Thank you very much for allowing me to read this title; as a Carnegie/Greenaway judge, I'm not allowed to comment about my opinions on specific titles (even ones published as adult titles) so I can't offer an individual review on any title as I stated on my profile.
Netgalley now requires a star rating so I am giving all titles 5 stars so as not to disadvantage any title but this does not imply any recommendation of the book above any other.

Thanks Hodder & Stoughton and netgalley for this ARC.

Even if you are new to this series, you will enjoy it just as much as veteran readers. I love the humor, teamwork, and atmospheric mood of this mystery.

There are two current crime series that I love beyond reason; Dandy Gilver is the historical one. (The contemporary choice is Elly Griffiths and her Ruth Galloway books). Dandy is a posh lady sleuth living on an estate in Scotland with her husband and sons. She has a detective partnership with a young man called Alec. They wander round Scotland solving cases, usually in another posh house or estate; but they are far from being as twee or as cozy as that makes them sound. McPherson’s characters dance off the page, they are real and funny and very much of their time: the big difference between this series and so many others is that she does NOT give her characters modern-day attitudes to make them more likeable. So few authors of historicals can resist the temptation: all those sleuths who are feminist, pro-gay, and very understanding about mental health issues. Pure fantasyland. Dandy is very individual, and very likeable indeed, but she doesn’t go about telling us how understanding she is about 21st centuy issues, and that alone would make her very unusual.

But also – the books are beautifully plotted, with proper clues spread around, there are always wonderful social setpieces, and of course wonderful clothes. They are also very very funny, and the characters grow and get more appealing through the series. The maid Grant is a scene-stealer of a high order (reflecting her theatrical background perhaps) and if this were a TV series she would have her own spin-off show by now. Which brings me to the complete mystery of why these books haven’t yet been made into films or TV shows – they would be wonderful, surely someone is considering them?

This one is particularly visual: Dandy, Alec and Grant are helping old friends who live in a ramshackle Scottish castle. There is an old mystery to be solved, a valuable necklace to be found and – oh bliss – a performance of Macbeth to bring in the paying tourists. NOTHING could be better suited to showing off the talents of Dandy, of Grant, and of author Catriona. The residents, the actors and the paying guests divide into two camps: those who are longing for ever-bigger roles in the play, and those who are running a mile. Alec and Grant cannot be prised away from the actors, and Grant is making costumes as fast as she can – this generosity somewhat diluted by the fact that she is getting the best clothes and ever bigger and more parts.

On top of all this, there is jewellery detection: the indispensable Grant can date a piece of jewellery because the design is copied from a more famous piece, and the necklace pre-dated the double safety clasp. Other items cannot have belonged to the bride who died young: ‘these rings were worn for years. Look at them.’

And just two more clothes items:


Her gown was of bottle-greenvelvet with a deep froth of creamy lace at the shoulders.
Lady Annandale was coolly dressed in angora the same shade as her corridor walls.
Plenty more Dandy entries on the blog. And McPherson also writes standalones, several of which have featured here.

Hamlet, Revenge! by Michael Innes – on the blog earlier this year – featured another Shakespeare performance in a stately home.

Variety of 1930s fashions from NYPL, Kristine’s photostream, and the athenaeum website.

The second picture is The Right Honourable Mabell Ogilvy, Dowager Countess of Airlie, by Philip Alexius de Laszlo – she was a key figure of the 30s, the kind of person mentioned by the Mitfords.

The third one down is a rather splendid 19th century Lady Macbeth by Thomas Francis Dicksee.

The green dress is by Boris Grigoriev.

As usual I’ve done my normal trick of picking up a book far along in a series! This is book twelve in McPherson’s cosy crime series about an aristocratic private detective in the 1930s. If you are a fan of traditional Agatha Christie mysteries or P.G.Wodehouse I think that you’ll really enjoy this humorous and lively mystery story.
Dandy Gilver and her detective partner Alec Osborne arrive at a friend’s castle in Scotland. The impending issues of death duties and their effect on the estate has necessitated a search for a long lost family jewel. As Dandy and Alec begin the search for the ill-fated and cursed ruby a band of actors arrive at the castle to begin a season of Shakespeare that will hopefully raise some more money for the family.
As the rehearsals proceed for the equally cursed Scottish play – he who shall not be named! – Dandy soon discovers that there are much worse deeds taking place behind the scenes than there are on the stage.
The story does take a little while to get going. The opening sets the scene for the social setting and explains a bit more about the mores of the day. It is interesting in that it is set in a Downton-esque period of flux where staff in great houses are dwindling and women are becoming more independent in their own right.
You don’t need to have read the rest of the series to enjoy this book although I will be adding them to my very long reading list to go back to. Its a fun and comfortable read with interesting characters and an astute leading lady.
Supplied by Net Galley and Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for an honest review.

An effective 'cosy' with unlikely elements but amusing characters. The plot is very complex, and we can see it coming pretty early on ... an old friend is down on her luck and asks Dandy and her sleuth partner, widower Alex, to help protect the jewels in their stately home when they invite a troupe of actors to entertain as a ploy to sell tickets. Seediness and complex psychological dodges to protect the reputation of a patriarch who abandoned them all ... it was not entirely credible for me but I found the characterisations really authentic and sorted out very wel. Entertaining and it may well be that the others in the series are more plausible in some ways than this one. But I'd recommend.

This pays some homage to the golden age of crime, set in the world of impoverished 1930s aristocrats facing change as it gets more difficult to raise the finances to afford their estates and castles, in the face of mounting debt and death duties. It is set in Scotland, and detective Dandy Gilver and her partner Alec Osborne arrive at the thirteenth century Brewer Castle, the home of Minnie and Bluey, and Ottoline. They are there to get to the bottom of a missing necklace of rubies, assumed to be with Ottoline's estranged husband, Richard, who deserted the family to go abroad. It is thought he is dead, but there is a question mark over where the necklace could be. The necklace is a symbol of a feud between the Brewers and the Annandales at Mespring. It is cursed and rumours abound in its role in the gory death of a Brewer bride after Anne Annandale was jilted.

It turns out Dandy's mission is more complicated, her and Alec are to provide security for a group of actors putting on the cursed Scottish Play at the Castle to raise revenue and the American tourists staying there. The scene is set for mayhem and laughs, with ghosts, misunderstandings, and the clash of tradition vs the need for change. The Brewers are expecting to lose their home and they have worries about the elderly Ottoline being moved to reside elsewhere. Cordelia Grant, Dandy's lady's maid, is over the moon about being involved in the stage production and having minor acting roles. Turbulent circumstances mean that Alec and even the grimly resistant Dandy are roped in. In a tale of family secrets and lies, the detectives dig deep to expose the truth.

It took me quite a while to settle into this book and it was halfway before I got fully engaged with the story. It can seem as if the plot meanders until the story begins to gather pace and momentum. There are plenty of comic touches and humour to keep the interest of the reader but the plot needs to be tightened up. However, all in all, I did enjoy reading the novel, which often feels like a historical farce on occasion. It's strength is the characters, Dandy is a fine, upstanding and independent woman working in an area where women are rarely seen at this time. This does not delve into harsh economic realities of the historical period, it is more a light, entertaining, and escapist read. Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.

Thank you NetGalley fort his title.

