Yes, I should have been able to move into my house by now. And yes, of course I want to know what’s causing the delay. I’m as nosy as the next person (the next person being my friend Christine). And yes, the estate agent who’s been managing the property for me for the past decade assured me that I’d given the current renters plenty of notice, plenty of time to move out. But . . . then the agent asked me to give them a few more days.
When I told Christine I’d agreed to the new delay, she said I’ve gone soft. I haven’t. But as an American and one of four new owners of Yon Bonnie Books, here in Inversgail, I’m treading carefully and trying to fit in. I don’t want to be one of those people who insist on things being the way they were back home, or try to impress people by throwing money around, or talk louder as if that will help people understand them. Christine said I’m not one of those people, that I won’t become one, and that I never was one in all the years my family spent summers here. But . . . then she insisted we walk past the house to see what we could see.
Right. So we did. Although I insisted that we not knock on the door. I didn’t want to intrude. Christine kindly agreed to that. Instead she rang the bell. Thank goodness no one answered. But . . . we got the distinct impression the house was actually empty.
That’s when we decided to go around back so we could look in the windows without being seen by the neighbors. If anyone was watching, we probably looked as cool and casual as a couple of amateur peeping Toms.
Everything was quiet in the back garden. But then we looked in the kitchen window. There are no words to describe . . .
Plaid and Plagiarism by Molly MacRae is the first book in the NEW Highland Bookshop mystery series, published by Pegasus Books, December 2016.
A murder in a garden turns the four new owners of Yon Bonnie Books into amateur detectives, in a captivating new cozy mystery novel from Molly MacRae.
Set in the weeks before the annual Inversgail Literature Festival in Scotland, Plaid and Plagiarism begins on a morning shortly after the four women take possession of their bookshop in the Highlands. Unfortunately, the move to Inversgail hasn’t gone as smoothly as they’d planned.
First, Janet Marsh is told she’ll have to wait before moving into her new home. Then she finds out the house has been vandalized. Again. The chief suspect? Una Graham, an advice columnist for the local paper―who’s trying to make a name for herself as an investigative reporter. When Janet and her business partners go looking for clues at the house, they find a body―it’s Una, in the garden shed, with a sickle in her neck. Janet never did like that garden shed.
Who wanted Una dead? After discovering a cache of nasty letters, Janet and her friends are beginning to wonder who didn’t, including Janet’s ex-husband. Surrounded by a cast of characters with whom readers will fall in love, the new owners of Yon Bonnie Books set out to solve Una’s murder so they can get back to business.
A delightful and deadly new novel about recognizing one’s strengths and weakness―while also trying to open a new book shop―Plaid and Plagiarism is the start of an entertaining new Scottish mystery series.
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About the author
The Boston Globe says Molly MacRae writes “murder with a dose of drollery.” In addition to writing the Highland Bookshop Mysteries, Molly is the author of the award-winning Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries from NAL/Penguin and the stand-alone mystery novels Lawn Order and Wilder Rumors. Molly’s short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine since 1990 and she’s a winner of the Sherwood Anderson Award for Short Fiction. Molly and her family live in Champaign, Illinois, where she connects children and books at the public library.
All comments are welcomed.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Plaid and Plagiarism. US entries only, please. The giveaway ends December 8, 2016 at 11:59 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
Yes please, I’d love to win the book. While I’m waiting for you to announce me as the lucky winner, I’ll be reading a library copy. Nothing wrong with library copies other then you have to give the books back when you are done. LOL
Book shop books are awesome!
I’d love to win this new book in a series! lindaherold999@gmail.com
I love book shop mysteries. And I also love plaid and the Scots. Sounds like an awesome combination. Thanks for the chance!
I enjoy mysteries which involve book shops. Can’t wait to read this book.
I do love a book set in Scotland.
It does look like a great read. Thanks for the heads up with a lovely post on a new author and read. Thanks for a chance to get the book sooner. Rather than later
Love mysteries set in bookshops. Will put this book on my list.
I put book on my list to read. Sounds like a book I will enjoy.
Books and a mystery. What could be better? Thanks for sharing!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
This one is already on my library list. I just received a blog with a recipe for Athol Brose…a unique Scottish dish.
Delightful and appealing cozy. Thanks.
Love books about bookstores and taking place in Scotland makes it even better.
I’m all in for this latest book of Molly MacRae. With the weather turning colder and snowy here in northeast Ohio, I am always looking for new books to read. Thanks Dru Ann for including Molly’s book on your blog. Fingers crossed I am the lucky one to be chosen.
Thanks for a chance to win a copy of Molly’s latest.
Books, a murder, Scotland, and humor! Wow – what a great combination. Hope I win!
It would be so awesome to win this book. It is on my Christmas list.
I am so excited for this book. I can’t wait to read this. Thank you for the chance to win Dru!!
I like the concept of them moving to another country and trying to fit in and set up business.
I’ve always wanted to travel to the British Isles—now I can visit Scotland through your new series. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
The setting of Scotland is sooooooo my cup of tea!!
Love this author & can’t wait to read this new series.
I love the title of the book, it makes you want to read it,
Sounds great! Love the cover, and thanks for the chance to win, adding this to my ever growing list.
This one is on my Christmas wish list !!
Love this series, and so happy to see Molly doing well, as I live in her hometown and am familiar with her work at the Library. Go Molly!
What a great sounding series – a bookshop, Scotland and murder. I can’t wait to read this book. I have add it to my TBR list. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Sounds like a great start to a new series. An American in Scotland and a bookstore makes for an amazing storyline. Can’t wait to read.
I want to read this book and keep planning on buying it. Would love to win a copy. Thanks for the opportunity.
Sounds great.
I would love to own a bookstore but I’m sure I would be reading too much to actually buy or sell any of the books. Give me a book and I just can’t help myself, it just calls to me to be read!
Ooooo! I can’t wait to start this new series! Looks great! Thanks for sharing with us.
All things I like…..booklovers, bookstore, Scotland and a unique premise. I would love to win a copy and hope it continues as a series. Thanks.
wow this sounds fantastic set in Scotland and with a bookstore…double yay…please enter me.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Looks like a great book Thanks for sharing it with us and for the chances to win one. Please enter me Thanks
Thanks, so much, for having me here, Dru Ann. And thank you for all you do for the cozy mystery world!