Plaid and Plagiarism: The Highland Bookshop Mystery Series, Book 1

Four women open a bookstore in Inversgail, Scotland, in this charming series debut from MacRae (Knot the Usual Suspects and four other Haunted Yarn mysteries). Janet Marsh, a former Illinois librarian, is seeking a new life after a painful divorce; Janet’s 38-year-old daughter, Tallie, is a burned-out law professor; and Tallie’s former college roommate, Summer Jacobs, is an ex-reporter. The fourth friend, Christine Robertson, was born in the Highland town but has spent most of her married life in Illinois. They have bought not only Yon Bonnie Books but the adjoining space (future tearoom) and the bedrooms upstairs (future B and B). Their ambitious plans hit one snag after another, including renters who trash Janet’s house and a body in the shed at the bottom of the garden. In an effort to move the police investigation along, the four poke around, learning that many locals (a) didn’t like the victim and (b) don’t like a lot of “foreigners” in Inversgail. It will be fun to see what these independent, resourceful, and likable women do next. (Dec.)