Anyone who has ever dreamed about writing a book would agree that collaborating with two semi-bestselling authors at a castle on a Scottish island is a fine place to do it. Even if you've never had those ambitions, spending a week in such an idyllic location sounds pretty heavenly.

But for Kat de Noir, Emma Endicott and Cassie Pringle, it’s an actual working getaway. Their editor has suggested that they write a book together. And they really do make an ideal combination. Emma brings history to the table, while Cassie does cozy mysteries and Kat leans toward the erotic. So any story they craft certainly will have superb depth and variety.

"THE AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO MURDER is not only a puzzling murder mystery but also a romance, a tale of friendship and a bit of a satire. It is not to be taken too seriously, but seriously enough to enjoy over several hours of entertaining reading."

Their host at the castle is Brett Saffron Presley, who is well known in the literary world. He’s also well known to Kat, Emma and Cassie, but not in a good way. They have come to the Kinloch isle for more than a chance to write a story with each other. These ladies have revenge on their minds, as well as a plan. What they didn’t anticipate, though, is how they would react to the locals. And vice versa.

Small towns almost always enjoy --- and protect --- their privacy, not to mention their secrets. Outsiders often find they aren’t welcome, and any close scrutiny is especially frowned upon. This hits Emma hard. She always wants to delve into the history of a place as she’s drawn to such research everywhere she goes. But people in the village view her inquisitiveness more as nosiness. Frankly, in their eyes, these American visitors are nuisances. So when Presley turns up dead, who better to blame than the three women who have just arrived on the island? Besides, it seems each one had an excellent motive for killing him.

The investigation is headed by Detective Chief Inspector Euan McIntosh. He takes charge of the scene along with his sister, the medical examiner and local midwife who also pours drinks in the pub. McIntosh interviews each of the authors and is thoroughly frustrated by their responses. But after all, he should remember that he’s interrogating three women who make up stories for a living.

Cassie has come prepared not only with plot ideas but with all sorts of plaid, and she insists they wear it every chance they get as a gesture of respect. Kat simply tries to dress and talk seductively in hopes of directing suspicion away from her. Emma has what she believes is a strong alibi, albeit a bit of a blush-inducing one. None of this helps McIntosh in his quest to find the murderer. Eventually, though, the truth will come to light. And he may find something else, too.

Of course, in a story with a drafty castle, there has to be at least one hidden passageway, a secret poison garden and a nearby perilous cliff dropping off to a roiling sea, which is all set during a frigid snowstorm. THE AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO MURDER is not only a puzzling murder mystery but also a romance, a tale of friendship and a bit of a satire. It is not to be taken too seriously, but seriously enough to enjoy over several hours of entertaining reading.