Liss MacCrimmon is the sleuth in Kaitlyn Dunnett's mystery series, set in modern-day Maine.
Liss had been earning her living as a professional Scottish dancer with a company called Strathspey (think Riverdance, only Scottish) but a career-ending knee injury sent her back to her home town, Moosetookalook, Maine, to recover. There, since this IS a mystery series, she soon came face-to-face with murder.
The name MacCrimmon is an important one in Scottish history. The MacCrimmons were a famous family of bagpipers. Depending on who you believe, they originally came to Scotland from Cremona in Italy, or from Ireland. I thought this would be a particularly appropriate name for a character in a series that has a Scottish heritage theme running through it. As for the first name Liss (not Lisa as some of the online bookstores have it), it is short for Amaryllis. Her mother, Violet, named her Amaryllis Rosalie MacCrimmon.
The first book in the series, KILT DEAD came out in August 2007 in hardcover, followed by the paperback edition in July 2008. There were also Mystery Guild and large print editions. The second book in the series is SCONE COLD DEAD (2008) and the third is A WEE CHRISTMAS HOMICIDE (2009). Forthcoming in October 2010 will be THE CORPSE WORE TARTAN.
MARGARET MACCRIMMON BOYD
Liss's Aunt Margaret is the owner of Moosetookalook Scottish Emporium. It is to help her that Liss returns to her old home town after ten years away.
DAN RUSKIN
Liss has known Dan since they were kids together. Now he owns the house she grew up in, works in his father's construction business, and is a custom woodworker on the side. Most importantly, he's there to help out when she needs him.
For anyone who wonders where the inspiration for Dan's woodworking came from, you have only to look at the website of Kaitlyn's husband, found by clicking here: 
SHERRI WILLETT
Once even more anxious than Liss to leave tiny Moosetookalook, Maine behind, Sherri has returned with a young son and a few secrets. She works full time at the jail as a deputy sheriff/corrections officer/dispatcher and part time at Moosetookalook Scottish Emporium.
AMANDA NORRIS
She keeps an eye on the whole neighborhood, but who's watching out for her?
NED BOYD
Liss's cousin, who wants nothing to do with things Scottish.
JASON GRAYE
A newcomer to the area and an entrepreneur. He'd be a good customer if it weren't for his bad attitude.
CRAIG LAVERDIERE
The state police detective assigned to the murder. His tunnel vision forces Liss to do some investigating of her own.
BARBARA ZATHROS
She knows something about the day of the murder . . . but what?
ERNIE WILLETT
Sherri's estranged father has a lot of pent up anger, and some of it seems to be directed at Margaret MacCrimmon Boyd.
PETE CAMPBELL
As a patrol deputy, he knows the law, but he's willing to bend it to help a friend.
ANGIE HOGENCAMP
Owner of Angie's Books, she also has a good view of happenings on the town square of Moosetookalook.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Angie got her name because the real Angie Hogencamp was high bidder at a Malice Domestic auction to name a character in KILT DEAD. Don't make any assumptions from that. In a future book she could end up as either victim or villain.
PATSY
Owner of the local coffee shop, Patsy makes "wicked good" pastries.
SANDY KALISHNAKOF
Liss's "best pal" from her old dance troupe, Sandy is also prime suspect in a murder case, providing Liss with plenty of motive for finding the real killer.
ZARA LOWERY
Another dancer staying with Liss in Moosetookalook, Zara has a secret she thinks will shift suspicion to her, but will she confide in Liss in time to help Sandy?
EMILY TOWNSEND
Liss's replacement in the troupe. The murder unhinges her, but is that because she had a hand in it, or because she really believes she might be the next victim?
VICTOR OWENS
Manager of Strathspey, Victor has been under a lot of pressure lately . . . and he's been taking it out on members of the company. Then there's his reputation with the ladies. He just can't leave them alone!
STEWART GRAHAM
The company punster, Stewart has a little drinking problem . . . or does he? Just how good an actor is he?
FIONA CARLSON
Fiona mothers everyone in Strathspey but she doesn't seem to care much for Angie's daughter, Beth. Does she really mean to retire just when the company needs her most?
RAY ADAMS
The company's stage manger, Ray is a jack-of-all-trades. Is one of them avenger?
LEE ANNIE NEVILLE
As company songbird, Lee Annie doesn't dance, and she didn't much like the way Victor carried on with the ladies.
BETH HOGENCAMP
Angie's daughter was just eight years old when she first appeared in KILT DEAD and asked Liss to teach her Scottish dancing. She's in seventh heaven when the dance troupe comes to town, but not for long.
GORDON TANDY
The new state trooper in the area has an old connection to Liss.
GAVIN THORNE
He's opened a toy shop in Moosetookalook, but he doesn't play well with others.
MARCIA MILLIKIN KATZ
She has some of the Tiny Teddies in her consignment shop and she's out to make a killing selling to collectors.
ERIC MOSS
He's a picker---buying and selling anything he comes across---and he's up to something with Liss's old nemesis, Jason Graye. But does it have to do with murder?
LOVEY FITZPATRICK
Don't get in this collector's way! She'll do just about anything to get to the prize.
FELICITY THORNE
The ex-wife . . . but is she more than that? She got to keep the old toy store, but he got all the toys.
WINSTON, CLAUDINE, AUGUSTUS, and POLLY
Four calling birds, one of whom has a vocabulary to die for.
and, as yet unnamed, Lumpkin's new "friend":
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© 2007-9 Kathy Lynn Emerson (aka Kaitlyn Dunnett). All rights reserved.
Last updated 9/21/09