Rating: Very Good
Source: NetGalley
Description: A slice of Heaven on the Emerald Isle... In the small village of Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland, Naomi's Bistro has always been a warm and welcoming spot to visit with neighbors, enjoy some brown bread and tea, and get the local gossip. Nowadays twenty-two year old Siobhan O'Sullivan runs the family bistro named for her mother along with her five siblings, after the death of their parents in a car crash almost a year ago. It's been a rough year for the O'Sullivans, but it's about to get rougher. One morning, as they're opening the bistro, they discover a man seated at a table, dressed in a suit as if for his own funeral, a pair of hot pink barber scissors protruding from his chest. With the local garda suspecting the O'Sullivans, and their business in danger of being shunned - murder tends to spoil the appetite - it's up to the feisty redheaded Siobhan to solve the crime and save her beloved brood. (from Goodreads)
Genre: Mystery
Why I Picked This Book: I can never resist a book set in Ireland - especially if it's a mystery!
My Impression: First I was pleased that this book started off with a pronunciation guide for names and a glossary for a few slang terms. It always pulls me out of the book a bit when I can't pronounce a name in my head and without the pronunciation guide Siobhan would have been one of those names! When we first meet Siobhan and the rest of the O'Sullivan Six it's obvious that they're just holding it together after the death of their parents. They're all doing their best but they've had a rough time of it. It was easy to like them and I found Siobhan a sympathetic and relate-able character because she's doing her best raising her teenage siblings and trying to run her business and support her brother who is just recently sober.
The village of Kilbane is well done. You get the sense of a small community without being inundated with characters who aren't connected to this particular mystery. Like any small town there are quirky characters and gossips and hints of secrets. This is definitely a town I look forward to revisiting and getting to know better.
The mystery was really interesting. It's two parts - who killed the dead man and what did he know? - and both parts are done very well. I liked that Siobhan is an unapologetic amateur detective. Her reasons for being involved and for investigating make sense and are very personal but she also makes no excuses for being nosy or even tries to stop. I absolutely loved when the rest of her family became involved. I liked that in Agatha Christie fashion we're given multiple suspects all with valid motives for murder and things are definitely not quite what they seen. The reveal surprised me a little and I enjoyed how everything played out. I really enjoyed the mystery and am excited at seeing where this series goes.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Definitely! I really enjoyed this one.
Would I Recommend this Book?: I think any cozy mystery lover would really enjoy this and if you enjoy an Irish setting this is one you can't miss!
So far I haven't found a cozy mystery niche I like a lot but if a book is set in Ireland, I can be on board. I love the setting, love the people and would love to visit again.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds fun. I like the Irish setting too, and the small town feel. And I know what you mean about the name Siobhan- I was just watching a show with a charatcer w/ that name and the way they pronounced it was not how I would have! So I learned something... Adding this one to my list. :)
ReplyDeleteThose Gaelic names are tough aren't they? Good that a pronunciation guide was included because I do like to feel that I'm saying things 'right'. LOL
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds good. Will keep it in mind. I met a bunch of cozy authors this last weekend at the mystery conference I attended and so 'cozies' may be playing more of a part in my reading in the future. I used to read a bunch of them and then kind of got away from them mostly.
Murder in an Irish Village sounds like a fun who-done-it cozy mystery. I may have to give this series a try.
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds fun! I love that it's in Ireland, but I would also need a pronunciation guide.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I could never pronounce that name and often I rename them, and then when I talk about someone will say who was that..lol I love the setting and that it is filled with secrets and quirky characters.
ReplyDeleteI have this one to review and can't wait to read it, but aaah I have gotten myself so behind it's horrible...lol. That is cool about the pronunciation guide. I already knew how to pronounce Siobhan just cause I watch a lot of British/Irish TV...lol, but if you don't know how it is a bit strange...lol. Glad you liked this one!
ReplyDeleteOoo, a cozy set in Ireland! I'll have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteI want to go to Ireland. *sigh* I know, not what this post was about, but I can wish and get off topic. lol
ReplyDeleteI have had a lot to do with Irish people but I can't pronounce everything. However I did teach a Siobhan so that helped there. Have been to Ireland too! Glad you enjoyed the mystery.
ReplyDeleteI saw this one go by and didn't request it because I've cut back on requests, but now I wish I'd gotten it! I'll check and see if my library is getting it. Ireland, a mystery, and a plucky heroine with a good reason to be detecting add up to something I'd like to read.
ReplyDeleteI also love Ireland as a setting. It's just one of those places. Also near the top of my travel list. Sounds like you found another mystery series to get stuck in.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad you liked this book, Katherine. It is one of my favorites so far this year and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.
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