After joining the police force of her small Irish village, a local woman must investigate the murder of a stranger in this cozy mystery novel. After solving two murders in the County Cork village of Kilbane, Siobhán O’Sullivan has accepted her calling and decided to join the Garda Síochána. The O’Sullivan clan couldn’t be prouder, but there’s no time to celebrate as she’s already on another … already on another case, summoned by the local priest who just found a dead man in the St. Mary’s graveyard—aboveground.
He’s a stranger, but the priest has heard talk of an American tourist in town, searching for his Irish ancestor. As Siobhán begins to dig for a motive among the gnarled roots of the victim’s family tree, she will need to stay two steps ahead of the killer or end up with more than one foot in the grave.
“Captivating . . . Fans of mysteries with an Irish flavor will look forward to Siobhán and Macdara’s further adventures.”—Publishers Weekly
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There’s nothing I like more than a cozy mystery that makes me laugh out loud. This book made me want to move to Ireland and make Siobhan O’Sullivan my best friend. Wonderful!
A charming cozy set in an Irish village. This was my favorite of the series so far! If only the author would include the recipe for the protagonist’s famous brown bread. 🙂
I love this Irish Village series. Each one transports you to the tiny, quaint little village of Kilbane where murder always seems to find its way inside the village walls. The characters will quickly become like old friends and you’ll want to visit them time and time again. But don’t even think you’re getting Siobhan’s recipe for brown bread. She’s, apparently, taking that to her grave. LOL.
The author really knitted the plot in very well. I didn’t know ‘who done it’ until the very end.
I enjoyed the characters and it was a page turner
I love this series! I know I have read them out of order, but it doesn’t matter. I love being able to read about these quirky, fun, and heartwarming characters of Kilbane. Siobhan and MacDara compliment each other well and I like the whole cast of secondary characters also.
The murder/mystery was complex and kept me guessing until the end. I figured out some of it, but not all! Well done.
5/5 stars
In the Irish village of Kilbane, Siobhán O’Sullivan
is getting ready to start her first day as a Garda
after two years of schooling.
Father Kearney comes banging on her door. He has
found a body in the church yard. A dead body lying
above ground.
Off Siobhán goes into the St Mary’s churchyard to
where the body lies. It is an American and he is
pointing his finger at the headstone of his ancestor,
JOHN MALLON 1828–1903
Detective Sergeant Macdara Flannery who is stationed
in Dublin is sent down to lead the investigation.
Lots of puzzling clues, an American family researching
their roots, each member with a reason to do away with
the deceased, a filmmaker shooting documentary about
their search and findings, a nurse who turns out to be
a fraud plus the local villagers and Siobhán’s large
family running their own business keeps the reader
involved from the beginning right up to the end.
So come take a quick trip to Kilbane, Ireland. The author’s
vivid, colorful and detailed description will have you
traveling from your chair to the lush land of Ireland.
This is book # 3 in the Irish Village Mysteries series. It
presents the past with the present effortlessly.
Easy to read. Enjoyed it very much.
This is a tidy read for those who enjoy all things Ireland. If you’re stuck at home during the pandemic, and you long to be on the road and exploring, a good book that evokes sense of place and people is the next-best thing. This novel, one in a series featuring the same characters and setting, will put you on the next plane bound for the Emerald Isle.
this is part of a series with likeable characters and the very interesting Irish setting.
LOVED IT.
It was entertaining and a quick read. I enjoyed it
Love her books – have read them all! Light mystery, romance and humor – perfect mix
This book was very well written. I thoroughly enjoyed the wit, humor and creativity of it.
Overall enjoyable that got better as the story developed.
Fun, easy reading book. Enjoyable.
MESSED UP, BUT SO GOOD! Family secrets lead to murder But… it brings Siobhan and Macdara back together(WHEW). Loved it.
I enjoyed that it took place in another country
Is a book still in the genre of amateur sleuth/cozy if the main character has become a police officer? Is it now a mystery set in Ireland?
Whatever you want to call the it, this is a good book. It has intriguing characters, a great setting and an enticing mystery to draw the reader in.
Siobhan has taken her life into her own hands and forged her own path and become a garda, police officer in Ireland, as well as running the family bistro. It’s meant moving on from the man she loves but he seems to have moved on as well. Siobhan’s family makes me laugh. They are varied in personalities and they all love each other. I want to start at the beginning of this series and learn more about them.
The mystery is interwoven and really good. It begins from the first page and the book is off and running. It has a study of family history going on as much as the investigation. Kind of makes me want to go digging around in my family tree to see what shows up.
I can definitely recommend this book, author and series.
A very enjoyable read with interesting characters.