Lord Barlas is in fear for his life. He calls upon Kitty and Matt Bryant to investigate, bringing them to his remote Scottish castle for Hogmanay. They cannot prevent his death but can they catch his killer…?
Murder at the Highland Castle is the 14th book in the Kitty Underhay series of cosy murder mysteries. There are no spoilers about previous cases.
Kitty and Matt are celebrating their first wedding anniversary when they get the unexpected request to travel to Scotland to prevent an injury or even death. When they arrive, they find a fearful lord and a houseful of guests (and therefore potential suspects). Sadly their presence and intial investigation isn’t enough to top the killer’s success.
There is plenty of build up to the murder which doesn’t occur until over a third of the way through the book. This leaves significant time to establish the variety of characters staying at the castle and provides some motives. The remote location narrows down the suspects but I was still kept guessing until the reveal at the end.
I love Kitty and Matt’s characters and am so pleased that their married life has not changed them. They respect each other’s vulnerabilities and work together well, a very modern couple for the 1930s. I liked the historical and geographical specifics that underpinned the plot to add authenticity.
Murder at the Highland Castle is an enjoyable addition to this series.
A majestic castle by a Scottish loch, a glass of whisky by a roaring fire, stockings hung by the chimney… and a body? It’s a midwinter murder for Kitty Underhay!
Winter, 1935. Lightly dusted with snow and nestled on the edge of a sweeping Scottish loch, Finnglach Castle looks positively magical. Kitty Underhay, her husband Matt and their beloved dog Bertie are delighted to be celebrating the new year with a Hogmanay party, but just after midnight, a shot rings out across the grounds…
Their host, Lord Barlas, is dead, murdered in the snow. The killer’s footprints have vanished and the gun is missing. With the snow-covered castle completely cut off, and a killer in their midst, Kitty and Matt need to work fast to find the culprit before someone else ends up dead.
As the weather worsens, the guests begin discussing dark Highland stories about evil spirits. But with an anxious daughter, a new wife set to inherit a fortune and a suspicious spiritual adviser, Kitty is sure the killer is close at hand. Can she, Matt and Bertie sniff out the treacherous culprit in time for haggis and whisky or will they find themselves skating on dangerously thin ice?
Don’t miss this incredibly charming cozy page-turner! If you love TE Kinsey, Agatha Christie or Lee Strauss, you’ll fall head over heels for this totally unputdownable historical mystery.
Author Bio
Helena Dixon splits her time between the Black Country and Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and housework. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010 as Nell Dixon. She now writes historical 1930’s set cozy crime.
