Death on a Scottish Train by Lucy Connelly is the fourth novel in a series called the Scottish Isle Mystery. Dr Emilia McRoy has almost been in Scotland for a year. Em is trying to be more a part of the community so she is joining in more on different activities. This season, she and her friends have tickets to go on the first “ride” on the restored train with the story. Meanwhile a storyteller didn’t show up and later is found out dead in mysterious circumstances.

There is a second storyline about how Em and Ewan are getting closer. Their relationship is moving forward despite the various situations, murders, deaths, and characters. I really enjoyed how the series is growing in character development. I enjoy how gossip and information is passed so quickly down the line and the pubs are the source for all knowledge.

Death on a Scottish Train by Lucy Connelly is a fun read and a great addition to the series.

I am all for a murder mystery. This "cozy mystery" did not really resound with me.  The setting was interesting, and the main character was likable.  But, there wasn't much depth to the characters to actually connect to them.

The writing style of this book wasn't really my thing.  It read more like a script than a book, almost entirely just conversations.  And, quite a lot of repetition, even acting as some discoveries were new when they had already been discussed.  The pacing was strange, as it mostly doesn't feel like it moves anywhere, but then everything suddenly is solved in the last few pages.

This is the first book I have read in this series. You definitely do not need to have read any others first, but I'm not sure I would be reading any of the others.

It was a delight to spend time with the Sea Isle gang in the latest installment of Lucy Connelly’s Scottish Isle Mystery series, “Death on a Scottish Train.” This fourth book brings us back to the charming seaside village of Sea Isle, where summer marks a year since our favorite expat, Dr. Em, became the local doctor and coroner. Surrounded by a supportive group of friends, she has come to view the lovely seaside town as home.

Dr. Em has been involved in several murder investigations since her arrival, and this time is no different. The plot revolves around the mysterious death of a local businessman, discovered on the inaugural run of the town’s newly refurbished storytelling train. Dr. Em stumbles upon the scene, and so the investigation begins alongside Constable Ewan and the rest of the gang.

“Death on a Scottish Train” is an enjoyable read and a fantastic addition to the series. The author vividly depicts the enchanting village and has crafted a strong ensemble of characters. Dr. Em has found her place in Sea Isle, forming a new family. The budding connection between her and Ewan adds an exciting layer to the story, and I eagerly anticipate its development.

This series is one of my favorites, and I strongly recommend it to lovers of cozy mysteries. While this book can stand alone, exploring other books in the series will provide richer insight into the characters and the ongoing narrative. I cannot wait for the next chapter.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, Lucy Connelly and NetGalley for the Advance Readers Copy.

“ Death on a Scottish Train” by Lucy Connelly the 4th instalment in the " A Scottish Isle Mystery" series. I love this series. As Emilia, her assistant Abigail, and the local constable Ewan McGregor unravel the mystery, the killer sets their murderous intentions on them.

If they want to survive, they will need the help of all of their friends—before they become the latest victims.

This time an accountant appears to have been poisoned at the opening run of the newest Sea Isle attraction, a restored train. This suspicious death also overlaps with the one year anniversary of Em's arrival in Sea Isle.

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Em did.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 5 to come out!

I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Crooked Lane and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Dr. Emilia McRoy had worked ER in the US but is now the MD/coroner for small, remote Sea Isle, a Scottish town which is the responsibility of Ewan Campbell who is constable/mayor/barrister/laird.
The current excitement is a refurbished train kitted out as a Storyteller's Train complete with storytellers dressed as characters from Golden Age mysteries. But one of them never shows up. The fussbudget cantankerous one (of course) and he winds up murdered and stuffed into a closet. Gather the usual good guys and work together to solve the mystery! Well done (as always)!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from CROOKED LANE BOOKS via NetGalley. Pub date 10/14/2025
#MurderonaScottishTrain by @lucyconnellybooks #ScottishIsleMysteriesBk4 @crookedlanebooks @penguinrandomhouse #cozymystery #Scotland #theme train #friends #relationships #murder #attemptedmurder #investigations #familydrama #summerfestival #incipientromance

The new book in the series is quite entertaining like the previous installments. I found the murder on the train concept quite Agatha Christie-esque, so I was a bit disappointed that it doesn't completely unfold on a train. However, the plot is eventful and offers enough suspense to keep you guessing. I quite liked the choice of murder weapon, it was original and unexpected for once. Overall, a pleasant style for a good cosy mystery.

