Smoked by Scotch by Lucy Lakestone

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Smoked by Scotch

by Lucy Lakestone

Series: Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries #8
Series Rating:
Published by Velvet Petal Press on February 11, 2025
Setting: Scotland
Genres: Culinary Mystery
Pages: 300
Format: Kindle
Source: the Author
Goodreads
BookBub
Get Your Copy at: Amazon
Also in this series: Risky Whiskey, Wrecked by Rum

Hijinks in the heather...

Mixologist Pepper Revelle is excited about the latest Bohemia Bartenders gig, but she’s even more thrilled about where it is—Scotland! She and fellow bartender Neil are finally a thing, they and their friends (and frenemies) are traveling in style, and making cocktails for an iconoclastic scotch distiller’s big launch is the glitzy garnish.

Bonus: She gets to work with the sizzling hot Scottish celebrity and TV star who’s the front man for the brand—at least until a shocking incident puts her on alert that there’s trouble under all that plaid. Could their adorable spokesman’s stalkers have leveled up to violence?

The team’s job gets thornier than a thistle when they realize the Bartenders’ clients have a lot more enemies than they’ve let on. From the enchanting streets of Edinburgh to the mystical vistas of the Orkney Islands, Pepper finds so many suspects, she’s starting to wish a stone circle would whisk her back to Bohemia. As tensions mount, who will get kilt next? And can Pepper and her friends figure out the mystery before they’re burned like a chunk of Scottish peat?

SMOKED BY SCOTCH is the eighth book in the Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries, funny whodunits with a dash of romance set in a convivial collective of cocktail lovers, eccentrics and mixologists. These quasi-cozy culinary comedies contain a hint of heat, a splash of cursing and shots of laughter, served over hand-carved ice.

Smoked by Scotch by Lucy Lakestone brings our Bohemia Bartenders to Scotland for the grand opening of a new distillery.

Will Pepper and Neil figure out who is threatening the Arch?

Pepper and Neil

Our starring couple has come a long way since the last book I read. It was fun to jump in and see how they have faired.

Pepper is past her flirty phase and is now serious about fellow bartender Neil. The two of them are so awesome together. It was fun to watch them both care and worry about each other. Not that they have much time for romance, with sleuthing and bartending two significant events for the new distillery.

They both meet a bunch of new people, and so many of them have a motive to take Arch Halliday out. As the threatening letters get more menacing and the fans get closer, Arch’s sidekick and co-star, Rory, goes missing and is presumed dead. So, many things are happening around the bartenders, but it’s hard to figure out who is the culprit.

I was surprised by Mark’s connections in Scotland. That man is seriously hooked up; he has connections everywhere. I don’t know why it surprised me, but I was.

Five Stars

My rating for Smoked by Scotch by Lucy Lakestone is five stars. I really enjoyed the mystery, touch of romance, camaraderie, and description of Scotland. I haven’t been there, but now I feel like I could have. Keep writing, Ms. Lakestone.

There is also a cocktail recipe for the Tartan Goose at the end of the book. If you try it let us know in the comment section below.

Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Smoked by Scotch by Lucy Lakestone.

Until the next time,

 

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2025 Cloak and Dagger JEN
• 2025 Goodreads RC JEN
• 2025 Medical Examiner Mystery RC JEN
• 2025 Six Shooter RC JEN
• 2025 Traveling the World JEN

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