I enjoyed books one and two in Hannah Reed's Scottish Highlands Mysteries, but the third, DRESSED TO KILT is the best of the bunch. The tension is deeper (without tipping past the cozy scale) the surprises are, well, more surprising and the conclusion (and the events leading up to it) kept my eyes on the page long after I should have been in bed.

As often happens in cozy mystery series, the people and location are almost as compelling as the mystery, but in this case they feel real, not caricatured for effect as sometimes happens. By the time I read the last page of DRESSED TO KILT I was as bound to them and Glenkillen as to Eden herself.

Eden's budding career as a romance novelist is also intriguing. The bits of modern Scottish information that we from the States find odd (like volunteers staffing the police force) add interest, and the descriptions of traditional Scottish food had me reaching for Google to find recipes. On top of all that, there is a crafty tie in with the yarn and Scottish woolen shop Sheepish Expressions belonging to the family of Eden's good friend Vicki.

Although there is enough information provided to read DRESSED TO KILT as a stand-alone mystery, I highly recommend reading books one and two: OFF KILTER and HOOKED ON EWE first. I have a feeling these will be books I want to delve into again and will have a proud spot on my keeper shelf.

Hannah Reed has also written the Queen Bee mystery series. Under the name Deb Baker she has written the Dolls to Die For, Gertie Johnson and Gretchen Birch mystery series.

Book Summary