Death at the Highland Loch is a murder mystery set between the First and Second World Wars. Lady Poppy Proudfoot is of that class of woman who doesn't need to work, but is very keen to stick her nose into everyone elses' affairs, a bonus when you are investigating a murder. She is also a little aragant and irritating, but hopefully as the series progresses, some of her rougher edges come of and we warm to her a bit more.
There are plenty of twists and turns in this book and it certainly kept me guessing, although I had figured out one or two things by the end. I wasn't keen on the way that Poppy decided she was a detective on the strength of solving one mystery. Most amatures are a little less keen to label themselves straight away.
There are mentions of characters from a previous series I believe, I haven't ready any of the books, so didn't really understand who they were, but fans of Lydia Travers other books might well appreciate them.
This was an entertaining read and a good start to a new series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Lady Poppy is a strong, smart and independent woman who wants to solve a crime using her budding detective skills. I really enjoyed this book. I love historical murder mysteries and this one didn't disappoint. I’m already looking forward to find out what happens next.
I received an advance review copy via Netgalley/Bookouture and I’m leaving a voluntary and honest review.

I just loved this book! I loved the story and the characters I just couldn’t put it down.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you love a cozy mystery and I look forward to the next book in the series.

I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

'Death at the Highland Loch' is one of those amateur detective mysteries where I read for the slow burn romance as much as the puzzle behind the murder. Both Poppy and Inspector MacKenzie's banter and ingenuity propel the story along. Gregor was also a delightful member of the cast. The 1924 Scotland setting has glamour and charm, but the rest of the characters are not as memorable, which is fair for a whodunit. Lydia Travers wrapped up the story well, which pushed my rating from 4 to a 5.

If you enjoy reading historical cozy mysteries, then I recommend this book to you! I look forward to the sequel. And I have not read The Scottish Ladies Detective Agency series that this book was spun off from, so I am intrigued to explore those as well.

Special thanks to the Publisher, Bookouture, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I'm a fan of cosy crime and this is no exception! It was a wonderful setting and such a good time getting to know these characters and seeing how the mystery unravelled! A great start to a new series!

Lady Persephone "Poppy" Proudfoot attends a house party at an estate, meets some American actors, and tries to solve the murder of a stranger to the village whose body is discovered by the lake. The first in a series, this book is a quick read with a plot that moves along, although some of the large cast of characters seem superfluous (e.g., the American visitors). Poppy herself is a difficult character to like in the beginning - a bit spoiled (making use of her title) and childish (keeping information from Inspector McKenzie for no good reason), but her enthusiasm to solve the mystery grew on me, and she will hopefully develop greater depth as the series continues. Poppy is a widow, a law-school graduate (in the 1920s!), and ran a hospital for wounded soldiers during WW1, so I know the depth is there, and hopefully the author will draw it out. A promising beginning to the series and I look forward to the next book. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the eARC.

Death at the Highland Loch is the first in Lydia Travers’ new 1920s’ series about Lady Persephone Proudfoot (Poppy, for choice). Poppy is the daughter of the Earl of Crieff who, upon inheriting the earldom, promptly went off to be a sheep-farmer in Australia with Poppy’s mother.

The book opens with Poppy arriving for a week-long house party, hosted by a new acquaintance, Lady Constance Balfour, the recently widowed owner of Balfour House and its estate. Poppy is accompanied by her maid, Elspeth. Unfortunately, the next morning, a body is discovered by the loch. As frequently happens in these cosy detection novels, Poppy takes an instant unjustified dislike to the handsome police inspector despatched to investigate, Inspector Mackenzie, and decides that she can solve the murder before he can. In a separate sub-plot, Poppy also discovers that Constance’s late husband had bought a lovely diamond and emerald bracelet that Connie has never seen. Connie wonders if her late husband was having an affair, as she cannot think of any other explanation. As Poppy needs to go back to Edinburgh for one night, she offers to ask questions at the jeweller’s and try to identify the recipient.

I’m in two minds about this book. The murder and the bracelet threads have good, satisfactory, solutions with some ingenious solid clues for the latter. Travers can write lively enjoyable dialogue with vivid characters – there is no danger of getting any characters mixed up in this book, despite there being several house-party guests. Any historical facts are gently slipped into the story and we do not feel the book has morphed into a history textbook. On the other hand, I do have reservations. Poppy and Elspeth are not likeable characters. The danger is that first impressions – in novels as in life – do count. The reader doesn’t know the characters and must take them to be as the author depicts them - I nearly gave up on page 2. In this case, Poppy is arrogant and, I’m afraid, a little stupid at times. Although Inspector Mackenzie has told the guests not to leave the estate, Poppy is determined to go back to Edinburgh to keep her promise to meet and host a young woman coming for an interview at the hospital. She thinks that if she leaves Elspeth at Balfour House, Mackenzie is “[…] sure to think I’m in another room or out riding.” Mackenzie, however, has a sense of humour and is quite tolerant of Poppy, despite her irritating and self-centred behaviour.

I also had to suspend belief a couple of times in the last few chapters. When told over the phone that Mackenzie is on a train, Poppy tells the constable “[G]et the train to turn round and come back” and “[I]nform the inspector he must return straightaway […] as I have solved the case.” As I said, arrogant and self-centred. You might argue that this is satirical humour, depicting a caricature of Poppy, but I’m less certain, given the way she is depicted earlier in the novel.

Despite my reservations, I shall look out for book 2 in the series, hoping that the author shows Poppy as a much more likeable person. Poppy has some generous traits and could easily be portrayed as intelligent and deserving of Mackenzie’s respect. I’m not sure that a “nice” Poppy, though, would tolerate Elspeth’s (frankly, insolent) behaviour. I do think that it would be a much stronger book if they had an amicable, more sympathetic, relationship.

Fans of Travers’ Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency books will be pleased to note Maud and Daisy make guest appearances.

#DeathattheHighlandLoch #NetGalley

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t an intense or heavy read, but it offered a charming setting, plenty of adventure, and just the right touch of mystery. I especially loved Poppy and her fierce determination to defy the expectations placed on women—particularly fitting given the 1920s setting. Her little mission to Edinburgh in search of the missing bracelet was a highlight for me and kept the story moving at a fun pace.

There was always something happening, so I never found myself bored. That said, I did feel the large cast of characters made things a bit hard to follow at times. Some, like the American actors and directors, didn’t feel essential to the story—unless they play a larger role in other books in the series.

I absolutely adore Scotland, and this cozy mystery series was right up my alley. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this in advance!

Once again the publisher has insurance me to another new author and series that I'm, definitely looking forward to reading more by and of. I loved most of the characters and the interaction between them, and I especially loved how the main character wasn't afraid to cause chaos.

Death At The Highland Loch, is the first book in the Lady Poppy Proudfoot Mysteries by Lydia Travers, When Lady Poppy and her favorite pup Major is visiting Scotland for a Midsomer party at Lady Constance‘s estate, who’s also a new widow. Lady Poppy went to law school and loves the art of investigating, so when lady constant tells her of a bracelet that a local jewelry store claims her husband ordered with a staggering amount owed, Lady Poppy says she’ll look into it. Poppy is getting her ducks in a row to investigate the mysterious bracelet when a body is found by the loch on Lady Constance‘s estate and it looks like someone in her staff is the culprit. two detective inspector Max annoyance Poppy investigates the murder as well but when someone attacks a young girl poppy loaned her cloak to she knows she’s getting close despite someone doesn’t want her to live long enough to uncover the mystery. let me just say I love chief inspector Mac and Poppy‘s relationship and also I in no way figure out the ending which to me makes for a good mystery I really thought I knew but I had no clue and I cannot wait for the next book. I am a new reader of cozy mystery series and I really thoroughly enjoy the beginning of this one. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #DeathAtTheHighlandLoch, #LydiaTravers, #LadyProudfootMysteries,

An awesome historical mystery. I truly enjoyed this story. Great characters and amazing setting. It's a great start to a new series. I will be looking forward to more.

Oxford-educated Poppy Proudfoot and her absolutely perfect protege Major (the most adorable Lab) are on the case once a dead body appears to have landed up on shore of the loch. She’s got some heavy opposition from the grumpy Inspector Mackenzie and a lot to prove as a women in 1924 breaking some standards of the time.
Looking forward to reading more about Poppy and her adventures!

Thanks for the ARC!

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

This is a historical mystery with a determined and feisty female main character who finds herself embroiled in a mystery when a dead body is found on a visit to a friend. Our main character is a young widow and is challenging views about her and what she should be doing. Taking charge and refusing to be told what to do, infuriating police in the process.

