A View to a Kilt

Kaitlyn Dunnett

Jan 2020 · Liss MacCrimmon Mystery Book 13 · Kensington Cozies

About this ebook

A series of blizzards have kept tourists away from Moosetookalook, Maine, and shoppers out of Liss MacCrimmon’s Scottish Emporium. But as warmer weather brings promises of tartan sales and new faces, melting snow reveals cold-blooded murder . . .

Liss has suddenly found herself in charge of the March Madness Mud Season Sale, a town-wide celebration created to boost the local economy during the slushy weeks of early spring. With businesses ailing after a rough winter, the pressure is on to make this year’s effort the can’t-miss-event of the season. But before Liss can get her hands dirty, her husband makes a horrifying discovery. There’s a dead man on their property, and he didn't die of natural causes . . .

Stunned by the murder mystery developing in her own backyard, Liss receives another shock. The victim is identified as Charlie MacCrimmon, an uncle believed to have died eleven years before Liss was born. No one has seen or heard from Charlie since he went off to fight in Vietnam. What secrets could he have been hiding for so many years, and who would want to kill a man long thought to be dead?

Enlisting the help of her family, Liss uncovers more questions than answers as she delves into her uncle’s murky past. One thing is clear—before he met his end, Uncle Charlie was desperately trying to warn her about something sinister. And unless Liss can soon track down a maniacal criminal as elusive as the Loch Ness Monster, she just might be the next MacCrimmon to disappear . . .

Ratings and reviews

A View to a Kilt by Kaitlyn Dunnett is the 13th A Liss MacCrimmon Scottish Mystery. Liss MacCrimmon Ruskin has trouble saying “no” which is how she finds herself in charge of the Moosetookalook’s March Madness Mud Season Sale. Aunt Margaret will not be around to help because she is taking off for Ireland with the local genealogy group. The day after Aunt Margaret’s departure, Dan Ruskin finds a dead man in their backyard. Since Gordon Tandy was promoted, no-nonsense Detective Kelly Cussler is the lead investigator. Liss is shocked when the victim is identified as her uncle, Charlie MacCrimmon. Charlie had served in the Vietnam war where he had been declared MIA and was never heard from again. Detective Cussler deems Mac MacCrimmon, Liss’ dad, as the prime suspect which has Liss donning her sleuthing cap. A View to a Kilt can be read as a standalone for those new to this series. I always enjoy returning to Moosetookalook, Maine to catch up with Liss, Dan, Aunt Margaret and the other residents. Liss is considering closing the shop and doing online sales only. I hope she reconsiders since she has a unique shop and I like what it adds to the town as well as the series. The mystery was intriguing with an uncle being found dead in Liss’ backyard. They were told Charlie was MIA in Vietnam. Now the family learns he has been alive and living in Florida. Violet, Liss’ mother, drags Liss down to Florida to search for clues. There are several suspects, but one sticks out like a sore thumb. The whodunit was interesting with some unique qualities. Liss did miss a great opportunity to search for clues in the story which surprised me. When an amateur sleuth stumbles upon papers, they really should go through them before summoning the police. I could do with less of Violet MacCrimmon and her overbearing personality (she drives me batty). Liss is trying to get along with her, but I can see why it is a challenge (and why she liked her mother living in a different state). Liss has good relationships with her aunt and father which I find sweet. She is working on her relationship with her mother (it is like riding a bike up a steep hill). A View to a Kilt is a lighthearted cozy mystery with sweet Scotties, missing mud, a disdainful detective, and a wild whodunit.

About the author

KAITLYN DUNNETT grew up in the Borscht Belt of New York State, otherwise known as the Sullivan County Catskills, the area she writes about in the Deadly Edits mysteries. These days, Kaitlyn lives in the mountains of western Maine with her husband and cats and can be reached through her website at www.kaitlyndunnett.com.