Beneath the Abbey Wall (edition 2012)

http://www.cozylittlebookjournal.com/2012/10/beneath-abbey-wall-joanne-ross-3-by...

The staff of The Highland Gazette is determined to break the story of a killer in their midst and solve the crime, not only because they are competitive journalists but because the victim is one of their own. When the efficient Mrs. Smart is found murdered, ambitious reporter Joanne Ross must try to keep the office running while trying to get the story. Set in the Scottish Highlands in the 1950's, Beneath the Abbey Wall is somewhere between cozy and quippy. I kept expecting Rosalind Russell to show up at any moment. (That's an apt reference, people. Look it up.) As a huge fan of the Highlands-set Hamish Macbeth series by M.C. Beaton, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was a little like the Hamish stories were being told from the perspective of the plucky reporter, Elspeth Grant. I must go back and read the other books in this series!

I particularly enjoyed the storyline about the mysterious stranger, Neil Stewart, a Nova Scotian with a Scottish-born mother who is described in the novel as dashing, worldly and possibly a little dangerous. I must say, as a life-long Nova Scotian myself, I can attest that there are PLENTY of Nova Scotians who would definitely love to be characterized this way, especially the part about being legitimately Scottish!

About the Author
A.D. Scott (aka Ann Deborah Nolan) was born in the Scottish Highlands and is the author of two previous Joanne Ross mysteries, A Small Death in the Great Glen and A Double Death on the Black Isle.

Disclaimer: I received a digital galley of this book free from Atria through Edelweiss. I was asked to write an honest review, though not necessarily a favourable one. The opinions expressed are strictly my own. ( )

This is the third book in this series, set in Scotland in a 1950's newsroom. I love how each of her book covers have a different color tartan plaid. This is a solid who done it, not alot of blood and gore, no gruesome serial killer, just a character centered mystery and old fashioned follow the clues. Along the way we are treated to some of the Scottish countryside and some very relateable characters. I enjoy these. ARC from publisher. ( )