Escape to Ireland with this charming whodunnit… Cozy fans will be entranced by the beautiful setting, the pair of adorable Jack Russell puppies, and of course—the deadly mystery at the heart of it all! In Dublin’s fair city, where the girls are so pretty, murder occurs at the feet of sweet Molly Malone . . . Ferrying tourists around Dublin for the Leprechaun Limo Service makes quite a change … Leprechaun Limo Service makes quite a change after years in the military. Still, Megan Malone is enjoying her life in Ireland. She likes the scenery, the easy pace, the quirky, quick-witted locals. Everything—except having one of her clients drop dead at the statue of fabled fishmonger, Molly Malone.
Most restaurant critics notch up their share of enemies. Elizabeth Darr, however, was a well-loved international star. She and her husband, Simon, had just had dinner when Elizabeth collapsed, and spoiled seafood is the first suspect. The restaurant’s owner, worried her business is doomed, begs Megan to look into it. Between her irate boss and a handsome Garda who’s both amused and annoyed by her persistence, Megan has her hands full even before she’s cajoled into taking care of two adorable Jack Russell puppies (which she is almost definitely not keeping). But if cockles and mussels aren’t to blame, can Megan find the real culprit . . .before another fishy death occurs?
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After twenty years in the US Army as a driver and a combat medic, Megan Malone is settling into the quiet life as a driver for a luxury car service in Dublin, Ireland. When a client unexpectedly drops dead just outside her car, her own empathy for the deceased’s husband means she can’t just walk away, and she’s drawn into the police investigation by insatiable curiosity.
Dublin’s a fascinating setting for a cozy mystery series, with its old-world architecture and atmosphere combined with the cosmopolitan realities of life in a capital city. Megan has a wonderful network of friends, a delightfully diverse one with Niamh the leading actress who’s black and still proudly Irish, Fionnula the chef, Brian the small publisher and Orla, Megan’s nightmare of a boss. Some animal colour is added with the stray Jack Russell and two newborn puppies Megan ends up taking in ‘just until a rescue can take them’ which, somehow, I can see evolving into a much longer-term relationship than Megan currently anticipates. There’s maaaybe just the hint of romantic interest between Megan and a detective, even though she tries to set him up with Niamh at one point, I think I detected a few sparks and I’d really like to see how that plays out.
One murder turns into two and Megan develops an impending sense of urgency when her client is arrested for a murder she’s pretty sure he didn’t commit. She’s tenacious and refuses to give in, which leads her eventually into danger when someone decides she’s too close to the truth. I didn’t see the eventual solution coming at all, but it absolutely made logical sense considering everything Megan learns throughout the book.
I really enjoyed this first in a new series. Dublin makes a really nice change of pace from the mostly-American set cozy mysteries I’ve read to date, and Megan’s a really interesting heroine. There’s obviously a lot more backstory to be revealed about her; we learn just enough about her here to want to know more. I’ll definitely be looking out for the next in the series! Five stars for a great addition to the genre.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
After retiring from the US military, Megan Malone moved to Dublin, Ireland for a fresh start. She loves her new home and is enjoying her job as a driver for the Leprechaun Limo Service. When one of her regular clients, popular food blogger, Elizabeth Darr, dies after eating at her friend’s restaurant, Megan does everything she can to help Elizabeth’s grieving husband Simon and her chef friend. As she digs deeper into Elizabeth’s life, she uncovers some shocking secrets about Simon and her friend’s business partner.
