This was so so cozy!!! I LOVE a cozy mystery. Ally was positively delightful and I honestly wanted to jump into the book and help her solve the case! It was a crazy twist so early on that her FIRST customer ended up dead. I'd want to shut up shop and never come back, that is so mortifying! But at least it spurs her on in wanting to solve the case because it not only is a great mystery - why HER guesthouse? But it also gives the mystery a personal touch which always makes us root for the main character even more to give us the answers we crave! And then just when you think there won't be another twist, there's another one right around the corner!! It kept me on my toes the whole time. Dee is a really talented writer and clearly has a really beloved fanbase.

Ally McKinley is a retiree living her dream—she’s renovated an old malthouse into a B & B in the tiny Scottish village of Locharran, in the Western Highlands of Scotland. Things are off to a good start until one of her guests, American Wilbur S. Carrington, is murdered and the body found in her courtyard. A murder at a recently opened B & B isn’t going to bring in paying guests, and guests is what Ally needs. She decides she needs to solve the murder herself, so she can get her business back on track.

My Thoughts
Murder in the Scottish Highlands is a quick, fun read. Even though there is a large cast of characters, they don’t blur together. The mystery kept me guessing throughout the story. There are no loose ends by the end of the book. I enjoyed reading this book, and I hope there are more to come.
4/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of the ebook. All opinions are my own.

Tea & whisky for comfort when murder strikes🏞

Cute, easy read with a great rural setting and a very likable amateur sleuth of a certain age with a lot of life left in her. The strength of this cozy mystery for me was the cast of characters, who I presume would come back if this turns into a series. I felt that there was almost as much movement and drama in female lead B&B owner Ali McKinley's social life as in the murder mystery investigation. And the busybody villagers! There's even a resident ghost!

Although I did not find the mystery as unpredictable as I would have liked, there were some nice complications and twists and an exciting, action climax. I would definitely read more by the author.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Another interesting twist- an older lead character, deciding to follow her dream and buy a run down building in the highlands, that she and her husband had seen, and now without him, make it into a bed and breakfast. Things seem to be going well, with bookings, until murder literally comes to her yard and her guestbook. Now it is up to Ally to hunt for clues, when the victim's extended family de4scend upon the village and could cause the ruin of her new venture. A fun cozy, with a leading character who isn't afraid to speak her mind and stick to her goals, this quick read will have you looking for book 2!

AND right now the book is on Kindle for UNDER $3, so run and grab your own copy!

This was an amazing read to curl up by the fire with! Both heartwarming and quirky for a murder mystery with the amazing cozy backdrop of the Scottish Highlands. Best enjoyed with a warm cup of tea!

Dee Macdonald has ( inc me ) a big loyal following and her Kate Atkinson books were going to be hard to follow up, of course though this first book in a new series is just as good, as we knew would be

We meet Ally who has moved to Locharran and set up a B and B, no sooner is she having paying guests when one is murdered and body found in her backyard, Ally then becomes a sleuth as she tries to solve the murder and what follows next in the story

As always there are a plethora of wonderful characters, including the thin lipped village store owner and her sister who thrive on gossip, Morag the fiesty cleaner and the local Earl who is the village Casanova, brilliantly written and I pretty much loved every character met

Very nicely set up for a new series and Ally and the village are both going to be new favourites with readers, old and new alike

Such a good author who writes books to make you remember why you enjoy reading so much

Ally McKinley had left her home in Edinburgh, travelling to the small hamlet of Locharran and the Auld Malthouse she'd purchased, turning it into a B&B. Her guests were light on at the moment, but she hoped things would improve when the summer months arrived. But when her daily help, Morag, arrived one morning, Ally was startled by a loud scream, which she saw was from Morag when she looked out the window. Beside her was the body of one of her guests, the American man who'd been causing disruptions in the community.

