As a long time fan of Josh Lanyon, I was thrilled at the opportunity to get my greedy hands on this ARC! One thing that can always be counted on is that Lanyon NEVER disappoints! This story was a joy to read. I loved Carter from page one. His ex, Trevor, is a little bit..ch! Trevor is self-absorbed and greedy...and dislikable. My main question was why in the world did Carter let Trevor have the ticket for the tour in the first place? Carter paid for the trip. Harrumph! That’s the kind of nice guy Carter is and the kind of a$$hole Trevor is. Enough about that or I’ll do a full, lengthy rant about exes taking advantage.

Okay. I took a deep breath so I can forget about exes and move on, although the before-mentioned ex gives poor Carter a lot of grief throughout the book, this story is full of great characters. It’s a tour group, so there are a lot of people, some there because of their love of Dame Vanessa Rayburn’s books and some as tag-alongs...spouses, siblings and such. Some of these characters are likable, some less so, but they are a fascinating group. Lanyon is well known for writing fully fleshed characters, even when they’re secondary in the story. And then...and then...John Knight shows up. He arrives late. The only place left for him is to room with Carter. Carter is not pleased.

Carter is a bit of an introvert, so sharing a room with a stranger makes him a little cranky, but it doesn’t last long. John’s behavior is a little off. Carter wonders right away if the man has even read a single one of the Rayburn books! And...if he’s not a fan, why is he here?

Strange things start to happen on the tour. Carter and John get more connected as one bad thing after another happens. A mystery, wrapped around a mystery, wrapped around an even older mystery unfolds, page by page with Lanyon’s iconic style. Lanyon is also known for turning a book into a series, something I hope happens with this book...I would love to see more of Carter and John.

If you enjoy a good mystery, great writing skill or a m/m story that’s more about the emotional bonding than the sex, you should grab a copy and...

Enjoy!

2shay

ARC graciously provided by Carina Press and NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.

3.5 Stars

With that cover, I was sort of expecting a more sinister spin than this. Not that I didn’t enjoy the story, I did. Murder Takes the High Road put on quirky and hilarious assembly of casts, including our librarian hero, Carter Matheson. But the way the conflicts and mystery unveiled just left me unimpressed.

Characters and plot aside, what I loved about this book is the Scotland road trip the character and his group took. It’s no secret that I loved books set in Scotland and I truly enjoyed following the account each time the group made stops. The witty back and forth were also the source of much snorting and snickering, be it the ones spoken by the MC or those he overheard.

Lanyon’s leading role’s characteristic obliviousness was also present here (as proven by me repeatedly shaking head whenever someone tried to catch Carter’s attention). Usually, I found this trait adorable in other Lanyon’s MCs. But Carter piqued me with his - albeit unwittingly - straddling two choices here. The budding romance between him and someone he knew barely a week - while expected - felt too soon. Given how the story ended though, glimpsing promising start of a relationship, I’m guessing there’d be sequel to this book (here’s hoping!) and if that’s the case I’m hoping for more gripping adventures for our MC!


Advanced copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review goes live on Apr 20 on the blog and will show up on Goodreads sometime later.

In a Flutter: So much fun!
Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: Scotland, tour by bus setting – really awesome. Every stop included some sightseeing and I loved the gang on the bus.
Characters: Carter is a librarian which ofc made me like him instantly. On top of that, he’s a mystery lover, so double love from me. He’s also very smart, very funny, and kind of sweet but still properly snarky when needed. I loved how well-behaved he was around that little shit, Trevor – the patience of a saint, I tell you.
John is very interesting, all mysterious and funny too. I couldn’t get a read on him for a good while there, which made him even more exciting.
Plot: The initial cozy mystery/amateur sleuth thing was fun and picturesque. I loved the pacing of events. The last murder is very interesting, and I loved her everything came together. I loved every step of the way!
Writing: First person, past tense narrative, Carter’s POV. Looooved his sense of humor and his voice. Awesome style, I chuckled throughout the read. One of my top 3 ever styles, in fact – right up there with Darynde Jones, in fact.
Curb Appeal: Fantastic cover, hooking blurb – impulsive buy material for my cozy mystery needs.

