This was another great installment in this wonderfully enjoyable series. The mystery here is another interesting one in part because we do not really know any of the suspects which makes them all plausible suspects. I always enjoy seeing Mallory, Gray, Isla, and McCreadie working together and it was nice to see some forward progress with Isla and McCreadie. I am hoping the author makes a decision about Mallory and Gray soon - either they can be together and will be OR they cannot and that aspect of the series can fade away. Back to the mystery - this is definitely a case where the more you learn about the victim the more you want to celebrate the killer. This one also took quite a dark turn that I was not expecting. There were a few lost threads, primarily with Frye and his wife. They are probably just meant to serve as red herrings but their impact on the story is minimal at best. I found it somewhat amusing that the bumbling lawman was right but for completely the wrong reason - everyone kind of owes him an apology. As far as the new characters we meet here, I was not especially fond of Violet (she kind of lets McCreadie take all the blame and plays the victim when she made her own mistakes as well) but I loved Fiona (it was so great to see her prove herself and show some of the men in the story how they had underestimated her). The only part of the book I did not like had to do with the references to previous books - this is fine in moderation but I found the explanations of past events too detailed for those who had already read those books. If you are new to the series with his installment then I am sure you will appreciate to backstory, but if you have read the other three books you might feel like the author is wasting pages on information you already know and that does not actually connect to this story.

After slipping 150 years into the past, modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson has embraced her new life in Victorian Scotland as housemaid Catriona Mitchel. Although it isn’t what she expected, she's developed real, meaningful relationships with the people around her and has come to love her role as assistant to undertaker Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie.

Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie are on their way to the Scottish Highlands for McCreadie's younger sister's wedding. The McCreadies and the groom’s family, the Cranstons, have a complicated history which has made the weekend quite uncomfortable. But the Cranston estate is beautiful so Gray and Mallory decide to escape the stifling company and set off to explore the castle and surrounding wilderness. They discover that the groom, Archie Cranston, a slightly pompous and prickly man, has set up deadly traps in the woods for the endangered Scottish wildcats, and they soon come across a cat who's been caught and severely injured. Oddly, Mallory notices the cat's injuries don't match up with the intricacies of the trap. These strange irregularities, combined with the secretive and erratic behavior of the groom, put Mallory and Duncan on edge. And then when one of the guests is murdered, they must work fast to uncover the murderer before another life is lost.

Thank you, NetGalley/St.Martins Press, Minotaur Books/ Kelley Armstrong/ for this incredible eArc in advance for review.

The latest installment in the Rip Through Time was absolutely delightful. This is genuinely one of my most loved series and I simply adore how we get to spend time with our merry gang while trying to solve fiendish murder cases. The atmospheric setting, coupled with the evolving dynamics between the characters continues to intrigue me. I like that Kelly doesn't compromise the mystery for style, nor character growth.

As always, highly recommended.

As a huge fan of the Rip Through Time series, I was excited to return to Victorian Scotland with Mallory, Duncan, Hugh, and Isla. I’ve become so attached to these characters over the last few years, and I look forward to each new installment of the series.

As much as I love reading about Victorian Edinburgh, it was interesting to have a change of scenery and head up to the Highlands for this story. I liked getting to see these familiar characters with new people, especially people who have known them for a long time. The mystery was skilfully woven as always; it was layered with so many different characters, motives, secrets, and revelations, and kept me guessing until the very end.

Also, as someone who shipped Mallory and Duncan pretty early on (I’m typically a romance reader, what can I say), I’m glad to see a bit of progress there. I understand the variety of reasons to keep them apart, and I enjoy the extra tension from the will-they-won’t-they, but it was nice to see the possibility for more in future books. I also enjoyed seeing a bit of movement with the potential romance between Hugh and Isla.

My only issue was that it sometimes felt like there was too much going on…and yet somehow also not enough going on? There were so many characters and subplots, but it also felt like they were just thinking in circles about the crime, which really slowed things down for me. I didn’t have the strong urge to pick up the book and start reading again like I usually do with this series. Still, it was a solid addition to the series and I’m looking forward to the next installment.

I love this series, and I love this book and the setting in Scotland. A page-turner that keeps you on giving. And coos - I never knew that meant cows until now. I love it! A must-read for anyone who likes books set in the Victorian time period.

Death at a Highland Wedding is the fourth installment in an excellent mystery/time travel series best read in order.

Detective Mallory Atkinson was attacked in modern day Scotland and somehow switched bodies with a housemaid Catriona Mitchell living in Victorian Scotland 150 years earlier. She’s become friends with Duncan Gray and his sister Isla and now works with Duncan, an undertaker/doctor who performs autopsies for the police. There’s a slow-burn (very slow) romance brewing there.