As the local police officer, Rigby, attempted to discover the killer's identity, Ally felt sure she would do a better job. The townsfolk were disturbed by the thought of a killer among them, and when a second person was killed, Ally knew she needed to help Rigby so they could all go back to normal. But would she discover who the culprit was?

Murder in the Scottish Highlands is the 1st in An Ally McKinley Mystery series by Dee MacDonald and I enjoyed it very much. I loved Ally's new puppy, Flora; Hamish was a fun character, and Ross, the vet, was a lovely guy. Ally is a perfect MC with her B&B in Locharran, Scotland; even gossipy Queenie and her sister Bessie are likeable characters. I'm looking forward to Ally's next adventure. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dee MacDonald for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder in the Scottish Highlands coming out September 2, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really love cozy mysteries, especially set in Scotland. It’s a beautiful country and I love the descriptions of Ally’s home. I love that she lives near a castle. Ally is older, so it feels more like a Miss Marple type story. But I loved it! It was fun she got a dog to keep her company. She still has men interested in her, but she’s comfortable in her life. I really enjoyed her character. I thought the mystery was really good. I loved the writing. I would definitely read more books in the series.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!

A Murder in the Scottish Highlands by Dee MacDonald

Ally, is such a sweet woman, widowed, and relocated to open a B&B. When one of her guests is murdered, she joins the hunt to try to find the killer.

This is a super cute and fun little murder mystery with and older protagonist and small town charm! I really loved how she was able to capture the gossip and drama of a small town.

The mystery is pretty straight forward but makes for a fun and quick read. Ally is new to the town so you get to go along with her as she meets new people and builds relationships. The world and character building isn't super complex. I found it easy to read and follow along. I also really liked Ally and enjoyed how friendly and welcoming she is. It's great to see that she tackles starting a new career and life path later in life! She's living my retirement dream! Although, I think her personality is better suited for it.

Retired and ready for a peaceful new life, Ally McKinley opens a guesthouse in the charming Scottish village of Locharran. Her tranquility is shattered when a guest is found murdered. Unable to resist a good mystery, Ally launches her own investigation. With the help of her loyal Labrador puppy, she digs into village secrets, uncovers family scandals, and faces down a killer determined to protect their secrets.

This is a fun and heartwarming read with quirky characters and an intriguing mystery. I enjoyed the Scottish setting.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This is the first in a new series from, for me, a new author. The book is well written as might be expected from an established author and spends a lot of time on scene setting and character introductions. This is a charming cosy murder mystery set in the Scottish highlands with a likeable protagonist who shows a great deal of promise. I look forward to reading future books in the series and also investigating the author’s back catalogue. Recommended.

Ally McKinley opens a bed and breakfast in a small village outside Inverness. Only a few months go by when all of a sudden someone is murdered outside. She tries to solve it with the help of others to figure out why this happened (here of all places) where nothing like this happens. The murder happens quickly, within the first chapter of the book and while cozy, it takes some time for Ally to start investigating. She works with other characters in the book (most who were not likeable) to figure out why someone would want to murder this person. The murderer starts to become more obvious as we reach the end of the story.
Despite its slow moments and unlikeable characters, the story was both cozy and entertaining. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The writing of the book was smooth and easy to follow and the mystery itself was good, though I did not like the characters. They were all one dimensional with no growth throughout the book.

I can understand the fascination with Mrs. Maple but I don't understand the concept of making your main character so old, if you want them to run about, and be in accidents. Ally also doesn't seem to have a lot for financial sense, and spends a lot of money on things like paintings and dog when she is trying to stay afloat. Also what is the infatuation with Blue eyes.

The character of Hamish seems a little too much everything, playboy at the age of being a grandfather (no, I am not an ageist, but it was just over the top), too brazen and too pushy.

The women of the highlands also seem to have nothing to do except gossip (again I understand it's a small town) and have no character whatsoever, and mostly just want a guy for themselves or interested in who is sleeping with whom.

