Murder at an Irish Bakery
In Kilbane, opinions are plentiful and rarely in alignment. But there’s one thing everyone does agree on, the bakery in the old flour mill, just outside town, is the best in County Cork, well worth the short drive and the long lines, no wonder they’re about to be featured on a reality baking show.
All six contestants in the show are coming to Kilbane to participate, and the town is simmering with excitement. Aside from munching on free samples, the locals, including Siobhan, get a chance to appear in the opening shots. As for the competitors themselves, not all are as sweet as their confections. There are shenanigans on the first day of filming that put everyone on edge, but that’s nothing compared to day two when the first round ends and the top contestant is found face-down in her signature pie.
The producers decide to continue filming while Siobhan and her husband, Garda Macdara Flannery, sift through the suspects. Was this a case of rivalry turned lethal, or are their other motives hidden in the mix? And can they uncover the truth before another baker is eliminated permanently?
The Details
Series: An Irish Village Mystery – Book #9
Author: Carlene O’Connor
Genre/Category: Cozy – Culinary/Exotic Location
Publisher: Kensington Cozies
ISBN: 149673081X
Page Count: 320
Rating: 
The Review
Siobhan and Macdara are back in the newest addition to the “An Irish Village” mystery series, Murder at an Irish Bakery. When a baking contest invades Kilbane and the flour mill bakery for filming, Siobhan and Macdara think it a sweet assignment, but before long, the contest turns to murder, and it is up to the husband and wife team to find the killer before someone else ends up baked.
The characters in this book and series are among my favorites. They are witty and engaging and make me smile. This time around, the characters are involved in a baking show contest being filmed at the best bakery in Kilbane next to the old flour mill. When the star contestant turns up dead, everyone involved in the show becomes a suspect. It’s baker heaven and high competition, so maybe one of the contestants decided they would find the best way to win would be to eliminate the competition permanently. The trail of evidence keeps leading Siobhan and Macdara down paths that seem to lead nowhere. But as the investigation continues, they find that filming a baking show and keeping everyone safe while tracking a killer is harder than keeping Siobhan’s siblings from getting into trouble. The location of Kilbane, Ireland, is a lovely place; its rich history and culture are unique. The killer’s identity, once revealed, and the motive will have readers up in arms and filled with indignation.
I found this book a quick, enjoyable read. I adore Siobhan, Macdara, and her siblings. All of these characters combine to keep me interested and happy. Kilbane, in the county of Cork, is a part of my heart in more ways than one, and I find the descriptions of the area to be a wonderful reminder of the beauty of Ireland. There is no doubt that readers will want to taste the sweet creations from the flour mill bakery. However, I had one issue with this book. There just wasn’t enough of Siobhan’s siblings this time around. Yes, they are around, but only as background characters, and I really wanted more of the book to have one or more siblings involved with the investigation. That said, I still loved this book and will continue to look forward to the next story.
The Author
Carlene O’Connor (Mary Carter) comes from a long line of Irish storytellers. Her great-grandmother emigrated from Ireland to America, filled with tales, and the stories have been flowing ever since. Of all the places across the pond she’s wandered, she fell most in love with a walled town in County Limerick and was inspired to create the town of Kilbane, County Cork. Carlene currently divides her time between New York and the Emerald Isle. Contact Carlene on her website or social media.
More books from this author include Murder On An Irish Farm or, if you are missing the holiday season, Murder at an Irish Christmas.
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