I recommend Murder Takes the High Road to fans of Mystery/Romance mixes, witty and charismatic characters, and delightfully amusing and well-told stories.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

From award-winning male/male author Josh Lanyon: a librarian finds himself in a plot right out of one of his favorite mystery novels

Librarian Carter Matheson is determined to enjoy himself on a Scottish bus tour for fans of mystery author Dame Vanessa Rayburn. Sure, his ex, Trevor, will also be on the trip with his new boyfriend, leaving Carter to share a room with a stranger, but he can’t pass up a chance to meet his favorite author.

Carter’s roommate turns out to be John Knight, a figure as mysterious as any character from Vanessa’s books. His strange affect and nighttime wanderings make Carter suspicious. When a fellow traveler’s death sparks rumors of foul play, Carter is left wondering if there’s anyone on the tour he can trust.

Drawn into the intrigue, Carter searches for answers, trying to fend off his growing attraction toward John. As unexplained tragedies continue, the whole tour must face the fact that there may be a murderer in their midst—but who?

Nothing better than diving into a Josh Lanyon murder mystery!  But I have to admit I have a fondness for librarians going back to my childhood and the endless hours I spent with them and their libraries, no matter what state I was living in at the time.  And of course, there's that certain librarian  (The Mummy) who stood up and announced with utter confidence in her abilities to handle anything "I am a librarian!".  As well she should.   As does Josh Lanyon's intrepid librarian Carter Matheson deal with everything that comes at him, from the expected to the shocking, in this marvelous tale of murder and romance in Murder Takes the High Road.

Carter, you see, is on a trip of a sort I've always wanted to take for myself.  So it was easy to slide in next to him, along with the other author and series devotees visiting places important in books written by this author they adored.  However, there's another huge element here.  Carter's recent ex, the one he was supposed to be taking the trip with, is also on the tour with the new boyfriend.  The one he wanted Carter's ticket for, the one that Carter refused to give up and is using now.  So many emotions in turmoil to go along with a long awaited tour that    Carter had been looking forward to.

Of course, Lanyon pours us into Carter's soul and the  awkwardness and pain of the situation.  She let's no small agony go passed by and soon we are deeply connected to Carter and the story (and everyone on the tour as well).  Before you can blink, there's a murder..and mysteries, and a delightful handsome guy for Carter to share room, clues, and maybe just more with.

Yes, I ate this all up.

And at the end, when all the revelations were laid out, all the murderers exposed...I was totally satisfied.  Except that of course as with all of Josh Lanyon's couples...I wanted more. Of them and more stories.  Can't be helped.  It's just the way of her stories.

So yes, I absolutely recommend Murder Takes the High Road by Josh Lanyon.  I loved it.  If you are a fan of murder mystery romances, I will you will too.  If you are a fan of this author, you've already read and know what I'm talking about.

Cover art is spectacular.  I just love it.

3.5 stars

Initially, I thought that Murder Takes the High Road would be like one of those classic closed-space Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery. It definitely has the perfect premise. Bunch of strangers getting together for a tour that aptly calls Tour to Die For, a mysterious man joining the tour at the last minute, fluttery gossip about unexplained death that happened in the previous tour...

BUT, it didn't really reach quite that level for me. First of all, it moved rather slow for a murder mystery. The death of one of the tour members didn't really happen until 1/3rd of the book. Even so, it wasn't really a "shocking" death; it didn't make our strangers got all excited and concerned at the same time. There was no deep investigation to each of tour member's background, no scandals arose from any of them.

So yes, the Agatha Christie fan in me was not quite content with the story. I even felt that the story took more time dealing with Carter Matheson's love problem with his ex, and his ex's new boyfriend rather than the mystery. Not that I don't care about the romance factor... I really do, I want Carter to end up with someone. It's just that the book doesn't quite fulfill my expectation.

