Murder at Castle Traprain: A totally gripping cozy mystery novel set in Scotland

Grace McKenna sits outside the café with her faithful dog Harvey at her feet, gazing over the sea at Portobello Beach. She sneaks Harvey a piece of sausage and he scoffs it happily. Life doesn’t get much better than this, she thinks, turning her face to the early morning sun. But in the shadowy corridors of nearby Castle Traprain, a remorseless killer is preparing to strike…

Edinburgh, Scotland. It’s been one thing after another for Detective Grace McKenna and her team at the fledgling Portobello Detective Agency, and she’s finally enjoying some peace as the leaves turn and Autumn beckons. But when a wealthy local landowner contacts her about a case so sensitive he can’t even discuss it over the phone, Grace is instantly intrigued.

Russian collector Sacha Komorov lives out of the public eye, despite his immense wealth and marriage to a famous ex-prima ballerina. As Grace gazes at the ominous silhouette of his Scottish estate, Castle Traprain, with its high walls and thrusting turrets, a shiver runs down her spine. Komorov himself is just as forbidding as he discloses the disappearance of a priceless rose-diamond Fabergé egg from his collection. It's an inside job, and he needs Grace to uncover the traitor within his own household.

As Grace dives into the case, her team goes undercover at Castle Traprain to win the trust of the staff. But things take an unexpected turn when Komorov's beautiful and troubled wife, Katya, begs for Grace's help to catch a disturbing stalker. Are the two cases connected? And why does Katya want to keep her husband in the dark about hiring Grace?

The plot thickens when one of the potential suspects is found murdered in the Housekeeper's quarters. It seems this is no ordinary jewel thief. The killer lurking within Castle Traprain will do anything to achieve their ends and, as the tension mounts, Grace and her team find themselves ultimately becoming targets in an increasingly deadly game…

An unputdownable Scottish mystery that will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next, perfect for fans of Clare Chase, Faith Martin and Frances Evesham.

What readers are saying about this series:

“I was engrossed… I’ve found my new favourite series and I’ll be waiting to preorder the next in the series and catch up with Grace and the Gang. ⭐️ The last page was WOW⭐️.” Online reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I was hooked on this book from page one, and it never dropped me! A compelling, twisty story with rounded, believable characters and a plot that kept me guessing. Even the very last line of the book came as a complete – and fantastic – surprise. I can't wait to read the next thriller with Grace at the helm. Highly recommended!” Online reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“There are some good ‘wow’ moments and reveals that I did not see coming. And I burst into tears at the end of the book; the scene was both shocking and so good!... Definitely had me hooked, and I cannot wait to read more in the Grace McKenna series.” Online reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I was impressed! Glued to the pages, I had trouble putting it down… An excellent plot, a great set of mysteries and some special characters. And the last sentence in the book saw my jaw dropping!” Online reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“This was amazing. It had me hooked from the very beginning all the way to the end. I could not put it down it was so good!” Online reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

© 2023 Storm Publishing (Audiobook): 9781805082354

Release date

Audiobook: 19 September 2023