Ohio antique dealer, Kate Hamilton, has been called to the Scottish family manor of her deceased husband's sister. He's been gone three years and Kate still struggles with the loss. But when family beckons, who can argue? The sister-in-law had turned the home into a stately country hotel and was one of the major employers in the area. The evening of Kate's arrival is the Tartan Ball and everyone who is anyone is in attendance (including that most handsome Detective Inspector, Tom Mallory of Suffolk, who was seeking some R&R in the outer Scottish reaches). The sister-in-law announces at the soirée some news which did not sit well with the locals nor the staff. Sure enough, by the next morning, there's a body in a snowdrift and Kate is on the case (regardless of being instructed by the constabulary to stay out of the investigation). Interestingly enough, there appears to be some similarities between this death and an unsolved crime there from 200 years previously. The police dismiss Kate's assertions but perhaps she's actually on to something. Only time will tell.

This was a delightful start to Connie Berry's, "Kate Hamilton Mystery" series. It's part cozy mystery, a bit of police procedural and holds a small touch of later-in-life blooming romance. The story calls into play Kate's knowledge of history and antiques. There were a number of red herrings where everyone is a suspect at some point or another. Secrets abound - not the least of which are those of the house itself. As cozy mysteries go, there was a bit more gravitas than is often found in the genre which personally, I found quite appealing. All in all, this was a most enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the other books in this series. ( )

Three years after the death of her husband in an accident on the island, Kate Hamilton returns to Glenroth. The island off the coast of Scotland has a sparse population of only 238 people once the tourist season is over. Kate returns to fulfill a promise she made to her husband to help her sister-in-law, Elenor Spurgeon. Elenor runs the Glenroth House Hotel. She contacted Kate requesting her help. Initially all Elenor will tell her is that something is happening on the island that worries her and shows Kate a small carved box. Elenor says everything that is occurring relates to the box. Unfortunately, Elenor is murdered before she can elaborate. Kate finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation. Who killed Elenor? And how does it all tie in with the intricately carved wooden box and another murder that happened 200 years in the past?

A Dream of Death is the first book in the Kate Hamilton series. I enjoyed the setting, the characters and the plot. I will definitely be reading more of this series! I like Kate as a main character. She is strong, intelligent, and driven to protect her friends and family. The side characters are all small town quirky, which adds to the charm and magic of this story.

A great start to a new cozy series! It made for a very enjoyable afternoon of reading! I am definitely eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!

Connie Berry also writes the Davis Way Crime Caper series.

**I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** ( )

4.5 stars.

The first installment in the Kate Hamilton Mysteries series, A Dream of Death by Connie Berry is a suspense-laden cozy mystery.

Kate Hamilton is returning to the Isle of Glenroth, Scotland at the request of her estranged sister-in-law, Elenor Spurgeon. The two women were never close but since Kate's beloved husband, Bill, passed away, they have not been in contact. Despite not particularly liking Elenor, Kate cannot refuse Elenor's urgent request for her help. She is dismayed to discover she is even more disagreeable than ever and she is frustrated when Elenor puts off telling her why she needs Kate's assistance. The next day, a shocking murder stuns Kate and the rest of the community. The murder is eerily similar to one that took place hundreds of year ago and Kate is convinced there is a connection. When the police zero in on handyman Bo Duff, Kate begins her own investigation since she is certain he is not the killer. Will she uncover the murderer's identity before it is too late?

Kate lives in Jackson Falls, OH where she owns an antique store. Her children are now grown and despite the passage of time, she still deeply mourns Bill's death. Kate's relationship with Elenor has always been tense, but she cannot ignore her promise to Bill to care for his sister. She is hoping to quickly get to the root of the problem, but Elenor is focused on the upcoming Tartan Ball. She drops a bombshell on the attendees and then brushes off Kate's questions. After the stunning murder, Kate puts her investigative skills to work in an attempt to catch the killer.

With an isolated setting, an intriguing murder and the tantalizing historic murders, A Dream of Death is an absorbing cozy mystery. The characters are vibrantly developed and quite appealing. Despite warnings from the police to stay out of the investigation, Kate just cannot resist trying to piece together the pieces of this perplexing mystery. With some well-placed red herrings and sneaky misdirects, Connie Berry brilliantly keeps the perpetrator's identity and motive for the crime cleverly under wraps until the action-filled denouement. An enjoyable beginning to the Kate Hamilton Mysteries series that I highly recommend to readers of the genre.
( )

Generous with 4 stars because I did voraciously read the novel over 3-evenings. The plot ran along the classic "Agatha Christie" mystery structure: a murder is committed, there are multiple characters who are all suspected of concealing secrets, and the main protagonist, usually the detective, gradually uncovers these secrets over the course of the story.

In Connie Berry's novel, the female lead (Kate Hamilton) fulfills the trope of the insightful, but ignored, participant who has ties to the victim and is there by accident. Kate is annoyingly idiotic about her own safety (and declares so several times), plus acts like an airhead in a number of situations (no spoilers here, you'll find them without my help).

Despite some tactless and less than wise actions, Kate is an engaging character. Readers may find themselves drawn to her plight and rooting for a happy ending. I ticked that box, although it was left with a certain amount of uncertainty. For my tastes, Berry has to learn not to gallop through the action and to write more evocatively. ( )

This was such a good, classic mystery and introduction to what I hope will be a long series with Kate Hamilton. Kate's late husband Bill had implored Kate to always help his sister, so when Elenor calls, Kate leaves her home in Ohio to return to the small Isle of Glenroth in Scotland.She arrives near the end of the regular tourist season, just in time for the Tartan Ball. With missing luggage and a helpful housekeeper, Kate is well dressed and ready to see Elenor and others she hasn't connected with after her husband's death on the isle three years ago. The country house that seems like a castle, stories of Jacobites, Culloden and Bonnie Prince Charlie--thank goodness I have read Outlander to be on top of certain areas of Scottish history! A murder is discovered after the ball, and mimics the murder of a young bride named Flora 200 years earlier. The isle is full of suspects and there is no shortage of atmosphere. I can't wait to turn the next page with Kate in another story. ( )