304 pages Publisher Minotaur Books Publication date July 28, 2026
ABOUT THE BOOK
Trouble is brewing on Daybreak Island. . .
Summer is in full swing on Daybreak Island, and JJ’s House of Purrs―and the new mobile cat café―has Maddie James running nonstop with on-site cat parties.
So when Olivia McAllister, her mother’s childhood best friend, returns to the island for the first time in decades―after a family tragedy drove her away―and asks Maddie to plan a birthday party for her granddaughter, Maddie happily agrees. It’s been forty years since Olivia’s aunt, Delia McAllister, vanished without a trace. Her disappearance was never solved, and the abandoned family house has loomed over the island ever since.
But when Maddie and her mom arrive at Delia’s old house, it’s empty―except for a white-and-gray cat that leads Maddie to a hidden room. There, she finds Olivia dead.
Soon Maddie learns the mysterious cat may be tied to a ghostly island legend. And as she digs deeper, she realizes she’s unraveling two disappearances, forty years apart―while someone is desperate to keep the truth buried.
A quiet fishing village with boats docked at sunrise mist
MY THOUGHTS
A welcome addition to the Cat Cafe mystery series. Taking place on Daybreak Island, the new mobile cat cafe can’t keep up with party invitations. So, when a guest manages to book one for her granddaughter the cat cafe delivers and shows up for the party only to find the house empty. Empty except for a mysterious ghost cat leading to a secret room. It gets creepier from there as a body is found and rumor has it the ghost cate shows up when trouble is near. Looking forward to the next installment in the series.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Cate Conte, also known as Liz Mugavero, writes cozy mysteries often featuring quirky characters, small-town drama, and animals that play key roles in the stories cateconte.com+1. She began her writing journey with short stories and poetry before transitioning to novels, demonstrating a lifelong passion for storytelling Book Series in Order. Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, she pursued a degree in English and later earned a master’s in writing and publishing from Emerson College
287 pages Publisher Kensington Cozies Publication date
June 30, 2026
ABOUT THE BOOK
As Halloween descends upon the Scottish seaside town of Nairn, reluctant sleuth and knitting enthusiast Paislee Shaw finds herself investigating how an ancient ghost inspired a modern murder…
While Paislee will be celebrating All Hallow’s Eve by handing out candy to the trick or treaters at her Cashmere Crush sweater shop, her teenage son Brody seems to have given up the ghost. Uninterested in donning a superhero or monster costume, he’s just going to attend a party with his friends at the ice rink.
But Brody got swept up in the spirit of the season after all. Dared by the older kids, he went to the supposedly haunted Rait Ruins to capture video of a vengeful ghost. The local legend of the Rait Wraith has been passed down for generations—and still gives Paislee the creeps. While no specter actually roams the grounds, the lifeless body of university student Ailis Barclay is discovered there.
Ailis was at the ruins dressed as the ghost to prank Brody, only something went wrong. With her son traumatized and deemed a suspect, it’s up to Paislee to string together whether Ailis was a victim of the real Wraith of Rait Ruins—or of someone dangerous among the living . . .
An eerie fog surrounds the ruins of a stone castle by a calm lake
MY THOUGHTS
A Halloween holiday cozy mystery taking place in the Scottish seaside town of Nairn. Teens will be teens, and while Mom, Paislee is handing out candy at her shop young teen Brody has no interest in that or wearing a costume. When he says he’ll be one place but really is at another are when the accusations start to fly. He’s supposed to be at a Halloween party with his friends but trying to impress the older teens he accepts a dare to be part of a prank and get a video of the legendary local spirit to impress the older teens. When no spirit is found but the costumed prankster is found dead, he’s the one being blamed. Mom instinct takes over as Paislee knows it wouldn’t have been her son, and she has to work hard to clear his name. Along the way we get introduced to Scottish politics, and a taste of the dialect and customs of the country. Good story.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall crafts small-town mysteries to cozy up with. Check out her Scottish Shire series in quaint Nairn; the paranormal Salem B&B series as Traci Wilton; the Irish Castle mysteries as Ellie Brannigan; and the brand-new Cider Falls Orchard mysteries debuting in 2026. Romance lovers, check out the Appletree Cove sweet duo, or the By the Sea contemporary romances. Want something with medieval flavor? Try the Boadicea trilogy or the Queen’s Guard. Traci would love to chat about books, which have been an escape since childhood and the bookmobile—she read so fast she had no choice but to write stories in between library visits. She finds inspiration living near the ocean and drinking lots of coffee.
