Category: Contemporary

Murder At An Irish Christmas by Carlene O’Connor

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Contemporary, Mystery2 Comments

Murder at an Irish Christmas (Irish Village Mystery #6)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Irish Village Mystery #6
Publication Date: 10/27/20
Number of Pages: 304

Siobhan (shi-vawn) O’Sullivan and her family, known as the O’Sullivan Six, are in action again as they visit a colorful village in West Cork. Christmas is near and they will be spending time with the family of James’ fiancé, Elise. Siobhan is a bit apprehensive about her older brother’s engagement, but the rest of her brood of brothers and sisters, Grainne (Grawn-ya), Ann, Eoin (Owen), and Ciaran (Keeran) seem just fine with it. They are all looking forward to a peaceful Christmas with all of them together just enjoying each other. Of course, wherever Siobhan goes, a dead body soon follows – even at Christmas.

The village is hosting a concert, conducted by Enda Elliott, who is the Conductor for the RTE National Symphony Orchestra. The aging Enda lives in the village and is its most renowned citizen. To say Enda is eccentric would be putting it mildly, but everybody seems to love him – so – imagine the shock when the entire village shows up at the old mill to decorate it for the concert – and they find a very deceased Enda sprawled in the middle of the musicians seating. Oh! My! At first glance, it appears to be an accident, but as a Garda, Siobhan has to secure the scene and await the arrival of the local Garda. It soon becomes evident that it wasn’t an accident. Oh! My!

With suspects galore and red herrings aplenty, you’ll have a time unraveling this mystery right along with Siobhan and her fiancé Detective Sergeant Macdara Flannery. What could the motive be? Who hated Enda enough to murder him? Could it be his son Jason? His second wife Faye? His third, and current, wife Leah? His daughter Moira? One of his grandchildren – Elise, Paul, or Orla? The harpist, Ruth? The artist, Catherine? The artist’s lover, Theodore Baskins? The venue owner? His rival, Harry Williams? Oh! My! Too many suspects to count.

As everyone’s secrets are revealed (including Enda’s) – like peeling an onion – and Siobhan is attacked – the solution is still not evident. Will they find the murderer before another death occurs? You’ll just have to read this delightful story to find out.

This is one of my favorite series and I really love all of the characters. It is well-written, the mystery is well-plotted and well-delivered, the characters are robust, likable, and well developed. I mean – what else could you possibly want. Goodness – there is even an excellent Irish Brown Bread recipe in the back!

I loved the book and can’t wait for the next one.

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

Old Bones Can Be Murder by Connie Shelton

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Contemporary, Mystery, NovellaLeave a comment

Old Bones Can Be Murder: Charlie Parker Mysteries: A Between-the-Numbers Novella (Charlie Parker Mysteries, Book 18.5)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Charlie Parker Mysteries 18.5
Publication Date: 3/23/20
Number of Pages: 114

I am so glad to have had another fast-paced, interesting, and exciting Charlie Parker Mystery to read. I was disappointed that Drake didn’t get more page time, but what he had was quality stuff. Charlie’s free-spirited Aunt Louisa, who conducts ghost tours in Bury St. Edmunds, England, is there to entertain us in Drake’s absence.

Our adventure all began with a message in a fortune cookie – “A Close Relative Needs Your Help.” Charlie normally doesn’t pay any attention to those messages, but this one is so different from the standard messages about coming into a fortune – well – she just can’t get it out of her mind. She calls her brothers and they are all hale and hardy and not in need of her help. Drake is right there with her and he doesn’t need her help. Who else is left? Ahhh – when she gets home, she has a phone message from her Aunt Louisa in England. Could it be Aunt Louisa who needs her help? After speaking with her aunt, who says she definitely doesn’t need any help, Charlie still decides to go for a visit – because it will be fun even if her aunt doesn’t need help.

Charlie and Louisa have several fun-filled days in London before heading on to Louisa’s home in Bury St. Edmunds. Louisa has to get back to work, so Charlie has days free to explore the picturesque little town. She explores until a skeleton is found during an excavation at a quaint little tea shop where Charlie is enjoying a break. Ever curious, Charlie can’t let the mystery rest. There is nothing to identify the body – nothing – how did the poor man come to be where he was? Where is his family? Who is he? Was he there because of an accident or foul means?

Charlie tells herself she’s only digging into it because the police are otherwise occupied and this case is at the bottom of their list. Then, she finds the clues that surely identify the body – and – that person has ties to her Aunt Louisa. Charlie is sure she has to solve the case and find who murdered the man before she leaves England or Aunt Louisa could become the prime suspect. However, Aunt Louisa isn’t exactly forthcoming about the man nor their relationship. Oh! My!

It seems nobody wants to talk about the man who was found. He was an American, a drifter, a ne’er-do-well, a womanizer, a – well a great many other things. Can Charlie find the clues to solve this thirty-year-old case?

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, even though the solution just sort of popped out of thin air.