A Liss MacCrimmon Mystery Series

A Scottish dancer returns to small town Maine, where a killer keeps her on her toes in this “blithe and bonny” cozy mystery series debut (Nancy Martin, author of the Blackbird Sisters Mysteries).   Liss MacCrimmon was a professional Scottish dancer until a knee injury ended her career. Now she’s back in her hometown of Moosetookalook, Maine, helping her aunt run a local Scottish emporium. Nestled in the hills of Northwest New England, Moosetookalook is just as charming as she remembers. But Liss’s nostalgic idyll is cut short when she stumbles on the body of her aunt's nosy neighbor, Amanda Norris, under a bolt of Flower of Scotland fabric.   Suddenly, Liss is a prime murder suspect, and it’ll take some fancy foot work to clear her name. As she uncovers the shadowy secrets hiding in her postcard perfect town, Liss knows she’ll have to act fast—before the killer comes back for an encore. "Strong local color and a surprise ending will make this a hit with the cozy crowd."—Publishers Weekly

A former Scottish dancer turned small-town shop owner must search for a killer among her former company in this cozy mystery by the author of Kilt Dead. After a knee injury forces professional Scottish dancer, Liss MacCrimmon to give up her life of performing strathspreys, reels, jigs and Highland flings she returns to her hometown of Moosetookalook, Maine, where she runs a Scottish Emporium. With one solved murder case under her dance belt, Liss has no idea she's about to spiral into another . . . Liss still misses the life of a professional dancer with Strathspey, the Scottish dance company she belonged to. So she arranges a reception for the troupe when they're on tour, complete with a Scottish theme that includes a new spin on the classic Scottish Scone. Liss soon realizes that life in the group isn't all happy jigs and fancy stepping. Victor Owens, the company manager, has been making life miserable for everyone. But she has no idea how miserable until Victor bites into one of Liss's prized cocktail scones, collapses and dies. When the police set their sights on Liss and her best friends, it's up to Liss to find out whodunit before this culinary killer makes an encore . . . Praise for Scone Cold Dead “Enjoyable . . . Vivid descriptions of Maine during mud season and a quirky cast of characters lift this cozy.” —Publishers Weekly

“It’s got two things that everyone likes: Christmas and Murder.” – Jimmy Fallon Business is booming at the Scottish Emporium in Moosetookalook, Maine, and Liss MacCrimmon Ruskin couldn't be happier--or busier. A romantic getaway at a rustic Christmas tree farm is just what she needs. But the property's mysterious past has her feeling less than merry. . . Liss is surprised when an old friend from high school asks her to spend a week at the Christmas tree farm she recently inherited from a great-uncle. Realizing it would be the perfect chance for her and her husband Dan to get away from work, Liss happily accepts the offer and packs her bags for the tiny town of New Boston. Upon their arrival, Liss and Dan are greeted by a ramshackle farmhouse and unfriendly townsfolk. It's hardly the idyllic vacation locale they'd hoped for, especially when needling neighbors start raising questions about the farm's dark history. Who was the man whose body was found neatly netted in a shipment of Scotch pine? Why did the owner vanish into thin air? And why are the trees growing so close together, forming a maze more twisted than a Celtic knot? The rumors pile up faster than snowdrifts in a blizzard, and as Liss starts un-wrapping the truth, she discovers something even more scandalous than murder hiding beneath the town's humdrum façade. When a series of "accidents" strikes the farm, she'll have to spring into action faster than a Highland Fling to find the killer who's been lurking among the pines--before she ends up in a pine box herself. . . Praise for Kaitlyn Dunnett and her Liss MacCrimmon Mysteries! Vampires, Bones, And Treacle Scones "Spooky. . .Cozy fans are in for a Halloween treat." --Publishers Weekly Bagpipes, Brides, And Homicides "Fans of Scottish lore or bookstore mysteries like Lorna Barrett's and Carolyn Hart's will enjoy this one." --Booklist Scotched "A satisfying entry in the series." --Booklist "This well-plotted novel provides pure entertainment." --RT Book Reviews A Wee Christmas Homicide "The blend of romance and cozy mystery will please lovers of all things Scottish." --Kirkus Reviews Scone Cold Dead "Enjoyable. . .vivid descriptions of Maine during mud season and a quirky cast of characters lift this cozy." --Publishers Weekly Kilt Dead "If you have an affinity for all things Scottish, this is the book for you." --Deadly Pleasures

Spring is just a few weeks away, but winter is still digging its claws into Moosetookalook, Maine. With business at the Scottish Emporium frozen up, Liss MacCrimmon is cautiously optimistic when a twist of fate lands her on a reality competition show—until the contest gets a little too cutthroat . . . While driving on an icy road one night, Liss swerves her car when something darts out in front of it. The Scottish terrier she finds shivering in the snow turns out to be a reality TV star. But when the pooch’s owner is murdered, her daughter asks Liss to take her place on the reality show. Before Liss can tell her she’s barking up the wrong tree, she finds herself ensnarled in the strange world of reality competitions and hot on the trail of a deadly competitor. And just as she starts pawing at the truth, Liss realizes she could be next on the murderer’s list . . . “Full of local color, suspicious characters, and adorable fur-babies. What's not to like?” —Kirkus Reviews

It’s July in Moosetookalook, Maine, and Scottish Emporium proprietress Liss MacCrimmon Ruskin is prepping her wares for the annual Western Maine Highland Games. But when a suspicious fire leads to the disappearance of an entire family, and the sound of gunshots on the opening day of the Celtic festival leads to a dead body, Liss races to nab an elusive killer. Unable to shake the feeling that new victims are being targeted around town, she’ll need to act swiftly, because when it comes to this kind of game, somebody has to lose . . .   “Full of local color, suspicious characters, and adorable fur-babies. What's not to like?” —Kirkus Reviews on The Scottie Barked at Midnight