An Introduction to the Continuing Characters in the Liss MacCrimmon Scottish-American Heritage Mysteries

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 sends her back to her home town, Moosetookalook, Maine, to recover. There, since this is a mystery series, she soon comes 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 books the series are

Kilt Dead

Scone Cold Dead

A Wee Christmas Homicide

The Corpse Wore Tartan

Scotched

Bagpipes, Brides, and Homicides

Vampires, Bones, and Treacle Scones

Ho-Ho Homicide

The Scottie Barked at Midnight

Kilt at the Highland Games

X Marks the Scot

Overkilt

A View to a Kilt

Above is the inspiration for one of the most important continuing characters in the Liss MacCrimmon Mystery Series, Lumpkin the cat.

For more information on Lumpkin and his origins, and more cat photos, click here:

Dan Ruskin is also an important continuing character in the series. Liss has known Dan since they were kids together. As Kilt Dead opens, 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:

I now have a separate page on Dan and his family, with illustrations. Please visit by clicking here: