I wanted to read this book after a recent visit to Skye, and the descriptions of the mountains and the mist reminded me very much of the holiday. This is the story of fashion model Gianetta Brooke, who goes on holiday to Skye to get away from it all. When she reaches her designated hotel she learns of a recent murder in the mountains. She also finds that, by what felt like a bizarre coincidence at the time, her ex-husband has also checked into the same hotel.

Everybody in the hotel is a suspect in the murder and this story is an Agatha Christie style closed-room murder mystery, but in this case more of a closed hotel. The writing is a little dated now, as the book was first published in 1956, but I found it an enjoyable enough read. ( )

Protagonist: fashion model Gianetta Drury
Setting: the Isle of Skye, Scotland, in the 1950s
Standalone

While not traipsing through the sewers of London, I seem to find myself wandering around the Highlands of Scotland. Fashion model Gianetta Drury decides to take a holiday on Skye to de-stress. When she arrives, she finds that her stay is going to be anything but stress-free. Her ex-husband is staying at the same hotel, and a young girl was recently murdered not far away from the place. The police are sure that one of the people staying at the hotel is the murderer.

Originally written in 1956, the book has aged gracefully. The only thing that really dates it is having the heroine smoke like the proverbial chimney. The setting is superbly done, and although the murderer was easily guessed, Wildfire at Midnight was a very pleasant way to spend a couple of
hours. ( )