Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Irish Village Mystery #5
Publication Date: 2/25/2020
Number of Pages: 304
** 4.5 Stars Rounded Up **

I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent addition to the Irish Village Mystery series. In this series, we have watched Siobhan (shi-vawn) O’Sullivan grow from a harried caregiver for her five siblings after they were orphaned to a confident garda (police). She’s now engaged to fellow garda Macdara Flannery and the O’Sullivan Six, as they are known in their village of Kilbane, are finally settling and coming into their own. This book is well-written, well-paced and the mystery will keep you guessing right until the last.

Siobahn is on her summer leave and is looking forward to spending time with her siblings when her fiancée arrives at her bistro, Naomi’s, and asks her to accompany him to Ballysiogdun. He received a frantic call from his cousin, Jane, who wouldn’t tell him what was wrong – she only said he had to get there. When they arrive, it is to discover Macdara’s aunt dead in her cottage and Jane, who is blind, standing stoically in the front. Macdara and Siobhan quickly determine that it is murder. Since they probably won’t be able to officially work the case, they quickly take pictures of the scene and the inside of the cottage.

It seems that almost everyone in the village should be a suspect because neither Macdara’s aunt Ellen nor her daughter Jane is liked at all. You can’t find anyone who has a good word to say about them and several had a true dislike for them. Where can they begin when the case has been assigned to a sergeant from Cork and he doesn’t want their involvement?

In a village that is very insular, where most are holding secrets, and all believe in the Good People (fairies) it is almost impossible to get anyone to tell what they know. Working around the official garda investigation and managing to ferret out the information they need to solve the case is almost impossible. Siobhan is like a dog with a bone and just won’t let it go. She’s determined to find the real murderer and not let an innocent person be blamed just because they are an easy solution.

This was a great mystery with infidelity, fairies, greed, and malice aplenty. I’m not sure there was a good person in that entire village. The villain will surprise you and you’ll be on the edge of your seat the entire time you are reading.

You’ll love your visit to lush, green, beautiful Ireland and all of their lore. It is a fun read and a delight to watch Macdara and Siobhan progress in their relationship. I hope you will enjoy the book as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.