by Tracy Condie

This week we have a review and giveaway of another Christmas mystery-this one by Lucy Connelly. We also have an interesting interview with Lucy. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.

Death at a Scottish Christmas: A Scottish Isle Mystery by Lucy Connelly
By Tracy Condie

It is Christmas time on Sea Isle, one of the Scottish Islands, and Doctor Emilia McRoy is off for the entire month. Em hasn’t had Christmas off in years much less an entire month. What is she going to do to keep busy? Thank goodness Mara, best friend and manager of the Pig & Whistle, has plenty for Em to do in the way of festivities. Jasper, friend and owner of a local bakery, says that December is an entire month of cultural events, and after all, Scots love a party.

The last thing that Em figured she would be doing is an autopsy. Big-time band Bram and the Stokers have agreed to play at the Pig & Whistle. Lead singer Bram and band member Render are local boys who have made good. Bram is charismatic, sings beautifully, and is easy on the eyes. It is a pity that someone ended his life.

This cozy is sweet and a tiny bit tart, just like Cranachan, the multi-layered Scottish dessert that Em enjoys at the pub the night the band plays their last amazing set. The entire band and the band’s manager, Davy, say they have no idea who could have killed Bram. Each band member is a suspect, especially Destinee, the only woman in the band, who may have had feelings for Bram, feelings that weren’t taken seriously. The band manager seems a bit cold and even Machiavellian with his ideas of how the band can continue to tour with Bram’s voice dubbed in for performances. Lastly, Constable Ewan Campbell has history with Bram that included infidelity on the part of Ewan’s then fiancée. No one believes that Ewan has anything to do with the murder, especially not the Doc, as Ewan likes to call her, but with such a high-profile case, the higher-ups send Detective Inspector Bethany Thompson to make sure the investigation is 100% by the book.

This is another well written Scottish Isle Mystery that is great as a stand-alone. The backstory explains why Doc Em has left Seattle and taken up as the resident doctor on Sea Isle. Em needed to start over and has found a new place that feels like home. Em has friends who are there for her and help her investigate, although Em repeatedly states that she is only investigating the medical side of things … right (said in a drawn-out way). In addition to great friends, there is the back and forth between Em and Ewan that has all the makings of a slow burn.

This series has all the cozy feels with an accent that is fun to try to imagine while reading. (I successfully made the Cranachan recipe which was as enjoyable as this story.)

Tracy Condie is a paralegal by day and cozy armchair sleuth by night. When she is not working or reading, she enjoys preparing the recipes found in culinary cozies or researching recipes of meal items described therein and sharing reviews of both books and food on Instagram and on KRL. She lives in Corona, California with her husband and dog Zoolie, and looks forward to visiting with their grown sons when their time permits.

Interview with Lucy Connolly:

KRL: Have you always written mysteries/suspense and if not, what else have you written?

Lucy: Before I wrote mysteries, I wrote several different genres of romance. I’ve been doing only mysteries since 2019.

KRL: What brought you to choose the setting and characters in your latest book/series?

Lucy: In both my Irish and Scottish series, everything started with the small towns I created in the countries. The friendships and mysteries sort of evolve out of the place, and then I surround my main characters with kind and curious people who become closer than family.

KRL: Do you write to entertain or is there something more you want the readers to
experience from your work?

Lucy: I write to entertain, but also to show a more inclusive society. I have the idea that I just want everyone to care about one another and be respectful. I make it happen in my fictional worlds.

KRL: Do you have a schedule for your writing or just work whenever you can?

Lucy: I write every day. My schedule makes it where I don’t have a lot of choice––not that I would ever complain. It is a great privilege that I have the opportunity to lose myself in imaginary worlds every day. I give myself goals each day. Once I meet those, I can be a couch potato watching British mysteries with no guilt.

KRL: What is your ideal time to write?

Lucy: I used to be a night owl, but in the last few years, I write in the mornings. At least once the coffee kicks in and sometimes that takes a minute!

KRL: Do you outline? If not, do you have some other interesting way that you keep track of what’s going on, or what needs to happen in your book when you are writing it?

Lucy: I don’t outline, but I have to do a synopsis for my publishers. So, I have some idea where the story needs to go.

KRL: Did you find it difficult to get published in the beginning?

Lucy: I was lucky in that regard, but it helped that I’d built an audience in the world of romance.

KRL: Do you have a great rejection/critique or acceptance story you’d like to share?

Lucy: I will say that my stories end up where they need to be, even if I didn’t know it at the time – e.g. the Ainsley McGregor series that became a movie, went to Tule. I had no idea at the time it would someday become a movie, but Jane Porter believed in me and my book.

My Scottish series ended up at Crooked Lane with Tara Gavin, who restored my faith in my writing abilities. The Irish series ended up at Bookouture, where I’ve learned so much about writing mysteries. They have done such an amazing job of getting the book in readers’ hands. Once you write it, let it go and work on the next thing. That is my advice to every writer.

KRL: That’s great about the movie! Most interesting book signing story-in a bookstore or other venue?

Lucy: I was at a huge signing with hundreds of authors. I was at the end of an aisle and a woman came running down so excited she was yelling, “Whoohoo!” and her arms were full of books. At the end across from me were some very famous authors and I was curious where she would end up – but it was with me! I’ve never been so shocked. She had every book I’d written, so that was a great day.

KRL: What are your future writing goals?

Lucy: My schedule is set for the next couple of years. I have more in the Scottish and Irish series, and there will be at least one more Ainsley book under Candace Havens. And I have a new Lucy Connelly mystery set in Wales.

KRL: Who are your writing heroes?

Lucy: I have so many. Jodi Thomas has had a huge influence on my life, and Linda Castillo. They have both been so supportive of my career.

KRL: What kind of research do you do?

Lucy: I do tons of research from locales to subject matters. Lots and lots of research.

KRL: What do you like to read?

Lucy: I read everything. I’ve been reading a lot of mysteries, thrillers and biographies lately.

KRL: What are your favorite TV shows or movies?

Lucy: Anything on Acorn or BritBox. I’m addicted to UK mysteries. I watch repeats, and lately I’ve loved The Diplomat (Netflix) and Lioness (Prime Video).

KRL: Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?

Lucy: Hone your craft and write every day. The more you write, the better you become, and read everything. Authors should be reading outside their genre and learning about the world.

KRL: What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

Lucy: The other side of my life is an entertainment journalist. I’m on the radio doing film and TV reviews. I’ve been doing that for most of my life and have talked to just about every celebrity.

KRL: Oh cool! Do you have any pets?

Lucy: I have Elvis (Shih-tzu) and Mr. Poe (a Shorkie/Mutt). Mr. Poe is a star in the Irish series. That is actually him on the cover and in the book.

KRL: Is there anything you would like to add?

Lucy: Just thank you for allowing me to hang out with you today.

KRL: Thank you for chatting with us! Where can our readers find you online?

Lucy: You can reach my socials and find the books on LucyConnelly.com and Candacehavens.com.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

To enter to win a copy of Death at a Scottish Christmas, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Scottish Christmas” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen December 21, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.