Murder in a Scottish Garden is the 2nd A Scottish Shire Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you have not indulged in Murder in a Scottish Shire. I like that the main characters (Paislee, Brody, Gramps) are developed. We continue to learn more about this little family. I enjoyed the descriptions of Nairn, Scotland with its nosy residents and charming shops. Not as much time was spent in Cashmere Crush this time which is a shame because I love the cozy shop. I enjoy reading about the beautiful yarns Paislee carries and the items she creates with them. The mystery was complex and thought-out. There are a handful of suspects along with good clues. I enjoyed solving this whodunit. I did feel, though, that the book lacked action. The pacing was sluggish in the middle. I am surprised Cashmere Crush makes money with the amount of time Paislee spends running around town with the shop closed. There is a way to balance work and sleuthing (hint to the author). I was not a fan of the lawsuit storyline (parents sued Paislee—who has no money—because she protected a little girl from seeing a dead man). It seemed silly and unnecessary. There are two potential suitors for Paislee, but issues keep her from getting together with her son’s headmaster who runs hot and cold. Grandpa is still looking for his missing son. This storyline started in Murder in a Scottish Shire and is touched on in this book. I wonder how long the author will stretch out this thread. Murder at a Scottish Social is the next book in the series. Murder in a Scottish Garden is a charming whodunit with a mystifying maze, a striking sculptor, a dedicated detective, a trivial lawsuit, real estate miseries, and a mysterious murder. ( )

Knit shop owner Paislee Shaw continues her winning ways in Murder in a Scottish Garden, the second in Traci Hall's Scottish Shire cozy series set on Scotland's north coast. The mystery is the type to keep you scratching your head as you try to unravel all the knots and tangles. True to any rich family worth its salt, those on the Leery Estate hold themselves to different standards, and everyone on the property seems to have at least four different versions of the truth that they share with both Detective Inspector Mack Zeffer and the ever-inquisitive Paislee Shaw.

One of the things that I like about this series is that there's more going on than the mystery. There's the problem of Paislee's missing uncle, a mystery that her grandfather seems loathe to share and which ties into the strong parents-and-their-children theme of the book as does the lawsuit facing the school. There's also the problem of the eviction notice that she and the other shopkeepers have been served. If Paislee is forced to move from her prime location, it could have dire consequences for her business. If she loses Cashmere Crush, women won't have any place to gather for their Knit & Sip meetings or a place to buy yarn or order one of Paislee's custom-knit items.

And of course, like any good cozy, all this is held together by a fine cast of characters, in particular Paislee, her son Brody, and her grandfather. I like how Paislee's primary concern is her son, how she isn't looking for a man but thinks nothing of trying to play matchmaker for her single friends. There is no shortage of eligible men in Nairn. For example, there's the "high-end fashion model" handsome detective inspector who seems to be slowly learning to appreciate Paislee's sleuthing skills, and there's the local headmaster with the irresistible dimples. Well, they used to be irresistible until that lawsuit.

I find Paislee, her family, and her sleuthing to be good for what ails me, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if you did, too. If you're new to the series, I suggest that you begin with the first book, Murder in a Scottish Shire. You have some fun in store!

(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley) ( )

Murder In A Scottish Garden is the second book in the A Scottish Shire Mystery series by Tracie Hall.

Paislee, the owner of Cashmere Crush, a custom sweater and yarn shop, nor the other tenants in the block have heard anything from the block owner about its pending sale.

Paislee learns that her son Brody’s class will be visiting the Leery Estate garden. Paislee volunteers to be a chaperone as Lady Leery’s son is Shawn Marcus, Paislee’s landlord. Paislee hopes that she will either talk with Shawn or find out where he might be.

The garden is beautiful, and everyone is enjoying their visit. A girl tells Paislee that she needs to use the restroom. While waiting for the girl, Paislee hears a gunshot and sees a body fall from the bushes nearby. She first thinks that it might be Shawn, but after the police arrive, the victim is identified as Shawn’s cousin, Charles Thomson.

Paislee is upset that she wasn’t able to contact Shawn while she was at the estate, but soon another opportunity present itself for another visit to the Leery Estate. Paislee friend Lydia Barron has invited her to be her plus one at her companies award dinner at Leery Estate. While at the dinner, she does have a chance to converse with Shawn, but he is too intoxicated to get much about the pending sale of the block of real estate. Paislee does learn about a family secret that could lead to the discovery of the murderer, which she will share with DI Mack Zeffler. Even though he warns her about interfering with his case, she will continue her investigation.

The story is well-written and plotted. There were plenty of red herrings that I was kept guessing until the end as to who the murder was. The characters are well developed and quite enjoyable. I especially enjoyed Paislee’s grandfather, who has recently come into her life. He helps out and the shop and cares for Brody when she’s not around. He adds some fun to the story. I also enjoy their Scottie, Wallace.

I will be awaiting the next book in this series, Murder At A Scottish Social, due out in January 2022. ( )

Paislee Shaw owns a yarn shop named Cashmere Crush, which she inherited from her late grandmother. It's the sole source of income for her and her ten-year-old son, Brody. Recently, her grandfather has come to live with her, and he helps with both the shop and Brody, which allows her to go on a field trip with Brody's class and keep the shop open.

Paislee's landlord has given everyone on the block eviction notices, and she doesn't want to move. Therefore, when she goes to the Leery Estate to see the gardens, she intends to talk with Shawn Marcus, Lady Leery's son. But shortly after arriving, she sees a man fall from the bushes, apparently dead. At first she thinks it's Shawn, but later discovers it's his cousin Charles Thomson. Little does Paislee know that this one act can embroil her in several uncomfortable situations, not the least among them of the possibility of losing both her shop and her home.

When another opportunity arrives to see Shawn, she jumps at it and in doing so draws herself even farther into the murder investigation, to the consternation of DI Zeffer, who wants her to steer clear completely. But Paislee has a stake in the game, and she's not going to let a little thing like a murderer on the loose stop her...

This is the second book in the series, and I enjoyed it quite as much as the first. I love the small village of Nairn and the closeness of its residents. It's hard in this day and age to find somewhere where people care and look out for each other. It gives a warm feeling inside. Paislee does not go looking for trouble, nor is she what I would consider nosy. She's caring. She sees people with problems and tries to help them if she can. When she is thrust into the investigation, she naturally wants to get to the truth, and people talk to her while they won't talk to DI Zeffer.

She has a loving relationship with her son, and a growing one with her grandfather, who's only been in her life a short while. You can feel the relationship growing, and you can tell that they care about one another, not only in banter but in actions.

To the things I don't really care for: I understand Paislee's reluctance to get involved with anyone, but in my mind I see her old and alone (since Brody will grow up, leave her, and more than likely marry) just sitting in a chair and knitting with gnarled hands. Now, I crochet and I do many other crafts, but I give my hands a rest so as not to develop arthritis in my fingers. All she does is laundry and knitting. How satisfying a life is that? I would like to see her at least try to wade into the waters of dating someone, or even just having coffee or lunch with them once in a while.

Anyway, the mystery is intriguing, with her trying to pin down Shawn, but he is also one of the murder suspects, along with everyone else in the house, including the servants. There are plenty of red herrings, and plenty of problems for Paislee, though she doesn't allow any of them to stop her. When the ending comes and we discover the murderer, it all comes together in a turn of events that's both satisfying and leaves us wanting more. I enjoyed this mystery and look forward to the next in the series. Recommended. ( )

Scotland, small-business, small-town, amateur-sleuth, murder, murder-investigation, knitting, dog, pet, whodunit, cosy-mystery*****

It's not vital to have read the first in the Scottish Shire series. The story is told in a clear Scottish brogue and filled with characters who most certainly are. Paisley Shaw is a realistic character who balances being a single mom, a small business owner whose landlord is trying to evict her business, taking care of her family (her grandfather and her son) and adorable Scottish terrier. She is chaperoning a school outing to the local estate when a man belonging to the wealthy family is shot. Things get worse from there. Problems with her son's school are the most vexing and complicate her subtle investigation into the shooting. This one is even better than the first!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )