Murder at the Loch is the newly released and second entry in Dee MacDonald's "Ally McKinley Mystery series". I have read the first book (Murder in the Scottish Highlands) and really enjoyed it.

Dee MacDonald gives us a a wonderful lead character with Ally. She’s recently retired, but she’s full of vim and vigor. She moved herself to a small village in the Scottish Highlands, took a chance and turned a historical building into a cosy B&B. She’s made friends, has customers, got a dog and met the local veterinarian - who is just about her age. Oh, and did I mention that there’s a large castle and an Earl?

Abby is by nature curious, and that has served her well since she arrived at the village of Locharran! The supporting players are mix of personalities and bring much to the stories.

The setting is ready and the main character is ready. What else do we need? A great mystery is the answer to that question - and we have a great one from MacDonald. Almost every resident is a suspect. I enjoyed Abby‘s investigation, throwing in my two cents. I guessed the whodunit in the last chapters and the journey there was really great! This was a perfect curl up for a rainy reading day. I'll be looking for the next book!

5 stars

Ally McKinley is feeling a bit more settled in her new home in the Scottish Highlands - she's made some lovely friends, her B&B is doing well, and she's got a gentleman caller to keep her company. She's even managed to stay "just friends" with Hamish Sinclair, the earl of Locharran, a notorious womanizer. They cross paths early one morning because Hamish has some wonderful news for Ally - he's getting married again! Whilst Ally is reeling from the surprise revelation, their unfortunate discovery of a body floating in the nearby loch puts a damper on any excitement. There's no shortage of suspects, especially once the earl's new fiancee Elena, and her sister arrive in town for the speedy nuptials - nobody seems to be happy about this upcoming wedding, and unfortunately murder hits the small village again less than 24 hours after the new couple's celebration. Ally is devasted for Hamish, and will stop at nothing to help figure out who on earth has been killing young women in Locharran and how can they possibly be stopped?

I enjoyed this book even more than the first one! This murder series is such a page turner, I had a hard time putting it down. Ally is such a great cozy-mystery protagonist; she's smart, kind, and practical, which serves her well when trying to help local law enforcement down the right path. I honestly can't wait until book #3!

Thanks to NetGalley, author Dee MacDonald, and Bookouture publishing for giving me access to a free digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.

Murder at the Loch is another fun cosy mystery set in the Scottish Highlands. If you've read the first book, Murder in the Scottish Highlands, you will already know all the delightful residents of Locharran. However if you haven't, MacDonald includes plenty of backstory on everyone, so you will know exactly who is who.

Murder at the Loch involves two murders, seemingly unrelated, but when Ally finds herself on the suspect list she is determined to find out who did the killings.

Murder at the Loch is an easy read. The story mainly focuses on the quirky characters, and I loved them all. Lots of red herrings had me guessing then back tracking as a few people had plausible motives to murder the women.

The Ally McKinley Mystery series is an enjoyable series. Ally is a likeable protagonist as are all the supporting characters. I am eager for the next book.

EXCERPT: 'Well, I must be off.' Hamish got to his feet. 'We'll expect you both for drinks at seven, dinner at eight, what-ho!'
'Hang on a minute, Hamish,' Ally said. She'd noticed that the yellow shape she'd spotted earlier had drifted closer to where they were. 'Can you see that thing in the water?'
'Could be a sheep, or even a young deer,' Hamish said dismissively. 'Happens all the time.'
Whatever it was, it was still floating in their direction, half-submerged. But as it got closer, it began to look a little less like the bag of rubbish Ally had originally thought it was.
'Hamish,' Ally said, her heart thumping, 'that does not look like an animal, unless animals have taken to wearing yellow coats.'
The earl pulled some binoculars out of his gilet pocket and looked steadily for a couple of minutes before he said, 'Alison, would you be kind enough to call the police? I fear we are indeed looking at a body.'

ABOUT 'MURDER AT THE LOCH': Recent retiree Ally McKinley has stepped out with her puppy Flora for a walk by the loch in the tiny village of Locharran, taking a break from running the cosiest little guesthouse in the Highlands. But Ally’s peace and quiet is sunk when she and Flora find the body of a mysterious woman floating in the water…

Before she knows it, Ally finds herself wading into the middle of a new investigation. Who was the mystery woman and why was she killed? Her enquiries take her all over the from the corner shop and the nearby hotel to the turreted castle, home of local earl Hamish Sinclair where preparations are underway for his upcoming – and much gossiped about – wedding.

The body in the loch soon has the rumour mills buzzing. But then Elena, the earl’s new bride, is also found poisoned to death the morning after her marriage! With two deaths to investigate, the police appear to suspect almost everyone in Locharran, even Ally herself…

Determined to uncover the truth and clear her name, Ally finds poison at the home of one of her suspects and thinks she might be on the right path to solving both murders. But with a killer on the loose in the Scottish Highlands, can Ally unravel the clues before the next person in a watery grave is her?

MY THOUGHTS: Two women, both coming to the small town of Locharran to get married, both end up dying in suspicious circumstances within days of one another. Now that might seem like overkill (pun intended!) but it's not. Ally's suspicions swing back and forth as to whether the two deaths are connected or whether, heaven forbid, there are two murderers!

Before she retired, Ally was a researcher, excelling at probing and analysing. It doesn't hurt that she has a naturally nosy nature either, especially when the local police seem to be barking up the wrong tree by accusing Ally of the murders!

Ally's partner Ross, a local vet, acts as a sounding board for Ally and proposes a few theories of his own. He's a lovely man and the romance between the two is very light and very much in the background of the investigation.

There are a number of viable suspects for the murder/s and, hallelujah, for once I got it right - the person AND the motive! In all fairness, it was based purely on a gut feeling. 😂🤣

Murder at the Loch is a well written murder-mystery with enjoyable characters. Although this is #2 in the series it is perfectly able to be read as a stand-alone. The author kindly provides just the right amount of backstory on all the main characters.

Please get writing, Ms MacDonald - I'm eager for #3.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#MurderattheLoch #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Dee MacDonald grew up on an isolated farm in the Scottish Highlands. An only child, she’d often get fed up with reading and listening to a crackling radio, so her mother encouraged her to draw and to write ‘wee stories’, which she’d sew together into little books.

As an adult, her working life took her all over the globe as an air stewardess, into the world of TV, where she worked in Market Research and Sales, and then into hospitality, running B&Bs for over ten years.

After first finding her love of writing as a little girl, Dee became a published author of cosy crime and women’s fiction in her seventies. She lives by the sea in Cornwall with her husband and has one son and two grandsons.

DISCLSORE: Thank you to Bookouture via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Murder in the Scottish Highlands by Dee MacDonald for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

I sadly missed the first book in this series, so I'm going to double back and get caught up. However, I managed to slip right into this lovely wee murder mystery and didn't feel I missed anything vital.

Ally is a brilliant FMC. She is smart, resourceful, empathetic and willing to admit her flaws. She's found a new lease of life after the death of her husband and her retirement. Village life definitely suits her. The gentle romance between her and Ross is beautifully written and it shows that love can find you at any age.

Hamish, as the local Laird, is a complete cad! He's an eye for the ladies and after a lengthy bachelorhood, he's decided at the ripe old age of seventy odd, that it's time she remarried and begat an heir! Sadly the marriage ends in murder and it looks like Ally needs to put on her detective hat once more!

The depiction of village life was pretty much spot on - the gossip, the interfering busybodies. I loved the way that the two separate cases of murder wound together and the big reveal made so much sense. I did find Hamish and his new paramour didn't exactly let the bed cool but hey ho - to each their own!

There are a wide cast of characters to loathe and worry over including revolting relations and stroppy staff. I really enjoyed unknotting the mystery and I'd be happy to read more books in this series.

I loved this book and I just couldn’t put it down. I just loved all the characters as well and look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you like a good mystery.

I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

I needed a relaxed, entertaining, and enjoyable novel. A good cozy mystery is the right one if you caught bronchitis and you're not at your best.
I enjoyed the first in this series and had fun reading this light cozy mystery. There are some moments when you have to suspend your disbelief and have fun.
I always appreciated how Dee McDonald delivers stories featuring couples who are in their golden age, and the stories are quite realistic.
I also appreciated the description of the small-town atmosphere, the diffidence toward the newcomers, and the gossip. The side characters are fun.
As there are a lot of common traits in any village in the Western Hemisphere, I met some of them in some villages in Italy, Germany, etc.
The mystery is slow-burning, and I liked the twists. I wasn't a fan of the solution that I felt was a bit forced and rushed.
I had fun and look forward to the next story. Recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for this digital copy; all opinions are mine.

