Description
Three miles lay between Maggie and the safety of the Stewart border, but the storm made every step a battle. Maggie knew she didn’t need to run, but the storm and fear drove her to move quickly, even as the environment fought her with each step. The journey through the heather fields became increasingly difficult as mud sucked at her feet and rain drove into her face with stinging force. She forced herself to stop, even for a moment, to catch her breath and get her bearings. It was then, as the storm lulled for a moment, that she heard a new sound.
Dogs.
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When novelist Maggie Quinn MacKenzie returns to her ancestral Scottish home for her mother’s funeral, she discovers that Lady Margaret’s sudden death was no accident, and that her family has been guarding clan secrets for centuries. Thrust into a hidden world of ancient alliances, foreign adversaries, and shadowy protectors, Maggie must uncover the truth behind her mother’s murder while evading enemies who will kill to claim what the MacKenzie women have protected for three hundred years.
With the help of Ian Wallace, a former detective whose own connection to her family runs deeper than she knows, Maggie races to expose a conspiracy that reaches from Castle Campbell’s foundations to the highest levels of power. In a shadowy world of family betrayals and corporate greed, some inheritances are worth killing for, and Maggie is faced with a destiny she never wanted, becoming the latest in a fierce line of MacKenzie women who understood that protecting what matters most sometimes requires the ultimate sacrifice.
The MacKenzie Women weaves together past and present in a gripping tale of courage, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bonds that tie us to our heritage. In a world where family secrets can be dangerous currency, one woman must choose between her comfortable life in New York City and the destiny that awaits her in the Scottish Highlands.
Jennifer Terbush –
I could not put this book down… read into the wee hours…. and the unexpected ending…. Wow. Really great fun. Part historical fiction, part murder mystery. I’m ready for the next book.
Cindy Jones –
I enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend it to anyone.
Kelsayo –
The MacKenzie Women combines some of my favorite tropes and themes in a fast-paced mystery. Our heroine, Maggie is interesting, curious, and a joy to discover throughout the novel. The book follows the main story of Maggie uncovering her ancient family mysteries with chapters throughout that leap into the past and feature stories of the women in her life. This format was so cleverly done, each flashback chapter helped to reinforce major themes in the book as well as leave breadcrumbs and tie-ins to the mystery at hand. Maggie is basically a Scottish Lara Croft going on a National Treasure-like adventure with a little romance thrown in. The author does an exceptional job with the numerous action scenes and kept me on my toes with each secret passageway and hidden artifact. There are very strong messages of duty to clan and country, as well as identity and the power and grace of women. I’m also DEVASTATED that I have to wait for the next book to resolve some shocking loose ends. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to any woman in your life. Maggie’s story, and all the MacKenzie women who are also featured throughout the novel, will have you thinking about the strong women in your own life.