The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham
Book 4 in the Freddie and Grace Mystery Series
4 Stars

Pepper delivers another delightful blend of mystery, romance and adventure in The Highland Heist, book 4 in the Freddie and Grace series. We are back with our main characters into another nail-biting quest....involving family secrets, a missing sister, haunted castle and a legacy buried deep in the Scottish Highlands.
As always, Freddie and Grace are a joy to journey with. Their banter is endearing, their devotion to one another shines through, and their knack for solving mysteries is AWESOME. We see Grace's sister Lillias back who is entangled in a murder investigation that Freddie and Grace work to solve.

Loved the Scotland setting and the crumbling castle - very eerie and lots of twists and turns! Highly recommend this one. I always love being back with these characters. Very cozy stories.

If you have loved the previous Freddie and Grace books, this one will be another hit in the series! Lots of humor, romance and Scottish charm.

Thank you to Barbour Publishing for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Highland Heist is book four of the A Freddie and Grace mysteries. However, you do not need to read the previous books to enjoy this book. But, you'll be glad you did.
Grace Percy, Countess of Astley, married a perfect man. They arrived in America barring a murder mystery and a ghost hunt. The supporting character that caught my attention the most was Freddie.


The writing style was clear and concise, an enjoyable read. I recommend this book to YA readers and fans of clean mystery and suspense. The title is memorable and I give the book 5* because it kept me reading.


The main spiritual takeaway was that God had placed Grace in this moment at this time like the veritable Queen Esther.


Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including publishers, publicists, authors, the Libby app, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

“God worked in situations in ways he could never understand, so worry about a future he had no ability to see only led to his own frustration and distraction.”

Traveling from America to Scotland in 1914, Frederick and Grace once again give us an unforgettable adventure wrapped in intrigue and mystery. Frederick and Grace are a phenomenal duo - as amateur sleuths, friends, marriage partners. They have been married seven months now and have learned to balance each other quite well. Frederick is still serious and tied to his responsibilities but he laughs more, prays more, and takes things in stride better. His fierce love for Grace, dedication to family, and analytical mind remain at the core of who he is. Grace is still clever and joyfully whimsical with her fiction-loving heart but she is now more aware of others’ feelings with clarity to separate out fiction from fact and more emotionally mature. Her unwavering faith grounded her and bolstered Frederick. I really enjoyed seeing them grow together and would love to see them expand their family if there is another book in the works.

The mystery was absolutely fabulous. The pace of the plot was perfect and each clue found made me want more. Plot twists had my jaw hitting the floor a few times. Grace’s musings, especially about her dear Frederick, were adorable. Zahra, their adopted daughter from Egypt, shared Grace’s love for sleuthing and made an excellent addition to their detective family.

It’s one of my favorite books of 2025. Once you pick up this book, you won’t be able to put it down until you find out who did it and why. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

I recommend Pepper Basham’s Highland Heist to anyone who enjoys an exciting faith filled mystery set in Scotland. A reader who loves books and mysteries will delight in the literary references and Grace’s love of that genre. This book can be read as a standalone but reading the first three in the series will enhance the reader’s understanding of the characters. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

This was the best Freddie and Grace yet! Like many readers I have fallen in love with Lord and Lady Astley. I believe what I like best about them is how much they love each other. I just love the trope of the romance expressing itself within the mystery solving.- and this mystery was a great one! I did not guess much of what was to happen ahead of time and each new plot twist gave an added element to the story.It was all quite exciting and really romantic. I truly hope Pepper Basham writes another Freddie and Grace mystery, however, I have learned that whatever she writes is amazingly well done.

I really enjoyed this book, though it was not at all what I was expecting from the title! While I was expecting much more of the book to take place in Scotland, I was not disappointed by how it went. Time with Freddie and Grace is always a delight, and this adventure was no exception. I really liked how the author used this book to turn Grace's sister and brother-in-law into real three-dimensional characters rather than the "villains" we thought we knew and understood from the first book. I honestly hadn't given any thought to them since they exited the scene in book 1, and it was really interesting to explore where their choices and selfishness had landed them and to see some character growth as well as how those relationships continued to affect Grace. It made everyone and this series as a whole seem so much more real and less like a fairy-tale. I loved it and can't wait for more Freddie and Grace!!

I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from NetGalley.

What a treat to read Pepper Basham’s fourth installment in the Freddie and Grace Mystery series! Freddie and Grace are such a delightful couple. They love, support, and defend each other and they get into the most exciting predicaments. I adore this mystery-solving couple! Basham surrounds Freddie and Grace with the most fascinating secondary characters in each one of these books keeping me engaged in the story from the gorgeous cover to the Acknowledgements page.

Who can be trusted when even a detective is a suspect? Murder, mayhem, a castle, and, of course, a library all play a part. Basham takes the readers on an adventure that even spans the ocean. I can’t wait for the next one.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is the fourth book from Pepper Basham in the Freddie and Grace series, it takes place in a cozy manor to a scottish manor. I love how Pepper sets her books in Scotland or in some exotic places. I love the adventures of Freddie and Grace and there is mystery , history, and now Grace's sister is added to the mix of things in this latest book. Iam hoping there is going to be a fifth book only time will tell.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC . All opinions are my own on this review

[Thank you to @netgalley and Barbour Fiction for my gifted copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.]

"Adventures are often thrust upon us, whether we seek them or not. But occasionally, they lead to something remarkable."

Just when they thought they would finally be able to settle down, Lord and Lady Astley are pulled into solving yet another case. This time, involving Grace’s sister and an unexpected inheritance in the Scottish Highlands.

I love the Freddie and Grace mysteries. I was so excited when I learned that the fourth book would be set in Scotland. It was good to be back with Lord and Lady Astley and in such a lovely setting.

These stories have just enough suspense and (clean) romance. They always make for the perfect cozy mystery, with plenty of humor and witty banter. The Highland Heist is full of plot twists, family, love, faith, and adventure. I did not want to put it down!

I really enjoyed this fourth installment and hope that the series will continue–I feel like a fifth book was teased a bit in this story?!

Definitely recommend!

5 stars for this new installment in the Freddie and Grace Mystery series! At the end of their grand honeymoon tour, Lord Astley (aka Freddie) decided to surprise his beloved bride, Grace, with a trip back to her family home but the surprise was on them when they arrived to find Grace’s home had been sold and her father had moved away. They decided to seek out Grace’s older sister Lilias for some answers and arrived at her doorstep to screams and Lilias standing over her dead husband with a bloody knife. All of a sudden they had found themselves in the middle of another mystery, one with higher stakes than ever. As they unraveled the clues to find the murderer, they discovered a plot to steal an inheritance that affected them all. Can they find the answers in time? I loved this book and the way the clues were unearthed in such a suspenseful way that kept me guessing. There were lots of twists and turns. I don’t usually love suspense books but this one was suspenseful without being overly scary and it had some real surprises. I also loved the romantic aspect of the book; the relationship between Grace and Freddie is so strong and sweet. I know we’re at the end of the honeymoon trip with this book but I hope we will see more books in this series. Perhaps Blake will finally forsake bachelorhood and find his one and only? Loved the book. Highly recommend! I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are totally my own.

If you love Freddie and Grace, you will not be disappointed. And, I'm happy to report, I think there's a great set up at the conclusion for AT LEAST one more F&G book down the line!
Thank you to Netgalley and Barbour Publisnhing for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

A Race to Scotland-4.5/5*!

Fans of Freddie and Grace are in for a treat, as their story has them travel to Grace’s home and then on to Scotland. Fast paced, exceptional characters (including some that return to the storyline), and another mystery will keep you reading to the end. The only thing I didn’t like about this story was that it was over too soon!

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.

Fourth in the Freddie and Grace mysteries, the twists and turns in The Highland Heist had me happily surprised! I was not expecting the location or the characters involved. I think the relationship between Freddie and Grace has been my favorite thing from the first three books, but this time it took a second place to the plot!

Read all the Freddie and Grace mysteries! Read the Skymar series! Read ALL the Pepper Basham books! ♥️

Favorite banter:
Blake: "If tonight has taught us anything, it's that libraries are far more dangerous than I previously gave them credit for. And I gave them plenty of credit." ~~~
"Very Dangerous and wonderfully intriguing, all at the same time," Grace added, teasing.
"Ah, yes," Blake murmured from his chair. "Like women."

What an adventure! The story had so much going on, it was hard to put down. Thinking Freddy and Grace would have a sweet little reunion with her family in America, when it all hit the fan. A story has adventure, mystery, a treasure hunt, and great detective work. There was great banter that helped lighten the mood and gave it a charming appeal. The characters are intriguing and dimensional, and I loved that you never knew quite what would happen next. This is the first book I’ve read in the series. I believe it would be even better reading them in order. I am anxious to read prior books. I would love if the author chose to write another story, possibly about the father. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is an entertaining read that hooks you on the first page. It has romance, drama and the mystery will keep you guessing until the end.
It's a very enjoyable read.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Another adventure with Freddie and Grace! This adventure had me not wanting to put this book down.
A trip to America that turned into so many different twists and turns. Grace has so much strength throughout this story and Freddie is the definition of the perfect husband. I mean.. who couldn’t love him! If you enjoy a good mystery you are going to love this book.

Freddie and Grace are still on their honeymoon and returning to the states for a visit with her family. Talk about going to hell in a handbasket. By the end of the first day back in her hometown, Grace will find her faith tested in more ways than one.

It's the strong supporting characters that really make this one shine. Here are five examples:

👭 Grace is reunited with her older sister Lillias Ferguson Dixon. Despite the troubles affecting the Dixon household, Lillias falls into her old ways of looking down on Grace. Will they shake free of the old patterns?
👩🏽 Zahra, their adopted Egyptian daughter, is travelling with them and shows herself to be quite capable of joining in on some sleuthing. Such a nice surprise!
🤓 A man calling himself Mr. Clark is lurking around the town of Harrington. Does he have a role in the stange happenings? Is he a murderer?
🧔 Stephen Blake, Frederick's cousin and friend, joins their group in Scotland. This guy has some organizing skills and is really good at misdirection.
🏰 Mosslea, the castle near Loch Ness, is a character all its own. With secret rooms and a ghost, the visit seemed much too short.

This is the fourth book in the Freddie and Grace Mystery series. If you want to try the series for yourself, you will want to start with book one: The Mistletoe Countess. There are exciting cases to investigate with adventurous elements. Happy Publication Day to this one!

Thank you to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

While Hurricane Helene may have pushed back the deadline of The Highland Heist, it was well worth the wait. This fourth book in Basham's Freddie & Grace mystery series is every bit as delightful as all the rest. Lady Astley might not be the most adept at demonstrating the manners of a well-bred lady, but she is quite adept at solving crimes, especially with the assistance of her husband. This time the crime is her brother-in-law's murder with her sister being a prime suspect. Things are complicated further by the clock's ticking on the discovery of a hidden treasure.

The Highland Heist is a lighthearted read. The protagonists' reliance on God is a testimony to the other characters as well as to the reader, yet the faith-based element is tastefully done and not heavy-handed. While it will work well as a stand-alone read, the book will be best enjoyed by reading the series in sequence.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Highland Heist from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. I highly recommend Pepper Basham's historical novels.

4.5⭐️ It was so nice to have a historical mystery to break up all my romance reads. Grace is so kind and patient despite being belittled by her own family. Frederick loves to follow her on these detective missions and is so devoted.

This time the mystery is close to home. Grace must find her sister to claim their inheritance in Scotland. When she finds Lillias, it’s with her brother-in-law dead on the floor and Lillias holding the knife above him. Frederick and Grace must now try to clear her name. But the more they look into the case, the more it seems someone is preventing them from going to Scotland. Will they be able to make it to Scotland or will they be caught?

Thank you @netgalley @barbourbooks and @pepperbasham for the advanced reader copy. I may already be listening to the audiobook because I enjoyed it so much.

The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham is a delightful story featuring Freddie and Grace in another sleuthing adventure. I’m convinced Basham cannot write a bad book. She creates the most wonderful characters, intersperses copious amounts of humor, and provides a lovely, not in your face, faith message. This is the fourth book in the Freddie and Grace series, and I so hope there will be more. This time the amateur sleuthers begin their mystery solving adventure in America before moving to Scottland. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the novel is how Freddie has accepted his fate as a crime solver and now seems eager to jump into the fray. Grace, of course, is her indomitable self–a mixture of naivete and a strong sense of justice. In the Cairo Curse, the couple adopted a little girl named Zayra. She is a delight and seeing her become a part of her parents’ adventures offers some stellar reactions from Freddie. If you liked the three previous books, you’ll adore this one. Basham had me laughing out loud and a little misty-eyed a time or two. It’s just what you’ll expect from the series. The mystery wraps up nicely and readers will surely love this couple even more after they finish The Highland Heist. It’s a quick read because it’s so entertaining.