Spirit of the Dead

Whisky Business Mystery #6

by Melinda Mullet

A murderous monk and a romantic weekend are not the ideal blend in this Whisky Business Mystery

Abi Logan and her partner, Grant MacEwan, are looking forward to a romantic weekend on a remote island off the coast of Scotland until the ghost of a 15th Century monk appears on the scene, leaving a trail of victims in his wake. The Scottish call this kind of apparition eldritch –– weird, ghostly, and sinister. Abi couldn’t agree more, though, unlike the locals, she’s sure this is no spirit of the dead, but a real live person who seems to have a very earthly grudge against Abi, Grant, and their whisky-making host, Neil. Abi and Grant are faced with finding the murderous monk amidst their fellow tourists, and the crew of colorful locals armed to the hilt for their Viking war games, before the spirited specter kills again.

Genres: Audiobook, Crime, Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cozy

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2024

About the author

Melinda Mullet is the author of the Whisky Business Mysteries, a six-part series of traditional mysteries set in and around a boutique single malt whisky distillery in Scotland. And coming in July 2025 the first of a new traditional series, A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder, set on a houseboat along the Regent’s Canal in London.

Melinda is a travel junkie and a life-long advocate for children’s literacy causes both domestic and international. When she is not in the UK, she lives just outside of Washington, DC with her whisky-collecting husband and two wild Covid canines named Bailey and Captain Jack. Find her at MelindaMullet.com or on Facebook and Insta at Melinda Mullet, Author.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spirit of the Dead is the latest Whisky Business Mystery installment, a series I found years ago and truly enjoy. Set in Scotland, focused on a distillery and a woman with secret past, everything in this setting is intriguing and comforting. Traveling to a remote island off the coast, a sort of locked-room mystery evolves when a group is stranded in a B&B. Abi and Grant try to stay out of it, but they're quickly drawn in when a second death occurs. Who is harboring revengeful thoughts? Which guest can only think of how to fix their situation? Add some lovely romance moments, a few romps with local animals, and a great story... definitely made me a happy reader.

[Mooncat · Rating 3 out of 5]

For this so far last book of the series Abi and Grant once again leave Balfour behind for a romantic weekend away. Naturally, those plans are soon interrupted by a bloke being murdered in the local tavern. With a storm coming in and possible ghosts of medieval monks from the nearby monastery ruins haunting the tiny island, there’s not much time to get cosy with each other.
Sadly. I really would have loved to see more of them as a couple. While there were a few sweet scenes, they mostly were interrupted soon and generally, with Abi‘s secret hanging between them, the atmosphere was rather somber.
The case was good and solid as always, surprising even me in the end with the culprit.
I do hope this wasn’t the last book, especially as we once again weren’t home in Balfour for this one and I certainly missed a lot of the regular characters. Also, I‘d love to see more of Abi and Grant together, now without any obstacles or secrets standing between them.
All in all, this is a very good series with lovable characters and good, well written and constructed cases. And this book at least also had a sensible number of pages.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is number six in the Scottish whiskey series, and tells a now familiar story of abi, ex-photojournalist and grant, whiskey Destilled as the develop closer relationship while developing successful whiskey business and solving murders. This one is set on an island where Abby and Grant go on a vacation and it turns out that there’s a distiller there where there’s a old feud between families, as well as somewhat unhinged people trying to wreak revenge on people who may or may not have been their actual target. They also throw in island inhabitants, who are into role-playing games so we see Vikings running around with swords and so forth. This follows the pattern of the rest of the series, lots of suspects, lots of action and red herrings. Time to find a new car drive mystery series

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to remember, before I read any more of this series, to stock up on single malt scotch! Just like reading bakery or sweets cozy mysteries sends me to look for cupcakes or snacks, these books have me craving scotch! The description, of the whisky, the characters, and of Scotland, are so perfect that I can envision everything as I read. It doesn't hurt that the mystery is one that I find difficult to solve! Although this book stands alone, I think one would be much better off reading from the beginning of the series, to watch the character development take place. I'm hoping the next one comes sooner than later!!

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another good solid entry in the murder-in-the-whiskey-world series of books. It was good to get up to date on Abi and Grant's relationship, although it takes a back seat in this book. As always, Abi gets dragged into murders that happen all around her and she is eyed with suspicion by the local constable on an isolated island. A distillery is involved but the plot of a ruined monastery haunted by a robed monk takes center stage. There are loads of characters and motives so it is a complex plot and I did not figure it out myself. Definitely worth the read but also more of the same. The narrative in Audible is well done.

[Sterre · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I am at home battling a touch of flu, I finished reading Spirit of the Dead. It was a great escape from feeling poorly. The eerie vibe on the depicted island was captured beautifully. I loved the change of setting.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally enjoy this series. There are lots of interesting characters providing plenty of red herrings and misdirection. But I found the motive for this one a bit of a stretch.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the story it was entertaining. The poor editing was a bit distracting, but I really like this series and this author

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nette Krimireihe , man erfährt viel über Whiskey. Kann man gut zwischendurch lesen. Unterhaltsam