The author leaving Stirling Castle, Scotland
Clara McKenna currently writes the Stella & Lyndy Mystery series about an unlikely couple who mix love, murder, and horseracing in Edwardian England. She's a vintage teacup collector and an avid traveler, the UK being a favorite destination. When she can't get to England or Scotland, she happily writes about it from her home in Iowa. Learn more about Clara and her books at her website.
Every time I start a new mystery novel, I begin with a "what if" premise based on an unusual situation. What if an American heiress arrives in England thinking she's attending a wedding at an aristocrat's country estate, only to discover she's actually the intended bride? Or what would happen if at a grand country estate packed with Christmas guests, both the cook goes missing and the housekeeper turns up dead? Or, in the case of my upcoming release, I wondered: what if an unexpected visitor joins a weekend party during a golf tournament at The Old Course—the hallowed birthplace of golf in Scotland—and ends up in the bushes, battered to death?
What fascinates me is that no matter how different these initial premises might be, my mysteries inevitably circle back to family. I write about an English mother-in-law who'll stop at nothing to protect her son's inheritance, an ambitious father who uses his daughter to get what he wants, and the hopeful truth that sometimes in-laws, friends, and even stable hands can be as close, protective, and loving as any blood relative.
But never has one of my books reflected my own family history quite like Murder at Glenloch Hill. Though I've played little of the game, golf runs deep in my roots—my grandfather's converted garage became a repair shop that drew professionals to his doorstep. The Scottish setting, it turns out, is literally in my DNA. Growing up, I knew about my Danish maternal great-grandmother and the stories of my grandfather's grandfather, who came from Ireland alone at age eleven. Yet it wasn't until I finally got my DNA tested that I discovered just how much of my ancestry originates in Scotland. Many of the surnames in my family tree that I had assumed were Irish turned out to be Scottish, including my own maiden name.
So when the opportunity arose to visit both the birthplace of golf and the land of many of my ancestors, I jumped at the chance. I decided to bring my characters, Stella and Lyndy, along for the journey. Stella (née Kendrick), who's from Kentucky, shares this Scottish heritage—before her father made his millions selling and racing Thoroughbreds, his family built the distinctive Scottish-style dry stone walls that surround so many horse paddocks throughout Kentucky.
During my visit, I discovered not only the rich history of the great game of golf but also my own clan affiliations. I learned I belong to both the Stuart clan (one of Scotland's most famous surnames) and the McEwen clan. It felt appropriate to honor this connection by making Stella's distant Scottish cousins McEwens as well. I'm particularly thrilled that my publisher took my suggestion to feature the McEwen tartan on Stella's skirt on the book cover—a proud declaration of family ties for all to see.
In the end, whether I'm writing about missing cooks, bartered brides, or murder by golf club, my mysteries all come back to family—the ones we're born into, marry into, or discover along the way.
A Stella and Lyndy Mystery, Book 6
On a weekend trip to the Scottish countryside, American transplant Stella, and British aristocrat, Viscount “Lyndy” Lyndhurst, learn how sinister bad sportsmanship can be when a prestigious golf tournament becomes a deadly game of murder . . .
Along with cheering on her soon-to-be brother-in-law, Freddie Kentfield, at The British Open in Scotland, Stella embraces the chance to connect with her distant cousins, the McEwens, at their grand estate, Glenloch Hill. But she and Lyndy don’t receive the warm welcome they expect when their arrival is marred by missing luggage, evasive hosts, and the perceived mistreatment of a young laundry maid. Adding to the tense atmosphere, Freddie's roguish father, Sir Edwin, appears at the manor uninvited, his presence casting a shadow over the events—and stirring up more unanswered questions . . .
As golf clubs swing on the green, so do Lyndy’s fists in an uncharacteristic outburst. Chaotic circumstances take a dark turn when Sir Edwin is found bludgeoned outside the laundry house—the maid waiting beside the body, no murder weapon in sight—and all eyes on Lyndy . . .
Suddenly caught in a whirlwind of kilts, elite golfers, and deadly rumors, Stella rushes to protect Lyndy's innocence and save herself from real danger. But can she both navigate the unspoken rules at Glenloch Hill and survive a cutthroat competition against a killer who will stop at nothing to win?
Preorder Links (release date 11/26)
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