Book Review: Murder at the Loch by Dee MacDonald

Murder at the Loch is book 2 in Dee MacDonald's Ally McKinley Mystery Series.

 

Murder at the Loch is another fun cosy mystery set in the Scottish Highlands. If you've read the first book, Murder in the Scottish Highlands, you will already know all the delightful residents of Locharran. However if you haven't, MacDonald includes plenty of backstory on everyone, so you will know exactly who is who.

Murder at the Loch involves two murders, seemingly unrelated, but when Ally finds herself on the suspect list she is determined to find out who did  the killings.

 

Murder at the Loch is an easy read. The story mainly focuses on the quirky characters, and I loved them all. Lots of red herrings had me guessing then back tracking as a few people had plausible motives to murder the women. 

The Ally McKinley Mystery series is an enjoyable series. Ally is a likeable protagonist as are all the supporting characters. I am eager for the next book.

 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication date: 3rd March 2025 

Series: Ally McKinley Mystery #2

Genre: Cosy Crime 

Pages: 252

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley

 

 

 

 

Book Review: The Book Club & Other Stories by Natalie Conyer

 The Book Club & Other Stories is a collection of nineteen crime stories by Australian author Natalie Conyer.

 

I loved Shadow City and I was excited to read a collection of short crime stories written by the same author.

The Nineteen stories cover many different crime scenarios; there is murder, mystery, the supernatural, scammers and twists galore.

 

What I loved about these stories is although most involved a murder it wasn't overly descriptive and the humour in each story far outweighed any gruesomeness. The stories were all so different in character, setting and plot which made each one feel like a whole new adventure.

 

The Book Club & Other Stories features nineteen highly engaging stories. It is a book you can pick up and put down at will or you can simply read it all the way through, like I did.

 

My rating 4.42 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐(averaged over 19 

 stories)

 

Publisher: Clan Destine Press 

Publication date: 1st November 2024

Genre: Crime / Short Stories

Pages: 229

RRP: AU$32.95 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

 My review of Shadow City