Marsali Taylor – Miriam Drori, Author

Death in a Shetland Family By Marsali Taylor

Last July, I reviewed Marsali Taylor’s novel, An Imposter in Shetland. Now, she has a new mystery out: Death in a Shetland Family.

Here’s some information about it:

About the Novel

Shetland sailing sleuth Cass Lynch is definitely out of her comfort zone when she helps round up a prize-winning stallion escaped from the renowned Klaufister stud. She’s even less impressed by its owner, Keith Arthurson, a returned city slicker who’s already made enemies in his community.

An unexpected visit to the Arthursons shows Cass the tensions simmering within the family. When Keith’s found dead, can she uncover the motive for his murder without putting herself in danger?

How to buy: Paperback | Kindle

About the Author

Marsali Taylor grew up near Edinburgh, and came to Shetland as a newly-qualified teacher. She is currently a part-time teacher on Shetland’s scenic west side, living with her husband and two Shetland ponies. Marsali is a qualified STGA tourist-guide who is fascinated by history, and has published plays in Shetland’s distinctive dialect, as well as a history of women’s suffrage in Shetland. She’s also a keen sailor who enjoys exploring in her own 8m yacht, and an active member of her local drama group.

Author Facebook Page | Amazon Author Page | Website

My Review

Another great mystery from this author with a background of sailing. This time, I also learned about crofting in Shetland. In the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, crofting is a system of land tenure by tenants, who use the attached land for pasturage. Cass, an old hand at sailing, is new to crofting and forced to learn on the job. I was happy to sit back and read about it.

On top of all this extra work, Cass tries to help solve the murder, discussing who might be responsible with anyone who might have useful information. Naturally, this puts Cass in danger, leading to an exciting and surprising revelation.

As with the other novel, I enjoyed the writing and loved learning about the Shetland way of life. The mystery added to my enjoyment.

Many thanks to the author and to Lynsey Adams of Reading Between the Lines for the chance to read this book.

An Imposter in Shetland

About the Book

When an internet lifestyle influencer arrives on Shetland to document her ‘perfect’ holiday, the locals are somewhat sceptical.

Joining a boat trip to the remote islands of St Kilda with sailing sleuth Cass Lynch and her partner DI Gavin Macrae, the young woman seems more concerned with her phone than the scenery.

But when it’s time to leave, there’s no sign of her. Despite mounting a desperate search, she’s seemingly vanished without trace – from a small island in the middle of the sea.

As a puzzling investigation gathers pace, there are more questions than answers – and uncovering the truth will reveal dark and long-hidden secrets…

About the Author

My Review

I found this novel to be extremely well-written. In particular, I admire Marsali’s ability to include local vocabulary without in any way spoiling my enjoyment, even though I began reading with no prior knowledge. I was especially enamoured with the word sit-ootery.

In addition to a sample of the dialect, I learned about living in Shetland, the geography of the area, and sailing. I wasn’t surprised to read that Marsali is a keen sailor, as her descriptions radiate the joy of sailing as well as the details of keeping a yacht heading in the right direction.

How does a person simply disappear? Naturally, I can’t reveal the answer to that question, but I can reveal that the ending is exciting and believable. Highly recommended.

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