In this Zoe Donovan novella, Zoe is invited to Ireland to attend the wedding of one of her Irish cousins after contacting the man as part of her research into her Irish heritage. The wedding is being held at Dunphy Castle, the castle where Zoe first learned of her relationship to Lady Catherine, one of the ghosts she met during her last visit to the Emerald Isle. With the Christmas holiday upon … upon them, Zoe and family are in a festive mood until one of her Donovan relations turns up dead after the reception to welcome the bride and groom.
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A Zoe Donovan murder mystery that takes place in a castle in Ireland that will put your sleuthing skills to a test as you try to solve the mystery. Beautifully written and interesting characters will keep you turning those pages. Highly recommend
Zak, Zoe, daughters and Nona travel to Ireland to attend a wedding of a distant cousin. They bring along Zoe’s assistance dog and best companion, Charlie as well. From the start, they are introduced to a complicated assortment of relatives and village people. You may need your own whiteboard to keep everyone straight. Tensions are high, but escalate after the groom’s brother is murdered, except that no one seems overly surprised. Events and activities continue on, interrupted only by flood waters.
The Donovan~Zimmerman family leaves the castle to venture into town to attend a Christmas Market, and view scenery highlights. Although not involved in solving the murder, Alex and Zoe’s brains continue to mull it over. They can not let the mystery go.
It isn’t until the night of the grand ball, and Alex disappears, that Zak and Zoe go into full panic/crisis mode. This is where the book becomes truly tense!
Lots of brain work and problem solving regarding the murder. More family dynamics with only slight paranormal elements. A very brief addition to a beloved series.
I love anything written by Kathy Daley
Celtic Christmas was a very enjoyable read. Zoe and family head back to the Ireland to the Dumphy Castle to attend the wedding of her cousin. Just when they thought it was going to be a wonderful time Zoe and Charlie find a dead body! So much for a murder free vacation.
I love this series!!! It’s like hanging out with old friends. Highly recommend! !
Kathi Daley wrote another fantastic episode in the Zoe Donovan cozy mystery series, filled with elements of a cozy mystery including suspense, danger, humor, love, and friendship. The combination of Christmas, Ireland, a castle, a ghost, a legend and a prophecy, a fancy ball, a suspicious death, and other mysterious circumstances made for an exciting story. True to form, Ms. Daley’s writing flows smoothly, and her setting and relatable characters make for an extremely enjoyable read. I could hardly put the book down. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Celtic Christmas is the thirty-third installment in Kathi Daley’s Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery series. The storyline in this two-hour mystery is well-plotted, and the well-rounded characters are delightful. The mystery in this quick and easy read is intriguing, with twists, turns, and red herrings to keep the reader engaged. The setting is described in a manner that made me feel like I was actually there, and I found myself immersed and totally involved in the story. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy well-crafted cozy mysteries.
It’s Christmastime and Zoe, Zak (her husband), Catherine (their almost two-year-old daughter), Alex Bremmerton (one of two teenagers living with them), Nona (Zak’s honorary grandmother), and Charlie (Zoe’s furry sidekick) have traveled to Ireland to attend the wedding of one of her Irish cousins, Adam Donovan, at Dunphy Castle. Alex is quite taken with the castle and all the planned events and is especially looking forward to attending the Christmas Ball. Given Zoe’s history, it’s not surprising when she and Charlie discover a body on their first night at the castle. Zoe doesn’t intend on getting involved in the actual investigation, but Zak, Alex, and she find the mystery intriguing and can’t resist brainstorming and trying to figure out who murdered Adam’s brother, Tyson Donovan.
Celtic Christmas earns 5/5 Irish Ancestors…Engaging Fun!
Kathi Daley’s Zoe Donovan series was her first cozy mystery, and thirty-three books later…I’m still an eager fan! Zoe first visited Ireland four years ago (Shamrock Shenanigans), and the experience had a profound effect on her. Zoe was led to fascinating details about her long ago ancestors by a…ghost? and after additional searching, she located and connected with a distant cousin, Adam Donovan. Being invited to his nuptials is the perfect opportunity to meet all everyone face-to-face, so off to the Emerald Isle and Dunphy Castle. However, she discovers she’ll have to tread lightly with her new found family. Many family members hold serious animosity toward each other, and the most infamous conflict seems to be with Adam’s brother Tyson Donovan, dubbed the black sheep. Great set up! Then Zoe discovers a dark hallway, hears arguing voices, and finds a body! Ding! Dong! The black sheep is dead! Written from Zoe’s perspective including descriptive language and dialogue, Ireland comes to life, and the ins and outs of the castle depict the perfect romantic venue for a wedding and the darkest scene for a crime. This mystery is engaging, characters well-developed, and the final solution was a delightful surprise. It may be a shorter story, but not short on entertainment! Yeah, a bonus! Recipes are my favorite bonus, and Kathi Daley always finds some easy-to-follow treats, perfect for any holiday: Apple Pie Biscuits, Pilgrim Pie, Mini Cherry Cheesecakes…Yum, of course, but Zoe was in Ireland. I would have enjoyed more traditional Irish Christmas recipes.