Publication Date: 03/03/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425270319
ISBN-13: 978-0425270318
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes
Fran Stewart on the WEB: website, facebook, goodreads
Excerpt from A Wee Murder in My Shop, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature
Synopsis:
FIRST IN A NEW SERIES!
Hamelin, Vermont, isn’t the most likely place for bagpipes and tartan, but at Peggy Winn’s ScotShop, business is booming…
While on a transatlantic hunt for some authentic wares to sell at her shop, Peggy is looking to forget her troubles by digging through the hidden treasures of the Scottish Highlands. With so many enchanting items on sale, Peggy can’t resist buying a beautiful old tartan shawl. But once she wraps it around her shoulders, she discovers that her purchase comes with a hidden fee: the specter of a fourteenth-century Scotsman.
Unsure if her Highland fling was real or a product of an overactive imagination, Peggy returns home to Vermont—only to find the dead body of her ex-boyfriend on the floor of her shop. When the police chief arrests Peggy’s cousin based on some incriminating evidence, Peggy decides to ask her haunting Scottish companion to help figure out who really committed the crime—before anyone else gets kilt…
Thoughts:
Fran Stewart brings readers the first book in her new Scotshop mystery series, A Wee Murder in my Shop. This book is about all things Scottish. From a buying trip to Scotland to the 600 year old Scottish shawl. Many cozy mysteries have a paranormal element but it isn't usually a Scottish Highlander transported across time. Stewart has created an interesting cast of characters and provides a mystery that will have readers guessing all the way to the end. A great new series!
I love Scotland. I love everything about it and this series hit the spot for me. I could just imagine the little shop in Vermont and how it could give off the atmosphere and small town charm that you might find in a Scottish village. I thought Fran Stewart did a great job of making her Scottish theme seem authentic and realistic. If I can't live in Scotland, I want to live in Hamelin. A great setting.
The 600 year old Scottish shawl that Peggy buys for herself on her buying trip to Scotland came with it's own resident ghost. "Dirk" is a great character, but I would have preferred Peggy keep his original Scottish name. I think that took a little bit away from his credibility as a 14th century Scottish ghost. It seemed a bit contrived, but was the only thing I didn't like about the character. He was obviously curious and learning to deal with the 21st century and that made for some interesting moments and of course Peggy going around talking to thin air might have raised an eye brow or two, but all in all Dirk was a hit with me and will be with other readers as well.
The mystery in this one centers around the death of Peggy's ex-boyfriend and the arrest of her cousin, Shoe for the deed. Stewart doesn't give the reader a plethora of suspects in the case, but there is motive. I liked the idea of the smaller suspect pool. It made me a as a reader concentrate a little harder on the clues because it was harder to figure out which one of them could have done it. This wasn't one I figured out right away and that was a good thing. Stewart did drop a few clues that only a good sleuth would have picked up on and I was quite surprised at who actually killed, Mason and why.
Bottom Line:
This is a great new series, especially for readers who like Scotland and legends and artifacts that deal with Scotland. I thought Stewart gave us a great paranormal character in "Dirk", though he could have been handled a little better. I think we will see great things from him in the future of the series. I loved the smaller suspect pool and the way that Stewart cleverly put in tidbits and information that not every reader would get. A great new book in a great new series!
A Wee Murder in my Shop is available NOW from your favorite bookseller
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of A Wee Murder in my Shop by Fran Stewart.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, April 8th.
1. Please leave a comment. What is your favorite thing about books with a Scottish theme?
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25 comments:
i like reading about the culture, dress, scenery in books with a scottish theme.
Learning about Scottish culture and all the other things that go along with it is a really fun part of it for me. But probably my favorite part is the images a theme like that brings to mind. It doesn't seem to matter whether the setting of the book is actually in Scotland or somewhere else, I know that at some point while I'm reading I won't be able to get the picture of standing by a loch or in a field of heather out of my head.
Books with a Scottish theme make me think of Sean Connery, and anything that makes me think of Sean Connery is a good thing—LOL!
skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
Well of course if it's Outlander my favorite thing is Jamie ;-) but it is fascinating reading about the history and culture of Scotland, and the descriptions of the beautiful country.
I enjoy being able to pretend I'm actually there and hearing the accents in my head. Now if I tried to read them aloud with the accent it would be a disaster. This book caught my eye at the book store yesterday when I was shopping for the school library (yep, I detoured into the mystery section). I love the cover.
I read at least 3 authors who write a Scottish themed series. It's all about the Kilts, the food, the locations, and sometimes even the wee ghosties.
the setting
I love the accent when they talk! Also I could look at tartans for hours!
I like the scenery and accent.
I love to learn about the Scottish history.
lag110 at mchsi dot com
I am partially Scottish and I always hear bagpipes when I read about Scotland....maybe only in my head, but I hear them.
annettena at yahoo dot com
It's always interesting to learn more about the country, history, food etc.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Scotland, Ireland and England are on my bucket list. I love being able to glean information about these areas for further reference. Thanks for this lovely chance. robeader53@yahoo.com
Tis a real mystery.
I like to read the books in my pretend accent---and dream of good looking guys in those kilts.
I think about kilts when you say Scotland.
The accents and descriptions.
as I read then, I imagine I'm reading with a Scottish accent!!!
The sexy Highlanders of course.
I love the setting and the clothing in Scottish themed books. I also like the dialogue!
I like reading about their clothing, food, and accents, and the kilts, if they wear one. Thanks for having the giveaway.
ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com
I love the Scottish team in books but I think it's a very romantic.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com
I can't say that I've read too many but I love any hint of the accent, mannerisms, folklore, anything at all really.
I haven't read that many Scottish-themed books. I love the country. It is so pretty. And the accent is lovely. And those kilts....
I like learning about Scotland and the tartans. If there's a Scottie Dog in the book, that would be good!
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