Dead in Dublin by Catie Murphy is a promising start to new series. The plot is unique, complex, and moves at a steady pace. Megan is an intelligent and relatable main character. I enjoyed getting to know her and found her career to be a refreshing change from the traditional cozy mysteries. I loved the chemistry between her and Detective Bourke and look forward to seeing what the author has in store for their characters. The murder mystery was a lot darker than I was expecting. It definitely kept me guessing and the culprit was a complete surprise to me. This was an enjoyable read and I look forward to spending more time in Dublin with Megan and her adorable dogs.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Catie Murphy for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dead in Dublin by Catie Murphy is the beginning of A Dublin Driver Mystery series. Megan Malone retired from the military after twenty years and relocated to Dublin, Ireland where she works as a driver for Leprechaun Limo Service. Megan is shocked when Elizabeth “Liz” Darr collapses at the base of the Molly Malone statue and passes away. Liz Darr was a renowned restaurant critic and food blogger who had been traveling for the last year around Europe with her husband Simon. Megan had been ferrying them around the last three months whenever they were in town. When food poisoning is suspected, Megan’s friend, Fionnuala Canan comes under suspicion as the chef from Canan’s where Liz had her last meal. Both Fionnuala and her boss, Orla Keegan ask (beg) Megan to investigate. Detective Paul Bourke admires Megan’s tenacity, but he would rather she keep her nose out of the investigation and stick to driving. Megan has no intention of giving up especially after the victim’s parents also ask her to get them answers. Megan has her hands full between her driving duties, sleuthing and taking care of a Jack Russell terrier along with her two pups that were discovered in the kitchen of Canan’s. When another death occurs at Canan’s, Megan is sure they are connected. Can Megan steer the investigation towards the killer? Dead in Dublin takes readers to Dublin, Ireland with her vivid descriptions of this charming city. Megan lives just outside Dublin in an apartment in Rathmines where she must make sure her landlord and boss, Orla does not discover the mama dog and her two puppies (which Megan keeps saying she has no intention of keeping). I appreciated the pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book for the various characters names (Niamh is pronounced Neev). It was very helpful. Megan is a Houston native who wanted a fresh start after retiring from a twenty year career in the military. She enjoys ferrying people around the city, though, she is not fond of her boss, Orla Keegan. I like that Megan is intelligent as well as friendly with a unique profession for a cozy mystery. Detective Paul Bourke is in charge of the case, and he likes that Megan is determined (though he does wish she will quit meddling). There is definite chemistry between them. There are a variety of eccentric characters from Niamh O’Sullivan who is an actress and activist to Megan’s Uncle Rabbie with his varied connections. The mystery was multifaceted and suited the Irish setting. We follow Megan as she questions various people searching for answers. I believe readers will enjoy this challenging whodunit. I was surprised by the foul language present in Dead in Dublin since it is not normal for it to be present in cozy mysteries. Dead in Dublin is a stimulating new cozy mystery with darling dogs, ineffable Irish charm, a dashing detective, a rash of rumors, and one determined driver.
Read 9.19.2020
Not a bad start to a new series; I will say here that this really grazes that line between cozy mystery and regular mystery – there are actually parts where I feel it goes over that line, but I know that is up for interpretation from each reader. I just felt that the marketing for this is close to pushing it when calling it a cozy.
That said, I liked it. The narrator [when she was fully relaxed] was excellent [when she wasn’t, it was either NO punctuation at all, or a period. after. every. single. word. WHICH was annoying] and made the story seem more authentically Irish. I like Megan as a MC and she actually WORKS and sleuths so that was bonus points, plus she stands up to her not-so-nice boss…well, I cannot say anymore than that.
Looking forward to the next one.
I plan to read more of this author.
Interesting plot. Love the characters. Look forward to the next book!!
A 40-year-old Texan limo driver with a streak of curiosity in Dublin leads the story. She’s so curious sh solves a murder without really making the decision to do so because she wants to know and she’s concerned about people involved. I enjoyed it
This book is one you can read and feel good. You don’t have dozens of people in the story and try to remember where they fit. I will read more of her books.
Megan Malone is an American expat living in Dublin and drives limos and town cars for Leprechaun Limo Service, her current charge is food blogger Elizabeth Darr and her husband Simon. When Elizabeth drops dead shortly after dining at a local restaurant, owned by Megan’s friend who is not only distraught that someone has died after eating at her restaurant but also worried how it will impact her business, she begs Megan to look into Elizabeth’s death. Was it food poisoning or something more sinister as murder?
Megan has spent a lot of time with Liz and her husband Simon and she offers to help him as best she can to find out what happened to his wife, and when Megan discovers it was being treated as murder she wonders if Simon has something to do with it, but why? what would be his motivation to kill her? Megan uncovers a host of suspects and to be honest I had no idea who it was going to end up being. Catie Murphy did a great job of keeping Megan and the reader on their toes trying to work out the who and the why.
Dead in Dublin was a great start to this series and I loved all the colour cast of characters we meet in this book and hope we meet some again in the next one, this series is off great start and I cant wait to see what is in store for Megan Malone next.
5 stars.
When I discovered the author of this series is CE Murphy (The Walker Papers, The Negotiator series), writing as Caite Murphy, I was Instantly excited and intrigued. And knew I had to read her first cozy mystery.
I was intrigued by the main character, Meg Malone, an American ex-pat living in Dublin who drives a limo for a living (which would be an interesting job…..without the dead bodies, of course). Overall, I enjoyed all the characters and the storyline. And I was completely surprised at whodunit.
