Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Tartan, Treasures and Trouble: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Tartan, Treasures and Trouble: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait
Tartan, Treasures and Trouble: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
12th in Series
Setting – Cotswolds – England
Publisher : Kanga Press (January 17, 2025)
When murder is served at a Scottish Burns supper, it’s not the haggis that hides the deadliest secret. Can an amateur sleuth catch the killer before they toast another victim?
Antiques expert, Dotty Sayers, is thrilled to return to the Cotswolds to reconnect with old friends and run the auction house where her career began. She and her friend, Sergeant Keya Varma, organise a traditional Burns Night celebration, but things go awry when one of their guests meets his end before the first whisky is poured.
When the new police inspector is pushed aside by headquarters before she can crack the case, Dotty can’t resist following her own leads. As she digs deeper, she uncovers the victim’s tangled relationships, jealous spouses, and shady business dealings. But when a sensational newspaper article exposes the case, it threatens not only the investigation but also the auction house which Dotty has just been trusted to manage.
Can Dotty solve the case, or will the truth be drowned out by the skirl of the bagpipes?
My review of Tartan, Treasures and Trouble
Tartan, Treasures and Trouble by Victoria Tait is the 12th book in the absolutely charming and engrossing Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery Series. The book combines Dotty’s series with Keya’s series, and it’s delightful! Dotty is back in the Cotswolds living in her cottage by Aunt Beanie’s. She and Keya are hosting a traditional Burns Night celebration at Keya’s Waterwheel Cafe, and it gets cut short when one of the guests dies at his table.
I’ve loved all of Dotty’s books and the ones of Keya’s I’ve been able to read. This book takes me back to the first time Dotty and Keya met two years ago. They’ve both been through a lot and have matured and grown throughout the two series. Almost all of the characters from the beginning of the series make appearances as well as several new ones who’ve been added throughout it. Both Dotty and Keya have significant others in their lives though Dotty is still holding back from jumping in completely with hers. I’ve loved getting to know the characters in this series and hope they’ll make frequent appearances in Dotty’s new Cotswold Antique Mystery Series.
As with the previous books, the characters are well-developed, and you’ll find at least one you can relate to! As I said, Dotty has grown so much during this series. She started as a timid widow in her twenties, to a mature, self-assured woman. Her parents have also undergone some changes since the start of the series as well. Though they’re not in every book, they have come to the Burns Night celebration. Dotty is also offered a new position, which 2 years ago she’d never dream of taking. Now she’s excited to begin this new phase of her life.
I love the Cotswolds setting! With the author’s wonderful ability at describing settings, I feel as if I’m right there. If I could jump into this book, I would be hanging out at the Waterwheel Cafe and Aunt Beanie’s a lot! Those places feel so cozy and comforting.
The murder mystery is well-plotted and well-paced. I enjoyed watching the characters gather clues and “interview” suspects, of which there are plenty! There are several ways by which the victim could have been poisoned, so pay attention to all of the clues. Don’t be led astray by the red herrings! I was able to figure out the who before I figured out the how!
I highly recommend Tartan, Treasures and Trouble for its cozy feel, charming setting, well-written characters, and bewildering mystery! I can’t wait to jump into Dotty’s future adventures! 5 huge stars!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About Victoria Tait
Victoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, and never expected to travel the world. She’s drawn on her life’s experiences and a love of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder She Wrote, to write British-based cozy mysteries.
Her determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid and evocative. As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world of intrigue, surprises, and humour, as well as a delectable helping of mystery, because tea and intrigue are a perfect blend.
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Tartan, Treasures, and Trouble TOUR PARTICIPANTS
January 18 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
January 18 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
January 19 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
January 19 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
January 20 – Angel’s Book Nook – RECIPE
January 20 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER GUEST POST
January 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
January 21 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
January 22 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
January 23 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
January 23 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 24 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
January 24 – Deal Sharing Aunt – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
January 25 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 26 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
January 27 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST
January 27 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
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