A book about three women authors who go to Scotland to co-author a book together, written by three women authors who met at a conference and decide to write a novel together. Very meta. At least the actual authors truly are friends and co-conspirators, unlike the fictional Kat, Cassie and Emma, who really don't know each other well and don't like what they do know. At least until they discover the reason that their editor has sent them off to Scotland together.
The mystery manages to deal with matters of plagiarism and the treatment of women in the publishing industry, while lightening the mood with plenty of Scots and American stereotypes and regular cozy mystery tropes. True to life it is not, but the three authors obviously had a great deal of fun with all the ridiculous details. Beatrice the sheep was a favourite character for me.
When the organizer of the workshop is found dead, the three American authors are each, for their own reasons, convinced that they will be arrested for the crime. They find a real friendship while trying to identify the true murderer together. Unlike most cozy mysteries, the women fumble their way toward the truth, admitting that they're not really expert at solving crimes.
Quirky, funny, and entertaining, I would recommend it if you like books like The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, or The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year.
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