This is the eighth title in the Shetland Sailing Mysteries and even though I haven't read any of the previous books in the series, I still enjoyed the book, and don't think I've missed too much of references. This was a great read, and I will read the previous books in the series now. Recommended.
TB

Some great characters liven up this tale. Death and drama in the Shetlands,
family histories,envy and greed.An interesting read.

I have never been to Shetland but this book took me there as if through a wardrobe and straight into "islandic" Narnia. Marsali Taylor captures the landscape, the people and the spirit of Shetland so wonderfully and with such attention to every idiosyncratic detail that I felt instantly transported there. The place came to life through the characters, the dialect and their unique way of life.
It was my first book by Marsali Taylor, but it won't be the last (I already have one of the earlier ones on my kindle). The protagonist, Cass seems to be your everyday, ordinary lass in her early thirties, not afraid of hard work, quite personable, a happy cat owner, well-rounded, dating Gavin who is a police detective. But on the other hand, she is also far from stereotypical: a second mate on a Norwegian ship, a passionate sailor who lives on her boat, and of course, an astute sleuth.
This mystery, revolves around Tamar, a fantastically drawn character of an elderly lady who is as feisty, as sharp-minded and as independent as anyone half her age. After a fall, she is back to her croft which seems to have been burgled in her absence. Distant family members suddenly take interest in her and flock to her house, allegedly to offer support, but evidently to also search through her papers. There seems to be a family connection to a wealthy laird, and potentially a juicy inheritance. A body of a man is found. The plot develops and weaves in and out of plausible causes of his death and his links to Tamar. The conclusion was not quite what I expected, but it is nonetheless believable and interesting.

I’m a big fan of Ann Cleese’s Shetland series, and I hope to visit Shetland and the surrounding islands someday. Death from a Shetland Cliff also describes the wild rugged beauty of the Scottish island and crofts alongside the descriptions of the deaths...
I think this is part of a series of books, but I was able to pick it up and read without any back story.
Tamar, a feisty and spirited old lady, returns from hospital to find that family are circling in hopes of inheriting her land whilst others are trying to unearth a deeply hidden family secret which others hoped would stay hidden forever...Cass helps Tamar in the house whilst being sucked into unravelling the reasons behind the mysterious deaths. There are many who had means and motive which adds to the mystery!

I found the sailing references confusing but I found the Shetland dialect was mostly clear (having read/watched similar) **there is a very detailed glossary at the back which I didn’t discover until I’d finished, the downside of an e-book**

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Although this series of books has a strong sailing background, this one is set primarily on land. The descriptions of Shetland and its people are very evocative and give the reader a brilliant overview of the area and it’s inhabitants. There is a fairly simple plot line but the details of the characters and surroundings are fresh and relatable, keeping the reader engrossed and turning pages. As the storyline progresses there are several suspects on the horizon who are whittled down as more information is revealed. I have read all the series so far and have continued to look forward to the next one - keep up the great writing!

An Atmospheric Tale....
The eighth title in the Shetland Sailing Mysteries. The body of a man is discovered in a cove and soon a murder investigation is underway. An atmospheric tale with a likeable protagonist in Cass and a colourful cast of supporting characters. A worthy addition to this well written crime series.

This is the 8th book in the Shetland Sailing mysteries featuring Cass Lynch.

Cass has taken some leave while Sørlandet, the Norwegian sail training ship she works aboard, is in Kristiansand. As a favour to her friend Magnie, she is looking after his Aunt Tamar who has had a fall, and will need help while recuperating. An easy, peaceful job set in lovely surroundings, BUT, as those of you who are familiar with Cass's history, the words easy and peaceful don't sit well. Sure enough a body is discovered at the bottom of a cliff close to Tamar's house and Cass discovers a mystery. It is very quickly pronounced a murder and Cass thinks that Tamar knows more than she is letting on. As the investigation takes place, members of Tamar's family start to 'drop in' to help look after her, and as Cass listens and observes, she establishes that there are hidden family secrets surrounding Tamar, her past and future inheritances and ultimately greed.

As with all Marsali Taylor's novels, there are several underlying themes woven around the investigation of the main case and this time round, Cass's feline friend Cat, has his own adventure which is really rather sweet.

Reading Cass's adventures after such a long wait has been a joy. The beautiful descriptions of Shetland life, traditions, it's landscape and even language bring everything to life. So much so that I really don't want the book to finish, I want more. The characters seem fresher and Tamar was a grand old lady with a fascinating story. The relationship between Cass and Gavin progresses and I look forward to reading more of their adventures and investigations together.
Death from a Shetland Cliff has all the right ingredients for a cracking good tale. Suspense, humour, murder, romance and I can highly recommend it.

My thanks to Netgalley and Headland Publishing for granting me a digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Having followed this series from the start I am always excited to see that Marsali Taylor has another Cass Lynch book out. Death from a Shetland Cliff could be read as a stand alone but I would recommend reading all of the series. This time Cass is back in Shetland whilst the Tall Ship she is on is in dry dock. She is asked to keep an eye on a lady who has just broken her hip & needs a bit of help whilst she settles back home. Tamar is a very strong willed lady, who has been round the world as a photographer. Now her croft is being eyed up by various relatives who want to get their hands on it- the land being all important. A body is found in a bay nearby. Does he have anything to do with an intruder who had been rifling through papers in Tamsin's house? Despite trying to avoid such things Cass finds herself involved in family secrets & murder.

