I thought this was another good book in this series.
It’s well written and has some surprises along the way.
I did think it dragged a little and felt drawn out.
I’m looking forward to what might develop next

Death at a Highland Wedding:⁣
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Thank you @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2025 for my gifted copies!⁣
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Mallory, Duncan Gray, and ole McCreadie are back in action, and this time, we’re in Scotland. This actually might be my favorite of the series with the change of scenery! ⁣
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Also my favorite because we start talking about the future (not 2025 future but Mallory in her present age future) we knew this was coming after the jump scare last book, and I really liked that we delved deeper into this. ⁣
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We go into a few darker themes, but they were handled well. The audio is always amazing. Kate Handford being a single narrator still blows my mind how good she performs it. ⁣
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Everyone knows Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors of all time. Books like Highland make it so easy to say this. ⁣
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Out Tuesday!

I love this series and eagerly anticipate each new installment. This book is now my new favorite! The series continues to get better and better as the characters develop deeper relationships and gain experience from their investigations. The series is a fun blend of time travel, mystery, historical fiction, and a touch of romance.

Mallory is a modern-day homicide detective who mysteriously slipped through time and found herself in the body of a maid in Victorian Scotland. Fortunately, she landed with an open-minded group she eventually trusted enough to tell her secret, including the local undertaker, his progressive, feminist sister, and another detective. Together, they work to solve crimes, the latest of which occurs at a wedding they attend.

Armstrong's writing always captures my attention, and her storytelling keeps me riveted. This was atmospheric and rich in historical detail. Mallory is a strong FMC, smart, adaptable, and resilient. As an outsider with modern sensibilities, she notes the many differences between the 1870s and 21st-century life in organic and engaging ways. The characters are very well developed, and their connections continue to deepen in satisfying ways. The mystery was suspenseful and intriguing, with twists and turns that kept me on my toes. Humor and romance are woven throughout. While this could work as a stand-alone, I recommend reading the series from the beginning to appreciate it fully. Plus, it's so much fun, you won't want to miss any of the action!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for the gifted eARC

This book was amazing as usual. I found it a bit slower than the previous ones in this series. I did enjoy the banter and relationships between Mallory, Gray and McCreadie. This series never disappoints and I can’t wait for the next one. 5 stars

So much intrigue at a wedding in the Highlands. I have to admit that I did not guess the killer at all (chuckle). There was so much drama in Death at a Highland Wedding that you didn’t know in which direction Kelley Armstrong was going to take us.

Mallory was hoping it would bring Isla and McCreadie closer but alas the guests made that impossible as we finally meet the woman McCreadie rejected all of those years ago. Plus, her brother who is an odd chap who likes to verbally bully people but all isn’t as it seems. Yet it is. People are complex and Armstrong proves this in the latest Rip Through Time outing.

There are multiple threads for Mallory and the gang to follow. Everyone has secrets and they always come out when there is murder involved. It even looked like Gray and Mallory’s relationship was going to take a step further until it took a giant step backwards (smh chuckle).

I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Scottish history and ways to MacGyver everyday objects to make what you need. The jaunt for clues was a good time too. I loved everything about Death at a Highland Wedding. I can’t wait to travel back in time again.

An excellent addition to a favorite ongoing series! The timeslip elements make the series pop, as a detective from the 21st century solves crimes in Victorian Scotland. The characters themselves -- their relationships and their culture clashes -- are delightful and surprising. And yes, this is a murder mystery, and it's a good one! Lots of clues and red herrings kept this reader guessing all the way to the end. Highly recommended!

This fourth book in the Rip in Time series did not let me down - truly, one of my favorite series! It combines Victorian England, dark and creepy murders, and a badass female lead whose time traveled from Vancouver Canada! I mean, really?! And Armstrong manages to nail it all. In this new book, this smart quirky gang travels to Scotland for yes, a wedding, and of course there’s a death, danger, and rabbit holes to confuse us. Loved it!

I enjoyed this book more than I expected! It was giving Outlander vibes, which I don’t mind. It is part of a series but was easy to read as a standalone. The characters are likeable & I was rooting for their little romances, she ended up leaving me on a cliffhanger so I guess I’ll have to read the next one.

The murder mystery plot was intriguing, and I liked how it went back and forth between possible suspects. It got a little dark at the end which I didn’t expect & was hard to swallow.

Overall would recommend, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Tha k you so much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This is book 4 in Kelley Armstrong's Rip Through Time series, and I am genuinely still having a great time. I love the premise: modern Camadian homicide Detective stuck in 1800s Scotland as a funeral director/coroner's assistant, using modern day techniques (as much as she can) to help solve crimes in the past. Mallory and Duncan are once again working together to solve a murder, but this time it hits a little too close to home. They've traveled out of Edinburgh for Detective Hugh McCreadie's sister's wedding to one of their childhood friends. But before the wedding can happen, the best man is killed and it has to have been someone staying at the house.

I'm going to not spoil anything for anyone who hasn't read the last three books. This one in particular though does fequire trigger warnings for animal death (off page) and sexual assault (also off page but disussed in depth). Some relationships we've been rooting for move forward and some have no movement at all, but it was still a very entertaining read full of modern investigative techniques and some attempt at modern forensics but set in a time before any of that existed. I love this series so much! It's a more lighthearted, mystery-of-the-week version of Outlander, without all of the trauma lol.

This is a fun continued romp of the series with my favorite characters back for another mystery and interesting new characters joining in. I do think the slow burn romance is... a bit too slow. But enjoyed the rest.

Another great book in the series. The death itself didn't occur until about a quarter of the way into the book. I really appreciate an author who can take the time to build up to the inciting incident instead of dropping me into it right from the start. Because this is part of a series, the opening took time to build on the relationship between the main players: Mallory, Gray, Isla and McCreadie. And that is actually important in this story for reasons that could give away plot (which I won't do).

There are some very unexpected twists, and the character arc of both Mallory and Gray is developing in an interesting direction. That relationship is one of the most enjoyable aspects of this book. It isn't romantic so it gives room for interesting comments on women's place in society, both then and now as Mallory is from present day with a more modern sensibility. Her attempts to live as a Victorian young woman without breaking social mores during a murder investigation is part of what drives the plot in this series--and allows for unexpected twists as well!

Who doesn’t love a destination wedding? Well if you aren’t in your normal time period AND there’s a murder, then there is a lot to juggle. Kelley Armstrong creates this hardship in her latest installment of her “rip through time” series, Death At A Highland Wedding. I absolutely love the research done for this series and this particular novel includes details on Victorian age clothing, marriage arrangements, Scottish land ownership rights and even the tiny bit of criminal science at the time. The main characters are now quite comfortable with each other, this being the sixth installment of Mallory’s adventures when she pops from current time to the 1800’s. However everyone is in an unfamiliar house on an unfamiliar estate and grounds. It groups together to create an “Upstairs, Downstairs” vibe since the employees do not know all these new faces. I love that Armstrong keeps the storyline tight, without veering off on tangents. Any personal talk by the participants seems to happen during the investigation. There are just enough gruesome details to the murder and clues to keep this from being a cozy mystery. The author’s writing is smooth and finishes when it should. There is a wonderful synopsis of what has happened so far of interest in the very beginning of the book, for those who either can’t remember or haven’t read the prior ones, so appreciated! I will be reading all of the installments of this series that I can get my hands on!

Ever since I read the first book in this series I have been hooked. The premise of a women detective time traveling back to the late 1800 due to an attack is not anything I have come across before. I was excited to see the whole gang going on a trip to see old friends and old flames just to come across a murder in the fields behind the house.
They are going to the wedding of McCreadie,s sister Fiona to an old college friend Archie. Once they arrive wedding festives begin. After a few days the grounds keeper reports a poaching incident upon review Duncan and Mallory find the body of the best man Ezra. The death is reported to the local official who is basically new on the job and his first murder case. It is up to Duncan,Mc Creadie and Mallory to figure out what happened to their friend.
Loved the interaction between Duncan and Mallory in this book. Their relationship seems to be taking a turn for the better along with McCreadie and Duncan sister Isla.
Can’t wait for the next installment.

One of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and it did not disappoint!! 🙌

This series has become dear to my heart and I’ve only read the third and this, the fourth book! So it definitely can be read as a standalone! I absolutely love the characters and the dynamic between Mallory and Duncan! Highly recommend checking this one out!! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Kelley Armstrong for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

I know I said last time that book three was my favorite yet, but now book four is seriously my favorite in the series yet!

Death at a Highland Wedding is the fourth book in the Rip Through Time series, which follows modern-day detective Mallory Atkinson when she is accidentally transported back in time to 1800s Scotland. Trapped in the body of a housemaid, she ends up assisting Dr. Duncan Gray, a mixed-race undertaker and proponent of early forensic methods, in solving murder cases. Mallory and Duncan are accompanied in their investigations by Duncan's half-sister Isla, a widow and brilliant chemist, and Detective Hugh McCreadie, a police officer and Duncan and Isla's longtime friend.

In this fourth book in the series, the gang heads to the Highlands for McCreadie's sister's wedding, but Fiona McCreadie may not make it down the aisle after all when a murder interrupts the proceedings. McCreadie is one of my favorite characters in this series, so I was super excited to get a peek into his family and past. I am very invested in the potential romance between him and Isla, and there was a bit of movement in that regard in this book. There are several moments in this book where Mallory and Duncan talk amongst themselves about how much they're rooting for Hugh and Isla to be a couple, and like, same. Good to know we're all #Hisla shippers here.

One of my complaints in earlier books was that I felt Mallory had a somewhat judgmental attitude towards Victorian society and people in the past, but she has really found her footing in this time now and learned to love Duncan, Hugh, and Isla. There are several moments in this book where she displays a very nuanced thought process regarding Victorian social norms, understanding why people do the things they do, and how seemingly "barbaric" scientific practices made it possible for her to have the 21st-century medical care she has now. I loved to see it! She's really grown on me as a protagonist, and some of the scenes between her and Dr. Gray in this book were also great. It's so clear that there's a mutual attraction there, though they both think the other doesn't feel the same way they do. I'm eager to see how their relationship will continue to evolve.

