The newly minted ‘Lady Cate Kensie’ finds herself entangled in a centuries-old intrigue in Murder at Dunhaven Castle. Cate and her dog Riley are settling in well in Scotland and enjoying life in the country. Trying to break out of her shell, Cate agrees to host a grand party and allow neighbors the opportunity to catch a glimpse of castle life. While doing research on her property, Cate reads an old article detailing a murder in 1856. While the case seems cut-and-dried, the facts don’t add up. Intrepid as ever, Cate decides to pop in on her distant relatives to get at the truth. With the help of the ever-sensible Jack Reid, they uncover a secret larger than a simple crime of passion.
Nellie H. Steele has a really great premise going in the Cate Kensie Mystery series. Cate is an independent woman, too stubborn to be derailed by a little ghost story. She is courageous and adventurous, but gentle enough to cuddle with her furry best friend at the end of the day. If you enjoy historical fiction, this story is a fun trip into Scottish norms of the 1850s. The narrative at times feels repetitive, encumbered with the everyday minutiae. But you know excitement is around the corner whenever Cate employs a mysterious and powerful heirloom that she inherited. With a well-rounded protagonist and a grand castle with a long, decadent history, Murder at Dunhaven Castle is a cozy mystery that is at the same time ageless and contemporary, exciting and gratifying.
