Distillery owner Abigail Logan discovers that high spirits are no match for a cold-blooded killer as the Whisky Business Mystery series puts a fatal twist on stiff competition. It’s been a year since globe-trotting photojournalist Abi Logan inherited Abbey Glen, a whisky distillery in the heart of the Scottish countryside. To her surprise, the village of Balfour already feels like home, and her … like home, and her new business partner, Grant MacEwan, continues to be too charming to resist. But Abi has a history of relationship disasters, so she struggles to avoid an ill-fated romance with Grant. Steering clear is hard enough on a day-to-day basis, but when the two head off to a whisky industry competition together, Abi panics. Five-star resort, four glorious days of nonstop whisky tasting, and a fatally attractive Scotsman—what could possibly go wrong?
The night before the award presentations, with foreign and domestic whisky makers at one anothers’ throats, two judges are found dead under mysterious circumstances. What started with three dream-come-true nominations for Abby Glen’s whisky soon turns into a nightmare for Abi. With a killer on the loose, she must call on her investigative skills to stop another murder—before she gets taken out of the running herself.
Melinda Mullet’s delightful Whisky Business mysteries can be read together or separately. Enjoy responsibly:
SINGLE MALT MURDER | DEATH DISTILLED | DEADLY DRAM | DIED IN THE WOOL
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Deadly Dram is the third book in the Whisky Business cozy mystery series written by Melinda Mullet and was published in 2018. The series takes place in Scotland with a focus on Abi Logan who’s returned home from a photojournalism job to address the death of her uncle. In this third book, Abi’s been co-running the distillery and is on a business trip to attend an award ceremony that might earn her company and whisky a valued prize. Members of the judging committee are murdered one by one which leaves Abi worried for her best friend, Patrick, who’s now on the committee to make a final decision.
When I read the first book in the series, I was enamored with the culture, characters, charm, and setting of the books. I got pulled in many directions with other required reads and didn’t catch up until recently on the second and third books, but I’m glad I did. They’re just as wonderful (if not more) and really leave me thirsting for the fourth one which hopefully comes out in mid-2019. You’re immediately transported to Scotland between the language, the background, and the complexity in all the relationships. I would love to read this book while driving around a distillery one day in the future just to feel even more connected.
The mystery is very strong. There are multiple suspects with a variety of motives. Just when you start suspecting someone, they end up dead. The side stories are intricately woven into the main story and ultimately all collide together. The romance angles are downplayed in the book, but there’s a few sparks Abi shares with others. (When’s Patrick gonna get his flirt on?) Liam (the dog) has a huge role and is such a well-fleshed out character, I could feel him running around at the inn. He might have been my favorite. Kudos to Mullet for giving me a fantastic Monday afternoon read and bringing me out of a small reading slump.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Abigail Logan still has a lot to learn about being a distillery owner but she is really making herself at home in Balfour. She is trying to keep her mind on Whisky business, but when she and her business partner, Grant MacEwan attend a whisky competition at a 5-star resort she may not be able to resist his charms. Then before the Golden Quaich competition begins, where several Abbey Glen Whiskys are up for awards 2 of the judges are killed. DI Ian Michaelson asks for Abi’s help as a photographer to take pictures of the crime scenes. Her keen observation skills see things other people don’t and she soon finds herself investigating. If she is not careful, she may be the killer’s next victim.
Abigail Logan is a wonderful protagonist. Smart, strong, and independent. She has taken on the job as owner of the distillery quite well. She has a great team helping her and teaching her everything about the whiskey business. She is still trying to keep Grant in the friend zone, but there is no denying the chemistry there. Grant stole my heart long ago so I am rooting for them to have a relationship that works. Her friend Patrick redeemed himself for me in this story. I wasn’t so fond of him in the last one. I really enjoy the friendship between Abi and Katherine McRae. Their shopping trip to get Abi the right clothes was fun to read. I also enjoyed that the resort allowed pets so Liam could go too. He was on his best behavior, for the most part
The story is set at a whisky convention so we are introduced to several characters. The author does an excellent job of making them each unique so I was able to get to know them pretty quickly. There was a character that returned from a prior story too, it was great to have him cross Abi’s path again. As always a certain 4-legged character gives the story some laughs.