I love the Cass Lynch books. She is a terrific character & I am enjoying watching her develop as the books go on. This has become my new favourite- A Handful of Ash having held that spot for a long while. Living in Shetland, I knew many of the places mentioned making visualising the action very easy. The combination of scene, sailing & the terrific cast of characters made this a grat five star read.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of Death from a Shetland Cliff, the eighth novel to feature Shetland based sailor Cass Lynch.

Cass agrees to help Tamar Irvine recover from a broken hip but, preparing Tamar’s home for her return, she discovers a break-in where only papers have been disturbed. Then a body is discovered on the cliffs and Cass begins to suspect that not only does Tamar know more about these events than she’s letting on but that they are linked to family secrets she isn’t revealing.

This is the first novel in the series that I have read so I wasn’t sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable it was. It is told entirely from Cass’s first person point of view so the reader knows what she knows, nothing more or less, and is able to make their own deductions. I got some right but couldn’t hazard a guess at much of it. For me, this is a good thing as it kept me glued to the pages and my interest alive throughout.

The plot is deceptively simple with a murder investigation at its heart but the ramifications and permutations of who and why are legion, engrossing and all plausible. It’s not difficult to follow but trying to work it out made my head spin. I found all the resolutions, because there ends up being several puzzles, unusual, quirky and a refreshing change.

Mainland Shetland is a character in its own right in the novel as there is a strong sense of place and custom. Obviously there is a lot of water in the novel with Cass living on a boat and Tamar’s home situated at the shore and that gives the novel a sense of peace and calm despite the emotional turbulence on shore. I must admit that I was surprised to recognise some of what I assumed initially was the Shetland dialect as simple Scots, not dissimilar to what I hear at the other end of the country. It might be difficult for reasons readers although the author offers a helping hand by explaining some of the more obscure terms at the start of the chapter.

Death from a Shetland Cliff is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for an advanced reading copy of this.
I was intrigued by the cover and the reference to Shetland, a place I haven't spent nearly enough time.

Cass Lynch is on leave while the boat she works on is in dry dock. An old friend asks her to look after an elderly woman, Tamar, just out of hospital after surgery to mend a broken hip and a bit of rehabilitation in a local nursing home.

The opening scenes, describing a children's sailing race, were bewildering to me. My school day sailing in Australian coastal waters is a distant memory now and the language was unfamiliar, but I'm glad I stuck with it.

Once we were on dry land, this story started to lilt with the cadence of Shetlan rhythms, with a strong sense of place and an affection for the characters portrayed.

The return of Tamar to her crofthouse brings relatives from across the globe to enquire after her and seek things from her. Everyone seems to have a different idea about what Tamar should do, about her croft, her possessions, her papers.
Secrets begin to unravel, which is perilous to Tamar and to people caught up in the race to knit the secrets back again.
There are some genuine heart- in- the- mouth suspenseful moments, slow burn romance, and a sub plot involving Cass's cat.
There are also some plot elements that don't quite hang together, but the whole is so charming I didn't mind any of that.
I was glad to know there are seven previous books in the series - that suggested that there's determination on the author's part and a willing readership.

It's a joy to find an author new to me, with a series to look forward to. I shall be going back to Cass's watery world.

Marsali Taylor's Shetland sailing series featuring amateur sleuth and sailor, Cass Lynch, I regret to say is one I have been unaware until now because I love it, and will appeal to those of you who love your Scottish crime, the sea and island life. Set in Shetland, Cass is on leave, she is second mate on a Norwegian sail training vessel, Sorlandet, a floating academy. She finds herself doing a favour for Magnie, a friend, agreeing to help the elderly Tamar Irvine, who can only return to her isolated home if she can receive daily care. Tamar is a cantakerous, strong minded woman, nobody's fool and sharp as a tack. It turns out whilst she was in hospital, someone had broken into her home and gone through her papers. Cass stays on her small yacht, Khalida, accompanied by Cat, and in a hidden cove nearby, the body of a man is discovered, dead for at least a couple of weeks.

Tamar suddenly appears to be remarkably popular with members of her disparate family, the vultures begin to descend and circle around her, beginning with Felicity, the daughter of Tamar's brother, Archie, who arrives from London, the owner of a London glossy Latest! that trades on gossip. Felicity is in search of family papers and is full of questions about her father and old family history. Then there is Kayleigh, who Cass had gone to school with, wanting to take over Tamar's croft, along with others with their own agendas, Gary, a New Zealand relative, the Princess Di lookalike, Loretta and her obnoxious privileged son, Harald, along with others. The dead man turns out to be Derek Luncarty, from Dundee, close to Monikie House, the home of the Rylands, with their long historical connections with the Irvines. Cass finds herself in the middle of murders, mysterious papers, family scandals, inheritance skulduggery, secrets, theft, envy and greed, and all the inherent dangers that she cannot escape.

Taylor's storytelling is well plotted, atmospheric and full of details about sailing and the wonderful location that is Shetland itself, the geography, the dialect and vocabulary. For me, the highlights were the Shetland islands and the seas, along with the brilliant characters, such as the indomitable and stubborn Tamar, a close relationship develops between her and Cass. And not all of the memorable characters are human, there is Cat, and a young ginger ketling that begins to regard Cat and the Khalida as home. Cass makes for a terrific central protagonist with her sailing obsession, a relationship with a police officer, DI Gavin Macrae, and confronting head on the idea that change is inevitable and not always under one's control. This is a series I am delighted to have discovered, and one which I think many crime fiction and mystery fans will love too! Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.

Sailor Cass Lynch helps out by taking care of elderly eccentric Tamar, but his cottage has been disturbed.

And when a body is discovered in a cove, Cass feels that Tamar is holding something back

I really couldn't warm to the characters, and was insufficiently interested in the story