A Dream of Death

After her husband tragic drowning, Kate Hamilton thought she would never have to return to the remote Scottish Island of Glenroth again. In A Dream of Death by Connie Berry, Kate returns to Glenroth, her late husband's home, at the urgent request of his sister. She is frightened by events happening around her and asks Kate to come and help her through this difficult time.

Unsure how she can leave her antiques business in Ohio, she feels obligated to assist her sister-in-law Elenor, although they have never been close. Elenor has turned the family home into a deluxe country house hotel and locals are gathering for the end of season Tartan Ball at the house. Elenor announces that she has sold the hotel to a Swiss company to the amazement of the partisan Scottish crowd. Then she announces her engagement to local author Hugh Guthrie, the author of The Dairy of Flora Arnott. 

Both announcements leave the audience in stunned silent. The local economy is based on the Scottish atmosphere of the hotel and a Swiss owner might make dramatic changes. As for a marriage to Hugh, his mother Margaret might have something different to say about that. 

The 200-year-old legend around Glenroth is that Flora Arnott, a young bride and soon to be a mother

was murdered by her husband Captain Arnott. She was shot through the neck with an arrow and her maid was also murdered. When someone is murdered after the Tartan Ball by an arrow in an eerily similar manner as Flora Arnott, Kate thinks some of the incidents that have been happening around the hotel might be connected.

The quirky twin sisters Penny and Cilla Arnott take their heritage seriously and any threat to the Arnott name, especially the Captain, is an affront to them. Not only does suspicion fall on them, but on Bo Duff, a likable but challenged handyman. 

Kate soon learns the truth and puts herself in jeopardy, but manages to solve the mystery. An excellent story and I look forward to more Kate Hamilton mysteries.