Arrested Flight

The McLaren Mysteries, Book 8

By: Jo A. Hiestand

Narrated by: Callum Hale

Ex-police detective Michael McLaren is determined to have a peaceful holiday after the fiasco of his first attempt at Windermere, so he stops at a bed-and-breakfast in Moorton, a village in Cumbria. But mystery and murder seek him out, and he soon succumbs to the B&B owner’s plea to investigate the year-old death of her daughter’s fiancé, a young musician.

The Lake District parish seems peaceful, but a rival musician’s jealousy and a business partner’s anger boil beneath the façade. Mix that with "Barmy Barry’s" sightings of fairy lights at the castle, references to Uther Pendragon's return, and the secrets in the woods, and McLaren finds his sanity shaky.

When the vicar is attacked and Barry disappears, McLaren sets a trap for the killer. But as it plays out, his concern shifts from the potential capture to praying he and his friend can escape with their lives.

©2017 Jo A. Hiestand (P)2022 Jo A. Hiestand

Hair-Raising!

This was definitely one of those suspenseful mysteries that had me on the edge of my seat at times, and yes, had the hair on my arms tingling. Mike McLaren once again gets himself into some hair-raising situations and had me wanting to fast forward to see if he was actually going to get out of them safely. (Of course I never did because I was afraid that I might miss something important.) McLaren continues to be a character who I find to be endlessly fascinating. He can take me from laughter, with some of his antics, to tears as I empathize with the loss of his fiancé. I was pleased to see that he had a bit of a love interest again in this book. It will be interesting to see if that will develop in future books. Callum Hale is simply amazing. His narration always makes the listening experience so incredibly enjoyable and you feel as though you are listening to these characters in real life. Kudos to him for another enjoyable narration. This is definitely a book I will recommend to my friends and to anyone interested in a good suspenseful mystery.

greed and lies

McLaren's vacation was anything but a relaxing vacation. He volunteered to check into a cold case and ends up running into much more unlawful activities. He also started a relationship with a woman. There is more than meets the eye, and murders are also uncovered. McLaren and Jaime almost meet the same fate as others before that interfered with these thugs. Very suspenseful and McLaren was a bit disappointing in the relationship department. I enjoyed every fear filled moment. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest opinion. The narrator did an excellent job of bringing the characters and storyline to life.

Highly Recommended Mystery

Arrested Flight is not the typical book I read, but boy am I glad I did. It was recommended by a friend, and even though it was not the first in the series I decided to give it a try. I had no trouble whatsoever feeling up to speed. Hiestand did a great job of keeping it self-contained.

The story was filled with moody landscapes, layered characters, and a plot that unfolds like a well-played symphony. Jo Hiestand brings the environment to life with such vivid detail that I could almost feel the mist on my skin and hear the crunch of gravel underfoot.

Michael McLaren is a compelling protagonist: introspective, principled, and quietly relentless. What begins as a simple holiday quickly spirals into a haunting investigation of a young musician’s death, and Hiestand handles the emotional stakes with grace and nuance. The supporting cast is equally rich, and the interplay of folklore, music, and local secrets adds a lyrical depth to the suspense.

Hiestand’s writing is elegant yet accessible, and her pacing is pitch-perfect—each chapter draws you deeper into the mystery without ever feeling rushed. The final reveal is both satisfying and poignant, tying together threads I didn’t even realize were connected.

If you love mysteries that respect your intelligence and immerse you in a fully realized world, Arrested Flight is a must-read. I’m already looking forward to my next case with McLaren

Another excellent McLaren book!

I thoroughly enjoyed Arrested Flight (#8 in the McLaren Series) by Jo A. Hiestand. Michael McLaren is in need of a peaceful holiday to mourn his fiancee and finds a quiet bed-and-breakfast in Moorton. The B&B owner, Melanie, asks him to look into the death of her daughter’s fiancee the previous year. Unfortunately, McLaren is a magnet for mystery and death and the bodies start dropping as his investigation progresses. I have read these out of order and enjoyed them as stand-alones. The narration by Callum Hale is wonderful. He performs the character with unique voices and accents and brings the story to life. I received a free audiobook code for my honest review.

Another exciting police procedural

I thoroughly enjoyed “Arrested Flight: A McLaren Mystery, Book 8” by Jo A. Hiestand, expertly narrated by Callum Hale. This is my second listen from the author, and I'm impressed by the duo’s expert delivery of intriguing subplots and pitch-perfect vocals. I’ve added more titles from this series to my wishlist and look forward to continuing my journey with McLaren’s investigations. This time, we follow ex-police detective Michael McLaren as he attempts a much-needed holiday in Cumbria, only to be drawn into a mysterious death from the previous year. As he gets deeper, he encounters a web of secrets, lies, and shocking surprises. The welcome addition of eccentricities and the eerie atmosphere add to the thrill. Hale’s narration brings the story to vivid life. I appreciate the author’s kindness in providing me with free codes and introducing me to this series. For those who enjoy British police procedurals with intricate twists and turns, I highly recommend the McLaren Mystery series.
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