A Cold Highland Wind: A Lady Emily Mystery

Written by Tasha Alexander

Narrated by Bianca Amato

"The entwined stories and Amato's passionate narration will remain in listeners' minds long after the mysteries are solved." —AudioFile on In the Shadow of Vesuvius

In this new installment of Tasha Alexander’s acclaimed Lady Emily series set in the wild Scottish highlands, an ancient story of witchcraft may hold the key to solving a murder centuries later.

Lady Emily, husband Colin Hargreaves, and their three sons eagerly embark on a family vacation at Cairnfarn Castle, the Scottish estate of their dear friend Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge. But a high-spirited celebration at the beginning of their stay comes to a grisly end when the duke’s gamekeeper is found murdered on the banks of the loch. Handsome Angus Sinclair had a host of enemies: the fiancée he abandoned in Edinburgh, the young woman who had fallen hopelessly in love with him, and the rough farmer who saw him as a rival for her affections. But what is the meaning of the curious runic stone left on Sinclair’s forehead?

Clues may be found in the story of Lady MacAllister, wife of the Laird of Cairnfarn Castle, who in 1676 suddenly found herself widowed and thrown out of her home. Her sole companion was a Moorish slave girl who helped her secretly spirit her most prized possessions—a collection of strange books—out of the castle. When her neighbors, wary of a woman living on her own, found a poppet—a doll used to cast spells—and a daisy wheel in her isolated cottage, Lady MacAllister was accused of witchcraft, a crime punishable by death.

Hundreds of years later, Lady Emily searches for the link between Lady MacAllister’s harrowing witchcraft trial and the brutal death of Sinclair. She must follow a trail of hidden motives, an illicit affair, and a mysterious stranger to reveal the dark side of a seemingly idyllic Highland village.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Oct 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9781250325341

Tasha Alexander

When not reading, Tasha Alexander can be found hard at work on her next book featuring Emily Ashton.

Reviews for A Cold Highland Wind

[Andrea Author · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

While she's vacationing at a Scottish estate, Lady Emily's trip turns sinister when the gamekeeper is murdered. Emily investigates the many suspects, including Sinclair's abandoned fiancée, a jealous rival, and the woman shamelessly pursuing him. Darkness lurks in the idyllic Highland village as she uncovers illicit affairs and village secrets tied to a centuries-old witchcraft trial.

Agatha Christie fans will love Lady Emily! With a clever plot, intriguing characters, and the comic relief of the heroine's children, this is an entertaining and engrossing audiobook. The narration complemented the story.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.