Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong is the fourth novel in A Rip Through Time, a timeslip mystery series and one of my favorites. Murders, weddings and mischief in the Scottish Highlands await you in this addictive installment.
by Kelley Armstrong
Series: A Rip Through Time #4
Genres: Historical Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm *affiliate
Death at a Highland Wedding is the fourth installment in New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong's gripping Rip Through Time Novels.
After slipping 150 years into the past, modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson has embraced her new life in Victorian Scotland as housemaid Catriona Mitchel. Although it isn’t what she expected, she's developed real, meaningful relationships with the people around her and has come to love her role as assistant to undertaker Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie.
Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie are on their way to the Scottish Highlands for McCreadie's younger sister's wedding. The McCreadies and the groom’s family, the Cranstons, have a complicated history which has made the weekend quite uncomfortable. But the Cranston estate is beautiful so Gray and Mallory decide to escape the stifling company and set off to explore the castle and surrounding wilderness. They discover that the groom, Archie Cranston, a slightly pompous and prickly man, has set up deadly traps in the woods for the endangered Scottish wildcats, and they soon come across a cat who's been caught and severely injured. Oddly, Mallory notices the cat's injuries don't match up with the intricacies of the trap. These strange irregularities, combined with the secretive and erratic behavior of the groom, put Mallory and Duncan on edge. And then when one of the guests is murdered, they must work fast to uncover the murderer before another life is lost.
New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong’s unique time travel mystery series continues to entertain as Mallory adjusts to life in the 1870s.
Mallory and Gray travel with McCreadie to the Scottish Highlands for McCreadie’s younger sister’s wedding. What should have been a supportive holiday for a friend turns into a murder investigation as suspicion falls on the groom.
The author does a splendid job of bringing new readers up to speed and each book contains a new mystery/case for Gray and Mallory to solve. However, if like me you are vested in the building of relationships, romances and want to discover them on your own, I recommend started at the beginning with A Rip Through Time. I also recommend the novellas, which have proven to be equally delightful.
A broken engagement caused McCreadie to become estranged from his family. However, he remained close to his sister and refuses to disappoint her. He brings Duncan Gray, Mallory Atkinson (Catriona Mitchel) and Duncan’s sister, Isla. Mallory is a modern day detective who time-slipped 150 years into the past and into the body of Catriona Mitchel, a Victorian house maid in Gray’s house.
The groom’s family has a complicated history with the McCreadie family, making things slightly awkward. Then there are the orders to remain close to the home. This holiday is turning out to be anything but. On a walk, a cat is discovered caught in a trap, only the wounds don’t add up, and then one of the house guests turns up murdered. Mallory suspects the grounds keeper and they work to investigate. The investigated is hampered when the young local constable declines their offer to assist and arrests the groom.
From the descriptions of the highlands to the investigation itself, I found myself fully immersed in the story. I love when a book pulls me out of this world and into the story. The dance between Mallory and Gray continues, but we get to witness the rekindling of another romance and I was all in.
Armstrong has created a delightful series filled with interesting tidbits about Victorian times and criminal forensics. If, like me, you enjoy both; you are in for a treat. Each new novel is better than its predecessors, and I look forward to the next novel & novella.
About Kelley Armstrong
Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed. Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
Stay Caffeinated!
Never miss a post by adding Caffeinated to your Inbox
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
I do need to read this series I think. Sounds really good and I do enjoy other books by this author. Great review!
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
I loved this one, too and also find how Mallory attempts to use forensics in their time interesting. I agree, the novellas are also a delight and hold us over until the next book!
Katherine
This sounds so good and I can’t wait to read this series from the beginning. I’m so behind on Kelley Armstrong’s books it’s a bit overwhelming.
Sophie
OK, OK I will begin this series from the start!
Ethan
I desperately need to read some Kelly Armstrong. Everyone who has read her loves her!
hena
It’s the time travel that puts me off. But your stellar review makes me want to reconsider.
Kimberly
Does it help that she stays there, and it is all historical?
Anne - Books of My Heart
I love this series too. My review is tomorrow.