Barbara’s rating: 3.7 out of 5 Stars
Series: County Kerry Mystery #4
Publication Date: 10/28/25
Period: Contemporary – southwest Ireland
Number of Pages: 384

This is a chilling, spine-tingling mystery from first page to last. It’s almost like a closed-room mystery with the most likely suspect locked within a mental hospital – but there are plenty of other suspects as well. There are plenty of red herrings to make it interesting and a cast of characters who will surely grab your attention. The mystery is excellent, and the writing is well-paced. It did, however, drive me nuts when it constantly switched timelines. That is a personal thing and no dig at the story. I would be zipping through a chapter, ready to get to the exciting next part, and the next chapter would begin with, “One Year Earlier”. It was sort of like reading two books within one.

One warning – it is better for you if you don’t begin this book when you are home alone at night. You’ll jump at every creak and constantly check behind you to see if someone is watching.

Dimpna Wilde, a local veterinarian, is bereft at the loss of her father, but has little time to deal with that grief when her employee and friend, Niamh, appears in the middle of the road. Niamh is bloodied, soaked, and disoriented – and she claims there is a dead woman in her bed.

The story switches back and forth between events that happened a year earlier and what is occurring at present. How are they connected? Will Cormac be able to put all of the clues together and solve the crime from a year ago, as well as the current murders?

This is a book I can definitely recommend, but if you are looking for a Cozy Mystery, this isn’t it. It’s creepy, chilling, and spine-tingling, but you won’t be able to put it down

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Barbara’s rating: 4.4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Irish Village Mystery #10
Publication Date: 2/20/24
Period: Contemporary Ireland
Number of Pages: 286

Vera Cowley – or Mrs. Chips as everyone in town calls her – has not been having an easy time lately. Sadly, that time has passed, and she’s no longer a part of this world. She was found, murdered, in her fish-and-chips shop. Oh! My! Who could have done such an awful thing? Was it her ex-husband? Perhaps it was her ex-best friend. Or, was it the vegetable oil salesman – or the bakery owner – or the slimy banker – or the fisherwoman – or the food critic? Or is it somebody totally different? Mmmmm – so many suspects – so little time.

Garda Siobhan O’Sullivan and her husband, Detective Sargeant Macdara Flannery, delayed their honeymoon – for a very long time. However, with Siobhan’s brother, Eoin’s, tensions running high and dementing everyone, Macdara thinks taking a belated honeymoon by the sea would be an excellent idea to relieve the tensions and relax a bit. So, the seven of them head off on a holiday trip.

Within a short time of arriving in the lovely seaside village of Lahinch, they were staring at a dead body. OOPS! Can the ever-curious Siobhan let it go and allow the local garda to handle the investigation? Of course not! She sees a loose end and she has to pull on it until it unravels. As she freely admits, she does not know how to Holiday.

With more threats and more bodies turning up, Macdara and Siobhan haven’t any choice but to openly step up and help investigate. Will you solve the case before they do?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book – as I have all of the other books in the series. I have become attached to each member of the family and always look forward to seeing what has happened off-page in their lives. Of course, I love the mysteries they solve as well, and this one was one with lots of twists and lots of suspects.

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

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