3.5 Stars


Liss seems to find herself tangled into trouble whether she is trying or not. She’s a fun and strong woman that has a caring streak that runs deep. Lover of cats and amateur sleuth, she will make you laugh while getting the information she wants. She’s a small town girl will a mind that thinks outside the box. A wonderful main character.

A View to a Kilt was a fun cozy read. Ms. Dunnett keeps the reader going with a well developed, keep you thinking plot. You can tell this was part of a long going series, however new readers like myself are easily about to jump right in and not feel lost. I love when the town or setting of the book is almost like a character. Moosetookalook is an interesting town with personality and flair. The residents are even more so. Small towns are always full of secrets and sometimes they end up in your own backyard. The backyard is Liss’ this time and hits close to home. From the quaintness of the town, to the colorful personalities of the people within it, to a plot that spins an excellent tale, Ms. Dunnett’s A View to a Kilt was a one sit read for me.

A View to a Kilt by Kaitlyn Dunnett is the 13th in the Liss MacCrimmon Mystery series, and another enjoyable book. Liss MacCrimmon Ruskin owns a specialty gift shop, the Scottish Emporium, and lives with her husband, Dan, in the small village of Moosetookalook, Maine. Liss has been put in charge of March Madness Mud Season Sale, which the town hopes it will boost the economy. When Dan finds a dead man on their property, the mystery begins. I strongly recommend this book and this whole series, for those who love cozy mystery books. The book is fast paced and has well developed characters and plot. This book has more twists and turns, that kept me reading page after page. Overall a great read, and highly recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a long running series that never lets me down. I had saved it for a rainy day but needed it for a snow day. Because of the snow I settled down to read it in one day. Snow in the mystery and snow outside my windows - perfect. Liss is one of my favorite characters and this mystery hits where she lives, literally. Her Aunt Margaret is traveling for two weeks in Ireland and Liss and her husband, Dan are taking care of her two Scotties. Liss is more of a cat person and fails to listen to the dogs when they seem fixated with the stairs going up to Margaret's apartment over the store. Then they kick up a storm, barking in the back yard. When Dan decides to go investigate they get a shock that turns out to be the shock of their life. There is a dead man in the backyard and nobody has any idea who he is and what brought him to their secluded yard along with his killer.
Soon enough the John Doe is identified and therein lies the shock that rattles her entire family. The man turns out to be Liss's uncle, a man she didn't know existed.....but he sort of didn't. Turns out he had been declared MIA fifty years prior and the declared dead. I could say a lot more but I don't want to give anything away. I hate spoilers. Let's just say that, now that her parents are back in town Liss and her mom are at odds with each other and family members and friends are harboring many long buried secrets. They better start opening up before irreparable harm is done to the small Maine town of Mossetookalook.

If you are looking for a good light weight murder mystery with cute animals, this isn’t it. This is also not a particularly good example of small town police procedural. On the other hand, if you are looking for small town minutiae, this is it. There is so much boring detail presented that it is like listening to a gossip that you wish would either stop talking or edit so you got the point.

A View to a Kilt is the 13th book in Kaitlyn Dunnett’s Liss MacCrimmon Mystery series. In this stand alone novel Liss MacCrimmon Ruskin is thrown into the midst of a murder investigation when a body is found in the snow bank behind her home. Then, she finds herself in the middle of a family mystery when the body is found to be her Uncle Charlie who was thought to have died in the Vietnam War when he was reported MIA, never found, and later declared dead.

When state police detective Kelly Cussler places Liss’ father Mac at the top of her suspect list, Liss and her mother, Violet, go into action to figure out who killed Charlie and why he had faked his death for half a century. When it becomes apparent that Liss is being followed and her mother is being watched the stakes rise. But when Liss discovers notes made by Charlie that concern a possible calamity for the small town of Moosetookalook, Maine, it becomes imperative for her to solve both mysteries.

This was a very good read with wonderful characters, great settings, and many twists and turns. Although part of a lengthy series, it definitely stands on its own. I did enjoy this book and do recommend it.

Another delightful visit to Moosetookalook, Maine. This small town has issues. The families have secrets. The cat and dogs add to the fun and worry. A charming series with relatable characters.

This is the 13th installment in the Liss MaCrimmon mystery series. I have not read all of the books in this series, however, I was able to easily follow the storyline so you do not need to read in order. In this installment Liss MaCrimmon is in charge of the annual Moosetookalook March Madness Mud Season Sale and she is being kept very busy as her Aunt Margaret has just gone on a genealogy trip to Ireland and Liss is talking care of her two Scotties. One day at the Emporium Liss is puzzled that the dogs have their eyes glued on the stairway to Aunt Margaret’s apartment. Liss thinks they are just missing Margaret. The next morning the dogs go outside only to continually bark and they decide to go ahead and eat their breakfast as the dogs refuse to come in. Dan (Liss’s husband) goes outside to get the dogs and finds a body dead in their backyard. The police are called as are the state police. State police detective Cussler does not appear to be all that keen on being nice to the Ruskins or anyone else in town. Liss is forced to go see the body and although the dead man seems familiar (he reminds her briefly of her father) he is someone she has never seen before. Soon the town is at her door but she swears she does not know who he is and has no plan to investigate. Unfortunately it turns out the man is Charlie MaCrimmon Mac’s (Liss’s Father) older brother who was presumed dead 50 years ago after being MIA in Vietnam. Liss along with her Mother begin to investigate after her Father is considered the prime suspect. They travel to Florida to find out some information about her Uncle and they find some information that he was investigating (he was a private investigator) the company that is planning to a water deal with the town. Charlie found evidence that it is a scam and has several accusations, however, no proof can be found. Liss returns home and gets the council to postpone a decision and then works to find the proof. This was a good solid and interesting mystery with lots of twists and turns. Highly recommend.

'A View to a Kilt' had a fascinating and well-executed premise that revealed lots of secrets of the inhabitants of Moosetookalook. Interestingly Liss is not a completely likable character for me. She is, however, complex and believable, especially in her relationships with her husband and mother. The mystery was sharp with a perfect amount of tension and twists that kept it interesting until the very end. This isn't a typical cozy, but the hard edges make easy to recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is a well-written book, although the characters never really resonated with me. I enjoyed the plot, but I never managed to feel the tension I expected, especially from Liss and her father. The characters in the book, while having characteristics that sounded quirky and interesting, came across and rather two dimensional. There was little difference between each character's voice, which contributed to a sense of sameness throughout the book.
For people who enjoy reading series, the secondary themes of Scottish heritage, small town living, and a close-knit family might interest them. For those readers, I would recommend they begin the series from the first book, as they will have the opportunity for personal development among the characters within the series. The mystery itself is completed within the novel, so it isn't necessary from that standpoint to have previous knowledge of the series.
My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with and Advanced Digital Reader copy of this novel in exchange for an unbiased review.

A View to a Kilt is an entertaining cozy mystery. Well written plot and a cast of quirky characters. Mystery fans will love this book. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Liss MacCrimmon runs the family’s shop, the Scottish Emporium in Moosetookalook, Maine. She has been put in charge of the town’s March Madness Mud Season sale and she won’t have the help of her Aunt Margaret who is out of the country. Liss is watching Margaret’s two Scottie dogs and they make a gruesome discovery in Liss and her husband Dan’s backyard. There is a dead body of a man not known to Dan and Liss in their yard. Liss gets another shock when the identity of the victim is revealed and her father, Mac, becomes the prime suspect of the hard-nosed state police officer in charge of the case. In spite of not wanting to be involved in another murder investigation, Liss can’t stand by and watch her father imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit so she begins looking for clues that will lead her and the police to the truth.

This is the thirteenth book in this series and the fifth I have read. What got me interested in this series was that Liss was a former professional Scottish dancer and the information about Scottish customs and items sold in her store. Unfortunately, neither Liss’s dancing background nor anything to do with the Scotland plays a part in the book. That is what made the earlier books in this series so unique and it’s been missing in the last couple of books. Liss and her husband are still likable characters and the author does make the most of the Maine setting in this book both in providing an interesting background and in a central part of the storyline. I love Liss and Dan’s relationship although it isn’t central to this book. Liss’s mother Vi is not one of my favorite characters, but I enjoyed the scenes when she and Liss go to Florida as part of the investigation. Unfortunately, Vi is just not a pleasant person and quickly spoils any of the ground she makes in the relationship with her daughter.

The case itself starts out very intriguing. Without spoiling anything, the identification of the victim is a shock to Liss and her family and many other residents of their small town because it’s someone who had been presumed dead many years ago. Liss’s investigation into the murder and into the life of this person caught my interest right away. Liss makes some missteps, but I found the investigation very interesting. They way the case mixes in with an issue the town is facing regarding rights to their water supply is well-done. Less successful is the mystery surrounding the “twice-dead” victim. When all the details come out, the solution is so improbable and incompletely explained, it left me very disappointed. The premise hooked me and the build-up kept me going, but the ultimate payoff isn’t there. This isn’t my favorite of Dunnett’s books and I would rate it 3.5 stars, but I am still a fan of her writing and this series. I hope future books get back to basics and have more of a focus on Liss and her husband’s loving relationship and all things Scottish.

