Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Dee MacDonald's latest novel in the Ally McKinley Mystery series, 'A Very Bookish Murder.'

The Ally McKinley mystery series started off strong and continues to deliver with this third instalment. In 'A Very Bookish Murder' B&B owner Ally plays host to some of the attendees of a women's writers retreat being held at the local hotel in Locharran. Invited by her guests to join the first day of the retreat Ally gets more than she signed up for when the guest of honour is found murdered in the ladies loos. As the police investigate, Ally finds herself in the thick of things as the retreat continues and accusations start to fly. Could one of her paying guests be a murderer?

A lovely cosy murder mystery set in the beautiful Scottish highlands. A joy to read on a rainy day with a cup of tea in hand.

A Very Bookish Murder by Dee MacDonald is the 3rd in the Ally McKinely Mysteries. I’m really enjoying getting to know more about Ally and her friends as we move along through this series. For this outing, a number of women come to the highlands to attend a writing conference. When a popular author and meeting leader is killed at the local hotel, Ally decides to investigate since several of the attendees are also staying at her B&B.

This was very well paced, and the mystery was decent. I figured out fairly early who the murderer was but not the why. The camaraderie among the women, along with some of the cattiness that can often go hand in hand with a diverse group of women who are new to each other seemed well done. I particularly enjoyed the introduction of the new law enforcement officer, and the subplot with “old” inspector added some interest. Ally is a great character: caring, smart, funny but a little older, wiser, and not generally putting herself into direct danger to chase down a lead.

I’ll keep reading this series when I am in the mood for a light, cozy mystery, and especially when I want to imagine one of my favorite spots in the Scottish Highlands.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC.

A thoughtful, well-paced mystery with engaging writing and a charming literary setting. It’s not flashy but delivers a satisfying, smart story that stands out for its atmosphere and character depth. Definitely recommend

Oh my goodness, this book was absolutely captivating! It was filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. It was so enjoyable to catch up with old characters and meet new ones. It’s a light-hearted and fun read that you can enjoy on its own, but if you’re into the series, you’ll definitely want to read the rest. I highly recommend it!

Thank you Netgalley

"I received a free ARC/copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review."
Expected Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2025
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Our favourite amateur sleuth, Ally McKinley, is back on the case—and this time, things get wonderfully bookish.
A group of writers has gathered in the charming Highland village of Locharran for a writer's retreat, hosted by the famous author and editor, Jodi Jones. But what starts off as a literary getaway soon turns deadly when Jodi is found strangled in the ladies' loo, her beautiful scarf used as the murder weapon. The shocking crime follows a heated accusation of plagiarism from one of the retreat attendees. As the investigation unfolds, another victim is claimed, and with a new detective in town and a fresh cast of suspicious characters, the question is—can Ally piece together the clues in time to stop the killer, or will the culprit slip away once again?

I really enjoyed this cosy murder mystery. One of the things I appreciated straightaway was the thoughtful recap at the beginning, which offers just enough background on Ally and the previous books to bring new readers up to speed—without spoiling the plots of the earlier books. It's a great touch that makes the story accessible, whether you're a returning fan or diving into the series for the first time. Ally is as endearing, nosy and determined as ever, and the small-village setting adds that comforting, close-knit feel that fans of cosy crime love.

The whodunnit plot has that classic charm, with enough twists and red herrings to keep you second-guessing all the way through. The unreliable narrative of Ally's POV definitely adds to the fun—I had my own list of suspects, and while I managed to guess a few correctly, the real killer caught me off guard. It might not have been a jaw-dropping twist, but it was cleverly done and kept me thoroughly engaged. I ended up reading it all in one sitting, and it made for the perfect companion on a rainy afternoon. If you're after a warm, twisty mystery with a lovable heroine and a touch of Highland charm, this one is definitely worth picking up.

A Very Bookish Murder," the third installment of the cozy mystery series of Dee MacDonald's Ally McKinley Mystery , that is set in the coastal Scottish village of Loccharran becomes the backdrop for a writer's retreat at Ally's B&B. However, the literary pursuits of the guests are abruptly halted when one of their own falls victim to murder. Navigating the complicated web of clues, she must solve the mystery before becoming the next victim.

