Lexy Campbell fell in love and left her native Scotland for a golden life in California—hitched to a hunk, building her marriage counseling practice, living the dream. Six months later she’s divorced, broke, and headed home. There’s just one last thing. Lexy’s only client—sweet little old Mrs. Bombarro—is in jail for murdering her husband with a fireworks rocket. Lexy knows the cops have got it wrong; all she needs is a few days to prove it and somewhere cheap to sleep at night. But checking into the Last Ditch Motel leads Lexy to a whole new cast of characters with troubles of their own.

My thanks to Midnight Ink for my review copy which I received through Netgalley

Being a Scottish blogger I always enjoy the chance to read about Scottish characters who have left these glorious lands to find pastures new. So when I read the description for Catriona McPherson’s Scot Free I could not resist the chance to read about Lexy Campbell.

Lexy has left Dundee and moved to California where she is married to a hunky American guy and building up her business as a marriage counselor. Life seems rosy for Lexy (well apart from contending with extremely warm Californian days) until it all starts to go wrong. Catching her hubby in a functional clinch with another woman soon brings her married life to an abrupt end.

A return to Scotland seems inevitable but there is just one small matter commanding Lexy’s attention – one of her clients has been jailed for murdering her husband with a firework. As a lady in her vintage years, Mrs Bombarro seems a quite unlikely killer – not least because she was just about to divorce (amicably) the man she is accused of blowing up.  Lexy cannot sit by and watch this poor lady take the rap for this horrible crime so an impromptu investigative career is born.

What follows is a wonderfully fun story of fireworks, friendships and families (with lots more of the fun and a lot less alliteration). Catriona McPherson absolutely nails the humour throughout and I cannot remember a book which has made me laugh as often as I did while reading Scot Free. Lexy is fabulous and brings Scotland to California exactly how I had hoped – she has the caustic wit, nails the one liners and takes a delightful down to earth viewpoint to her American colleagues.

There is a good murder mystery to enjoy in Scot Free and I loved watching Lexy piecing together clues and trying to interrogate possible witnesses. As she bumbles her way towards the truth she will cross paths with the local cops who also seem somewhat bemused by the unpredictable Scottish lass in their midst.

Reading should be fun and I can honestly say that Scot Free was one of the most fun reads I have picked up for quite some time. Scot Free feels like a perfect summer holiday read. Sunshine and laughs – ideal.

Scot Free is published by Midnight Ink and is available in digital and paperback formats.  You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scot-Free-Last-Ditch-Mystery-ebook/dp/B071VXZD1H/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8