Murder in an Irish Village by Carlene O’Connor
Reviewed by: Dawn Dickey, library volunteer
Genre: Mystery
Suggested Age: Adults, Teens (15+)
What is the book about?: Less than a year before the tale begins, the parents of Siobhán O’Sullivan and her five siblings were killed in a horrible car wreck caused by a drunk driver. The small town of Kilbane, Ireland, gathered round the O’Sullivans to support them through the tragedy. The driver who caused the accident, Billy Murphy, is in jail. Billy’s brother, Niall, was thought to have moved to Dublin until one fateful day when Siobhán encountered Niall in a local shop. Niall, in a rather threatening tone, hits Siobhán up for 10,000 Euros, saying that his brother is innocent and that he, Niall, has information about the real perpetrator of the crime. Later that day, Niall appears in the O’Sullivan family bistro, where he is decidedly not welcome. At the bistro, Niall argues with Siobhán’s older brother, James, who is close to celebrating six months of sobriety. The next morning, Niall is found stabbed to death in the bistro. James was out all night – drinking – and has no memory of the night. Customers from the local pub remember another heated argument between James and Niall, and soon James is arrested for the murder. Siobhán must rescue her brother and prove his innocence by finding the true killer.
My Review: Author Carlene O’Connor makes the characters and setting come alive in this cozy mystery, the first in O’Connor’s Irish Village Mystery Series. Characters are real, sympathetic and friendly – just the sort of folks you’d like to sit down and have a pint with at your local pub. The ancient walled (fictional) town of Kilbane is the beautifully described setting for the mystery. As a reader I happily walked and ran with “O’Sullivan Six” and their community of friends through the streets of this interesting village. It’s a satisfying read that will leave you feeling as if you’ve found friends and a home away from home. I’m looking forward to reading more in the series!
Three Words That Describe This Book: Warm, charming, engaging
Give This a Try if You Like…Cozy mysteries such as Sheila Connolly’s County Cork Mystery Series or Nancy Atherton’s Aunt Dimity mystery series
Rating: 5/5
