Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Without a Shadow of Doubt: An Olivia Penn Mystery by Kathleen Bailey. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!

Without a Shadow of Doubt: An Olivia Penn Mystery

by Kathleen Bailey

Without a Shadow of Doubt: An Olivia Penn Mystery
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Virginia
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rhino Publishing LLC
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 4, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 344 pages

Find the cat. Crack the case.

The Highland Games have arrived just outside Apple Station, Virginia, bringing bagpipes, kilts, and a tide of tartan-clad tourists to the cozy small town. Advice columnist Olivia Penn is ready for a weekend of fun now that her life has finally settled into a quiet, steady rhythm. But when a local turns up dead in one of the town’s most iconic homes, a cryptic message from a friend draws her into a tangled mystery.

As Olivia investigates, family secrets and surprising motives surface, linking three brooches, an antique cross, and a 17th-century Scottish Bible. Clues connect seven suspects to the crime, and each has something to hide. When her friend can’t be found and the police start asking questions, the mystery hits closer to home and runs deeper than she ever imagined.

After an unlikely witness makes a shocking revelation, Olivia enlists her friends and a heroic search and rescue golden retriever to help her follow the trail before it goes cold. The man she loves is caught in the crosshairs, and to protect him, she’ll have to risk everything. Justice hinges on a missing cat, a chase through the woods, and a stare-down with a mama bear.

Without a Shadow of Doubt is the gripping fifth installment in the award-winning Olivia Penn Mystery Series. This fast-paced, heartwarming cozy mystery features charming characters, small-town intrigue, and a heroine you’ll love to root for. Perfect for fans of amateur sleuths, cozy suspense, and clean, feel-good mysteries with lovable cats and dogs.

Author Guest Post by Kathleen Bailey: A Celebration of Strength and Spirit: The Highland Games

Without a Shadow of Doubt takes place in Apple Station, Virginia, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. It might surprise some, but Virginia has deep Scottish roots. Many Scots who settled in the American colonies made their homes in the Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains, bringing with them traditions that still color the Commonwealth’s communities today.

Few events capture the spirit of Scottish culture like the Highland Games. Equal parts festival, athletic competition, and community gathering, the Games bring together music, tradition, and feats of strength in a way that feels both timeless and uniquely Scottish. The Highland Games have been held in some form for centuries, with origins stretching back to the Middle Ages. Legend has it that Scottish kings used contests of strength to choose their best warriors. Over time, these trials evolved into community celebrations that showcased athletic skill, music, and dance.

Today, the Games are held not only across Scotland but also around the world. From the picturesque Highlands to small towns in North America, the tradition continues to thrive.

The athletic events are the heart of the Highland Games, and they’re unlike anything you’ll watch at a track and field meet. Here are a few of the events you might see.

Caber Toss

Perhaps the most iconic of all Highland Games events, the caber toss is all about precision. Competitors hoist a massive log (think telephone pole) and attempt to flip it end over end so that it falls in a straight line. A throw that lands in the twelve o’clock position is deemed a “perfect turn.” Men’s cabers often measure 16 to 20 feet and weigh between 90 and 150 pounds. Women’s cabers are usually shorter and lighter, around 12 to 16 feet and 50 to 90 pounds.

Stone Put

The stone put is an ancestor of today’s shot put. Athletes hurl a heavy stone for distance, sometimes using a shuffle, glide, or spin for extra momentum, as in the Open Stone Throw. The Braemar Stone is a variation in which the throw must be from a standing position. Open stones usually weigh 16 to 22 pounds for men and 8 to 12 pounds for women. Braemar stones are heavier, often 20 to 26 pounds for men and 13 to 18 pounds for women.

Hammer Throw

The Scottish Hammer Throw isn’t like the Olympic version. In the Highland event, the hammer is heavier and uses a rigid shaft about four feet long. In the Olympics, the weight is attached to a wire, and the athlete spins several times before release. The Scottish hammer, in contrast, is thrown from a stationary position. The athlete anchors their feet, swings the hammer around their head in a circular motion, and releases it. Men throw hammers weighing 16 to 22 pounds, while women’s hammers run 12 to 16 pounds.

Weight Over Bar

The task and the rules of this event are simple, but a successful throw is a true test of strength. Athletes swing a weight and send it flying up and over a raised bar. Men usually lift a 56-pound weight, while women’s weights are 28 pounds. Bars often clear 14 to 18 feet, with elite throwers pushing even higher.

Sheaf Toss

One of the more unusual events, the sheaf toss involves using a pitchfork to launch a burlap sack stuffed with straw over a bar. Men’s sheaves typically weigh 16 to 20 pounds, while women’s usually come in at about 10 to 12 pounds. The event is a crowd pleaser, with sacks soaring high and cheers erupting every time a forkful of straw clears the bar.

Music, Dance, and Culture

The Highland Games aren’t just about muscle. The air is alive with fiddles, bagpipes, and drums. Pipe bands parade across the grounds in full Highland dress, and traditional Highland dancers perform intricate steps that combine precision, grace, and athleticism, often to songs centuries old. Stalls sell traditional foods, family clans set up tents to celebrate their heritage, and children compete in junior events, ensuring the tradition endures.

In many ways, the Games are less about competition and more about community.

Whether you go for the spectacle of athletics, the lively sound of the bagpipes, or a satisfying plate of haggis or Scotch pie, the Games offer something for everyone.

About Kathleen Bailey

Kathleen Bailey is the award-winning author of The Olivia Penn Mystery Series. She writes mysteries with heart and humor that keep to the traditional and cozy sides of crime. For over twenty years, she worked as a pediatric physical therapist with children who have special needs, drawing on degrees in English, psychology, and physical therapy. She now writes in Virginia with her feline assistant, who insists on supervising every draft. When she’s not writing, Kathleen can usually be found covered in cat hair, surrounded by far too many sticky notes, and plotting new twists to keep readers guessing. She is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links

Website: https://kathleenbaileyauthor.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cozycrimewriter/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathleen-bailey

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/kathleenbailey

Purchase Links:

Amazon   All Retailers

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Without a Shadow of a Doubt TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 4 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

November 4 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 5 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

November 5 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 6 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 7 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 8 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 8 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

November 9 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 10 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 11 – Christa Nardi Reads and Writes – REVIEW

November 12 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

November 13 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 14 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

November 15 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

November 16 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

November 16 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 17 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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