I gobbled up this yummy first in a series book from Lucy Connelly. As the title indicates, American doctor Emilia (“Em”) McRoy is fleeing a busy ER back in San Francisco as well as a relationship gone wrong, and headed to tiny Sea Isle, Scotland. She discovers, as does the heroine in all fairytales, that she’s to live for free in a converted castle (I mean, church) and perks include free food everywhere in town as well as a free car. The job also comes with a working brother and sister – Tommy does the gardening and the capable Abigail, who runs the office, as well as the new MRI machine that the “Laird” of the town has thought to provide.
Taking this as a fairy tale with some elements of reality mixed in, it’s completely delightful. Em does get off to a rocky start when she discovers a dead body her first night in town, and the discovery seems to lead to someone trying to kill her. She’s also the town coroner and has chosen to investigate on her own, much to the “Laird” Ewan’s displeasure. While this is typical of an amateur sleuth, at least she has some reason to investigate, as she’s actually the coroner. The dead man was much detested in town for his cranky nature, and it turns out he was the uncle of Abigail and Tommy, taking them in when they were orphaned. He was apparently a problematic caregiver, but Abigail seems to have made her peace with him.
The details of Em running her new practice grounds the book in reality, as the small town has long needed a doctor, and her presence is greatly appreciated, resulting in a long line of patients. Of course her practice also allows her to meet fellow citizens, as do her shopping proclivities – baked goods and tartan plaids fill her shopping bags to the brim, and she makes a circle of girlfriends along the way.
The plot moves right along, and as in all good fairy tales, Em is even presented with two possible princes, I mean, suitors. While nothing in this novel was particularly original or unexpected, I enjoyed the mix of tropes and characters as well as the Scottish setting. Connelly has a narrative gift that makes the whole story flow through your reading fingers faster than you might think possible, and that’s welcome magic of a different variety. This is a solid start to what I hope will be a lengthy series. — Robin Agnew