Loch Down Abbey #2

Set in 1930s Scotland. The estate was once owned by an aristocrat, but now it's a hotel. The general manager of the hotel is the former housekeeper, Mrs McBain. The don of the family that used to reside there, Fergus, is also a manager. The hotel is fully booked for a Highland Ball.Many of the InverKillen clan turn up for the ball, but most of them haven't been invited. The next morning a body is found in the library. The local policeman is sent for. No one was allowed to leave. Who was the murderer and why was the victim killed?

When I saw there was a new book in the Loch Down Abbey series, I just had to request it. The story is descriptively written, the pace was steady, the characters were well-developed, an I enjoyed the plot, but there is quite a lot of characters. There were some funny moments, especially with the InverKillen family. As in most cosy crime books, there were plenty of twists and red herrings. I hope there are more books to come in this series.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HodderStoughton and the author #BethCowanErskine for my ARC of #OnlyMurdersInTheAbbey in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in this series and is every bit as good as the first one. Set in 1930’s Scotland the story revolves around Loch Down Abbey which has now been turned into a hotel. The book starts very quickly with the discovery of a body and then backtracks to the events leading up to the murder. Throw in a Highland Ball, plenty of interesting guests to be the suspects, the formidable Mrs McBain who runs the hotel and a slightly incompetent policeman and you have the formula for a successful cosy crime novel.
I enjoyed this book, there were a lot of characters to remember, some from the previous book but enough to keep me interested. I love a locked room mystery and this one kept me reading until the end. I hope there will be more in this series.

Its difficult to write a review without giving away too much of the plot, but here in this second outing for the series we find the hotel being owned by the former head housekeeper and bizarrely the family now acting as staff?!? They however still feel an entitlement and try to continue as normal. The murders in the title are a long awaited feature of the narrative which is long winded and overly so much of the time odds that against the vast cast list and it makes for a convoluted tale. That's not to entirely dismiss it, it is ok - not a must read but entertaining enough.

I read Beth Cowan-Erskine's first novel, Loch Down Abbey, and found it a fun (if sometimes confusing) read. I was intrigued to see her bring back Loch Down Abbey and many of its original characters.

It is 1939 and Loch Down Abbey has been turned into a hotel. Fergus, one of the sons of the late Lord Inverkillen, is helping to run the hotel. Mrs. MacBain, the housekeeper, is preparing for the first Highland style ball when, one by one, various members of the family find themselves back at Loch Down, demanding rooms and special treatment. Along with these arrivals are some nefarious creatures whose presence leads to three deaths and a mystery to be solved. A nice cozy mystery for a cold and rainy night!

I had to refresh my memory as to the characters but once I did I found it fun to re-enter the world of Loch Down Abbey. Dare I hope this becomes a series?

Even more fun than the first title in the series (Loch Down Abbey)! Now the former staff are the owners of the Abbey, currently run as a hotel, and younger son, Fergus is a manager. Suddenly the far flung family members are arriving "home," and having difficulty remembering that it's no longer the "family home" they remember. Oh yes, and Mrs MacBain is planning a ball! Spoiled brat family members, difficult hotel guests, and of course murder! Ideal entertainment for a cold snowy winter's day. I look forward to the next book in the series.

A good classic murder mystery should be fun to read and have a plot that keeps you guessing without being too obscure. 'Only Murders in the Abbey' ticks both boxes perfectly. As bonuses it also has sympathetic characters, a 1930s country house setting, and even a satisfying ending. It's a sequel to 'Loch Down Abbey' - it wouldn't be essential to have read the former first to enjoy this one, but you will get spoilers if you read out of order. The grand house introduced in the first novel is now being run as a hotel, run by the formidable Mrs McBain. The hotel hosts its first ball, and a body is found the morning after. There are no shortage of suspects to choose from in a hotel full of entitled upper class guests. squabbling family members of the former owners, and of course the staff who keep everything running. Can Mrs McBain and out-of-his-depth local policeman Inspector Jarvis solve the mystery before anyone else gets hurt?

The book opens strongly with the discovery of the body - although doesn't reveal whose it is. Then it rewinds to recount the time leading up to the ball - introducing all the characters and a shining array of possible murderous motives and poorly hidden secrets - which takes about half the book. Then the second half picks up from the murder and concerns the investigation. Both are strong and well written, but things really get compelling once the investigation kicks off and it was hard to put down. The first part is good too, as lots happens and as you don't know who will be murdered, you can enjoy trying to guess that as well. I liked this structure better than the 'flashback' style of a lot of crime novels where you are constantly going back and forth. The linear structure felt more realistic and you felt you had the same information as the investigating characters, giving more of a sense of control.

There are a number of likeable and interesting characters, including Mrs McBain herself who is a strong central character. But even the family members grew on me in this novel, despite being infuriating and often very badly behaved. I preferred this sequel to the original 'Loch Down Abbey' as it felt a bit more original and broader in scope, although the first is also good an worth reading. I have the feeling Cowan-Erskine will write a third, and I absolutely think she could/should. There is more mileage to be got from the ongoing characters, and we all know that every country house in the 1930s was beset by constant murders (at least, so literature would have us believe!).

If you enjoy so called 'cosy crime' (as opposed to 'gritty' crime) then this is definitely one for the reading list. It's very well crafted, and I didn't quite guess the ending which is unusual, which always suggests to me the plot was well executed.

Only Murders in the Abbey" is the second book in the Loch Down Abbey series, set in the picturesque yet turbulent 1930s Scotland. The story unfolds at Loch Down Abbey, a grand estate now a grand hotel. The hotel is full of guests for the Highland Ball. Including members of the Inverskillen clan. Many of them who where not invited but have turned up for the ball. Expecting to have free lodgings.
The morning after the ball a body is found in a locked library. The local bobby is sent to investigate what went on. Making sure the guests don’t leave. Which is a big task as there is several people there with their own agendas. Who wants that person dead and why?
At first, I was a bit concerned as I have not read the first book n this series. But it was easy to get into. But for me personally thought that the main subject of the book (Murder) to a long time to get going. There was a lot of build up to this story. Which at times I thought about giving up. But I am glad I carried on. This is interesting read with a whole load of eclectic characters. 3,5 stars from me.

A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant

This cosy crime novel will keep readers on their toes. Loch Down Abbey is packed to the gills for a Highland Ball, bringing much life back to the former family home turned hotel. Mrs MacBain, housekeeper turned part hotelier has more of a challenge in ensuring the Inverkillen clan – former owners – are properly housed (heaven forbid she’d offend) – alongside unexpected visitors who claim friendship to the family. The morning after the ball, however, a body is found in the library and Mrs MacBain is once again in charge of securing the suspect. Who would want them dead? Who had motive? And how could the death occur inside a locked room? It’s both a lot of fun to read and to try and work out the culprit.

Only Murders in the Abbey is the second instalment in this series.
wonderfully paced, and captivating throughout.

This is the second book in this cozy crime series set at fictional Loch Down Abbey and set in a beautifully described Scottish village. Having not read the first book the initial worry was that I would not be able to pick this up but despite the vast quantity of characters I was able to do so easily and throughly enjoyed the book.

Well written and told at a good pace I enjoyed the plot and the characters and will be going back to read the first in the series.

Good cozy crime which can be read as a standalone and I will also be looking out for future books in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t gripped and it took me such a long time to get into this book that I nearly gave up a few times. I’m glad I finished it but it wasn’t the best. The plot was holey and clunky. Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the story a lot. The idea of a family manor turned into a hotel and the whole family coming back was interesting and the story was amusing. I really liked the way the characters were confronted with it and how it showed their development from the first part of the series. They were still as loveable and strange as always and I can imagine some more stories with them. I really liked Mrs McBain and her capability to solve the crime, The policeman Jarvis was a good Dr Watson in a way.
I can recommend this book!

Set in 1930’s Scotland, this cozy murder mystery was perfect to snuggle up with on a cold and gloomy day!
Some wonderful characters, the perfect setting and a real Agatha Christie style locked room mystery!
Highly recommend !
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC

3.75 stars

This continues the story of Loch Down Abbey, which went from a private estate belonging to a wealthy aristocratic family to a servant (now employee) owned hotel. The general manager is former head housekeeper Mrs. McBain, a supremely competent woman with a bent for solving crimes and taking care of problems. Fergus, a son of the rich family who once lived there, is her fellow manager. And they have their hands full. They have a hotel full of paying guests but matters get complicated when various eccentric members of the family keep showing up, blithely assuming they can stay for free and get waited on like the good old days.

And matters aren't helped when the first murder occurs. A mysterious woman formerly of Shanghai has fled the political upheaval there and showed up with an associate and her nephew. Something is not quite right about her and soon her body is discovered. Hints of opium trade, brothels, political shenanigans and blackmail float around and it is up to Mrs McBain and local constable Jarvis to figure it out.

Entertaining, nicely paced, and full of mostly clueless aristocrats complicating the situation. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This easy read was a joy.

It has murder, mystery and a posh hotel where everyone and anyone could be a suspect.

I loved how the story unfolded and while its not a pacy read I enjoyed the slow plod of the guessing game.

It is a little Agatha Christie which is always a good thing, and the setting of the 1930's with all the glamour and culture this is, for me, a recommended read..

The novel takes place at Loch Down Abbey, a former stately home turned hotel, and the mystery and murder at the centre involves the guests and staff who are at the hotel - including the Inverkillen family who used to live at the estate.

While the central mystery to this story was good, I found the pacing of the reveals to be a bit disjointed. I also didn't particularly enjoy the narrative structure, and could find myself confused at times when moving from character perspectives quite suddenly especially as there was a lot of characters to keep track of.

Overall this was an ok read, and one I'd recommend to someone looking for a quick paced historical crime with a Scottish backdrop. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this novel, in exchange for an honest review.

My review of the first book starts "What a little ray of sunshine this book is.", so you can imagine I rushed to this one.
It has a murder, and quite a bit of guessing from me as to the who did it and why. Everyone and anyone could have.
Murder aside, the highlight of the book is truly the family and the way their lives are tangled, and how the treat each other and those around them.
I don't need a crime to make me come back for them, I'm coming back anyway.
Incredibly good fun.

Set in 1930's Scotland ,this is a fun cosy murder story .Lots of colourful characters ,Mrs McBain and the local Bobby try to investigate the murder of one of the guests of her Hotel and why .Such a good mystery with a few twists and turns .A mist enjoyable book .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

1930's the aristocratic and the servants run what's now a Horel so they're comedy as week as murder.

The morning after the 1st Ball they've organised a body is found. Bit of a downer after a great night for all (well most) I really enjoyed this read a disfunction familyfrom the aristocracy that could make fit a great TV series not a Downton Abbey but a lot of fun. There are some great characters that some you'll love and some you'll hate several extras to watch for and a fantastic storyline with several avenues running from it.

This is a wonderful read and a great whodunit with all the intriguing clues and read herrings the hapless Detective Jarvis and the hotel manager (that's what we call them nowadays or a different fancy title) getting to grips with the case..

So I highly recommend this as a great read if your looking for a murder mystery a bit of humour and an escape from life as an books should be.