Recent retiree Ally McKinley has stepped out with her puppy Flora for a walk by the loch in the tiny village of Locharran, taking a break from running the cosiest little guesthouse in the Highlands. But Ally’s peace and quiet is sunk when she and Flora find the body of a mysterious woman floating in the water. The body in the loch soon has the rumour mills buzzing. But then Elena, the earl’s new bride, is also found poisoned to death hours after her marriage! With two deaths to investigate, the police appear to suspect almost everyone in Locharran, even Ally herself.
The second book in the series & whilst it could easily be read on its own the author is starting to build a close knit community with a real mix of characters. I really like Ally a mature retired woman who has left the city behind & now runs a three bedroom B & B, she’s also friends with the local Earl & in a relationship with the local retired vet. This case revolves around two murdered women, there are plenty of red herrings as well as twists & turns. The characters are well portrayed some very likeable & others horrid. I did guess who the murderer was but it was a stab in the dark & I was surprised at their motive. An engrossing cosy mystery which I found hard to put down, roll on book three
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

Book two in the series and my second enjoyable visit to Ally McKinley in her B&B in the Scottish Highlands.

A pleasant stroll with her dog Flora turns into a nightmare when she spots a body floating in the water of the Loch. Then the Earl's bride to be is found murdered and the local police do not know which way to turn. Not to worry - Ally is there to follow up the clues and find the killer.

Ally is a great character as is her close friend Ross the local vet. This is a well written series with enjoyable characters, a good story and lots of red herrings as we try to discover the guilty party. I am looking forward to book three!

Ally McKinley is back with Ross, Hamish, Flora and the Locharran town members in another murder mystery. Ally and Hamish find a body in the Loch… pretty soon one body becomes two. Ally puts on her detective hat again to not only solve these murders but clear the accused. These are fast and fun reads!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to @netgalley and @bookouture for this #advancedreaderscopy - pub date is 3/3/25

#2025bookchallengebook17of100
#murderattheloch
#deemacdonald
#netgalley

etired TV researcher Ally McKinley is back in this second mystery from Dee MacDonald. Set in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, Ally is making a go of her new life. Retired and widowed, she's moved to the highlands to start a bed and breakfast business, and getting to know her new community.

Alas, the peace and tranquility is short-lived. Taking a stroll down to the loch, she meets up with the larger than life Laird, who announces he's to marry. His new bride is 40 years his junior, but he swears they're both in love and happy. And on that bombshell, they spot something floating in the loch, revealed to be the body of a young woman.

The community is shocked by the death, and on top of this, the news of the upcoming wedding, to take place within a week, leaves the village reeling. Of course the wedding itself comes with its own drama, and there's yet another death.

I'm really enjoying this gentle series with larger than life characters. Ally is such a warm and genuine character, with a core of steel. She has a wonderful way with people, standing her ground but at the same time being warm and open. The characters are as large and vibrant as the wild Scottish landscape, with as many secrets.

It's a wonderful cosy series that I'm completely invested in, and it's a perfect book to curl up with under a blanket with a cuppa.

Lovely community vibes, scenic settings, and cast of characters.

The murder had me guessing – I kept going through the list with Ally, enjoying all those red herrings. She made the perfect amateur sleuth along with her version of the murder board.

The plot had me engrossed, and I easily whiled away a lazy day lost in this book. All the characters came alive for me, and Locharran sounded like a lovely place to visit, murders aside, that is! I feel like the title didn’t fully do the book justice as it offered a lot more in the plot than the title suggested. I would happily read another one of these stories – it gave me M C Beaton vibes.

A perfect read to snuggle down with and forget real life for a while. 4.5 stars

An enjoyable read set in Scotland. This is a cosy mystery series where the characters are the biggest draw card for me. There are descriptions of scenery and a clever mystery, but I think Dee MacDonald writes wonderful characters, and I enjoyed meeting them again in this second book of the series.

The mystery begins almost immediately, which I think is a plus. And Ally is thrown into the thick of things, since the police consider her a possible suspect. Drawing on her past experience as a researcher, she starts to watch and listen, wondering who could be the culprit for not one, but two deaths. The author provides the reader with a cast of possible suspects, and some great red herrings. It is quite a clever mystery.

I do like the warmth you get from protagonist, Ally. She's the sort of person who can imagine in real life that would encourage people to talk and to feel comfortable. With the support characters, I sometimes get a sense of the Hamish Macbeth series, but that isn't a bad thing. It just means that both series provide well crafted and consistent, sometimes quirky, characters. And characters I look forward to reading.

Very good cosy mystery, second in the series but reads perfectly as a standalone. Murder in the loch starts with a young woman’s body floating in the loch, found by Ally whilst walking her dog. There is more murder and intrigue to come in this delightful book set in the Scottish Highlands.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

When Ally is walking her dog beside the loch she spots something yellow in the loch, when she meets with the Earl is has come closer and they both realise that it is a body.
Meanwhile the Earl has news, he has met a much younger woman and she is arriving imminently and they are to be married the following week.
When the bride is found dead the day after the wedding the village is scandalised and none of the wedding guests are allowed to leave.
Using her people skills, Ally is able to help the local police narrow down the culprit, but will she be too late.
A nice easy to read cosy crime book.

