MURDER AT A SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS

A little friendship is a dangerous thing in the Scottish town of Nairn.

The Christmas season finds business booming at Paislee Shaw’s yarn and sweater shop, Cashmere Crush, but her living situation more questionable. Ever since she; her grandfather; her son, Brody; and their Scottie, Wallace, were displaced from their house by a burst pipe, she’s been staying in a flat owned by her best friend, Lydia Barron-Smythe—who refuses to take any rent—but hoping to return home soon. Amelia Henry, a receptionist at the police station who helps Paislee in the shop on Saturdays, mentions that her brother, McCormac, has returned from Ireland with an assortment of purebred pups, one of which might make a nice gift for Brody. He’s already given one of the pups to Amelia, along with a gift certificate for the dog’s first visit to the veterinarian. McCormac is handsome, apparently well off, and clearly admired by a number of ladies. But then he’s shot to death in front of Paislee and Amelia during the fireworks display at the Hogmanay festival, and Amelia begs her friend for help. Amelia loved her brother but admits that her entire family has been in trouble with the law, and discovering a suitcase full of cash makes her suspect that McCormac was involved in something illegal. When Amelia’s puppy gets sick, Paislee drives them to the vet McCormac had prepaid, a decision that leads to many complications. Soon all the puppies are getting sick, raising further perils with the possibility that McCormac was smuggling puppies from Irish puppy mills and selling them for big bucks. Could that scheme have provided a motive for murder? Despite warnings from handsome DI Mack Zeffer, Paislee and Amelia put themselves at risk to find out.

This latest adventure of a charming Scottish family is perfect for readers who like thorny mysteries and puppies.