Mallory, Duncan, Isla and Detective Hugh McCreadie travel out to the Scottish Highlands for Hugh’s sister’s wedding. There is some conflict with the gamekeeper of the estate which comes to a head when a wild cat is found in one of his set traps. The situation goes from bad to worse when one of the guests is found murdered out on the grounds. Duncan, Mallory and Hugh offer to help the inexperienced Constable Ross, but he’s set on solving the case himself.

This was a mystery with a lot of layers! I was fully invested as Mallory, Duncan and Hugh go about their own investigation, employing what they can of the limited forensic sciences available that Mallory has shared. A lot of the investigation comes down to interviewing the people involved and getting to the heart of why the murder was committed. It’s an engrossing process, but the relationships between the regular and new characters are an ongoing draw, especially as we learn more of the reoccurring characters’ histories.

This mystery wraps up, but Duncan and Mallory will have to decide how to handle a new development that will impact their situation in the future. It’s a good development, and one I was hoping for. I eagerly await the next installment!

I alternately read and listened to an e-copy and audio version. I’ve enjoyed Kate Handford’s narration in the series. I think she does an excellent job with the Scottish accents and performs both male and female voices wonderfully!

This is book #4 in Kelley Armstrong's A Rip Through Time series, which combines detective fiction, historical fiction and time travel. The author begins the story with a little review of how a modern day Vancouver detective ended up in 1870 Scotland, so it is possible to jump into the series here. But do start with book one so you don't miss all the fun.

This outing takes place in June, 1870, in the Scottish Highlands. The friends have gathered at the hunting lodge of Archie Cranston, who is marrying Detective McCreadie's sister Fiona. Unfortunately before the ceremony can take place, someone is found murdered. The local policeman is inexperienced and seems inept but McCreadie cannot take over the case. But he and his friends can do some investigating of their own.

This series is always lots of fun, especially since we keep hoping we'll see romance blossom soon for some of our favorite characters. This story has an interesting conclusion--see if you agree whether justice was served.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new novel via NetGalley.
My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong

5 stars
352 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books
Release Date: May 20, 2025

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thrillers, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Time Travel, Scotland, England

Mallory Mitchell is a thirty-something Canadian police officer who was transported to the body of a young woman in the 1800s. She lives and works as an assistant to Dr. Duncan Gray. They have been invited by McCreadie, the local criminal officer, to his sister’s wedding in the Highlands. A wildcat is caught in a mantrap but after a necropsy is performed, the cause of death is poisoning.

The best man is found dead, and the groom is accused of the murder. McCreadie handles the case since the local police lack the skills to investigate. Duncan and Mallory assist him to find the real murderer. The is a twist in the story since Violet, the sister of the groom, was McCreadie’s former fiancé. There is more than the murder to solve in the book.

The story is fast paced, the characters are developed, and it is written in the first-person point of view. This is the latest in the time travel series. If you like historical mysteries, you may enjoy this book.

I love this series! So the main cast of characters, Mallory, Duncan, Duncan's sister, and detective Hugh all head off to a wedding for Duncan and Hugh's childhood friend. As always, Mallory, a Canadian detective who traveled back into the past, attempts to solve crimes by adapting modern techniques using the resources of the time. This is one of my favorite historical series. The slow burn romance between Mallory and Duncan made a bit of progress, at least, so I will keep reading to see if they ever become a couple. Not to give any spoilers, but the "wedding" in the title is foreshadowing (I hope) for more weddings to come!

I wish I’d had time to start this series at the beginning. I will definitely be adding the rest to my TBR. I really liked Mallory’s character as a modern-day detective finding herself trapped in the past. I also enjoyed the historical detail and the way the mystery played out. Fans of historical mystery will eat this series up.

Death at a Highland Wedding is the fourth book in the A Rip Through Time series. This time Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie go to a Highland Wedding and try to solve a murder. I love this series so much. Kelley Armstrong's writing is incredible and captivates the reader from the very first page. I liked Mallory's humorous tone and her occasional twenty first century lingo is always fun to read. I often find myself chuckling while reading these books. The author does a great job of summarizing the key points from previous books, so you can read this one as a standalone and still grasp the story. However, I highly recommend starting from the beginning to fully enjoy the series. This series is such a delight to read and I can't wait to read the next instalment. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The 4th in prolific author Armstrong’s Rip through Time series begins with a summary so this can be read by anyone. Dr. Gray’s household traveling to the wedding of friend and criminal officer McCreadie’s sister gave a fun glimpse into the backstory of McCreadie. Travel to a countryside hunting lodge meant interesting details about Scottish wild cats and the evolution of the concept of private property. Mallory’s hack for a microscope was fun and of course the mystery wound through several twists. The relationship dance between couples was also satisfying. While there’s too much contemporary thought for historical accuracy this is a solid entry in a fun time-travel mystery series. Recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the first book I have read in this series and I’m hooked! Traveling back in time to Scotland with a strong female protagonist and a solid mystery was the highlight of my week as I read this one. I’m off to read the first three in this series so I can catch up.

4.5 Stars
Death at a Highland Wedding is book 4 in the A Rip Through Time series which follows a modern-day homicide detective trapped in the body of a 20 year old housemaid 150 years in the past. Mallory has now fully embraced her new life in Victorian Scotland as assistant to undertaker/medical examiner Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie.
While there is a recap in the beginning, I highly recommend starting with book 1.

In this installment Mallory, Gray and McCreadie head to the Scottish Highlands for the wedding of McCreadie’s younger sister, Fiona. What was supposed to be a fun trip takes a turn when the best man is found dead and the groom becomes the main suspect. Considering the local constable is inexperienced and unqualified to handle a murder investigation, the trio doesn’t hesitate to begin their own.

Following along with Mallory, Gray and McCreadie’s investigations is always a highlight for me. I love seeing Mallory use her modern-day detective skills in Victorian Scotland while also trying to fit in to the time period. I loved the Highland setting. The estate, especially at night, was just so atmospheric!

The setting, whodunnit, and evolving relationships all kept me engaged throughout. There’s a continued hint of a romance between Mallory and Gray but considering their circumstances, it’s the slowest of burns. I’m here for it though!

Words can’t describe how much I love this series. It has it all - wonderful characters, time travel, murder mysteries and even a dash of romance.
I can’t wait for the next book and am so excited to see that there’s another novella releasing this December!

This is not your traditional time-travel novel. Armstrong has put a twist on the trope whereby her main character, Mallory Atkinson, a modern-day police detective is transported to 1870, but awakes, after being attacked in an alley in modern day Edinburgh, in the body of a younger woman. Mallory is now a maid in the household of a medical doctor and his sister. In this book, Mallory, the doctor, his sister, and their friend, a police detective, travel to the Scottish Highlands to attend the wedding of a close friend. When a member of the wedding party is found murdered. It is up to the four friends to solve the murder.

This is a very well-written historical mystery series that will keep you reading into the wee hours of the morning. The characters are well-drawn and very likable. If you’re looking for a new series to become engrossed in and haven’t yet found this series, give it a try and you’ll be hooked.

This is the fourth book in Armstrong’s Rip in Time Series, but you do not need to read the first three books in order to enjoy this. Armstrong is adept at giving just enough information about the events occurring in the other books so that first-time readers will not be so lost that they set the book aside.

My thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for an eArc.

This was the best entry into the series yet! I also loved the previous novella, Schemes and Scandals, but Death at a Highland Wedding takes the place as #1 in my heart. Not only was this an exciting foray into the personal life of our beloved Detective McCreadie, but there were so many sweet moments with the other characters. This series, despite being a mystery, always feels like a warm hug because of the characters' personalities as well as their relationships and interactions with one another - so heartwarming. I am so incredibly sad to be finished with this installment, but the ending left me super excited for what is on the horizon. Kelley Armstrong is truly a master at her craft - she creates twisting mysteries that keep you guessing but also sprinkles in humor and warmth that makes for an incredibly satisfying read. Also, I just need to note that I immensely appreciate Armstrong's commentary on Victorian women's issues, homophobia, sexism, and racism. Such important topics that she does not shy away from addressing - I have so much respect for her incorporating these topics in her work - a reality that many of us live with in our everyday lives.

This installment follows our group - Mallory, McCreadie, Gray, Isla, and Alice - as they take a holiday to the Highlands for McCreadie's sister's wedding. When a wildcat is found dead, questions as to its suspicious death arise, particularly when the body of one of the guests is found murdered the next day. There is a whirlwind of family and personal drama and an intriguing mystery at the heart of the plot. It kept me guessing up until the very end.

Overall, this is a great series to pick up if you enjoy time-travel, found-family vibes, quirky characters, and twisting mysteries.

With that being said, I am someone that struggles with continuing series, I typically will read the first book and then get bored and not continue. However, this is one of the few series that has kept me utterly invested. If you suffer with the same problem, I would recommend trying this series!

In this latest Armstrong story in the "Rip Through Time" series, we find all of the major characters heading to the Scottish Highlands for Hugh McCreadie's younger sisters' wedding.

Of course during the preparations for the wedding there is a murder of a rather irritating character.

Duncan Gray, Hugh McCreadie, the groom, Archie Cranston and Ezra Sinclair all attended private school together and there is a dynamic of underlying insults in the guise of playful banter.

Set at the groom's rural estate there is an opportunity for Duncan and Mallory to spend alone time together and to explore both the grounds and a bit of their mutual feelings. (Just a little).

There are many sub-plots. McCreadie and the groom's sister Violet were once engaged. The landowner/groom Cranston has a contentious relationship with the villagers and the former game keeper and his family. McCreadie and Duncan's sister Isla are taking the first steps of a relationship.

In this novel we meet Hugh's sister Fiona, (the bride), Who shows that she is no Victorian wallflower. Her compassion for animals is clear and in the end so is her determination to steer her own course.

This is a great addition to the "Rip Through Time " series. No longer under the auspicies of restrictive 1870's Edinburgh, Mallory is able to utilize her 21st century detective skills and forensics. Duncan and Hugh are both observant and dedicated to finding the murderer.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC. Opinions expressed are strictly my own.

I adore this series. The perfect mix of historical fiction and mystery. I really enjoy the characters, especially when they make me laugh out loud with their wit. This is a great installment in this series and I can’t wait for more.

But Gray, my guy, GET IT TOGETHER. I have been ROOTING FOR THIS FOR FOUR BOOKS NOW.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong, and Minotaur Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong. This is a time travel story and it is the fourth book in a series. You can read these books as standalones, in my opinion. You just need to understand that our female main character has traveled back in time about 150 years. She was a police detective in Canada and now she is working as an assistant to an undertaker, Dr. Henry Grey, in role that we would think of as forensic pathology as he works with his good friend, Inspector Hugh McCready in Scotland to solve murders. Henry and Hugh are aware that Mallory has traveled back in time and they are benefiting from her expertise and modern knowledge of criminology. This story has the three, plus Henry's sister traveling to the Highlands for a wedding between Hugh's younger sister and one of their contemporaries. There is side drama here as Hugh was once engaged to the groom's sister and Hugh called off the engagement and there are still hurt feelings. There is a murder on the eve of the wedding. Was it mistaken identity? The local constabulary does not want Henry and Hugh's assistance, he can handle it. They know he cannot so they begin to quietly investigate. This was so well done I gave this 4.25 stars and I will be seeking out books 1-3 to read them because I enjoyed this so much! Thank you so much #netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my e-arc!

This novel took me on an emotional rollercoaster, ranging from gobsmacked, shocked, disgusted by the sexual predators, and even cheering by the conclusion.

I adore my Rip Through Time gang: Mallory Atkinson, Dr. Duncan Gray, Isla Gray, and, of course, Detective Hugh McCreadie. And yes, Simon and Alice are along for the ride too, all heading to the Scottish Highlands for Fiona McCreadie’s wedding to the insufferable Archie Cranston. Did I mention that Violet, McCreadie’s ex-fiancée, will also be attending? Yes, that Violet, who happens to be Archie Cranston’s younger sister. It’s the first time McCreadie and Violet have seen each other since the broken engagement. Add in the fact that McCreadie, Cranston, Gray, and Ezra Sinclair all went to school together, and you’ve got a powder keg of personal history.

Archie Cranston? Utterly obnoxious. Boorish, arrogant, and consistently rude to Gray. But even back in their school days, Gray noted that Archie was always the one to walk away from a fight, which is odd. Complex dynamics all around.

Among this cast of characters, major and minor, Fiona McCreadie, Hugh’s younger sister, completely stole the show for me. Her deep love for animals, her fierce sense of right and wrong, and her sharp mind made her a standout. I didn’t expect to love her as much as I did—shame on me for judging too soon. Can’t get enough of Fiona!

As for McCreadie, he finally faced what his broken engagement did to Violet. Confronting her and her family at the wedding gave him some closure, and, finally, Isla and McCreadie’s romance took a step forward. About time!

Then there’s Dr. Gray...oh, Gray! Sensing a change in the wind, he proposes to Mallory in the most painfully awkward way possible. In true Gray fashion, it comes off like a business arrangement rather than a heartfelt moment. His intentions were good, but he’s painfully aware of how it looks. With Isla potentially marrying McCreadie and moving out, Mallory (or Catriona) can no longer remain in his home as the maid. Their private conversations are already raising eyebrows, and Gray knows the danger of scandal.

Can we discuss Mr. Mueller, the gamekeeper? Massive ick factor. Something is seriously off with him, and it’s deeply unsettling.

The mystery itself? Excellent. Twisty, layered, and full of surprises. I didn’t see it coming, and honestly, that’s the best kind of mystery.

Sorry if I’ve been a bit cryptic here, but I didn’t want to spoil too much. It’s a fantastic read, and I highly recommend it, as it is my favorite novel out of the Rip Through Time series.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC!