Fun Scottish Cozy set in 1911 Edinburgh
Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency by Lydia Travers
There has been a rash of jewel thefts in posh country house parties in the Highlands. Maud McIntyre’s fledgling detective agency has been called upon by the Duchess of Duddingston, who asks her to attend the party to prevent or at least solve any thefts that might occur at her party hosting in the coming weekend.
The women joined the festivities, Maud as a guest and her assistant, Daisy as her lady’s maid. The plan was for Maud to keep an eye on the other attendees while Daisy ingratiated herself with the staff. Their weekend turns out to be more than they bargained for when there is a murder as well as a theft. Maud and Daisy solve both, or so it would appear, but Maud can’t shake the feeling that she missed something.
One of the things I enjoyed most about the book was that the detective agency was handling multiple cases of varying stakes. The book toggled between these subplots, keeping the story moving along at a good pace.
Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency by Lydia Travers is a fun Scottish cozy set in 1911 Edinburgh and the nearby Highlands. Maud employs disguises when needed, which is a fun little element not often seen in this sort of mystery, and I look forward to seeing how it will come into play going forward in the coming series.
I received this advanced reader copy of Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency from Bookouture and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher’s Description
When Maud McIntyre sets up her own private detective agency, she never imagines her first case will involve murder… A mystery in the Highlands? The Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency is on the case!
Edinburgh, 1911: When Maud McIntyre and her lady’s maid, Daisy, form a detective agency, they never dream their first case will take place at a glamorous house in the Scottish Highlands. But when the Duchess of Duddingston, concerned that a notorious jewelry thief will target her lavish weekend party, employs Maud to go undercover as a guest to find the culprit, the agency has its first case to solve…
Undercover with Daisy as her maid, Maud follows a trail of clues across the Duddingston House estate. And as she meets the weekend guests, she hopes one of them will reveal themselves as the jewelry thief. But when one of the house guests is discovered dead, Maud and Daisy realise they’re not only hunting precious gems, but a murderer…
As Maud and Daisy investigate, they realise that a connection in Edinburgh might hold a vital clue that will help them solve the case. Travelling back to the city, Maud hopes that what she and Daisy uncover will help them piece together the murder mystery at Duddingston House…
But when Maud receives a telephone call from the Duchess requesting urgent assistance, she realises that the murderer didn’t have just one victim in mind. Speeding down the drive to Duddingston House, Maud and Daisy hear gunshots ring out across the estate. Will they reach the Duchess in time to save her? And will they catch the murderer in the act?
A warm page-turning historical whodunnit, perfect for fans of the mysteries of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey and Catherine Coles.
