Melinda Mullet

I generally liked this, although I wish Abi and Ben had been closer. I enjoyed the mystery and I didn't see it coming - whether because it was that good or because there was no evidence leading to it I'm unsure. Either way I was kept entertained. I would've liked to see Abi build more of a connection with Grant and Cam but I'm sure that'll happen in future books. I did like her relationship with Patrick and how he helped to solve the crimes. The whisky angle was interesting and I haven't read a cozy mystery in a similar vein before. I'll definitely continue with the series.… (mer)

Abi, the whiskey maker that relies on Grant for guidance is more interested in a good mystery. She seems to be a magnet for trouble. When she gets involved with Woolies and Shepherd's Rest, she finds more than she expected wrong with their situation....all I can say without revealing too much, is that Abi is an extremely determined woman!

I loved how this cozy mystery was written. It flowed wonderfully and the focus was primarily on figuring out what was happening other than the whiskey. There was only a hint of romance until the mystery was solved. I really liked that, and the fact that this novel really has something for everyone.… (mer)

In my time blogging about books, it has been a rare occurrence indeed that I get a cozy series from the beginning. It is quite an enjoyable experience. Abi Logan, photographer from London, is having a rough time of it lately. Her uncle Ben, the only family she has had since childhood, has recently died after a long illness and left her his farmhouse and distillery in Scotland. She has her booze journalist pal Patrick and her loyal dog Liam, to help her through her grief, but someone is not at all happy about her inheritance. Macabre and menacing gifts try to persuade her to stay away.

Her investigation in the small highland village doesn’t give her much insight into who is threatening her. On the surface it would seem that a woman owning the distillery, and brewing the iconic liquor, doesn’t sit well with the traditionalists. On the other hand Balfour is a small close knit community with long traditions and as an outsider Abi doesn’t get much sympathy from the locals, especially when a young employee ends up dead in one of her vats. Abi searches for the killer and searches her soul as she faces a tough choice.

I am not much of a drinker, but I still enjoyed learning about the process of making and selling whisky. It is far more involved than I had imagined and made a terrific backdrop for the unfolding story. I was able to figure out some of the more obvious components of the mystery, yet reading it play out in the end was still worth it. Abi, Patrick and few of the townsfolk were memorable well written characters, and the prospective buyers with their individual stories and quirks made for great reading. However, most of the rest of the residents in the village could have used a bit more fleshing out. That does leave a lot of room for growth during the series. There is obviously also a colorful town history that can be tapped into for inspiration. All in all this was a great afternoon’s read and this seems to be a series that will be enjoyable for a long time to come.



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review… (mer)