Death by Appointment by Mairi Chong
A doctor retreats to the Scottish coast for a fresh start—but finds herself in harm’s way—in this compelling murder mystery.
Physician Cathy Moreland needs time to heal, having recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder while struggling with a painkiller habit. The little village of Kinnaven promises respite, but after Cathy attempts to get an opiate prescription, things don’t go well. When she discovers the body of the local Dr. Cosgrove, her sanctuary is shattered.
Before long, Cathy is swept up in local gossip about the death. Decades earlier, the cliff where Cosgrove died had been the site of another tragedy, leading some to suspicions about the doctor’s demise. But as Cathy determines to learn the truth, she will find herself in grave danger.
Author Bio
After graduating from medical school, Mairi qualified as a general practitioner, with special interests in addictions psychiatry and women’s health. She found the grittier side to medicine especially rewarding, working for homeless practices before gaining a partnership in a semi-rural practice in the northeast of Scotland.
Having taken early retirement, Mairi now writes full-time and signed a seven-book contract with Bloodhound Books earlier in the year. She lives in Scotland with her horses, cats, husband and son. Any free time is given to reading her ever-expanding British Classic Crime collection!
Review
‘Death by Appointment’ is a prequel to the main Cathy Moreland series and I am glad to have started the series at this point as I hope to pick up the rest of the books soon. The medical side of the narrative was on point which you would expect as Mairi is a retired GP but it was all dealt with with an empathetic touch and understanding, especially when it came to the mental health side of the story. I found this to be a very entertaining cozy mystery set in the northeast of Scotland with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing to the very end.
GP Cathy finds herself recovering from a bipolar break down in a remote village in Aberdeenshire but it turns out to be a far from relaxing break! The local village GP ends up dead and it's Cathy who finds her. She is soon entangled in all the local gossip and tasked by her cleaner to solve the murder!
This was a story that keeps you gripped as you read it and it has enough red herrings to keep you guessing! I of course adore the very Christie-like big house reveal with all the main players being present! But then if Mairi has a love for classic crime like her bio says we can see where her inspiration comes from! I am also amassing my own British Crime Club collection….
This was a very entertaining read and I am looking forward to reading the main series!