This mystery had a whole resort full of suspects, some were easily eliminated but others needed more investigation. Ms. Mullet has a great talent for misdirecting her readers which makes following along with Abi and her friends so entertaining. She ratchets up the suspense at the perfect time and gives readers a great conclusion. She also gives us just a little cliffhanger that leaves as longing for the next book.
I love the way she sets a scene. She describes everything in a way that puts you right there in the room or out in the countryside. She also educates her readers about Whisky and I love learning new things when I am reading. I like whiskey but have never had Scottish whisky. I may have to rectify that soon.
For me, this was A Perfect Escape!! A stellar mystery with great characters set in a beautiful place. I can’t wait for my next visit!
Deadly Dram by Melinda Mullet is A Whiskey Business Mystery. Abigail “Abi” Logan co-owns Abbey Glen with Grant McEwen. Abi inherited her share of the whiskey distillery business from her Uncle Ben a year prior. She is attracted to Grant, but, after many disastrous relationships and not wanting to ruin their business partnership, Abi has decided it is best to keep Grant firmly in the friend zone (and avoid him whenever possible). With the holidays over it is time for them to attend a four day event at a five star resort for the Golden Quaich competition. Abbey Glen is up for a couple of awards, but there is stiff competition. After acquiring the appropriate wardrobe, Abi and Liam arrive at the lodge where they will be sharing accommodations with her best friend, Patrick Cooke. After an evening of schmoozing and whiskey drinking, Abi is awakened by screaming. Sir Richard Simpson, one of the judges, is dead in his room. DI Ian Michaelson is on the case and has cause to believe the death is anything but accidental. Abi agrees to keep her eyes and ears open and takes it upon herself to ask a few questions as well. The following morning, Abi is once again awakened early with the news of another death. Archie MacInnes, another judge, is dead in his room. When Patrick becomes a person of interest, Abi steps up game. Can they catch the killer before he strikes again?
Deadly Dram takes readers to Balfour, Scotland where Abi is learning the ropes of the whiskey industry. It is a different life from being a photojournalist, but her skills come in handy when there is a murder. The clothes Abi acquired with the assistance Katherine McRae were beautiful. Abi was stylish in her new ensembles (a good representative for Abbey Glen). While Deadly Dram is the third installment in A Whiskey Business Mystery series, it can be read as a standalone. The author provides Abi’s background along with that of the main characters (Grant, Cam, Patrick, and Liam). I was overwhelmed with the number of characters in the beginning. It gets easier to keep them straight as the story progresses. The shining star of Deadly Dram is adorable Liam. He manages to steal the story with his antics (like chasing a rabbit), sleeping on the gorgeous duvet covers and looking dapper in his bow ties. Melinda Mullet is a descriptive writer which allows readers to visualize the scenes, but it also slows down the pace of the story. The mystery is multifaceted with several suspects, a red herring or two, and good clues. The killer does not wish to be caught and attempts to dissuade Abi from investigating (the guilty party evidently does not know Abi very well). Abi was intent on questioning her suspects and looking for clues. Armchair sleuths will find solving this crime a cinch (one little detail is the key). I did not realize there were so many different types of whiskey available and from a variety of countries. It was interesting to learn more about the process of distilling and the range of ingredients. Even the cask used to store the whiskey in is important to the taste. While attending the event and working on the investigation, Abi has been thinking about Grant. Is she ready for a relationship with him? The ending leaves readers with hope and a cliffhanger.
It was great catching up with Abi and the gang at Abbey Glen again. This installment had them at a distillery competition taking place at a fancy hotel where the murder of two of the competition judges started Abi on her sleuthing. This time around, Michaelson seemed a little more grateful for her help and dare I say, they might be becoming friends after she helped advise him on his 14 year old daughter’s birthday gift.
As always, the author does a great job of plot development and unraveling the mystery which led to a pretty awesome showdown. I’ll be anxious to see how Abi and Grant are progressing in the next book as they seem to be at a standstill.
Great writing style. Easy to read and interesting plot. I really enjoy this writer.
“Deadly Dram” earns 5/5 Whisky Barrels…Filled with Engaging Fun!
In the cozy genre, no matter your interest or passion, you can always find a theme to interest you. From sweet and savory culinary treats and businesses to indoor and outdoor hobbies and sports, from paranormal and magical to some with a bit of both, the genre has brought in fans of all backgrounds and ages. I was drawn to Melinda Mullet’s series because of her unique theme surrounding a whisky distillery…I’ll have mine “neat.” I started with “Deadly Dram,” her third book, knowing that the background and characters have already been established. However, I wasn’t disappointed because she provided enough references, without spoilers, to keep me engaged and eager to read the first two books. Ok, it’s Scotland (Of course, I saw the lack of an “e” in whisky), and Abigail Logan, with her hunky “Braveheart” partner, will be attending a whisky competition for which their efforts have been rewarded with three “Golden Quaich” nominations. However, along with personal attractions that complicate Abi’s business relationship with Grant MacEwen, she is met with snarky comments about woman in the business, debates over allowing foreign distilleries to compete, cutthroat contestants, and murder! What a page turner that, along with an engaging look into the whisky distillery community, includes a clever mystery beyond the traditional cozy formula. She has created wonderful characters, some fun animal antics, a budding romance fraught with complexities, loads of suspects with motives, humor, peril, and a satisfying conclusion. I thoroughly enjoy any bonuses an author can add to my cozy experience, and the references to all things whisky were all Google-worthy topics to explore, but I would have really enjoyed a recipe or two that highlighted “whisky” as an ingredient. Just saying…
I love learning while I am reading a mystery and this series never disappoints. These books are always interesting and always entertaining. I can’t wait for the next one.
When I thought I knew who it was I was wrong
Love this series. Everything a great cozy read should be!
Judge Not!
These books just keep getting better and better. As with many series, the overall story arc is best enjoyed sequentially, but if this is the first volume you’ve read you will have no difficulty enjoying the current intrigue and learning about whisky and five-star hotels and figuring out whodunnit. The characters are beautifully drawn, plotting artful, and the solution is elegant.
DEADLY DRAM by Melinda Mullet
The Third Whisky Business Mystery
After some time away Abi Logan is back at Abbey Glen, just in time for the Golden Quaich Awards. What Abi first believed was a little competition among local distillers, is actually a four day international event held at a five star hotel, the outcomes of which can have a huge economic effect. When one of the judges is discovered dead the next morning the first thought was that too much good food and drink finally caught up with him. But could it have something to do with the fact that there were several international entries in the blind tasting this year, an offense to several of the Scots? The detective in charge suspects poison. Could Sir Richard’s diatribe against the narrow minded view and limited palate of some of his fellow judges angered someone enough to kill him? Or is something more going on?
“You don’t know what you got, till it’s gone.” While that phrase is the title of a Cinderella song from their second album, it could also be the theme for this second Whisky Business Mystery. DEADLY DRAM explores relationships old and new as it shines light into whisky competitions and awards. While providing a a fascinating look into the world of fine whisky and murder, it looks at the human emotions and motivations behind people’s actions. The characters are akin to Abbey Glen’s fine whiskys, some smooth, some big while others are subtle, but all complex. This complexity leads to an ingenious mystery with lots of possible victims as well as suspects. There is a serious nature to this series. It’s a more adult novel. Yet Liam’s antics provide plenty of laughs and a respite from the darkness inherent here.
DEADLY DRAM is a whisky drinking mystery lover’s dream. You don’t, however, need to be a fan of the drink to imbibe this wonderful mystery. Richly atmospheric and fastidiously plotted, DEADLY DRAM is a gold winner.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
I just finished reading this book.looing forward to the next one.I hope we learn more about abi and grants realationship? will abi look hook up with the Di ?
just a thought.
An engaging mystery centered around the world of Scottish whiskey production.
When I read the Coffeehouse mysteries of Cleo Coyle I want a good cup of coffee immediately.
Reading this story I was eager to taste some high quality whiskey.
The newer foreign producers were an interesting element. It is easy to see how the established producers could be nervous about non-scots producers.
This being the first book in this series I have read, I wasn’t up to date on some of the relationship elements.
Fortunately, it doesn’t matter.
All in all, good characters in a tight story.
cosy-mystery, law-enforcement, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, murder-investigation, scotland, poisons
Respected whisky distillers from within and without Scotland gather at a fantastic resort for judging and award presentation, including the only female distillery co-owner and her beloved dog Liam. Abi is also a former photo journalist who is not only very good at sleuthing, but has had occasion to work with Detective Michelson on a murder case in the recent past. It was supposed to be a good time with friends like Patrick and her co-owner Grant. Then came the first murder. Lots of sleuthing, red herrings, twists, and many things to learn about whisky culture make this one fine read! See publisher’s blurb for further clues, but no spoilers here.
I requested and received a free ebook review copy from Random House via NetGalley. Thanks!
Deadly Dram is the third book in Melinda Mullet’s Whisky Business Mystery series. Abbey Glen Distillery heiress and renowned photojournalist Abi Logan has just returned to the Village of Balfour in Scotland. She had first been on assignment and then spent the Christmas holidays with her best friend, Patrick Cooke in Glasgow. She is celebrating the new year at the Larches, estate of business partner Grant McEwan. The following week the Abbey Glen crew, Abi, Grant, and distiller Cam Lewis will be traveling to the Golden Quaich Awards as they have been nominated for a couple of awards.
The prizes are awarded by a series of blind tastings. This time there are even foreign offerings nominated. Sir Richard Simpson, Archie MacInnes, and several others are the judges this year. Sir Richard is quite vocal in his support of the foreign contenders which ruffles many feathers. When he is found poisoned that is the motive that comes to the forefront.
As the local police department is decimated by a case of flu, Detective Inspector Ian Michaelson calls upon Abi to serve as his crime scene photographer. They have worked together and butted heads in prior installments, but in this tale they truly work together.
When Archie MacInnes is also found dead a couple of days later, and an attempt is made on Abi that lands Grant in the hospital, it seems paramount to put the puzzle pieces together and stop the mayhem. Using all of her resources, Abi is able to put some of the pieces in place, but the late night attack of another of the award nominees reveals a very unexpected villain behind the deaths.
Once again Ms. Mullet has woven a tale of intrigue. But the secondary aspect of her intense tales is the human story, that gives a character sketch not to be missed. A page turning story, it will keep you reading well into the night. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and do recommend it!
This is the third book in the Whiskey Business Series. A great romantic thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The setting is in Scotland and is enchanting. Well written with interesting characters and an entertaining story. I read a reader copy via Net Galley and voluntarily chose to write a review.
Deadly Dram is the third book in the Whisky Business Mystery series.
Time is getting close for the annual Golden Quaich Awards for the best Whiskys. Grant MacEwen, manager/co-owner of Abbey Glen Distillery and Cam Lewis, the distiller, have finally convinced Abi that she needs to attend, especially since Abbey Glen is up for the top award this year. As Abi is greeting friends from the past and making new ones, she soon learns that there seems to be those in attendance that feel the awards should be for Scotch produced in Scotland. She also gets the impression that possibly there is a plan to make sure Scotland brewed Scotch will win. Soon the body of Sir Richard Simpson is found dead in his room by the maid, Sophie. An autopsy shows that he had died of nicotine poisoning. Detective Inspector Ian Michaelson arrives to begin his investigation and, since he has worked with Abi before, asks her to take pictures of the room and to keep her ears open for any information that might be helpful. Then a second judge is killed in the same manner. Michaelson and Abi are stymied as to whether these deaths are related to the award program or possibly a business transaction that happened to involve the two judges.
The story is well written and plotted and has a wonderful cast of believable characters. Abi’s adorable dog, Liam, is back once again to provide some lighter moments.
I’m looking forward to the next to next book in this great series. I’m anxious to see what is happening with Abi and Grant.
A fun series!
who knew that the distilling of Scotch could be so interesting! With a burned out war journalist and her darling dog, a beautiful setting, a handsome neighbor, what else does this story need but a murder!
Abi Logan is beginning to get the hang of running her whiskey distillery. In this book, she is attending a fancy awards ceremony and conference. Two of the judges turn up dead and Abi tries to clear her friend Patrick’s name. There are lots of suspects and many overlapping stories.
This is a fun series and you will learn a lot about whiskey. I look forward to the next one.