Furthermore, John Knight still ends up as rather unknown character, and that's too bad for someone who becomes Carter's love interest. I would love to know more about him, about his job, what makes him tick, and so on. Unfortunately, since I don't know whether there will be any sequel to this book, I have to deal with being slightly unsatisfied.

Having said that, I thought the final 'act' of this book was REALLY, REALLY good!! I loved that Carter solved the mystery by doing plain old research using books at the library. Heck, actually I thought it was pretty brilliant murder plot, the kind that I devour in mystery/thriller books. So on that part of the book, I was really happy.

Josh Lanyon does it again. Cosy mystery meets fish out of water/stranger in a strange land.
Well written and plotted, this book reminds me of a modern Christie, a la Murder on the Orient Express or Death on the Nile, albeit with a much less glamorous mode of transport. The romance is slow building and the two leads are really endearing. I love Lanyon's laid back approach to the romance.
Overall this book has humour, mystery, romance, and fun. What more could you want.

I had forgotten how much I enjoy Josh Lanyon mysteries until I was suddenly unable to put this book down! An intriguing mystery that reminded me a bit of The Orient Express or And Then There Were None by the late, great Dame Agatha Christie, this story follows fans of mystery writer Dame Vanessa Rayburn as they tour Scotland by bus, stopping along the way at locations that were critical to her mysteries.

Vanessa has written mysteries for years, and who better to know the criminal mind than the woman who killed a young man when she was only fifteen? Though she served her prison term, numerous books have been written about her crime but no one but she herself really knows exactly why she did it.

Librarian and mystery fanatic Carter Matheson is on the trip as is his former long-term boyfriend, Trevor, and the man who Trevor cheated on Carter with, Vance, who is now Trevor’s live-in lover. Extremely jealous and hateful toward Carter, there are times on the trip when Carter wonders if some of the accidents he suffers are actually initiated by Vance. Trevor seems to be trying to get back with Carter, too, though Carter is really not interested in renewing what amounted to a boring dead-end relationship. And now that trip latecomer John Knight has joined the tour and has been assigned as Carter’s roommate, there’s definitely no reason to look twice at Trevor.

As people begin to die off and disappear, though, Carter seems to be one of the only persons who is interested in investigating why. And then… it’s revealed that the entire mystery was faked as an entertainment event for those on the tour and the organizers are disappointed that Carter is the only one who really cared. But it’s definitely not fake when Vanessa is killed shortly after John leaves in the middle of the night, ostensibly chasing supposed international thieves who were on the tour. By then, Carter and John have established a flirtation that may lead to even more, so being left on his own to solve Vanessa’s murder is doubly painful.

As it turns out, it’s more painful than Carter initially thought as he’s attacked in the library while researching Vanessa’s life and the murder she committed as a teen. The mystery and action just keep getting better from there until we reach the final resolution.

Honestly, if you enjoy a murder mystery that is not easy to resolve, one that’s got a sweet MM romance that’s secondary to the plot, along with a bit of extra intrigue in the form of a jealous former lover and his live-in boyfriend. Hmm, is that double jealousy? Food for thought. In any event, this is not one of those quick-to-resolve mysteries, but it is highly enjoyable and does come with a very satisfying ending. Highly recommended.

Lightly and confidently written as is on par for Lanyon. As usual Lanyon just carries ones onto the words. This time we climbed on board a bus, complete with bagpipes and went chugging along the coast of Scotland. What else do you need for a cozy mystery a' la' Christie or a' la' Fletcher. And the denouement, completely in character as well.

In the story Lanyon weaves in a lot of reference to fiction crime and true crime in more ways then one. It's there in the words but also in the subject which reminded me of the Anne Perry story/truth.

Sweet cherry on top - Carter and ...... well I better not say, but let me just say that it was nicely, quietly done and fit write into the story.


An ARC was gently given by the author/publisher in return for a review.

