The luck of the Irish runs out for a professional poker player in this mystery set in County Cork that will “will leave cozy readers well satisfied” (Publishers Weekly). A poker tournament in the small village of Kilbane in County Cork is drawing players from across the country, but none more famous than Eamon Foley. A tinker out of Dublin, he’s called the Octopus for playing like he has eight … Octopus for playing like he has eight hands under the table. But when Foley is found at the end of a rope, swinging from the rafters of Rory Mack’s pub, it’s time for the garda to take matters into their own hands.
Detective Sargent Macdara Flannery would lay odds it’s a simple suicide—after all, there’s a note and the room was locked. But officer Siobhán O’Sullivan suspects foul play, as does Foley’s very pregnant widow. Soon it’s up to Siobhán to call a killer’s bluff, but if she doesn’t play her cards right, she may be the next one taken out of the game.
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It’s not often that I don’t solve the case before the reveal, but this is the second time I have read a Fantastic book by this author and I didn’t solve it first! The ending was my favorite part. I just hate that I am reading these books out of order (borrowing from the library stinks sometimes).
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. The setting and the characters are wonderful and the books always make me laugh.
I love, love, love this series! It honestly gets better with each book. I love the mystery plots, the characters, and the town. It is everything a cozy mystery is supposed to be. Perfect!
I love this author’s books. She writes so well that I feel like I am right there in Kilbane, along with all the other villagers! I’ve never had the opportunity to visit Ireland, but would really love to go there, even more so after reading her books.
Well written and full of Irish charm and believable characters
This is a series that I have really enjoyed since the very first book and that continues as the series evolves. This is the fourth book in the Irish Village Mystery series and I have come to look forward to each new book. Siobhan is a sympathetic, likable character that has continued to grow and come into her own. I like how her family always plays a part in the stories even if it is only in a secondary capacity. It is what grounds her. I also like how she approaches solving a mystery. She is not reckless (especially now that she is garda) but she is thoughtful and untangles clues while solving the puzzle before her. The relationship between her and Macdara has continued to evolve as well. I have always liked that he didn’t dismiss her thoughts in an investigation, even before she was garda. He has a respect for how her mind works and how she can put together the clues.
The mystery was well done and woven throughout the entire story. It was the murder in a locked room type mystery to solve and there were plenty of clues, twist, turns and red herrings thrown about to distract the reader. While the reveal was not a total surprise, some aspects were and I liked that I didn’t totally guess the outcome.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley.
This is the first book I’ve read in this series and I could tell it wasn’t first in the series but there wasn’t a single spoiler that I picked up on. I was kept guessing throughout the entirety of the story. I adored the characters, the plot was well-written, and I wish I could dive into the world created.
Thank you to Carlene O’Connor, NetGalley, and Kensington Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read and share my honest thoughts and opinions about this delightful story.
Totally hooked on this series. Love the characters. Now I want to move to Ireland!
I’m enjoying this series about an Irish family.
Thoroughly enjoyable. You never know what the main character will do next. Lots of good characters. Smart plot.
After reading this, I bought the author’s next book.
Light entertaining book
Takes place in a small Irish village. Love the characters and you can picture the village from the book..Sounds like a place to visit.The characters come to life for you.
I have read several cop or detective stories centering around Irish (or Irish-American) characters, and while I liked the characters in the book I found the storyline a bit clunky at times, with variable pacing, and references to Irish customs and words were not well explained so I felt like I was missing meanings or details. Not the best of its kind, but still fun to read.
This was a free book with amazon prime and I am so grateful for that. The book is the 4th in this series and I have read the first 3 but I think you could read this book on its own and not be lost. I love how Carlene writes the dialog it sounds just like being in Ireland. The one thing I have noticed is how Carlene slowly lays out the story and then in the final few chapters really brings it all together. I had a hard time with that at first but now know what is going on and enjoy the process.
I liked all of the books in this series .
Loved this series great read
Fun light read…just the thing to unwind with.
Part of a series that takes place in a small Irish town and is filled with wonderful characters.
Carlene O’Connor’s series on Murder in a…. is such a fun read. It is written with the Irish dialect and that being said we find the investigation of the murder quite different. Siobhan the eldest daughter of a family who run the cafe her parents opened before their death in an auto accident. They incorporate customers into the story as well as their private lives both the good and the bad.
Looking for something different in a mystery pick up this one or the first in the series, Mystery in an Irish Village.