Meet Ireland’s newest daring detective: she’s a bookstore owner, a coffee lover, and a crime writer. Now Mercy McCarthy needs a little Irish luck as she takes on her first case!
After receiving unexpected inheritance from her grandfather, Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie are now the proud owners of a charming antique bookshop in the tiny Irish village of Shamrock Cove. But before they can take in the beautiful view of the sea, one of their neighbours drops dead!
Mercy finds the Judge, a well-respected man who lives next door, dying on his own doorstep. She rushes to help, but with his final words, he accuses Mercy of murder! Most of their new neighbours hear his words and, with suspicion pointing at Mercy, she decides to investigate the case to clear her name.
Searching amongst the Judge’s old books, Mercy uncovers letters proving several of the townsfolk had reason to dislike the older man—but was it the local pub landlord, the kindly cook or neighbourly knitter who killed him?
Then Mercy’s chief suspect turns up dead and she receives a threatening note, typed on paper from her own bookstore… Ireland was supposed to be a fresh start for Mercy and Lizzie, but dead bodies keep turning up.
Does Mercy have what it takes to nail the culprit or will the killer close the book on her time in this charming Irish village?
An Irish Bookshop Murder is a cute small-town mystery. Lucy and her twin sister have a very intriguing and tragic background. There is a lot more to be unfolded in relation to their past and with Lucy's stalker and enough to keep the reader wanting to read the next book to find out more.
The mystery is slow-moving and a little meandering but it is a light easy read.
I listened to the audiobook and found the narration very good. The narrator did not go heavy on the fake Irish accent which made it easier on my ears and a pleasant listen. I would choose to listen to the audio for the next in the series.
I was disappointed in the research that went into this book. The first thing I noticed was that Lucy's first response to a man having convulsions or what could have been a seizure was to stick a spoon into his mouth. I learnt as a child not to do that and it has been reinforced in every first aid course I've done since the 90s. Not one person questioned her on it.
There is a general lack of authenticity in relation to the setting- Ireland. I would call it an Amerian or Hallmark idea of what Ireland is. Thankfully no leprechauns or four leaf clovers make an appearance although the town is called Shamrock Cove. It reads like every other small town in cozy mysteries except with the odd sprinkling of things associated with our fair isle e.g. we all have fairy houses in our gardens (snort). I appreciated that the locals weren't eating cabbage and bacon but I was disappointed at how the wakes were portrayed.
Also, I couldn't understand why a detective was policing a small crime-free town. It would have made more sense for him to be referred to as Garda whatever his name was and for him to be stationed at the local Garda station instead of wasting his time delivering parcels. And when Lucy rang 999 for emergency services which covers police, ambulance and coast guard- the call went directly to his mobile phone! come on now.
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