Cozy Mystery:
Writing as Traci Hall, Scottish Shire mysteries
Murder in a Scottish Shire July 2020
Murder in a Scottish Garden May 2021
Murder at a Scottish Social 2022
Murder at a Scottish Wedding 2023
Murder at a Scottish Castle 2024
Murder at a Scottish Christmas 2025
Murder at the Scottish Games 2025
Murder at a Scottish Halloween 2026
Murder at the Scottish Book Club 2027
Writing as Traci Wilton, a Salem B & B mystery series
Mrs. Morris and the Ghost August 2019
Mrs. Morris and the Witch 2020
Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past September 2020
Mrs. Morris and the Sorceress March 30 2021
Mrs. Morris and the Vampire 2021
Mrs. Morris and the Pot of Gold 2022
Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman 2023
Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine 2024
Mrs. Morris and the Day of the Dead 2025
Cider Falls Orchard Mystery
Apple Pies and Poisoned Lies at the Cider Falls Festival 2026
As Ellie Brannigan
Irish Castle mysteries
Murder at an Irish Castle 2023
Death at an Irish Wedding 2024
Death at an Irish Village 2025
Death in Sandpiper Bay by Traci Hall and Patrice Wilton 2020
Danger at Sandpiper Bay by Traci Hall and Patrice Wilton 2021
Deception at Sandpiper Bay by Traci Hall and Patrice Wilton 2022
Contemporary Romance:
Appletree Cove: (Sweet Small-Town Beach Romances)
In the Dog House Feb 2019
Just One Kiss January 2021
By the Sea: (Small-Town Beach Romances)
Ambrosia by the Sea
Karma by the Sea
Puppy Love by the Sea
Masquerade by the Sea
Holiday by the Sea
Festival by the Sea
Dancing by the Sea
Forever by the Sea
Blue Christmas by the Sea
Returning Home by the Sea
Blossoms by the Sea
Billionaire by the Sea
Santa Baby by the Sea
Sandy Kisses by the Sea
Billionaire’s Brother by the Sea
Love, Actually by the Sea
Secret Santa by the Sea
Christmas Kiss by the Sea 2020
Snowy Seaside Christmas–West Coast 2020
Christmas on Misty Beach–West Coast 2021
Shorts:
Holiday Pickup by the Sea
Always a Bridesmaid
With This Ring
Boxed Sets:
By the Sea — Books 1-3
By the Sea — Books 4-6
By the Sea — Books 7-9
By the Sea — Books 10-12
By the Sea — Books 13-15
Christmas By the Sea
Traci Hall also writes historical romance, western romance, teen paranormal, new adult paranormal, coming of age, and non-fiction books. For her complete list of works, go to: TraciHalldotcom to learn more…
351 pages Publisher Kensington Cozies Publication date
June 30, 2026
ABOUT THE BOOK
When Lindsey Bakewell leaves behind her lighthouse bakeshop, her boyfriend, Rory, and her Newfoundland dog, Wellington, for a glamping trip with her mother in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the bears leave them alone—but a killer doesn’t. . .
Converting the old Beacon Point lighthouse into a bakery is as adventurous as Lindsey cares to get. Her mother, Ellie, a former 80s fashion model, likes her creature comforts even more—until she sees a business opportunity for her Beacon Harbor fashion boutique when she’s invited by the Mitten Kittens Glamping Club on a woodsy getaway.
Far from roughing it, the ladies will be warm and cozy in chic vintage campers. Ellie insists Lindsey come along to win the campfire cookout contest. Campfire cooking has come a long way from bacon and beans. Soon Lindsey is making pizza, berry cobbler, and gooey Carmelita camping bars.
But the festive spirit is soon dampened when a body is found in Ellie’s camper. It seems like an accidental death until everyone’s tires are slashed and it’s clear the glampsite has become a crime scene. With no cell service to call for help, it’s up to Lindsey to smoke out the killer around the campfire . . .
Because no one is out of the woods yet.
MY THOUGHTS
I’ve read almost all of the books in the A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series and though this has the same main characters and a few new we get to meet and let’s not forget the big dog who loves the baked goods it’s different in a way. I’ve read plenty of cozy mysteries and a lot of times the crazy action takes place right at the end when the murder suspect is discovered. Have you ever been glamping, I haven’t either but our characters in this book are doing some glamorous camping, in their words. There’s a lot of typical camping things like going into the woods and a campfire cookout contest, but things get strange really quick. This one has nonstop action, unexpected things happening the whole way through and I’m even getting creepy vibes from certain sections of the book. Now I live in a rural area with lots of woods around, will I be able to look at them the same again, I’m not sure. I mean we won’t even talk about the Sasquatch, the kidnapping, the bears, things that seem one way and turn out to be totally something else. Lots of action and I was here for it. Great book!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Cozy mystery author, Darci Hannah, is a native of the Midwest and currently lives in a small town in Michigan. Darci is a lifelong lover of the Great Lakes, a natural wonder that inspires many of her stories. When Darci isn’t baking for family and friends, hiking with her furry pals, Ripley and Finn, or concocting her next cozy mystery, she can be found wandering around picturesque lakeside villages with her hubby, sampling baked goods, and breaking for coffee more often than she should.
Darci’s books include:
MURDER AT THE BEACON BAKESHOP 1st in the Beacon Bakeshop Mystery Series (Kensington 2021), CHERRY SCONES & BROKEN BONES (Midnight Ink 2019), CHERRY PIES & DEADLY LIES (Midnight Ink 2018), THE ANGEL OF BLYTHE HALL (Ballantine Books 2011, 2nd edition by Piffle & Bombast 2016), THE EXILE OF SARA STEVENSON (Ballantine Books 2010)
273 pages Publication date June 16, 2026 Publisher : Level Best Books
Murder is under the mistletoe in the peaceful island community of Orca Cove. Holiday plans are put on hold to give attention to the grand opening of the Wiggle Butt Manor Agility Course. Special guest, Bently, is supposed to dazzle on the stage, but the locals have had enough of his snooty trainer, Miles Collins. So has his killer. When Charlie Calderbank finds Miles’ body in the back of her moving van, it becomes the season of giving…alibis, that is. Her hopes for a Christmas romance are dashed when the local hot cop is forced to pay more attention to the clues leading to her door than the chemistry that simmers between them.
Tainted treats, a widow who raises a toast along with a few eyebrows, a groomer with a grudge, an angry Santa Claus, a nosey reporter, and a canine custody hearing have Charlie spinning in every direction, juggling clues, dogs, and blizzards. She must identify the killer, or she’ll spend her Christmas behind bars.
Seven adorable puppies wearing festive bows sit together in front of a decorated Christmas tree and fireplace.
MY THOUGHTS
This is a new to me author and series. I’m always on the lookout for a new cozy mystery series and one about dogs drew me right in. I couldn’t resist the cute cover either. Orca Cove is set for the holidays, but any celebrations are put on hold with the opening of the Wiggle Butt Manor Agility Course. Show dog Bently is a fabulous pup and highly trained, his owner Miles Collins, not so much. Unlikeable and argumentative towards everyone he’s made enemies everywhere he goes. Not surprisingly someone has had enough of his nonsense, and he’s found dead in the back of a moving van. So many suspects, he’s made enemies with everyone. I really enjoyed the dogs in the story; it added such a welcoming touch. The story wasn’t overly Christmassy at all, but I did enjoy it a lot and now I’ll be looking for more to read in this series.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the author
Cindy Goyette is a former probation officer who had a front row seat to the criminal justice system. Her experiences helped her create fiction that mirrors real life situations. She is the author of the LEFTY and SILVER FALCHION AWARD nominated and PSWA AWARD WINNING Probation Case Files Mysteries and the Wiggle Butt Manor cozy mystery series. Cindy lives in Washington state with her husband and two Cocker Spaniels.
258 pages Publisher : Storm Publishing Publication date : November 20, 2024
ABOUT THE BOOK
Annie Murray’s festive plans at the Secret Bookcase are thrown into disarray when a celebrity baker drops dead during a gingerbread-baking competition…
As whispers of foul play swirl like snowflakes, Annie soon finds herself tangled in a web of secrets, small-town rivalry, and long-buried mysteries.
With pub-owner and new love Liam by her side and the help of her loyal bookstore colleagues, Annie sets out to solve Redwood Grove’s latest murder mystery. And the closer she gets to the truth, the more she discovers that the baking community isn’t as sweet as it seems…
Can Annie unwrap the truth before the killer strikes again? Or will this be one Christmas she won’t live to remember?
Grab yourself a Christmas cookie and lose yourself in this delightfully twisty murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last page. A perfectly festive read fans of Joanne Fluke, Tonya Kappes, and Ellery Adams will adore.
MY THOUGHTS
A Holiday Homicide is the fourth book in the A Secret Bookcase Mystery series. There are now six books published in the series and with this book I’ve read three of them. I enjoy cozy mysteries, but when they are Christmas/holiday themed it’s a little extra. I have loved every series I’ve read by the author, and this series is another winner. Fast paced activity, you’ll catch yourself staying up late just to finish and believe me when I say there’s a lot of action at the end. Who knew gingerbread baking could be so dangerous. Quirky characters, a welcome holiday feel and clues that’ll keep you reading were just what I was looking for in this holiday book.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the author
ELLIE ALEXANDER is a voracious storyteller, a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over thirty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.
She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.
Find out more about Ellie, her books, and writing courses by visiting her online:
298 pages Publisher St. Martin’s Paperbacks Publication date August 26, 2025
ABOUT THE BOOK
After a long, snowy winter on Daybreak Island, Maddie and her cat cafe crew are finally ready to embrace the spring, though life is anything but calm. With Val and Ethan’s wedding taking center stage, Maddie finds herself juggling wedding plans alongside a new and unexpected venture—a generous donation has made her the co-owner of a traveling cat cafe truck. To kick off the new chapter, she seizes the chance to take the truck on its inaugural trip to a cat literary festival in Provincetown, accompanied by her family and some of the shelter crew.
The festival is organized by the renowned cat-romance author Jasmine Prescott, who also runs a beloved cat rescue foundation on Cape Cod. But when Jasmine’s longtime friend and fellow author Vivi St. Clair arrives with a boatload full of drama—everything from a dangerous ex-husband to an unwanted Netflix crew—tensions run high. At first, it seems like just another dose of celebrity chaos—until Vivi is found murdered. As new evidence ties Maddie and her cat cafe into the investigation, Maddie must dig deeper into the tangled web of secrets, rivalries, and feline-friendly drama to uncover the truth. The question is: what’s the connection between the cat cafe and Vivi’s untimely death?
A smiling older woman enjoys a peaceful day at the beach with her four cats resting nearby.
MY THOUGHTS
‘ve really been enjoying the Cat Cafe mystery series, and this is book nine. Though I haven’t read them in order each story is a standalone so it’s fine. A harsh winter has the owners/workers of the cat cafe more than ready to welcome spring. This book actually takes place off the island, Daybreak Island off of the New England coast. Cat cafe owner Maddie and her cat JJ are thrilled they have a donated van that they’ll be using as a mobile cat cafe van. Taking it on the road to an exciting cat literacy fair where authors are selling books devoted to, of course cats. The cat cafe on wheels is a huge hit and adoptions are made. The authors seem so warm and welcoming to each other, but when a literary artist winds up dead is there more than just coffee brewing behind the scenes. Lots of drama unfolds and there may just be a cat fight in the works. Loving this series. It keeps me on my toes and I’m enjoying the main characters.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
320 pages Publisher St. Martin’s Paperbacks Publication date August 20, 2024
ABOUT THE BOOK
The eighth installment in a charming cozy mystery series set on an island off the New England coast and featuring the cat cafe owner Maddie and her cat JJ.
Beware the cats of Christmas past…
It’s the holiday season on Daybreak Island, and Maddie James is looking forward to stepping out of the limelight, watching the island’s Christmas decoration competition from afar, spending time with her boyfriend and family, running tours for visitors as part of the festivities and spreading holiday cheer through cute cats in jingle bell collars.
But trouble hits close to home when word gets out that Donna Carey, the publisher of the island’s only daily newspaper where Maddie’s best friend Becky is editor, may be selling the business. Becky is a diehard journalist and to her, selling the only newspaper on the island is a fate worse than death. She publicly opposes the potential sale, wreaking havoc on her relationship with her big boss.
Maddie is sympathetic, but she has her own problems – like getting pulled into a role on the Christmas event committee despite her best efforts to stay far removed, and solving the case of a mysterious cat breeder trying to sell expensive designer cats as holiday gifts on the island. But then Donna winds up dead―electrocuted by her own Christmas decorations―and it appears to be more than an accident. To make matters worse, Becky becomes suspect number one. Maddie is thrown into another murder investigation in order to save her best friend from a Christmas behind bars.
Four playful cats enjoy Christmas-themed toys in a cozy living room.
MY THOUGHTS
Shock and Paw is the eighth book in the Cat Cafe mystery series. Christmas time should be relaxing and pleasant on Daybreak Island off the New England Coast but it’s anything but as it often tends to be around Christmas time. Once again Grandpa Leo and granddaughter Maddie have a mystery to solve there’s a Christmas decorating contest and the cat cafe owners, grandpa and Maddie are in the thick of it again solving the crime. Talk of selling the island’s only newspaper have some pretty upset and the newspaper owner is found with Christmas lights around her neck. Could it be the last person seen arguing with her trying to persuade her not to sell or perhaps the electrician doing work to get the Christmas lights to shine. Whoever it is certainly doesn’t have the Christmas spirit this island is used to. Another great book in the cat cafe series that I’m enjoying.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
304 pages Publisher St. Martin’s Griffin Publication date
June 28, 2022
ABOUT THE BOOK
In Gone but Not Furgotten, the sixth in Cate Conte’s Cat Café beloved cozy mystery series, Daybreak Island has a killer on the loose…and this villain isn’t afraid to use their claws.
Maddie James has big plans for the summer season at JJ’s House of Purrs. But when her friend, master meditator and Tai Chi teacher Cass Hendricks, brings a potential animal hoarding situation to her attention, Maddie has to refocus her attention on the furry felines who may need a helping paw.
Cass has brought his Zen teachings to Fisherman’s Cove―a tiny, working class town on Daybreak Island―and one of his students, Laurel, has been on the receiving end more than one hissy fit from her neighbors, mostly because of her cats. When Maddie and Cass go to Laurel’s to check out the situation, not only do they find a plethora of cats in need, but also a dead body. Laurel appears to have had an unfortunate accident falling down her stairs, but Maddie gets a sneaking suspicion that something more sinister might be behind her death. When she voices her concerns, she’s horrified that it’s Cass who falls under suspicion.
With Grandpa Leo’s help, Maddie has to dig into the secrets this small community is keeping close to find out why Laurel really died before Cass is put behind bars . . . or the killer strikes again.
Visitors enjoy coffee and cats at Purrfect Pals Cat Cafe.
MY THOUGHTS
Number 6 in the Cat Cafe mystery series. I really enjoy this series, and this is the first of four I need to read to catch up with the series. Grandpa is retired law enforcement and has allowed his granddaughter to create a cat cafe in part of his house while he still lives there. there are tasty treats available there and cats for adoption. We just had a cat cafe open up a few months ago near us and I think it’s a wonderful idea. JJ’s House of Purrs is the cat cafe and Maddie; the granddaughter is running it along with her sleepy-eyed cat JJ who approves the cats that come in for adoption. Grandpa Leo is ready to dig into a murder case on the tiny island of Daybreak. A woman has kept secrets no one knows about she is a cat hoarder. It’s a very tricky subject, when does cat rescuing and helping the cats turn into hoarding. It can turn into hoarding if the rescue takes in too many or the cats are breeding from non-spaying and neutering. So many times, a rescue association starts out with the best of intentions before things start going sideways. The rescue woman is found dead, and many cats need rescued with grandpa and Maddie on the case. I wasn’t able to guess who it was even though they were talking to a lot of suspects including maintenance people, neighbors and relatives of the deceased.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own. This series is enjoyable has kept my attention and I’m looking forward to reading more in it.
326 pages Publisher Kensington Cozies Publication date December 24, 2024
ABOUT THE BOOK
It’s almost time for the delicious warmth of Irish soda bread, but be careful where you bite–some of these recipes call for murder in this delicious collection of cozy mystery novellas featuring the popular St. Paddy’s Day treat.
IRISH SODA BREAD MURDER by CARLENE O’CONNOR There’s very little time left before her wedding, but nonetheless Tara Meehan is helping out at her Uncle Johnny’s salvage mill for the day. Aunt Rose set up a convention for local psychics, including a bake sale to raise money for charity, but now she’s sick and available only via an iPad Johnny is carrying. The event promises to deliver a real pot of gold until Rose’s biggest rival shows up. Before Tara can utter a simple “top o’ the morning” to the man, he drops dead—with Johnny’s soda bread in his hands. It’s up to Tara to identify the deadly baker before another victim ends up chasing the rainbow straight into a grave . . .
AN IRISH RECIPE FOR MURDER by PEGGY EHRHART To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year, the Arborville, New Jersey, Advocate is sponsoring a soda bread–baking competition. Bettina Fraser is excited—her bake-off idea was the one to get the green light! But when a town councilman acting as a judge keels over after sampling an entry, the party atmosphere dies just as quickly. Now it’s up to Bettina and her Knit and Nibble knitting club bestie, Pamela Paterson, to find the killer responsible for the murderous morsel.
MRS. CLAUS AND THE SINISTER SODA BREAD MAN by LIZ IRELAND When April Claus arrives in Cloudberry Bay, Oregon, to check on her flooded inn, her biggest worry is to keep everyone from realizing her three companions—Jingles, Juniper, and Butterbean—are elves. But soon enough she has more serious worries—it looks like her hapless caretaker Ernie has been storing stolen goods at the inn! Then one of Ernie’s shady pals is found dead, and the murder weapon turns up in a decorative loaf of soda bread at April’s craft fair booth. It’s up to April to uncover the killer before she spends St. Patrick’s Day in the county jail!
MY THOUGHTS
A collection of three Irish themed cozy mystery stories. The main “ingredient” connecting all the stories is Irish soda bread. I enjoyed these stories to varying degrees.
In IRISH SODA BREAD MURDER by CARLENE O’CONNOR, Tara Meehan is running out of time before her big wedding but still manages to find time to help her uncle and aunt. At their salvage yard there is a charity event featuring psychics at the convention and a bake sale. Lots of Irish soda bread for sale unfortunately the main baker is sick, so a substitute baker is brought in for the bread baking and soon after taking the first bite of bread someone falls dead. Was it the baker or someone else that slipped something into the bread?
AN IRISH RECIPE FOR MURDER by PEGGY EHRHART, the Arborville, New Jersey, Advocate is celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day this year with an exciting baking contest. When the judge samples the Irish Soda bread, he thinks it’s really delicious until he keels over dead. Who could have done it and why?
MRS. CLAUS AND THE SINISTER SODA BREAD MAN by LIZ IRELAND, a flooded inn in Cloudberry Bay, Oregon may be April Claus’s least worrisome thing when a murder weapon is found in the decorative Irish Soda bread.
All but one author I am familiar with and I’ve read books with the same characters in them as in this collection.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
304 pages Publisher Kensington Publication date February 21, 2023
ABOUT THE BOOK
After a long streak of avoiding murder investigations, Dublin limo driver Megan Malone thought her life had finally settled . . . but even her Irish luck can’t keep her out of trouble forever in Catie Murphy’s fourth Ireland-set cozy mystery…
It’s been over a year since Megan found herself entangled in a murder—much to everyone’s relief, including her girlfriend Jelena and Detective Paul Bourke. So when a body of a young woman quite literally lands in her lap at her favorite Dublin café, Megan tries to do the right thing and leave the crime-solving to the police so she can enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. After all, she has no connection to the victim. Or does she?
Megan’s latest client, world-renowned romance novelist Claire Woodward, is fascinated by Megan’s own history of catching killers. Claire also just happens to be the murder victim’s literary mentor. So maybe Megan can just sort of stay on the periphery of the case while trying to help out? Just a wee bit without causing too much fuss? Even Detective Bourke would approve since he has personal reasons not to trust Claire. The investigation leads Megan to the victim’s writing group, who think that Claire has plagiarized the poor young lady’s work. And when another member of the group is found dead, Megan will have to step up her sleuthing before the killer decides to write her off for good.
MY THOUGHTS
Death in Irish Accents is the fourth book in The Dublin Driver Mysteries series. There was really a lot going on in this book. Set in Ireland, Megan Malone, a limo driver is involved in sleuthing yet another murder mystery and her girlfriend, Jalena doesn’t want her involved in yet another mystery which causes quite a bit of friction between them. There’s the plagiarizing author and a list of suspects that just seems to keep getting added to. When a body literally falls out of the closet onto Megan’s lap, she has no choice but to get involved in this mystery. I did enjoy the location of the book but not the dynamics between Megan and Jalena, it really felt like a bullying relationship with her not being able to be herself and constantly needing to apologize for who she was and enjoying sleuthing.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET THE AUTHOR
CE Murphy began writing around age six, when she submitted three poems to a school publication. The teacher producing the magazine selected (inevitably) the one she thought was by far the worst, but also told her–a six year old kid–to keep writing, which she has. She has also held the usual grab-bag of jobs usually seen in an authorial biography, including public library volunteer (at ages 9 and 10; it’s clear she was doomed to a career involving books), archival assistant, cannery worker, and web designer. Writing books is better.
She was born and raised in Alaska, and now lives with her family in her ancestral homeland of Ireland.
