You are currently viewing Murder at a Scottish Castle, a Scottish Shire Mystery

Murder at a Scottish Castle, a Scottish Shire Mystery

Murder at a Scottish Castle, a Scottish Shire Mystery by Traci Hall Murder at a Scottish Castle

Character Guest Post+ Book + Author Spotlight + An Excerpt! 

Don’t miss any blog tours!


Murder at a Scottish Castle

 

USA Today bestselling author returns with the latest novel in a Scottish seaside cozy knitting mystery series featuring busy single mom Paislee Shaw, owner of a specialty sweater shop, knitting enthusiast, and reluctant sleuth who must untangle another murderous yarn!

With the summer days getting shorter in the seaside village of Nairn, the annual bagpiping competition at Ramsey Castle promises to be quite the end-of-season blowout. Paisley has snagged a special invitation from the Dowager Countess, who wants to showcase her cashmere goods in the castle gift shop, and she’s brought her son Brody, Grandpa, and their black Scottish terrier Wallace.

There’s a fierce rivalry between Robert Grant, the Earl of Lyon, and last year’s winner Jory Baxter, with Grant loudly vowing to show up the blowhard Baxter and claim clan bragging rights. But the reigning champion has barely put the reed to his lips when he turns red and collapses, soon to take his dying breath. DI Zeffer confirms foul play, suspecting the reed may have been poisoned.

With a murderer in their midst, the rest of Nairn won’t breathe easy until Paisley applies her sleuthing skills to make sure justice is served and the killer pays the piper . . . 

Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Nairn, Scotland
Kensington Cozies (January 23, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496744373
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496744371
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C3WTZYGT

To purchase Murder at a Scottish Castle, click on any of the following links:  Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple & Kobo 


Guest Post — Murder at a Scottish Castle

Five quick questions for Detective Inspector Mack Zeffer

Q: Married or single?

Rubs his chin. Single—never married. Not interested.

Q: Kids or no?

God no. Dinnae want them either.

Q: Greatest accomplishment?

Catching criminals and making them pay for their wrongs to society.

Q: If you weren’t a DI, what would you be? You’ve got a braw sense of style.

Brushes lapels of blue suit. Hmm … can’t imagine being anything else.

Q: Hobby?

I got no time for hobbies. Expels breath. I certainly dinnae knit.


Read an excerpt:

Excerpt from Murder at a Scottish Castle:

Paislee was mildly surprised to see DI Zeffer’s blue SUV come through the open castle gates, beyond the field of parked cars, to the barn and the outdoor area. He parked before the barn next to the police cars.

Tall lights had been placed around the open-air seating area. Paislee and Wallace quickly returned to Grandpa, who was seated at the table with a fresh tumbler of whisky, and Nettie. About half of Clan MacTavish had gotten up to chat with other band members. A member dying during a competition was an awful first.

DI Zeffer shielded his eyes and narrowed them to the table where she sat. She braced her body as if she’d been caught misbehaving.

He strode toward her and stopped abruptly. “Paislee.”

“DI Zeffer!” She wasn’t sure that he’d be taking the cases around Nairn as his reason for being in Nairn was now drinking margaritas in the Keys. Wallace chuffed to see the DI. A hello?

His blue suit fit him to perfection. His eyes were the color of seafoam green, his hair russet and shiny, kept trimmed. “I heard that you’d called in the emergency for Jory Baxter.”

“I did.”

“I decided tae pick up the case.”

“It’s a homicide then?” Grandpa asked.

Clan MacTavish, those who’d heard Grandpa, gasped.

“No,” the DI assured them, smiling his white shark-tooth smile at them all. “It’s an unusual death, which means we have protocol tae follow. Questions tae ask. Dinnae fash, now, I doobt you’re in danger.”

Nettie blushed becomingly.

Grandpa swirled the liquid in his cup.

Paislee refrained from rolling her eyes.

“What happened tae poor Jory, then?” Nettie asked.

“We dinnae know. It’s under investigation.” Zeffer smoothed the lapels of his suit. The man had style no matter the emergency.

“Oh.” Nettie leaned forward to smile at him, batting her lashes. The sweet lass was a bit of a flirt.

“What can you tell me aboot what happened?” Zeffer tilted his head invitingly.

“Not much,” Nettie said. “We were all excited aboot performing at the castle. Everyone is always so nice. And it was thrilling tae see who would win of the top three. We arenae as experienced as the others. Just a Grade V. Amateur. The best is Grade I.”

Yep, Nettie was flirting with Zeffer all right. And Zeffer was encouraging it!

“Did you have a favorite?” Zeffer asked. “I hear the side bets are where people can make money.”

“I was hoping Jory would win, actually,” Nettie said.

“Is he a better piper than the others?” Zeffer asked.

“Who cares, right? He’s lovely tae look at.” Nettie grew serious. “Or, he was. Did he pass oot? Faint? I heard some of the others wonder if he was on drugs.”

“Drugs?” Zeffer alerted like Wallace tracking the red squirrel earlier that day. So much had happened since. “Do you know what kind, if he did them?”

“No! It’s just a rumor. Everyone’s curious how he died, that’s all,” Nettie said.

Zeffer pursed his lips. “There’s nothing I can tell you aboot that. Is there anything unusual you remember aboot Jory’s performance today?”

“No,” Clan MacTavish chorused.

“Was it as guid as last year?” Zeffer asked.

“I think so, though he didnae get a chance tae finish,” Nettie said.

Another member of Clan MacTavish spoke up. “I think Clan Grant might have won. Robert went all oot.”

This statement got many nods from the group.

“Thank you. If you think of something else, here is my card.” Zeffer placed it on the table and Nettie snatched it up.

Zeffer moved his gaze to Paislee. “Can I talk with you a second?”

“Sure.” She stood, not wanting to converse in front of his new gushing fans.

When they stepped away from the table, Wallace with Grandpa, Zeffer winked. “Miss me?”

“No,” Paislee said.

“I dinnae believe you.” Zeffer tucked his mobile into his slack’s pocket.

“You should.” Paislee sniffed. “What can I help you with?”

Zeffer slowed as they reached the end of the open-air room where the instruments had been stacked. The lattice partition acted as a wall and gave them a decent view of the crowd. “I’d like your take on what happened, since you called the emergency in. Who was there, and what they did.”

Paislee nodded. “Jerry McFadden was a hero and acted right away. Jory collapsed and Jerry was prepared tae do CPR if needed.”

Zeffer lost all teasing. “Who else?”

“Meri McVie, the competition judge. She asked everyone tae stay back and give Jory some air. Jerry moved Jory’s bagpipes tae keep them from being trampled.”

“Where are they now?” Zeffer asked.

“I don’t know,” Paislee said. “Jerry would make sure the instrument was safe. He told me before the competition started that Clyde Cunningham, the Clan Cunningham pipe major, had argued with Jory.” She raised her hand. “I have no clue about what.”

Zeffer scanned the room of musicians. “Where is he?”

“Jerry or the director? One of the other constables already talked with Clyde, anyway,” Paislee said.

Zeffer crossed his arms to study her in the dim light. “Let’s start with Jerry. Do you play?”

“God, no.” Paislee shuddered. “You?”

“Not a note.” Zeffer half-smiled. “Lead the way tae Jerry!”

Paislee maneuvered around the tables. The crowd was drinking but not eating as much, which meant that folks were loud and boisterous.

Jerry wasn’t happy when Paislee arrived at the table that he shared with the nine other Clan Campbell members and raked a hand through his hair. They were unique among the kilts as their tartan was predominantly green, blue, and black.

She noticed that the bands had stuck together during the meal with no crossover of mates sitting with a competing band.

“Hiya, Jerry,” Paislee said. “Remember Detective Inspector Zeffer?”

Jerry cupped his tumbler of whisky. “Hey, DI Zeffer. How are ye?”

Zeffer nodded to those at the table, then returned his gaze to Jerry. “I was wondering if you could tell me what happened today?”

Jerry clenched his jaw and then mumbled, “Aye.”

“Should we stay?” Mattias Campbell asked. His copper hair was in all directions as if he’d been tugging at it.

“I dinnae mind if ye do,” Jerry said. Clan Campbell murmured their agreement. He turned to the DI.

“You gave CPR tae Jory Baxter?” Zeffer asked.

“No. I was closest tae Jory when he fell,” Jerry admitted with a shaky breath. “He never stopped breathing, but he wasnae with it, ye ken?”

“He was conscious the whole time?” Zeffer asked.

“I guess.” Jerry’s jaw clenched.

Zeffer pursed his lip. “Did he say anything?”

“No.”

“So, Jory was just playing the bagpipes and then he passed oot,” Zeffer said. “What happened tae the instrument?”

“I moved it oot of the way.” Jerry scowled. “Folks were jostling around the field withoot a care. I tried tae give it tae his director, but Clyde was oblivious—on the phone.” Jerry looked over his shoulder to Clyde, at the Cunningham table. “I thought he was calling for an ambulance, but Paislee did that. Why would Clyde take a call instead of check on Jory, his star piper?”

Paislee thought Jerry had an excellent point. They’d all been asked to silence their cellphones for the performances.

“Where are the bagpipes now?” Zeffer asked.

“I tucked them oot of the way.” Jerry hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “Clyde hasnae asked aboot them once. Not a top leader in my opinion. Mibbe I’m being petty, with Jory dead now.”

Paislee felt sorry for her friend.

“It does seem strange,” Zeffer said. “Why dinnae you show me?”

“Aye.” Jerry got up and frowned at Paislee as if she’d ratted him out for something. She’d have to explain that it hadn’t been like that.

They walked to the corner of the area away from the fires and food where many other instruments in a variety of cases were stacked.

Jerry searched the array, then shook his head, befuddled. “It’s a soft backpack style with his initials, JB, on the handle. It isnae here anymore!”

*** Excerpt from Murder at a Scottish Castle by Traci Hall. Copyright 2024 by Traci Hall. Reproduced with permission from Neil Albert. All rights reserved.

 

 

 


Traci Hall — Author of Murder at a Scottish Castle

Murder at a Scottish CastleFrom cozy mysteries to seaside romance, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall writes stories that captivate her readers. As a hybrid author with over sixty published works, Ms. Hall has a favorite tale for everyone.

Mystery lovers, check out her Scottish Shire series, set in the seaside town of Nairn, or the Salem B&B Mystery series, co-written as Traci Wilton.

Her latest project is an Irish Castle cozy as Ellie Brannigan. Whether it’s her ever-popular By the Sea romances, an Appletree Cove sweet romance, or a fun who-done-it, Traci finds her inspiration in sunny South Florida, living right near the ocean.    

Learn more about Traci by clicking on any of the following links: Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter/X, BookBub, Instagram, Website.


 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit all the Stops on the Tour!

Murder at a Scottish Castle

January 23 – The Mystery of Writing – CHARACTER GUEST POST WITH EXCERPT

January 23 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST WITH EXCERPT

January 24 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

January 24 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

January 24 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST – WITH EXCERPT

January 25 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

January 25 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 26 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 26 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

January 26 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

January 27 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – CHARACTER GUEST POST – WITH EXCERPT

January 28 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST WITH EXCERPT

January 29 – FUONLYKNEW – CHARACTER GUEST POST WITH EXCERPT

January 29 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW


Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

 

Elena Hartwell

Author and developmental editor.

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Dianne Casey

    Sounds like a great book. Love the Scotland setting.

  2. Traci

    Thank you Dianne! Have you been to Scotland?

Leave a Reply