Murder in an Irish Village by Carlene O'Connor is set in Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland (and first book in a new series). Siobhan O'Sullivan (twenty-two) is part of the O'Sullivan six. Siobhan run her family restaurant called Naomi's Bistro and takes care of her younger siblings (the eldest is James, but he has a drinking problem). Niall Murphy has returned to town and is not receiving a warm welcome. Niall is the brother of Billy who killed the O'Sullivan's parents (auto accident). Niall claims to have proof of his brother's innocence. To get his brother a decent attorney, Niall needs money. One morning the O'Sullivan's wake up to find a dead man in their dining room (they live over Naomi's Bistro). James O'Sullivan is the number one suspect (he was drunk). It does not help his case that he got into an argument with Niall the previous evening. Siobhan sets out to prove her brother's innocence (and their restaurant). Will Siobhan be able to find the killer? Also, can she find out if Billy did or did not kill her parents?
Murder in an Irish Village is an interesting book, but it had too many Irish phrases and slang (which made it difficult to read). There is a dictionary at the beginning, but I do not wish to continually refer to a dictionary (disturbs the flow when reading and difficult when reading on an e-reader). I found that some information was repeated frequently throughout the book (the suspects and facts surrounding the murder). I did not understand why the writer felt the need to keep repeating the same information multiple times. Siobhan was not the most likeable character. She ran around alienating every friend the family had with her investigation (and wild accusations). I give Murder in an Irish Village 3.5 out of 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of Murder in an Irish Village from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Murder in an Irish Village is an interesting book, but it had too many Irish phrases and slang (which made it difficult to read). There is a dictionary at the beginning, but I do not wish to continually refer to a dictionary (disturbs the flow when reading and difficult when reading on an e-reader). I found that some information was repeated frequently throughout the book (the suspects and facts surrounding the murder). I did not understand why the writer felt the need to keep repeating the same information multiple times. Siobhan was not the most likeable character. She ran around alienating every friend the family had with her investigation (and wild accusations). I give Murder in an Irish Village 3.5 out of 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of Murder in an Irish Village from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jeanne G. (IlliniAlum83) -
This is a fun summer read set in current times in County Cork, Ireland where my Sullivan relatives are from.
The 6 orphaned O'Sullivan kids, led by 20-something Siobhan, run their parents' bistro, famous for its Irish breakfasts, ever since their parents were killed when hit head-on by a drunk driver. The drunk driver sits in jail, but now his brother, Niall, is pestering the kids trying to convince them his sibling isn't responsible and he has evidence to prove it, if only they would pay him $10,000 euro so he can hire a good lawyer for his brother's appeal. The 2 oldest O'Sullivans have words with Niall then discover his dead body sitting in the back room of their bistro the next morning. Suspects abound and Siobhan sets out to discover who might have staged the body in the bistro to destroy their business which provides the only income they have to live off of since their parents' deaths. Along the way, Siobhan falls for the investigating officer, Macdara Flannery, who repeatedly warns her off from playing detective herself. Then her oldest brother is arrested for the murder and she kicks her 'snooping' into high gear to clear him and get him home and back in the kitchen where he belongs.
This story includes descriptions of the many characters in the village and provides translations of the occasional Irish sayings and local vocab which I greatly appreciate. CSI fans will be amused by the show references. Siobhan does a fine job of defining a suspect list then deducting clue by clue who is most likely to have 'done it'.
I would consider it a cozy mystery. Looking forward to another in the series.
The 6 orphaned O'Sullivan kids, led by 20-something Siobhan, run their parents' bistro, famous for its Irish breakfasts, ever since their parents were killed when hit head-on by a drunk driver. The drunk driver sits in jail, but now his brother, Niall, is pestering the kids trying to convince them his sibling isn't responsible and he has evidence to prove it, if only they would pay him $10,000 euro so he can hire a good lawyer for his brother's appeal. The 2 oldest O'Sullivans have words with Niall then discover his dead body sitting in the back room of their bistro the next morning. Suspects abound and Siobhan sets out to discover who might have staged the body in the bistro to destroy their business which provides the only income they have to live off of since their parents' deaths. Along the way, Siobhan falls for the investigating officer, Macdara Flannery, who repeatedly warns her off from playing detective herself. Then her oldest brother is arrested for the murder and she kicks her 'snooping' into high gear to clear him and get him home and back in the kitchen where he belongs.
