I have read a scattered few of this series, missing one or two in between. This time around, the duo is in rural Scotland, and the author sets the scene well. The remote location and the cold and biting wind are well documented, and whatever else I thought of the mystery itself, I could imagine our characters wandering the island mentioned.

This is a book that one can pick up regardless of prior knowledge of the escapades the couple have been in earlier. There are only passing references to other people who do not make an appearance here.

This plot revolves around a group of people who are dabbling in things that the more traditional folks do not believe in. One of their numbers ends up dead, and although this is not part of the original plan.

The plot itself rolled forward in a straightforward manner, but I was more interested in the surroundings than the investigation and the consequences. I had not planned to continue with this series until I saw the setting and I got exactly that.

I think fans of this series will appreciate this book more than I did, I would definitely read another series by the author even if I do not continue with this one.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Jane Wunderly has infiltrated a secret cult. She's mainly on her own though her fiance, Redvers, is also on the island. This is the Golden Dawn, based on a cult that actually existed. And involved in that cult? W. B. Yeats who makes an appearance in this book. Not sure if it's actually successful though.
The mystery deepens when one of the initiates is killed but nobody's really sure how it was done. Add in a rival cult made up of former members and the suspect pool deepens.

Three stars
This book comes out March 26, 2023
Follows Intrigue in Istanbul
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

An intriguing historical mystery set on a Scottish Isle during the 1920's. I enjoyed all the twists and turns and interesting characters. I adore reading about Jane Wunderly and her fiance, Redvers, and their adventures and secret missions.
I can't wait for more.

Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Fans of historical crime fiction in interesting locations may recall the murder at a hotel near the Great Pyramid in Cairo. The Murder at the Mena House was solved by an American socialite, Jane Wunderly. Her latest escapade sees her discovering SECRETS OF A SCOTTISH ISLE.

The chilly walks, strong sea breeze and lack of trees on Iona and Mull are well described, with the warmth and comfort of the hostel fireplace in the evening. However, we’re told that it’s March and the ceremony is for the solstice – that should be the vernal equinox. Solstice is midwinter and midsummer. Maybe the order got their occasions confused, the veil between the worlds being thin on Iona, and people being subject to occult influences.
Continued.

A complex mystery set in a fascinating location. I love exploring the world in the 1920s with Jane Wunderly!

This was a really interesting historical mystery read that fuses fiction with real history and delves into the world of the occult with some murder on the side.

I really loved how the author took a real event and wove a really good story around that and included real people within the narrative [W.B. Yeats!!!] that just added to all the intrigue.
Jane is one of my favorite characters and I love her independence and spirit, and I really love how Redvers both acknowledges all of that and TREATS her as such. She is his equal and he loves her even more because of that. I enjoy watching them work through both their own personal issues as well as the work that they are there to do [and they do work so well together, even when they don't necessarily agree] and its such a joy to see.

I never saw the killer coming and was really really surprised initially and then, as it all unfolded, kind of smacked myself for not seeing all that was really right in front of me [for me, this is the best kind of mystery] and it was the best kind of reveal. The end was really good too and very much needed and perfect for Jane and Redvers.

This is a really great series and I recommend it highly to those who love a really good historical mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley, Erica Ruth Neubauer, and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Jane Wunderly has been sent to the Isle of Iona to investigate the enigmatic leader of the Order of the Golden Dawn, Robert Nightingale. His group which includes influential people gathers for supernatural ceremonies on the isle where the veil is said to be thin. Jane has to conceal her identity and become just a woman from the States interested in the occult and Nightingale's group.  Her fiancé, Redvers, is also there but their relationship must remain a secret.

When she finds a woman who was contemplating leaving the group murdered in the moors, Jane understands leaving the group alive can be quite difficult. She would like to get justice for the woman but the people around her are in their own worlds, or on different planes of existence.  Another death gives Jane some clues she needs be very careful or she could be the next victim.

___

Secrets of a Scottish Isle has a different feel than other books in this series. The tables seemed to have turned. Jane is a fearless woman taking on the bulk of this investigation and all it entails while Redvers works behind the scenes. She also put on the miles traveling the island searching for clues and meeting up with Redvers to report what she had learned. Redvers does pop up in surprising places but I really missed their banter when they work side by side, order drinks, and talk about people, places, and the case they are on. And while Jane enjoyed her break from Aunt Millie, I missed her and Lord Hughes.

Ms. Neubauer does introduce an eclectic array of new characters in this story. Jane and Redvers come into contact with several residents of the island and those who have come for the solstice rituals. Each is unique and memorable but some are pretty shady. Interestingly, with only two hotels on the island, the residents open their houses to visitors. Jane's naturally inquisitive nature had her landlady opening up easily. I did enjoy the way their relationship grew and the good that came from it. I also liked that a real-life character, poet W.B Yeats was part of the story and for more than a cameo, it was a pivotable role.

