A Scottish Shire Mystery Book 8
Author: Traci Hall
Genre: Mystery
Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781496757821
Kensington Cozies
304 Pages
$18.95; $9.99 Amazon
June 30, 2026
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While Paislee will be celebrating All Hallow's Eve by handing out candy to the trick or treaters at her Cashmere Crush sweater shop, her teenage son Brody seems to have given up the ghost. Uninterested in donning a superhero or monster costume, he's just going to attend a party with his friends at the ice rink.
But Brody got swept up in the spirit of the season after all. Dared by the older kids, he went to the supposedly haunted Rait Ruins to capture video of a vengeful ghost. The local legend of the Rait Wraith has been passed down for generations -- and still gives Paislee the creeps. While no specter actually roams the grounds, the lifeless body of university student Ailis Barclay is discovered there.
Ailis was at the ruins dressed as the ghost to prank Brody, only something went wrong. With her son traumatized and deemed a suspect, it's up to Paislee to string together whether Ailis was a victim of the real Wraith of Rait Ruins -- or of someone dangerous among the living...
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Paislee Shaw lives in the small Scottish town of Nairn along with her thirteen-year-old son Brody and her grandfather Angus. They've built a good life, and are happy. She's also navigating her first time in love with DI Mack Zeffer, which only somewhat confuses things.
Halloween is approaching, and while Paislee and Angus would rather stay home and hand out candy, Brody wants to join his friends at the ice rink for the evening. But when Paislee arrives to pick him up, he's obviously traumatized, and she has a hard time getting him to talk.
When he tells her that the Wraith of Rait Ruins came for him -- calling him by name -- she thinks it was a prank. But when they return to the ruins to find Brody's dropped phone, Paislee finds the body of a young university student, Ailis Barclay. Paislee knows things aren't going to be the same, and with Brody as a possible suspect, she knows she's going to investigate, even though Mack tells her not to.
With Guy Fawkes Day fast approaching, there is another problem. The Ladies of Nairn are asking for Paislee's help in finding out who is menacing them -- and one of them wants her to provide bespoke knitted items for her son's upcoming wedding.
With so much to attend to, and her best friend Lydia returning from Germany to be with her on Paislee's birthday, she wonders if she'll have enough time in the day to do what is tasked.
But when things begin to heat up, and the fireworks start, there's more than meets the eye, and Paislee may have just put a target on her own head...
This is the eighth book in the series, and I have read them all. Ms. Hall is an extremely talented writer, and each book, as it progresses, brings us right to the village of Nairn and its people. I love 'emotional traveling' (when you can't physically travel, and author takes you there mentally and emotionally), and Ms, Hall is excellent at this.
There is a lot going on here, from the night of Halloween, right up until Paislee's birthday. And so much in between, with the problems in town and hidden secrets; lies and half-truths/ Fortunately, Paislee has learned enough to see through it all; and with the help of Angus she's able to help Mack. Yes, DI Zeffer actually asks for her help, which is a twist that no one saw coming.
But when the ending finally comes, and we discover the identity of the killer, no one will feel sorry, and neither should they. Evil exists, even if you don't always see it. I am loath to add anything else because I do not want to ruin the story for anyone, but I urge you to read this one. But there is a lovely silver lining that makes me want to read the next in the series right now. Highly recommended.
I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Traci Hall's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/traci-hall/
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