I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Kensington Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Liss- and her family- are shocked when the body found in her yard (which would have been enough for anyone) turns out to be her Uncle Charlie who was declared MIA during the Vietnam War. Turns out he's been alive all along and living in Florida but why did he come to Moosetookalook, Maine, now? Liss and her mom decide they're going to find out what happened- and it turns out that Charlie knew something no one else did about the town. I liked that this took Liss from Maine to Florida. This is a long running series but you'll be fine with it as a standalone once you get over the name of the town and the concept that it could be such a tourist attraction. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For cozy fans.

A visit to Moosetookalook, Maine is always an adventure! In this book, the MacCrimmon family is both the victim and susoect. When an Uncle, the family thought was killed in Vietnam is found murdered in Liss & Dan's backyard on a snowy night, the mystery begins.

I enjoyed the book and the mystery kept me guessing. The relationship between Liss and her Mom was an important part of the book, as they were partners in the investigation. It's never boring when those two get together! As always, the addition of Glenora the cat and Dandy and Dondi the adorable canines added to the book.

You'll enjoy sleuthing along with the MacCrimmon crew!

I received an ARC from Netgalley for a fair and honest review of this book.

Gosh darn it, I really enjoyed this! It was such an easy read and I felt so comfy with the story! Interesting cast of side characters, supportive hubby, annoying mother, mystery, Mia direction; what more could I want?

4.5 Stars

This is the thirteenth book in the Liss MacCrimmon Mystery series by Kaitlyn Dunnett

I like how this mystery centered around family and discovery. This is the type of story that really sucks you in from the first page.

Basic synopsis: Liss’s husband finds a dead body in the back yard but this man is no random person, he was Liss’s uncle whom she never even knew about. The rest of the family thought him to be dead, MIA from the Vietnam War, but he had been alive and living in Miami as a private investigator for over fifty years. You get intrigued right from the start wondering why this man would keep his identity a secret for so long.

As Liss looks into her uncle’s past she uncovers a plot that could possibly ruin the town of Moosetookalook. There sure were a lot of overly stubborn people in this small tourist town. I’m sure the mystery could have been solved a whole lot faster if they had all been more open with each other.

I was entranced by this mystery and found a new series I could love and dig my teeth into.


If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I’ve enjoyed this series from the very beginning. This is a solid entry in the series. I enjoyed the mystery and the fact that it involved Liss’s family. I highly recommend reading this book and the series.

I have been reading this series from the beginning. However, you can jump in and read this one and still not feel as if you have no idea what is going on. Liss is involved in a town festival; this time focusing on mud season. In the middle of all the arrangements, a dead body shows up in her backyard. It turns out that the body is someone from her family's past. He is her estranged uncle. This lead to accusations made towards her father and her efforts to clear his name. She becomes involved along with her mother. She does seem to be not very involved in her business lately. The characters in the town are brought into play although we don't see very many of them. Ultimately the reasons behind the murder seem to be kinda weak. Overall it is a okay read for a rainy afternoon.

Although part of a series I wasn't confused by reading this book without the others. Naturally I may have had more experiences with some of the relationships, but overall not needed. A good cozy mystery that left me guessing. I had a good idea who was the killer, but not the reason. Good story, good characters and one I highly recommend.

Cozy mysteries is my first love in books. This one did not disappoint. The setting is a quaint little (and I mean little) town in Maine called Moosetookalook. The main characters are all acquainted with each other, whether friend or nemesis. There are cute animals involved, what’s not to love?
Liss runs a Scottish store. Her aunt Margaret lives above the store and is taking a vacation. She leaves her two dogs to Liss to care for. One morning, after being let out, the dogs go nuts. After a while, Liss’s husband, Dan, goes to see what’s the matter. Dan finds a dead body. This person ends up being Liss’s uncle who supposedly died in Vietnam. With the help of her mother, Liss sets off to find the murderer.
I started reading this story without realizing that there were twelve before it. This did not take anything away from the story but perhaps I would have started with number one first.

A good solid cozy series with the hallmarks you would expect of a small town and interesting characters.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.