Death At a Shetland festival was the first book I have read by this author. While part of a series I didn't feel that I was affected by not having read the others so can be read as a stand alone It moves between the present and the 1980's. There are many twists, turns and red herrings in this book to keep things interesting and descriptions of the scenery and wild life are wonderful. However while well written there was too much trivial detail included that slowed the pace so much I struggled not to skip parts of it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I tried this book a few times but just could not get into it. I found the way it is written a bit irritating and unfortunately could not finish it.

A discovery at a church rummage sale leads to a complex case for Cass Lynch and her partner DI Gavin Macrae. A diary had been tossed in with donated books and, after she reads enough to see that it contains personal information, Cass decides to look for the owner. She and Gavin are spending a long weekend attending the Shetland Folk Festival. Headlining the Festival is Fintan Foley, an internationally famous Irish folk singer. He is stabbed to death almost immediately after his performance. As Cass tries to identify the owner of the diary, she finds links between what happened over forty years earlier with the recent murder. She is determined to find the killer before there is another victim.

Although Death at a Shetland Festival is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Descriptions of Festival days alternate with chapters taken from the diary. The murder at the Festival setting is made more difficult to solve by the different memories of witnesses, confused by the crowds and music (look for the illustration of the gorilla in the room). The author of the diary is a tragic figure whose secrets reach into the present. Both plots weave seamlessly together until the final conclusion. Each chapter contains the words and translations of Shetland folk music that adds to the atmosphere. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and Marsali Taylor for this ARC.

I have not read previous books in the Shetland Mystery series. I would say however, that this does not detract from the story as it is pretty easy to catch up with the characters. The series centres on professional sailor and amateur sleuth, Cass Lynch who is in a relationship with Detective Inspector Gavin Macrae. The pair attend an annual folk festival on the island. Among the performers are a Canadian group whom Cass knows well and Fintan Foley who is a famous Irish folk singer, now himself based in Canada.
During one of the performances, volunteer Kay Barker runs hysterically into the hall, with her hands covered in blood. She has stumbled over Fintan Foley’s murdered body in the darkness. Gavin Macrae starts to investigate the case, but because he has personal dealings with some suspects, is subsequently removed from the case. Cass, however, has found a diary, with entries from 1981 and a photograph obviously taken in the 80s of three young people. In 80s, the Sullom Voe oil terminal was constructed on Shetland. Thousands of men from all over the UK came to work on the construction and were housed in a worker’s camp on the island. The local Shetland residents, mainly women, were also employed in providing catering, laundry and cleaning services to the workers.

From this point in the book, we continue with dual timelines from 1981 and the present. The plot is complex and intricate, but unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. It is very slow-moving and I found myself turning over and skipping pages, certainly for the last two-thirds of the book. I really wanted the writer not to labour over every point and description.
My thanks to NetGalley, Headline Accent and Marsali Taylor for the ARC in exchange for an open and honest review

This is the latest in Marsali Taylor's Shetland based crime series that I particularly enjoy due to the atmospheric Scottish island location surrounded by the seas, featuring amateur sleuth and sailor Cass Lynch, in a relationship with DI Gavin Macrae, living in their home by the sea, with her yacht Khalida, with their trio of cats. The author uses an actual folk festival which inspires this mystery, in which famous Irish folk singer, now living in Canada with his children, Fintan Foley, is performing with others. Attending the festival, in which a Canadian group includes his cousin Will who could be his twin, are Gavin, and Cass, blown away by the opening act of talented fiddler, Ethan, accompanied by his mother, Debs.

Chaos ensues when Kay Baker bursts into the hall, covered in blood after coming across Foley's murdered body in the dark. Gavin immediately takes charge, cordoning off the crime scene, and organising the relevant interviews. However, he is taken off the case with his personal connection to Will, leaving him angry and frustrated, an outside MIT comes in, although DS Freya Peterson remains, giving him the inside track on the case. In the meantime, Cass has come across a diary, partially filled with entries from 1981, and a photograph, at a church sale, she is intent on finding the owner of the journal with the aim of returning it to them. In 1981, thousands of men were brought in and resided in a workers' camp, building the Sullum Voe oil terminal, with locals primarily employed in the lower paid catering and cleaning services..

With the dual timelines from 1981 and the present, the connections begin to slowly emerge. This is an intricate and complex murder mystery, well plotted, that had me completely engrossed with its surprising twists and turns until the shocking truth is laid bare. Cass could hardly have imagined the danger she is to find herself in. This is a wonderful addition to what is a compulsive series that is informative on local culture, language and dialect, and with a established cast of characters that I am always delighted to catch up with, such a Cassie's friend, Magnie. I recommend this to readers interested in the Shetlands in all its glory, its history and people. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Part of a series ,set obviously in Shetland. Great to catch up with Cass and Gavin. Another complex murder and mystery to solve. A good read.

The story begins at a music festival that is enjoyed by most Shetlanders including Cass and Gavin. Cass is a sailor who is in port for a bit. Gavin is a DI and the person with whom Cass is in a relationship. Together they have a murder to solve…and one with links to the past.

This book moves back and forth between the present and the 80s when oil was being explored and there was a big camp at Sutton Voe. Cass has come into the possession of an old diary from that time and wants to return it to its owner. However, this may not be easy and may also reawaken old tragedy.

In the present, a well-known folk musician has been murdered during the festival. Readers can be pretty certain that this event links with things that happened in the past. Pages will be turned to find out.

Some of the things that I very much enjoyed in this book were the setting, the sailing, the characters, the Scottish words, the evocation of the early 80s and the story itself.

Anyone who has enjoyed crime fiction by Ann Cleeves (Jimmy Perez) and/or Val McDermid (Karen Pirie) should absolutely take a look at this series. I plan to go back to read all of the earlier novels. So glad there are so many of them!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for this title. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately not one for me. I need to be sucked in from the start and this one, did not do that..
It did improve, but lacked that necessary ingredient that keeps you transfixed.

Thanks to Marsali and NetGalley for allowing me to read Death at a Shetland Festival before publication date.

The story is told in dual timeframes and has multiple interwoven threads.

In the current times, Cass Lynch and her partner, the unconventional D.I. Gavin Macrae, are in the audience on the first night of the Shetland Folk Festival. The performers range from local musicians to the Irish folk singer/songwriter Fintan Foley who is internationally renowned.
When Foley is found backstage in a pool of blood, Gavin takes charge.

The investigation reveals that Foley has links to Shetland going back to 1981.
Around 8000 men had lived in the workers camp during the construction of the oil terminal at Sullum Voe. Despite the promises of work for the locals, the company had brought in their own skilled workers, leaving the locals to fill lower skilled roles in catering and cleaning services at the camp.

How far will the locals go to keep their long hidden secrets?

The many twists, turns and red herrings in this book keep the reader engaged and Marsali’s descriptions of the scenery, the wild life and the birds, draw the reader in.

A glossary of Scots and Shetland words is provided to help the reader understand the colourful dialogue which is used by locals throughout the story.