ISBN: 978-0-9829054-2-5
Paperback, Retail: $14.95

Celtic Curse

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million

IndieBound

SmashWords

How I came to plan a familiarization trip to Scotland was kind of strange. It all happened when Janice Armstrong, my friend from the Greece trip, referred her housekeeper Fiona Batson to me.

You see, Fiona had been carrying around a lot of guilt about the disappearance of her brother, Duncan. ​He had disappeared thirty-nine years earlier in Peebles Scotland and Fiona felt she could only bring closure for her family by going back to Peebles to search for the clues leading to his disappearance. 

Janice told Fiona that since I had helped to thwart an international art theft ring, which included the recovery of a golden statue of Hera, and saving Janice’s life—I’d be perfect to help Fiona in her quest to find out what happened to her brother.

Of course, I was hesitant at first. What if I let my friend down? But having an excuse to travel to the land of Braveheart and Rob Roy, to visit Edinburgh and surrounding cities in order to increase my knowledge of the area, gave me the extra incentive I needed.   

We arrived in Edinburgh and while sightseeing, an odd thing happened. We were secretly followed by Fiona’s first cousin. After sorting that out, we made our way to Peebles, where we learned that the city was getting ready to host the nationally acclaimed Beltane Festival. 

Little did we know that while searching for clues to Duncan’s disappearance, we’d be drawn into a cold-case mystery that would lead to murder and that during our investigation we’d be put off by the local police, and rebuffed with claims of second-sight and Cailleach’s Curse by Duncan’s old girlfriend, now married to Duncan’s best friend. Even more curious—why were we so warmly welcomed into the home of Craig MacIntyre, owner of the Peebles Woolen Mill and the last person to see Duncan alive?

Just read, Celtic Curse, to learn all about how we solved the mystery of Duncan’s disappearance.

Praise for Celtic Curse:

“A delightful addition to the Yvonne Suarez Travel Mystery series. ...She (Dingwall) brings back David Ludlow as Yvonne’s lover and the chemistry between the two is charming and sweet. She very adeptly reveals the complex layers of Yvonne’s past relationship with her abusive ex-husband and the thin line she must walk to ensure his relationship with his daughter is not damaged. The mystery is a good one with enough suspicious characters to keep the reader guessing throughout while being entertained with stunning imagery.” –Christy Tillery French, Midwest Book Reviews

“Fans of adventurous travel agent Yvonne Suarez will enjoy journeying with her to historic locales in Scotland as she delves into a long-unsolved case and tangles with ancient Celtic spirits. She uses her smarts to outdo the local constabulary, her intuition to get reluctant folks to open up, and even her skill at yoga to literally wiggle out of a tight spot. Recommended for travel and mystery buffs everywhere.” –Jenny Bennett author of Murder at the Jumpoff

"Dingwall, takes the reader on an invigorating journey throughout a provincial area of Scotland. She breathes life into the tale not only through the travails of her characters but in the observation of the minutest details of daily life in the region. She recounts historical features of the areas characters frequently making you feel as if you are there marveling at the architectural wonders the locale affords. You feel as though you can taste the Shepherd’s Pie and sticky toffee pudding. You feel yourself dab the froth of ale from the corner of your mouth with an embroidered linen napkin. You luxuriate in the softness of tartan scarves died in the various plaids of Scottish clans as they glide silkily through your open fingers.

Celtic Curse by Wendy Dingwall is the second novel in the Yvonne Suarez travel mystery series. As the summer season concludes and the season for curling up with a good whodunnit is upon us, Celtic Curse is the book to reach for when searching for a satisfying mystery to read." - Danielle Bussone, Reviewer for All About Women Magazine

"Dingwall takes the reader on an excellent excursion through Scotland while Yvonne and Fiona dig into thirty-year-old history to uncover the secrets Fiona's family wants kept hidden. Celtic Curse is a fascinating, well-crafted whodunit with an abundant overview of Scottish history, culture, and just plain old blarney." - Shelley Glodowski, for Midwest Book Reviews, Bookwatch Feature

---

Book Summary:

About Celtic Curse, the second travel mystery in the series: Fiona Batson shares with employer Janice Armstrong her compelling need to return to her childhood home in Peebles, Scotland. Thirty-nine years earlier, her eighteen-year-old brother, Duncan, vanished, and Fiona can only bring closure by searching for clues to Duncan’s disappearance. Janice refers the fifty-five year old housekeeper to Yvonne Suarez, a travel agent who thwarted an international art theft ring, recovered the golden statue of Hera, and saved Janice’s life a year earlier on a trip to Greece.

Yvonne has always wanted to travel to the land of Braveheart and Rob Roy. After hearing Fiona’s tale of her missing brother, she decides to accompany Fiona on her quest and plans a familiarization trip to Edinburgh and surrounding cities.While Yvonne is busy learning about Edinburgh, home of the world famous Edinburgh Tattoo, and Peebles, host of the nationally acclaimed Beltane festival--she and Fiona are drawn into a cold-case investigation that soon leads to murder.

Along the way, they encounter hidden secrets and Scottish superstitions. They are secretly followed by Fiona’s first cousin and put off by the local police. When they question Duncan’s old girlfriend, they discover that she is now married to one of Duncan’s best friends.  She rebuffs them with claims of second-sight and Cailleach’s curse.  And why are they so warmly welcomed into the home of Craig MacIntyre, owner of the Peeble’s Woolen Mill and the last person to see Duncan alive?