"The Flowers o' the Forest are a' wede awa'." Death in the Highlands. It came by claymore and cannon fire in 1745, when Bonnie Prince Charlie's men died at Culloden, and the last Stuart fled back to France, leaving his followers to death by noose and firing squad, and his gold hidden in the heather for others to find. After a thousand years of bloody history, death in the Highlands is nothing new. But it should not be happening now.Jean Fairbairn has a coin from Prince Charlie's hoard, and a story, she thinks. Until the story comes to murder, up close and personal, and Jean isn't just a reporter, she's a prime suspect. Nose to nose with Chief Inspector Alasdair Cameron, whose forebears led Charlie's rising, and Rick MacLyon, who thinks being a dot.com millionaire makes him an expert on Charlie's life, Jean finds herself entangled in a story that's getting grimmer than the Dark Mile by Loch Arkaig and twistier than Stuart politics. And it's all too likely to end with Jean trapped by a murderer, on her way to becoming the MacLyon mansion's newest ghost.Mystery, history and sexual tension blend with a taste of the wild beauty of the Highlands: an enjoyable tale. Kirkus ReviewsIn pursuit of information about Bonnie Prince Charlie's legendary lost gold, reporter Jean Fairbairn discovers a new corpse instead. Before all is said and done, she tangles with a nouveau-riche Stuart aficionado and Inspector Cameron. An entertaining blend of policing and sleuthing. Library Journal Carl's skillful story telling, Scotland's history, and the discussion of how conspiracy theories and genealogies effect the past and the present make The Secret Portrait a mystery worth reading. Her story and her characters had me reading every spare moment I had. MacLyon's conspiracy theory moments had me laughing out loud. She had me guessing until the end. Christine McCreedy, Christine's Book-listAn excellent book with a bit of woo-woo and a lot of painlessly delivered culture and history. Throw in a gold coin from the Bonnie Prince Charlie’s missing horde and a couple of men who look fine in kilts, a dash of bagpipes, and descriptions of Edinburgh so vivid you can almost taste the haggis and you have a most enjoyable read.Shirley Wetzel, Over My Dead Body.comThe Secret Portrait is a terrific tale that mixes Scottish lore and legend with murder, madness and the paranormal. The author's characters are richly drawn and authentic. Jean’s natural curiosity from academic research makes her the perfect amateur sleuth. The pacing is perfect for an entertaining read. The dialog is sharp and witty. Roberta Austin, Murder and Mayhem Book ClubAs always, Lillian Stewart Carl crafts an exceptionally well-written and tightly plotted tale. And as always, her characters draw you into her stories until you find yourself standing in Jean's shoes on the staircase of Glendessary House while ghostly footsteps clump closer and closer. Engaging, absorbing, rousingly good and finally -- highly recommended. I very much look forward to more adventures with Jean and Alasdair. Teri Smith, Crescent Blues Book Review
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