Book – Murder Takes the High Road
Author – Josh Lanyon
Star rating - ★★★★★
Length – 60k
Cover – Perfect!
POV – 1st person, one character
Would I read it again – Yes!
Genre – LGBT, Murder Mystery, Crime, Romance, Adventure
Triggers – historical murder, contemporary murder, brief violence


** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine


This is my first book by Josh Lanyon, only because I'm constantly prioritizing my review books over those I've bought for myself. I'll be bumping those books up on my priority list, after this.

Now, just an FYI – I've watched every episode of Midsomer Murders, CSI: Vegas, Murder She Wrote, Columbo, Vera, everything Agatha Christie. I've read every Sherlock Holmes, historical mysteries by Elizabeth Peters. I've watched more true crime shows than I can count. I generally – about 85% of the time – get it right. Be forewarned, that I went into this hoping it would be a mystery and it was. I still figured out who the killer was before the halfway mark, but I hadn't quite figured out all of the who or the why. And I can say that I was thoroughly impressed by how it was all put together, how it was laid out, when it all came together, and the final big reveal. It was a brilliantly done mystery, by someone who lives them every day vicariously through TV and books.

~

The main character, who provides the POV, is Carter – and he's everything I could have wanted in a main character. He's a librarian, so has a vast wealth of knowledge on multiple subjects; he's a murder mystery buff, who loves the books that the tour follows, so knows what signs to look for; he's smart, instinctive, and just logical enough to second guess the more ludicrous ideas, the question everything, even himself, and to provide all the snarky I could want in a disillusioned romantic.

I love that the recent break up of Carter and Trevor wasn't just glossed over, but was a pivotal used throughout the book, adding distractions, an extra air of mystery, and another suspect that he kept a naturally close eye on. I also love how it played into Carter's mindset – he was instantly doubtful of his feelings and thoughts, because he'd just discovered that he'd been wrong about Trevor for years.

The rest of the cast were brilliantly written, and not shoved to the side as some secondary characters can be. They all had their part to play. From the manipulative and myster-buffs Rose and Sally, to the enigmatic Ben and his mother, Yvonne, the constantly-disappearing and mysterious John. There were the secretive foursome of teachers who knew each other before the tour, Trevor and his new boyfriend, secret-keeper Alison who was the tour guide, and the understated pairing of Nedda and her husband Wally, and finally the assistant Elizabeth. All of whom could easily have been in on the plan.

The vast array of characters made for interesting reading, a lot of speculation, and a lot of innocent innocuous goings on that might not mean anything at the time, but couldn't be important later. Which is exactly what you want in a mystery; lots of suspects, lots of potential clues, and lots of intrigue.

I love that the tour bus of people – Tours to Die For – were recommended to sit with a different person for each meal, despite having a stable room mate. It meant that Carter could get to know everyone independently, without it feeling forced or too coincidental. I also love that they were all massive fans of the fictional author, Vanessa, which meant they often discussed her, her history, and her works, which allows us readers to get a deeper feel for the person who had brought them all together. I loved the amount of detail that was put into Vanessa's character and how it wove the plot together.

Being Scottish – half Edinburgh area and half Glasgow area, and a regularly holiday-goer to Argyll and Bute – I was worried that I'd read this book and be bogged down by the horrible inaccuracies that are so often made. I've read books written by non-Scottish people that focus far too heavily on the stereotypical, even going so far as to write the accent, which becomes tedious, especially when done wrong. This one didn't even make me stop to consider the acurateness – everything was recognisable, relatable, understandable and as far from stereotypical as possible. The author really did their research (as explained at the end, by a real life tour of Scotland) and made it possible to feel like we, the reader, were taking the tour along with the characters. There was a perfect amount of attention to detail, description, and scenery that made it possible to follow the dips and flows of even the briefest tourist stop. It was an added benefit that the author chose to show it all from an American tourists POV, accounting for the strange and unknown, the unpronounceable or non-understandable, without making it sound or feel stereotypical or insulting.

