, which is one of the things I love about mystery. I don’t want to solve the murder so quickly, and Hall makes the story engaging and mysterious from beginning to end.
Final Thoughts
I am forever thankful that Traci Hall gifted me Murder at a Scottish Wedding to read and review. This was an excellent, cozy mystery and one I will always recommend.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
Traci Hall delivers a fun, clever, cozy mystery following superstition and a mysterious murder.
Murder at a Scottish Wedding was everything I loved about cozy mysteries. It takes a woman, a single mother, and owner of a sweater shop, into the detective shop to solve a murder that threatens to derail her best friend’s wedding.
Great Voice
One of the best things about this novel was the characters’ voice. I hate when I read a book about Irish or Scottish characters, and they sound so very British. It reminds me that it is a work of fiction because it doesn’t sound genuine.
Hall was able to make each and every character sound Scottish.
Murder at a Scottish Wedding had a very authentic feel, which made me invested in the characterization and the story. I felt I was transported to the Scottish Highlands and immersed in the culture there.
Admittedly, I was confused by some of the phrases. Still, Hall provides context clues that help sell the realism and authenticity of the novel. It made me love the story all that much more.
Story Development
Murder at a Scottish Wedding was also incredibly well-written. Dialogue aside, the story flowed, and the development of the mystery worked.
Paislee Shaw is a wonderful character. I love that she is a single mother and knows nothing about detective work. However, she is headstrong, resourceful, clever, and observant. Paislee knows the right questions to ask and doesn’t try to delude herself into thinking she is a detective. No, she’s doing this to help her friend whose future in-laws are so superstitious they believe this death means their union is cursed.
So Paislee is determined to say the “accident” was actually a murder.
The way the investigation unfolds and all the pieces slowly come together works. Most importantly, it is not predictable. The murder was not even on my radar of suspects, which is one of the things I love about mystery. I don’t want to solve the murder so quickly, and Hall makes the story engaging and mysterious from beginning to end.
Final Thoughts
I am forever thankful that Traci Hall gifted me Murder at a Scottish Wedding to read and review. This was an excellent, cozy mystery and one I will always recommend.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
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