This installment is a masterful blend of suspense, with unexpected twists that kept me guessing until the very end. The author's ability to craft a compelling narrative is evident, and I am thoroughly engaged in the series. I can't wait for #4 in the series
Much thanks to NetGalley,, Book moisture and the author for the opportunity to read and review this great book.
It releases on 9/19/2025

This book, third in a series, was a quick, entertaining read! The characters were likable, and the location beautiful. I would like to be a guest at this inn! The mystery was well plotted. I would like to read more from this author.

Another cozy mystery solved by Ally McKinley! Dee's books truly take you to the Scottish highlands as her detailed writing paints a perfect picture of life in Locharran. As far as this book, A Very Bookish Murder, I enjoyed how many new characters came into play as it sets place during a writing convention. The new characters continued to provide plot twist after plot twist leaving you feeling like you are also fully deciphering the killings along with Ally. This book is witty, cozy, and fast paced that will leave you wanting more!

This third book in the Ally McKinley murder mystery series was another great book to read. Fun and easy to read, I really enjoyed this book about a B&B owner who always seems to get caught up in the murders in her small town. Lighthearted romance, fun characters, and murder make these cosy mysteries such as delight to read. If you need an escape from reality without reading something too heavy or complicated, this book, and the series it belongs to, is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy of this book.

Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I didn't read the previous books since I was intrigued with the title and the premise of an author murdered at a book retreat. I didn't feel lost with understanding the character dynamics between the fmc and the local townspeople. This book definitely makes me want to start again with book 1.

Back to the mystery, I felt the murder happened so fast that we didn't get to see the author much and less of the issues between her and the main suspects. While the suspects explain their backstory with the author later on and all clearly had a motive, I didn't care so much about the victim. I think the introduction of a new inspector Amir was good but I felt he didn't add much and he barely works together with the fmc to solve the murder.

overall, I felt the mystery was good since many of them had a motive to kill but I didn't feel the suspense.

Dee MacDonald delivers a cozy whodunnit that’s as charming as it is clever in A Very Bookish Murder. From the first chapter, I was hooked by the lively banter and back-and-forth commentary between the cast of colorful characters—each with just enough motive to keep me guessing until the very end.

What truly made this story special for me was the unforgettable Ally McKinley. In her 60s, Ally runs the local B&B and plays amateur sleuth with a sharp mind and an even sharper sense of community. She reminded me so much of my own grandmother—a lifelong lover of female-led mysteries, a pillar of her small town, and coincidentally, a McKinley herself. Ally didn’t just feel like a character; she felt like home.

This book is a warm invitation into a close-knit village with secrets hiding behind every teacup and bookcase. Fans of classic cozy mysteries with heart will absolutely adore it. I know I did!

4 stars

The best Ally McKinley mystery yet! I’m so pleased with Ally, our protagonist, who is finally feeling comfortable in the role of cosy mystery protagonist and no longer like the outsider of her charming Scottish village. There’s also a classic setup here in which there’s a group of wildly different personalities drawn together for a single purpose—a writer’s retreat—one of whom is killed by another in the group. It’s truly fun getting to meet all the different writers in the group, who have vastly different personalities and histories, and suspecting each of them in turn of the murder.

This is a twisty one, but just in terms of all the likely suspects rather than the actual mechanics of the murder being convoluted. Over time I even found myself growing fond of some of the suspects, and I wonder if any might become recurring characters/visitors to Ally’s Aulde Malthouse B&B. On that note, I appreciated that side characters from previous mysteries popped up organically in this book without either taking over the plot or feeling too much like a just-because cameo. Ally’s village feels like a real place, where you will see many of the same people out and about, and friendships form and strengthen over time.

I’d recommend this title to fans of cosies and to book-lovers who enjoy seeing bookish references within a story. I’ll definitely be picking up the next title in the series when it comes out.

Thank you to the publisher for sending through an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review!

A Very Bookish Murder is quite an enjoyable book. A cute little series centred around a retired widow who buys a BnB up in the Scottish highlands but of course it wouldn't be a mystery series if she didn't involved in a murder or two....

This particular book deals with spring on its way towards the Highlands and Ally's abode being used as accommodation for a literary group doing a writing workshop weekend. All is well and good till the principal speaker turns up strangled to death in the ladies' bathroom with her own scarf, and there starts Ally's investigation!

I really quite enjoyed reading this book. It was incredibly fast paced and the writer didn't hesitate for the body to show up within the first few pages. All the better, because there was a lot to get through anyhow. We're introduced to a new police investigator in the form of a charming Desi (South Asian) Amir Kandahar standing in for Bob Rigby. And of course, there are the other characters who must have been established in the earlier books. I personally hadn't read any of the previous books and this, like so many other books of late, was my introduction to this series. That, however, was not a difficulty in terms of catching up as the previous history hasn't been referred to much (although I am curious as to how a 70-something yo character in this book gets together with his wife who's clearly young enough to be his daughter, haha). The final twist in the tale is a good one and while I wasn't entirely too surprised by it (but this is more because I'm an avid mystery reader than any bad writing on the author's part) I was expecting it to be another character.

All in all, an enjoyable read and a captivating series I'm tempted to check out the previous books of.

4 stars/5

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This is the 3rd in the Ally McKinley series but could definitely be read as a standalone and I enjoyed this one just as much as the other two.

The 3rd installment of this series finally has some guests in Ally's business and her relationship with the retired Vet is going strong. I wish the 2nd chapter had come first with more backstory on the characters staying with her before the murder occurred, because it felt rushed. There were so many characters with motives that it take me a little while to figure out who the murderer was. The story flowed well, and it was never boring, but I found that sometimes conversations seemed to jump from serious murder/death to talking about what they were having to eat. I'm not sure I would be so comfortable knowing a murderer was staying at my B&B and just going about my day like normal.

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

Easy. Charming. Fun (except for the murderrr).

This was a quick read, and a good time. The writing was easy to read and the setting was perfectly welcoming. Ally was adorable and her investigations had me tagging along with a little notepad and pen! I’m not one for cozy murder mysteries, it’s not even close to my go-to, but this was a delight.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC!

Ally's back at it again; she's got herself stuck in the middle of chaos. Moving to the highlands an restoring an old Malthouse into a BNB, retired Ally McKinley just couldn't help herself, things have never been quiet in the "quiet" hills of Locharran. Ally's becoming a professional detective now in her third run in with death and gossip. A famous author is in town for a writing retreat, but someone doesn't make it out of the conference hall...the suspects are staying under her own roof. She's back to find out "who done it?", and why is it always at her doorstep.

I thoroughly enjoy following along with Ally and her goings on at the Malthouse, I even enjoy the people who surround her. Dee MacDonald does great involving the characters from past books who have now become Ally's village, and even friends. This is now my second favorite book in the series. Simply because book 2 was Hamish and his going's on. This series is such an easy read, and they're light hearted. If you enjoy a soft hearted murder mystery and Scotland, these books are for you.

Thank you to Dee MacDonalds, Bookouture and NetGalley for the early ebook!

What an absolutely delightful cozy mystery!

This book is my introduction to this series (and the author) and there was sufficient background information for the readers to enjoy the book as a standalone.

This was such a gripping cozy mystery—one of the bests I've read in this genre lately.
The charming characters, quaint setting, perfect pacing, engaging writing style, and a compelling plot with intriguing twists reminded me of Agatha Christie mysteries—Ally, the female lead, is not much unlike the famous Miss Marple—so if you are a fan of Christie's work, you wouldn't want to miss this one.

I think I've found my new favorite author for cozy mysteries! I hope the author continues to write more Ally McKinley mysteries.

I thank the publishers and Netgalley for sending me an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

A comfortable cosy read. Amiable characters, satisfying amount of twisty mystery, the usual cosy elements, small town, amateur detective, obligatory wealthy landowners, combined with a selection of writers assembled for a conference. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Very Bookish Murder is a pure delight to read, as the other Ally McKinley mysteries have been too. This time, a writer's conference is held in the Highlands and the featured speaker is murdered. Half the suspects are staying at the hotel but the other half is staying at Ally's place. As Ally gets closer to the truth, she has to ensure that she isn't the next victim! In typical Dee MacDonald form, the murderer's identity wasn't clear until the very end, which is very refreshing for someone who reads a large number of mysteries! I can't wait to read the next installment in the series.