The Ballochbrae Book Club is a heartwarming tale set in the charming Scottish village of Ballochbrae.

On Balmoral Castle’s doorstep, Flora, Heather, Chatty and Morag – women of a certain age – form a book group. There’s just one problem: nobody wants to read the books.

Then a body is dragged from the River Dee. Was foul play involved? Led by Flora, the four set out to pursue their own enquiries, uncovering secrets and lies in Ballochbrae, their sleepy Highland village.

Genre: Cosy mystery

But when their investigation gains pace, a series of setbacks causes tensions to escalate. After police warn them off, the would-be detectives give themselves forty-eight hours to solve the mystery.

As the clock runs down, it emerges their suspects aren’t the only ones with guilty secrets. Flora is forced to confront her worst fears and Chatty’s past comes back to haunt her.

My Review

Cosy mystery isn’t always my favourite genre as I prefer the grittier serial killer thrillers and Scandi Noir type crime fiction. But The Ballochbrae Book Club is a great romp in the Scottish Highlands, with an array of often hilarious characters.

Our four intrepid amateur lady detectives set up a book club, except no-one is interested in the books. They would rather discuss the discovery of a body in the river, very much dead, and initially unidentified (without going into details as to why).

The ladies are very different and often don’t get on and throw snide comments at each other. I really didn’t like Chatty (really Catriona), even the name grated. She almost single-handedly runs a guest house, and doesn’t half go on about it. She dresses to kill and uses her fading womanly wiles to get what she wants. I’m told that the fact that I really dislike her is a sign of how well written she is.

Heather is a school teacher and a bit too upright, or uptight more likely. Her dwindling pupil numbers are dwindling even further and could result in the closing of the one and only school in the immediate area. She would then be out of a job.

Morag is a farmer, looking after her grumpy old dad. Her fashion style comprises dungarees, wellies, mud and straw. She’s terrifying.

Finally, Flora’s husband had an affair with a younger woman – she even caught them ‘in flagrante delicto’. Flora has been taking care of her mother Kate, who has dementia, and is now in a nursing home. She is my favourite character by miles.

The body is discovered by two of the pupils at Heather’s school, who were playing truant at the time. The ladies try to get as much ‘intel’ as they can so they can solve the crime, but the police are not happy about their interference.

It’s great fun and the first in a new series. If the author is reading this, please can we have a dog in the next book. Not Morag’s working dogs, but maybe Flora could get a Jack Russell or a Border Terrier. She’s not the Chihuahua or Cockapoo type. Thank you.

Many thanks to @lovebookstours for inviting me to be part of the #TheBallochbraeBookClub #blogtour

About the Author

“I spent a magical childhood in Fort William, a small Highland town on the eastern shore of Loch Linnhe, at the foot of Ben Nevis and the entrance to the Great Glen.

“After studying English, I pursued careers in newspaper and television advertising, HR and training consultancy before marrying and moving to Aberdeen. There I became an antiques dealer. Baby under one arm, I scoured the countryside for precious finds, mining a rich seam of material for my first love: writing.

“Early success saw short stories published in magazines. A window of opportunity allowed further study for MLitt in Creative writing. It was only after my children left home I found the opportunity to write full-time.

“Holidays are spent on Deeside, where the majestic Cairngorm mountains, the Scots pine remnants of the ancient Caledonian Forest and the tumbling peaty waters of the River Dee sowed the seeds of inspiration for The Ballochbrae Book Club.”

The pre-order link is https://amzn.to/42u4PXE

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