The start of a new promising series, another entertaining novel by Lydia Travers. Enjoyed the characters and the solid plot kept me guessing
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was an ok cozy mystery . The overall story was good but I just didn’t really like Poppy which def impacted my enjoyment of the story . I might however give her another chance at some point when the next book in the series comes out

This is the first in the Lady Poppy Proudfood Mystery series. It was fun seeing this is sort of a spinoff of The Scottish Ladies Detective Agency, which I really enjoyed. Maud and Daisy individually make an appearance in this book...which was a great!

Lady Poppy Proudfoot has a law degree. but could not practice law when she got her law degree. She is a part of the aristocracy now since her father recently inherited a title. She has always been a fan of mysteries and had devoured the book by Maud McIntyre and her friend Daisy (The Scottish Ladies Detective Agency. She has been invited to a house party. While she is there a mystery man is killed near loch of the property and her new friend Constance who is giving the party asks her to look into a private matter regarding a bracelet bought by her deceased husband.

Poppy and her lab, Major are on the case and Poppy is determined to prove herself a top-notch detective and solve the cases, She even starts to think the cases may be related, are they? Will she solve it before the police and that grumpy detective or she becomes the next victim? You will need to read this entertaining mystery to find out!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read this ARC and give my opinion.

Lady Persephone Proudfoot daughter of the Earl of Crieff, aka Poppy, travels to her friend Lady Constance Balfour's home for a midsummer party. Soon after, the body of Henry Harvey is found by the Loch. Elspeth, her maid warns Poppy to stay away from the case and let James MacKenzie, Inspector with the Edinburgh Detective Branch handle it. Lady Constance confides in Poppy that the jeweler is billing her for a bracelet that is not in her possession and after thorough searching is missing. Poppy will try to find the bracelet and solve the murder by the Loch while also keeping herself safe because someone is out there trying to silence her.

Death At The Highland Loch is a charming, cozy, feel-good read with enough mystery to keep you guessing. Loved this book! 💫💫💫💫💫

This book had everything you’d expect from a 1920’s cosy crime book – a rich amateur sleuth who was investigating despite the inspector telling them not to. Except this book was a little different. Firstly, the plot definitely surprised me, taking unexpected turns. There were also two story strands going on, and they both developed nicely.

I have to say one of them really stood out for me, and just when I thought I knew everything- it turns out I didn’t! I thought it was very clever.

The big reveal at the end let the other storyline down for me because I was expecting something more. Don’t get me wrong, there were some great suspects with big fat juicy secrets, which kept me turning those pages. It was a satisfactory ending, but it didn’t make me sit up and really pay attention.

I’m not saying I wouldn’t read another of these books. I would. The characterisation really surprised me – Poppy, for example, felt more true to the 1920s and not modern in her attitudes. She was very naive, however, and after nursing in the First World War, I would have thought she would have been a bit more worldly. The inspector surprised me – he was probably my favourite character in the book as he turned out to have a lot more going for him than on first appearances.

I liked the cameos the characters made from the previous book as it created an air of reality. Overall, despite my thoughts on the ending, there was lots to enjoy here, and I am intrigued to see where the story goes. I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

I have mixed feelings about this book.

The storylines were interesting with a couple of twists and turns. But I found it hard to like the protagonist, Poppy.

She comes across as quite petulant and her second guessing an experienced Inspector? It seems hard to believe that anyone would try to instruct the police to 'turn the train around/put police at each station/tell him I've solved the case... and even harder to credit that there would be traction hmmm. And so the Inspector, therefore, comes across as just a bit too easy going, a little too unprofessional - all things considered.

I'm unsure if I'll continue with the series but I am sure there are many who will enjoy this cozy mystery.

Its three out of five on the enjoyment scale

With thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Scotland, 1924: When Lady Poppy Proudfoot travels to the Highlands for a midsummer party, the last thing she and her fellow guests expect is for a body to wash up beside the loch. Despite protests that it could have been an accident, Poppy is convinced it’s murder and decides to dust off her law degree and hunt for clues. But when the police arrive, the grumpy Inspector MacKenzie dismisses her evidence, insisting a crime scene is no place for a Lady. With the help of her trusted Labrador, Major, Poppy begins to unpick the case. But she soon has two mysteries to solve, as her host Lady Constance Balfour claims a diamond and emerald bracelet has been stolen. When a woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Poppy is attacked, she realizes that someone wants her off the case.
The first in a new series & another very well written book by the author I was lucky enough to receive both the ebook & the audiobook & enjoyed switching between the two. The narrator was excellent & brought the book to life. I really liked Poppy & loved that she visited the Scottish Ladies Detective Agency for advice – great to know Daisy was making a success of the Agency. I really liked Poppy & loved how she gradually worked out who the murderer was. I also liked her relationship with MacKenzie, I enjoyed their banter & how their respect for each other grew. I look forward to more in the series
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

A cute new cozy mystery series set in 1920’s Scotland . Lady Poppy had not one but two mysteries to solve - the missing necklace and the murder of an unknown man by the Loch, while also budding heads with a handsome inspector.

Overall the story and the setting were enjoyable. Ut I just wish I had liked Poppy more - she came across as very entitled and spoiled , reading her I had to keep reminding myself she was older than she came across . I did like the Inspector though and they had some nice interactions

I thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance reader copy of “Death at the Highland Loch.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Lady Persephone (Poppy) Proudfoot may seem to be one of those footloose, wealthy “Young Things,” but she didn’t get a university law degree by sitting around and doing nothing. Her analytical skills will come in handy in “Death at the Highland Loch,” whereby our honorable lady will be busy figuring out who bumped off a dead man found on the estate and fighting her attraction to the handsome police inspector running the case. All in a day’s work.

It's a treat watching Poppy wading through a whole bunch of suspects -- all who have a motive for murder. Between American “movie people” gadding about, a shifty footman, and personal danger for Poppy, Author Lydia Travers has the plotting and fictional situations well in hand (including a homage to her first series, her “Scottish Ladies Detective Agency.”) A special shout-out to Poppy’s lady’s maid Elspeth, whose grumpy personality stands out as enjoyable contrast to Poppy. Elspeth wants nothing to do with anything, and she doesn’t hesitate to express her feelings. “Death at the Highland Loch” ends on a rousing encounter for Poppy and her dashing inspector, with truth revealed and culprits identified. This first book in a new series is an entertaining addition to the historical cozy mystery genre.

I was so excited to see another series by Lydia Travers and was cautiously optimistic that she would deliver another wonderful mystery with a smart, witty, self assured female sleuth and I liked Lady Poppy Proudfoot immediately! I love a good canine companion as well. Edinburgh is the desired setting for an American film maker who wants to create a murder mystery but fiction becomes fact when an actual murder takes place.
If would recommend this if you are a Jane Austen fan or just like to be swept away to Scotland to solve a cozy mystery with some very interesting characters!

im a big fan of historical crime novels, especially the ones lead by headstrong female leads who know how to solve a mystery. lady poppy proudfoot is exactly that. the story is fast-paced with a cast of eccentric characters and more than one mystery on the go. i’ll definitely be reading any more books released in the series and am looking forward to lady poppy’s next adventure.

This was moderately entertaining. The heroine, Lady Poppy Proudfoot, is the daughter of an earl and rather bored with her life. So she decides to insert herself into a murder mystery, much to the dismay of the handsome Scotland Yard inspector. It was a bit too cutesy for my taste. She was so sure of her importance as a potential detective, although her only recommendation was that she thinks she’s observant. She figures she’ll learn how to be a detective by reading the book written by some lady detectives from the author’s earlier series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

If you think you’re in for a cozy little quiet trip to the Scottish Highlands with this one, buckle up because you’re in for so much more with Lady Poppy!

I’m always in for a nice detective story with a dog - and this one has two! So of course I was in from the beginning. But little did I know that this book would start with a nice visit to a Georgian hone in the countryside and then go off and take me on an exciting ride through two mysteries and a raucous cast of characters. Gregor, though the older characters kept saying that he needed to learn manners (which I guess he did in the case of Scottish high society), was my favorite, with his quips and frank observations.

I had to force myself to put the book down at times, I was so sucked into the plot and the world of the Scottish aristocracy, which gave a little glimpse into the above stairs/below stairs dynamic.

The solution to the mystery(s) was excellent, and I was surprised by the conclusion. It was exactly what I hoped for in a good mystery.

This appears to be the first in a series, and I can’t wait to read the next one!

Death at the Highland Loch is a charming blend of historical fiction, cozy crime, and a bold, no-nonsense heroine who isn't afraid to challenge the status quo. Set in the early 1900s, this no-spice mystery weaves together threads from the past, present, and future to spin a tangled web of secrets and lies. At the heart of the story is a woman determined to solve a murder despite being overlooked by the men in charge—especially a grumpy policeman who clearly underestimates her. Watching her navigate that tension while digging up clues was not only entertaining, but a satisfying reminder of how often women have had to prove themselves in male-dominated roles.

As the mystery unfolds, it becomes clear that she’s the only one seeing the full picture, even if no one wants to admit it. Of course, in classic fashion, the local lawman eventually has to concede that her instincts and intellect were spot-on all along. The setting was atmospheric, the characters were layered, and the pace kept me turning the pages. It was the perfect mix of light-hearted fun and thoughtful commentary on gender dynamics in historical times. I’m already eager to pick up the next book in this series!

This was a delightful cozy mystery! I really liked Poppy and her Inspector. It was a hard to put down book. I can’t wait to see what mystery she solves next.
Perfect for all mystery lovers!

Quick read through the highlands, murder and mystery. Following Poppy along for a nice time in the countryside takes a dramatic turn when a random man is discovered murdered at the loch.
Poppy cannot leave it alone and must discover the details of how this man came to the loch and who had need to kill him.
Quick and easy read.

Great start to a new series! This is my first book by Lydia Travers and I plan on looking for her other series. I loved Poppy and her matter-of-fact style, continuing her investigation and finding helpful clues despite the inspector telling her not to (not that anyone ever listens to this sound advice). This was set in a location that I have been wanting to visit so it was a fun bonus to learn more about the area. I l also enjoyed the ending where she met with the authors of her guidebook (who I think are the main characters in the other series). All in all, a fast-paced, well-plotted mystery that I could not put down. Highly recommended!

I like this author's other series, so decided to give this one a try. I enjoyed it and can't wait to see what else this Lady amateur detective gets into.
The mystery kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I have read by this author and while very similar to a lot of other mysteries set in the 1920s with a title lady and a dog sidekick it is still a good read. The mystery was twisty enough to keep you guessing and while I did spot the culprit before Poppy this didn't affect my enjoyment. I look forward to more in this new series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

When Lady Poppy Proudfoot travelled to the Scottish Highlands in 1924, with her beloved Labrador, Major, by her side, the annual midsummer party was all that was on her mind. The home was owned by Lady Constance Balfour, and it had only been a few months since her husband had died, so this event would be smaller than usual. The day Poppy arrived, she took Major for a walk before dinner, to the nearby town, spotting one of the footmen at the entrance to the local pub. When, the following morning at breakfast, that same footman rushed into Constance and her guests, announcing he'd just discovered a dead body by the loch, chaos ensued. With the arrive of Inspector MacKenzie, a brusque individual, Poppy decided she would assist him with his enquiries - but he brushed her off immediately...

Death at the Highland Loch is the 1st in the Lady Poppy Proudfoot series by Lydia Travers and I enjoyed it very much. I did pick the perpetrator before the reveal, but reaching the conclusion was absorbing. I enjoyed the characters, who were portrayed well, and Poppy's first case was intriguing. I'm looking forward to #2 and recommend this one to fans of the genre.

With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read & review.