A High Whisk Situation

Oxford Tearoom Mysteries, Book 12

By: H.Y. Hanna

Narrated by: Pearl Hewitt

When English tearoom owner, Gemma Rose, finds herself on an unexpected trip to Scotland, she is delighted by the chance to stay in a beautiful Scottish castle—complete with mounted stag heads, cosy fireplaces, and misty mountain views. She’s looking forward to a relaxing weekend in the Highlands, sampling traditional Scottish baking, trying her hand at fly fishing, and learning to enjoy a “wee dram” of whisky.

But when she stumbles on a dead body in the castle library, Gemma quickly becomes steeped in a country-house murder with a distinctly tartan feel! Luckily, the nosy “Old Biddies” are on hand to help with the sleuthing, and even her cheeky tabby cat, Muesli, is keen to lend a paw. But with a castle full of quirky guests, the list of suspects is long, and everyone has something to hide. Can Gemma untangle the web of lies and motives, and reel in the killer before it’s too late?

Filled with humour, suspense, and unexpected twists, A High Whisk Situation is a delightful listen for fans of cozy mysteries and traditional English whodunits. So put the kettle on, grab a scone (or a shortbread, we won't judge), and get ready for a hilarious, entertaining adventure in the Scottish Highlands.

©2023 H.Y. Hanna (P)2025 H.Y. Hanna

A High Whisk Situation Book 12

This is an easy book of H Y Hanna's to write a Review for. I had just about given up on her series, but decided to finish this series off. Glad that I did as it was entertaining this time. A good way to end her Oxford Tearoom Mysteries. The Narration has always been good and do not know how one person is able to make all the changes in the reading.

Taking the story to Scotland was entertaining for me and to a castle. Just will repeat that I felt this was the best of the series and to go out with a bang, Kind of wishing that there would be just one more is this style of writing,

Marilyn

A high whisk situation

Love this series! Gemma and the old biddy’s are always in situations. To hear how they get out of the situations they get them selves into, is entertaining for sure.

Gemma’s willfulness is getting old.

Gemma’s refusal to stop meddling in cases that can and have damaged Devlin’s career is getting tiresome. She is acting like a willful child, ignoring Devlin’s requests for her to back off his cases and then pouting when he gets angry with her for ignoring those requests. She is a successful business woman but still seems to be acting like a self-centered high school girl. Couldn’t the author find a way for Gemma and the 4 older ladies (‘old biddies’ is so derogatory) to help with cases in a less obnoxious way…a way that will not damage Devlin’s chances to become the next DCI?

Earns 5+/5 Scottish Kilts … Clever & Engaging Cozy Gem!

I am a big fan of audiobooks. I am a big fan of H.Y. Hanna’s Oxford Tearoom Mysteries. I am a big fan of heather, highlanders, and homicide. So … put them together, and I am a fan of “A High Whisk Situation.”

Gemma Rose has no choice but to close her tearoom for very necessary repairs, and as suggested by her BFF Cassie Jenkins, head off to the Aberglinn Castle Hotel. Cassie has been hired as an artist-in-residence offering painting workshops to the guest, but Gemma would be free to explore the countryside, local tearooms and bakeries, and maybe even the handsome highlander Ewan Campbell; she is on a “break” from workaholic Detective Devlin O’Connor. However, it isn’t all good food, good friends, and good whisky. The hotel manager, Aileen Fergusson, is disagreeable, demanding, and dead! And … what better way to enjoy all the intrigue, antics, interrogating, suspicious behaviors, and trips to the local pub, then with Pearl Hewitt’s enjoyable narration. Her pleasant natural voice is the key to my entertainment, and she is excellent with the nuances found in several British and Scottish regional dialects, even some American by way of Texas, Arabic by way of Dubai, and Japanese. She also does well portraying various personalities, ages, and gender through her tone, and what better way to experience the emotions and perilous predicaments than with Pearl!

H.Y. Hanna’s twelfth book is Highlanderrific! Her Gemma Rose is a favorite literary character, and I’m always entertained by the tearoom theme, foodie talk, and multi-generational cast, but adding references to Scottish myths and folklore, a castle, a Highland hunk, and exploring whisky makes this book the best of the series! The mystery itself was enjoyably complex with the victim having more than a few conflicts, and as details are revealed, dead ends exposed, secrets divulged, identities questioned, and a suspect list hard to whittle to one, readers, like me, had a great time pondering all the possibilities. And the final arrest was a surprise and again placed our ladies in jeopardy … fun!

Of course, what’s a murder investigation without my favorite troop and feline, romance, fascinating information, and a recipe. The [four] Old Biddies show up unannounced with Gemma’s mischievous cat, Muesli, in tow offering witty insights, creative investigative methods, and trouble. A hunky third party seems to complicate the on-a-break couple, Gemma and Devlin, but karma (via H.Y. Hanna’s well-written story) has a way of throwing them together adding a fun romantic element. As a great treat, enjoy the information about barrels of whisky as an investment commodity was a curious detail; it’s disappointing my retirement counselor never mention that for my portfolio. Once again, H.Y. Hanna and this book is a major contender for “You’re the Top” list for 2023!

Scottish vacation worth taking.

great read. enjoyed the book. another mystery solved. a Scottish trip worth taking. enjoy