Member Review
Review by
Kathleen C, Media/Journalist
Murder in the Irish Bookshop earns 5/5 Torn Pages...Engaging Fun!
Carlene O’Connor’s seventh Irish Village Mystery is another delightful story no self-respecting coziholic should miss! “Bucket list” worthy setting, diverse characters, fascinating small village dynamic, engaging mystery, and Irish Stew! Life in Kilbane has, of course, progressed nicely with new people moving into the village, career changes from amateur to professional, family highs and lows, and friends turning to fiancés, but newbies need not fear being at a disadvantage since there are plenty of references to make the reading experience complete and enjoyable. Siobhan O’Sullivan has much going on in her job with the Garda and planning her soon wedding, but investigating a murder overloads her already full plate. The owner of the new bookshop has some quirky, and limiting, ideas of what books to sell, but the idea of hosting an event to highlight some up and coming Irish writers is well received...until one author winds up murdered with pages from a rival’s book stuffed in their mouth.
My cozy criteria often includes the need for a foreign setting, and anything in the Great Britain is high on my list. O’Connor brings this Irish village to life with its pubs, its cottages, and its emerald landscape. Next it’s the characters, and with O’Connor she has created a core diverse group that, including a strong family, loving couple, and quirky village residents, reminds me of people in my own life making it fun to follow their exploits. With a lovely setting well described and close-knit characters bantering about, the mystery requires creativity, a bit of complexity, and often involving the core characters as witnesses, suspects, and/or investigator. O’Connor’s mystery has it all with several having a motive and plenty of misdirection gum up the works, then smoothing out into a satisfying conclusion. And last, I need a theme well woven through the drama with insights, tips, and Google-worthy follow-up and at least one recipe that compliments the story. In this book it is the Irish culture, literature, and a recipe for Eoin’s Irish Stew! This is definitely a cozy that checks all of my boxes!
Carlene O’Connor’s seventh Irish Village Mystery is another delightful story no self-respecting coziholic should miss! “Bucket list” worthy setting, diverse characters, fascinating small village dynamic, engaging mystery, and Irish Stew! Life in Kilbane has, of course, progressed nicely with new people moving into the village, career changes from amateur to professional, family highs and lows, and friends turning to fiancés, but newbies need not fear being at a disadvantage since there are plenty of references to make the reading experience complete and enjoyable. Siobhan O’Sullivan has much going on in her job with the Garda and planning her soon wedding, but investigating a murder overloads her already full plate. The owner of the new bookshop has some quirky, and limiting, ideas of what books to sell, but the idea of hosting an event to highlight some up and coming Irish writers is well received...until one author winds up murdered with pages from a rival’s book stuffed in their mouth.
My cozy criteria often includes the need for a foreign setting, and anything in the Great Britain is high on my list. O’Connor brings this Irish village to life with its pubs, its cottages, and its emerald landscape. Next it’s the characters, and with O’Connor she has created a core diverse group that, including a strong family, loving couple, and quirky village residents, reminds me of people in my own life making it fun to follow their exploits. With a lovely setting well described and close-knit characters bantering about, the mystery requires creativity, a bit of complexity, and often involving the core characters as witnesses, suspects, and/or investigator. O’Connor’s mystery has it all with several having a motive and plenty of misdirection gum up the works, then smoothing out into a satisfying conclusion. And last, I need a theme well woven through the drama with insights, tips, and Google-worthy follow-up and at least one recipe that compliments the story. In this book it is the Irish culture, literature, and a recipe for Eoin’s Irish Stew! This is definitely a cozy that checks all of my boxes!
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