To say that Roberta Steel is an acquired taste is a HUGE understatement. She's also very much not everyone's cup of tea. She is very much front and centre herein - I believe her first main character starring role (previously shared the limelight with Tufty in a full length book and also maybe starred in a couple of shorts) and she is definitely larger than life, so, basically, I really wouldn't let this be your first meeting with her...
And anyway... If you haven't already read the author's Logan MacRae series... where have you been...
So... we start with a wedding in a posh Castle Hotel in the Highlands. DS Roberta Steel crashes it, joining her wife Susan who is a guest. Now, if you have read the Logan McRae books, you'll know that our Roberta is not a wilting flower who nods and grins. No... she is full on, in your face, rip roaring life of the party, definitely not on her best behaviour, which is illustrated nicely by her opening scene...
Long story short... there's a death, the Hotel is isolated by the weather, there are two local cops also attending the wedding but Roberta takes the lead as she "forgets" her demotion when introducing herself and becomes highest ranking officer...
We then follow her as she tries to solve the murder by basically making it up as she goes along with absolutely hilarious results and more than a nod to the golden age and Christie.
As I laid down already, Roberta is not everyone's cuppa. But I love her, always have. And the way she is written, her mannerisms, her complete lack of filter when talking, just fits my sense of humour. And don't get me started on her relationship with Susan who must be an absolute saint!
And is all that wasn't enough, the murder she is trying to solve is an absolute doozy. Especially as she has to go proper old school with no scenes of crime, no forensics, no wet weather clothing, and no link to the outside world.
And the jokes, the one liners, the dark humour, all had me laughing out loud - yes I read it on the bus, complete with strange looks and all that...
But yeah... loved it... and it's one I will definitely revisit in Audiobook as soon as I can get my hands on a copy. And, now we all know that she can hold up a book on her own, maybe we can have more of her flying solo in the future... please... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

At long last, Roberta Steel gets her very own case to solve and I am delighted to report that it’s exactly the sweary, distastefully funny experience that I, along with her many other fans, would have expected it to be. Stuart MacBride definitely focuses more on the humorous aspects of the case and his delightful turns of phrase had me laughing out loud. You’re never too old to appreciate a good bodily function themed gag! ‘And the Corpse Wore Tartan’ is also a tightly plotted whodunnit that pays tribute to Agatha Christie in its reworking of the isolated hotel as the setting for dark deeds. Roberta channels her inner Miss Marple as she tries to deduce which one of the arch Tories is the killer - a task that the author likens to trying to find a Mars Bar in a swimming pool full of jobbies! The strength of this novel is that, if you put the humour to one side, it still succeeds as a concise and engaging murder mystery. The reader gets to enjoy the best of both worlds.

I’m starting to believe that Stuart MacBride and JD Kirk are one and the same with the similarities in their books, not to say they aren’t enjoyable, they are, very much so and this book is yet another read that i wholeheartedly enjoyed

When Roberta Steele drives to a remote highland hotel to surprise her wife at a wedding she was not intending to be investigating a murder the following day.
When she is woken up lying in the grounds of the hotel by the gamekeeper with the biggest hangover ever, she is not surprised that someone has bumped off the father of the bride as he was a slimly Tory wanker (her words). Wha t she doesn't expect is everyone at the wedding giving such a positive account of his character, all using similar words.
Contending with rising temperatures and driving rain from a storm, she has not back up other than the two local guys, she strives to find out the truth in her unique manner.
Funny and frustrating.

Skirivour Castle Hotel in the Highlands is hosting the wedding of the year, and Detective Sergeant Roberta Steel is just about to crash it.
Much to the surprise of everyone including her wife Susan. She promises to be on her best behaviour, but that doesn’t last long and she ends up very drunk.
The following morning she and the rest of the guests wake up to discover the body of the bride’s father impaled on the decorative stag in the hotel lobby. This is not the only disaster, the valley has been cut off by the weather. So with no way of getting help, DS Steel takes charge of the investigation. With a raging hangover and two other officers to help, and every guest a suspect, this is going to push our detective to her limits.
Can Roberta catch the killer, or is she next on the list?
Every time I read a book by Stuart Macbride I find myself smiling He has such a way of writing that can’t be copied. His books are always so well written and his sense of humour is delightful.
This particular novel is a perfect example of that. It’s a brilliant story, set in a remote place, with a superb cast characters and great laugh out loud moments. This was a true delight to read and I highly recommend it.

Anything written by Stuart MacBride is worth a read in my world. And this quick irreverent delve into the murky world of Roberta Steel brought a bit of joy into a snowy Saturday morning for me. It was silly and probably wouldn't stand up to too much deep investigation but I didn't read it like that. I read it for a laugh. Foul mouthed Robbie stuck at a toffee nosed Tory wedding. Horrendous weather, a locked room murder and lots of whisky and you have a recipe for disaster! A Logan novel it's not but I found it very enjoyable nevertheless. Thank you Stuart for cheering up my snowy weekend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.