All the men in the book are so full of themselves that they think women can't do anything beyond cook, clean and manage home and look down on them if they try to solve a crime. I would have understood this thinking if the book was set in the 1800s maybe, but not in this time and age. I was really put off when Ross asked Ally, "Are you one of these independent, feminist-type women?" when she wanted to pay for herself.

Another thing I disliked was the continuous promotion of pedigree dogs. Ally wanted a dog so that she could feel safe and also have walks, but instead of trying to adopt one, she went to buy one.

Unfortunately this was not a book for me.

I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5 but rounded to 4. Overall, I enjoyed it! It was a fairly light-hearted read considering it was about a murder. You can tell it was the first in a series because it felt like a lot of the book was you getting acquainted with the town and all of its interesting characters. I think there were times where the book felt more focused on that than on solving a murder, which is why I'd give it a 3.5.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Majestic mountain views, whisky by the fire and… a murder to solve? Join Ally McKinley at her cosy little guesthouse in the Scottish Highlands as she tackles her first puzzling case! This was a fun start to what hopefully will be a long running series. Interesting characters and a beautiful locale, this book was hard to put down.

A light, cozy, and unpredictable mystery starts off a new series by Dee MacDonald. Taking place in the Scottish Highlands, this story is just radiates the beautiful serenity that comes with a Scottish setting.
Even in the midst of murder... I was still engrossed in the rich setting that MacDonald provides.

Ally, the heroine, is in her 60s. She's widowed with grown children and decides to embark on a dream of owning a type of B&B. She's determined to make it work--regardless of the murder that takes place very soon into her endeavor.

Ally makes a great sleuth, as she uses her wits to help solve the case of the American that was murdered on her property. Was it the ghost that everyone says haunts her home? Or was it someone right under her nose?

Filled with many unique and quirky characters, Murder in the Scottish Highlands is a charming mystery that serves as a very promising beginning to a new series.

3 🌟 Read
Murder in the Scottish Highlands
By: Dee MacDonald

This was definitely a cozy read.
I enjoyed all cooky characters, the quaint little Scottish town, the possible romances, but I felt like that was most of the book. Even thought the murder happens at the very start of the book, it didn't feel like the focus to me.

Ally McKinley, a retired widower, decides to pack up and move to the country. She's found the perfect old malt house and has turned it into an adorable bed & breakfast.
In the first few months of her being open the quit little town is shook by its first murder in ages, Ally's first paying guest.

Follow Ally as she navigates her new quirky community and investigates a murder.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

What an entertaining read, I could not put the book down! Ally McKinley has recently set up a new business in Locharran called the The Auld Malthouse Bed and Breakfast. Ally, is a sixty something retired and widowed lady is a brilliantly developed character. The story begins with the death of one of her guests. The police are called in to investigate. However, Ally, B&B owner, decides she wants to investigate the crime. Along with some help from her new friends and her new puppy, Flora, discovers there is more to the crime and becomes heavily involved with using her former career as a researcher to seek the truth. A fast paced and engrossing read where all the sub plots including a few red herrings come together with a dramatic conclusion. I hope there is a book 2!

Ally McKinley renovates a property in the Scottish Highlands, turning it into a B&B. Following the loss of her husband, she knew it was time to move on with a new adventure.

She certainly wasn’t expecting her new adventure to include her first paying guest!

We follow Ally as she decides to become an ‘armchair detective’ and try to solve the case.

This was a fun cozy mystery. I found the story flowed well and effortlessly.

There were some great characters, and some funny moments that had me laughing.

The story was entertaining and I flew through it. There were plenty of red herrings to keep me guessing too. Overall, a fun and enjoyable read.

This is my first book by this author, and it certainly won’t be my last.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sixty-something Ally opened a B&B and one of her guest gets murdered. She wants to find out who ddid it. I enjoyed reading this book. It's a fun, light cozy mystery that kept me entertained. Nice characters, good story, nice writing style and easy to read. I'd love to read more stories about Ally & Co.
I received an advance review copy for free via Netgalley/Bookouture and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.