Jane's assignment was to investigate Robert Nightingale and discover as much as possible about him. Two murders were not planned for but Jane jumped in with both feet and I enjoyed tagging along with her from my recliner, wishing the virtual hiking I did around the island actually burned calories. The author does a wonderful job describing the island. I had a vivid image of every place Jane traveled and shivered at times right along with her.  As for the mystery, I was a bit baffled the entire way. There were some delightful twists and turns that built up to a crazy reveal and showdown.

Ms. Neubauer adds an Author's Note at the end of the book sharing her inspiration for this story and that there are some facts within her wonderful fictional tale. I had never heard of the  Isle of Iona or Order of the Golden Dawn prior to reading this book but learning that the people and happenings are loosely based in real life made me appreciate the book even more. I am sure researching this story was fascinating, especially for someone interested in the occult. 

Secrets of a Scottish Isle is a very intriguing mystery set in an interesting setting with a variety of quirky characters. I learned some things and was totally entertained along the way. Oh, and I loved the final chapter.

The year 1927 and Jane’s assignment is to an isolated island off the coast of Scotland. She was set to investigate discreetly and ferret the secrets of a cult led by the arrogant Livingstone. Getting there was not the issue, but questioning the followers when her own knowledge of the cult was scant, was going to be tough.

Jane did not do her homework and holes appeared at every stage of her stay. When Netta’s body was discovered naked and with scratch marks all over, the mystery deepened. The fact that a group that had split from the main group was on an adjoining island, added to the suspect list. Another body being discovered hastened the enquirer with suspects galore. With Redvers her fiancée on the island, Jane was sure to track the murderer down.

The setting of the story was fabulous. Lonely, wind swept, few inhabitants, tightly knit community. Jane came across as rather careless but that was part of the story.

I had fun in reading the story as I like the characters and there’s plenty of surprising twists.
It’s an entertaining mix of fictional and historical characters.
Entertaining and compelling.
Recommended, many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This story was intriguing to me because it was based on real people and events. Jane and Redvers are investigating a leader in an occult called Order of the Golden Dawn so it has a paranormal element to the story. I loved the twists and turns of the plot as the reader gets to know the suspects better. The reveal was a bit surprising and I liked the happy ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Another fun mystery for Jane to solve. I missed having her investigate with Redvers but I was glad he was still there for her to bounce ideas off of. The mystery itself was fun; I’m always intrigued by secret societies and enjoyed her investigations on the small island that sounded charming and a little spooky with all the goings on. Although this started slow, it did finally pick up and I eventually got as wrapped up in this one as I have the others. Bonus points for the fun ending!

I received a copy of this title from the publisher; all thoughts expressed are my own. Secrets of a Scottish Isle is the most recent title to feature Jane Wunderly. She is undercover to help her fiancé Redvers vet a potential source. Jane traveled to a remote Scottish island ahead of the solstice where the Order of the Golden Dawn has assembled under the guise of being interested in joining order. A member of the order is found murdered with some strange injuries. There isn't a shortage of suspects and a second murder following close on the heels of the first adds even more confusion as to how may have done.. Jane and Redvers work together, with Jane doing much of the work this story, tp bring the killer to justice.

This book was a bit of a slow start for me, but after a few chapters, I was thoroughly engrossed. The mystery has some interesting twists and turns and I found it to be very satisfying. There as some nice development in the relationship between Jane and Redvers, but I do wish we had more interaction between the two in this story. I'm looking forward to future titles in this series.

Isle of Iona 1927

What is better than a mystery on a Scottish Island? Well getting away with your life intact!
Jane ends up with her fiance Redvers hiding her identity and getting into a secret cult to uncover the truth about the leader.

When murder occurs, it seems that the others are not in the "real" world but on another plane! Trying to get off the island with her life just might be hard to do!

Great mystery and pageturner!

Isle of Iona, 1927& Jane’s latest assignment depends on concealing her identity and blending in at an occult gathering. Not even her fiancé, Redvers, can be too close as she uncovers the truth about Robert Nightingale, enigmatic leader of the Order of the Golden Dawn. When a woman tries to escape to the mainland only to be found murdered in the moors, the shocking scene reveals it’s easier to join the Golden Dawn than it is to leave.
The fifth book in the series & it can be easily read on its own but if like me you have to read a series from the beginning then you won’t be disappointed as Jane sets out to solve the murder. I love how her relationship with Redvers has developed but missed some of their banter in this book as they seemed not to be together as much as in previous books. I’ve never been interested in cults but did enjoy the amount of research the author had done. Whilst not my favourite of the series it was still a very well written interesting mystery
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Things I like about the Jane Wunderly series and this book:

It is not necessary to read the previous books in the series, but since I’ve enjoyed them all, I highly recommend it! Jane has grown from someone with no sleuthing skills to one who is helping her fiancé, Redvers, with an investigation
Redvers, works for an unnamed organization, lending even more mystery to the stories. Not a government agent, he’s got mad James Bond-like spy skills.
The relationship between Jane and Redvers. Jane is Redvers equal in his eyes, even in 1927. End of story
Each book has a distinct setting. While I was initially brought to this series by an adventure in Egypt, she then went to Istanbul and now on an island in Scotland. Jane is a well-traveled woman.
Including W.B. Yeats as a character in the story. Adding a real-life person to a work of fiction is a tricky business. However, as someone who reads a lot of historical fiction, I enjoy when an author successfully weaves fact and fiction together. I don’t know anything about
A believable motive for mystery. Sometimes you come away from a mystery and can’t help but wonder why a person would kill another. That’s not the case here.
The descriptions of the setting, a remote island off the coast of Scotland, made me able to picture the Isle of Iona.
The characters are well-drawn. You can really tell a lot of thought was put into the characters.
It wasn’t clear to me until very late in the book who the murderer was. As someone who avidly reads mysteries, that’s not always the case. Kudos to the author as I was stumped for the longest time!
Things about this particular book that I thought could be better:

The author says in her notes that she did a lot of research into the real-life mystery that happened on this Scottish Isle in the 1920s and had so much information, she scaled it back a lot. I think even more could have been done, as at times it felt like an info dump on the occult. I don’t mind reading about subjects that don’t personally interest me, it did make parts of the book kind of a slog.
If you didn’t read the blurb and hadn’t already been introduced to the series, you’d have no idea what time period this book was set in except sometime in the past. It isn’t until well into the book when some historical context is added. A simple date at the beginning of the chapter would have helped.
Overall, a very good historical mystery in a series I continue to enjoy.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the complimentary eBook; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Erica Ruth Neubauer's Jane Wunderly series has become one of my favorites to read. Especially when I never thought I could enjoy a historically cozy mystery. I am hooked! I totally recommend this book…and the books in the series before it.

3.5 rounding up to 4.

I really enjoyed the earlier books in the series and was excited to get an ARC of this one.

I'll start with the pros:
1. This one kept me guessing. There weren't many suspects but it was not obvious, at least to be initially, who dunnit. Toward the end I caught on, but it took me a while.
2. It can be a bit dangerous to include actual people in a work of fiction, but I think the author did a good job of blending the real with the fiction.
3. The motive made sense. In real life I don't think any motive justifies murder but in the world of fiction it bothers me when I come to end and think "he/she murdered someone over THAT?" In this book the motive makes sense.

Cons:
It took me a while to get into it. I think there are a couple of reasons. 1. The occult factors heavily into it and I have never really had an interest, but I do like reading things a little out of my interests. 2. The premise was a little hard to swallow. Jane and Redvers are sent to a small Scottish isle to see if a leader of an occult group would be a useful source of information to the government. As Redvers is known, Jane had to join the Golden Dawn. I have a couple of issues with that. Would the government take the leader into serious consideration as an information, going so far as sending an operative? And why would they send someone who is not in their employ? Even if Redvers was unusable I would think another operative would be used.

I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Erica Ruth Neubauer's Jane Wunderly series has very quickly become one of my faves! Set in the 1920's, each book brings the reader to a different location around the world (Egypt, Turkey, England, the Atlantic Ocean), and Secrets of a Scottish Isle takes us to the remote island of Iona off the coast of Scotland. Combine a cult, Redvers' secret work, and a couple of murders, and cozy lovers have all the ingredients for an afternoon well spent reading in a comfy chair with a nice mug of tea! I cannot recommend this book and this series enough! A+++

Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer is the fifth in the evocative Jane Wunderly Mystery series. In 1927 on the Isle of Iona, intrepid Jane finds herself in a situation she couldn't have predicted, that of a cult initiation ritual. She must convincingly inveigle by becoming a member of the Order of the Golden Dawn to uncover secrets. But unexpected death happens. She and her fiancé Redvers investigate murder...and this time Jane is in charge. Mythological bits add to the intrigue.

Though smitten with this series, this is not my favourite installment. Scotland settings always grip me as it did here but my hope was for more enchantment and razor-sharp wit. The continued banter and relationship between Jane and Redvers was enticing and the red herrings kept coming. I like the compelling subplots and the rich historical details. Parts were predictable but this series is still very much worth jumping into headfirst.

My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this fun novel.

Jane and Redvers are on a Scottish Isle to find out more about an occult cult. Jane is pretending interest, while Redvers does spying behind the scenes. When the young woman sharing her lodging dies, Jane begins asking questions. I enjoy this series and this book is a good addition. The setting was interesting and a good piece of the story. I appreciated Jane's lead in the sleuthing and look forward to more in the series.
I received an ARC of this book in return for a review.