Marsali Taylor Books In Order

Publication Order of Cass Lynch Mysteries Books

About Marsali Taylor
A Scottish novelist, Marsali Taylor is well known for her mystery novels that really capture the attention of the reader, constantly keeping them guessing throughout. Setting many of her stories in and around Scotland, she brings to life the environment, really capturing both its character and its essence. Doing this for a number of years now, she’s an author who’s at the top of her genre, having become a household name for many worldwide. Knowing the world of her novels well, she’s perhaps best know for her ‘Cass Lynch’ series of mystery novels, which are mainly set across the Scottish Shetland Islands.
Many of these stories feature the leading character of Cass Lynch, as she often finds herself reluctantly at the heart of another mystery. Looking to solve a series of cases, she must deal with the mysteries using her wits and her intelligence to help her through. This has proven to be hugely successful with her readers, with many from all over warming to the character and her series. It’s also been the perfect showcase for Marsali Taylor’s clear talents as a writer, really allowing her voice to shine through.

Working as a teacher part-time in the Shetlands, Marsali Taylor is a gifted writer, who’s come to be highly regarded over the years. Seen as an author who’s at the forefront of her field, she provides innovative and unique looks at the format of the mystery suspense novel. With a strong affinity for her home, showing a keen interest in the history and environment, her passion runs through into her work. There’s a lot more planned on the horizon too, as she’s definitely not finishing any time soon, as her writing career grows onwards from strength-to-strength.
Early and Personal Life:

Born in 1958, Marsali Taylor would grow up near Edinburgh, as she’d come to work as a teacher, working in the Shetlands. Working as a part-time teacher alongside her career as a writer, she’s always developing her voice and her style as an author. Raised in Musselburgh, she’s always on the lookout for her next big idea to help inspire both her and her next big novel.

Qualified as a tourist-guide for the region too, she’s certified with the STGA, something which lends her a certain degree of authority on the area. This knowledge has fed back into her work and her material, allowing her to write her stories with a great deal of confidence. As a sailor with her own yacht too, she continues to write to this very day, with a lot more still to come in the future.

Writing Career:
Back in 2012 Marsali Taylor would bring out her first novel titled ”Death on a Longship,’ introducing her as a writer for the first time. This would also be the beginning of the highly popular ‘Shetland Sailing Mysteries,’ which would be a series that would take up much of her writing career. She would also write for a few crime omnibus editions and compendiums, featuring her work alongside other authors in the genre. Gaining a great deal of recognition for her work, she’s bringing in more and more writers every day, as her audience continues to grow worldwide.
Death in Shetland Waters
Initially published out through the Allison and Busby publishing label, this would first come out on the 23rd of November in 2017. Marking the sixth title in the ongoing ‘Shetland Sailing Mysteries’ series of novels, this would provide another mystery for the character of Cass Lynch. With a self-contained case to solve, it also features many character arcs brought over from the previous novels too.

Written in a highly informative manner too, there’s a lot of attention to detail here, with Taylor making sure the story is authentic. The character of Lynch herself is also well developed, building upon her relationships from before, and successfully carrying them forwards. There’s something here for everyone, with it being a great mystery thriller novel for both old fans and newcomers alike.

Finally achieving the rank of third officer, Cass Lynch has risen to a new position in the Sorlandet, her much loved Norwegian ship. Sailing to Ireland from Norway, they’re taking part in the Tall Ship’s race, but it soon appears that there may be a stowaway aboard, following an encounter in the early morning for Lynch. The police find nobody though, but then a trainee goes missing, and Cass Lynch and her husband, Gavin Macrae find themselves dealing with a killer. Will they be able to put a stop to their plans before it’s too late? Can Cass ever have the settled life she’s always dreamed of with Gavin? Who will be the next death in Shetland waters?

Death on a Shetland Isle
This was also brought out through the Allison and Busby publishing outlet, with it being the seventh title in the ‘Shetland Sailing Mysteries.’ Providing another mystery for the series, it continues the arcs that came before, while also paving the way for future books. Creating a solid mystery too, it’s a story filled with suspense that really grabs the attention of its audience, holding it there throughout.

The relationships here are once again dealt with care and precision, as Taylor definitely knows them inside out at this point. She does this while effectively managing the mystery itself, making sure it’s properly dealt with every step of the way. The setting itself is also handled well too, with the Shetland Islands essentially being a character in of themselves at this point.

Dealing with a new voyage around the Shetland Islands, Cass Lynch is journeying her ship the Sorlandet, when a third officer joins the crew, as she’s shocked to discover it’s a man from her past that she thought she’d left to die in the Atlantic eleven years prior. Suspicious of the new crew, she suddenly finds that one of them turns up dead, and that she must now outwit a killer onboard. Dealing with her own past, Cass must now deal with a ghost, while also facing the killer at hand, taking them down before it’s too late. Can she hope to track them down? Why are they doing this? What is the real truth behind the death on a Shetland isle?

3 Responses to “Marsali Taylor”

1. Albert Edward Powell: 2 years ago

   I was recently given one of the books in the series and rather than start half way through I ordered and have read Death on a Long ship. Having enjoyed it I fully intend to try and read the rest of the series.

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2. J B: 2 years ago

   I seem to have come late to this party, but I’m really enjoying working my way through the books. Really believable characters and very good stories. Thank you!

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3. Maev Quinlan: 2 years ago

   Just discovered this series about 6 weeks ago and have finished all ten. I loved the setting and her descriptions of nature, storms and weather. As a catholic I appreciated her attention to religious ceremony and practice. I’m hoping that this isn’t the last one and looking forward hopefully to the next one. Thank you for a wonderful few weeks binging on the book equivilant of a box set. Maev Quinlan

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