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Things I about the Jane Wunderly series and this book:

It is not necessary to read the previous books in the series, but since I’ve enjoyed them all, I highly recommend it! Jane has grown from someone with no sleuthing skills to one who is helping her fiancé, Redvers, with an investigation
Redvers, works for an unnamed organization, lending even more mystery to the stories. Not a government agent, he’s got mad James Bond- spy skills.
The relationship between Jane and Redvers. Jane is Redvers equal in his eyes, even in 1927. End of story
Each book has a distinct setting. While I was initially brought to this series by an adventure in Egypt, she then went to Istanbul and now on an island in Scotland. Jane is a well-traveled woman.
Including W.B. Yeats as a character in the story. Adding a real-life person to a work of fiction is a tricky business. However, as someone who reads a lot of historical fiction, I enjoy when an author successfully weaves fact and fiction together. I don’t know anything about
A believable motive for mystery. Sometimes you come away from a mystery and can’t help but wonder why a person would kill another. That’s not the case here.
The descriptions of the setting, a remote island off the coast of Scotland, made me able to picture the Isle of Iona.
The characters are well-drawn. You can really tell a lot of thought was put into the characters.
It wasn’t clear to me until very late in the book who the murderer was. As someone who avidly reads mysteries, that’s not always the case. Kudos to the author as I was stumped for the longest time!
Things about this particular book that I thought could be better:

The author says in her notes that she did a lot of research into the real-life mystery that happened on this Scottish Isle in the 1920s and had so much information, she scaled it back a lot. I think even more could have been done, as at times it felt an info dump on the occult. I don’t mind reading about subjects that don’t personally interest me, it did make parts of the book kind of a slog.
If you didn’t read the blurb and hadn’t already been introduced to the series, you’d have no idea what time period this book was set in except sometime in the past. It isn’t until well into the book when some historical context is added. A simple date at the beginning of the chapter would have helped.
Overall, a very good historical mystery in a series I continue to enjoy.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the complimentary eBook; I am leaving this review voluntarily.historical-fiction mystery netgalley2 s Keara2 1 follower

3.5 rounding up to 4.

I really enjoyed the earlier books in the series and was excited to get an ARC of this one.

I'll start with the pros:
1. This one kept me guessing. There weren't many suspects but it was not obvious, at least to be initially, who dunnit. Toward the end I caught on, but it took me a while.
2. It can be a bit dangerous to include actual people in a work of fiction, but I think the author did a good job of blending the real with the fiction.
3. The motive made sense. In real life I don't think any motive justifies murder but in the world of fiction it bothers me when I come to end and think "he/she murdered someone over THAT?" In this book the motive makes sense.

Cons:
It took me a while to get into it. I think there are a couple of reasons. 1. The occult factors heavily into it and I have never really had an interest, but I do reading things a little out of my interests. 2. The premise was a little hard to swallow. Jane and Redvers are sent to a small Scottish isle to see if a leader of an occult group would be a useful source of information to the government. As Redvers is known, Jane had to join the Golden Dawn. I have a couple of issues with that. Would the government take the leader into serious consideration as an information, going so far as sending an operative? And why would they send someone who is not in their employ? Even if Redvers was unusable I would think another operative would be used.

I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.1 Shaina362 2

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Erica Ruth Neubauer for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Secrets of a Scottish Isle coming out March 26, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Isle of Iona, 1927: Cast away on a remote locale, Jane’s latest assignment depends on concealing her identity and blending in at an occult gathering. Not even her fiancé, Redvers, can be too close as she uncovers the truth about Robert Nightingale, enigmatic leader of the Order of the Golden Dawn—a group made up of supernatural ceremonies, influential people, and an undefinable darkness. When a woman tries to escape to the mainland only to be found murdered in the moors, the shocking scene reveals it’s easier to join the Golden Dawn than it is to leave.
 
Jane, set on solving the crime and catching the next ferry with Redvers, realizes she may be among the few still grasping reality. One high-ranking member searches for the killer by attempting to access otherworldly planes of existence, while others become immersed in a strange solstice ritual. Then there’s Nightingale and the rivals who discarded him to start a new temple. As a second death brings fresh clues into focus, Jane needs to navigate a frightening dilemma—playing along won’t help her crack the mystery, but revealing too much could be a fatal mistake . . .

I actually have all the books in this series, but this is the first one I’ve read. I was intrigued by the Scottish setting. I loved that there was a lot of action right away. Jane infiltrates a secret society and learned their rituals. I thought the plot was really interesting. I definitely need to go back and read the other books.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical cozy spy mysteries!1 Kristin- Kristin's Bookstack826 4

This story was intriguing to me because it was based on real people and events. Jane and Redvers are investigating a leader in an occult called Order of the Golden Dawn so it has a paranormal element to the story. I loved the twists and turns of the plot as the reader gets to know the suspects better. The reveal was a bit surprising and I d the happy ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!read-20241 Jenn458 6

I looking forward to the official release of this book. This is volume 5 of the Jane Wunderly books and it's my favorite so far. Jane and Redvers are investigating an occult figure in Scotland and once again get more than they bargained for. The one thing I worried about did not happen, thank goodness, and the rest of it was enjoyable and fun.

Thanks to Netgalley for the e-ARC.1 Moriah407 5

I received a copy of this title from the publisher; all thoughts expressed are my own. Secrets of a Scottish Isle is the most recent title to feature Jane Wunderly. She is undercover to help her fiancé Redvers vet a potential source. Jane traveled to a remote Scottish island ahead of the solstice where the Order of the Golden Dawn has assembled under the guise of being interested in joining order. A member of the order is found murdered with some strange injuries. There isn't a shortage of suspects and a second murder following close on the heels of the first adds even more confusion as to how may have done.. Jane and Redvers work together, with Jane doing much of the work this story, tp bring the killer to justice.

This book was a bit of a slow start for me, but after a few chapters, I was thoroughly engrossed. The mystery has some interesting twists and turns and I found it to be very satisfying. There as some nice development in the relationship between Jane and Redvers, but I do wish we had more interaction between the two in this story. I'm looking forward to future titles in this series.1 Danae74

3.5 (not rounding up)

I’ve been a Jane and Redvers fan since the beginning and was ecstatic to get a sneak peek at the next novel. What? Is that a wedding photo on the cover? Even better!

The setting is Scottish isle, which, though can be majestic, can also frequently be cold, gloomy, and, well, somber. I think the issue with this book, which they state themselves, is that they aren’t really working together. Unfortunately, we are deprived of the constant Jane and Redvers banter because the assignment, which is a little weak and hard to even remember, would apparently be ruined by Redvers as he is recognizable to the subject of the investigation. Jane goes undercover to join this group on a tiny remote island of Scotland with her fiancé Redvers hiding under a cloak and meeting up with her occasionally on a distant beach for a “debrief”. Their beach hideaway, the rest of the island, is a cold one, which even they have a hard time making it warm. It is nice though for Jane to be in the know this time, but they are, together, bigger than the sum of each part.

Apparently, this story is very loosely based on a group that was in existence and at least one member visited the island under strange circumstances. The author states that she used information from their writings but had to really scale it back. Well, it should’ve been scaled back even more. The last 25% of the book was interesting and things made more sense and moved, but I really wish I didn’t have to keep pushing myself to find out what happens. I have plenty of other books to read and I hate it when a book really slows me down because I want to finish it but it’s a chore. Even more devastating when it’s a series I wait for.

There are some great moments and I learned a lot about some random historic occult things, but, it was no Mena, or Istanbul, or even Boston. I’m glad I had the little novella last fall to give me a bit of a jolt and I’m glad to have some of the romance. That is always fun, but I’m otherwise a little disappointed. Frown.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for providing an unbiased review.arc book brit-lit ...more Christine181

4.5 Stars.

Having fallen madly in love with the Jane Wunderly series last year, I was excited to receive an ARC of this fifth installment. Imagine my surprise when a combination of a reading slump and a slow start to the book dampened my initial enthusiasm for the book. It took me about 30% to get really into the groove on this one, but once the story picked up, so did my enjoyment of it!

This installment had a different tone than some of the others, as Redvers and Jane were concealing their connection for much of the tale. I missed the full brunt of their flirty co-investigation, but it was such fun to explore this little island and all of its residents - and see all of their secret meetings. I did enjoy the bit of role-reversal that Jane and Redvers played with, putting Jane smack dab in the middle of everything with Redvers having to be brought up to speed. That was clearly more fun for Jane than for Redvers, but it’s only fair for Jane to get her turn!

The island was a great setting for this mystery, as it allowed lots of walking - and made me want to take some beautiful nature walks of my own - possibly in slightly warmer weather than Jane’s. I kept wanting the audiobook to be available already. Sarah Zimmerman is my very favorite narrator, so I have no doubt that the audiobook will be an excellent walking companion upon its release! The confined setting for this book was a nice change of pace with some great character development. I look forward to seeing the ramifications in the books to come! If you haven’t checked out this series yet, I definitely recommend starting with Murder at the Mena House and following Jane all over the globe on her magnificent adventures. Marlene349 8

This is the fifth in the Jane Wunderly series - a fact I was unaware of when I began reading the book. As a result, I was lost for several chapters. A quick bit of research and a summary of the first in the series put me in the picture. Jane and fiance Redvers are on the island to find out about the leader of an occult group who has offered his services to the British Secret Service. Jane is undercover, posing as an aspiring member of the group. She meets other group members, one of whom,Netta is staying in the same B & B. When Jane finds Netta's dead body on the machair her undercover work takes on a more serious motive. The cult leader is a shady character as are others in the group. When Netta's father is found murdered She suspects the members of the Golden Dawn are involved.
Having spent lots of time on Iona, I was drawn to the book. The author does a good job with the island's setting and sites. All the characters are well-drawn , even W.B Yeats who plays a role in the plot. One small quibble, the Argyll Hotel faces the Sound of Iona/Ross of Mull , not the Atlantic Ocean.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity to make a fictional visit to one of my favorite places.

a Mark Baker2,173 165

Jane Wunderly is on the Isle of Iona off the coast of Scottland. She’s joined the Golden Dawn, going under cover in an attempt to learn if their leader would be a good asset for the organization she and her fiancé, Redvers, works for. But Jane has just barely joined the group when she finds the body of another female member on the moors. Jane is driven to get justice for the victim. But what exactly happened to her? And what about Jane’s official investigation?

As a fan of the series, I was delighted to spend time with Jane and Redvers again. They are a great pair. We get plenty of new characters, and they are well developed, too. Sadly, the plot was uneven, with Jane spending lots of time contemplating what was happening in between the twists. This led to an abrupt but logical climax. The writing brought Iona in March to life, and it made me shiver as I read. It’s fun to see a poet from 1927 show up in the book, and be sure to read the author’s notes at the end to see where she got the inspiration for the tale. Fans of the series will enjoy Jane’s latest adventure.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.2024 mystery17 s2 comments Kcaroth180 3

4.5 stars

Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer is the 5th in the series of Wunderly mysteries, but it works fine as a stand-alone.

In what is essentially a closed room mystery, American Jane Wunderly and her finance, Redvers are sent to investigate Robert Nightingale for his suitability for recruitment to Redver’s shadowy government agency. Nightingale is the leader of the real-life Golden Dawn society that started in the late 1800s, and there are all sorts of mysterious going-ons including a death in the membership, and her possibly fake will.

So, a mystery with a secret occult society that takes place in the 1920s in Scotland with a headstrong, smart, rational, non-traditional, funny main character who is supported and encouraged by her equally able finance? I’m definitely in! This novel is well-paced, with interesting characters, and a solid mystery. The setting is beautifully described and seems spot on for that part of the country.

This was a delightful story, and I’m excited to read the others in the series now, too.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing the digital early reader copy. Scilla1,792

Jane Wunderly is on a remote Scottish Isle where she is checking information about Robert Nightingale, who is leading the Order of the Golden Dawn, a cult that believes in the supernatural. Jane's fiancee Redvers is staying in a house on the other side of the island so that they can meet daily. Shortly after Jane is initiated into the cult, Jane finds the dead body of Netta, a woman who was planning to leave the cult and was staying in the same house as Jane. Netta is naked, and has funny marks on her skin. Jane wants to find out who killed her. It appears that both Netta's father and Nightingale would each to have her money as they each have "found" a will which leaves her money to himself.

At another occult ceremony (in the dark), someone puts a knife into Nightgale's leg. Jane wonders if he did it to himself. Later, Netta's father is found murdered. And as you near the end of the book, Jane is in a very dangerous place. Will Jane live long enough to marry Redvers?

The book is clever and exciting, although as a scientist I am not crazy about ocult ceremonies. I thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for an ARC in order to read the book before publication.
Brenda1,329 21

Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer is the fifth in the evocative Jane Wunderly Mystery series. In 1927 on the Isle of Iona, intrepid Jane finds herself in a situation she couldn't have predicted, that of a cult initiation ritual. She must convincingly inveigle by becoming a member of the Order of the Golden Dawn to uncover secrets. But unexpected death happens. She and her fiancé Redvers investigate murder...and this time Jane is in charge. Mythological bits add to the intrigue.

Though smitten with this series, this is not my favourite installment. Scotland settings always grip me as it did here but my hope was for more enchantment and razor-sharp wit. The continued banter and relationship between Jane and Redvers was enticing and the red herrings kept coming. I the compelling subplots and the rich historical details. Parts were predictable but this series is still very much worth jumping into headfirst.

My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this fun novel. Janet4,273 44

Isle of Iona, 1927& Jane’s latest assignment depends on concealing her identity and blending in at an occult gathering. Not even her fiancé, Redvers, can be too close as she uncovers the truth about Robert Nightingale, enigmatic leader of the Order of the Golden Dawn. When a woman tries to escape to the mainland only to be found murdered in the moors, the shocking scene reveals it’s easier to join the Golden Dawn than it is to leave.
The fifth book in the series & it can be easily read on its own but if me you have to read a series from the beginning then you won’t be disappointed as Jane sets out to solve the murder. I love how her relationship with Redvers has developed but missed some of their banter in this book as they seemed not to be together as much as in previous books. I’ve never been interested in cults but did enjoy the amount of research the author had done. Whilst not my favourite of the series it was still a very well written interesting mystery
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Homerun22,278 13

3.5 stars

Not the best entry in this entertaining historical series perhaps, but still fun with some great characters. I have read all the series entries but still felt a little lost -- a bit more back story would have been helpful as it wasn't exactly clear what Jane was doing investigating these particular murders. And the surprisingly lovely ending was perfect.

Jane Wunderly, a smart and capable widow, and her fiance Redvers, who has a sideline in helping the government with sticky situations, are on the small Scottish isle Iona. Jane is infiltrating the Golden Door occult group. But it isn't long before a dead body turns up and the two secretly try to figure out which of the people connected to the sect were responsible.

Jane and Redvers have great chemistry and respect and these are enjoyable reads. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.first-reads Tabby Shiflett896 13

3.5 Stars
Cozy mystery series fall into two categories: one in which each installment can be read genuinely as a stand-alone and the other in which it's much better if the reader follows the book order of the series. This historical cozy falls into the second group as there were gaps of backstory I think would have made it easier to follow. That being said, this was still a good armchair travel mystery. I relished the beauty of the Scottish island and its portrayal as a character. I that real historical events and people were included in the storyline as well. The themes and characters were intriguing and the mystery was okay, although there is room for improvement with the next mystery. I enjoyed this novel well enough (especially the international travel bits, although I cannot conceive someone not liking Scottish whisky) that I plan to go back and read the previous books.

Net Galley Feedbackcozy-mystery historical-fiction mystery ...more Mystica1,462 30

The year 1927 and Jane’s assignment is to an isolated island off the coast of Scotland. She was set to investigate discreetly and ferret the secrets of a cult led by the arrogant Livingstone. Getting there was not the issue, but questioning the when her own knowledge of the cult was scant, was going to be tough.

Jane did not do her homework and holes appeared at every stage of her stay. When Netta’s body was discovered naked and with scratch marks all over, the mystery deepened. The fact that a group that had split from the main group was on an adjoining island, added to the suspect list. Another body being discovered hastened the enquirer with suspects galore. With Redvers her fiancée on the island, Jane was sure to track the murderer down.

The setting of the story was fabulous. Lonely, wind swept, few inhabitants, tightly knit community. Jane came across as rather careless but that was part of the story.
1 comment Nicole Laverdure74 5

Fifth story in a mystery series!

This is the first time that I read a book by this new author Erica Ruth Neubauer. I didn’t know that Secrets of a Scottish Isle was the fifth story in the Jane Wunderly murder mystery series. I guess I should have read them before reading this one, because this feisty heroine is on a journey filled with twists and turns.

This time, on a remote island off the west coast of Scotland, the dynamic American Jane Wunderly decides to investigate a secret society. The heroine wants to conceal her identity and blend into an occult gathering. Jane is determined to solve a crime! Will she crack the mystery without being in danger?

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." Eden1,957

2024 bk 33. Serendipity strikes again - I'm currently reading a non-fiction book on the Holy Island and what pops up as my newest Kindle ebook but this title by Erica Ruth Neubauer that is set on - the Holy Island. I enjoyed particularly Neubauer's descriptions of the island, the rough and tumble paths used to get around and its geography as the nf title focuses on the islands history and since neither book has a map, her descriptions have made both books far more enjoyable to me. That said, the mystery is based on a very real mysterious death that occurred on the island and Neubauer's fiction takes us to the possible heart of that death and the mystery of the folks surrounding the young woman at the time period. I really enjoyed this title and believe that it may be my new favorite in the series.mystery-and-suspense time-1920-1938 Debra 1,202

It’s 1927 and American Jane Wunderly and her fiancé, Redvers, have gone to the remote Scottish Isle of Iona to investigate Robert Nightingale and the secret society he belongs to. His are gathering to celebrate an occult ceremony during the solstice. Jane is undercover as a member of the Order of the Golden Dawn. Redvers is staying on the other side of the island while Jane is undercover. When a member of the Golden Dawn is found dead, solving the murder becomes as important as investigating Nightingale.

Author Erica Ruth Nuebauer is new to me, and I did not realize this was the fifth book in a series. Still, I didn’t feel lost in the story, it really seemed self-contained. I loved the descriptions of the settings, and the local characters. The pacing was a little slower than I’m used to, but the mystery of the Golden Dawn and the murder were slowly explored leading to an unexpected but very satisfying ending.

I received an ARC of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. These are my honest opinions. Ileana RenfroeAuthor 28 books48

A very well historical written cozy mystery.

Secrets of a Scottish Isle was such a delight to read.

The author weaves a story about Isle of Iona, 1927:

Cast away on a remote locale, Jane’s latest assignment depends on concealing her identity and blending in at an occult gathering. Not even her fiancé, Redvers, can be too close as she uncovers the truth about Robert Nightingale, enigmatic leader of the Order of the Golden Dawn???a group made up of supernatural ceremonies, influential people, and an undefinable darkness. When a woman tries to escape to the mainland only to be found murdered in the moors, the shocking scene reveals it’s easier to join the Golden Dawn than it is to leave.

A very well-written mystery that kept me guesting. Definitely a MUSt read. Pat Dupuy465 12

I'm a big fan of Jane and Redvers and it's lovely to see how far their relationship has progressed. Due to Redvers having been "outed" Jane is lead investigator on this case, and she loves it. She does not enjoy being separated from Redvers though. Her investigation (and the story) drags a little as she has to make frequent walks across the island to share her findings. I did enjoy the inclusion of W.B. Yeats as a character and was surprised to find that some of the other cult characters were real people, as was the cult. Maria1,964 75

Another fun mystery for Jane to solve. I missed having her investigate with Redvers but I was glad he was still there for her to bounce ideas off of. The mystery itself was fun; I’m always intrigued by secret societies and enjoyed her investigations on the small island that sounded charming and a little spooky with all the goings on. Although this started slow, it did finally pick up and I eventually got as wrapped up in this one as I have the others. Bonus points for the fun ending!

I received a copy from #NetGalley and #kensingtonbooks for an honest review.
2 s Renee Winter453 18

American Jane Wunderly decides to investigate a secret society that's on a remote island just west of Scotland. She's going undercover to see if she can blend in with the strange occult. Jane has been on a journey and some of her adventures have been quite excellent. This one wasn't the best but sill enjoyed it. Thanks #Netgalley and #Kensington for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine. LittleRead1,802 45

I a good mystery. Add in a bit of the paranormal, and I’m in love. This book was well written, and really captured by attention from the start. There were times I found myself holding my breath, hoping that Jane wouldn’t be found out at other times, wanting to see her more involved in the rituals that were going on.

I’m not usually a big fan of historical affection, but this one really delivered for me. I may have to stop saying that, because I can’t wait to read more in this series. Lori D3,837 111

Isle of Iona 1927

What is better than a mystery on a Scottish Island? Well getting away with your life intact!
Jane ends up with her fiance Redvers hiding her identity and getting into a secret cult to uncover the truth about the leader.

When murder occurs, it seems that the others are not in the "real" world but on another plane! Trying to get off the island with her life just might be hard to do!

Great mystery and pageturner! Lori Bonkoski37 8

Jane and Redvers are on a Scottish Isle to find out more about an occult cult. Jane is pretending interest, while Redvers does spying behind the scenes. When the young woman sharing her lodging dies, Jane begins asking questions. I enjoy this series and this book is a good addition. The setting was interesting and a good piece of the story. I appreciated Jane's lead in the sleuthing and look forward to more in the series.
I received an ARC of this book in return for a review. Bryan VanMeter46 2

Though a darker tale and a darker tone from the other Wunderly mysteries, this book still shines with Neubauer's trademark wit and charm. With references to the occult and a more solitary Jane, this reads less as a traditional mystery and more a grim ghost story. The plot twists and unique characters will make you want to keep turning pages long into the night. Jillian Digiantonio137 4

So I really love this series and have since the beginning, but this was not my favorite. I love the idea of the setting off the coast of Scotland with Jane trying infiltrate a group for Redver's employers. It just could not connect with it and felt the Jane was pigeon-holed into the story that the author had wanted to tell. I missed the other characters that we have come to love and the mystery itself was okay. I'll keep reading the series and look forward to its next mystery! Oh Yeah, I Read That187 3

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