I’ve read one other Dandy Gilver book so far (Dandy Gilver and a Most Misleading Habit) and although I enjoyed it, it was sometimes difficult to understand what was happening exactly. I tried to read this one because I was wondering whether I would like it better.
Sadly, no. I happen to like historical fiction and I love the Scottish setting. I can see the author is trying to write an entertaining story with interesting characters. However, it’s just not for me. I lost track of the story before I read the first 100 pages. There are so many references to earlier books, and so many people running around in this story, it became way too complicated to enjoy it.
It is nicely written but I’m thinking this series could be much more fun with less characters and a less complicated plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Hodder and Stoughton for an advance copy.
I have read all but one of this series and have always been unable to work out why I do not enjoy them as much as I think I should. I think reading this, the twelfth , has crystallised my thoughts.
The components are promising- a Scottish castle, upper class goings-on,1930’s setting. But...
The book was way too long.The plot was slight and there was too much of The Scottish Play thrown in as padding.
There was too little of Alec and his relationship with Dandy, too little of Dandy herself and her maid, Grant.If you have not read the previous books you will flounder with this.
The style of writing has become more laboured and plodding; reading this was sometimes like trying to wade through porridge.There was too much extraneous detail and not enough clear clueing.
To sum up.This does not work well as a standalone.Characterisation is sketchy, the plot, trifling and the overall feeling is of stodginess. Not as good as others in the series, so something radical needs to happen with the next.

I would love to say that I adored this book, but I'd be lying if I did. Having no prior knowledge of the Dandy Gilver series, and with very little but the cover to go on, I thought I would give the book a go and found myself instantly regretting it. Not because of the writing style, but because of my complete lack of knowing that this was going to be set in the 1930s, I am not a fan of historical detective novels, and that was my downfall.

I wanted to love this book, truly. Scotland, the backdrop for the novel, is such a beautiful place, and the descriptions were wonderful. On the whole, it was a well written book, and I have no issues in saying that, because it's true. Without any prior knowledge to Dandy and Alec, the book's other main character, I felt I may have been missing out on their background and history, especially with Dandy's references to her family situation. The plot wasn't what I was expecting, but worked well, and, unlike with some books that I've ready, I wasn't able to work out the end before Dandy and Alec were. In fact, I was so off the mark, it was quite funny! The cast of supporting characters was a bit larger than I'm used to, but they were dealt with well.

Overall, although the book wasn't to my personal taste, it was well written. If historical detective novels were my thing, it definitely would have gotten 5 out of 5 though.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy of Dandy Gilver and a Spot of Toil and Trouble, the 12th novel to feature posh private detectives Dandy Gilver and Alec Osborne.

It is 1934 and Dandy receives a letter from old friend Minnie Bewer asking her and Alec to come to Bewer Castle to help with security when they open the doors to paying visitors and a theatre company. When they get there their remit changes and they are asked to look for the Cut Throat, a cursed ruby necklace that disappeared 30 years ago at the same time as Minnie's father in law, Richard.

This is the first novel in the series that I have read so I'm a little late and I feel that I would have got more from this novel if I had more of Dandy's backstory as some of the references to her family situation imply a knowledge I don't have.

The novel itself is a bit of a mixed bag. The plot bumbles along with Dandy and Alec positing all sorts of outlandish theories until an extremely complicated solution is revealed, some of which I guessed early on, some of which defies belief. It's not exactly a rigorous investigation.

There is a large cast of characters to keep up with from the Bewer household to the actors and visiting Americans. They are painted in broad brush strokes but no more is required.

Dandy Gilver and a Spot of Toil and Trouble is not a challenging read more a light hearted, pleasant stroll through some unlikely and sometimes funny situations.

Quite delightful! It's been a while since I've come across Dandy and Alec, and this was a welcome reminder of what a fun read they always are. (And reminders of their background are woven in with a light touch, so it never feels that I'm being told about it, rather that I'm remembering.) The background setting was spot on and the time period evoked with no sense of pastiche. Having said that, I had no real idea of what was going on a lot of the time, but that's hardly a new sensation for me as a reader. The only thing is that, at one stage, I thought there was going to be a revelation connecting the plot cleverly with aspects of Macbeth. (Maybe there was, and I missed it..?). Anyway, a lovely book for a relaxing Sunday afternoon. Thanks so much for gib-bing me the chance to read it, and for reminding me of what a great series this is :)