I don't usually love the first book in a new cozy mystery series (I often skip them), but this one was pretty enjoyable. I listened to the audiobook which I'm glad I did since it is set in Scotland and I can't ever get the Scottish burr right in my head.

I really liked the main character Lady Poppy Proudfoot. While she isn't exactly a trained private investigator, she is more professional than your typical amateur cozy mystery sleuth. She would like to be a true PI, and she has a law degree.

At first, I thought it was strange that there were so many young widows but then I remembered that it is 1924 and there were a lot of young widows at that time because of the Great War. I also kept thinking of Downton Abbey while listening to the story. It wasn't just the time period that gave me that vibe but also because there were American movie people staying at the Balfour estate (if you've seen the Downton Abbey movies then you know why I made the connection).

At first I thought the voices for the Americans were obnoxious but after a bit I think that was supposed to be the point. They were loud and used excessive slang.

If you like a little romance in your cozy mystery, I think there is a very good chance one will transpire between Poppy and the Inspector. I liked the Inspector - he doesn't immediately dismiss Poppy especially when she brings him information he didn't have. There interactions reminded me of Eleanor Swift and Instpecitor Hugh Sheldon except Poppy and Mackenzie don't butt heads nearly as much as those two did in the beginning.

This series is off to a very promising start, and though I don't really have room for another cozy mystery series, I will be very tempted to read the next book in the series.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Wednesday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/05/the-games-afoot-can-you-solve-these.html

I listened to the audible version of this book and enjoyed the narration and the story. I'm always looking for a new series and found this one enjoyable. Lady Poppy was widowed during the Great War and seems ready to re-engage with the world and move forward. While attending a house party hosted by a relative new acquaintance, a body is found in the loch and despite warnings not to get involved, she investigates and helps solve the case. Poppy and supporting characters were fun and I'm looking forward to book 2.

Death at The Highland Loch is a murder mystery that takes place in hte roaring 1920's. While Lady Poppy is attending a Midsomer party when a body is found washed up on the loch's shore. She is determined to use her detective skills to help crack the case, much to the inspector's dismay


What a lovely historyical-fiction mystery book, it was perfectly light and not intense. You will think you know who did it, just for the book to keep you guessing. I enjoyed that the ending was not predictable. I will definitely be reading more of Lydia Traver's books in the future!!

- Cozy Murder Mystery
- Whodunnit
- Historical Fiction

I listened to Death at The Highland Loch audiobook and I absolutely loved this version. Sarah Barron was an excellent narrator to tell this story. I enjoyed the way she brought the story to life. Her voice is very easy to listen to and understand, and she went at the perfect pace.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and __ for this ALC / ARC.

Excitement coursed through Lady Poppy Proudfoot’s veins as she set out on a trip to the Highlands in 1920s Scotland. A titled young lady with a law degree, Poppy was eager to enjoy herself at a party. However, her plans took an unexpected turn when a body was discovered at a loch.

Shocked by the discovery, Poppy is determined to uncover the truth. From the outset, Poppy was certain that the woman’s death was no accident. Despite the inspector on the case’s skepticism, Poppy decided to take matters into her own hands and solve the case.

But Poppy’s investigation didn’t end there. The party’s host’s valuable diamond bracelet had also gone missing, adding another layer of intrigue to the mystery. Poppy was determined to find both the bracelet and to discover what happened to the young woman, and wonders if both circumstances were somehow connected.

Ever since hearing about Maud McIntyre’s success as an investigator, Poppy had been inspired. Could she do the same? Determined to prove herself, Poppy took matters into her own hands. Before long, when a young woman was attacked, and she bore a striking resemblance to Poppy, so Poppy immediately wonders if she herself might have been the target. Now she just knew she was on the right track to solving these cases.

This cozy mystery series begins with a delightful and engaging read. Having enjoyed Lydia Travers’ previous cozy mystery series, I was delighted to see that this book retained the same flair. Poppy’s spunky personality and inquisitive nature were a joy to witness as she embarked on her investigative adventures. I eagerly anticipate her next escapade and look forward to sitting back and enjoying her pursuits.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Loved! This was a fun murder mystery. It had me on my toes the whole book with suspects. I love a good ole grumpy detective and bubbly amateur sleuth attraction too. I’m excited that this is going to be a series, I can’t wait for the next one.

This was really good! It was cozy and mysterious. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I liked all the suspicion. I was along for the ride and didn’t see the ending coming. Bonus: there was a little flirty slow burn energy that I loved as a romance reader. Such a great cozy mystery, highly recommend.

Scotland, 1924: When Lady Poppy Proudfoot travels to the Highlands for a midsummer party, the last thing she and her fellow guests expect is for a body to wash up beside the loch. Despite protests that it could have been an accident, Poppy is convinced it’s murder and decides to dust off her law degree and hunt for clues. But when the police arrive, the grumpy Inspector MacKenzie dismisses her evidence, insisting a crime scene is no place for a Lady. With the help of her trusted Labrador, Major, Poppy begins to unpick the case. But she soon has two mysteries to solve, as her host Lady Constance Balfour claims a diamond and emerald bracelet has been stolen. When a woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Poppy is attacked, she realizes that someone wants her off the case.
The first in a new series & another very well written book by the author I was lucky enough to receive both the ebook & the audiobook & enjoyed switching between the two. The narrator was excellent & brought the book to life. I really liked Poppy & loved that she visited the Scottish Ladies Detective Agency for advice – great to know Daisy was making a success of the Agency. I really liked Poppy & loved how she gradually worked out who the murderer was. I also liked her relationship with MacKenzie, I enjoyed their banter & how their respect for each other grew. I look forward to more in the series
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

This is the first book in the series and I'm grateful Net Galley let me read it early. I am always excited to get ARC's approved. It's the first in her new series so I wanted to read it to be in on it from the beginning. I've read some of her other one called The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency, and it was cute.

This story picks up with new characters, Lady Poppy and her love interest, Inspector MacKenzie. Poppy is attending a get together in the Highlands and of course encounters a murder. They don't even know who it is at first and when Inspector MacKenzie arrives on the scene sparks fly between them in many ways. He considers her to be an interfering busybody who has no business involving herself in crime detection and she considers him to be an insufferable know it all. You can guess where this goes as the book moves on....predictable, tried and true plot but cute nonetheless.

As the two begin to trust each other and work together a little more they each find different avenues to explore. Poppy takes the lead on some missing jewelry that might lead to clues to finding the murderer and the Inspector works to identify the body and work out yet another attempted murder.

Along with all the drama of the case is a colorful slate of characters including American actors who think a lot of themselves and friends of Poppy who are loving and loyal. I thought the actors were a fun addition to the story line and added to the red herrings that pop up. The story had a lot of twists that kept me guessing and while the plot wasn't super involved it was enough to keep you engaged. A strong start to a new series and I'll look for book two soon!

This 1920 murder mystery has everything you could want. Lying, cheating, stealing, and MURDER.

Lady Poppy Proudfoot is a high society lady in Scotland. She is a young widower trying to find herself after her husband's death. She has a degree in law and has aspirations to do more. So when she and others were invited to the Highlands by Lady Constance Balford and a murder takes place, she has found her calling, a private detective.

Not only do we have a double murder but their is the case of the missing bracelet....

Poppy, along with a grumpy Detective MacKenzie, must solve these cases and bring justice to the Highlands.

I loved this book. The motley crew of characters and the crime really made this a fun listen . I was hooked from the beginning, and a lot of that had to do with the narrator. She played each character really well. I was able to decifer who was talking by which voice she used. With this many different characters, that's so important.

I can't wait to see what's next for Poppy and, of course, Major.

I greatly enjoyed this audiobook. It was fast moving, had wonderful characters and was an enjoyable mystery to try and solve. I loved that the MFC was a strong, confident woman who often irritated the police inspector simply because she was good at detective work. The elements of danger were just enough for me. I loved the historical mystery combination and carried around a map of the area in my mind. I hope the print version has an actual map, those are always enjoyable. The narration was also enjoyable and well performed, making it a binge worthy listen in conjunction with the storyline.

For me, the stars of the story are Major (Labrador dog who finds bodies) and a nosy little dachshund.
Lady Poppy was widowed by The Great War, and the friend she is visiting (Lady Constance) was widowed by The Flu quite recently. The mystery is set in 1924.
It's a really good story that doesn't take itself or its characters too seriously, especially the American film crew. Perfect for listening to while doing the dreadful Chores.
Narrated clearly in Scottish accents by voice actor Sarah Barron.
I requested and received a temporary digital audio from Bookouture Audio via Netgalley.
#DeathattheHighlandLoch #LadyPoppyProudfootBk1 by Lydia Travers @lindatylerauthorscotland @bookouture #NetGalley #Scotland #scottishhighlands #cosycrime #cozycrime #cosymystery #historicalfiction #detective #PoliceScotland #murders #theft #filmcrew

This was such a sweet cozy mystery. It was raining whilst I read it and it was the perfect cozy environment to consume the book.

This is book one in a new series for Lady Poppy Proudfoot. It does follow suit with many women led detective stories that take place in the UK but it’s like a dependable warm hug.
It is historical fiction with highlights from the early 1900’s but it does take some liberties especially with the “voice” that does sound much more modern than the date dictates.

I consumed the audio AlC and the narrator Sarah Barron did a fabulous job! What stood out was that she spoke in a lovely Scottish accented voice but it was very clear and comforting. I mention that as I know that many Americans struggle at times with Scottish accented voices but hers very very understandable even with speeding up the rate to 1.75x. The only struggle came in her stab at an American Accent. She tried her best but it does come off as awkward but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book.

I enjoyed the addition of her Labrador side kick and hope he continues in the subsequent books. Lastly, I did figure out the culprit rather easily. I usually do but in this case I think k most will be able to figure things out. However, it didn’t take away from the experience.

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Bookouture Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Death at the Highland Loch by Lydia Travers is a historical mystery set in 1924 Scotland. I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated admirably by Sarah Barron. The story begins when American Lady Poppy Proudfoot travels to the Highlands for a midsummer party. She is educated in the law but unable to practice due to the constraints of the time. She is plucky, independent, and determined. Soon after she arrives a body is found near the lake of the manor house. Poppy investigates the murder, wanting to try out her legal skills. She, of course, experiences a few obstacles in the form of investigating officer, Inspector MacKenzie. Although I didn't feel much of a connection with the characters as they seemed underdeveloped, I look forward to seeing how the relationship develops between Inspector MacKenzie and Poppy over the next few books in this new series. I also wish there was a little more background of how and why Poppy was invited to party. Nevertheless, if you enjoy cozy mysteries set in the past, you should enjoy this easy read/listen.

I found the narration difficult to get into at the beginning and the story a bit boring but once I sped it up to 1.25 and heard the different voicing for the characters, I enjoyed it more. The narrator's voice and accent is very pleasant to listen to. I have enjoyed every book I have read by Lydia Travers. The intriquing mysteries are secondary to her very interesting and endearing main characters!

recieved a copy of this work in audiobook format free of charge from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

The narration is very well done and brought the book and it's characters to life.

Lady Poppy Proudfoot and her Labador Major are wonderful characters. Very likeable and it was fun getting to know them and spend time with them.

The story itself is an historical cozy mystery perfect for a lazy summer afternoon read. It's well written, has good pacing and keeps you guessing right up to the very end.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this around 45%. I really enjoyed the setting and the dogs but did not connect with any of the characters. Everyone acted like the murder was for their own entertainment and there was very little empathy for the actual deceased. The American accents were slightly uncomfortable for me. Additionally, I found some parts confusing. For example, when asked by investigators if anyone has touched the body everyone says "no" but just before that Poppy mentions she closed the deceased's eyes. Things like this took me out of the story and did not allow me to become fully immersed. Finally, Poppy came across as a very entitled, know it all character and I just could not feel any connection.

First I would like to thank NetGalley, the Author, the Narrator and the Publisher for this ARC.

The Narrator did an lovely job. The voices, the vibe, the accents,... She did it all and it was wholesome.
Sarah has a lovely voice and the whole story came together due to it.

As for the book itself.
Poppy isn't the brightest tool in the shed, but she is charismatic and she learns from her mistakes and I suspect her to grow as she takes on more cases.
The chemistry between Lady Proudfoot and Inspector MacKenzie is sizzling! And although not the main focus, it is obviously there and I look forward to more of it!
The rest of the characters are interesting although I would have loved to get to know some of them better and I would have loved more depth to the story, the characters and the idyllic Scottish scene.

All in all this was a Cozy Mystery read that I would definitely recommend if you need a refreshing, entertaining and enchanting read on a rainy sunday.

I was given the ALC by NetGalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Look at me finished up to cozy mysteries in a week, I deserve a pat on the back if I don’t say so myself.

I really enjoyed the characters, setting and storyline of this one as well.

You have the FMC who is a lady and widow, having lost her husband during WWI. While in the country visiting her new friend during their annual midsummer festivities, a murder occurs. This intrigues the FMC and we accompany her as she conducts her investigation just as the detective assigned to the case does.

Sparks between the detective and the FMC? Oh yes, there will be something there as the series progresses. And if not, well I will be disappointed.

Well done, cannot wait for the next one!

Death at the Highland Loch is a Historical Cozy Mystery set in the Scottish Highlands in the 1920s where a body is discovered during a house party on an estate by the loch. Lady Poppy Proudfoot takes it upon herself to assist the detective in solving the murder. Overall, I found this to be a very compelling and enjoyable start to a series. For me the highlight of the book was Lady Poppy herself. I found her a really entertaining main character. I also thought the conclusion of the mystery to be very satisfying. This is by no means the perfect murder mystery. I wish there had been more clues involved throughout. I also felt that some of the side characters played no real role and the story and felt a bit superfluous. Despite those flaws I had such a great time reading this book and am excited to continue the series.
I did want to write a quick note about how this is technically a continuation of Lydia Travers's first series, the Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency. I was not aware of this going in and I felt that you can definitely read this without reading her other series. Though characters from the previous series do make an appearance, none actually play a major role in the narrative of this story. I would take this with a grain of salt, however, as I have yet to read the original series and might have overlooked spoilers from that series that might become more apparent when I start it.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC Audiobook of this book!

Death at the Highland Loch is an enjoyable, typical historical cozy. Our sleuth is Poppy Proudfoot, a young, well off widow whose parents are in Australia. So she has the money and freedom to more or less do what she wants. She’s pretty, smart (she has a law degree), and has the requisite dog, an adorable lab named Major.

In this first outing, she has two cases she’s working on. Her friend, Lady Constance Balfour, wants her to find out what happened to an bracelet that her husband apparently purchased shortly before his death. And then there’s the murdered man down by the lock. Granted Inspector MacKenzie has told her to stay away from the murder investigation, but at least he seems to have a sense of humor about her interference. If nothing else, Poppy is sure of her own competence.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a good job dealing with the large cast and variety of accents. I love the Scottish setting and the historical tidbits were thrown in nicely. There just wasn’t anything that really made it stand out for me.