This is book 4in the Scottish Isle series. There seems to be a problem with the title, some have the title as Murder on a Scottish Train. As this is a preview copy you'll have to check when book is published. I enjoy reading Lucy Connelly books. I always learn something about the area when she sets her mystery. Dr. Emilla McRoy is enjoying the end of summer and seeing the tourist leave her beautiful small town in the Scottish highlands. The town has been working on repairing and fixing the Story Train and it's now it first run to Edinboro. When one of the storytellers is murdered it's up to Emilla and her fellow townies to solve the murder.

One year later and Emma, the local doctor on the beautiful Sea Isle is celebrating with the locals, the festival for the end of summer .

The refurbished storyteller train has been launched but one the of locals has been found dead in a cupboard at the station.

Is it murder or an unfortunate accident? Can Emma and the local constable, Ewan discover what has happens before anyone else is a victim?

Another great read in this series!

She’s back! Dr Em and the gang from Sea Isle are all back for another murder mystery. I am really enjoying this cozy mystery series set in a small seaside village on the Scottish coast where pretty much everyone knows everybody and the best place to get the latest gossip is at the local Pub run by Dr Em’s BF, Mara, and her grandparents. I get a kick out of how the townspeople in the bar all suddenly go quiet when Dr Em or Constable/Laird/Mayor Ewan walk in the place, in hopes of hearing about whatever case they’re working on.

The book summary introduces the primary storyline of the death of one of the hired storytellers for the grand opening of the new storyteller’s train trips. What the book summary doesn’t mention is that the victim wasn’t a nice guy and one who had a lot of secrets and possibly a lot of people who wanted to see him dead. There is also a secondary storyline (sort of) of Em’s growing attraction for Ewan. It’s been a year now, as well as three previous installments, since Em arrived in Sea Isle and she is clearly attracted to Ewan and really enjoys the friendship that they have developed. Personally, I’m surprised that Connelly hasn’t paired them up yet.

Most of the story revolves around the investigation of the death and the victim, who is starting to look less like a victim and more like a perpetrator whose bad karma simply caught up to him. In addition to his own police force, Ewan also has several townspeople going around asking other townspeople questions about the night of the murder. In a small place like Sea Isle, the best form of communication is the town’s pseudo party line. It’s well into the second half, and I, as well as the Sea Isle gang, have no idea who the killer is. It’s not long that the investigation takes a crazy turn that leads to some crazy and intense scenes for Em and the rest of the gang.

The continuing character development of Em, Ewan and a few of the other Sea Isle residents was well done. The relationships between Em and Mara, Jasper, Abigail and Ewan have developed into a tight knit group of friends over the course of the series and adds a lot of value to the stories. The pacing was steady and the storyline interesting. The writing was on par with the series as well as the genre. I’m looking at a solid overall rating of 4.0 for a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #DeathonaScottishTrain

This is the third book in this series that I've read. I really liked the first one and have been disappointed by the next 2. After the 2nd one, I figured I'd give the series one more try. The author is SO repetitive Yes, Tommy is on the spectrum. Yes, Abigail is so great. Yes, Ewan is attractive and cares so much about the village. I won't read any more of this series.

Lucy Connelly does it again! Her Scottish Isle Mysteries are well-plotted cozy mysteries, evoking the Scottish landscape with her writing. Dr. McRoy stumbles onto another murder in the village, this time a local who had lots of enemies. Connelly slowly starts to show growth in the relationships of the characters as McRoy is now fully settled in Sea Isle. It felt like visitng old friends again. Highly recommend for cozy fans!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This is the fourth in the Scottish Isle mystery series featuring Dr. Em, an American Ex Pat who moves to the small town of Sea Isle, Scotland and finds more than she bargained for in both friends and fatalities. In this book, an accountant appears to have been poisoned at the opening run of the newest Sea Isle attraction, a restored train. This suspicious death also overlaps with the one year anniversary of Em's arrival in Sea Isle.

This book was a decent addition to the series, with many of our favorite characters (Mara, Jasper, Abigail, Tommy, Henry, Ewan, Lulu) making appearances. I also liked that Em and Ewan's relationship seems to be progressing (albeit at an absolutely glacial pace). That said, the actual mystery was lacking a bit in this one for me; I would appreciated more clues and a more gradual building to the culprit. I also found the interpersonal interactions between the characters/Em's internal dialogue to be a bit formulaic this go round (it seems a bit odd to me that Em's every interaction with her friends has her rhapsodizing about how incredible they all are when they see each other basically daily!).
3.5/5 rounded up to 4 because the mystery and writing felt a bit stale but this is still a perfectly delightful light addition to the series, and I look forward to the next!

I discovered the original 'American in Scotland' book just a couple of weeks ago. I quickly devoured all three in the series and went looking for the newest one on Netgalley. Lucy Connelly continues to delight! American expat in Scotland, Dr. Emilia McRoy, is joined again by her likeable motley crew of Scottish pals in this new murder mystery. The murder investigation itself includes the usual clever twists, and the setting of the fictional Sea Isle (and cameo of nonfictional Edinburgh) offers the Scottish charm we've come to expect. But it's the slow burn of romance heating up that sets this one apart. Deliciously and also agonizingly slow on the burn. No spoilers here, just an appreciative reader enjoying the characters, setting, and dialogue. New readers, Connelly's series will appeal to lovers of mysteries, slightly whimsical settings, and a well-rounded cast of characters.

I really wanted to love this one, but I just couldn’t get into it. As someone admittedly obsessed with cozy mysteries, Scotland, and islands, this should have ticked all my boxes, but I started and lost interest twice before actually reading the whole thing. I do like the series and the characters/ setting, but something about this mystery just wasn’t compelling for me— and I figured out who did it really early on.

Grab the haggis and tea, and don’t forget a pair of sturdy wellies. We’re going to Scotland! NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Modern day. Small Scottish village. She’s a transplanted American with a past she’d like to forget. Now she’s building a new life as the town doc. When the need arises—as it does with regularity in Scotland—she serves as the coroner. Oh, and she has a wee crush on the local constable. He’s the son of well-to-do parents, and he has a wee crush on the coroner, too. But neither of them wants to admit what all of their friends can see.

Meanwhile, the latest tourist attraction in town is a train ride that features local storytellers in each car. Wine, snacks, and a good time are guaranteed. The maiden voyage goes perfectly.

Except for that one guy who winds up dead.

Suspects and motives abound as our coroner and constable investigate.
Death on a Scottish Train by Lucy Connelly is a highly enjoyable Scottish cozy with suspense, a budding romance, and a plethora of surprises that will keep you guessing. All with the flavor and atmosphere of Scotland. Nicely written, lots of fun.

Death on a Scottish Train is book 4 in Connolly’s Scottish Isle Mysteries series. I have not read the other books in the series, but this one stands nicely on its own. I bet the others are just as much fun, though. I’d suggest grabbing them as you wait for Death on a Scottish Train to be released in October.

The town of Sea Isle is one that I couldn’t quite locate when I recently spent two months in Scotland. Ms Connelly has NAILED the vibe and feel of a small Scottish town. The title is a misnomer as the deceased didn’t actually die on the train, but it’s close enough.
I did notice quite a few spelling errors (gaol being printed as goal), and some clunky formatting and sentence structure, but I am confident that was all caught and tidied up before it went to print.
I adore this series, and I can almost taste the full Scottish breakfast Dr Em treats herself to often.

We join Em and friends as they board a newly renovated train in Sea Isle where storytellers entertain them with folklore and more. However one of the storytellers never ends up on the train and is later found dead in a closet. While on the surface it looks like a tragic accident, Emilia soon learns it's anything but. She and her friends help Constable Ewan track down a murderer.
I've not read the previous books in this series but I didn't feel lost or left out as to who was who. I wish we had more time on the train, and I feel like the middle of the book dragged a bit, but overall I really enjoyed the book and getting to know these characters. Between the various townsfolk and all of the events Sea Isle sounds like a fun and inviting place to be!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the arc

I am a Lucy Connelly fan and enjoyed this book very much. I am excited to see where her relationship with Ewan goes. I love all the returning main characters/side characters. I definitely recommend this book as it was a fun read.

Dr. Emilia McRoy is on the inaugural ride of the refurbished train from Sea Isle to Edinburgh.
Storytellers have been hired to entertain the passengers on the journey. When the body of a missing
storyteller is discovered back at the station, the autopsy will reveal his death was deliberately caused
by his allergic reaction to bee venom. The investigation reveals that the storyteller who was an
investment advisor had many unhappy clients due to poor investments. After a year in Scotland,
Emilia has a better working relationship with the local constable Ewan as week as a change in their
personal relationship. Enjoyed catching up with the characters.
#DeathonaScottishTrain #CrookedLaneBooks #NetGalley

Dr. Emily McRoy has been on Sea Isle for a year now and is active in the tight-knit community. Attending the initial run of a refurbished train, Emily finds a body tucked into the closet of the train station. In her duty as coroner, she is busy helping Ewan, the constable and mayor, find out what happened.
This is a wonderful cozy mystery and you may find yourself ready to run off to Scotland! The characters are well-rounded and very likable, with just the right amount of quirkiness. Emily and her friends do find themselves in danger while they are snooping, but that won’t stop them. There is also a hint of a possible budding romance between Emily and Ewan.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC.