Trading the urban pace of Edinburgh for a tiny village overlooking a breathtaking blue loch was a great move for budding photographer Sylvie Carmichael and her artist husband, Seamus—until a dangerous crime obscures the view . . .
Sylvie’s bucolic life along the heather-covered moors of the Highlands is a world away from the hectic energy of the city. But then a London buyer is killed after purchasing a long-lost Scottish masterpiece from Seamus’s gallery—and the painting vanishes. As suspicion clouds their new life, and their relationship, Sylvie’s search for answers plunges her into an unsolved mystery dating back to Cromwellian Scotland through World War I and beyond. And as she moves closer to the truth, Sylvie is targeted by a murderer who’s after a treasure within a treasure that could rewrite history . . . and her own future.
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MY REVIEW
"A Malice Novel" (from the cover) is right!
Given that Amy Reade's new book, Highland Peril, basically announces it is set in Scotland, I knew I had to read it! I didn't look at the blurb again before I started reading, so initially I thought it was a piece of historical fiction from one of my favorite periods in history.
So I was a little confused (not a difficult feat, really) when all of a sudden there were cars and digital cameras and such in modern-day Scotland. Then the lightbulb appeared over my head and it dawned on me that the period pages at the beginning set the stage for a mystery that people were willing to kill for - then and now.
You see, a few of the jewels from the crown in the Honours of Scotland were stolen back in the day, when all of the Honours were being hidden from the English. The young maid who had done this (while risking her life to secure the jewels) hid them and scrawled a map on a piece of paper so she could return and find them later. But that was not to be.
If there are many other 'Malice' novels, poor Sylvie will have to invest in some self defense classes and weapons training. On at least two (maybe three) occasions she is attacked by someone wanting a painting that her gallery sold to a man who wound up dead some few hours after the purchase.
There are twists and turns and secret connections that you don't see coming in Highland Peril that make it a breathless adventure. Seamus and Sylvie also have some serious marital issues to deal with that lead to them not working as closely on this dilemma as they might otherwise have.
And I still can't believe that one person was let go on their own recognizance from the police. Yikes!
The facts are that the book is set in Scotland, that Scottish words were sprinkled throughout the story (complete with a wee dictionary) and Seamus occasionally wears a kilt, all of which make Highland Peril pretty much unimpeachable. However, Ms. Reade has crafted a fine modern mystery worthy of the history and jewels that started it all in the first place!
I have also read Reade's other books The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor and House of the Hanging Jade, both of which I also adored, and I will be reading the other "Malice" and standalone books asap.
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MEET THE AUTHOR
Amy M. Reade is a cook, chauffeur, household CEO, doctor, laundress, maid, psychiatrist, warden, seer, teacher, and pet whisperer. In other words, a wife, mother, and recovering attorney. But she also writes (how could she not write with that last name?) and is the author of The Malice Series (The House on Candlewick Lane, Highland Peril, and Murder in Thistlecross) and three standalone books, Secrets of Hallstead House, The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor, and House of the Hanging Jade. She lives in southern New Jersey, but loves to travel. Her favorite places to visit are Scotland and Hawaii and when she can’t travel she loves to read books set in far-flung locations.
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GIVEAWAY!!!
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Click on the banner above to go to the tour page, where you will find links to other reviews of Highland Peril by Amy Reade. You can also find out how to become a blog host for future book tours while you are there!
(Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author and publishers via Great Escape Virtual Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.)
Hi LuAnn, it's been a crazy morning here, but I'm finally getting around to reading your lovely review of Highland Peril. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to read and review the book, and I'm thrilled that you enjoyed it. Have a great Friday!
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
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