Murder at the Loch

An Ally McKinley Mystery, Book 2

By: Dee MacDonald

Narrated by: Samara MacLaren

An absolutely binge-worthy Scottish cozy mystery novel

Meet Ally McKinley: dog lover, guesthouse owner and accidental detective, as she tackles her next case in the beautiful Scottish Highlands!

Recent retiree Ally McKinley has stepped out with her puppy Flora for a walk by the loch in the tiny village of Locharran, taking a break from running the cosiest little guesthouse in the Highlands. But Ally’s peace and quiet is sunk when she and Flora find the body of a mysterious woman floating in the water…

Before she knows it, Ally finds herself wading into the middle of a new investigation. Who was the mystery woman and why was she killed? Her enquiries take her all over the village: from the corner shop and the nearby hotel to the turreted castle, home of local earl Hamish Sinclair where preparations are underway for his upcoming–and much gossiped about–wedding.

The body in the loch soon has the rumour mills buzzing. But then Elena, the earl’s new bride, is also found poisoned to death the morning after her marriage! With two deaths to investigate, the police appear to suspect almost everyone in Locharran, even Ally herself…

Determined to uncover the truth and clear her name, Ally finds poison at the home of one of her suspects and thinks she might be on the right path to solving both murders. But with a killer on the loose in the Scottish Highlands, can Ally unravel the clues before the next person in a watery grave is her?

A completely addictive Scottish cosy mystery from bestselling author Dee MacDonald. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Clare Chase.

©2025 Dee MacDonald (P)2025 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Excell mystery series

Dee McDonald is an excellent author, and the audiobook performance is equally strong. I prefer listening to books, so I have been enjoying her work in audio format. This is the second book in the series I have completed, and I am about to start the third.

At the beginning of the first book, I was not sure I would like it. I even considered stopping after the first few chapters. However, I decided to continue, and I am glad I did—her style grew on me quickly. I finished the first book ( the only complaint of the first book was that the ending was rushed) , and the second book was even better.

Her plotting is thoughtful and well-structured. The writing is light and engaging, with a subtle, refined sense of humor. The narration adds another layer of enjoyment, making the listening experience particularly compelling.

I am now a follower of her work and look forward to reading (and listening to) more of her books. I would definitely recommend giving this series a try. It is very well written, with strong characters and an engaging plot.
As someone who has read extensively, I can say she stands out. This series could also translate beautifully into a BBC or Masterpiece Theatre-style mystery—rich in character, well-paced, and highly atmospheric.

Great narrator, good story

The narrator is wonderful, I’ve listened to a few other books she’s performed. She makes it clear which character is speaking and manages to handle the male voices well, without sounding artificial. Her voice is very mellow took

This is a good mystery, it had me guessing up until the last two chapters