There is some stronger language not usually found in a cozy which surprised me a little…but did not distract me or put me off the story. I definitely look forward to the next book in the series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
DEAD IN DUBLIN by Catie Murphy
The First Dublin Driver Mystery
Originally from Texas. Megan Malone now calls Ireland home. Enjoying life abroad, Megan works as a driver for Leprechaun Limo Service. For months she’d been the regular driver for Liz Darr, noted American restaurant critic and blogger, and her husband when they visit Dublin. Leaving dinner one night Liz dropped to the ground and died at the foot of the famous statue of Molly Malone. Surely food poisoning couldn’t have killed that quickly-and the fish was fresh! Trying to support the grieving husband as well as her friend who owns the restaurant where Liz had her last meal, Megan has some questions. Will her curiosity help her or will it be her downfall?
DEAD IN DUBLIN is a more grown up mystery. Harsher edges show a more realistic city, not a bucolic setting. Our protagonist is mature and has worked as an army medic before becoming a driver in Dublin. This experience helps to make her an intelligent, confident woman with lots of ingenuity. Megan is also likeable. I love her dealings with Mama and the puppies, as well as the detective.
Having never been to Dublin, I can’t say for certain, but the author brings an air of authenticity to the work with not only detailed descriptions of the area, but an attitude, as well as the cadence of the language. The effect was that I could hear the sounds and felt I was there, in an amazing place filled with the problems major cities face, as well as the historic charm with which it’s also endowed.
DEAD IN DUBLIN is an intriguing mystery filled with Irish charm and a capable protagonist. I look forward to seeing what’s in store for Megan Malone…and those puppies she’s not adopting.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
This is the first book in The Dublin Driver series. I really enjoyed it, and can’t wait for the next one. The premise is a nice change from the typical cozy mystery formula. Set in Dublin, the descriptions made me feel like I was right there with Megan. I also liked learning a bit about the language and customs of another country. Megan and the other characters are interesting and the pacing and twisty story line kept my attention right to the end. I highly recommend this book.
I received an advance copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley and this is my honest review.
I really enjoyed this first-in-series! Protagonist Megan is realistic and likeable. Her boss is less than likeable, but makes for a strong driving force for Megan to try to solve the mystery surrounding the death of one of her limo service customers. That, and her friend owns the restaurant where her dead client ate dinner right before she died from possible food poisoning. Detective Bourke is a charming character Megan meets as he investigates the death. This story moved at a good pace and kept me guessing til the big reveal. Looking forward to the second book in this series!
I received an advance copy of this book. This honest review contains my own thoughts and opinions.
Series: The Dublin Driver Mysteries – Book 1
Author: Catie Murphy
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Exotic Location
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 304
Publishing Date: December 31, 2019
From Kensington Books comes the new cozy series “The Dublin Driver Mysteries” by Catie Murphy and the debut book, Dead In Dublin. It is a fun, entertaining, traditional mystery with offbeat characters with a great location.
Megan is an original character, ex-military, American, and a limo driver. She cares about her passengers, her friends, and the people she works with. Having a character that is as put together as Megan is in the first book in a new cozy series, is unusual, but nothing less would be expected from a writer with Ms. Murphy’s talent.
Other characters have quirks that help in aiding Megan’s progress through the story and make her a person readers will enjoy getting to know. The location of Dublin is detailed enough to make it interesting without being boring. Suspects and clues in this new cozy series abound, which keeps readers flipping the page while trying to figure out who the culprit is and maintaining a high degree of charm. The murder is not predictable, and neither is the killer or the motive. I think most people will be surprised by the unveiling of the murderer and how Megan solves the mystery.
Dead In Dublin is a wonderful first book in a new cozy series, and I am happy to recommend it to readers who like adventure, exotic locations, and a murder that will keep them guessing until the final reveal.
This new series is off to a great start. The setting was the first thing to catch my interest. Set in Dublin, one of my favorite cities and then to have a very believable character and a engrossing mystery, well it wasn’t hard to find a place for this series on my must read list.
Megan Malone moved to Dublin three years ago when she left her military life as a medic after putting in twenty years, It was time for a change and as her family roots are there, she headed for Dublin. Taking a job as a driver for a limo/town car service also gave her an apartment as her boss also became her landlady. As Megan is an American, she finds herself driving lots of American tourists around town. She has made many friends, one who is a chef and part owner of a restaurant. After one of her regular customers has eaten at her friends restaurant, preparing to write it up in her well known blog, the woman suddenly dies, right there at the foot of the Molly Malone statue. Her husband can’t believe what just happened and neither can Megan. the first thought is food poisoning but, as both husband and wife ate the same thing, that means murder. When a second death occurs, also tied to the same restaurant, Megan and the local Garda are wondering if the two cases are somehow connected. The dead woman’s husband was connected to both people.
I enjoyed everything about this mystery, beyond the lovely setting. Megan is 40ish and she is very intelligent. She investigates but doesn’t withhold any information from the Garda. The puzzle kept my attention from beginning to end. The supporting cast were characters I would like to meet again in the next mystery. Now I have to be patient and wait to read the next installment, Death on the Green, coming out in September 2020. It already has a spot on my to be read list.
Leprechaun Limo Service in located in
the city of Dublin, Ireland.
An ex-pat living n Dublin for three years,
Megan Malone is a driver for them.
Megan is the driver for the American
food critic, Elizabeth Derr and her husband
while they are in Dublin.
The couple have just eaten dinner at a
friend’s restaurant and are returning to the
car. Elizabeth falls over dead in front of the
famous, Molly Malone statue. Did she
experience food poisoning? What could kill
her so fast?
Megan starts her own investigation to help
her friend who cooked that night and also
to help the deceased widower.
The co-owner of the restaurant in then found
dead with his throat slit plus a waitress is
missing. There is more going on than meets
the eye.
Megan also becomes the caretaker for a
Jack Russell terrier and her two newborn pups.
She claims it is only to one of the dog rescue
organizations has spaced for mama and pups.
But she seems to be getting fond of them.
Here’s hoping Megan keeps them.
A fast paced new series with a well defined,
well developed main character in the 40 year
old, former military now limousine driver, Megan
Malone. The secondary characters are well
written adding an enjoyable atmosphere to the
story.
Get a tour of Dublin and the surrounding area
while traveling along with Megan Malone and
company. It is a small town story where
strangers become like family.
I volunteered to read Dead in Dublin. Thanks to
Kensington publishers via a NetGallery for the
opportunity.
cosy-mystery, Ireland, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, law-enforcement, murder
After twenty years as a US army medic, Megan relocated to the family homeland in Dublin and made a new life there. First came a job as a driver with a car hire service complete with a very cranky boss and a decent apartment at a good price. The writer makes good use of the differences and adjustments from American English to local English, and that’s a very good thing. She has made numerous friends over the past three years and some of them are very important to this case. All of the characters are well done and engaging.
She has been the driver for a noted restaurant critic and her husband for a time now, which is why she is on hand when the critic falls dead on the pavement in front of a friend’s restaurant and meets an interesting law officer. Let the sleuthing begin! The publisher’s blurb is really pretty good and spoilers are just wrong! I loved it and want more!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Dead in Dublin by Catie Murphy is the first in a new cozy mystery series centered in current-day Dublin. The main character is Megan (a 40 y/o woman who moved to Dublin 3 years ago from the States) and drives limos/cars for a local company. By creating this unique position, the author has thought of a way to create a lot of “avenues” for future installments and plot lines. Quite creative!
I like Megan and her fiery streak of independence. I feel she is likeable, realistic, and relatable. I also enjoyed meeting the array of friends and quirky characters that will hopefully continue to evolve and grace us with their presence in the future.
I enjoyed the plot line, the murder/mystery, and the surprise ending. It definitely sets up for the next book in an exciting manner.
I enjoyed most of all the descriptions of the landscapes and historical landmarks that make Dublin the beauty that it is. The author did a fabulous job creating such vivid imagery for the reader.
Excellent start. 5/5 stars
Dead in Dublin by Catie Murphy was an excellent beginning to a new cozy mystery series. Ms. Murphy is a “new to me” author who did not disappoint.
Megan Malone is an American expat living in Dublin and driving limos and town cars for Leprechaun Limo Service. She loves her job and has made several friends in Dublin since moving here. She’s older than most of the current cozy mystery sleuths so I enjoyed “meeting” her. The story is well crafted with a quickly paced plot, twists, turns, red herrings and few suspects for the Garda and Megan to investigate. The actual culprit was a finale shocker for me as I never guessed who might have killed the restaurant critic, Elizabeth Darr. Well done, Ms. Murphy! I look forward to the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.