Lori C. (dollycas) reviewed on 9/29/2018 + 707 more book reviews

Dollycas's Thoughts

This was my first trip to Moosetookalook, Maine and I am so upset with myself that it took me this long to find this series.

Liss MacCrimmon owns the Scottish Emporium and while she is at an auction looking for items for her shop she finds a painting of a bagpiper. She bids and wins the picture after outbidding two other people. While carrying it to the car she drops it and makes a very interesting discovery. It looks like a treasure map was hidden behind the canvas in the frame. The treasure is marked with an âXâ but Liss has no idea where to start looking, but she thinks it may be on the old Chadwick property, since that is where the auction is being held. Her aunt does a little research and feels they need to head to Nova Scotia to meet with a man that may have more information. But when they arrive for their meeting, the man is dead, murdered. Liss and her aunt are quickly cleared when their alibi checks out, so they continue will the rest of their visit to meet with vendors for merchandise for their store and to attend the Highland Games in Antigonish. Liss feels as if she is being watched several times, but when their hotel room is trashed and an Ipad and a broach are missing, they report it to the police and head back to Maine. Strange things start to happen at home and Liss is convinced it all has to do with the map she found. Did the killer follow her home? Her life may be in jeopardy, so she has no choice but the find where X marks the spot.

As this was my first adventure with Liss, her family, and friends, I was pleased by how well they were described. I am sure I am missing out on certain nuances of the characters but that did not deter from my enjoyment of the story. I really liked that she is friends with Chief of Police Sherrie Campbell and that she works with her aunt.

Ms. Dunnett has written a well-plotted mystery with plenty of suspects and the exact right amount of suspense. I enjoyed that genealogy was used to lead the way in solving the mystery. A treasure hunt is always fun to follow in a story. I did figure out the culprit a bit before it was revealed. The person just felt shady from the start.

There is a subplot in the story concerning Liss' parents and that made me wish I had read the previous stories, but it also made me what to jump right into the next new book, Overkilt being released October 30.

I found this to be a very entertaining mystery. My first trip to Moosetookalook was a very enjoyable getaway and am looking forward to visiting again soon.

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