The fact that the mystery was wrapped up in a satisfying way was an added bonus that made this a thoroughly enjoyable read. I am eager and hopeful for a book five!

“Death at a Highland Wedding” is the fourth installment in the Rip Through Time series featuring Mallory Atkinson who has switched bodies with a Victorian maid after a violent attack throws Mallory back in time. In this book, Mallory accompanies Isla, Gray and McCreadie to the Highlands for the wedding of McCreadie’s younger sister. McCreadie has been estranged from his family for years so it’s a bit awkward, particularly since his ex-fiance is also attending the wedding.

Shortly before the wedding a body is found in the woods raising questions about whether or not the groom was the intended target. Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie begin investigating despite the fact that the young and inexperienced local constable has declined their assistance. The clues raise uncomfortable questions for the investigators while Mallory and Gray continue to explore their feelings for each other. As they get closer to the killer, they uncover evidence of crimes that go back decades and the circle of suspects widens.

This book has a LOT going on. The questions about morality and justice are particularly interesting…and heartbreaking. Mallory continues to struggle with her 21st Century sensibilities, but is aware that she can’t impose her own understanding of the world into the Victorian era. Of course, this causes great frustration, but she is also coming to terms with her new reality. This is an entertaining and thought-provoking entry into the timeslip genre.

This book is great for those who enjoy historical mysteries, mystery series, and/or timeslip stories.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press|Minotaur Books, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Kelley Armstrong does it again! I love these characters so much … she has created a world that we just want to be apart of. She has put together a fantastic cast of characters that we can cheer for and get behind. I really love this series and will always be excited for the next installment. You MUST read this series … it has a little bit of many genres. And it’s a guaranteed winner …

Wedding Bells and Shotgun Shells

Kelley Armstrong presents the 4th book in her A Rip Through Times Series. Although this can be read as a standalone, you'd benefit from one of the earlier books in order to get a grip on these characters. However, Armstrong does fill in the gaps at the beginning of this one.

Mallory Atkinson was once a police officer in Vancouver. That all changed when she was attacked late one night as she was visiting her dying grandmother in Scotland. For some unknown reason, Mallory was catapulted back in time to the 1870's in Scotland and woke up as Catriona Mitchell, a maid in the employ of Dr. Duncan Gray. The earlier books start to peel back her adventures as Catriona.

Now Mallory/Catriona finds herself on the road to the Highlands of Scotland in the company of Duncan and his friend Detective Hugh McCreadie. Hugh's sister, Fiona, is marrying Archie Cranston and they've all been invited to the wedding. By now, Mallory has worked her way up to being an assistant to Dr. Gray.

The coach arrives at their destination days before the wedding. We'll meet some strange characters here who are interconnected to one another. There's a sketchy new hire game manager on the property. He likes to set traps. Watch your step.

But then one of the guests is found dead in the tall field grass outside the hunting lodge. There's a nasty wound to the back of the head. Who would want this person dead and why?

And that's when Mallory, Duncan, and Hugh jump into action. Mallory agonizes over the lack of modern day investigating tools and DNA. But between them, they'll work their way through the clues. Armstrong implements the use of back-and-forth banter between these characters in a think-out-loud manner. We readers become part of the "deducing"......a bit of Sherlock happenin' here. And the result is a fine read in the hands of the talented Kelley Armstrong. Don't miss it.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to the talented Kelley Armstrong for the opportunity.

Book 4 in the A Rip Through Time series was every bit as devourable as the first 3. I do recommend at least reading Book 1 first, because of important background information (though if you do, I'm pretty sure you'll want to read 2&3 as well because this series is addictive!).

I love the Victorian era setting. The lack of DNA, technology, proper evidence and hiring procedures make solving mysteries far more difficult. Heck, the era even makes it difficult for our main characters, Mallory and Duncan, to have a private conversation without worrying about how it will appear to everyone because what a scandal it would be for an unwed man and woman to meet unsupervised. (Can I just say how thankful I am that I wasn't born back then!)

The murder mystery was fast paced and unpredictable. There were several viable suspects, but I had no idea who did it until the very end.

Some characters made progress in their love lives while others at least shed some light on the insecurities preventing progress. Hopefully they can work it out soon as I've been rooting for them since Book 1!

I would love to see this series turned into a TV show!

Thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for the early copy!

Mallory the modern Canadian police detective has found peace with her inexplicable transportation to nineteenth century Scotland. She even expects to have some fun at the upcoming wedding of her employer/potential love interest Duncan’s school friend. She does not, however, expect the convoluted web of interpersonal relationships that envelops her there. When a wedding guest is found bludgeoned to death, Mallory, Duncan, and their friends must circumvent the laughable “investigation” of local law enforcement to discover the truth. Their probing uncovers great darkness behind the stiff proprietary of Victorian high society. Armstrong also takes time to develop Mallory’s slow-moving romance.