WHO's carrying a grudge that turns deadly?!👀

This is another whimsically entertaining book in a fun cozy mystery series highlighting the sights of the Scottish countryside. It wouldn't be half so enjoyable without Brian Goodfellow, Joana's fellow photographer and travel partner. His whining and buffoonery are just so cute! Whether he's lamenting the lack of charging stations, gobbling down every vegan treat he can get his hands on, or bemoaning the lack of creature comforts in their eco-van, his quirks made me smile. And his adventure at trying his luck at the local Highland Games? Predictably disastrous! He's also not the most discreet or subtle fellow to help investigate a murder.

The author has loaded this one with some memorable characters, caravan parks with a truly disagreeable owner, and social events like Highland Games, Scottish dancing, a dog show and a book auction that bring them together along the NC500, Scotland's main thoroughfare through the sparsely populated northwest of Scotland. And some unfortunates who meet their untimely end when Joana and Brian are just a stone's throw away. It seems the victims provoked someone and it proved deadly. I guessed the culprit a bit ahead of the curve, but the story was so much fun that I didn't mind!

Adventure, humor and an interesting take on camping in a hostile environment (those pesky midges are no joke!). I am definitely looking forward to more in this series.

Thanks to Highland Quill Publishing and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Review shared on June 3 on Waterstones, Goodreads and Bookbub, and with BAM and Barnes & Noble. To be shared on kobo and Google Play upon release.

Joana and Brian are off on another adventure in Scotland. This time, they are working on an article about eco camping and will be traveling in a very small electric camper van. Besides the hilarious descriptions of the two of them sharing such a small space, worrying about having enough charge to get to the next charging point, and staying at campsites with the world’s most obnoxious host, they see beautiful sights and enjoy a Highland Games. Unfortunately, the next day, they find out that the caber toss champion died in his luxury motor home. Joana doesn’t believe it is an accident and she and Brian do some sleuthing while enjoying the trip. There are more deaths before Joana uncovers the murderer.
This is such a fun series to read. Brian is a fun sidekick, with his desire to add to his followers and his vegan appetite. Murray, the officer with his mixed up speech, and the grumpy inspector just add to the fun.
Thanks to Highland Quill Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

This series caught my attention with the mention of the “Highlands”, but it’s the characters and writing that keeps me coming back for more! I love the writing and the way the characters engage with each other…I can just see them in the camper van and traveling along their route. I’m engaged from page one until I turn the last page and am looking for when the next book will be available to read. There is nothing to not love in this series!

Lethal Laybys is the latest book in the Highland Mystery series. I really am enjoying this series! At first, I felt like I needed to know more about the characters, but I understand now that the author just wants to focus on the mystery without other complications. I really enjoy the descriptions of travel in Scotland. It sounds like a wonderful place to visit. I also enjoy that Joana and Brian just jump into a new mystery as if they have just accepted that everywhere they go in Scotland there will be dead bodies! They just seem to know and accept that they are death magnets. I feel like they probably have normal lives back in England, but like to play Agatha Christie when they get to visit Scotland! The mystery in this book was very written with lots of twists and turns. I was surprised by the ending and enjoyed trying to figure out who of the many suspects was the actual perpetrator! Fraser and Murray, the police officers brought unintentional comic relief and the addition of dogs and the dog show was fun too! I look forward to reading more of this series. I believe another book is coming soon!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.