I'm not going to say too much about the plot, because there's a lot I can't say without ruining it for anyone about to read it. And you all should. It's great fun, with suspense and intrigue all throughout, a dash of romance, drama and mystery laced in between. The romance is a slow-burn, but also insta-love in some ways. I loved how it was done – slowly easing from strangers to acquaintances, then moving Carter and his beau through circumstances that bring them closer and closer. Despite how short the actual time is between strangers to lovers, the progression feels natural and Carter is smart enough to question it, his beau is smart enough to question whether it's just a rebound. It's natural and relatable.

What I can say is that I loved Carter from the get-go. He was brilliantly sceptical and curious. I liked that he used his librarian resources and instinct, logical reasoning, and didn't become the stereotypical busybody shoving his way into everyone's business, while trying to solve a crime all by himself. He was basically dragged into the position of crime-solver, reluctantly, so, and did it because his curiosity wouldn't let go, which was great. I loved that people naturally gravitated towards him, because everyone knew his motive for being on the trip from the first day, and he was a source of safety and security to the others, in a sea of strangers they couldn't trust.

It was also really nice to see that the cast weren't your stereotypical 20-something stud-boys. These were real men, with all characters 40+. Carter mentions that he's forty and probably the youngest of the tour, but you never really know the actual ages of everyone else involved, but it's suggested that they at least 60+, especially when the possibility of one of them dying naturally while on the tour is presented. At times, I often forgot that fact, because they were all spritely and well written characters, not your typical cranky old men or women with zimmers. These were realistic men and women in their later years, who were just like anyone else's mum or dad, gran or grandad.

~

This was a roller coaster of classic murder mystery who-dun-it. Full of twists, turns, and misdirects, it can stand up there with some of the best in the genre. I can't wait to read more.

~

Favourite Quote

There were a lot of great one-liners in this book, which made it even more enjoyable.

““Was that or was it not a sinister look?” I whispered to John.
“I can't tell. She always looks that way to me. If she had fangs, she'd have bared them at you. That I can confirm.”

“He broke off as the sound of a gong reverberated from below. “What the hell was that?”
“The dinner gong, you barbarian.”
“The dinner gong? That sounded like we just declared war.”

Mystery, intrigue and a little bit of romance is waiting for Carter in this trip to the Scottish Highlands.

Carter has been waiting a long time to enjoy the tour created for fans of his favorite mystery author. His ex and his new boyfriend presence shouldn't be a problem, or so he thinks. Sharing a room with a stranger is not exactly what he had in mind but his roommate's suspicious behavior and the sudden death of a traveler open the door for a mystery and maybe for a little romance too.

There were a lot of things about the book that I like. Most of it is related to the mystery. What I didn't loved about the book was the lack of romance. It wasn't absent, but the little time dedicated to develop a romantic relationship between Carter and John became underwhelming for me.

The strongest part of the book was the mystery, which I found really interesting. I liked the plot a lot and the writing was also really good. I had a bit of a trouble with the pace that was too slow at the beginning, seeming like nothing was really going on, and a bit too rushed at the last pages. There was enough time to explain what was going on and I find the ending really interesting.

As for the romance, this is where the book left me expecting so much more. I felt like there was little time dedicated to Carter and John's relationship, to the point that it felt a little bit forced. I don't believe they have a good chemistry. As individuals, I liked Carter a lot, I loved the way he sees the whole situation with his ex. It seems a realistic reaction. John was nice but I don't think I got to know him too well, although, in this case, I think it was planned that way to add some more of mystery into the story.

Overall I liked the book a lot, I had a good time reading it. It was an intriguing book that readers who enjoy mysteries would be able to enjoy it.

It is no secret that I love me some Josh Lanyon.

JL slays your soul with words. You want to swallow them all up and never let them out and fuck that I dont want to share it with anyone.

That's how I feel when I read a JL book.

And while they did slay me with words they didn't slay me with the story enough.

It was just ok to me. And that's ok.

It was very on the mystery side, little and I mean little on the romance side. And I love mystery so there is that but there was the romance part that to me could have had a little more page time.

thank you Netgalley/Carina Press for a copy of this book.

Mare~Slitsread

Librarian Carter Matheson, is on a long awaited bus trip for the fans of mystery author Dame Vanessa Rayburn, ‘Tour to Die For’, a unique tour that you can only take once and is booked solid way in advance. Being a huge fan of Vanessa Rayburn, Carter is determined to enjoy himself and not even his ex with his new boyfriend will deter him.
While appreciating the beautiful Scottish landscape, and visiting the places from Vanessa Raynurn’s books Carter starts to relax and is looking forward to the tour's highlight, as they all get to spend te last days with their idol on her private island in her own castle.
On a last-minute note Carter ends up with roommate, John Knight, an insurance salesman I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of sharing my sleeping space with a stranger.

John is a bit mysterious with his nightly walks claiming he suffered from insomnia and Carter being a light sleeper I didn’t like that he didn’t like that, because why would he be worried about me sleeping through whatever he was getting up to? is woken every time John sneaks around.

When fellow tour members start dropping and disappearing Carter's triggered a lot of my not-so-latent amateur sleuthing instincts and he finds himself in a rather difficult situation.

The story is told from Carter's POV and kept me on edge. It is not a bloody affair that will tickle the back of your neck but a subtle murder mystery where the unmasking of the identity of the perpetrator is found in books and papers and not in a James-Bond-like manhunt.

I loved the dynamic between Carter & John and would have liked for the book to have an epilogue.
The story is engaging and the twist was truly hysterical but the ending was unexpected but satisfying.
I recommend reading Murder Takes the High Road, but then again I recommend all of Josh Lanyon's books.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder Takes the High Road, with a few caveats. The main character is a librarian called Carter Matheson who goes on a bus tour through the Scottish highlands centered around a famous female mystery writer that he originally signed up for with his ex. The tone of the book is unusual for Lanyon: not heavy like the FBI thrillers, but not comic/romantic either. Even though Carter is apparently desirable to the men on the tour, we don't really see this aspect of him. When he finally gets cozy with his roommate John, the sex scenes are surprisingly clunky and naturalistic. I found very little heat in them, but I did like the emotional warmth of this relationship.

The scenes from the bus tour were interesting and atmospheric, but it's when the tour gets to the mystery writer's private island that things start to go terribly wrong...

Very enjoyable. It got me through a difficult few days when very little money was coming in and I didn't want to buy anything else on Kindle... I've been on a Josh Lanyon binge lately, and reading this was the icing on the cake!

PS. I think this is the first Lanyon book I've read where the gay lovers were so affectionate and "out" in public. Hopefully it was freeing for Lanyon to write this--now that she's out herself, so to speak!

I think this book can make happy not only the fans of Josh Lanyon, but in the first place the lovers of the classic mystery genre a là Agatha Christie.

Some essential prerequisites are needed: a bunch of strangers, who are put together for a while. In OUR case it is a colorful mixed group of tourists on the bus trip 'Tour to Die For' for the fans of mystery author Dame Vanessa Rayburn. This tour takes place only once per year and leads the lucky participants through the beautiful landscape of Scotland, all well-known mystery places from Vanessa's books and ends with an absolute highlight: the tour participants spend some days with their idol on her private island in her own castle.

Who wouldn't want to enjoy this extraordinary tour, even not being a fan of a popular publicity-shy mystery author? For sure not Carter Matheson. And it doesn't matter that the tour that was booked by Carter personally one year in advance has a little inconvenience - his ex is on this tour either. With his new boyfriend. So we have also an interesting triangle (as an essential prerequisite).

Or should I name it rectangle? Because...who could imagine? - a singe attractive insurance man in his best age joins the tour at the last minute. (I ask myself how did he manage to get a free place?!) John Knight. (view spoiler)And so...our librarian Carter gets a roommates. Too bad for him, he has been already delighted to have a double room for ONLY himself. ;)

And of COURSE we have a murder case, a bad weather at the end, no telephone connection to the mainland, and MANY SUSPECTS, and not least, picturesque landscape, charming little villages and interesting locations of historically rich Scotland .

I really enjoyed this new novel by one of my favorite MM Romance writers. It is a nice cosy murder mystery, don't expect a cold shiver running down your spine while reading it, but be prepared to find some funny and of course hot moments. It has REALLY all good elements that defines a potentially successful novel in the genre. I can't even explain why I didn't enjoy it much more. But for now I don't even know if I'm going to read the next book in the series.

My recognized issues: there were many names of the travelers, I found myself not be able to memorize them all at once, especially during reading the first half of the book I had to turn back (again and again) to remind me who was who. That was a bit annoying. There were some moments that could be cleared easily (IMO), but they weren't. I don't like when a healthy logic has to be sacrificed in order to artificially stir the things up or make a situation more thrilling. I HAD fun with Carter and John together, but I still don't know what to think about John and I can't say that I definitely want to know more about their relationship. I also wasn't THAT tied to the story itself. I could put it down every second and not to come back for a whole time.
My incomprehensible issues: I just haven't got myself emotionally attached to this book, and I don't have a perfect explanation for it for you.

But it is Josh Lanyon. So, of course it is a recommended read.

3 stars. Enjoyable m/m romance mystery, set on a bus tour of Scotland. I enjoyed the quirky cast of characters, and overall the plot moved quickly and smoothly. The chemistry between the two main characters was great. The actual mystery was less compelling and was a frustrating blend of vague inaction and lack of emotional consequences. Josh Lanyon is well-versed in the themes of this genre and thus the book is very readable.

Let me preface this review by saying that I am a huge Josh Lanyon fan - I got back into reading English language m/m after reading the Japanese translations of her books, and so I read this book as a fan. I always feel reading something by an author you love has two "risks" - either you're more critical than you would be with other authors because you have high expectations or you're less critical because you love them.

In this case, I'm pretty sure it's the latter - it's doubtful I would have finished this if it had been by another author, but I did and I loved it, despite its weaknesses.

Carter is on a bus tour through Scotland that's catering to fans of mystery author Vanessa Rayburn. It was supposed to be a trip for him and his boyfriend Trevor, but while Trevor is on the same tour, so is his new boyfriend Vance. During the tour, they pass several locations that come up in some of Vanessa's novels before culminating in a meet-and-greet with the author. But there seems to me more than just the tension between Carter, Trevor and Vance disturbing the atmosphere- there's something mysterious going on with John, Carter's roommate, and then one of the old ladies on the tour dies - and it doesn't seem it's the first time this happened.

Objectively speaking, all of the mysteries in this book are kind of lame. It all seemed overly construed and not very plausible, but I actually suspect this was intentional - I don't usually read cosy crime stories, but this is what I figure they're like. A little bit of mystery, not too much action and lots of atmosphere.

The strength was in the characters, and I did like Carter and John. Carter's appeal to all the single men (and some not so single men) was a bit much, but again, it felt like it was supposed to be? This isn't a book that takes itself too seriously, so you probably shouldn't either.

I've had a lot of trouble finding books that keep my interest lately, and the fact is, this did, despite not being as suspenseful as, say, her The Art of Murder series. As always, it depends on what you're looking for - if it's some serious crime fiction, this is NOT the book for you, but if you want to read something nice and interesting (I know that sounds too vague and bland but I don't mean it that way) - this is a good choice. I really enjoyed myself and liked it.

I loved it. I never figured out who the killer was. For a moment I though Vance was and then I though maybe John was but those didn’t last long. We did get to see some of the countryside and it sounds like a great place to visit. I would liked more with interactions with the natives. I also would have liked to have seen a little more in the end when they headed up into the highlands. But, this was a very well written mystery with the budding romance between the MC’s. I highly recommend this one.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this. It is quintessential Josh Lanyon and I fell in love with all the characters.The mystery is engaging and the story held my attention from the beginning right through to the end.

The story starts off in an unassuming way. Carter is a librarian and a great fan of the mystery writer Dame Vanessa Rayburn. He has saved up to go on a 'Tour to Die For' which is a tour of Scotland and all the places from Vanessa's books. It also includes a few nights in the old castle belonging to Vanessa and the opportunity to spend time with her and discuss her writing. This is Carter's first time away from the USA and he had dreamt of doing this tour with his boyfriend Trevor.