This book was interesting because I sometimes find books can sag a bit in the middle, but in this book the middle was the best part! I found the main character really came into her own in the middle of the book when she returns home briefly to help out a visitor needing a place to stay while they come to Edinburgh for an interview. Here our main character seemed to be in her element, moving at pace to balance her visitor, continue to investigate and deal with unexpected challenges. I found I struggled to engage a little at the start of the book but I flew through once we reached that middle section.

I was particularly curious about the growing affection between our main character and another character so this did pique my interest.

First in a new series by Lydia Travers is off to a great start! Poppy Proudfoot is already a likeable, interesting main character, and she has a well-trained dog to help her solve the mystery. Poppy’s background in law helps her to navigate more than 1 mystery and show the grumpy Inspector MacKenzie what she can do. I can see this duo having an interesting relationship in the future. I will look out for the next book in this series and am anxious to find out what Poppy will do next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

This was such a cozy mystery read. I absolutely loved Lady Poppy and already need more of her! The story has it all: charm, suspense, and wit. The characters are perfect, and the plot kept me guessing and had me completely hooked from start to finish.

I had so much fun with this one! Lady Poppy is bold, rebellious, and the perfect amateur sleuth. The 1920s Scottish setting was so atmospheric, and the mystery kept me guessing. Plus, her banter with Inspector MacKenzie? Chef’s kiss. A quick, cozy read that I absolutely devoured!

#netgalley #deathatthehighlandloch

This was a delightful beginning of a new cozy series. If you enjoy period pieces and a bit of a mystery, or two, you will enjoy this.

Set in the early 20th century ,between the wars. Lady Poppy is an independent,determined society miss. Good characters and an intriguing story.

I thought this book was a cozy, lighthearted take on mystery. Set in 1924 in Scotland, Lady Poppy Proudfoot is determined to disregard classic gender roles and solve a slew of murders herself. I did not expect to like this book as much as I did, as I don’t typically relish stories set the past (which is weird as a social studies teacher, I know).

Poppy is fun, ingenious and a wholly likable character. I would love to read more from her adventures and Im hoping her story includes a romance with a certain inspector.

Thank you to Bookouture, Lydia Travers and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions stated are my own.

Move over, Inspector—Lady Poppy Proudfoot is on the case, and she’s about to steal the spotlight.

Set in the Scottish Highlands in the summer of 1924, Death at the Loch is the first in a charming new historical mystery series by Lydia Travers. With sharp writing, a glamorous setting, and a heroine you’ll want to follow for many books to come, this novel is a perfect blend of cozy crime and classic whodunnit.

Lady Poppy Proudfoot arrives at Balfour House expecting a delightful midsummer party among aristocrats and artists, not a dead body washed up beside the loch. But Poppy, armed with her Oxford law degree and an unstoppable sense of curiosity, is convinced it’s murder—even if the local police aren’t. Inspector James MacKenzie is gruff, dismissive, and not at all interested in Poppy’s theories. But that won’t stop her from investigating.

With the loyal Major (her trusty black Labrador) at her side and a quick wit to match her sharp instincts, Poppy begins to peel back the genteel layers of Balfour House. When a priceless diamond and emerald bracelet vanishes and a woman who looks uncannily like Poppy is attacked, things get even more dangerous. Could the murder and the theft be connected? Is someone at the party hiding a deadly secret? And how far will they go to keep it buried?

Travers builds a vivid world full of elegant gowns, whispered rumors, and the shadow of scandal. The atmosphere crackles with 1920s charm—from glittering soirées to moonlit gardens—and the pacing keeps the tension humming without ever losing the light, witty tone that makes this series debut so irresistible.

Poppy is everything a reader wants in an amateur sleuth: smart, bold, a little rebellious, and a lot of fun. Her chemistry with the reluctant Inspector MacKenzie adds sparks to the story, and the promise of future tension between them is just as exciting as the mystery itself.

With red herrings, clever twists, and a heroine you’ll root for from page one, Death at the Loch is the kind of book that’s made to be read with a cup of tea and a cozy blanket. It’s also a perfect pick for fans of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright, Catherine Coles, and anyone who loves their murder mysteries with a side of elegance and attitude.

This is a fantastic start to what promises to be a brilliant new series. Lady Poppy Proudfoot has arrived—and I can’t wait to follow her next adventure