This story includes descriptions of the many characters in the village and provides translations of the occasional Irish sayings and local vocab which I greatly appreciate. CSI fans will be amused by the show references. Siobhan does a fine job of defining a suspect list then deducting clue by clue who is most likely to have 'done it'.
I would consider it a cozy mystery. Looking forward to another in the series.
Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Murder in an Irish Village centers around Siobhan O'Sullivan and her five siblings. The family resides in Kilbane, a small village in Ireland and operates their family business, Natalie's Bistro. The O'Sullivan Six as the children are fondly known, lost their parents in a car accident involving a drunk driver.
Siobhan as the oldest girl has taken over the responsibility for keeping the business open, and has been awarded guardianship of her four younger siblings. Older brother James should be shouldering these jobs but a bout of alcoholism after their parents death left him untrustworthy. Siobhan had been planning to leave for college in Dublin and she does harbor some regret that she was unable to enroll with her two best friends.
Billy Murphy is the young villager accused of driving drunk and killing the very popular O'Sullivan's. Billy's mother Mary still resides in town however she has become mostly a recluse as the local townspeople have ostracized her, and Billy's bad boy brother Niall has recently resurfaced. Niall approaches Siobhan and says that he has information and proof that his brother did not cause the accident that took the O'Sullivan lives, but he needs ten thousand euros before he tells her what really happened that fateful night.
Angry that Niall is blackmailing her, Siobhan tells James and her other siblings about the conversation. James who had been ten months sober goes off on a bender, terrified for him Siobhan becomes even more fearful when she discovers Niall dead in the Bistro and her brother beat up and passed out drunk in the alley. It's no surprise that local gardia consider James the prime suspect.
Determined to clear her brother's name and find the real killer Siobhan sets out to investigate. She is shocked to learn that her sister has been corresponding with Billy and is suspicious when her questions seem to rile some of the villagers that were also her parent's close friends.
A quick moving plot set in a picturesque village. A spunky heroine with a warm, devoted family and just the right touch of romance between Siobhan and Macdara Flannery, the local policeman.
Siobhan as the oldest girl has taken over the responsibility for keeping the business open, and has been awarded guardianship of her four younger siblings. Older brother James should be shouldering these jobs but a bout of alcoholism after their parents death left him untrustworthy. Siobhan had been planning to leave for college in Dublin and she does harbor some regret that she was unable to enroll with her two best friends.
Billy Murphy is the young villager accused of driving drunk and killing the very popular O'Sullivan's. Billy's mother Mary still resides in town however she has become mostly a recluse as the local townspeople have ostracized her, and Billy's bad boy brother Niall has recently resurfaced. Niall approaches Siobhan and says that he has information and proof that his brother did not cause the accident that took the O'Sullivan lives, but he needs ten thousand euros before he tells her what really happened that fateful night.
Angry that Niall is blackmailing her, Siobhan tells James and her other siblings about the conversation. James who had been ten months sober goes off on a bender, terrified for him Siobhan becomes even more fearful when she discovers Niall dead in the Bistro and her brother beat up and passed out drunk in the alley. It's no surprise that local gardia consider James the prime suspect.
Determined to clear her brother's name and find the real killer Siobhan sets out to investigate. She is shocked to learn that her sister has been corresponding with Billy and is suspicious when her questions seem to rile some of the villagers that were also her parent's close friends.
A quick moving plot set in a picturesque village. A spunky heroine with a warm, devoted family and just the right touch of romance between Siobhan and Macdara Flannery, the local policeman.
Pamela C. (pj-s-bookcorner) reviewed Murder in an Irish Village (Irish Village, Bk 1) on + 868 more book reviews
Set in Kilbane, Ireland, a family of six are orphaned by the deaths of both parents in a car accident. A year later the brother of the convicted drunk driver who killed their parents, is found dead in their bistro. The oldest brother, James, is arrested for the murder since he was seen publically fighting with the deceased. The oldest daughter takes it upon herself to solve the murder and get her brother home.