Unfortunately dreams die.

By the time the tour starts Trevor has broken up with Carter and is on the same tour, but with his new boyfriend Vance. Carter knows that a tour with his ex and his ex's new boyfriend will be a hard thing to do but this is a trip of a life time and so why should he give up his place and his paid ticket for Trevor's new boyfriend?

So off he goes and yes, Trevor and Vance are there too, and it is awkward, but as the tour progresses Carter gets to know his other tour buddies and there are two other men that catch his eye, his tour room mate John and another passenger called Ben. Beyond the nice looking guys there is also a coach load of eccentric, engaging and enigmatic passengers, all fans of Vanessa, and all with undisclosed pasts of their own. There are the wilds and the beauty of Scotland, a mysterious author with murder in her past and also a murder.

As Carter travels, enjoying the tour he realises that there is much more to this tour than meets the eye and there is much more to his fellow passengers than meets the eye too. As the murder unfolds, all of them are stuck on Vanessa's island in the midst of a storm with no way of escape.

I think this is now one of my favorite books by Josh Lanyon. The characters are just so richly depicted and I cant wait to hear them come to life once again when the audiobook is released.

I loved the way this story is set during a tour. Touring is my favorite way of seeing the world and I have been on tours with complete strangers all over Europe, Latin America and the US. The author just captures the dynamics of a tour group and has woven an intriguing mystery into it. I will remember this book whenever I tour in the future and I shall think about casting my future tour buddies as characters in this story.

This story is paced so beautifully. It starts out gradually and then the tension slowly builds up. There is the friction with the old boyfriend (boo) and the potential for a new boyfriend (yay). There is attraction and passion, and there are puzzles, mystery, odd goings on accompanied by echoes and shadows from the past.

Everything I like in a good mystery is here and with a castle setting to round it all off! This going on my list of exquisite reads for 2018. I feel like reading it all over again.

Excellent and fun to read!

I now need the audiobook!

Copy provided very generously by the author and publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

It was a slow start but I think that's how all of Josh Lanyon new series begins. There were a bunch of annoying characters but it kept me guessing who dunnit until the very end. And boy was I surprised. Even with the slow start I throughly enjoyed this book. Can’t wait for the next one! You can never go wrong with any of her books!

Before I start this review, I simply must get this off my chest. A bus tour. What a god awful way to see Scotland for the first time. Stuck on a bus with snoring passengers only able to watch the gorgeous scenery roll by with no chance to get out and truly enjoy it. Please, I beseech you, do not choose this method for seeing Scotland. It’s too beautiful to be seen behind the windows of a tour bus. Also, Carter made a terrible decision on his dinner selection when he picked lamb over fish pie. No one makes a fish pie like the Scots. No one!

Okay, now that that is over with, time for a book review. Murder Takes the High Road is a typical Josh Lanyon mystery with a Scottish setting, a lover-done-wrong librarian (Carter Matheson), and a supporting cast of weirdos, book lovers, and cranky tourists who are thrown together on a tour of the sites in the collective writings of their favorite author, Vanessa Rayburn. The tour is going well until Carter’s room gets ransacked and a tour member dies suspiciously in her sleep. With his roommate pulling a nightly disappearing act and the tour manager acting suspiciously, Carter is pressured to figure out what’s going. In Lanyon’s usual fashion, murder and mayhem escalate as the story progresses, leaving readers to guess who is behind the crimes.

I liked Carter. Though his initial reason for going on the trip was rather bitter and angry, he is very likable and sweet. The relationship he develops with another member of the tour happened fairly quickly – it wasn’t quite my much loathed insta-love, but it was rapid. However, I felt that in the circumstances it was believable and likely. The story held enough mystery and intrigue to keep me guessing as to the who-done-it, and the ending was a bit fast, but well thought out. Overall, it was a quick, enjoyable read, and exactly what I have come to expect from Josh Lanyon.