When Ally McKinley stopped by the loch while out for a walk with Flora (her dog), and the nearby castle's earl, Hamish Sinclair, arrived to chat, they were both shocked to see something - looking remarkably like a body - floating toward them across the loch. When they phoned the local constabulary, Rigby arrived, and all was set in motion. It turned out the young woman was the fiancé of the bartender at the local pub, arriving to be married. Ivan was shattered.

With Hamish's unexpected marriage to a woman much younger than him, announced, the village of Locharran was in shock. Elena and her sister Magda, arrived, with Elena the blushing bride. But within hours of the nuptials, Elena was dead, suspected of being poisoned. Two young women, both to be brides - who was killing these women who were happily heading into marriage? With Ally herself under suspicion, she was determined to discover the murderer/s herself, so with her good friend, vet Ross, by her side, they plotted their suspects. But would they find the killer before someone else died?

Murder at the Loch is the 2nd in An Ally McKinley Mystery by Dee MacDonald and I loved it! Set in the beautiful, scenic Scotland, with Ally settled into her B&B, a restored Scottish malthouse which Ally had lovingly worked on herself; Ross and his dog Ebony, who was Flora's sibling; the gossipy Queenie, and multiple other wonderful characters, I can't wait to settle into Ally's world once again, in book #3. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.

Ally has bought the local mill and turned it into a cozy B & B. She also happens to be an amateur detective in the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
Ally goes for a walk near the Loch with her lovely pup, Flora, when they find a mysterious figure floating in the water.. Ally puts on her (metaphorical) detective gear and gets to work trying to figure out who it is. But soon, the local Earl’s fiancé turns up dead as well and Ally has to work fast to figure out what’s going on before the next body comes to light.
There’s a few red herrings to leave you guessing all the way up to the big reveal. There’s a few writing is light and breezy, which makes for a great cozy mystery.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters of the village of Locharran. I didn’t read the first book, but it didn’t stop my enjoying this one, so it can definitely be read as a standalone. You may benefit from reading the first in getting their backstory, but it isn’t a must. I absolutely love the setting and the small town life where everyone is in everybody’s business.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

A great second installment in a wonderful cozy series. The setting of the Western Highlands is absolutely charming. The kind of place I dream of moving to one day. It's a delight to spend time there through the book. Ally is an empathetic character I think I could be friends with. The other characters, particularly the earl, are quirky and loveable. I hope there will be many more adventures in Locharran!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Good array of characters in small-town setting🗻

4.5🌟stars
The plot provided plenty of misdirected clues and the cast of characters, especially the gossiping villagers and the clueless elderly bridegroom of one of the murder victims, made for a good cozy mystery set in the Scottish Highlands. The cleaner, the postman, the grocer and countless other locals all have their prejudices and theories (and aren't afraid to share them) when two women are murdered within days of each other and the big thing connecting them is that both came to the area engaged to a local. B&B owner Ally is there to discover the first victim and she can't help herself from coming up with her own plan for identifying and investigating potential suspects..

I love that the villagers consider Ally a bit of a foreigner because she's relocated there all the way from...Edinburgh! And the grocer's firm belief that Ally, currently in a comfortable relationship with a retired local vet, has something going on with the laird. These features make the community feel come alive.

Good plot, winsome character development and the Highland landscapes made this one a really good read. Yes, I Id'ed the real culprit early on, but it was a fun journey to see how Ally worked her way there as well.

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

Review shared on 2/27/25 on Waterstones and Goodreads, and with Barnes & Noble.

Murder at the Loch is the second installment in Dee MacDonald's Ally McKinley Mystery series, set in the picturesque Scottish Highlands. The story follows retiree Ally McKinley, who, while walking her puppy Flora near the loch in the village of Locharran, discovers a woman's body floating in the water. This discovery propels Ally into a complex investigation involving local aristocracy and village secrets.

MacDonald excels in creating a vivid setting, capturing the charm of the Highlands and the close-knit dynamics of small-town life. Ally's character is portrayed with warmth and determination, making her a relatable amateur sleuth.

However, the novel's pacing is uneven. I found the initial chapters slow, with extensive descriptions that delay the progression of the central mystery. Additionally, certain plot developments feel predictable, potentially diminishing the suspense for seasoned mystery enthusiasts like myself.

In summary, Murder at the Loch offers an engaging setting and a likable protagonist, but its pacing and predictability may affect overall enjoyment. It is a pleasant read for fans of cozy mysteries set in charming locales.