by Traci Hall
In Murder at a Scottish Christmas, my heroine, Paislee Shaw, wants to be back in the house she inherited from Gran to fully embrace her grandmother’s traditions, which include baking individual black buns for the parishioners at their church. The recipe is almost ruined in the burst waterpipe incident, but Brody, her twelve-year-old son, types them up for her and laminates them for a Christmas gift.
Paislee is unable to celebrate the special day in her home but Lydia, her best friend, surprises the Shaw family with a Hogmanay move-in date. The Scots celebrate New Year’s Eve as a way to bring in the light against the dark of the season. Back in 1560 when Catholicism was forbidden during the Scottish Reformation, the hearty folks found a different way to celebrate the solstice that didn’t break any laws—Hogmanay.
Holiday traditions for Hogmanay include a first-footer. What is that, you ask?
A handsome dark-haired gentleman must be the first to cross the threshold carrying gifts of whisky, black bun, coin, and coal thus ensuring a prosperous new year.
Paislee’s luck has been so bad that she is desperate for a change and when Hamish, her dark-haired gentleman of choice, is called away to take care of his mum at the start of the holiday, she is at her wits’ end.
Her friend and part-time employee Amelia Henry suggests her brother, McCormac Henry, as an alternate first-footer. He was a black sheep in a family of black sheep but turned around after a stint in jail.
Or so Amelia believes. He’s come to Nairn from Ireland with a new Mercedes, designer puppies, and a mysterious suitcase of cash. He has several girlfriends and considers himself a ladies’ man. Paislee isn’t interested in the least and worries for Amelia. Over Christmas dinner at the Muthu Newton hotel, McCormac offers her son Brody a chance to buy a pup for a sweet deal, but she puts her foot down. They have their Scottish terrier, Wallace. Besides, puppies shouldn’t be given as gifts unless the receiver wants one in the first place.
Amelia was gifted a gorgeous white designer Pomeranian, complete with papers and a prepaid visit to a veterinarian. When McCormac leaves dinner before dessert is served, dropping wads of cash on the table, Paislee is relieved and glad to take Amelia home. McCormac makes a snide comment about Paislee needing him for Hogmanay, and Paislee prays that Hamish, the headmaster from Fordythe Primary she’s been dating, returns soon.
Unfortunately, on New Year’s Eve, Paislee is given the news that Hamish won’t be back in time as he’s caring for his mum who broke her arm. Lydia had pulled out all the stops to make her dream kitchen a reality—stainless steel appliances and all. All her bestie had on her list was several loaves of Gran’s black bun—it was that delicious.
Just when Paislee believes things are looking up, McCormac is shot to death under cover of the fireworks at midnight on Hogmanay. Amelia pleads with Paislee to help find the murderer and she can’t say no.
On a personal note, I like to collect ornaments from places I’ve visited. We’ve been to Greece and all over the US. I used to collect mugs, but I’ve made the ornament switch as I live in an apartment so have limited space. I’ve included a picture of my all-time favorite ornaments—my kids when they were little.
What traditions do you have? Be sure to comment!
ABOUT TRACI HALL
From cozy mysteries to seaside romance, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall writes stories that captivate her readers. As a hybrid author with over sixty published works, Ms. Hall has a favorite tale for everyone. Mystery lovers, check out her Scottish Shire series, set in the seaside town of Nairn, or the Salem B&B Mystery series, co-written as Traci Wilton. Her latest project is an Irish Castle cozy as Ellie Brannigan. Whether it’s her ever-popular By the Sea romances, an Appletree Cove sweet romance, or a fun who-done-it, Traci finds her inspiration in sunny South Florida, living right near the ocean.
