Hop Scot

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
With the sorry state of the world today, it was a joy to read Hop Scot, what a hoot, I loved it!
Lexy and her motley group of friends in California are treated to a trip in a private jet, (courtesy of their doctor friend), to Lexy's original home of Scotland. They're staying in her parents' newly bought mansion, which is a hotel in the making.
There are so many hilarious events in this book, especially the differences between California and Scotland: the swearing, the non-bleached teeth, the unhealthy food, the drinking, smoking etc. The lack of wokeness is refreshing and I can't wait to find out 'will they go or will they stay'!
Highly recommended.

"Hop Scot" by Catriona McPherson is a delightful and entertaining Christmas mystery that whisks readers away to the idyllic Scottish village of Yule for the holidays. Lexy Campbell and the Last Ditch crew, known for their adventures, find themselves in a charming but enigmatic village, where Christmas takes an unexpected turn.

The story is a perfect blend of cozy Christmas vibes and an intriguing mystery. As the characters navigate a new setting and unexpected twists, the narrative keeps readers engaged and guessing. The disappearance of a man sixty years ago and a mysterious discovery in the bricked-up basement set the stage for another captivating murder investigation.

Catriona McPherson's writing is filled with humor and warmth, making it easy for readers to connect with the characters and immerse themselves in the holiday spirit. From snowy landscapes to quirky village traditions, the book captures the essence of a Scottish Christmas, creating a vivid and enchanting backdrop for the mystery to unfold.

The Last Ditch crew, including Lexy, Todd, and Kathi, are a lovable trio who never fail to bring humor and camaraderie to the story. Their interactions and the banter between them add depth to the narrative, making them relatable and endearing to readers.

Overall, "Hop Scot" is a delightful and heartwarming Christmas mystery that combines holiday cheer with an engaging whodunit. Catriona McPherson's storytelling prowess shines through in this cozy and festive tale, making it a perfect read for the holiday season. Whether you're a fan of mysteries or simply looking for a feel-good Christmas story, this book is sure to delight.

The Gang from California is heading to Scotland for Christmas. But what is it about Lexy and her friends that keeps them dead center of murders and mysteries? Because even in Scotland these three find themselves having to solve yet another murder..even if it is from six decades ago. Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry (murder mystery) Christmas!

This is the first book I have read by this author and the first in this series, but it surely won’t be the last! I loved the whole Christmas time and Scotland setting to be perfect and the three are a hoot that make me want to come back for more time and time again! I’ll be catching up on this one before the next book is released!

The gang head to Scotland to celebrate the holiday cheer in this fast-paced and well-written drama. Upon arrival to Lexy’s hometown, her parents take the crew on an adventure to a new home and it’s the engaging dialogue that sets the tone when a skeleton is found and Lexy, Todd and Kathi are on the hunt for the person responsible for putting the missing man behind a brick wall. With her parents' intriguing quips, the previous owners’ eccentricity, and the owners’ family, it’s fair game as to who is going to solve this puzzling case. With a mixture of humor and determination in deciphering the clues, the trio comes to a startling conclusion, and what a nice little twist that was. Catriona as always delivers a satisfying read with visually descriptive narrative that made me feel like I was in Scotland with the rest of them.

Lexy and the residents of the Last Ditch motel go to Dundee to celebrate Christmas with her parents, but no sooner have they landed than Lexy's parents drop bombshell after bombshell on the group and Lexy finds a skeleton walled up behind the storeroom in her parents' new home.

This is a funny series in both meanings of the word. There is a lot of humour derived from the differences in language between Brits/Scots and Americans which can become grating. I received an ARC of the fourth book, really enjoyed and went back and read the first two books, then kind of overdosed on the humour and found the ending a bit confusing. Then I seem to have totally missed the fifth book but saw this on NetGalley and requested it. Then it sat on my TBR pile for six weeks because I remembered the humour.

Anyway, this was a laugh-riot. There was still a lot of humour derived from the different vocabularies of the Americans and the Scots but it felt gentler, less manic. I understood the ending as well.

If the thought of two gay doctors, a germophobe, a family with an extremely loud baby, twitchers (as in bird fanciers), a mistletoe thief, a small Scottish village, and a big Tesco shop on Christmas Eve eve sounds like your idea of fun then this could be the book for you.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

"It's all aboard for a Campbell Clan Christmas! Lexy swaps cinnamon lattes for boiled sprouts when the Last Ditch crew travel from California to an idyllic Scottish village for the holidays, but something very unmerry is lurking below the surface...

Lexy Campbell is long overdue a trip to Scotland to see her parents, and an unexpected death in the extended Last Ditch Motel family makes Christmas in a bungalow in Dundee with nine others seem almost irresistible.

But when Lexy and the Last Ditch crew hop across the Atlantic, there's been a change of plan and they're whisked off to Mistletoe Hall in the pretty village of Yule, where the surprises continue. The news that a man disappeared from the crumbling pile sixty years ago, along with an unsettling discovery in the bricked-up basement, means that Todd, Kathi and Lexy - Trinity for Trouble - must solve another murder.

Deadly secrets, berry rustlers, skeletons and a snowy Christmas Eve in the booze aisle at Tesco: the Last Ditch crew won't forget their Scottish holiday in a hurry!"

I mean, Christmas means murder to me. Through in a Scottish setting and I'm extra happy.

This hilarious breath of fresh air from Catriona McPherson has rocketed on to my all time favorite Christmas mystery list. This series centers on Scot Lexy Campbell, who has settled in the strange land of California, and lives in a motel surrounded by an array of interesting characters who often help her solve crimes. Her “real” job is working as a life coach, but honestly, sleuthing takes front and center stage for her.

In this outing McPherson has flipped the script, and sent Lexy and her buddies home (Lexy’s home, anyway) to Scotland for Christmas. While it was a trip planned for just her and her fiancée, their buddy Roger the doc says he needs to get out of town and buys them all swanky airplane tickets – how can they refuse?

On the way over, Lexy warns her friends that Scotland is rainy, cold, grey and full of hostility at every corner. They ignore her. When Lexy’s parents – who seem especially twinkly to Lexy – appear to pick them up at the airport, they are not taken to Lexy’s childhood home of Dundee, but to the tiny town of Yule (adorable as it sounds) where they have apparently bought a castle that functions as a B & B. Lexy and her friends are the first guinea pig guests.

As her friends rhapsodize over the adorable town and the beautiful home, it’s not until Lexy meets the snarky barmaid at the local pub that she actually feels she’s back in Scotland. When a skeleton is found in the cellar in a concealed room, all heck breaks loose, involving a baby owl, a broken tree branch, stolen holly boughs, and the various parts of the family who have just sold the place to Lexy’s parents.

This book was both charming and funny. The mystery is clever but it’s only part of the fun of the story, which is just the right length, just the right number of characters, and just the right amount of sweetness and spice. In short, just right. I enjoyed this read about as much as any book I’ve read in quite awhile, and that includes a re-read of a few Agatha Christie titles. Happy Hogmanay!

The latest in a series that plays off differences between Scotland and the US- and it should be fine as a standalone. Lexy's going home for Christmas- but things have changed. Her parents are just the same except that they have a large new home they're planning to turn into a bed and breakfast. She's brought her pals Todd and Kathy with her so when a body, a long dead body, is found, of course they will investigate. This time out it's Todd and Kathy who struggle a bit with the differences in attitude and language but that doesn't hamper them from finding the village. This series rides on humor (sometimes it gets to be a bit over the top) and warmth between the characters- the mysteries are pretty standard cozy stuff. Thanks the Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.