Murder at an Irish Christmas
This Christmas in Kilbane, if you’re planning to warm up with a cuppa tea at Naomi’s Bistro, you may have a bit of a wait; the entire O’Sullivan brood has gone off to West Cork to spend the holidays with brother James’ fiancée Elise’s family, including her grandfather, the famous orchestral conductor Enda Elliot. Siobhán is happy for James and Elise but also quietly disappointed that she must put her own wedding to fellow garda Macdara Flannery on hold. Mac will join them later in the Irish countryside to spend part of the holidays with his mam alone.
When the O’Sullivans learn everyone will choose a name from a hat to buy a music-related Christmas gift for someone else at the gathering, it seems like their greatest concern until the cantankerous conductor is discovered crushed under a ninety-pound harp in a local concert hall.
With the extended family, including Enda’s much-younger new wife Leah, a virtuoso violinist, suspected in his murder, it’s up to Siobhán to ensure the guilty party faces the music. But as a snowstorm strands both families in a lavish farmhouse on a cliff, Siobhán had better pick up the tempo before the killer orchestrates another untimely demise
Series: An Irish Village Mystery – Book #6
Author: Carlene O’Connor
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Erotic Location/Holiday
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 304
Rating: 
Murder at an Irish Christmas is a wonderfully creative holiday cozy. Siobhán is a magnificent character. Having taken care of her siblings since their parents died has been an undertaking and altered her life. Sometimes she harkens back to the days when she had dreams of going off, attending university, and building her own life. All of that came to an end with her parent’s sudden passing. At times, she regrets the choices she had to make, but she wouldn’t change a thing most of the time. This year, many things have or are about to change, but the love she has for her family isn’t one of them. Christmas time reminds her of everything and everyone she loves, and she will do whatever it takes to keep them safe and happy.
While visiting James’ fiances family during the Christmas holiday, a brutal murder takes place. It’s difficult for Siobhán to sit back and keep her nose out of the investigation. Before long, however, she realizes that if she doesn’t do something, an innocent man may go to prison for a murder he didn’t commit. Very quickly, suspects are uncovered; the killer could be anyone in the victim’s family, including an ex-wife, a current wife, several children, an entire orchestra, or anyone living in the Irish countryside near Elise’s grandfather’s home. It takes Siobhán a while to start eliminating suspects and track down evidence. While she is doing all of this, she tries to keep the local garda from arresting someone who may be innocent but whom everyone thinks is guilty.
There are plenty of red herrings for readers to figure out, more twists and turns than expected, and a few surprises thrown in that make Siobhán grateful and worried at the same time. Murder at an Irish Christmas flows nicely, is a quick read, and has readers savoring the descriptions and pictures of the lovely Irish countryside during the Christmas holidays. This is a cozy book readers will want to spend time with and enjoy every moment.
Another exciting holiday cozy series’ readers may enjoy Carolyn Haines’ long-running “A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery” or the fabulous Kate Kingsbury’s old-world series “A Special Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery”.
About 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/Mary – https://www.carleneoconnor.net/contact
Contact The Cozy Review
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